Counselor Training Research Articles

Impostor phenomenon and counselor development: The critical role of self‐compassion

AbstractSelf‐compassion is an important protective factor for managing and regulating complex emotions. This article reports on a study exploring the mediating effect of self‐compassion on the relationship between impostor phenomenon (IP) and counseling self‐efficacy (CSE) among 281 counselors‐in‐training (CITs). The most striking finding is that 65.1% of the counseling students reported frequent‐to‐intense IP. Furthermore, higher IP correlated with higher mental distress and lower CSE. Consistent with social learning theory, self‐compassion and the ability to self‐regulate physiological and affective states fully mediated the negative effect of IP on CSE, accounting for 60.9% of the variance. Implications address the alarming prevalence and severity of IP among CITs and the powerful role that self‐compassion may play in the professional development of CITs.

Knowledge, attitudes, and referral practices for smokers to a state tobacco quitline in a federally qualified healthcare center: Healthcare provider perspectives.

Federally qualified healthcare centers (FQHC) treat a large population of low-income patients disproportionately burdened by tobacco use. This study investigated healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and referral patterns of patients who smoke to a state tobacco quitline. The study used a descriptive-qualitative design. In-depth interviews were conducted in 2021 with a sample of healthcare providers recruited from a federally qualified healthcare center (FQHC) in a large city in the Midwest. The interviews were guided by a standardized moderator's guide and lasted 30-45 minutes. Written informed consent was obtained before each interview, and participants completed a brief self-administered survey. Among the 25 participants, 92% were female and 44% were Black. Participants included medical providers (52%), behavioral health providers (16%), and other types of providers (32%). Participants' age and work experience averaged 41.5 and 5.25 years, respectively. Only 32% of providers reported having specialty training in smoking cessation or addiction counseling. Over half (52%) of the participants never or rarely referred patients to the Illinois Tobacco Quitline (ITQL). Providers reported several barriers to referring patients to the ITQL, including limited knowledge about services offered, time constraints, difficulties with the referral process, and lack of feedback between providers and the ITQL. Further, providers described patient-related barriers, including low motivation to quit smoking, language barriers, and failure of patients to respond to calls from the quitline. Recommendations were described for improving patient and provider education, referral processes, and increasing bi-directional communication between providers and the quitline. Providers identified numerous barriers to referring patients for smoking cessation treatment. Addressing the identified barriers requires a multi-faceted approach involving education, streamlined processes, supportive infrastructure, and patient-centered interventions to strengthen provider use and satisfaction with the available resources.

The Examination of the Counseling Supervision Effect on Personal and Professional Development of First-Time Supervisees

The study investigated how clinical supervision affects the personal and professional development of first-time supervisees. The explanatory sequential mixed methods research design was employed in the study. Quantitative data was collected using a single group pretest-posttest experimental design to evaluate the impact of supervision on the personal and professional development of counselors in training. Individual interviews were conducted with 51 volunteer participants who were counselors in training at a state university in western Türkiye. Paired-sample t-tests were used to analyze the quantitative data, while content analysis was employed for the qualitative data. The findings showed that supervision significantly enhanced the counselors in training's effective counselor characteristics and self-awareness management strategies. However, there were no significant differences in hindering self-awareness and professional disposition. The qualitative analysis revealed that counselors in training who participated in supervision gained a deeper understanding of counseling procedures and techniques, increased trust in the profession, and improved self-efficacy. Counselors in training also highlighted the positive impact of their supervisor and group supervision format on their development. The results of the study suggest the significance of supervision in counselor education. It is recommended that the variables included in the current research and the effect of supervision should be examined in more studies.

Expanding the primary care workforce by integrating genetic counselors in multidisciplinary care teams.

