Counselor Training Research Articles

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.

Improving Grief Counseling: Enhancing the Education and Confidence of Psychology Graduate Students

Most therapists do not receive formal graduate training in grief counseling and may rely on outdated knowledge and questionable skills when working with grieving clients (Dodd et al., 2022; Jankauskaite et al., 2021). This study aimed to develop a virtual intervention to educate psychology graduate students about grief counseling and evaluate whether this training can increase knowledge in grief and grief counseling and self-efficacy in working with grieving individuals. This mixed-methods study compared participants in three conditions (full video intervention, partial video intervention, and control). When controlling for prior grief counseling training and experience, those randomized to the full video intervention had higher grief and grief counseling knowledge and self-efficacy in working with bereaved individuals than those in the partial intervention and control groups. Further, qualitative results highlighted the assessment and treatment approaches that therapists-in-training would use with a bereaved client across conditions. Overall, the full intervention is a feasible and efficacious way to teach psychology doctoral students about grief counseling and increase their confidence in working with bereaved clients. Future research considerations and recommendations are discussed.

교육분석기간에 따른 상담자 발달수준과 소진의 관계에서 상담자 활동 자기효능감의 매개효과

Objectives The present study aimed to investigate potential differences in the counselor developmental level perceived by counselors, burnout, and counselor activity self-efficacy depending on the educational analysis period, as well as to verify the mediating effect of counselor activity self-efficacy on the relationship between counselor developmental level and burnout. Methods A survey was conducted using the Korean Counselor Level Questionaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scale on 251 counselors whose main job is counseling at private counseling centers, public institutions, and universities. Based on the distribution of respondents regarding the duration of educational analysis, they were classified into three groups: less than 15 sessions, more than 15 to less than 50 sessions, and 50 sessions or more, labeled as low, medium, and high groups, respectively. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and PROCESS macro 3.5 to verify the differences and mediating effects according to the group classification. Results First, differences were observed in the counselor development level and counselor activity self-efficacy according to the educational analysis period group classification. In particular, within the high group, the awareness subscale of the counselor development level was significantly higher, and statistically significant differences were observed across all subscales of counselor activity self-efficacy. Conversely, no statistically significant differences were found in counselor burnout according to the educational analysis period. Second, regarding the effect of perceived counselor development level on burnout, counselor activity self-efficacy was found to have a partial mediating effect. Furthermore, in the high group, counselor activity self-efficacy was found to have a full mediating effect on the impact of perceived counselor development level on burnout. Conclusions Based on these research findings, implications for counselor's training and education, as well as limitations of the study were suggested.

A Comparison of Traditional Talk Therapy and Experiential Sandtray Approaches in Counselors in Training

This study explored the comparative effects of traditional talk therapy (control group) and sandtray therapy (experiential group) on group dynamics within a true experimental design. Utilizing the Group Climate Questionnaire-Short Form (GCQ-S), we measured engagement, conflict, and avoidance among master’s level counseling students. Findings revealed a significant interaction between therapy type and time on the engagement subscale, with participants in the experiential group experiencing greater increases in engagement over time. These results underscore the potential of expressive modalities in altering group dynamics and enhancing the effectiveness of group therapy in counselor education.

Therapy and counselling experiences of queer adults in Germany

AbstractBackgroundMental health professionals play a crucial role in either alleviating or exacerbating stress among queer clients.AimsDrawing on minority stress theory, we conducted a study to examine the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or consensually non‐monogamous clients with current or recent psychotherapy or counselling experiences in Germany.MethodA convenience sample of 492 queer individuals participated in an online survey, providing insights into their most recent experiences with psychotherapy or counselling and evaluating the success of these processes. Among the participants, 92% identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or another non‐heterosexual identity, while 8% identified as heterosexual. Additionally, 54% reported being in consensually non‐monogamous relationships, and 23% identified as gender‐diverse.ResultsThe majority (92%) had prior experience with psychotherapy, with over half reporting their last session within the last month. The remaining 8% reported counselling experience. Most participants rated their recent psychotherapy or counselling process as successful. Exemplary practices were more common than inappropriate ones. While overt discrimination by mental health professionals was rare, subtle inappropriate behaviours were still prevalent. Affirmative and actively reassuring practices were strongly linked to subjective therapy success.ConclusionThe study's findings warrant cautious optimism regarding a non‐discriminative stance in German mental health professionals while highlighting the need for further research, training and guidelines for therapists and counsellors.

