Today Counseling 48 44 42 36 Features 28 Cover Story 68 62 54 50 Extras
by scientificassumptionsthathave hadadetrimentalimpactontheprofession. counselingculture islargelystructured A counseloreducatorarguesthatcontemporary By James T. Hansen vision Extending thehumanistic Opinion of challenging and engaging students and the key role school counselors should play. The president of the Southern Regional Education Board discusses the importance Burtnett by Frank Interview Improving students’career collegereadiness and professional journey to weather periods of self-doubt and emerge stronger. Keeping four touchstones in mind can help counselors at any stage of the By Emil Vernarec factor The confidence aren’t appear“stuck” initiallyreceptive tohelporotherwise intheirproblems. ACA membersshare theapproaches thathave worked forthemwhenclients By LynneShallcross Success stories withchallengingclients Participants reflect on ACA’s Institute forLeadership Training heldthispastsummer. By LynneShallcross Leading the way the mostofhostcityfor 2011ACA Annual Conference &Exposition. ACA memberswholive andwork inNew Orleans give recommendations formaking Compiled by JonathanRollins Bragging ontheBigEasy Region goals 2010/2011 Divisionand ACA president-elect share candidates theirviews to develop aneffective protocol totreat veterans tormentedby nightmares. Motivated by the memory of a former client, a counselor and his colleagues set out By Wayne A. Hankammer PTSDnightmaresUnlocking of thegrip Reader Viewpoint
October 2010
October 2010|
Counseling Today 36 42 28 | 3 Contents CounselingTodayOctober 2010 Columns 10 Washington Update
12 Counselor Career Stories Numbersby the Numbers 16 New Perspectives Counseling on campus University counseling services are tasked with assisting more 18 Private Practice in Counseling college students with severe mental illness than they were a decade ago, according to a study presented at the American 20 Resource Reviews Psychological Association’s annual convention in August. On a positive note, researchers found that student thoughts The Digital Psyway concerning suicide have declined. The study was drawn 24 from records of more than 3,250 college students who accessed college counseling services between 26 ACA Blog Sampler September 1997 and August 2009 at a midsized private university.
Need to Know 5 From the President 7 Executive Director’s Message 8 Letters to the Editor 70 CSCORE Perspective 72 Division, Region & Branch News 76 Bulletin Board 77 News & Notes 79 FY 2010 Membership Statistics 80 Classifieds
4 | Counseling Today | October 2010 From The President CounselingToday
Counseling Today Staff Publisher Developing Richard Yep Associate Publisher depth Carol Neiman Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Rollins Marcheta Evans 800.347.6647 ext. 339 [email protected]
Senior Writer Lynne Shallcross have a question for you to ponder: This month, our cover story focuses on 800.347.6647 ext. 320 How do we develop depth with how we work effectively with challenging [email protected] clients, and the topic got me to thinking Iregard to our character, insight and Advertising Representative empathy? Is it something that is part of again about how we grow as professionals. Kathy Maguire our genetic makeup? Is it based on our How did I develop the skills and comfort 607.662.4451 life experiences? Or is it a combination level to work with a diverse population [email protected] of these? as a professional? In answer to my own Graphic Designer As a parent, this is a question I question, I kept coming back to the Carlos J. Soto II have contemplated for many years. challenges I faced in my professional 800.347.6647 ext. 377 development. What aided in my growth [email protected] My husband and I have engaged in was taking risks, trying something new discussions about how our six children CT Column Editors or working with a client/student/patient were developing and what kind of person who required me to stretch beyond what Washington Update we believed each would grow up to be. Scott Barstow I had done previously. Would they be smart? Would they be 800.347.6647 ext. 234 Some of you may remember the [email protected] insightful and empathic? Would they acronym YAVIS, which, when I was have depth? originally trained as a counselor, was Counselor Career Stories I remember teaching a counseling Rebecca Daniel-Burke used to describe a client who was young, 800.347.6647 ext. 230 course and talking about issues of depth. attractive, verbal, intelligent and social. [email protected] But even figuring out how to define this The presumption was that everyone construct is challenging. Still, at times we would want to work with YAVIS clients. Resource Reviews Ruth Harper find ourselves saying, “Well, that person As I thought about this, however, I [email protected] doesn’t have much depth” or “He/she concluded that this type of client would is really a very shallow person.” What provide very limited growth on my Private Practice in Counseling part. They were purportedly insightful Robert J. Walsh and Norman C. Dasenbrook exactly does that mean? [email protected] Going back to my ponderings enough to work through the process very regarding my children for a moment, successfully. Of course, that was a major Spotlight on Journals assumption on my part. Nonetheless, Sheri Bauman I used to think, “How could they have [email protected] much depth or empathic understanding they were presented as the ideal. But when their lives have been so privileged? what about the other clients? The ones New Perspectives They have never had to struggle, supposedly not so desirable? Donjanea L. Fletcher If you look back on some of [email protected] wondering about their housing or food. your greatest accomplishments as a They did not grow up in the South The Digital Psyway professional, what do you see? I see the during the fifties, sixties or seventies when Marty Jencius times when I had to struggle and work a [email protected] we struggled for equal rights. Will they little harder for success. Those challenges really understand the struggle of African are what have assured me that I am Americans in this country? How can here for a purpose and really making they possibly appreciate these issues, not a difference in people’s lives. Those having had these experiences themselves?” challenges have caused me to push myself All of these questions floated through my to get better and to take risks. head as I stood there thinking about their development. Continued on page 77
October 2010 | Counseling Today | 5 New Releases From ACA!
Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theories and diverse workforce; forming a productive alliance with the client; Interventions, Fifth Edition using assessment inventories and instruments; and developing CLIENT ACTION PLANS s PGS edited by David Capuzzi and Douglas R. Gross /RDER )3". This student-friendly introductory text ,IST 0RICE ACA Member Price: $45.95 PROVIDES A THOROUGH OVERVIEW OF WIDELY used theories. Experts examine each theory from the perspective of its historical A Contemporary Approach to Substance Abuse background, major constructs, goals, cross- and Addiction Counseling: A Counselor’s Guide to cultural considerations, and limitations. Application and Understanding Traditional and brief interventions Ford Brooks and Bill McHenry integrate theory with specific counseling strategies, giving students further insight This book provides a basic understanding into the counseling process and guidance of the nature of substance abuse and in developing their personal counseling style. A consistent case addiction, its progression, and clinical study across chapters reinforces the differences between theories interventions for college/university, and illustrates assessment of client concerns and treatment school, and community/mental health PLANNING s PGS agency settings. Topics covered include drug classifications; assessment; working /RDER )3". with ethnically diverse clients, the GLBT ,IST 0RICE ACA Member Price: $46.9 population, and women; the continuum of nonuse to addiction; developmental Clinical Supervision in the Helping Professions: approaches in treating addiction; relapse prevention; grief and A Practical Guide, Second Edition loss in addiction; group counseling; working with families; Gerald Corey, Robert Haynes, Patrice Moulton, Michelle Muratori spirituality; addictions training and ethical issues; and COUNSELOR SELF CARE s PGS This straightforward guide emphasizes effective skill development for supervision /RDER )3". in a variety of settings. Topics covered ,IST 0RICE ACA Member Price: $35.95 include the roles and responsibilities of supervisors, the supervisory relationship, The Professional Counselor: Portfolio, models and methods of supervision, Competencies, Performance Guidelines, and becoming a multiculturally competent supervisor, ethical and legal issues in Assessment, Fourth Edition supervision, managing crisis situations, Dennis W. Engels, Casey A. Barrio Minton, Dee C. Ray, and evaluation in supervision. User- and Associates friendly tips, case examples, sample forms, questions for Student learner outcomes and counselor reflection, and group activities are included throughout the work behaviors are tied to the 2009 text, as are contributing supervisors’ Voices From the Field and CACREP Standards in this handbook the Authors’ Personal Perspectives—making this an interactive for students, educators, supervisors, learning tool that is sure to keep readers interested and involved. researchers, and practitioners seeking s PGS to update, refresh, or evaluate their /RDER )3". knowledge of and skills in the most ,IST 0RICE ACA Member Price: $43.95 important competencies in counseling. Ideal for use as a student portfolio or a Career Counseling: Contexts, Processes, SUPPLEMENTARY TEXT THIS EDITION CONTINUES A YEAR TRADITION of providing a useful framework for tracking individual and Techniques, Third Edition PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND EVALUATION s PGS Norman C. Gysbers, Mary J. Heppner, and Joseph A. Johnston /RDER )3". Career Counseling incorporates the ,IST 0RICE ACA Member Price: $33.95 most widely used career counseling practices with new and emerging career development concepts, making it an exceptional text for both counselors- in-training and seasoned practitioners. Topics discussed include traditional and postmodern career theories and approaches; counseling an increasingly 800-422-2648 x222 • Counseling.org
6 | Counseling Today | October 2010 Executive Director's message CounselingToday American Counseling Association President Bullying must stop Marcheta Evans 800.347.6647 ext. 232 [email protected] Richard Yep President-Elect Department of Education has launched a Don W. Locke 800.347.6647 pilot program that provides $27 million for [email protected] ctober is National Bullying a Safe and Supportive Schools (S3) grant Prevention Month. I won’t say program. Executive Director I was especially impressed with Jennings’ Richard Yep that we are “celebrating” anti- 800.347.6647 ext. 231 O invitation to a group of teens who repre- bullying because that sounds strange to me. [email protected] However, if counseling professionals and sented “their generation” in regard to this the public can bring more awareness to the topic. Some were students who have been Counseling Today (ISSN 1078-8719) is the monthly magazine of the American Counseling tragedy of kids being bullied, then count bullied; others were involved in running programs to address bullying at a peer- Association, 5999 Stevenson Ave., Alexandria, me as a supporter of this important month- VA 22304-3300; Telephone: 703.823.9800; long event. to-peer level. The students were provided Internet: counseling.org. Opinions expressed A few months back, shortly before our the same forum in which to speak as the in this magazine do not necessarily represent federal agencies and professional organiza- opinions of the editors or policies of the nation’s children returned to school, Assis- American Counseling Association. tant Deputy Secretary of Education Kevin tions. This really is something that must be fought at various levels, and the summit Jennings, who heads the Office of Safe and Subscriptions are available for $150 for 12 was an excellent example of how this can Drug-Free Schools, convened a meeting of issues by calling PP&F at 800.633.4931. Single be done. copies are available for $12.50 each by calling advocacy groups and other federal agencies For those of you who work with youth, ACA in-house fulfillment at 800.422.2648 ext. for a national anti-bullying summit. In ad- 222. I know you must constantly deal with stu- dition to an address from U.S. Education dents who are bullied, as well as those who Secretary Arne Duncan, presentations were Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Va., and do the bullying. I hope you will consider additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send given both by policymakers and those who the resources ACA provides to help you address changes to ACA Member Services, are on the front lines to battle bullying each 5999 Stevenson Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304. in your work with kids. It seems to me and every day. All rights reserved, 2010 by the American that other professionals in the school com- Counseling Association. The group representing transportation munity, including teachers, coaches and directors noted that there are 600,000 administrators, are in need of the expertise Editorial Policies children eligible to ride a school bus each and support you can provide. Because it is Counseling Today reviews unsolicited articles and guest editorials for possible publication. day in the United States, yet only 400,000 National Bullying Prevention Month, per- actually take the bus. Although some ride Not all articles will be accepted for publication. haps you can let those in your community Send articles or request a copy of the writing their bikes or walk to school, it seems many know about the expertise you possess. guidelines by e-mailing [email protected]. are simply afraid of boarding a bus because You may also wish to visit bullyinginfo. Anti-Discrimination Policy of the very real risk of being taunted, teased org, a website the Department of Educa- or even physically assaulted. Other profes- There shall be no discrimination against any tion set up to serve as a “one-stop” site for individual on the basis of ethnic group, race, sional groups provided equally astounding resources on this topic. religion, gender, sexual orientation, age and/or pieces of information. I think professional counselors need to disability. The American Counseling Association help parents and others in the community was invited to participate in this summit, Mission Statement learn about the effects of bullying, while The mission of the American Counseling and we were able to network with many providing information and support to pre- Association is to enhance the quality of life other organizations and federal agencies. vent its spread. What can ACA provide to in society by promoting the development Also attending was one of our divisions, the help you become more effective as an anti- of professional counselors, advancing the American School Counselor Association, as counseling profession and using the profession bullying advocate? Feel free to let me know. and practice of counseling to promote respect well as our colleagues who represent school I really do read all of your e-mails, and I for human dignity and diversity. psychologists and school social workers. appreciate your comments. The good news is that the summit pro- As always, I hope you will contact me vided a forum for many of us to come with any comments, questions or sugges- together, recommit ourselves to addressing tions that you might have. Please contact the epidemic of bullying and learn more me via e-mail at [email protected] or by about what the federal government is doing phone at 800.347.6647 ext. 231. about the situation. For example, the U.S. Thanks and be well. u
October 2010 | Counseling Today | 7 Letters
Challenging counselors’ propelled me to make sure I leave no commitment to self-care stone unturned in my own life. “Knowing Thank you for including so much in thyself” as a mental health professional your August issue about issues of self-care is that important. Did I do everything for mental health professionals. I have right all the time? Oh, heck no, but I been in the mental health profession continued to fight for myself, my own for more than 10 years now, and I have self-care and my own personal time. It’s invitation to present for the state of worked at a variety of places and with a absolutely imperative, and there is no Virginia clinical counselors group. variety of people. I have also had my fair excuse for it not to happen. The excitement quickly paled, however, share of personal tragedy and, at times, Although I am extremely glad this as the article (“Fast-tracking recovery”), struggled to make sense of it all. Through important issue is being brought to the filled with anecdotal material, digressed to it all, I remain as active as possible. I play surface, I regret to say I sincerely doubt a four-page advertisement for a particular ultimate Frisbee, climb, hike, canyoneer, it will result in finding any more mental hypnosis training facility. The readership play disc golf, do yoga, swim, travel, go health professionals on the field, the would have expected one of our own out to eat, talk with friends and so on. course or the trail. We tend to say, ‘Yes, to have written a scholarly article or, if Many of my activities involve meeting what a wonderful article,’ then put it not written by a clinician with a clinical others in different arenas or areas of life, down to eat another slice of cake while hypnosis background, for Counseling and I have never met another person in checking our e-mails again. Today to have obtained such input to the mental health field out “practicing Betsy Basch either exclude the article or to result in self-care.” Phoenix the article being balanced and fair. For I even considered all the people I have example, there are several much better worked with and gone to school with w known and scholarly sources of training, over the years. What do they do for fun, I read with great interest the article by such as the Ericksonian Foundation, the relaxation or self-care? I cannot come up Amanda Norcross, and I completely agree American Society of Clinical Hypnosis with anything. Everyone I know works with her viewpoint. I think it should be and the International Society of Clinical extra shifts. Or eats. Or drinks. Or shops. made mandatory for counselors to go Hypnosis. Or gets massages. All of these things in through personal counseling before they ACA has a wealth of counselors with moderation are fine outlets, of course. graduate with a degree in counseling. specialty interests, credentials, experience One of the quickest ways I have found My own personal experience in or research-based knowledge who could to help children or adolescents feel good counseling is the single most powerful and should be tapped for editorial about themselves is to teach them a skill tool I have when counseling clients. I support or article publication. they can rely on, feel proficient with and can’t possibly emphasize enough how Clayton C. Maguire, M.S., LPC, use to engage with others, especially if counseling has helped me stay on top of LMFT, CCMHC it’s something kinesthetic. But we don’t my issues and given me an edge in life. Virginia Beach, Va. practice what we preach. We say, “Hey, Thank you so much for writing this you need to take care of yourself! You have article, Amanda. It’s one I will keep Editor’s note: One way Counseling to take care of yourself. If you don’t take handy on my desk when my phone rings Today encourages ACA members to share care of yourself, who will?” And then we and someone needs my help. their personal knowledge and expertise is work 20 extra hours a week. We say we Cynthia L. Marcolina, LPC by submitting Reader Viewpoint articles. have to because no one else will. We say Aetna EAP Health Service Consultant For a copy of the writing guidelines, we have to take this phone call because e-mail [email protected]. no one else will know how to handle the situation. We say we have to take this Article on hypnosis paperwork home because, otherwise, comes up lacking Rethinking codependency it won’t get done. No other profession Given my personal strong interest This letter is in response to the preaches self-care like we do. It’s even in in clinical hypnosis and having been article written by Isabel Kirk titled our code of ethics! But we don’t do it. an American Counseling Association “Codependency: Good, bad or both?” The very first thing I did upon member for many years, I was initially (New Perspectives, July 2010). I was very enrolling in classes for graduate school excited to see the cover of the August pleased to see an article questioning the was to enroll in therapy. Like Amanda issue of Counseling Today with the merits of the codependency construct. I Norcross (“A case for personal therapy provocative title “Hypnoanalysis as agree with Isabel. The term is a nebulous in counselor education,” August 2010), trauma therapy.” I was hoping there was concept, lacking in universal meaning I had the distinct pleasure of being an ever-increasing awareness of the value and adequate criteria for diagnostic introduced to Irvin Yalom’s work before of hypnosis, given that this article in our grad school, and Love’s Executioner national publication followed my recent Continued on page 53
8 | Counseling Today | October 2010 October 2010 | Counseling Today | 9 Washington Update - By Scott Barstow and Dominic Holt Counselors’ jobs saved through enactment of education jobs aid
n Aug. 10, House Speaker districts contract with other districts for engagement to stem the problem. Present- Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) specific services. ers also highlighted two government- Ointerrupted Congress’ summer The American Counseling Association supported websites — findyouthinfo.gov recess, calling representatives back to thanks all the counselors who called on and bullyinginfo.org — that provide infor- Washington for a final vote on a bill Congress to pass this important bill and mation on federal youth programs, research providing $26.1 billion in Medicaid and who contacted their governors’ offices to findings and programmatic best practices. education jobs aid to cash-strapped states ensure their states applied for their fair Russlynn Ali, the Education Department’s before the start of the school year. The share of funds. Your advocacy saved coun- assistant secretary for civil rights, talked legislation passed the House by a 247-161 selors’ jobs, supported students’ health and about efforts within the department to vote. Soon after, President Obama signed learning, bolstered health care for the most reinvigorate its commitment to enforcing the bill into law. disadvantaged and those with severe dis- U.S. civil rights laws as they pertain to The emergency funding includes $16.1 abilities, and helped ensure schools could education, including by investigating com- billion to help states continue providing open their doors to teach another day. plaints of bullying and harassment. Medicaid health services to the most vul- Thank you for your advocacy! Representatives from organizations such nerable populations, as well $10 billion To see if your state applied for as CNN, Cartoon Network, Facebook and to rehire or avoid laying off as many as education jobs aid, visit ed.gov/programs/ Dairy Queen International described their 160,000 school counselors, teachers and educationjobsfund/applications/index.html. campaigns and programs regarding bully- other school staff across the country. The For more information, contact Dominic ing. CNN will conduct a series of editorial additional Medicaid funds will also help Holt at 800.347.6647 ext. 242 or dholt@ reports on the issue throughout October, states avoid the unfortunate practice of counseling.org. which is National Bullying Prevention cutting education to maintain funding for Month. Cartoon Network announced ACA attends bullying vital health services. Unlike with the bulk that it will launch a new public service prevention summit of state education spending, states get fed- campaign on bullying and collaborate on ACA Executive Director Richard Yep was eral matching assistance for their Medicaid HRSA’s “Stop Bullying Now!” campaign. among the invitation-only attendees at the spending. States had to submit a short ACA is proud to be part of this ongo- first Federal Partners in Bullying Preven- online application by Sept. 9 to receive the ing discussion, and we invite your input tion Summit, held Aug. 11-12 and led by emergency funds. At press time, 39 states as work progresses. To share your stories six federal agencies, including the Educa- had applied. or comments, contact Dominic Holt at tion, Health and Human Services, and The U.S. Department of Education [email protected]. Justice departments. The summit provided encourages school districts to spend these an opportunity for diverse stakeholders Send ACA your questions funds in the 2010-2011 school year, but to examine the impact and prevalence of on the new health care law districts will have until Sept. 30, 2012, to bullying, as well as existing initiatives and The new health care reform law — of- obligate funds. Funds can be used for: potential new steps to address the issue. ficially the Patient Protection and Afford- n Compensation and benefits to recruit, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, able Care Act — enacted earlier this year retain, hire or recall any school-level Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin has already begun taking effect. Given the personnel, including school counselors, and Health Resources and Services scope of the law, it will impact counselors school social workers, school psycholo- Administration (HRSA) Administrator both as consumers and as providers of gists, physical therapists, speech thera- Mary Wakefield all spoke at the event, health care services. pists, occupational therapists or nurses which featured many other presenters, ACA is developing resources for n Premium pay for hard-to-staff schools including researchers, administrators, counselors regarding the new law, and we or subjects educators, advocates and business leaders. want these resources to be as helpful as Officials highlighted counselors as having possible, so please send us your questions. n Extended school days and/or summer school a key role to play in disseminating informa- E-mail ACA’s Scott Barstow at sbarstow@ tion on bullying prevention and response. counseling.org if there is anything about n Eliminating furlough days and pay cuts Wakefield stated that her agency considers the law you would like to know. ACA The funding cannot be used for rainy- bullying a significant health issue and ref- will use your questions and comments day funds, retiring state debts, school erenced its ongoing “Stop Bullying Now!” in developing its materials. We may even district-level personnel (unless they campaign. Speakers discussed bullying as select your question to answer on the perform school-level functions) or outside a form of youth violence and encouraged public policy section of ACA’s website at contractors, except in cases in which peer mentoring in conjunction with adult counseling.org/publicpolicy. u
10 | Counseling Today | October 2010 $'3522) %/+ 3URRI'XH%DFN%\ SP $G 3 I[ 'HDGOLQH7R3XE SP )LUVW5XQ 3XEOLFDWLRQ &RXQVHOLQJ7RGD\ Carol, 42 6HFWLRQ 523 Mother of twins 6SHFV [ T$SSURYHGDVLV Plays piano T$SSURYHGZLWKUHYLVLRQV T5HYLVHDQGUHVHQG ,QLWLDOBBBBBBBBB'DWHBBBBBBBBBB
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October 2010 | Counseling Today | 11 Counselor Career Stories - By Rebecca Daniel-Burke
Steering clear of stereotypes
Victoria D’Angelo
ictoria D’Angelo wrote me a pursue a career in the mental health field behavioral strategies while working with letter recently asking about job and went on to graduate school. children with oppositional and impulsive Vsearch and physical disabilities. RDB: As you moved through school, behaviors and their parents. She has cerebral palsy, which affects her was there one theoretical orientation that RDB: What about the political side of voice and also causes her to have a slight you gravitated toward more than others? counseling: agencies, contracts, business limp and poor balance. The agency for VD: Throughout my years of course strategies? Does all of this have a place in which she had worked for 12 years was work and internships, I found myself counseling? closing, and she wondered whether she attracted to the behavioral approach to VD: Yes, definitely. All of the should write to prospective employers working with clients. Because of my counselors at our agency have to write regarding her disability before the hands-on approach to working with our progress notes and treatment plans in interview. children in any role, I believe I enjoyed ways that meet the requirements of the I called her, and we started a very the techniques and strategies that the county office, which is our main funding interesting conversation. Although I behavioral orientation had to offer. source. I have found that I have been had to get used to her voice and her However, as my skills have expanded to able to strive toward meeting all of their speech tempo, I found that her disability working with both children and adults, requirements while maintaining my own was “gone” within a few minutes. I have found myself relying just as style of counseling. I was speaking with a competent, heavily in approaches based on cognitive RDB: Is there still a place for caring compassionate counseling professional. behavioral therapy. and compassion in counseling? Here is Victoria’s story. RDB: How did you determine what VD: I would not know how to conduct Rebecca Daniel-Burke: What is your area of counseling you were passionate a counseling session without caring and current counseling position? about? compassion. For example, I believe that Victoria D’Angelo: I have been VD: I have developed a passion for most clients assess us in the beginning of working as a counselor for almost treating both children and adults with the therapeutic relationship to see if we 12 years in an outpatient clinic in post-traumatic stress disorder. I have are sincere and compassionate enough to Philadelphia called Children’s Service Inc. found with experience that I have a talent earn their trust. I am now considered the senior clinician for treating victims of all ages and with all RDB: Was there someone in your in the agency, and I have an additional types of trauma. life who saw something special in you responsibility of supervising our master’s- RDB: Please say a bit about your early on? Who valued you as a unique level interns. favorite counseling position. How was individual? RDB: What led you down the path that job for you? VD: Yes, I regarded one particular toward a profession in counseling? VD: I have been working for Children’s psychologist, who used to be the clinical VD: Even though I majored in Service Inc. since I completed my master’s director of Children’s Service Inc., as my psychology as an undergraduate, I did degree in 1998. I have learned so much mentor in the field. Not only did she not discover the counseling profession from the psychologists and psychiatrists amaze me with the depth of her clinical right away. I guess I had to encounter there. My role has evolved from novice skills and knowledge, but she pushed me some failure first. I started my career as a therapist to senior clinician in the course as a clinician in ways that I had never special education teacher of children with of these 12 years. been challenged before. Instead of telling learning and emotional disabilities. As a RDB: Where does your predominant me, “Look how far you have come,” her young adult right out of undergraduate theoretical orientation come into your underlying message to me was always, college, I quickly realized I had difficulties work? “OK, you have come this far. How much maintaining control of my classroom. VD: I have found that trauma recovery further are you willing to go?” She was The only time I felt that I made a has so much to do with how victims the one who trained me in supervising difference in my students’ lives was when have conceptualized what has happened master’s-level students. Since she left the I took them aside individually and helped to them. I have relied on cognitive agency, our relationship has changed, them talk about the problems that were behavioral therapy to help my clients alter and we have become good friends and contributing to their misbehavior in their perceptions in order to help them colleagues. my classroom. After realizing that I had move away from a place of self-blame and RDB: Has studying counseling and stronger skills in counseling than I did toward recognizing their own sources of becoming a professional counselor been in classroom management, I began to inner strength. Also, I still draw upon transformational for you?