Collectively, rare diseases are common, affecting approximately 8% of the population in Canada and the USA. Therefore, the majority of primary care (PC) clinicians will care for patients who are affected or at risk for a genetic disease. Considering the increasing ways in which genetics is being implemented into all areas of healthcare, one way to address these needs and expand the capacity of the PC workforce is through the integration of genetic counselors (GCs) into PC multidisciplinary teams. GCs are Masters-educated allied health professionals with specialized training in molecular genetics, communication, and short-term psychotherapeutic counseling. The current models of GCs in PC mimic other multidisciplinary models. Complex tasks related to genetics, such as pre- and post-test counseling, genetic test selection, and results interpretation, are conducted by GCs, which, in turn, allows physicians, nurse practitioners, and other PC providers to work at the top of their scope of practice. Quality genetics services provided by GCs improve clinical outcomes for patients and their families; the simultaneous provision of genetic education and psychological support by a GC is associated with an increase in patient knowledge, perceived personal control, decrease in distress, and can lead to positive health behavior changes, all of which are aligned with the goals of primary healthcare. With their extensive training in clinical care, medical communication, and psychotherapeutic counseling, integrating GCs into PC care teams will improve the care patients receive and allow PC clinicians to ensure their patients are at the forefront of the personalized medicine revolution.

One-to-one counselling and school attendance in the UK: a single group pre-post study

ObjectiveAbsence rates remain high in UK schools, with negative implications for attainment, life chances and inequality. Reasons for non-attendance are complex but include psychosocial factors. Few UK-based studies have evaluated...

Stress in social and health care professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities: risk and protective factors

Objectives Those working in the field of intellectual disabilities are confronted with a multitude of stressors, which can give rise to considerable psychological difficulties. The objective of this study was to identify the key predictors of perceived and relational stress among professionals working in intellectual disability centers. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed, with 726 professionals participating (mean age = 43.35 years, SD = 11.19), predominantly women (78.6%). The variables assessed included perceived stress, relational stress, emotional balance, life satisfaction, social support, empathy, and counseling training. The analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling and qualitative-comparative analysis of fuzzy data (QCA). Results The study revealed that the stress levels of the study participants were moderate to low. The relationship between emotional balance and stress was mediated by life satisfaction. In both structural equation models, negative affect and life satisfaction were identified as primary predictors, significantly influencing perceived and relational stress. Additionally, QCA highlighted that empathy and social support, along with these factors, contribute to explaining stress levels. Conclusions Our findings highlight the necessity of implementing preventive strategies and support systems to mitigate stress among healthcare professionals who work with individuals with intellectual disabilities. These findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding stress management in this specialized healthcare context.

Evaluating chronic disease approaches to ameliorate tobacco-related health disparities: Study protocol of a hybrid type 1 implementation-effectiveness trial

BackgroundBlack, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities experience higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and related chronic conditions compared to White communities due to disparities in tobacco exposure. Smoking can be effectively treated but evidence-based treatments are less likely to be offered to or used by BIPOC patients. We present the study protocol of the Smoking Cessation Outreach for Racial Equity (SCORE) trial that tests the effect of adding longitudinal care coordination to current standard of care for smoking cessation to promote health equity among BIPOC patients. MethodsLongitudinal Proactive Outreach (LPO; 4 culturally tailored outreach call cycles over one year by motivational interviewing trained counselors to connect patients to cessation counseling and medication) will be added to the current standard of care, Ask-Advise-Connect (AAC; primary care providers asking all patients if they smoke, and if smoking, advising to quit and connecting to treatment). We will conduct a hybrid type 1 implementation-effectiveness trial to examine the direct effect of AAC + LPO (a multilevel health system intervention) vs. AAC on population-level combustible tobacco abstinence at 18 months and treatment utilization among 2000 BIPOC adults who smoke across two healthcare systems in Minnesota. Participants will be surveyed at 6, 12, and, 18 months post-enrollment to assess outcomes. The primary outcome is biochemically confirmed combustible cigarette abstinence at 18 months. DiscussionLPO has potential to promote health equity by addressing barriers caused by structural racism, including access to care, care fragmentation, and provider racism, by systematically reaching out to all BIPOC patients who smoke. ClinicaltrialsgovNCT05671380.