Peer counseling for amputations : Asomewhat different instrument in trauma surgery

The abrupt onset of the situation after atraumatic amputation and the preparatory discussions following unsuccessful attempts to preserve limbs with necessary amputation require ahigh level of empathy, attention and well-founded information individually tailored to the affected individuals. Optimization of the treatment process can only be achieved by considering these aspects.The self-motivation and cooperation of the patient should be encouraged. To achieve this goal, the professions involved are less suitable for counseling due to alack of personal experience, whereas so-called peers, as knowledgeable and experienced advisors, are more appropriate. This insight can be derived from existing studies. Peer counseling has increasingly been integrated into routine treatment following amputations in trauma surgery, with positive effects. It is considered guideline-compliant therapy not only in rehabilitation. Against the background of long-standing legislation, especially the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the demands of those affected by amputation, the following presentation focuses on the instrumentalization and benefits of counseling. The structures of this particular counseling option, including regular training of counselors and established implementation, are currently not necessarily given but are continuously expanding and being adapted to needs. Concrete scientific evidence regarding measurable effects and positive impacts on outcomes is pending and are presented in acurrent research project.

Contraceptive counseling training experiences and behaviors among obstetrics and gynecology residents in California and Florida

ObjectiveTo describe experiences with contraception counseling training and provision of obstetrics and gynecology residents training in California and Florida. Study designWe conducted a mixed-methods study of obstetrics and gynecology residents training across 19 programs (with approximately 428 residents) in California and Florida from September 2022 through February 2023. We asked participants how often they use tiered-effectiveness counseling, their satisfaction with contraception counseling practices, and experiences with witnessing and recognizing contraception coercion. We asked about personal disappointment when patients decline long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and pressure from faculty to prescribe LARC. To further explore resident contraception counseling education and behaviors, we conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with a subset of 20 survey volunteers. ResultsWe received survey responses from 155 (36.2%) participants. Most (n = 113 [76.4%]) often or always reported using tiered-effectiveness counseling. While few participants (n = 17 [11.3%]) reported feeling pressure from faculty to convince a patient to keep a LARC, some (n = 34 [22.1%]) reported they often or always feel disappointed when a patient chooses LARC removal, with more Florida participants reporting disappointment (n = 19 [37.3%]) compared to California (n = 15 [14.6%], p = 0.01). We identified two main themes from the telephone interviews. First, residents feel they have limited formal education on how to provide contraceptive counseling and commonly learn these practices by emulating supervising faculty or peer counseling styles. Second, residents are informally taught, through feedback and interactions with supervising faculty and peers, that successful contraception counseling is the ability to convince patients to use highly effective contraception. ConclusionWhen residents lack formalized contraception counseling education, they adopt counseling behaviors that may not be patient centered. ImplicationsWhen obstetrics and gynecology residents lack formalized contraception counseling education, they learn practices that may lead to coercive counseling behaviors during training. Resident education should include recognition and mitigation of contraception coercion and patient-centered counseling both through a formalized curriculum and socialization of trainees during their medical education.

Cultural intervention based on "Bhuppa Bhabhu Ghuru Rato" to overcome early marriage in Torjun Sampang

Pondok Pesantren Darussalam Torjun is addressing the high incidence of early marriages, which significantly impact students' education. Data shows that 41 percent of women in Torjun Village marry before 21, leading to issues like low educational attainment, health risks, and economic challenges. To combat this, a cultural intervention program, BHUPPA-BHABHU-GHURU-RATO, was developed in collaboration with partners. The program aims to increase students' knowledge about early marriage and assertive communication, raise parental awareness of early marriage impacts, and provide a curriculum and educational media on the subject. The initiative targets 77 students, 20 parents, 5 school administrators, health center staff, religious affairs office staff, and the sub-district head. The methods include psychoeducation and the dissemination of curriculum and educational media. The program comprises two parts: community empowerment, involving activities for students, parents, school administrators, and government officials, and cadre development, focusing on peer counseling and persuasive communication training. Results showed a 16 percent increase in students' understanding of early marriage dangers, a 3 percent increase in assertive communication knowledge, and a 10 percent increase in parental awareness. The program's sustainability is supported by curriculum integration, the use of educational media, and the Anti-Early Marriage Knights system.

PASTORAL KONSELING SEBAGAI SARANA KOMUNIKASI EFEKTIF DALAM PELAYANAN JEMAAT

This journal discusses the role of pastoral counseling in facilitating effective communication in congregational ministry. Pastoral counseling is an important tool in helping individuals or groups overcome spiritual, emotional, and social problems. Effective communication in pastoral counseling is the main key in creating a trusting relationship between pastoral and congregation. Various communication techniques such as the client-centric approach, the use of the case study method, confidentiality, and the use of social media are important elements in the counseling process. Challenges faced in implementing pastoral counseling as effective communication include cultural differences, social stigma, counselor qualifications, theological views, ethics and confidentiality, as well as limited resources and time. To overcome these challenges, proposed solutions include training and professional development for counselors, efforts to reduce social stigma, balancing between theological and scientific approaches, a deep understanding of counseling ethics, effective time management, provision of adequate facilities and support, and collaboration with mental health services. A holistic and multifaceted approach to counseling is also emphasized, including the training of counselors, building strong relationships with congregants, use of appropriate communication techniques, utilization of technology, evaluation and feedback, and support from the organization. It is hoped that the implementation of these solutions will improve the quality of pastoral counseling services, provide greater benefits to congregants, and strengthen the relationship between pastoral care and congregants in supporting their spiritual growth and emotional well-being.