12 | Counseling Today | October 2010 VD: Yes, I have always struggled with a lack of assertiveness. Becoming a professional counselor has helped me to Earn 6.5 CEs be more direct with others. I have learned to be assertive with clients when the need arises. However, I am still working on this Foundations of Disaster on a personal level. RDB: How has your physical disability Mental Health Training helped or hindered your counseling career? Thursday, March 24, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm VD: I believe that the presenting problems of many of our clients make them feel somehow removed from others — that they are on the outskirts of ACA will be hosting the American Red Cross Foundations of society looking in. Even from the initial Disaster Mental Health training at the 2011 ACA Conference sessions, many of my clients instinctively know just by looking at me that I can & Exposition because we realize that in a disaster environ- relate on some level with that feeling, ment, mental health services are in high demand and ACA without me ever having to make a single often helps in the deployment of trained professionals to the self-disclosure. In this respect, I feel disaster site. To take this free course, you must meet these having a physical disability can facilitate qualifications: the processes of joining with clients and establishing rapport. In terms of hindering my career, I had 1. You must be licensed for independent practice by a State difficulty getting jobs and internships Counseling Licensure Board. Counselors in a two-tier in my past experiences. Unfortunately, state must be licensed at the higher, independent practice regardless of my level of education or level; or a school counselor or school psychologist who expertise, I still have had prospective has successfully completed a master’s or doctoral degree employers doubt my level of competency. and holds a current state license or state certification. I feel I have had a sixth sense for knowing when I am being rejected because of my 2. You must have a valid practicing license at the time of lack of skills or expertise for a particular training. position and when I am being rejected 3. You must be a current ACA member. on the basis of my disability alone, even 4. You must pre-register. No onsite registrations can be during the earlier part of my career. accepted. RDB: What mistakes have you made along the way as you became the counselor you are today? And more Class size is limited, so call today. important, what lessons have you learned To request registration materials, please contact Debbie from those mistakes? Beales at [email protected] or 800-347-6647, x306. VD: I consider one of my biggest professional blunders to be earning my doctorate through a program that was not regionally accredited but only All registration materials and other required information accredited through a specific state. I did must be received and approved by the Red Cross before this because, at the time, I thought I acceptance to the training is granted. was moving to the West Coast and was planning on working as a psychologist there. When my life took a different turn, I found myself staying in Pennsylvania If you will not be attending the ACA Conference, but are still and not eligible to sit for licensure as a interested in taking this training, you can contact your local psychologist. I finally admitted to myself chapter Red Cross at www.redcross.org to find out when in 2007 that there was nothing I could they will be conducting training in your area. do to change this situation, so I earned my license on a master’s level as an LPC [licensed professional counselor] and have made fun of myself with my colleagues by calling myself an overeducated counselor!
October 2010 | Counseling Today | 13 RDB: I can see your work is intense at times. What ways do you find to take care of yourself and fill yourself back up? VD: Most of the time, I have been able to leave the emotional impact that doing trauma work has on me at the office. Yet, every once in awhile, I will find my mind thinking about a client’s situation when I am home. I enjoy spending time being really silly with friends and watching movies ACA Branch Awards Call for Entries that have nothing to do with reality Electronic Submission Deadline: whatsoever. I also have a passion for dogs and have found an outlet by taking my Friday, January 7, 2011, own dog and participating in activities 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time that are canine-oriented. RDB: What do our readers need to know about counseling and disabilities? The ACA Branch Awards competition recognizes those branches that VD: I guess I would like your readers significantly advance and enhance the counseling profession through excellent in supervisory positions to realize the programs, increased membership, quality communications, and community involvement. assets that professionals with disabilities can bring to an organization and that we want to be either hired or rejected Award Categories: on the basis of our skills and knowledge alone, just like our colleagues without Best Innovative Practice and Best Leadership Development disabilities. RDB: Our readers are mostly Branches will compete with other branches within their region. There will practicing counselors. Is there anything be TWO awards given for each region. A branch may only win one award in a I have left out that you want our readers given year. to know? VD: Many colleagues have asked me over the years why I never specialized Winning Prizes: in working with other individuals with disabilities. Perhaps I would have been Winners will receive $250, plus one conference registration to the 2012 ACA successful having that specialty … I don’t Annual Conference & Exposition in San Francisco. Housing and transporta- know. There is a very stubborn side of tion are not included. Recognition at the ACA National Awards Ceremony me — a side of which my mother is very during the 2011 ACA Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans, La., much aware — that does not want to held on March 26, 2011, at 7:00 pm. Also, the opportunity to present the win- be stereotyped. In both my professional ning entry at the 2011 ACA Summer Institute for Leadership Training. and personal life, I have strived to prove that I can make it in the nondisabled world. This is a personal choice and one Entry Submission and Deadline: that is not shared by all of my friends with disabilities, some of whom have admirably dedicated their lives and All award entries must be submitted electronically to counseling.org/awards/ careers to running advocacy groups. I just index.aspx – no exceptions and no later than 5:00 pm, Eastern Time, Friday, feel this path is right for me! u Jan. 7, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Schmidt, ACA Branch Awards Project Chair, at [email protected] or Denise Brown, Director of Rebecca Daniel-Burke is director of Member Programs/Branch Development, at [email protected]. the ACA Career Center. Contact her at [email protected] Thank you in advance for your participation. if you have questions, feedback or We look forward to receiving your entries and seeing you at the suggestions for future columns. Awards Ceremony in New Orleans! Letters to the editor: [email protected]
14 | Counseling Today | October 2010 “The things that you lose, a lot of time you can never get those back.” What could someone who survived drugs tell kids? Your best weapon is drug education that reaches youth with the facts as told by former users who themselves survived the nightmare of addiction. And that is a message that will empower them to resist peer pressure—the major reason kids turn to drugs in the first place.
That’s where we can help with of the most commonly abused success—proven drug education substances, as told by users in the booklets, award-winning public same factual, no-hype but powerful service messages and the new approach that is the hallmark of our To find out more, centerpiece of our educational program. program—the documentary The order the FREE Truth About Drugs—Real People, Truth About Drugs Find out more about effective drug Information Kit Real Stories. education materials that enable you TODAY. This hard-hitting, no-holds-barred to reach kids before drugs do—with 13-part film (on DVD) covers each a message they will listen to. drugfreeworld.org/educators “The students were interested in the videos and The Truth About Drugs is a program of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a nonprofit public benefit corporation. The Foundation’s purpose is to empower youth materials…and loved the information. … I also and adults with the facts they need to make informed decisions about drugs. received e-mails from parents telling me that students came home and talked to them about what they had learned. … This is the best drug education program I have ever seen.” —Health Teacher drugfreeworld.org/educators
Get the facts you need to know. Get the truth about drugs.
© 2010 Foundation for a Drug-Free World. All Rights Reserved.
October 2010 | Counseling Today | 15 New Perspectives - With Donjanea L. Fletcher
My journey into counseling
eriodically, New Perspectives students tell personal stuff to a class I told him I was glad he had shared dedicates space for new clown?” I was not the most popular his problems and that he could count on Pprofessionals and graduate student or a star athlete, a genius or a guy me to listen in the future. After he left, I counseling students to share their with many girlfriends. Beneath all of my asked myself, “Why in the world would developmental experiences in their own humor was an insecure boy. he tell his problems to someone he really words. After high school, I enrolled in college didn’t like?” This month, Ralph Williams Sr., a as an art major. During this time, After being honorably discharged, I recent graduate of Mercer University, classmates told me about their traumas, completed my degree from Ohio State. talks about the winding path he took disappointments, worries, anxieties and Then I began a long career in commercial to become a therapist. It’s a story filled depressions. Again, I could never figure art. There were rewards and frustrations with decades of searching, 16 years of out why they did this. People’s apparent in my career. One frustration was that determination and a lifelong lesson for trust and confidence in me continued my artistic talent did not compare to that counselors. for years with family members, friends, of my colleagues. I took the Highlands coworkers and even total strangers. I Ability Battery only to discover that my w guess I couldn’t see the forest for the trees graphic arts talent was not as strong as my Ralph Williams Sr. because I never felt I had a gift, talent or traits for good intuitive understanding knack for counseling. Now that I am a A well-known Bible verse says, “Many of social situations, my enjoyment of counselor, I realize this same lesson can are called, but few are chosen.” As I interacting with people and my ability to apply to clients. reflect on my journey to becoming a listen well to others and understand what After receiving a bachelor’s degree in art counselor, I think the saying for some they were feeling. The truth stared me from Florida A&M University, I entered people, including clients, should be, in the face, but insecurity is blinding — graduate school at Ohio State University “Many are called, but few listen.” again, a personal lesson that also applies to pursue a master’s degree in art. My to clients. studies were interrupted by military Phase 1: The initial calling service. It was there that my interest in My journey in counseling began at human behavior revived. Phase 2: Calling heard … but about age 10 when my mother took my While in Army basic training, I became deferred brother and me to see the movie The platoon leader of 54 young, aggressive About 20 years ago, I joined a large Three Faces of Eve. If you have not seen and immature recruits. Most of us were church in Atlanta that offered Christian this film, it is based on the true story draftees, some of whom did not want counseling services and lay counselor of a woman suffering from dissociative to be in the Army and hated everything training. I promptly became involved in identity disorder. I was so intrigued as about the military. They displaced their this and received training. I finally heard she transitioned from one personality anger on me with verbal and physical the call! to another that the movie became abuse. When I finished, I began counseling etched in my memory, sparking my One infuriated guy gave me lots of church members and was so happy I fascination of human behavior. However, trouble. He didn’t like the military, and entered a graduate program at Georgia this fascination could not override he didn’t like me. Late one night, he came State University (GSU) to pursue a my childhood dream to become a to my room and closed the door. I was counseling degree. Graduate school and commercial artist. I held on to that dream nervous. But he sat on my footlocker and commercial art are a rough combination. throughout grade school. disclosed many family and relationship Commercial art is very stressful and time In high school, I was a class clown. problems. When he had finished, I asked consuming. I had neither the energy Nonetheless, classmates told me their him why he was telling me this. He nor the concentration to succeed, so personal problems. One question I replied that he felt comfortable talking to I withdrew from GSU. Years later, I could not answer then was, “Why would me. I was intrigued. enrolled at Liberty University only to
16 | Counseling Today | October 2010 My life, my story
“My life, my story” profiles individuals new to the counseling profession who are proving to be exceptional. To nominate a student or new professional to be featured in this section, e-mail [email protected].
This month, Taheera Blount is human services from Pitt Community Words of advice for students and featured for her multiple roles as a College new professionals: Embrace a vision doctoral student, school counselor, for your life. Envision yourself in five community counseling clinician and Current workplace: Professional to 10 years. Set realistic and obtainable goals. Have confidence in yourself, and published author. Taheera is coauthor school counselor at Riverside High of the article “The Power of the PAR,” you will be able to accomplish your School in Durham and mental health published by the North Carolina dreams. note auditor for an agency in Durham. School Counseling Association. She also wrote “The Power of Imagination,” a chapter in the 2009 Greatest professional research-based text Inspiring Student accomplishments: Approaching Writers: Strategies and Examples for the end of my supervision hours Teachers, edited by Tom Scheft. to become a licensed professional counselor and embracing the field of Age: 30 school counseling as a clinician with a community mental health background. Current residence: Durham, N.C. I’ve always desired to work with students and enjoy being a school Education: Current counselor education doctoral student at North counselor. Carolina State University; M.A. in school counseling from North Carolina Biggest challenge as a student: Central University; bachelor’s of social Managing the demands of a doctorate work from Barton College; A.A.S. in program and working full time.
withdraw again. I then worked part In 2007, I transferred from late for someone — including clients — time while enrolled at Psychological Psychological Studies Institute to Mercer to heed his or her call in life, even when Studies Institute (now Richmont University. I graduated from there this the situation seems dim. Graduate University) but realized I past spring with a master of science Not bad for a class clown who finally could not complete school and work degree in community counseling, nearly heard the call. u simultaneously. 16 years after starting GSU. I also passed I continued to hear the call, but life the National Counselor Examination circumstances blocked my answer. I and am preparing for certification as a realized I had to let go of old things to substance abuse counselor. Throughout my commercial Donjanea L. Fletcher is the column pursue my new dream. Our clients often editor for New Perspectives and reach this point. art career, I listened to coworkers’ problems. Throughout my life, I heard a student affairs counselor at the many people’s struggles. I am now so University of West Georgia. If you Phase 3: Call answered happy in my new career that I don’t are a student or new counseling I had enough years to qualify for a very miss commercial art. My counseling professional who would like to small pension at my last job and prayed experiences, including my internship submit a question or an article to God for guidance. After many prayers at a homeless shelter, changed my life. to this column, e-mail dfletche@ and godly advice from ministers and My clients see past my experiences as westga.edu. friends, I left my secure job in my late 50s the class clown counselor, the platoon Letters to the editor: to become a full-time graduate student. leader counselor and the go-to-guy office [email protected] Although the decision was scary, it was counselor. My lesson learned, as a person the right choice. and as a counselor, is that it’s never too
October 2010 | Counseling Today | 17 Private practice in Counseling - By Robert J. Walsh and Norman C. Dasenbrook
Shedding some light on LLCs
Q: I am planning to start my practice members get a discount, and I even have Regardless, always make sure there is next month and currently tying up a coverage as a seminar presenter! a signed release from all clients. Also, few loose ends. I am seeking quotes remember that under HIPAA (the Health w for malpractice insurance, and a few Insurance Portability and Accountability close friends and family members Q: I don’t think I’ve ever seen this Act), you need a signed separate release of have encouraged me to set up an LLC addressed in any of your columns, information for psychotherapy notes. (limited liability company) to protect but I’m hoping you can provide some w my assets in the event of a lawsuit. guidance. I have received a request Is this necessary for a person who is from an insurance company for records Q: What do you recommend for starting out? Please explain. Thank you for two previous clients (husband accounting software for a small in advance for your time. and wife) who have applied for a life practice? A: We are reminded of the old insurance/disability insurance policy. A: Although a number of accounting carpenter adage: “Measure twice, cut I guess they were asked about their packages are available, we both use once.” Starting out right saves time and medical/mental health history. Both Quicken by Intuit software. We have aggravation later. Your friends and family husband and wife signed consent used this software for more than a decade, are steering you in the right direction, forms that call for the “release of entire and it makes tax preparation much but you will also need the advice of an medical record without restriction.” easier. Go to quicken.intuit.com/ for more attorney and tax adviser in your state. I contacted both clients, and they information. Laws that affect business entities vary confirmed signing the release of w from state to state, so legal and tax information. What exactly do I send? consultation is essential. Do I send my written progress notes? We will be presenting our private When professional counselors I have a pretty extensive file on this practice workshop “Surviving or consider establishing a business entity, couple. Any suggestions you can give Thriving?” on the following dates: their first thought is usually protection would be greatly appreciated. n Oct. 15, South Bend, Ind. from liability. That is why you must A: I (Bob Walsh) have had this kind n Oct. 16, Detroit have malpractice insurance. Our of request before. Usually, I do not send n Oct. 18, Indianapolis understanding is that an LLC is designed the whole counseling record unless to provide the limited liability features of specifically required to do so. Some of my n Oct. 29, Sioux Falls, S.D. a corporation with the tax advantages of a notes have shorthand and abbreviations n Dec. 4, Chicago sole proprietorship. and, in some cases, they are only legible Go to counseling-privatepractice.com/ An LLC is a good idea but will not to me. Instead, I type a summary that seminars.php for details and registration. u protect you from a malpractice lawsuit. includes the start date for counseling, It will, however, protect you from the frequency of visits (with dates), ACA members can e-mail their lawsuits arising from the operation of the diagnosis, the prognosis and some questions to Robert J. Walsh your practice. Liability (malpractice) remarks on treatment and progress. and Norman C. Dasenbrook at insurance will deal with a lawsuit for I have also talked with the case manager [email protected] and access malpractice or disciplinary defense. The when it was the State Department of a series of “Private Practice best companies for liability insurance are Disability and conveyed this information Pointers” on the ACA website at available through membership in national by phone. In two cases, I was told I counseling.org. A podcast on and/or state counselor professional was in compliance with the request by starting a private practice is also organizations. I (Norm Dasenbrook) have reporting via telephone; the case manager available to ACA members for Health Providers Service Organization told me she took notes and put them in free on the website. (HPSO) liability insurance, available the client’s folder. In other cases, I was Letters to the editor: through the ACA Insurance Trust (acait. told to copy and send the whole record as [email protected] com/). American Counseling Association it appeared in the client file.