성인 상담라포와 상담회기평가 간 관계에서 작업동맹의 매개효과

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation effect of the working alliance on the relationship between counseling rapport and counseling session evaluation among clients. Through this, the aim is to provide data that can be utilized in counseling and education by highlighting both the positive and negative aspects of counseling rapport and the working alliance experienced by clients. Methods To this end, a study was conducted on 220 adult clients nationwide who were currently receiving counseling from counselors who had national qualifications and counseling-related academic qualifications. The Counseling Rapport Scale, Counseling Session Evaluation Scale, and Working Alliance Scale were used, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and SPSS Process Macro v4.1. Results The research results are as follows: First, the structural model depicting the relationships among counseling rapport, working alliance, and session evaluation was confirmed to be suitable for the data. Second, counseling rapport was found to have a positive impact on the working alliance. Third, counseling rapport was analyzed to influence session evaluation through the mediation of the working alliance. Consequently, it was established that counseling rapport affects session evaluation not only directly but also indirectly through the working alliance Conclusions The results of this study indicate that as counseling rapport positively forms, it leads to a stronger working alliance with the counselor, which in turn positively influences session evaluations. The ability of counselors to establish counseling rapport and a working alliance in initial sessions is shown to be a crucial factor in positively affecting counseling outcomes. This underscores the importance of counselor education and training programs.

PELATIHAN DAN PENYULUHAN PEMBUATAN BRIKET SAMPAH PLASTIK UNTUK KARANG TARUNA DI TPS 3R ”PONCO BANYAK” DI DESA MANTREN KARANGREJO MAGETAN

Environmental problems due to the lack of effective waste management have become a serious challenge in this modern era, triggering air, land, and water pollution and damaging ecosystems. triggering air, soil, and water pollution and damaging ecosystems. Waste is piling up not only in urban areas but also in rural areas due to population growth, urbanization, and increasing consumption patterns. approach 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach has become urgent to reduce dependence on landfills and minimize the impact of landfills. on landfills and minimize negative environmental impacts. Village Mantren adopted this approach by establishing the 3R TPS "Ponco Banyak" TPS 3R in 2022, which serves more than 500 homes and several customers outside the village. customers outside the village. In addition to waste collection, TPS 3R also composts and makes briquettes from recycled materials. making briquettes from recycled materials. Through systematic training and counseling training and counseling, the program increased community awareness and knowledge about 3R practices, making Karang Taruna members more knowledgeable about waste management and having the skills to make recycled products such as briquettes. waste management and have the skills to make recycled products such as briquettes that can be marketed, making Mantren Village marketable, making Mantren Village an example of sustainable waste management. sustainable waste management.

Strengths and Weaknesses of HIV Partner Notification Implementation in Iran.

HIV partner notification is a key intervention to facilitate access to HIV testing and treatment. This qualitative study investigated the strengths and weaknesses of the HIV partner notification program in Iran. Additionally, it provides comprehensive recommendations to mitigate potential harms and maximize the benefits of partner notification services. Using purposive sampling, 15 participants, including policymakers, service providers, and researchers in the field of HIV, were recruited from nine provinces between September and December 2023. The qualitative content analysis was conducted using the Graneheim and Lundman approach. Several strengths were reported for the HIV partner notification program, including alignment with international guidelines, use of trained counselors, integration with current HIV testing guidelines being used by HIV testing centers funded by the Ministry of Health, and a well-developed monitoring and evaluation plan at the facility, provincial, and national levels. Notable weaknesses of the program included a lack of a detailed implementation plan overall and for some key populations at high risk for HIV, such as female sex workers, lack of integration of the program with HIV testing services provided in hospitals and HIV centers funded by the Welfare Organization in Iran, lack of a simple quality checklist for monitoring and evaluation of the program. To increase the coverage and quality of the HIV partner notification program in Iran, a more detailed implementation plan, a simple quality checklist, and more targeted advocacy and training programs are needed.

Sexuality, Secrecy—and Sewing with Mum

This article explores the author’s experience of navigating relational ethics. It details the aftermath of a reflexive discussion with the author’s parents, which focused on autoethnographic episodes about family experience, within a wider autoethnographic exploration of the author’s experience as a trainee counselor. The work, which had originally examined what it feels like for counselors to disclose erotic countertransference within clinical supervision, grew to encompass the author’s parallel experiences of (dis)honesty around sexuality, specifically regarding disclosures to the author’s parents and church: his original “moral supervisors.” As he and his mother spend time together sewing, recovering from the previous reflexive conversation and looking ahead to the next, the author considers the emotional impact of sharing an autoethnography with intimate others who are alive. Through evocative autoethnography, the article aims to use narrative analysis (as opposed to analysis of narrative) to capture an embodied and emotional response to the sharing of an autoethnography. It asks: what is it like to be honest?