Addressing the Gap: A Pilot Study to Improve Graduate Student's Counseling Self-Efficacy Through Online Support Groups for Care Partners of People With Acquired Brain Injuries

Purpose: The purpose of this technical report is to (a) describe the development and pilot testing of a university training initiative for graduate students in speech-language pathology to conduct online support groups for care partners of individuals with acquired brain injuries and (b) share preliminary data on students' self-efficacy in their counseling skills as a result of training. Method: Four graduate students completed an intensive summer counseling training program consisting of two 90-min student orientations to counseling skills and two online support group sessions for care partners of people with acquired brain injuries. A mixed methods analysis of pilot data collected over the summer of 2023 was conducted. Students completed the modified Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales for speech-language pathologists within 1 week of beginning their counseling training and within 1 week after their clinical training experience. Students also submitted a short reflection paper within 24 hr of their two support group sessions to discuss their overall performance within the session and assess their self-efficacy in their counseling skills. Results: Preliminary data evidenced significant pre- to posttraining gains in two primary counseling areas: (a) psychoeducation (i.e., students' ability to provide information to care partners) and (b) empathy when addressing care partners' concerns regarding their loved one's communication disorder. Students' reflection papers illustrated their sense of growth as clinicians and paralleled the findings from their questionnaires. Conclusions: Our preliminary results highlight the importance of providing counseling opportunities for student clinicians in speech-language pathology graduate programs. Our online clinical model offers an example for replicability across universities to foster self-efficacy in students' counseling skills as part of their graduate studies. “Key” ingredients are provided for replication when developing a student-led online support group program for care partners of individuals with acquired brain injuries.

Training, assessment and competence in Counselling for Depression: Experiences of trainees, trainers and supervisors

Training, assessment and competence in Counselling for Depression: Experiences of trainees, trainers and supervisors

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Therapeutic Process of Counselling Psychology

Emotional intelligence (EI) has garnered significant attention in the field of psychology, particularly within the realm of counselling psychology. Defined as the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and utilize emotions effectively in oneself and others, emotional intelligence has been found to play a crucial role in personal and professional success. In the context of counselling psychology, emotional intelligence is especially pertinent, influencing both the therapist's effectiveness and the therapeutic outcomes for clients. This paper aims to explore the multifaceted role of emotional intelligence in the therapeutic process, examining its impact on the therapeutic relationship, intervention strategies, and client outcomes, and providing insights into how emotional intelligence can be integrated into counselor training and practice.

Spanish language opportunities in genetic counseling training programs in the United States.

This cross-sectional survey study explores ongoing initiatives to foster diversity and inclusivity within the field of genetic counseling, specifically focusing on opportunities within graduate programs for students to enhance language and counseling skills in Spanish, thereby fostering language concordance in genetic counseling settings. With a response rate of 44.8% (26/58) across genetic counseling graduate programs, our study provides an overview of educational offerings in Spanish, encompassing patient-facing, non-patient-facing, and combined opportunities. Of the programs that completed the survey, 73.1% (19/26) offer Spanish language opportunities. Several perceived benefits were identified by those that offer opportunities, including fostering cultural humility and diversity within the field, increasing awareness and accessibility of genetic counseling services, and facilitating involvement in research within minority groups. The information gathered from this study can be a resource for graduate programs seeking insights into effective strategies to incorporate Spanish language opportunities. Additionally, these results may also serve as a source of inspiration for students who want to apply their Spanish language skills in their training and future careers. Lastly, we propose ideas to enhance and expand the training of bilingual genetic counseling students in Spanish.

Optimizing Soldier Counseling: Multi-Source, Mixed-Method Evaluation of a Developmental Counseling Training for Mid-Grade Level Leaders.