18 | Counseling Today | October 2010 End of Life Care: Know More )RUWKRVHZKRKDYHSDUWLFLSDWHGLQWKH([FHOVLRU&ROOHJH(QGRI/LIH&DUH&HUWL¿FDWHSURJUDPZKHWKHUWR HDUQDFHUWL¿FDWHRUVLPSO\WDNHFRXUVHV²LWKDVEHHQDQH\HRSHQLQJDQGOLIHDOWHULQJH[SHULHQFH
.QRZLQJPRUHDERXWHQGRIOLIHFDUHFDQPDNHDQLPSRUWDQWGLIIHUHQFHLQDQ\RQH¶VOLIH²EHLW\RXURZQRU \RXUFOLHQWV¶'HOLYHUHGHQWLUHO\RQOLQHFRXUVHVRILQWHUHVWPD\EHWDNHQDWDQ\WLPHZLWKRXWDFRPPLWPHQW WRFRPSOHWLQJWKHHQWLUHFUHGLWSURJUDP7RSLFVLQFOXGHWKHUDSHXWLFFRPPXQLFDWLRQVHOIFDUHVWUDWHJLHV WKHEHUHDYHPHQWSURFHVVV\PSWRPDQGFDVHPDQDJHPHQWOLIHWUDQVLWLRQVDQGHWKLFVWRQDPHDIHZ 1RPDWWHUZKHUH\RXDUHLQ\RXUOLIHRU\RXUORFDWLRQ« 2XU&DPSXVLV:KHUHYHU To learn more about the End of Life Care Certi cate program at Excelsior College, email admissions@ excelsior.edu or go to excelsior.edu/endoflife. everywhere.excelsior.edu October 2010 | Counseling Today | 19 Resource Reviews - With Ruth Harper Shoptimism: Why the American zero in 1983 to about one in two of us by 1949. A credit card “erases the barriers Consumer Will Keep on Buying 2006.” that separate self-regulation from self- No Matter What Along these same lines, Eisenberg offers indulgence,” Eisenberg observes. “There’s By Lee Eisenberg, 2009, Free Press, 334 an intriguing explanation for how we irrefutable evidence that packing a card, pages, $26, ISBN: 0743296257 decide something’s worth: “Reference or four, or a dozen or more, increases Why do prices become anchored in our heads personal spending.” Americans chiefly because we shop a great deal and Further, Eisenberg carefully documents continue to buy, over time learn what things are generally how excessive shopping can legitimately even when we are worth.” At the same time, he cautions, be considered an unhealthy addiction. acutely aware of “Retailers know how to implant reference But unlike other self-destructive prices.” the detrimental behaviors, uninhibited spending tends As might be expected, Eisenberg also to be sanctioned and even actively impact that it spends a disproportionate amount of promoted by many of our societal will have on our time delving into the still-emerging field institutions. “Compulsive Buying livelihood? And of behavioral economics. “Behavioral Disorder is currently under consideration why does the economics is dedicated to the proposition for inclusion in the 2011 edition of economic “big that irrational decision making is not the American Psychiatric Association’s picture” seem just human, it’s pretty much the human Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of to have such a nominal influence on our norm,” he observes. “It’s not surprising Mental Disorders (DSM-V),” Eisenberg personal spending habits? that behavioral economics — in notes. “This would be a big deal.” These questions are at the heart of demystified form — receives a steady In a particularly engaging discussion Shoptimism: Why the American Consumer stream of media coverage.” of the reasons people spend money on , Will Keep on Buying No Matter What According to Eisenberg, most nonessentials, he uses model railroading the latest book by Lee Eisenberg, whose consumers can be categorized into one enthusiasts to illustrate an important previous best sellers include Breaking of two basic types: classic buyers and point. Employing Abraham Maslow’s Eighty and The Number. Eisenberg argues romantic buyers. Classic buyers tend to theory of the hierarchy of needs as a convincingly that shopping is much more be very price conscious and practical. conceptual framework, Eisenberg explains fundamental to defining who we are than They have a definite preference for “tried- how spending money on this kind of is often recognized or acknowledged. and-true” products. Romantic buyers, pastime provides a connection to the real Rather than being motivated by mere on the other hand, love to have more world and fulfills the need for love and necessity, he asserts that most Americans choices, are drawn to extra features and belonging, self-esteem and, ultimately, buy for status, a fondness for the unique possess an affinity for products that are self-actualization. and for the social and emotional benefits “new and different.” Shoptimism also contains an inordinate that we seem to derive through the simple Although Eisenberg weaves extensive number of fascinating (and potentially act of acquiring things. academic research throughout controversial) marketing research Shoptimism is a wonderful mix of Shoptimism, while reading the book, findings. For instance, Eisenberg economics and psychology. The book you get the distinct impression that you cites studies showing that the Jewish is composed of two main sections. The are having a personal conversation with community patronizes nightclubs more first consists of eight chapters that deal the author. Entertaining and colorful than Protestant or Catholic communities, with the selling side of consumerism. The examples permeate the narrative, African Americans buy a lower percentage latter half of the book features an equal seemingly bringing the words on each of ground and whole-bean coffee than number of chapters that address buying page to life. non-African Americans, and women who behavior. A pervasive point Eisenberg makes work in offices are considerably more A fair number of pages are devoted is that impulsive buying continues to likely to wish they had “different faces” to the issue of needs versus wants. increase in American society, the recent than women who live on farms. On the “Yesterday’s wants have a way of turning economic downturn notwithstanding. A surface, these kinds of examples might into things we just have to have,” primary contributing factor to this trend appear to be irrelevant factoids, but Eisenberg writes. “[O]ur professed need is the explosive proliferation of credit Eisenberg demonstrates how advertisers for a computer zoomed from virtually cards since their initial introduction in use this type of data to effectively target 20 | Counseling Today | October 2010 and tap into specific market segments. questionnaires, Wicks guides readers in mentoring counseling students as In Shoptimism, Eisenberg set out to try on a personal journey of self-reflection they embark on their own journeys of to make sense of consumer behavior in while encouraging them to develop self-reflection. Counseling professionals America. More precisely, he wanted to a personalized self-care protocol and searching for self-knowledge will find explain how we make buying decisions renewal program and to engage in daily this book instructive, insightful and and how we are constantly manipulated debriefings. Whether the reader’s goal compelling. by marketers and advertisers. In large is to combat compassion fatigue or to Reviewed by Claudia Lingertat-Putnam, measure, he succeeds. increase self-knowledge, everyone will associate professor of counseling, the College Reviewed by Aaron W. Hughey, Department find something of value in these pages. of St. Rose, Albany, N.Y. of Counseling and Student Affairs, Western Although Bounce has value for anyone Kentucky University. wishing to become more conscious and open to life’s experiences, the information Ten More Good Years (DVD) provided is particularly relevant for those Produced and directed by Michael Jacoby, Bounce: Living the Resilient Life in the helping professions. Wicks warns 2007, Lookout Films, $195 (educational By Robert J. Wicks, 2010, Oxford that “no matter how prepared we are, we institutions); $75 (community and University Press, 232 pages, $21.95, ISBN: are not immune to the psychological and nonprofit groups), color, 71 minutes, 978-0195367683 spiritual dangers that arise in living a full ISBN: 646-319-7965 Robert Wicks life of involvement with others.” Sharing has written a personal stories of triumph and struggle, reflective book he offers a guide for those lost in the for counseling darkness, as well as those fearful of being professionals pulled in. seeking personal Readers with an orientation toward change and self-reflection will find this book an growth. Wicks important companion in the search draws on his for personal growth. For those who significant are skeptical, the author skillfully The study of gerontology is expanding experience addresses objections such as lack of time rapidly among counselors, in part as a caregiver for helping professionals or perceived difficulty meditating or because the U.S. population is aging, in sharing ideas on preventing burnout, reflecting. He gently encourages readers but also because there is a lack of increasing self-awareness and nurturing to reassess the importance of silence and adequate universal social programming resilience. Throughout the book’s 200- solitude (pathways to creating a resilient for older adults. Yet often forgotten or plus pages, readers are given a glimpse inner life) and offers structured and intentionally ignored in the research and into such assorted topics as chronic and informal exercises as practice. programming for seniors are the needs acute stress, maintaining a balanced Sprinkled throughout the chapters are of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender circle of friends, contemporary positive references to an eclectic array of authors, (LGBT) people. Ten More Good Years psychology and mindfulness meditation. including Russian playwright Anton highlights this neglect by incorporating Wicks inspires readers to listen to, Chekhov, American Buddhist nun Pema inspiring and emotional case examples, reflect on and wake up to their inner Chödrön, singer-songwriter Joan Baez introducing viewers to community life. He maintains a spirit of open and mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn, resources in select cities, explaining exploration, encouraging readers to delightfully acknowledging wisdom in all U.S. political movements and laws, and learn from the inherent stress in life its forms. Although primarily written for showcasing successful advocacy projects. and to work to remain productive and those seeking personal change, counselor In its 71 minutes, this documentary creative. Using lists, self-assessments and educators may also find this book helpful touches on a range of issues facing October 2010 | Counseling Today | 21 See the complete Advance Registration Brochure included with this issue! 4HE !#! #ONFERENCE %XPOSITION s -ARCH -ARCH (Pre-conference Learning Institutes*) New Orleans Judith S. Beck, PhD President and co-founder with her father Aaron T. Beck, MD, of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia—an international training ground for cognitive and cognitive-behavioral therapists. Soledad O’Brien CNN’s highly acclaimed special correspondent and host of In America documentaries, Hear why she is committed to being a voice for those in society who are unable to speak for themselves. Plus…. 500+ Education Sessions selected by a peer-review process More than 150 Advance Level sessions 40 intensive Pre-conference Learning Institutes Dozens of ACA Division, Branch and Region programs, social gatherings Special events such as the Opening Party, International Forum and more Networking opportunities galore! Largest Exposition in the world dedicated to counseling Free consultations on careers, private practice issues Register by November 30 and Save! counseling.org/conference * Separate registration fee applies 22 | Counseling Today | October 2010 See you in New Orleans! the aging LGBT population: historic organization and community leaders, and must be willing to understand and meet prejudice, partnership and family professional advocates. Perhaps the most the needs of the elderly population, relationships, poverty in old age, mental impressive aspect of this documentary the LGBT population and the elderly health implications, physical safety, is its ability to educate and inspire LGBT population. Viewing this award- access to health care and residential rather than to portray a general sense of winning documentary is both educational services, purposeful abandonment of victimization. Many of the issues the film and inspiring, not only for counseling political action by government and presents are not unique to LGBT elders. professionals but for anyone who professional advocacy needs. In spite Some of the issues are faced by a majority supports the population presented in of the multifarious problems the of older adults, but it just so happens this film. No longer can ignorance be an documentary addresses, inspiration that these same issues are exacerbated for excuse for ignoring. shines through in the support that the sexual minorities. Other issues explored Reviewed by Ryan L. Knigge, intensive LGBT community as a whole provides in Ten More Good Years are experienced treatment services therapist and sex offender to its seniors. As explained in the film, by sexual minorities of all ages. The therapist, Sioux Falls, S.D. u what society fails to create for minority film delicately sets aside the controversy populations, the minority community surrounding sexual and religious morals does for itself. Such programs include by maintaining a paradigm built on Ruth Harper is ending her tenure an LGBT intergenerational friendship legality and ethics. It is through these as the column editor for Resource program, LGBT senior housing, mental vantage points that viewers can abandon Reviews after having served in that health support groups and gay-friendly sympathy for empathy and reflect capacity since September 2006. professional workers. professionally without the limitations of Both Counseling Today and the Although the information and statistics defensiveness. American Counseling Association presented are striking, the film’s true As the U.S. population ages and thank her for her creativity and the beauty is its showcase of four unique and the sexual minority community dedication she showed to bringing diverse individuals who allow viewers to increases its visibility, mental health new resources to the attention of ACA members. empathize with their daily struggles while professionals will gain more awareness simultaneously sharing in their joys and of the challenges, needs, strengths and triumphs. Laced into the four case studies resources of these groups. If we strive Letters to the editor: [email protected] are interviews with expert researchers, to grow in cultural competence, we Cognitive-Behavioral Certification Home Study Programs Our outstanding cognitive-behavioral certification home study programs each provide 18 NBCC Contact Hours and CBT certifications. Each training level is only $250. CBT Level-One Certification -- The complete step-by-step systematic approach, from assessment to termination. Dealing with difficult clients. CBT Level-Two Certification -- Personality disorders, advanced underlying assumptions assessment and treatment. Advanced depression & anxiety treatment. CBT Level-Three Certification -- Relationship therapy, substance abuse, child therapy CBT Level-Four Certification -- (Coming Soon!) Advanced CBT application. Thousands of professionals have trusted the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists (www.nacbt.org) over the past 15 years for their CBT educational and certification needs. Take advantage of our excellent training opportunities. Supervision opportunities are available as well. Visit our web site at: http://nacbt.americommerce.com October 2010 | Counseling Today | 23 The Digital Psyway - By Marty Jencius Getting down to basics went through the process that n “Being a Good Counselor”: tinyurl. Communication problems many counselors go through on com/329qytx Communication is not always an easy the way to becoming a counselor task. Clients (and even extraordinary I n Counseling skills training: tinyurl. counselors) can be sucked into the — the process of trying out the different com/2ahs86v theories practiced by my various most common communication pitfalls. counseling heroes. I was lucky to live in n Nick Heap’s counseling skills: tinyurl. The problems can result from barriers, a community with a rich abundance of com/29aum5o background, cultural differences, bias and practicing professionals and counseling n Daniel Keeran’s effective counseling assumptions. workshops, some presented by my heroes. skills: tinyurl.com/2fdwyv8 n Communication problems in I would reenergize with each workshop, n Substance Abuse and Mental Health relationships: tinyurl.com/cze4u6 temporarily adopting a different theory Services Administration’s disaster n Communication problems with teens: as each of my professional heroes came counseling skills: tinyurl.com/32u2pw8 tinyurl.com/2umrsoy through town. I had my Albert Ellis n Overcoming communication prob- years, focusing on more directive skills; n Introduction to counseling techniques lems: tinyurl.com/ylphedo my William Glasser years, focusing and skills: tinyurl.com/2bzyk7b n on decision-making skills; my family n U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime Treating communication problems: therapy years (Napier, Whitaker, Haley, counseling skills and techniques: tinyurl.com/2bb2faj Gottman), focusing on interactive skills; tinyurl.com/3xwfc62 n Relationship communication problems and my psychomotor years (Al Pesso), (video series): tinyurl.com/39zhbcw Communication skills focusing on experiential skills. At some Good communication skills are Active listening point, I realized that no matter which Active listening involves using attending theory I used, everything boiled down to essential for counselors because these skills give us the basics for expressing skills, questioning, paraphrasing and the ability to form a relationship with a summarizing to accurately “hear” what client by utilizing different listening and concern. They are important in gathering good information, giving good the client is saying. It also involves counseling skills. giving feedback to the client during the information and building trust with All counselors should take a few interaction so the client will know that others. You might want to pass on some moments to reflect on and review their she or he has been heard. Focusing on of these links (or the tips found within basic counseling skills. Each year as what is being said requires us to suspend part of my teaching load, I teach a basic them) to your clients to further empower judgment and diagnosis as we develop a counseling skills course. It always serves them in their relationships. true empathic presence for our clients. as a refresher for me regarding my own n List of communications skills: tinyurl. n What is active listening?: tinyurl. counseling skills. Being with students com/2ems4ma com/279fzor who are new to the process of counseling n Three components of communication: and communicating with clients forces n How to listen effectively: tinyurl. tinyurl.com/256vg37 me to be more intentional in my work. com/28z7aoy With that as background and inspiration, n Improve your communication skills: tinyurl.com/erlom n Ten tips for active listening: tinyurl. for this month’s column I’ve assembled a com/2ajdyaf collection of links that provide content n Developing effective communication and insight regarding basic counseling skills: tinyurl.com/6nqv35 n Active listening lesson: tinyurl. and communication skills. com/2bcl8qm n Guide to cooperative communication Counseling skills skills at home and at work: tinyurl. n Mind Tools active listening booklet: com/9qxea tinyurl.com/bzpbh n Basic counseling skills: tinyurl. n Compendium of web resources for com/33ng8gy Assessing your counseling skills communication skills: n “The Top 10 Basic Counseling Skills” tinyurl.com/rfe1 Some of my fondest recollections of (document download): tinyurl. n Communication skills self-assessment graduate training involve the feedback com/2g3f9m3 exercise: tinyurl.com/cv7uyp I received when others observed my 24 | Counseling Today | October 2010 counseling skills. Having someone Specific populations and communication skills truly are. Take evaluate my work enhanced every Because culture is a shared, learned, the time to review some of the resources new counseling experience for me. symbolic system of values and beliefs, highlighted here, and reflect on ways Unfortunately, these counselor trainee cultural differences also play out in how that you can help improve not only your experiences spoil us. After we get out of we use counseling skills. Different clients clients’ communication processes, but our internships and into set employment, require that counselors use different skill we don’t experience that same level of approaches. It is our ethical obligation as your counseling skills as well. supervision. Even so, if you’re not in counselors to continue growing in areas training, you can call on colleagues to in which we are challenged by those who w evaluate your work. The following links are different from us. can also be useful in evaluating your Did we miss some good links? Submit n Skills for multicultural and diverse counseling skills. your suggestions to Marty Jencius at clients: tinyurl.com/39sqd5z n University of South Florida intern [email protected]. You can find these student self-evaluation of session n Loss and grief counseling skills: tinyurl. and other links on The Digital Psyway com/326lam6 (document download): tinyurl. companion site at digitalpsyway.net. u com/2f9dgb4 n Tips for communicating with cultural n Check your counseling skills: tinyurl. awareness: tinyurl.com/29ccsng com/2e2er38 n Cross-cultural communication n Immediate feedback in counseling: strategies: tinyurl.com/vx3m tinyurl.com/275w987 n Cross-cultural communication skills: Marty Jencius is an associate n MTCT-Plus Basic Counseling Skills tinyurl.com/2adxz7k professor of counseling and human Checklist: tinyurl.com/28lltqr n Drug and alcohol counseling development services at Kent State n Nursing counselor assessment checklist techniques: tinyurl.com/34kzdmm University. (document download): tinyurl. n Resistant clients: tinyurl.com/2vcdvxd com/25huhn8 Letters to the editor: n University of Wyoming counseling The process of writing this column has [email protected] skills evaluation: tinyurl.com/2em5f66 reminded me of how complex counseling Regent Helped This Counselor Change Lives ... Without Changing His Address 8Vaa-%%#+-&#*.%+ lll#gZ\Zci#ZYj$ehnX]dad\n EgZk^ZlLZZ`ZcY CdkZbWZg&-"'%!'%&% 6j\jhi^cZÆ CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP TO CHANGE THE WORL D GZ\ZciJc^kZgh^in^hVXXgZY^iZYWni]Z8dbb^hh^dcdc8daaZ\Zhd[i]ZHdji]Zgc6hhdX^Vi^dcd[8daaZ\ZhVcYHX]ddahidVlVgYVhhdX^ViZh!WVXXVaVjgZViZ!bVhiZgh!VcYYdXidgViZYZ\gZZh#8dciVXii]Z8dbb^hh^dcdc8daaZ\ZhVi&-++Hdji]ZgcAVcZ!9ZXVijg! October 2010 | Counseling Today | 25 ACA Blog Sampler - By Kathy Renfree Shame, guilt and embarrassment ast week when I came home I contemplated more. I took a break by most of us have an easy time providing from my work at a community reading fluff and enjoying every minute an empathic response to the popular Lmental health clinic, I was of it. But it still bugged me that I could emotions. We do not have to dig too exhausted. I made sure that I took time not articulate what had exhausted me. It deep to find our own experiences in order to soothe myself and [didn’t] make any took a few days, and then I started to see to understand where the client “is.” As decisions or have any frank talks that through the fog I had created (my blind I dug even deeper, I found that many evening. Sure, that helped some, but I spot). of the emotions that surfaced last week could not puzzle out what triggered the As I reviewed the clients and the work were ones not easily described, not easily exhaustion. that we had done, I realized that the spoken and often blanketed in secrecy as As counselors, we are often the holders emotions present were not the “popular” our bravado steps up to ward off anyone of secrets, the receivers of stories filled emotions that get a lot of press — e.g., seeing a crack in the façade. with emotions and the givers of relief. We anger, sadness, despair or disappointment. What I discovered was that the emo- receive training in theories, in ethics and I refer to these as popular because, for tions of shame, guilt and embarrassment pathology, and we are often supervised to me, they are the emotions that I see were present last week. They crept out make sure we take care of ourselves. So I every day, either with clients or on the from behind the wall of appearance. was thinking — had I somehow neglected news, in movies or other media. We can They insinuated themselves in conversa- myself recently? Was I not feeling well, or describe them easily and connect them tions and narratives. They leapt onto the did I have my own problem to solve or to rather mundane events. “I was mad at table and stamped their feet and shouted, work through? None of those fit, leaving him because he was late for dinner,” or “I “We’re here! Pay attention! We’ve waited me a bit chagrined that I could not figure felt so alone, as if no one cared about me for this moment so long!” Imagine their out my own issue. because they didn’t ask me out.” I think visit, uninvited surely, us holding the Free CE of the Month for ACA members The featured Understanding and Treating Social Phobia free CE credit for October by Russell C. Curtis, 2010 is a Amy Kimball, and Erin L. Stroup Journal of Counseling & Development Register online at article www.counseling.org/resources click on Online Learning 26 | Counseling Today | October 2010 door closed as they tried to get in. How- ever, it was time — time to stop avoiding their visit. No more drawing the blinds and not answering the phone. They were here to stay, and they brought along their companions — sexual abuse, neglect, LIFEISTOOLONG physical abuse and alcohol and drug abuse. TOLIVEITINPAIN It is never (and I will say never) easy to be with the overwhelming pain, shame, guilt or embarrassment of an adult whose child voice enters the room and recounts unspeakable acts. The world stops for a moment, the lights dim to honor the courage spilling into the office. Words are whispered because saying them softly eases them into reality — into the present. The adult speaks of relief and freedom in sharing the secrets. The child, emboldened, no longer hides behind the adult, but walks beside them. For me, traumas, experienced vicariously. I understood why I was exhausted now, and I knew I needed to share what I experienced as I listened to my clients. As counselors, we are encouraged to seek supervision and/or Recovery From Grief seek therapy at times like this, and it is Is Possible important that we do just that. As time passes, we regain our strength, enough for us to receive and hold again and to give relief not only to the clients but also to ourselves. Especially when shame, guilt and embarrassment come to visit. How do you give relief to yourself? I invite you to share your thoughts. ® w The Grief ¨ Recovery Visit my.counseling.org/ to read other Certification Training Program blog posts written by ACA members. u 4ǦDayTraining/30CEUHours/Maximum15Participants PARTIAL2010SCHEDULE (MoreDatesOnline) OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 1Ǧ4Portland,OR 5Ǧ8Phoenix,AZ 10Ǧ13 Elizabeth,NJ 1Ǧ4SanAntonio,TX 5Ǧ8Chicago,IL Kathy Renfree is a counselor in a 22Ǧ25Pittsburgh,PA 19Ǧ22OklahomaCity,OK community mental health setting. 