Cancer genetic counseling in Chile: Addressing barriers, confronting challenges, and seizing opportunities in an underserved Latin American Community.

IntroductionDespite the rapid advancements in genomics and the enactment of a new cancer law in Chile, the implementation of cancer genetic counseling continues to face significant challenges due to limited resources and infrastructure. MethodsWe conducted a survey targeting healthcare providers who offer genetic counseling to cancer patients and possess training in genetics and counseling. Additionally, we distributed a separate survey to high-risk patients associated with an advocacy group to gather insights on their perceptions of and experiences with cancer genetic counseling. ResultsAmong the surveyed providers, 21% were non-medical professionals who developed their skills through postgraduate continuing education programs. Germline testing was not performed in 47% of cases. Among the participants, 37% considered genetic counseling important for understanding the cause of their cancer, 25% valued knowing their risk of developing future tumors, and 33% believed it would benefit their current cancer treatment. Just over half of the patients (54%) had access to genetic counseling. Among those that received genetic counseling, 85% found it beneficial. ConclusionIn Chile, barriers to genetic counseling persist, particularly in rural areas and due to a shortage of trained professionals. Public policies recognizing genetic counseling's importance are crucial, along with expanding training and infrastructure. Understanding patient perceptions and increasing the number of trained genetic counseling into cancer care, educating clinicians, and advocating for increased access are key steps for enhancing cancer treatment effectiveness in Chile.

Let's Talk About Grief: Building a Theoretical Framework for Grief Counseling with Systematic Literature Review

Grief is a universal life experience characterized by the loss of an affective bond, leading to Normal Grief responses. Grief Counseling is a specialized therapeutic intervention aimed at facilitating adaptation to the new reality and preventing complications from prolonged grief. A systematic literature review was conducted to inform the development of a curricular program for training in Grief Counseling in the Portuguese context. From Research Summit 2022.

Training outcomes of a social determinants of mental health‐focused fieldwork course

AbstractWe conducted a concurrent nested mixed‐methods exploration of counselor trainee outcomes of a social determinants of mental health (SDMH)‐focused fieldwork course. Seven trainees completed a pre‐/post‐course SDMH competence scale and nine weekly journal entries. Results of a paired samples t‐test and deductive content analysis suggest increased SDMH competence and efforts to learn about and address clients’ SDMH challenges throughout the semester. Implications for counselor training conclude.

A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Counseling Students in a Co-Facilitated Experiential Group

Research on experiential learning, group psychotherapy, and neuroscience has supported the inclusion of the experiential group in counseling training programs for the positive impact on students’ personal and professional development (Denninger, 2010; Zhu, 2018). This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of master’s level counseling students in a group co-facilitated by a doctoral student and a professor. Results of this research provide a deeper understanding of counseling students’ experiences in a co-facilitated experiential group and offer a rationale for best practices in the facilitation of the required group experience in counseling training programs.

Counselor Trainees’ Lived Experiences of Online Learning During COVID-19

Counselor Trainees’ Lived Experiences of Online Learning During COVID-19

A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF SERVICE QUALITY ON CUSTOMER REVISIT INTENTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE COMPANIES: USING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND DISEASE AWARENESS AS MEDIATING VARIABLES

In today's society, mental health issues are receiving increasing attention, and numerous psychological service companies have emerged as providers of professional mental health services. However, the market competition is also becoming more intense, making service quality a crucial factor for psychological enterprises to achieve long-term development and customer loyalty. This study aims to explore the specific mechanisms by which various elements of service quality, such as accessibility, convenience, reliability, and efficiency, affect clients' willingness to revisit psychological consulting firms. Through empirical analysis, the study seeks to clarify the degree of association between different service quality dimensions and the intention to revisit and analyze their internal relationships. Therefore, the study will survey clients who have received psychological counseling and therapy services, using client experience and disease perception as mediating variables to examine the impact of service quality on the revisit intention of customers in psychological service enterprises. Additionally, through an in-depth study of the YM Psychological Counselor Training Company, the research will analyze issues related to the company's low revisit intention and propose recommendations for adjustment, offering a reference for similar enterprises.