In accordance with ADP 6-22-001 and ATP 6-22.1, counseling is the process routinely executed by Army leaders to develop, mentor, and coach subordinate Soldiers and Army civilians within their organization. When implemented effectively, the counseling process can be utilized to produce capable, resilient, and satisfied subordinates who are prepared and motivated to meet mission-essential responsibilities. Training opportunities that specifically focus on optimizing this key leader competence, particularly with non-commissioned officers, are limited. The Directorate of Prevention, Resilience and Readiness (Headquarters, Department of the Army, G-9) offers a specific training, the Counseling Enhancement Workshop, and requested an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the current training and identify opportunities for improvement. A longitudinal 360-degree approach was deployed as a common multisource methodology intended to produce triangulated feedback from participants, as well as their subordinates and supervisors. Quantitative surveys and qualitative structured interviews were conducted. Performance psychology professional facilitators who train this workshop were also administered a questionnaire to capture instructional feedback. Measures include a knowledge assessment of the workshop content, Counseling Self-Efficacy Survey, as well as original measures related to the workshop experience. Completed written developmental counseling forms and observations from the evaluation team were also reviewed to ensure fidelity of the training implementation and delivery. The current study reports on survey responses from participants and facilitators. Results suggested a strong and positive correlation between the pre- and post-workshop Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale. Because of a small sample size, data were analyzed as planned but interpreted with caution because of limited validity. There was a significant increase between the pre- and post-tests knowledge comprehension test scores. Facilitators reported confidence in teaching resilience skills, but not coaching Soldiers to apply those skills as part of the developmental counseling process. The Army counseling process can be utilized to produce capable, resilient, and satisfied subordinates who are prepared and motivated to meet mission-essential responsibilities. Quantitative results on the content of the CEW present opportunities for meaningful training that increases leaders' confidence in delivering counseling sessions, as well as mastering specific skills that benefit the subordinate Soldier and improve unit health. Furthermore, performance psychology professionals provided feedback on focus areas to meet the instructional objective of the training more efficiently and effectively. Ultimately, the counseling process is considered the most important tool available to current leaders to build the capacity of future leaders and an investment in the training to enhance these skills will provide great returns to the U.S. Army as a whole.

Preparing future psychologists to develop motivational systems

This study aimed to investigate the process of developing motivational systems in aesthetic medicine, as undertaken by future psychology graduates. The methodology involved a combination of modelling and experimentation methods in medical clinics, where the effectiveness of motivational systems created by trainees was tested and evaluated. The research combined theoretical knowledge with practical application, enabling a detailed analysis of how motivational systems can be effectively designed and implemented by future specialists in psychology. The key findings demonstrated that practical involvement in real-world settings, such as medical clinics, significantly enhances trainees’ understanding and ability to develop effective motivational systems. The study revealed that integrating practical experience with a professional environment provides valuable insights that a purely theoretical approach cannot offer. The study confirmed that real-world experience in medical clinics helps future psychologists better understand the specific needs and challenges involved in developing motivational systems. Practical training in such settings allows theoretical knowledge to be adapted to real-life situations, significantly improving the effectiveness of the motivational systems created. Future psychologists who had the opportunity to work in clinics demonstrated a high level of skill in addressing practical tasks related to staff motivation, highlighting the substantial contribution of hands-on experience to their training. The research emphasised the importance of integrating practical experience with theoretical instruction in the education of future psychologists, particularly in the context of developing and implementing motivational systems. Educators can utilise the findings to enhance training programmes and approaches to preparing future specialists, especially in the development of specialised courses and training in motivational counselling

African American male counseling students’ lived experiences with counseling faculty

AbstractRacism and its effects adversely affect the experiences of Black males within higher education. Despite efforts to address racial and gender gaps, Black males remain grossly underrepresented within counselor training programs. They report feeling isolated and experience relational challenges. In this phenomenological study of 10 African American male counseling students’ interactions with counseling faculty, several themes related to their racial identity surfaced from the data. Implications for counselor educators and counselor education programs are offered.

Youth With Specific Learning Disorders: Attitudes and Clinical Decision-Making Among Mental Health Trainees

Individuals with disabilities often face discrimination due to negative attitudes from others around them. This is true for youth with specific learning disorders (SLD), whose experiences of discrimination can increase the risk for developing mental health concerns. The current study explored whether the presence of an SLD comorbid with mental health concerns and attitudes toward SLD may have an association with clinical decision-making in counselor trainees. The study additionally investigated the role of contact and experience in attitudes and decision-making patterns. Seventy graduate students enrolled in mental health-related programs at a public university in the southern United States participated in the survey study. Findings showed that SLD had an association with clinical decision-making, with counselor trainees rating a vignette depicting a youth with SLD as having more severe mental health concerns than a vignette without an SLD.

Greenovation: Literasi Transformasi Sampah Menuju Karakter Unggul dalam Perspektif Ekonomi, Pendidikan dan Teknologi

Waste management is one of the efforts to reduce the impact of environmental damage. The existence of counseling or socialization and training on household waste management in the community of Puspamukti Village, Cigalontang District, Tasikmalaya Regency is expected to understand the importance of household waste management in an environmentally friendly way, namely by sorting organic and inorganic waste and applying the 3R principle (reuse, reduce and recycle). In addition, the community received training in worm cultivation using the utilization of cultivation media derived from organic waste and worm feed nutrition from organic waste as well as making valuable products.