22Ǧ25Richmond,VA 19Ǧ22Denver,CO She also teaches in a graduate 19Ǧ22ShermanOaks,CA counseling program as needed and is looking forward to building a private practice. ForMoreInformationorToRegister Call800Ǧ334Ǧ7606orVisitTheGriefRecoveryInstituteat WWW.GRIEF.NET October 2010 | Counseling Today | 27 Getting “unstuck” when clients don’t seem receptive to help or have reached a dead end By Lynne Shallcross don’t have to talk with you, and of the American Counseling Association, you can’t force me to talk with make headway with the client. “First, “Iyou.” when I conceded her power, it seemed to Not the ideal way for a counseling help her let down her defenses a bit,” he session to begin, but John Sommers- says. “Second, when I explained how I Flanagan didn’t let his young client’s like to work with clients and that I didn’t rebuff stop him. Instead of fighting back expect her to be able to instantly tell with a clever retort, however, he simply me all her secrets, she seemed relieved. told the client she was 100 percent right. Third, when I told her that her file had “I can’t force you to talk about said many positive things about her anything,” said Sommers-Flanagan, an personality and her intelligence and then associate professor in the University of asked her if she thought that was true, Montana Department of Counselor she seemed genuinely and pleasantly Education. “It’s completely your choice. surprised. This is probably because In fact, if I ever try to force you to talk so many clients come to counseling about anything, I hope you tell me, expecting criticism and a focus on because I’m totally not interested in their personal weaknesses that it’s very forcing you to do anything.” reassuring when the counselor recognizes After a short silence, Sommers-Flanagan a positive strength.” went on to explain how he likes to work This type of start to the counseling with clients in counseling. “You know, relationship isn’t out of the ordinary for counseling is really weird,” Sommers- Sommers-Flanagan, coauthor with wife Flanagan told the young woman. “We’re Rita Sommers-Flanagan of Tough Kids, total strangers, and yet, somehow, you’re Cool Counseling: User-Friendly Approaches supposed to walk in here, sit down and With Challenging Youth, published by tell me about important stuff in your life. ACA. “Nearly every week, I meet with Well, I really don’t expect that. Instead, youth and young adults ages 16 to 24, what I’d like to do is to begin by telling and nearly all the students with whom you what I’ve been told about you. I think I meet don’t want to meet with me,” he that’s fair, because I’ve gotten information says. “This makes the initiation of the from your file and from your intake counseling process very difficult.” counselor. So I’m just going to tell you what I’ve heard, and you can tell me if it’s A different light right or not.” Counselors might view particular The approach helped Sommers- clients as challenging for a variety of Flanagan, a mental health consultant with reasons, but it’s important to gain some Trapper Creek Job Corps and a member perspective, Sommers-Flanagan says. 28 | Counseling Today | October 2010 “Historically, psychoanalysts referred to such clients as ‘resistant.’ Clients were viewed as resistant if they talked too much, talked too little, arrived Knowing Our History is as late or arrived early, talked only about intellectual topics or only about other Important as Knowing people, or disagreed with the ‘all- knowing’ psychotherapist or counselor. In other words, depending on the individual Our Students. client and counselor, nearly any behavior can be seen as challenging or difficult.” More recently, applying the resistant label has been frowned upon because it is viewed as blaming the client. Instead, Sommers-Flanagan says, words such as challenging, reluctant or precontemplative are used. “However, even though the School Counsel i ng Prin intent of using these less pejorative terms rememberingciples with clients is positive, these words the past, still lay some blame on clients for their shaping ambivalence or for not being ready to the future accept the help the counselor has to A History of School Counseling By Norman C. Gy offer,” he says. sbers, Ph.D. An important question for counselors to ask themselves is whether clients deserve the blame for being challenging or whether counselors should be held responsible for having the right tools to help, Sommers-Flanagan says. “I think the answer to this is that although clients ntil we’ve peeked at the past, we can’t fully understand the — including angry and challenging present and create a vision for the future. With this in teenagers or substance-abusing mind, renowned voice in school counseling Norman C. clients — may behave defensively, the U Gysbers, Ph.D., takes us back in time to the genesis of school counselor should always take personal and professional responsibility for counseling more than a century ago. Decade by decade, Gysbers having enough competence to connect shines a light on the discoveries and the setbacks – as well as the with and work effectively with even social, educational and economic forces – that shaped the the most defensive clients. In fact, we profession as we know it today. “Remembering the Past, Shaping should try to remember that the whole the Future: A History of School Counseling” is a must-read for counseling scene may feel quite weird or school counseling professors and their students, practicing school uncomfortable to clients who aren’t used counselors and school administrators. to talking with a virtual stranger about their most intimate problems.” Mark Woodford, an associate professor and chair of the College of New Jersey Department of Counselor Education, agrees that even referring to clients as “challenging” can hinder the counseling process. “My experience is that these Order Your Copy labels can get in the way of my clearly To order a copy of “Remembering the Past, Shaping the Future: seeing and hearing what clients might A History of School Counseling,” visit www.schoolcounselor.org be saying about why they don’t want to and click on “Online Bookstore,” or call (800) 401-2404. participate in the counseling process at ASCA members: $32.95; nonmembers: $41.95; order no.: 289240. that point in their lives,” says Woodford, Counselor educators teaching school counseling courses may a member of ACA. “So if I feel resistance request a desk copy at www.schoolcounselor.org/pubs. to the process — that is, a client is challenging me about something that I have said or done — then I use that October 2010 | Counseling Today | 29 as clinical information about how I am managing the therapeutic relationship. Specifically, I ask myself if I am accurately gauging where my clients are in terms of their readiness to participate in counseling and/or to change whatever it is about themselves that has brought them into counseling.” Some clients are mandated to come to counseling by the judicial system, John Sommers-Flanagan an employer or even a family member, and Rita Sommers-Flanagan Woodford says. “If this is the first time they are even thinking about the issue “This second edition is even richer than in question, then they may be in the the first—and I’ve worn the cover precontemplation stage of change. My and a few pages, front and back, off work [as a counselor] will involve more empathy and active listening at this stage my first edition copy—in that it is to help them raise their consciousness up-to-date and written in the authors’ about whether or not they even want to heartfelt, unpretentious voice that contemplate making any changes at that makes this book as user-friendly as time. If I move too quickly into helping the approach they put forward.” them to actively make a change and they —Kurt L. Kraus, EdD are still ambivalent about doing so, then I Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania will feel the resistance.” Rita Sommers-Flanagan, professor of “The authors’ emphasis is on techniques that will enhance counselor education at the University counselors’ skills and build their repertoire of strategies to use of Montana, concurs that mandated to connect with children and adolescents.” counseling can create a challenging —Tamara E. Davis, EdD situation, particularly if the client doesn’t perceive the need for it or embrace the Marymount University potential benefits. “Similarly, youth whose parents are making them come Tough Kids, Cool Counseling offers creative techniques or romantic partners who are only for overcoming resistance, fostering constructive therapy getting counseling because their partner relationships, and generating opportunities for client threatened to leave are also examples of change and growth. This edition includes a new chapter the less-than-enthused client,” she says. on resistance busters and updated and fresh ideas for Challenging counseling situations establishing rapport, carrying out informal assessments, can also stem from clients lacking the improving negative moods, modifying maladaptive resources to make the changes they behaviors, and educating parents. Suicide assessment, want to make or otherwise facing nearly medication referrals, and therapy termination are also insurmountable barriers, says Stephen `ÃVÕÃÃi`°ÊÓääÇÊUÊÓÈäÊ«>}iÃÊ Southern, president of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, a division of ACA. Still other ISBN-10: 1-55620-274-1 ISBN-13: 978-1-55620-274-2 clients are simply unaware of what needs Order #72850 to be changed, he says. List Price: $46.95 ACA Member Price: $35.95 Whatever the situation, each client is unique and will thus have unique reasons Please include $8.75 for shipping of the first book and for being defensive, John Sommers- $1.00 for each additional copy. Flanagan says. He points to Irvin Yalom, the group therapist who emphasizes that American Counseling Association resistance and reluctance generally are associated with pain avoidance. “If we 800-422-2648 x222 start with the hypothesis that clients are challenging because they’re reluctant to face and deal with their emotional pain and then try to gently explore client strengths as a means for eventually 30 | Counseling Today | October 2010 approaching the pain, the counseling so the client doesn’t view him as an process is likely to proceed more extension of the problem. “When they smoothly,” Sommers-Flanagan says. realize that I can help them or that NATIONALLY the counseling process can help them Making inroads to move through whatever challenges When confronted with a challenging CERTIFIED they are facing, then a light will turn NATIONALLY case, counselors should first focus on on, and you can see in their nonverbal PARENTING their own self-awareness, Sommers- behaviors and in their verbal stance CERTIFIED Flanagan says. “In counseling, we with you that a shift has occurred in the COORDINATOR emphasize self-awareness as a first step therapeutic relationship. That is often PARENTING for working effectively with diverse a pivotal turning point. At that point, (NCPC) COORDI NATOR clients, and in some ways, clients who the counseling skills move more toward behave defensively are another type of CREDENTIALING CRITERIA helping the client to prepare for change diversity. As a consequence, the first step (NC PC) and discussing what action steps can be Doctoral or Masters Degree for counselors is to look at ourselves and made to make change happen.” CREDENTIALINGAND; CRITERIA see how we might be contributing to an Woodford recommends five strategies (ONE of the following): environment that is viewed as threatening based in motivational interviewing Doctoral(1) State or MastersLicensed Degree or or not entirely conducive to counseling.” to break through barriers with clients (2) CurrentAND; member of a Understanding the concept of and move forward with counseling: menta(ONEl health of the association following): or change can also be a help to counselors, Ask open-ended questions, affirm and (3) Two(1) State years Licensed working orwith a Southern adds, pointing out that support, listen reflectively, summarize (2)family Current court member system of a James O. Prochaska and John C. and elicit self-motivational statements. “I mentaAND;l health A minimum association of two or Norcross described six stages of change: also use a ‘decisional balance’ technique (3)years Two experienceyears working working with a precontemplation, contemplation, that helps clients to weigh the pros and with familyat least court five setssystem of high preparation, action, maintenance and cons of making changes versus staying conflictAND; Aor minimum litigating ofparents, two termination. “They emphasized that with the status quo,” he says. “I find this yearsproviding experience services working change is a process that evolves over time. very helpful to make explicit what their withdescribed at least five by sets various of high At each stage of the behavior change thoughts and feelings might be about conflictde orsignations, litigating parents, process, different interventions can be the potential for change at that point in INCLUDING,providing services BUT NOT matched to client needs to produce their lives.” describedLIMITED by TO:various progress,” says Southern, professor and parentingdesignations, coordinator, Move aside chair of the Department of Psychology reunificationINCLUDING, BUTtherapist, NOT “With all forms of resistance and and Counseling at Mississippi College. familyLIMITED coordinator, TO: challenge, one great strategy is to simply Many addicts and their family members parentingmediator, coordinator, etc.; are contemplative or precontemplative, get out of the way,” Rita Sommers- ANDreunification; 2 Endorsement therapist, Memos according to Southern, who edits Flanagan advises. “Be understanding, family_____ coordinator,______listen carefully, reflect wisely on what The Family Journal and the Journal of mediator, etc.; Addictions & Offender Counseling. “These you hear, but do not step into the AND; 2 Endorsement Memos VANGUARD PERIOD are very challenging clients because fray. Let the client work out his or her ______OFFERS “FAST-TRACK” they are suffering, but we really cannot internal resistance by providing a safe, APPLICATION AND help much. Counselors should avoid nonjudgmental environment that will DISCOUNTEDVANGUARD PROCESSING PERIOD action-oriented approaches early in the allow things to unwind.” OFFERS______“FAST-TRACK” Another strategy she recommends change process. The clients are just not APPLICATION AND prepared. Counselors can be helpful with is to ask clients to talk about the idea DISCOUNTED PROCESSING these challenging clients by nurturing, of counseling or their fears or anger Application______and encouraging and gently guiding them to associated with it. The counselor can then Full Information at: examine consequences of remaining the agree that the client’s reasons for being Application and same and promises of genuine changes in angry or cautious are valid, while also www.pacehelp.com small steps.” commending the person’s commitment to Full Information at: Woodford has had numerous participate. “I’d be upset, too, if my wife www.pacehelp.comPROFESSIONAL ACADEMY OF experiences counseling mandated clients said I had to come or she would leave,” CUSTODY EVALUATORS (PACE) ~SINCE 1991~ who did not want to be in counseling and Sommers-Flanagan might tell a client. PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY OF has found the skills required to succeed “That’s a tough one. Here you are, sitting CUSTODY800-633 EVALUATORS-PACE (7223 (PACE)) in those situations include expressing with a stranger, trying to do something ~SINCE 1991~ empathy, developing discrepancy, to please her. Wow, you must really care 800-633-PACE (7223) avoiding argumentation, rolling with about her to take this kind of risk.” resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Among John Sommers-Flanagan’s Woodford adds that he first works to preferred techniques are sharing align himself with the client as an ally or conceding power to the client, October 2010 | Counseling Today | 31 “With an angry young person, I might say, ‘Maybe we can just consult together on how to solve some of the situations that got you here — sort of like I’m your hired consultant. What would that be like?’” acknowledging the awkwardness remember one piece of advice: Don’t he would like to learn a little about the and difficulty of counseling sessions, take it personally when clients don’t game of golf. Billy scoffed initially at the disclosing what he has heard or read automatically embrace the counseling idea, stating golf was for ‘pretty boys and about the client and sharing how process. “Imagine that you are just snobs.’ However, after challenging him to his counseling approach does not stepping in for all the disappointments, a long-drive competition, with the prize include pressure. He also recommends indignations, abusive interactions, being a pack of gum, he accepted the maintaining a consistent focus on client misunderstandings and failings the client invitation. This outing was successful in strengths, engaging in active listening, has faced. It isn’t about you — it is about several ways: using humor when appropriate and their defensive system kicking in to take 1) After several failed attempts to make emphasizing that clients are the real care of their pain.” contact with the ball, he was able to ask experts on their own lives. In the trenches for assistance, surrendering to the help of He adds that the person-centered others. Counseling Today asked various ACA 2) He became frustrated with his lack theoretical foundation of congruence, members to share anecdotes about their empathy and unconditional positive experiences with challenging counseling of ability but stayed in control of his regard is important in difficult counseling situations or instances in which client anger. situations, as well as a concept called progress appeared stalled. Read on for 3) He was able to see another side of “radical interest.” their lessons learned and how they and this therapist and trust this adult male “The essence of radical interest is for their clients reached a turning point in enough to venture outside the familiar the counselor to experience the feeling the counseling relationship. counseling setting, realizing not all adult of being deeply interested in the life and males take advantage of children. perspective and emotions of this other Rick Carroll is a counselor with the 4) He learned how golf mimics life person in the room,” he says. “In some Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol/ — you have to play it where it lies, be ways, it’s the indirect communication Washington County, Va. aware of the hazards and understand that that, in the moment, the counselor’s No. “While working with male adolescents keeping focused and in control always 1 interest is to listen to and understand in an outpatient counseling setting, I produces better results. whatever’s going on in the client’s world.” often encounter initial resistance with “Using an experiential, hands-on Framing the counseling process as a this population. Most male adolescents approach to counseling, we were able to consultation can be helpful with younger are the last ones to think they need redefine the nature of our time together clients, Rita Sommers-Flanagan says. ‘counseling,’ and this mind-set was no and make the learning and healing “With an angry young person, I might exception for ‘Billy.’ Billy was a 14-year- process more enjoyable. We were also able say, ‘You really don’t want to get into this old who had experienced years of sexual to process how the skills learned during counseling stuff, and I don’t blame you. abuse from his stepfather. Once the abuse our sessions could be used in other But here’s the deal. You have this problem was uncovered, Billy was removed from settings, such as at home and at school. of needing to be here, so maybe we can the home and placed in foster care. This Billy was noticed to speak more freely just consult together on how to solve young man was a) angry that he had to about his past experiences when some of the situations that got you here leave his home, especially when everyone we were playing golf, and he even asked — sort of like I’m your hired consultant. told him he did nothing wrong and the for his sessions to be increased to once What would that be like?’” abuse was not his fault; b) confused as per week.” When young people say they don’t want to why he needed counseling; and c) to talk about something, she tells them embarrassed when confronted with the Jeffrey Guterman is an associate they don’t have to talk about anything idea of having to disclose his sexual abuse professor of counseling at Barry they don’t want to. “Then I pause for a experiences. Since Billy’s abuser was an University in Miami Shores, Fla., second and say, ‘But I am curious. If you adult male, the same as his new therapist, and the author of Mastering the did decide to talk about it, what do you the transference was noticeable from the Art of Solution-Focused Counseling, think the most important stuff would be?’ first session. After three tedious sessions published by ACA Surprisingly, some actually launch into of receiving only one-word answers — “In the late 1980s, I had been working the painful or infuriating or frightening when he spoke at all — and minimal eye with Susan, a 49-year-old woman with a material. Others call my bluff, and I just contact from Billy, the fourth visit proved history of bipolar disorder. At the time, I say, ‘That’s fine. We really can talk about to be our breakthrough session. was a licensed mental health counselor in something else.’” “Billy arrived at that session in a a group private practice and also working At the end of the day, she says particularly raw mood. Instead of going toward my doctoral degree. I was only it’s important for counselors to upstairs to the office, he was asked if four years out of graduate school and in a 32 | Counseling Today | October 2010 liminal stage between two diverse orienta- Valerie Zaffos earned her master’s in tions: rational emotive behavior therapy mental health counseling and is doing (REBT) and solution-focused therapy. her postgraduate internship at Jewish “Susan would have been a difficult Family Services in Plantation, Fla. client for an experienced counselor. Being “I like to describe ‘Joe’ as a ‘salty relatively new in the field, I found myself dog’ — a seaman through and through. working with an especially challenging Though debilitating physical injuries client. Family crises and suicide threats forced him to forgo his beloved work as were the norm for Susan. Change seemed a yachtsman and charter boat captain to come slowly, if at all. years before he entered therapy at age “When Susan canceled a scheduled 53, Joe dressed the part anyway: a appointment with less than 24-hours’ baseball cap with a logo for a marlin notice, she went ballistic upon learning fishing tournament, jeans and a that she would be required to pay my fee T-shirt that reeked of marina engine out-of-pocket. I wasn’t surprised when oil, even though it had been freshly Susan started our next session with a laundered. He came for treatment of a challenge. ‘You’re asking me to pay your major depressive episode triggered by fee because I canceled with less than recent stressful events, including loss 24-hours’ notice? Well, let me ask you of disability insurance, which in turn something! If you ever have to cancel one contributed to dire financial straits and of our appointments and you don’t give the inability to procure narcotic-strength me 24-hours’ notice, will you agree to pay pain medications to manage chronic me your fee? I think that should be how and debilitating knee, hip and shoulder it works. It’s only fair! Don’t you think?’ injuries. “I thought for a moment and then I “Our sessions followed a pattern almost quickly agreed. ‘You’re right! It works from the get-go. Joe would recount a both ways.’ And we shook on it. An air of recent stressful event, start to feel the cooperation suddenly spread through the emotional pain and abruptly shift to room, and we proceeded to have the best racist rants on the societal issue of the session ever. day. It wore on me to witness them. “Later that week, I shared my Eventually, it dawned on me that the experience with several colleagues. One rants were Joe’s defense mechanism, colleague strongly disagreed with how I allowing him to stay [one step removed] handled the situation and insisted that from his own sense of powerlessness the counselor should always be in charge. and incompetence by projecting those I thought to myself that such thinking is judgments onto easier targets. It also the stuff that resistance is made of. helped that I was able to find other “After this event, everything began aspects of this client’s colorful personality to change in the counseling: Susan, the to like. counseling relationship, me. Susan felt “The next time Joe morphed from boat empowered. She enacted personal agency. captain to blowhard, I mustered as much The counseling shifted from an emphasis on problems to a focus on solutions. empathy as I could and softly interrupted We were now organized around Susan’s him: ‘Joe, it must be so difficult for strengths and resources rather than her you to feel so strongly one way and yet weaknesses and limitations. I also found feel like you have to behave exactly the that I was liking my client more. But opposite out in public.’ It was as if the nothing had intrinsically changed about wind went right out of his sails. Joe Susan. The difference was largely a shift quieted, and I had my ‘way in.’ of perception — of hers and mine. The “‘I don’t want people to think I’m a potential for a collaborative counseling bigot,’ he said. This admission led to a relationship was always there, as was powerful discussion of Joe’s motivations, Susan’s and my solution focus. his fear of harsh judgment, his feelings of “For me, this case crystallizes a personal powerlessness. Ultimately, Joe discovered shift from an educative, REBT approach that he was not at the mercy of the wind. to a solution-focused sensibility because it He could move under his own power and dramatically allowed for new possibilities trust his decisions. for what had up until then been a most “It is no coincidence that as Joe ‘difficult’ client.” developed a sense of self-efficacy, the rants October 2010 | Counseling Today | 33 and slurs disappeared. He finally felt safe became metaphors for the changes to explore his pain, to take responsibility he needed. for his choices and to approach his life “The turning point came during the from a perspective of personal power. sixth session. Sam was given the exercise Ironic that unconditional positive regard of haltering a horse and moving him for a universally bigoted client is what through an obstacle. Sam haltered the turned him around.” horse with some difficulty and, as he was walking the horse over an obstacle, the Sandra Kakacek is an adjunct professor horse pushed into him. Sam’s reaction at Northern Illinois University and was, ‘Wow, I did not notice the horse works in private practice in Maple so close to me. That is what happens to Park, Ill. me all the time — at the store, at work “The journey of counseling new clients and anytime I am around people.’ He Sam Gladding presents John Crawford is always paved by eager anticipation began that day to become acutely aware with the Carl D. Perkins Government and searching my therapeutic skills to of others’ nonverbal interactions. This Relations Award. provide the best interventions possible as eventually resulted in picking up not only the process of cocreating change unfolds. people’s nonverbal communications but ! ,;NCIH;F One client recently has been an excellent their verbal communications as well. The example of a challenge. The client and creative use of equine-assisted counseling Q;L>M I needed to learn each other’s language provided a unique opportunity for change to forge an understanding of desired utilizing metaphorical properties. The American Counseling outcomes and construct mechanisms “Sam has used his newfound adaptive Association Awards Committee for processing information. Throughout skills to enter into new relationships. His announces the start of the sessions, both the client and I continually rigidity has diminished, and he is keenly nominations process for the checked and rechecked understandings. I aware of what he is reacting to and can 2011 ACA National Awards, learned the uniqueness of his ‘thinking,’ take time to process now when needed. I which will be presented at the as I believe he did from me. have been a recipient of Sam’s exploration ACA Annual Conference in “Sam is an older male in his 60s and have been gifted by his continual New Orleans. diagnosed with Asperger’s. He sought a processing to understand Asperger’s in unique, creative format for counseling adults.” to explore his newfound revelation ACA members can nominate that he emphatically repeated: ‘I think Louise Holzhauer is a member care one or more ACA members differently than most people.’ Sam sought counselor and registered mental health who have made noteworthy counseling after a divorce [that followed] counselor intern with Orangewood contributions to the counseling marital counseling. He spent four months Presbyterian Church in Maitland, Fla. profession at the local or researching to understand himself and his “Laura was my first long-term client state levels. ACA Divisions/ needs. He entered counseling with the after completing my master’s degree in Organizational Affiliates, goal of developing coping strategies to counseling. I was nearly as frightened as Branches, Chapters, Regions construct social relationships. she was when she arrived for her first ap- or Committees can also submit “We engaged in experiential activities pointment with the words ‘HELP ME’ nominations. All nominations using equine-assisted counseling. carved into her ankle with a box cutter must be submitted by Although I have had the pleasure of using that she carried in her purse. Laura was November 8, 2010. equines for nine years for a myriad of deeply depressed and suicidal, anxious mental issues and ages, I was amazed at and dependent on everyone in her life, the insights and awareness Sam gained especially her husband, who was threaten- Complete information is rather quickly as he methodically worked ing divorce. She had suffered repeated available on the ACA website with horses. He wrote copious notes sexual abuse as a child and believed that at counseling.org under following each session to chronicle the she was damaged beyond any value. “Resources” or you may request changes in his world and asked specific “Laura began to make progress almost a 2011 National Awards Packet questions of me as he began to unravel immediately on many fronts. She was by calling ACA Leadership how to adapt. on a journey of spiritual renewal, which Services at 800-347-6647 x212. “The first exercise was to observe the challenged her with the truth of her own nonverbal dynamics of a small group worthiness. She also attended group Please contact Holly Clubb of equines. Sam, with his hands tucked counseling for her past abuse. However, at [email protected] for in his jeans, walked up to three horses. the biggest immediate change I saw in her additional information. When the horses each moved away, he came as the result of my impromptu sug- declared, ‘They ignore me like everyone gestion that she try treating her husband else.’ His analytical and linear perceptions as a stranger for one week. Previously, she 34 | Counseling Today | October 2010 had been unable to detach herself from “At this point, I turned off my brain concrete interventions from a variety him, working continuously to anticipate and stopped thinking about techniques of approaches, including cognitive and his needs, interpret his nonverbal cues, as- and theories. I turned on my empathetic behavioral. However, I have learned to sume his emotions and stave off his criti- self and just listened. I heard fear, focus on emotions versus behaviors, cism, real or imagined. desperation and hurt. I connected with solutions versus problems, externalizing “When she came to her next session their pain. I helped them communicate versus internalizing, exceptions to the after treating him like someone she’d ‘just their pain and fear to their partner. rule versus rules, all of which I have met in the grocery store aisle,’ she was Inadvertently, I was using emotionally found instill hope, empower and increase a changed person. She’d spent a happy focused therapy, although at the time I communication. week of freedom from her emotional did not make a conscious decision to do “Due to my approach evolution, what prison, and her husband had enjoyed so. It just came naturally and from the was once an overwhelming burden now it, too! While she has had her ups and gut. The previously uncommunicative becomes my highlight. I’m energized downs since then, Laura and I both had partner started opening up. I began to by families’ hard work in creating their our eyes opened that day to the profound understand what had been happening. own solutions, awed by the bravery and ramifications of a simple change in per- That was a breakthrough moment for healing energy of my clients and their spective. Attachment theory informed this couple. Although my work with families, and convinced of the power this intervention, which might be classed them is ongoing, now that I have a better and effectiveness of using an integrative, as rational emotive behavior therapy.” understanding of the dynamics, I have strength-based, solution-focused increased hope and confidence of helping methodology within my very limited one- Barbara LoFrisco works in private this couple restore their relationship.” session-only constraints.” practice in Tampa, Fla., where she offers individual, couples and sexual Teri Echtenkamp is a child/adolescent Rita Sommers-Flanagan counseling program therapist with Alegent Health “I once saw a man who was coming in “Recently, I worked with a very Systems in Omaha, Neb. because his partner said she would leave “It’s not that I have a particular challenging couple. As with many him if he did not. He was very closed challenging client in mind but rather couples, the intimacy in their relationship and angry at first. He worked as a car a challenging population that I work had deteriorated to the point where they mechanic and was very good at it. After with. I am a child/adolescent inpatient were constantly arguing. Resentments empathizing with him about how bad acute care counselor and work in crisis were piling up. Sessions were heated, with it feels to be forced to do something, I stabilization with psychiatric clients and one of the partners very angry because asked him about how he had become a their families. her intimacy needs had not been met mechanic and how he had gotten such “Inpatient acute care is a curious beast. for a very long time. The other partner a great reputation. This allowed him to The client is hospitalized usually three share some history that had nothing to do seemed detached and unwilling to to five days and, for the most part, I with the relationship problems. participate, although he reported that he only have the opportunity to have one “After a couple of sessions of getting still loved his partner and wanted to save family session. In the beginning, my to know him, I offered him the notion the relationship. focus was safety planning, home behavior that people and relationships, just like “I started out trying to conceptualize contracts and discharge planning. Much cars, need maintenance, and that in some the etiology of the problem. I got a lot continued conflict, negativity [and] lack ways, that’s what his counseling was like. of ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I don’t remember’ of forward direction occurred and, many We were simply ‘changing the oil’ and responses. I tried externalizing the times, discharges had to be canceled due ‘checking the belts and fluid levels.’ We problem. That didn’t work either. I to the volatility of emotions. I struggled did this with some level of humor, and he tried a listening exercise. Again, no. I for at least six months with inadequacy, was able to relax and talk about how his tried nonphysical intimacy building burnout and a lack of feeling much was oil had gotten both a bit dirty and quite — conversation starters, date night. achieved during these sessions. low and how that made the engine of Nope. At this point, one of the partners “Once I got off my pity pot, I started the relationship run hot. … You get suddenly announced she wanted to reading anything I could to enhance the drift.” u separate. Things looked bleak. my understanding of family therapy “I was having a difficult time trying and brief interventions and started to figure out exactly what was going applying integrative, solution-focused on. I was able to identify a feedback techniques. I actually found a miracle pattern, which I discussed with the in a modified ‘miracle question.’ I ask Lynne Shallcross is a senior writer couple. Although I had a handle on the family to fast-forward 45 minutes for Counseling Today. Contact her how their interactions were exacerbating and see themselves thinking, ‘That went at [email protected]. the problems in their relationship, both good. That was productive, and I’m partners resisted making the necessary glad we met for a family session.’ Then Letters to the editor: behavioral changes to break the cycle. I I ask each individual, ‘What would have [email protected] was stuck. happened here?’ Mind you, I still use October 2010 | Counseling Today | 35 The confidence factor Touchstones that can help counselors move beyond common self-doubts at any stage of the professional journey By Emil Vernarec hat should I do now lives and take action that is helpful. But with this client who is it’s a journey we never fully complete.” Wperpetually stuck? Gladding characterizes that journey as Am I coming across as capable? a process in which counselors integrate Am I helping this person at all? their knowledge and experiences by For students and new professionals, means of self-reflection and dialogue this line of internal questioning might with colleagues and mentors. To engage be particularly unsettling. But even fully in this process, he says, “we need the most seasoned counselors admit to see ourselves as being counselors to episodes of nagging doubt. Self- and understand that the profession of questioning can lead to deeper insight counseling is not something you should into one’s self and the counseling have simply in your head but something process, or it can undermine one’s that should be in the marrow of your confidence and thwart one’s best efforts. bones.” Gladding, a past president of Counseling Today asked several the American Counseling Association, counselors and counselor educators for recounts stories and lessons from his their take on the “confidence factor.” own journey in the second edition of his Their insights suggest four touchstones book Becoming a Counselor: The Light, counselors can use to sustain their the Bright and the Serious (see box on confidence and maintain their focus, page 41). even as they navigate diverse challenges Viewing your development as a along their professional paths. counselor as a lifelong journey also Accepting the journey means embracing the fact that you Perhaps the most fundamental will always have something new to touchstone for upholding confidence is learn and being humble enough to a steady reminder that being a counselor accept that many different sources have is a lifelong journey. That concept knowledge from which you can benefit. might sound like a cliché, but it carries John Muldoon, assistant professor of numerous implications — a crucial one counselor education at Kean University being that “experience” alone doesn’t and a board member of the New Jersey deliver knowledge, skill and confidence Counseling Association, a branch of to a counselor’s doorstep. Acquiring ACA, offers a prime example from his these assets entails an active search. own journey. “We are always becoming as A domestic violence treatment center counselors,” explains Samuel Gladding, had hired Muldoon soon after he earned chair of the Wake Forest University his doctorate. Within the first few days, Department of Counseling. “The he had the uncomfortable realization journey is to be with clients and get that although he held the most advanced better in helping them understand their academic degree on staff, he possessed 36 | Counseling Today | October 2010 the least experience. He was given the different [from] you in this regard.” of North Carolina School of the Arts, responsibility of running a program for Seen in that light, the very concept attending to the relationship means batterers but, in actuality, he had limited of fellow traveler calls for counselors “really seeing and hearing my clients experience with that population. to examine and accept their own down at the core. I believe we all crave to Muldoon says he handled the shortcomings and emotional be seen and heard in this way, but most challenge by taking “the humble struggles, whether as individuals or as of us rarely have that experience. To me, approach” and remaining open to professionals. Acknowledging these being present and seeing deeply is a way learning anew. “As I began groups for facts of life can lessen the unrealistic of honoring the unique individual who batterers, I admitted my ignorance and expectations some counselors place on is sitting with me.” asked them what their violent behavior themselves that, if left unchecked, can Greason, a member of ACA, says this was all about,” he says. “This not only ultimately undermine their confidence. perspective helps her smooth a “big built my knowledge, but I also found it Viewing himself as a fellow traveler rough spot” she has noticed in herself increased my credibility with them.” means that he and his clients meet on and in counseling students: “Feeling you “It’s common for counseling students an equal footing, Yalom says, which need to fix clients as opposed to being to want to know everything before they supports his emphasis on working in with them.” even graduate,” Muldoon says, “but they the here and now. “I tend to be more Being preoccupied with “fixing” should remind themselves that learning personal and open,” he says. “I have no clients can generate all sorts of doubts is meant to continue, and confidence problem answering patients’ questions. for counselors. But by letting go of that will grow as they increase that knowledge And in practically every session, I’ll draw urge to fix, Greason says, “something and apply it.” attention to what’s going on between the new can come out. It happens as the As Irvin Yalom explains, accepting the two of us. If, for example, a person says result of trusting that clients already have journey also has an existential dimension she has an abiding sense of being bad resources within them and knowing that that directly affects how counselors or unworthy, I will endeavor to bring it your job is to help bring those resources engage with clients. A professor emeritus into the here and now by asking such to light. When we can step back and of psychiatry at Stanford University, questions as, ‘In which way have you allow the client space to do their own Yalom is well known to counselors been bad or unworthy in your sessions work, amazing things can happen.” for his work on group therapy and with me?’ or ‘Do you sense that I feel Greason thinks practicing mindfulness existential psychotherapy. In The Gift of that way about you?’ has enhanced her ability to step back Therapy, a book he wrote as an “open “I’ll also ask them, ‘What are your from being a fixer. As a result, she letter” to mental health professionals questions for me?’ And I tell them I believes more counseling programs and those they serve, Yalom says the admire their honesty and encourage should teach mindfulness, and she metaphor of the “fellow traveler” best them to keep asking questions. Being recommends that even established captures his view of the relationship comfortable with this approach came counselors take time to learn the skill. between counselor and client. Taking with time, however. It’s hard for “When I notice myself getting caught on that perspective influences how the students to do until they’re more sure of in trying to fix or know everything, I relationship plays out, he says, because themselves.” remind myself that my full attention it erases the distinction between “them” is one of the most important things I and “us.” Attending to the relationship can give to clients,” Greason says. “I “When you work with people who In concert with accepting the firmly believe it is the relationship that seek personal intimacy or struggle with journey, understanding and cultivating is healing and not some great insight on issues of meaning in life, you have to the counselor/client relationship also my part.” know that you face these issues yourself,” emerged as a foundational touchstone. Employing a high level of dedicated Yalom tells Counseling Today. “We all For Paige Bentley Greason, a senior attention and a corresponding willing- have to work on them. Clients aren’t mental health counselor at the University ness to let go can strengthen counselors’ October 2010 | Counseling Today | 37 confidence in their focus and priorities. It can also make them more effective in assessing and supporting a client’s readi- ness for change. Tuning in to a client’s readiness for change is important for building trust between counselor and client, says Creating Your Professional Path: Elizabeth Conte, who works in private practice and as workforce development Lessons From My Journey and training coordinator for the New Gerald Corey Jersey State Division of Addiction Services. She often reminds herself to move at the client’s pace, which can be In this inspirational book for a special challenge in addictions work, graduate students and new where client relapse rates are high. counselors, Dr. Corey writes Even with self-reminders, however, about personal and professional the path is not free of hurdles. Conte, an ACA member, offers the example experiences throughout his 50- of clients who acknowledge their year career as a counselor, teacher, need to change but then feel afraid or counselor educator, psychologist, powerless to take important next steps. supervisor, and writer. He shares When this brings progress to a halt, the recommendations and lessons counselor’s instinctual response may he has learned—and is still be to confront them. But in Conte’s experience, “The client’s motivation is learning—as a way to mentor other most often improved when both the professionals and to promote self-reflection about creating one’s client and the counselor can honestly own professional path. In addition, 18 graduate students and access their weaknesses — and that takes new professionals share stories from their journeys, describe confidence.” challenges they have faced, discuss what was helpful to them in This level of collaboration fits well pursuing their career path, and provide recommendations for with motivational interviewing and stage of change models, Conte explains. getting the most from educational experiences. “Both models promote a therapeutic relationship that recognizes the wisdom Topics covered include Dr. Corey’s reflections on and turning of the client and encourages partnering, points in his journey, how he developed his approach to while respecting the client’s freedom and counseling and group work, the counselor as a person and as personal control.” a professional, the benefits of being mentored and mentoring As Gladding notes, “Counselors can err in being too early or too cautious in others, becoming an ethical counselor, choosing a career path, challenging a client to move forward.” professional writing, and self-care. 2010 | 232 pgs But attending to the counselor/client relationship creates a supportive context Order #72899 | ISBN 978-1-55620-309-1 for what is said in session and how it is List Price: $24.95 | ACA Member Price: $19.95 heard, and it can establish a buffer zone for trust. Knowing that the counselor/ client relationship is strong and can Please include $8.75 for shipping of the first book survive some missteps should provide and $1.00 for each additional book. counselors at all stages of practice with more self-assurance. Nurturing the habit American Counseling Association of self-reflection 800-422-2648 x222 Counselors use self-reflection to counseling.org identify strengths and weaknesses in their knowledge and skills and in how well they are adapting to the unique cultural and personal backgrounds of their clients. On the downside, self- reflection can slide into unproductive 38 | Counseling Today | October 2010 rumination or even a form of narcissism Counselors Association, also makes a self-awareness and openness to feedback in which the counselor takes up point of repeatedly reflecting on how from their peers as well as from me,” residence in his or her own head. the counseling theories and techniques Muldoon explains. Gladding recommends several he uses are expressed through his The benefit of the fishbowl, Muldoon questions that will keep the reflection personality and creativity as a counselor. adds, is that “you learn to build self- process productive. “We have to critique He and a colleague are planning to confidence by working out your both our planned interventions and the start a peer supervision group that will struggles as they emerge in direct hunches we act on in the immediacy encourage such reflection and personal personal involvement.” The key, he of counseling,” he says. “I am always integration. adds, is to create a climate in which asking myself and my students, ‘What Muldoon says the fishbowl exercise everyone involved can feel comfortable am I doing? Why am I doing this? Is it commonly used in group counseling acknowledging “It’s OK to get stuck. It’s theory-based and research-based? Is this classes is particularly helpful for OK to be unsure. If you make a mistake, helping the client or possibly hurting? Is identifying and processing “what’s going we can talk about it and consider what it healing?’ We have to reflect on what through my head” at the moment of could have been done.” we do and bring it to fruition so that the interaction and afterward. Although This coupling of self-reflection and sense of self is always developing — but designed to increase reflection and “accepting where you are at right not at the expense of the client’s care.” confidence, Muldoon admits the now” is compelling, says Kara Ieva, an Bruce Palmer, a licensed professional fishbowl can be intimidating. assistant professor of school counseling counselor in Wilmington, Del., says In his application of the technique, at Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J. confidence also comes with self- Muldoon divides students into two Ieva, an ACA member who was active reminders that help guide counselors in groups. On alternating weeks, one group in student leadership before earning session. For example, he recommends of students observes the other, live and her recent doctorate, recalls a telling asking, “Am I fully present to this client, in process. Afterward, the entire class moment in a practicum class in which or am I focused on trying to prove I gathers to discuss the process group’s she assisted. “On the first day of class, know what I’m doing? If I choose to self- dynamics, cohesiveness, problematic I could sense heightened anxiety in the disclose, is it truly in the service of my interactions and so on. In this way, students because it would be their first client?” students share their perspectives both time in a clinical setting,” she says. “The as participants and as observers. “The practicum instructor made a powerful 10929-CounselingPalmer, an ACA member Today:5952_Ad and interim 8/10/10 12:05 PM Page 1 president of the Delaware Professional discussions are meant to increase student statement, saying that an essential part of Preparing you for a career in Counseling Find yourself at BARRY UNIVERSITY • The second-largest private, Catholic university in the Southeast • Classes offered in both Miami Shores and Orlando • www.barry.edu/counseling PhD in Counseling with a specialization in Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy MS and EdS Degrees with specializations in: � Marital, Couple, and Family � Dual Specialization in Marital, Couple, Counseling/Therapy*† and Family Counseling/Therapy and � Mental Health Counseling*† Mental Health Counseling � Rehabilitation Counseling � Dual Specialization in Mental Health � School Counseling† Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling *Master’s degree meets all academic requirements for licensure in Florida. †Master’s program fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs Barry University’s PhD in Counseling program in Miami Shores and Orlando is now nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. ADRIAN DOMINICAN SCHOOL OF EDUCATION 11300 NE Second Avenue, Miami Shores, FL 33161 305-899-3741 • 800-756-6000, ext. 3741 [email protected] Orlando Location 2000 N. Alafaya Trail, Suite 600 Orlando, FL 32826 800-756-6000, ext. 3719 [email protected] October 2010 | Counseling Today | 39 being a counselor was using the strengths of one’s personality. The students got the message, ‘It’s OK to be me,’ and I Becoming a Counselor: remember seeing everyone’s shoulders relax.” The Light, the Bright, and the Serious, Whether you are a student or an Second Edition experienced counselor, accepting where you are in your professional development and then reflecting on that journey Samuel T. Gladding can help you to avoid what Gladding terms “a major obstacle” for counselors — fear of finding their own unresolved Through the use of conflicts. “We may consciously or memorable and often hu- unconsciously put an issue off-limits morous autobiographical because it is painful to look at,” he says. vignettes, Dr. Gladding “That can keep us from increasing both shares his experiences our competence and our confidence and as one of the field’s most keep us from being with a client.” In such cases, personal therapy beloved and respected can be helpful. In fact, many leaders leaders. His personal in the profession believe it should experiences reflect univer- be a requirement for becoming and sal themes in becoming a remaining a counselor. “Becoming helping professional, and a counselor, growing in skill, is both novice and seasoned developmental for us, too,” Gladding says. “Awareness is key.” counselors will benefit from his knowledge, skill, Keeping connected and the wisdom drawn from more than 30 years in Connecting with those who remind you of who you are as a counselor can the profession. also serve as a significant touchstone for confidence. The helping professionals Topics addressed include personal growth; finding interviewed for this article underscored what works and learning from failure; basic skills the importance of having supervisors, and counseling processes; creativity in counseling; mentors and colleagues who model what multicultural and spiritual considerations; the influ- it means to be a counselor and support your development. ences of colleagues, friends, and family; working “I was fortunate to have had with groups and families; professional development; supervisors who were willing to share leadership; and termination. Each section of the their own vulnerability when they didn’t book contains “Points to Ponder” to facilitate class- know what to do,” Greason says. “I room discussion and personal reflection. think many of us harbor the belief that there is a right answer out there or that someone else probably knows better than Published by the ACA Foundation we do. In this field, the reality is that, 2009 | 336 pgs many times, there is no clear answer Order #72886 | ISBN 978-1-55620-281-0 beyond staying ethical.” List Price: $29.95 | ACA Member Price: $24.95 Indeed, maintaining your professional connections is essential for developing Please include $8.75 for shipping of the first book the confidence that comes from knowing you are practicing ethically. “You must and $1.00 for each additional book. have the opportunity to discuss your challenges and ask questions and to AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION remember that if you’re ever in doubt {ôôãããØ{ÚíãããÚaÚb¬å¨Óv¨À¬Ð or uncomfortable, you need to consult, consult, consult,” Muldoon says. “In fact, you have an ethical obligation to do so.” 40 | Counseling Today | October 2010 For some, formal and informal current and former colleagues. “Hearing opportunities to feel part of a larger them say they’d feel the same way in my profession may dwindle after graduation. position was reassuring and reinforced Sharing the journey Professional counseling organizations my confidence in what I had tried.” (at the local, state, regional and national Surprisingly, later in the school year, the levels), specialized associations and peer client revealed to Nynka that she had The following books provide a supervision groups serve to answer this tried out for a college play, got a part deeper look into the counseling need, presenting unique opportunities and managed to do well on stage. At the process and into the minds of those to build personal knowledge-sharing end of the academic year, Nynka had to who dedicate themselves to such and support networks that can, in turn, terminate. The mystifying client did not provide counselors with a higher degree return to school the following year. work. of confidence. “Each client is different,” Nynka n Becoming a Counselor: The “Professional collaboration has been reflects, “and we all have at least one very Light, the Bright and the Serious, my most helpful support factor,” says challenging case. But that’s what makes Mikolaya Nynka, an LPC who works the career interesting and exciting.” second edition, by Samuel T. in a group private practice and in the Counselors in every area of practice Gladding, American Counseling counseling center at Centenary College can surely agree on that note, and most Association Foundation, 2009 would agree with this as well: When in Hackettstown, N.J. “Collaboration (Order Number 72886, $24.95 is a two-way experience. It’s confidence- the inevitable challenges loom too for ACA members, $29.95 for building to support other colleagues, large, knowing which touchstones keep too.” you on track can provide perspective nonmembers) Nynka, an ACA member, says and balance. And however you view n the network she built with other the confidence factor in your identity Creating Your Professional professionals provided her with the and practice as a counselor, there is Path: Lessons From My Journey support she needed to face her most inestimable value in having fellow by Gerald Corey, American challenging case. The client was a professionals who will share their own Counseling Association, 2010 college student with chronic anxiety challenges and vulnerabilities with you (Order Number 72899, $19.95 whose mother accompanied her to the and join their journey to yours. u first counseling session because the for ACA members, $24.95 for young woman would not talk. In fact, nonmembers) she continued not to talk — for two semesters. n The Gift of Therapy: An Open “How to engage her each week was Letter to a New Generation of painful because there was no dialogue,” Therapists and Their Patients by says Nynka, who had to turn to writing Irvin Yalom, Harper Perennial, back and forth with the client in session. Emil Vernarec is a licensed 2009 “Each week, for days before and after associate counselor and writer in each appointment, I’d try to work out northern New Jersey. Contact him n Letters to a Young Therapist: what to do. I had no idea what impact at [email protected]. I was having. I held onto the fact that Stories of Hope and Healing by she kept coming and that I was her only Letters to the editor: Mary Pipher, Basic Books, 2005 connection.” [email protected] In addition to consulting with her supervisor, Nynka sought feedback from Join us for an Open Class, where you can meet with faculty and students, get a more in-depth description of our programs, Think PhD and experience a class firsthand. If you’d like to learn more about ICSW or reserve a seat at an Open Class, visit us online at 0*:>»Z\UPX\LKVJ[VYHSWYVNYHTMVYWYHJ[PJPUN www.icsw.edu/learnmore or call (312) 726-8480, ext. 29. JSPUPJPHUZHUKJV\UZLSPUNWZ`JOVSVNPZ[Z^PSSOLSW ON-SITE OPEN CLASSES ONLINE OPEN CLASSES `V\H[[HPUL_JLSSLUJLHUKL_WHUK`V\YJHYLLY :H[5V]H[ HTJZ[ >LK5V]H[ WTJZ[ VWWVY[\UP[PLZ -YP+LJH[!WTJZ[ >LK+LJH[ WTJZ[ 200 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 407 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission Chicago, Illinois 60601 October 2010 | Counseling Today | 41 Improving students’ career and college readiness An ACA interview with Southern Regional Education Board President David Spence By Frank Burtnett Editor’s note: Frank Burtnett SREB held its 24th annual High conducted the following interview for Schools That Work conference earlier publication in the Summer 2010 edition this summer. What are the key of ACAeNews for School Counselors, one of elements in the “what works” formula? four special focus e-newsletters produced Gene Bottoms, who founded SREB’s by the American Counseling Association. High Schools That Work school improvement program, often talks about eadquartered in Atlanta, the how many middle grades and high school Southern Regional Education courses aren’t academically rigorous HBoard (SREB) is a nonprofit, enough and that too many students are nonpartisan organization that works not engaged in their own learning. We’re with 16 member states to improve public seeing this problem addressed in schools pre-K-12 and higher education. Founded that adopt the SREB program. All students need to take a rigorous academic by the region’s governors and legislators in core of classes that truly prepares them for 1948, SREB was America’s first interstate some type of postsecondary education. compact for education, and it remains Many students also can benefit from an the nation’s largest school improvement upgraded career/technical (CT) series network and largest educational of courses in a career area that interests technology collaborative of state K-12 them. Today’s best CT courses are and postsecondary agencies. Today, it is challenging, require students to meet the only regional education compact that high academic standards and are engaging works directly with state leaders, schools and project-based. and educators to improve teaching, For counselors, it’s essential that David Spence learning and student achievement at students choose an area of emphasis every level of education. The organization and align their studies with that goal by offers various programs and initiatives as the time they are starting high school. part of its stated mission to “help SREB For most students, it means taking a states lead the nation in educational core curriculum to prepare them for progress.” advanced career training or associate or David Spence became the president bachelor’s degrees — a “college-ready” of SREB in 2005. In that role, he has core of courses. Students need to see a connection between that core and their devoted considerable time to speaking interests, goals and aspirations. with state leaders and encouraging them to develop college and career readiness More students are enrolling in college initiatives. He has written about how than ever before with less than stellar states should address the readiness success in their completion rates. What problem as a contributor to the 2007 must happen for degree attainment to book Minding the Gap: Why Integrating improve? High School With College Makes Sense and States need to clearly define what it How to Do It and in national publications means for students to be college-ready. If such as Education Week. more students are academically prepared With the increased dialogue in U.S. for college, far higher rates of them will education regarding the “career and earn two- and four-year degrees and college readiness” of students, ACAeNews career certificates. We’ve never had these for School Counselors approached Spence expectations for most students because about these important educational our economy traditionally has not objectives. depended on it. Now, it does. 42 | Counseling Today | October 2010 States need to bring pre-K-12 and pursue college still need career training, I would hope so, but it may not be higher education together to set college- which sometimes is very rigorous. I’d urge realistic considering how tight many readiness standards that spell out the counselors to ensure that all students in states’ budgets are right now. States levels of math, reading and writing skills their school have specific goals for after need to make more counselors — and students need for college. Most states high school and then help them set a plan improved counseling — a priority. I’d have not done this, although Texas, to meet those goals. It’s important that also urge schools, districts and states to Kentucky and Florida recently began students have the right levels of reading, look closely at their spending to make this process through new state laws. The writing and math skills to be ready for sure it is focused on what matters most. recent development and adoption by college, not just the right courses on their Our nation’s economic competitiveness many states of the Common Core state transcript. Counselors can play a vital role and social progress really does depend college-readiness standards should provide in pushing for these higher standards to on raising Americans’ education levels. states a solid platform for building their be used in classrooms. In High Schools readiness efforts. If states develop these That Work, we’ve found that students We need good counselors who can direct standards, they can test students on them, need attention from an adult in the more students into various types of provide help for students who need it, school — someone who will watch postsecondary education — which most curb the need for college remediation out for them and with whom they can people need these days to get a decent and graduate more students. My ideas identify and turn to for help. job — and push pre-K-12 schools to for bridging this gap between high school Also, counselors in the middle grades expect more of students academically and college are in a new paper called must begin to help students pinpoint and provide the additional support many “Beyond the Rhetoric” that I wrote with their interests; teachers and parents students need. u Pat Callan of the National Center for need to be involved. In the middle Public Policy and Higher Education. It’s grades, students need to be thinking available at sreb.org. about high school and what will lead to Also, Gene Bottoms emphasizes that success beyond it. We don’t have enough students must also know why they are counselors to give students the in-depth, going to school. Even some students who one-on-one time they need, so counselors Frank Burtnett is the editor of are ready for college do not finish degrees need to further their outreach into ACAeNews and ACA’s four special or certificates. Gene says that many high classrooms and connect students with focus e-newsletters for school schools fail to give students a reason for teachers and mentors to help them meet counselors; counselor educators; continuing their studies. They not only their goals. counseling students and new need a college-ready core of key courses professionals; and mental health, but also high school experiences that help Currently, the average student-to- private practice and community them foster their interests, helping them counselor ratio in the nation’s schools agency counselors. Contact him start college or career training with a clear is 467:1, almost double the 250:1 at [email protected]. To purpose in mind. recommendations of the counseling opt in to any of the free special community. Many counselors are focus e-newsletters, contact How do you see professional school overstretched and called upon to ACA Member Services at counselors and comprehensive school perform duties outside their counseling 800.347.6647 ext. 222 or e-mail counseling programs contributing roles. Do you envision a time when an [email protected]. to improving the college readiness of appropriate number of counselors will future students? be in place to address such issues as the Letters to the editor: Counselors need to stress the benefits achievement gap and the dropout crisis [email protected] of pursuing some type of postsecondary and to help students with their career education. Even students who won’t and college readiness? October 2010 | Counseling Today | 43 Opinion - By James T. Hansen Extending the humanistic vision ne of the long-standing terms: as technique-responsive every human being has unique inner debates in the counseling clusters of symptoms. Of course, I am subjective experiences makes people Oprofession is whether intentionally exaggerating the state of extraordinarily complex. the counseling process should be current counselor education to make my Science, however, is the sworn conceptualized scientifically or according point. Remnants of human complexity ideological enemy of subjectivity. to the assumptions of the humanities. certainly remain in graduate curricula. Scientists use double-blind procedures At this point in history, most counselors Nevertheless, I do not believe I am and other methodological strategies in would probably agree that both scientific that far off the mark. Within counselor an attempt to eliminate the influence and humanistic ideologies should inform training programs, there exists a strong, of subjective bias within their studies. the practice of counseling. creeping trend toward simplifying the For scientists, subjectivity is something These scientific and humanities human condition. to be rooted out so that the conclusions polarities can also be used to I contend this simplification is a of their studies will be objective. conceptualize the entire counseling direct result of the influence of scientific This ideological stance is perfectly profession, not just the counseling ideology. To illustrate this point, consider appropriate for chemists and physicists process. In this regard, I argue that the scholarly goals of a humanist, such of course. Indeed, scientific investigation contemporary counseling culture as a literary scholar, in contrast to the can also be an important tool in the is largely structured by scientific goals of a biologist, who is a dedicated humanities, as when chemical analysis is assumptions that have had a detrimental scientist. The literary scholar might used to determine the age of historical impact on the profession. The purpose spend the better part of an academic documents. It is likewise vital for the of this article, then, is twofold: to explore career devoted to a particular author, counseling profession to use science as the consequences of grounding the novel or even a single character. The a tool, particularly in investigating the counseling profession in the humanities goal of this humanities professional is to effectiveness of counseling interventions. such as literature, history and philosophy complicate, dimensionalize and enrich Although the counseling profession rather than science; and to demonstrate the subject matter, not simplify it. The absolutely should retain science as a tool, that this humanities vision is a better fit biologist, on the other hand, seeks to the simplifying, anti-subjectivist ideology for the profession than the scientific one. whittle down the subject of study to that gave rise to this tool should not Arguably, the historical relationship its barest elements by progressively be allowed to overtake the profession. between scientific and humanities eliminating extraneous perspectives that Reductive diagnostics, symptom- influences in the counseling profession do not meet the instrumental needs focused treatment planning and defining can be characterized as a complex of scientific advancement. Given their counselor education goals in terms of dialectical interplay, with each force respective professional goals, the biologist lists of competencies, techniques training offsetting and progressively defining the and the literary scholar have selected the and manualized counseling models are other. A reasonable way to conceptualize proper ideological tools to advance their just a few of the many signs that an the humanities vision, then, is to identify disciplines. emphasis on subjective meaning systems key scientific ideological polarities and Why should the counseling profession is gradually being lost in the profession. their humanities counterparts. adopt a humanities ideology that The creeping spread of scientific ideology, complicates people rather than a scientific and concomitant loss of a humanities Human complexity ideology that aims to simplify them? perspective, is arguably responsible for vs. human simplicity The brief answer (so plainly obvious it this shift. Indeed, it is extraordinarily It is a remarkable irony that is remarkable that it is largely missed ironic that professionals who seek to contemporary counselor education tends in contemporary counseling culture) understand the unique experiences of to simplify, rather than complicate, is that people are, indeed, complex! To their clients would adopt an ideology human beings. Students often enter thoroughly adopt an ideology aimed at aimed at eliminating the variable of graduate school in awe of the sheer simplifying people is completely counter subjectivity. How, though, should a complexity of the human condition. to everything that is known about the humanities vision, which encourages Sadly, by the time they order their caps human condition. Specifically, the locus notions of human complexity, be revived and gowns, these new professionals of human complexity resides in the within the counseling profession? have been educationally indoctrinated subjective meaning systems that people First, discussions of clients, in case to think of people in relatively simple construct. The undeniable truth that conferences, classrooms and other 44 | Counseling Today | October 2010 forums, should emphasize subjective model training has increasingly been which regard multiple perspectives as a client meanings, not symptoms, family integrated into counselor education problem to be resolved, than it does to history of mental illness, reductive programs, and counselors have actively the intellectual stance of the humanities, treatment plans or other supposed sought reimbursement from third which embraces multiple perspectives as objective case data. In discussing a parties that require the use of a medical an end in itself. Witness the general lack client, counselors should bear a closer model. Whether a counselor decides of public debate over ideological positions resemblance to English professors to participate in the medical model is among academic counselors (both in the talking about a literary character than a personal, ethical decision. However, counseling literature and within academic to chemists describing the properties counselor education programs should settings). This is in stark contrast to of a particular compound. Of course, prepare students to think critically about the humanities, wherein active debate, clients are not fictional characters; they this model so that it is not accepted both in literature and academic settings, are real people in a state of psychological without question once students become is prized as a vital part of professional distress. Alleviating that distress involves practitioners. culture. Indeed, counselor educators have a humanities-style immersion into Multiplicity of perspectives accepted oversight from an organization the realm of human complexity, not a vs. singular truth (the Council for Accreditation of simplifying, scientific objectification of Consider philosophers as representatives Counseling and Related Educational the case material. of a humanities profession. Critical Programs) that dictates the proper topics Second, counselor education programs inquiry, active debates in the literature to teach and suitable perspectives to should regularly teach and adopt and the consideration of multiple adopt. Widespread acceptance of this qualitative research methodologies. perspectives all contribute to enriching ideological police force is compelling Unlike quantitative research, which the philosophical body of knowledge. evidence that counseling culture has is aimed at finding singular, objective Philosophers do not expect that their become increasingly intolerant of truths uncontaminated by subjectivity, debates will somehow march them multiple perspectives. This intolerance is qualitative methods are designed forward to singular truth, with all not limited to academia, though. to illuminate the multiple strata of philosophers one day arriving at unified Practicing counselors increasingly use meaning that underlie human behavior. agreement concerning philosophical standardized treatments for particular Quantitative research will always be a topics. Instead, an ever-increasing constellations of symptoms. One useful tool for counselors. However, a multiplicity of perspectives is itself the end disturbing sign of this trend is the humanities vision for