Forgotten Victims of War: A Rapid Review of Counseling Needs and a Proposed Intervention Model for Civilian Survivors

The counseling needs of civilian war victims, particularly those not classified as refugees, have been largely neglected in academic counseling research. This study addresses this gap by conducting a rapid literature review to evaluate the current state of counseling services available to these individuals. Using Google Scholar and Web of Science, we identified and reviewed studies on counseling services for war veterans, refugees, and civilians in conflict zones. This review revealed a significant lack of structured counseling support for non-refugee civilian war victims, despite their high vulnerability. Findings indicate that while substantial efforts have been made to support refugees and veterans, the mental health needs of civilians who remain in conflict areas are often unmet, with existing services being sparse and inadequately documented. To address this issue, we propose a preliminary model that includes culturally sensitive counseling programs, training for local counselors, and international collaboration to provide sustainable support. This study highlights the urgent need for focused research and practical interventions to develop comprehensive counseling programs for these overlooked victims of war, and encourages researchers to address this critical gap in mental health services.

Infusing antiracism into counselor education: A model for CACREP Programs

AbstractAlthough research applying antiracist frameworks to a variety of disciplines has multiplied, best practices for the application of antiracist principles to counselor education have yet to be established. This article outlines one program's steps to dismantle racism throughout curriculum and andragogy. Outcomes and lessons learned are offered as recommendations for programs seeking to infuse antiracism throughout counselor training.

Neural Conversational Agent for Weight Loss Counseling: Protocol for an Implementation and Feasibility Study.

Obesity is a common, serious and costly chronic disease. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend that providers augment the longitudinal care of people living with obesity with consistent support for the development of self-efficacy and motivation to modify their lifestyle behaviors. Lifestyle behavior change aligns with the goals of motivational interviewing (MI), a client-centered yet directive counseling modality. However, training health care providers to be proficient in MI is expensive and time-consuming, resulting in a lack of trained counselors and limiting the widespread adoption of MI in clinical practice. Artificial intelligence (AI) counselors accessible via the internet can help circumvent these barriers. The primary objective is to explore the feasibility of conducting unscripted MI-consistent counseling using Neural Agent for Obesity Motivational Interviewing (NAOMI), a large language model (LLM)-based web app for weight loss counseling. The secondary objectives are to test the acceptability and usability of NAOMI's counseling and examine its ability to shift motivational precursors in a sample of patients with overweight and obesity recruited from primary care clinics. NAOMI will be developed based on recent advances in deep learning in four stages. In stages 1 and 2, NAOMI will be implemented using an open-source foundation LLM and (1) few-shot learning based on a prompt with task-specific instructions and (2) domain adaptation strategy based on fine-tuning LLM using a large corpus of general psychotherapy and MI treatment transcripts. In stages 3 and 4, we will refine the best of these 2 approaches. Each NAOMI version will be evaluated using a mixed methods approach in which 10 adults (18-65 years) meeting the criteria for overweight or obesity (25.0≥BMI≤39.9) interact with NAOMI and provide feedback. NAOMI's fidelity to the MI framework will be assessed using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity scale. Participants' general perceptions of AI conversational agents and NAOMI specifically will be assessed via Pre- and Post-Interaction Questionnaires. Motivational precursors, such as participants' confidence, importance, and readiness for changing lifestyle behaviors (eg, diet and activity), will be measured before and after the interaction, and 1 week later. A qualitative analysis of changes in the measures of perceptions of AI agents and counselors and motivational precursors will be performed. Participants will rate NAOMI's usability and empathic skills post interaction via questionnaire-based assessments along with providing feedback about their experience with NAOMI via a qualitative interview. NAOMI (version 1.0) has been developed. Participant recruitment will commence in September 2024. Data collection activities are expected to conclude in May 2025. If proven effective, LLM-based counseling agents can become a cost-effective approach for addressing the obesity epidemic at a public health level. They can also have a broad, transformative impact on the delivery of MI and other psychotherapeutic treatment modalities extending their reach and broadening access. PRR1-10.2196/60361.