the profession is product, not a means to some greater end. proliferation over of the past decade of best served by investigative methods Alternatively, consider a medical treatment planning guides, which detail that explore subjectivity, not ones that researcher as an example of a professional precise, concrete treatments and goals eschew it. who operates within a scientific ideology. for particular categories of clients. This Third, counselors should take a Differences of opinion about the cause unfortunate development, which has critical stance toward the medical model of a particular disease may exist among been fortified at the academic level by the of counseling rather than uncritically medical researchers. This multiplicity of “empirically supported treatment” and participating in it. The complexities perspectives is considered an unfortunate “best practices” movements, is as stifling of human relating, which are integral means to the greater end of finding the to counselors as the demand to use only to the counseling process, have been singular truth about what actually causes paint-by-numbers kits would be to artists. ideologically marginalized by the the disease. Furthermore, counselors are being told medical model of people as collections I maintain the current intellectual not only how to practice but who to be. of symptoms to be eradicated. Despite climate within the counseling profession Those who promote a unified identity its gross inconsistencies with the type of bears a much closer resemblance to for the counseling profession have help that counselors provide, medical scientific ideological assumptions, attempted to outline the proper identity EXAM PREP STUDY GUIDE Andrew Helwig, Ph.D. EXAM PREP & WORKSHOP DVDs RESOURCES The very popular fifth edition of the Study Guide for the National Counselor Exam (2006) has 350 pages and covers the eight content areas of the National Counselor Exam, national comp exams (CPCE) and many similar exams. The Workshop DVDs contain over 6 hours of an actual workshop focusing on: Appraisal, Research, Professional Orientation, and Career. The other four areas are covered lightly as well as test-taking strategies and study tips. The Study Guide costs $79.95 and the Workshop DVDs are $69.95. Save $20 by purchasing them at the same time for $129.95. Prices include all mailing and handling costs. Order at website: www.counselor-exam-prep.com. Email: [email protected] for more information. October 2010 | Counseling Today | 45 for professional counselors to adopt. instilled in counseling students during Counselors who wish to expand their graduate school, not an external mandate Add your voice horizons can make use of continuing that limits and controls the types of to the debate education, but only if an accrediting educational experiences that counselors This is an abbreviated version body has approved the content of the pursue. of an article that will be the continuing education experience. To Fourth, professional limitations should centerpiece of a future issue become a counselor nowadays, one must not be placed on counselor identity. of The Journal of Humanistic agree to don an ideological straitjacket. Any proposal for a unified professional Counseling, Education and How, then, can the culture of counseling identity is, by definition, also a proposal Development. In that issue, be changed so that multiple perspectives that negates certain types of identity authors will contribute will be encouraged? counterpoints to the positions possibilities. Counselors should be First, active debate should be promoted taken in this article, and James T. encouraged to determine their own in academia and in the counseling Hansen will contribute response literature. One of the best ways to foster professional identities, which may be articles to those counterpoints, an appreciation for multiple perspectives based on their personal temperament, thereby creating an active debate is for professionals who advocate local demands, orientation to their work in the literature. different points of view to engage in civil or any other considerations they deem Refer to c-ahead.com for public debates (both in presentations relevant to their professional life. links to the complete article and in the literature). A public airing and instructions for submitting Discussion and conclusions of differences clarifies ideas, elucidates counterpoint articles. the nuances of systems of thought, Science is a vital tool that will always challenges professionals to think in novel be a necessary component of counseling ways, generates new perspectives and, inquiry. However, the counseling perhaps most important, demonstrates profession should be ideologically n Professional identity should be that there are multiple legitimate ways grounded in the humanities, not science. self-determined, not professionally to understand the subject matter of The scientific ideals of parsimony, mandated. counseling. singular truth and objectivity cannot Second, and related to the first possibly facilitate the evolution of a Of course, there are other ways to point, theoretical dogmatism should profession that historically has made encourage the spread of a humanities vision in the counseling profession be discouraged at all levels of the its greatest advances by embracing (abolishing the infantilizing and counseling profession. Students should complexity, multiple meaning systems draconian practice of mandated be taught that counseling consists of a and creative visions of human nature. variety of useful perspectives. No one supervision, for instance). The seven I have made the following perspective should be idealized or used recommendations listed above seem recommendations for shifting for all purposes. Similarly, practicing like a reasonable place to start, however. counselors should view counseling professional counseling culture from In keeping with a humanities vision, I orientations as problem-solving tools, not a position of simplicity and singular sincerely hope these recommendations representations of ultimate truths about truth to one of complexity and multiple will engender controversy and debate. u human nature. perspectives: Third, continuing education should n Discussions of clients should not be professionally mandated. As an emphasize subjective client meanings, analogy, imagine if authors of fiction were not objective data. required to read a list of approved works before they were allowed to write. If a n Qualitative research should become a humanities atmosphere is to be created in standard method of inquiry. counseling culture, practicing counselors, n The medical model should be not bureaucrats, should determine James T. Hansen is a professor the types of postgraduate educational subjected to more intense critical and coordinator of the Mental experiences that best suit their needs. It is scrutiny. Health Specialization in the a shocking assault on intellectual freedom Oakland University Department n Active debate over perspectives should and growth, for example, when only one of Counseling. Contact him at be professionally encouraged. article in an issue of a particular journal is [email protected]. officially sanctioned as being eligible for n Theoretical dogmatism should be continuing education credit. This implies discouraged. Letters to the editor: that all other readings are somehow less [email protected] intellectually worthy of professional n Continuing education requirements attention. The need for continuing should be abolished or radically education should be an internalized ethic revised. 46 | Counseling Today | October 2010 October 2010 | Counseling Today | 47 Reader Viewpoint - By Wayne A. Hankammer Unlocking the grip of PTSD nightmares an sat motionless, riveted to his fear and thus process traumatic events sleep. Krakow’s research showed that at a chair as he recalled his recurrent one at a time. 30-month follow-up, 68 percent of the nightmare. “Every night …” subjects were able to sustain reductions D Building a program He trailed off and faded back. “It’s the eyes. in frequency of target nightmares. The Dr. Richard Ross led an investigation IRT-based dream approach is essentially I see his eyes! Staring at me.” into PTSD and sleep in 1994, speculating Dan was recalling a soldier, frozen to consistent with the basic premise of Foa that PTSD indeed might be considered a and Kozak in that writing down the death and still at his post. The memory, REM sleep disorder. While so doing, he too, was frozen in time because Dan’s nightmare is an exposure to the traumatic and his team declared that nightmares were content of PTSD. Even so, veterans would war was at the core of his disorder. It was the “hallmark” of the disorder. In addition, why he recounted the nightmare to me, find this the most difficult step. Dr. Thomas Neylan and his team found The challenge for what became known his therapist. “Can anything be done?” that in a sample of 1,167 Vietnam veterans as “Dan’s cause” was to translate these he asked me. “I’d give anything not to with PTSD, nearly 91 percent suffered inpatient protocols to an outpatient remember those eyes!” significant disturbances to sleep. format. I began networking with other Unfortunately, Dan died not long Armed with this information, I began licensed professional counselors to obtain after I began researching treatments researching REM sleep and discovered an additional insight and support. Deb for nightmares and sleep disturbance. exceptionally useful book that helped to Breazzano, an LPC in the community, Saddened but undaunted, I continued the explain sleep itself — J. Allan Hobson’s suggested a 90-day format to capture a search, using this veteran’s penetrating cry Dreaming: An Introduction to the Science of full dream cycle and to quantify to each for help as the galvanizing event to develop Sleep. This provided me the foundation I client not only reductions in nightmares an effective approach for other clients who needed to delve deeper into the world of but also the emergence of healing dreams. were suffering as Dan had. dreaming. These lessons would later form Veterans respond to group bonding, and Ethically, counselors must practice within the core of the psychoeducational portion trust is the currency exchanged among their areas of competency. This article of an outpatient treatment program. them. Therefore, a longer program describes the process three members of the Hobson’s book illuminated my would facilitate these bonds and allow for American Counseling Association followed understanding of the essence of dreaming multiple approaches to address nightmares to gain the skills necessary to ethically and ignited some ideas for eliminating and dreaming. The content would be based treat nightmares associated with combat- traumatic nightmares. According to in IRT and Jungian dream concepts, but related post-traumatic stress disorder. Hobson, eliminating the nightmares would the search was on for additional methods We engaged in research and training and improve clients’ mood, concentration, to beat the nightmares. became innovative in combining therapies learning and physical repair of the body According to a study led by Victor and even enhance their immune systems. to develop what we believe is an effective Spoormaker in 2003, lucid dreaming What was needed was a way to attack the protocol for addressing this issue. was also effective in reducing nightmare nightmares themselves. While living with combat-related PTSD, frequency and intensity. Lucid dreaming Karin Thompson, Michelle Hamilton Dan voiced a desperate need to eliminate is essentially becoming aware that you are and Jeffrey West addressed traumatic the nightmare that repeatedly pierced indeed dreaming while asleep and then nightmares in their 1995 work with enabling yourself to guide the dream. his nights. His tormented cry became the Veterans Affairs hospital in New Evidence was mounting that a stepwise a rallying point for the clinic where he Orleans, developing an inpatient protocol approach to treating nightmares would was treated. The clinic had many clients specifically for nightmares associated with work, with one successful application similar to Dan, but at that time, no specific combat-related PTSD. They applied a setting the foundation for the next. The treatment was available to address their technique called imagery rehearsal therapy program’s goal now had moved beyond just nightmares directly. The general treatment (IRT) developed by Barry Krakow and eliminating nightmares to helping clients was to use exposure therapy, based on reported that one-third of their patients achieve emotional and developmental emotional processing theory developed eliminated the “target nightmare.” IRT growth. by Edna Foa and Michael Kozak in the works to eliminate nightmares by first During the course of developing the mid-1980s. This consisted of addressing allowing the veteran to address, rather program, the agency that directed our the trauma in detail, keeping the client’s than void, content. IRT helps the clinic allowed me to train in Jungian dream reactions within a therapeutic range to veteran to develop a mastery of the event analysis and supported a trip to Santa Fe, neither underaccess the “fear structures” rather than being victimized by the past N.M., to hear Dr. Bessel van der Kolk nor overwhelm the client. The purpose was trauma. “Rehearsal” aspects program a speak on effective counseling skills for to help the client develop a mastery of the new response, thus allowing restorative trauma. What he said — that an “effective 48 | Counseling Today | October 2010 trauma treatment must reset one’s limbic self-contained program that employed nightmare, formed the middle or “core” of system” — became the keystone for my most of the elements from a good anxiety the combined treatment. The action-escape developing program. In effect, trauma reduction group. During the process, we element restored personal control over is a sensorimotor process; according to discovered that nightmares are like a field what had been a feeling of powerlessness Hobson, so is dreaming. So van der Kolk’s full of thistles and thorns. IRT is akin to — in some cases, for decades. advice was simple yet profound: Treatment tilling that field. Lucid dreaming, Jungian Using lucid dreaming and Jungian must provide an “action or escape” not concepts and relaxation techniques seed concepts, the last phase featured action- present in the original trauma. and fertilize the dense field, allowing it to escape and the use of sculpting dreamed Now self-educated in the process of transform into a sculpted garden. objects as enhancements to the treatment. dreaming, networked with other therapists, In developing the program, we also wrote Participants found this a more joyful task. supported by my agency, well-versed in a manual for clients (as well as a version As though they were now a blank canvas, current research and professionally trained for therapists) that contained worksheets, these war veterans had a new chance in the arts of therapy and hypnotherapy, report forms, reading material, exercises to create joyful and healing experiences I formed a new premise: All traumatic and illustrations. The first segment of the through their dreams. Some who had nightmares are rehearsals of the survival treatment program is designed to build suffered even more profoundly from instinct. Van der Kolk affirmed that the group trust, strengthen support skills and their disorder than Dan experienced a only real change for clients would come reduce anxiety by providing basic psycho- kind of spiritual awakening. Before the by resetting their limbic systems with an education on the sleeping brain. Educating treatment, it was as if the war had stolen action or escape, thus eliminating the group members on sleep hygiene helped their souls. But the release of fear through need for a traumatic rehearsal through them to gain ownership of the process over the processing of their nightmares seemed nightmare. Therefore, IRT and its follow- the course of the combined treatment. This to present them with a new freedom from ups would author the original nightmare was achieved, in part, because each person their pasts. and then reauthor a new outcome. This in the program shared what he was learn- In the years that I practiced at the clinic, would result in breaking the repetitive, ing in group with a significant other, thus we helped approximately 80 veterans who traumatic cycle. There was finally an reinforcing the process. were struggling with nightmares associated answer to Dan’s impassioned plea for help. Because they needed to overcome their with PTSD. For the astute counselor Rewrite the nightmare with a new ending tendency to avoid reminders of their willing to crack the books and enlist by providing action or escape. individual traumas, the most critical support, the potential is there for adapting workable therapies for many disorders Application juncture for the majority of the veterans faced by returning veterans. u Laila Alsaffar teamed up with me to was writing out their actual targeted colead a men’s PTSD group at the clinic. nightmares. Most had worked to avoid this Although it was too late to help Dan, we step for protracted periods of time before were nonetheless spurred on by Dan’s this therapy. The counselors encouraged Wayne A. Hankammer is a licensed memory to help others. Dan was a big each of the veterans to tackle his nightmare professional counselor living in believer in the power of groups to heal, so head-on, using each other and his family Artesia, N.M. He is a critical incident it was altogether fitting that we were using for support. Almost every one of the stress management instructor a group format. We introduced veterans to veterans reported how difficult the process and specialist for the Federal Law basic dreaming concepts based on Hobson’s of facing his torment was, yet nearly all of Enforcement Training Center. book and taught them how to develop them experienced a reduction in nightmare Contact him at whankammer@ sleep hygiene, practice relaxation, author frequency and intensity just before this hotmail.com. their nightmare and its change, and apply phase, so they were encouraged to push reinforcing methods to turn the cessation through the echoes of fear imbedded in Letters to the editor: of traumatic nightmares into real growth. their memories. This step, combined [email protected] At its end, we had developed a 13-week, with the “action-escape” rewrite of the GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN PASTORAL COUNSELING AND SPIRITUAL CARE Begin a journey of faith, study, reason, research, discovery, help, and incredible A JOURNEY personal fulfillment. Loyola’s graduate programs in pastoral counseling and spiritual care uniquely integrate spirit and science. We prepare A CALLING students to meet the psychological and spiritual needs of FAITH individuals, families, and organizations. We invite you to join our vibrant community of helpers and healers. FIELD WORK Learn more at www.loyola.edu/grad/pastoral. A BREAKTHROUGH · Master of Science in Pastoral Counseling FIELD WORK · Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling Both are CACREP accredited FAITH A CALLING A JOURNEY October 2010 | Counseling Today | 49 ACA president-elect candidates share their views on the issues ACA rolls out The four candidates vying to become vibrant ACA Membership Campaign to online voting the American Counseling Association’s increase ACA’s membership from 43,000 As ACA moves forward with next president-elect were asked to provide members to 60,000 members by the end the “greening” of our association, answers to several questions impacting of my presidential tenure. we’re pleased to announce that the association and the counseling Understanding that our graduate voting in all of this year’s elections profession. This month, their answers students represent the future of can be done via an online ballot. to the first two questions are featured. the profession, I would work to After thoughtful consideration Answers to the remaining questions will institutionalize a new student association and the vetting of two very appear in the November issue. in ACA that guarantees full voting rights different vendors, ACA chose Additional information for each on the Governing Council. Votenet Solutions Inc. to manage candidate, including biographical The future well-being of the counseling its online election process. Votenet information and goals statements, will profession requires greater collaboration is local to the Washington, D.C., appear in the December issue. That issue with counselors in other nations and area and a leading provider of will also feature biographical information allied professional groups in the United secure on-demand voting and and goals statements for those running States. Thus, I would convene a series balloting software. Votenet’s client for office at the division and region levels. of in-person and electronic conferences base runs the gamut from the Editor’s note: The following answers as well as host a caucus meeting at the association world, such as NAFSA: are printed as submitted by the 2012 ACA Conference to develop and Association of International candidates. Counseling Today edited only implement strategies to build unity with Educators, the American School for spelling and minor style issues. these persons and organizations. Health Association and the American Anthropological As president of ACA, what would be Bradley T. Erford: Priority 1. Protect Association, to the non-association your three top priorities? Why would and Expand Practice Rights. I am no world, including BET.com, these be your priorities, and how stranger to legislative battles against West Virginia University and would you implement them? opponents who seek to restrict our MedAmerica Mutual. rights to practice counseling and serve Online voting for all ACA Michael D’Andrea: As ACA president, the public. ACA must fight hard at elections will begin on Thursday, I would build on ACA’s strengths by the federal and state levels to protect Dec. 2, at 12 a.m., and the online establishing new initiatives to address and guarantee all counselors’ rights to voting process will close Monday, three priorities. This includes working practice. We also need to introduce Jan. 31, at 12 a.m. Eastern Time. with others to: legislation that will expand employment If you are unable to vote online or A) Build a more expansive and diverse opportunities for counselors, increase would prefer a paper ballot, ACA’s membership base in ACA. reimbursement/salaries and help us to Member Services representatives B) Develop new organizational better advocate for and serve our clients. will be happy to assist you. Please mechanisms that foster graduate students’ Priority 2. Outstanding Member call 800.347.6647 ext. 222 to empowerment in ACA. Services. More low-cost CEUs (via request a paper ballot. If you C) Institutionalize ongoing national Internet, conference and workshops), choose to complete a paper ballot, and international initiatives to build expand employment/career services, the deadline to receive your ballot greater unity with counselors in other professional liability insurance, at ACA headquarters is the same nations and allied organizations in the networking opportunities for students as for online voting: Monday, United States. and professionals, mentoring and more. Jan. 31. Recognizing that our collective strength Priority 3. Fiscal Responsibility is grounded in a large and diverse Through Innovation. ACA can membership base, I would establish a increase revenue through publications, 50 | Counseling Today | October 2010 continuing education, web expansions Today provide invaluable information much more. As ACA President, I would: and conferences, while simultaneously for those who choose to access the 1) Use the ACA website, Counseling using strategic, efficient and quality information. Question #3 (appearing Today and discussions at conferences as technological innovations to realize in the November issue) inquires about communication forums for strategies and further cost savings. For example, student membership. The real question is: innovations in recruitment of diverse expanding our web capabilities will allow How can ACA be attractive to day-to-day prospective students. members electronic access to journals and practitioners/clinicians, in addition to 2) Develop communication platforms Counseling Today. counselors-in-training and their counselor and materials for dissemination to I am a member of ACA’s Strategic Plan educators? prospective diverse students to help them Implementation Task Force, charged n “Advance the profession” think critically about emerging social with constructing and implementing issues and how they can truly make a Our ACA staff are competent a strategic plan to guide ACA’s future difference as a counselor. individuals who work daily to advance course and resource allocation, and 3) Create and facilitate mentoring the profession, lobby for interests on understand how to make ACA even programs to keep diverse counseling Capitol Hill and promote all of us. stronger. students and faculty in the field. Few, except the leaders in ACA, know 4) Advocate for the recruitment of the day-to-day efforts of the ACA Jeffrey Freiden: QWERTY613@ of diverse faculty to serve as models staff. Perhaps the assistance of a public AOL.com, my personal e-mail. You will of professional accomplishment in relations firm to expertly put our “name” see it whenever you see my name. I serve counseling and provide an academic and “brand” out to the public could help. the membership. There is a great value environment that is both stimulating I expand on this thought in my answer in ACA dues with a talented staff and and inviting to students with diverse to the fourth question (appearing in the multiple benefits. However, as a member, backgrounds. November issue). sometimes I have felt lost trying to find 5) Advocate for higher reimbursement/ the right person to resolve a membership n “Expand the promotion of human salaries for counselors. question. The buck stops here. dignity and diversity” Improve Technology: ACA has a great ACA took the lead among social Jeffrey Freiden: QWERTY613@ website. We could add Twitter to update service organizations in the promotion of AOL.com. The counselors I have last-minute conference changes or tweet “dignity,” “diversity” and “multicultural met understand diversity. It is more about a pending vote in Washington. We awareness.” Leaders emerged from the important, as counselors, to model could archive past conference programs. ranks of AMCD, AGLBIC and CSJ. We accepting behaviors because we are “role A smartphone application to access are “men and women for others.” The models” for our students and clients. conference information and member following question/answer delineates There is a difference between being benefits. Video-link sessions for members a plan to welcome culturally diverse accepting of people who are different who are unable to attend conference. A individuals to our profession. and standing up to be counted, creating webpage, outside of “Career Builder,” an inviting and inclusive environment. where counselors can research jobs, For example, I am a charter member internships and counseling programs. The United States is becoming of Tennessee ALGBTIC. Creating this Unity and Inclusion: The counseling increasingly diverse, and counseling Division says that we are more than profession is weakened by insurance is becoming more global. It is critical accepting; we are welcoming. As past companies and TRICARE that will not to increase the diversity among Chair and Board member of Southern recognize LPCs, with legislation that counselors. How would you address Region, we continue to work with ACA cuts school counseling positions, the this issue, and what steps would you leadership to include ASCA in the 20/20 budgets of universities and counseling take? discussion and work to revitalize the departments. Unfortunately, we also self- Georgia branch. ACA is a home for ALL divide ourselves. We have excluded ASCA Bradley T. Erford: A rich diversity of counselors. United we stand, divided we from committees, and the 56 branches thought and opinion strengthens our fall. are marginalized because they only have understanding of the human condition A proven method to create an inclusive four votes on the governing board. I want and yields insights into how we can best environment has been developed. How to include all counselors and their unique advocate for the diverse clientele we serve. does Coke sell so many sodas (or pop)? contributions. United we stand, divided The counseling profession is steeped They market their product globally and we fall. in the traditions of developmental and embrace all without regard to skin color, intervention approaches, multicultural gender, politics, wealth, physical ability or E. Christine Moll: My priorities age. Coke has “sold” itself to the world, stem from the mission of ACA in the counseling and advocacy counseling. Each of these traditions has enriched and the world has embraced Coke. I 2005 Code of Ethics. In short, they are as will copy that philosophy as I did at the follows: the training of counselors and ethical counseling practices. We are making Branch and Regional levels and market n “Professional development” progress in attracting more diverse ACA as a home for all counselors. ACA’s journals, texts and Counseling counseling practitioners, but can do Build it and they will come. October 2010 | Counseling Today | 51 E. Christine Moll: For well over 20 “definition of professional counseling,” of our collective efforts to diversify our years, ACA (and its various Divisions) while inviting a new, diverse generation associations. has promoted global awareness, diversity of professionals to assume our roles. Third, I would establish an and multicultural competence. A number Secondary by-products of our efforts international task force to develop and of individuals who challenged us to “be could be public awareness of our institutionalize a multiyear action plan to aware” emerged as ACA leaders. We have profession and an increase of pride in the increase the cultural diversification of the achieved much, but new challenges await profession, thus increasing practitioner counseling profession and ACA from a our attention. membership! global perspective. Anecdotal information suggests that Fourth, I will outreach with national we have first- and second-generation Michael D’Andrea: The following organizations whose mission is to immigrants or refugees from around the initiatives represent some of the specific advocate for the healthy development of world enrolled in counselor education ways that I would address the challenge persons in diverse groups who operate programs throughout Florida, New York, of diversifying the counseling profession. from multiple dimensions of identity. Texas, Arizona, California and in various First, I would work with other ACA Having ACA build partnerships with cities across the country as emerging leaders, members and students to develop such organizations would be a practical counseling professionals. These budding a long-term “ACA Diversity Initiative” and cost-effective way to help to further counseling professionals are potentially during my president-elect year and begin diversify ACA. u perfect mentors to the youth in urban implementing this initiative during my and underserved communities. presidential year. Let us partner with AmeriCorps and Second, I would convene a series other “service learning” entities to have of meetings early in my presidential our counselors-in-training work with, year with leaders in all ACA divisions VOTE mentor and inspire undergraduate to seek their support in making the students in psychology programs and diversification of their associations a in the urban youth. Let us invite counselor major goal. During these meetings, I educators and practitioners in a region would work collaboratively with all ACA ACA to join with our counseling candidates. association leaders to develop a realistic In so doing, we not only “walk the and consensually agreeable strategic plan Elections talk” — but give a living example of the to address and measure the effectiveness What stops people ® This new action method can be applied from changing? SOULDRAMA to all aspects of recovery including Workshops s 2ECOVERY PROGRAMS STEPS Learn how to put For personal growth and/or training s 3PECIAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS GRIEF DIVORCE In our present troubled times, new ADDICTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS spirituality into action! approaches and new initiatives are needed to break through the present s #ORPORATE AND MONEY ISSUES impasse to restore health and 4HIS INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PROCESS vibrancy. This is the time to develop 4AKE HOME NEW TOOLS FOR WORKING WITH THE INTEGRATES PSYCHOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY our spiritual intelligence. CLIENT USING THIS NEW MODEL AND DISCOVER WAYS Souldrama® IS A SEVEN STAGE PROCESS OF Lisbon, Portugal IN WHICH YOUR OWN PERSONAL SPIRITUAL AND TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH THAT IS DESIGNED TO /CTOBER n .OVEMBER s (RS PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING CAN BE ENHANCED MOVE CLIENTS THROUGH THEIR RATIONAL EMOTIONAL New Jersey 4HE )NTERNATIONAL )NSTITUE FOR Souldrama® AND SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCES SO THAT THEY CAN .OVEMBER IS AN ."## !PPROVED #ONTINUING %DUCATION CREATE NEW ROLES IN LIFE AND REMOVE THE BLOCKS 4RAINING IN !CTION -ETHODS s (RS 0ROVIDER AND MAY OFFER ."## THAT STOP THEM FROM MOVING FORWARD IN THEIR Los Angeles, CA APPROVED CLOCK HOURS FOR EVENTS THAT MEET RELATIONSHIPS AND CAREERS AND ACCESS THEIR *ANUARY n s (RS ."## REQUIREMENTS 4HE !#%0 SOLELY IS SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE Pocono Mountains, PA RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM 4HROUGH THIS GROUP EXPERIENTIAL METHOD &EBRUARY s (RS (OURS OF CERTIlCATION IN PSYCHODRAMA THE SOUL IS SPURRED INTO ACTION BRINGING GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SOCIOMETRY San Francisco, CA FORTH ITS SPONTANEITY AND CREATIVITY 4HIS -ARCH AS APPROVED BY THE !MERICAN "OARD OF PROCESS MOVES US FROM OUR 2ATIONAL 4RAINING AND 3OULDRAMA FOR THE 3TEPS s HRS 0SYCHOLOGICAL %XAMINERS IN 3OCIOMETRY )NTELLIGENCE WHAT ) THINK TO OUR %MOTIONAL 'ROUP 0SYCHOTHERAPY AND 0SYCHODRAMA Puglia, Italy 3OULDRAMA® IS AN INTERNATIONALLY REGISTERED )NTELLIGENCE WHAT ) FEEL AND 3PIRITUAL !PRIL -AY TRADEMARK 53 )NTELLIGENCE WHAT ) AM SO THAT WE CAN 3OULDRAMA s (RS INTEGRATE ALL THREE INTELLIGENCES IN OUR LIVES Connie Miller NCC, LPC,TEP LIVE IN THE PRESENT AND AWAKEN OUR HIGHER 4HE )NTERNATIONAL )NSTITUTE OF 3OULDRAMA® PURPOSE s WWWSOULDRAMACOM [email protected] 52 | Counseling Today | October 2010 Letters Continued from page 8 adherence. It is also controversial among I can relate to the frustration of raising included). Recently, 10 minutes after some counseling disciplines and within a child with a “difference” as a single a client left my office, we were in the greater scientific community. mother, and I valued all the support the same prayer quorum (minyan in Yet, the term is often carelessly applied we received as she was growing up. My Hebrew) in synagogue. Frankly, as we in counseling relationships, without daughter is now 18, and I find there are a community of 1,500 families, our consideration to the attached meaning are even more challenges because she is children may even go to the same school. it denotes about someone. In addition, transitioning into adulthood. Her future As I believe that both the client and the the concept has raised the ire of feminists is very uncertain based on her limitations therapist rightfully “have a life” outside because it is more frequently applied to and capabilities. the therapeutic relationship, it can get women and adds a negative connotation I think it’s important for families with tricky at times. If my friends see me to the roles that women are socialized to “special children” to remember to create talking to someone who they themselves fill within society. their own normal, whatever that may be, An attempt to develop a psychometric and to be grateful for the victories, no don’t know, their first assumption is that instrument to measure the construct matter how small. Briana wasn’t capable I am talking to a client, especially if it is also has met with resistance, primarily of graduating with a high school diploma a child who is not my own children’s age. due to disagreement about whether it because, academically, she wasn’t able I have been invited to bar mitzvahs of is a diagnosable pathology. I agree with to meet the criteria; however, she did clients of mine. I generally don’t attend, Isabel that caution should be applied walk across the stage with a certificate of and we talk about why I cannot attend. in all aspects related to this term. And attendance, and we celebrated just the My policy is that I usually react to the studies have shown that being dependent same. body language and cues of the client on others is an innate drive necessary for I applaud Susan Smith’s article, and I in these “outside the office” situations. human survival. thank her for writing it. Far too often, Afterward, we discuss the importance of A more reasonable approach to treating this population is overlooked in the the “poker face” for his (or her) individual “codependency” would be through the counseling field because the issues are not protection. Children are more likely lens of attachment theory founded by as visible as conditions such as depression, John Bowlby. The condition of role to ignore me, as it’s similar to seeing a schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive teacher outside of the school setting. reversal between parent and child is disorder or bipolar disorder. For example, Another challenge is that I’m not able to known to have similar outcomes, leaving my daughter has a cognitive disability talk to my wife about anything because the child to develop unhealthy patterns of and is developmentally delayed. You don’t she may be able to figure out whom I am lifelong caretaking of others. Counseling see commercials on television or ads in approaches believed to be effective at newspapers soliciting this population to talking about. treating the “compulsive caretaking” seek counseling, do you? For most clinicians in my agency, relationship style already exist, as does I appreciated the article Ms. Smith these are nonissues because, even though treatment for the attachment style known wrote, and I hope she will continue to they, too, are Orthodox Jews, they do as anxious avoidance, which is similar help these families that would otherwise not live locally. The agency prefers not to the “counterdependency” that Isabel go unnoticed. to hire clinicians from the community referenced. Tia Moore in order to keep the distance between Mary Schatz, Ph.D. Student [email protected] clinicians and clients; however, many Department of Rehabilitation Studies Orthodox Jews (as with many other East Carolina University cultural minorities) like to be seen by Greenville, N.C. Navigating the one of their own. Male therapists in our [email protected] close-knit community community are not a dime a dozen, and I wish to comment (and commiserate) I, being an ordained Orthodox rabbi and Giving needed recognition on the article regarding rural counselors a male, bring many cards to the table. to an overlooked population and their experiences (“Learning the The agency thus waived this requirement I greatly appreciated the article ropes of rural counseling,” April 2010). in order for males to be on its staff. Many “Distress and hope in families raising I am a clinician in a community- of the clients I see requested someone based agency whose main clientele are children with special needs” in the July like myself. They recognize the possibility 2010 Counseling Today magazine. I Orthodox Jews. Sometimes, I meet my from the outset of therapy that they will recently graduated with my master’s in clients in the local kosher food store and see me outside the office. It’s a trade-off. community counseling from Wilmington in my synagogue. A Sabbath doesn’t go University, and I am the parent of a child by in which I don’t see at least two to Rabbi Ariel Schochet, LAC who has a disability. three clients or former clients (children Passaic, N.J. u October 2010 | Counseling Today | 53 2010/2011 Division and Region Goals Association for Assessment 10-11 in Memphis, Tenn., and featured addition to updating our website, we in Counseling and Education ACA President-Elect Don W. Locke as the will utilize it more as a focal point for keynoter speaker. information. In closing, I ask you to remember that The annual conference in New this is your association and we are here Orleans provides a unique opportunity to serve you. If you have any ideas for for outreach and advocacy. AADA is programming or activities you would like planning activities that will focus on a to see us pursue, I would be happy to host city organization in need. This will speak with you about them. be AADA’s way of not only providing a service but also bringing visibility to a smaller, vital organization that desperately Association for Adult needs assistance. Look for information Development and Aging Joshua C. Watson, President on our initiatives and our surprise AADA It is with great humility and breakfast speaker! appreciation for the confidence that my Finally, AADA has made a strong peers have placed in me that I begin my commitment this year to actively term as president of AACE. For more than participating in public policy and 40 years, AACE has served the interests legislative issues. We believe one of the of those professionals involved in testing, most important services AADA can assessment, measurement and evaluation. provide is being active in the effort to pass As president, and with the help of a Medicare. dedicated and hardworking Executive Council, I look forward to the challenge of continuing to advance the mission of Jane E. Rheineck, President Association for Creativity AACE. AADA has a history of promoting the in Counseling This year my goal is to actively enhance lifelong development and well-being of the reputation and presence of the division adults across the life span. Not only will I through expanded partnerships with continue to promote this mission, but my other ACA divisions and professional presidency will also bring on initiatives organizations. As the helping professions that reflect the 21st century. continue moving toward greater measures One of the biggest challenges for AADA of accountability and evidence-based is the changing economic times. I see the practice, I believe AACE is well-positioned 2010-2011 year as an opportunity not to become a strong advocate and partner only to maintain fiscal responsibility but to for several ACA divisions seeking to develop cost-effective ways to strengthen establish new standards or to redesign AADA. Heather Trepal, President existing standards regarding assessment AADA was able to jump-start that I am both honored and excited to serve and evaluation processes. To this end, I process in late July when we held our as ACC president for 2010-2011. I am intend to follow in the footsteps of my summer conference in New York City. The following in the footsteps of Immediate predecessors, Rick Balkin and Marie theme, “Advocacy and the Underserved: Past President Shane Haberstroh. Under Shoffner, and look to create working Developmental Issues of Sexual his leadership, a high standard was set for relationships between AACE and its peer Orientation, Race, Gender and Age,” was member services and communication. divisions. a wonderful opportunity for attendees As the newest division within the I also intend to focus my efforts on to examine adult development through American Counseling Association, the increasing our membership by actively a multicultural lens. The conference was Association for Creativity in Counseling recruiting new members and promoting an excellent way to infuse diversity within has embarked on an amazing journey, the many valuable benefits currently our organization and a wonderful way one in which the founding leadership has afforded to our members. These include to illustrate the unique issues related to worked steadfastly to establish a strong access to our two division journals, diversity in adult development. foundation and structure. We are at an Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling Another challenge will be enhancing exciting time in our development, and and Development and Counseling Outcome other services to our membership. I am I am committed to the future growth Research and Evaluation, our division working with our technology committee and expansion of ACC. In particular, I newsletter and reduced pricing for our to design and implement services that am excited about and invested in ACC’s annual conference, which was held Sept. reflect the needs of our members. In commitment to reaching out to our 54 | Counseling Today | October 2010 membership and continuing to get more ACCA will be hosting annual can share their transition experience and people involved in both committee work conferences starting in 2012, with the offer ideas to members just starting to and leadership. first being held at the Walt Disney World change. My three major goals for the year are: Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Fla. Additionally, as the government n Increase membership and member ACCA members have always been a group workforce ages and retires, ACEG will give involvement: Develop ways to actively of professionals who know how to work new workers a structure for professional involve ACC members and cultivate hard and also how to relax and have fun. learning and networking to better perform new leaders for our organization. The conferences at Walt Disney World their jobs. Lastly, ACEG is the forum to in 2012 and in New Orleans in 2013 learn of the outstanding job opportunities n Increase member services: Continue will offer quality presentations, engaging available in all levels of government. I look to support members and provide keynote addresses and in-depth trainings, forward to moving ACEG into the next resources, including research grants, along with the opportunity to get wet on stage as an organization to provide for its networking and professional develop- Splash Mountain and have some beignets membership. ment opportunities, and to support The at the Café Du Monde in NOLA. My goals for ACEG include: Journal of Creativity in Mental Health to continue to provide high-quality Another central goal is the involvement n Developing additional ways to serve manuscripts with a practitioner focus. of community college counselors and members’ needs educators in our organization. The n Promoting and developing member n Work on development of the Relational addition of an executive council member- networking Competencies: Help to define and at-large for community college counseling refine the capabilities that serve creative is a great step in that direction. n Working with ACA to act as the voice practice. The division will continue this ACCA will expand its online resource for military-related initiatives work and broaden the impact that these forum for members to share syllabi, n Expanding membership to counselors competencies can have on the larger outreach programs, policy manuals and and educators in all levels of government field of counseling. forms. These resources augment our ACC is the divisional home for those existing electronic mailing list and give who are interested and invested in creative, members access to immediate assistance. Association for Counselor diverse and relational approaches to Finally (jeez, 300 words goes fast), I’d Education and Supervision counseling. I am proud to work with our encourage current ACCA members to board to serve the division and to bring us check out our “I Have a Friend” program closer to the goals we have established. (collegecounseling.org/members/friend). Existing members who bring a new American College member to the group will receive a $5 Counseling Association Starbucks card and a shiny new pin that will make you the envy of all your friends! Association for Counselors and Educators in Government Deryl Bailey, President It is indeed a pleasure to serve the association and the profession as ACES president. I am truly grateful to have past ACES presidents as colleagues and mentors who have been extremely helpful in acclimating me to my new role. Brian Van Brunt, President Recently, we have experienced several College students are awesome. challenges as practicing counselors, Getting to be the president of the group of counselors, psychologists, social workers counselor educators, supervisors, and counselors and supervisors in training. I and faculty who work with these students Donald Hill, President on a daily basis is like a double awesome am proud to say that ACES has remained There is a continued need for a voice rainbow (type that into youtube.com; you’ll strong in its response to these challenges, see, it’s so intense!). for government counselors and educators and this has been in large part due to the As ACCA grows as an organization, that ACEG can provide. ACEG will be the dedication of our leaders and members. our next goal is to hire a professional staff conduit for the membership to voice their Our success as an organization has been, member. This will assist with membership desires and opinions as well as provide and will continue to be, the result of growth and help improve our customer developmental training opportunities. As standing together on a set of principles service. To reach this goal, we need to government restructures and goes through that benefit those we serve. As in the past, increase our membership and continue dynamic changes, ACEG can be a means ACES will continue to meet the challenges to develop online seminars and annual for the sharing of ideas and lessons learned, and provide its membership with the best conferences. allowing a smoother transition. Members services possible. October 2010 | Counseling Today | 55 With that said, my goals for this year membership. It is also imperative that the compassion and professionalism that no (2010-2011) include the following: needs of existing members continue to be other division can provide. We need to n Providing practitioners with a met so that current members find value respond with action and transformation signature product that explains to the and meaning in ALGBTIC. that goes beyond the borders of the United public, including administrators, what To keep our association progressing, States to show that AMCD knows culture we do and how what we do benefits emerging leaders with contemporary and healing better than anyone else in the those we serve ideas need to be identified, mentored mental health professions. Thus, I hope n Making sure students feel supported, and utilized. Therefore, a third goal is that this year we can come together to protected and prepared to enter the to make sure that individuals, especially talk about international issues, ALGBTIC profession graduate students and new professionals, issues, poverty and the intersectionality are targeted and invited to serve in of all these issues as they relate to mental n Developing meaningful and authentic ALGBTIC. Additionally, developing health. relationships with other counseling stronger links to our state chapters and In summary, the goals for AMCD for and non-counseling disciplines on the connecting individuals who would like this year are as follows: behalf of our constituents to start chapters in their home states to 1) To reestablish AMCD as a leader n Moving the association beyond individuals who have been successful in in multicultural issues by redefining “debate” regarding an ACES executive starting up chapters will be a priority. multicultural counseling with a strong director Lastly, I will be working in conjunction basis in race and ethnicity without leaving n Updating the ACES strategic plan to with President-Elect Amney Harper issues of oppression unattended reflect the changes and challenges in and the ALGBTIC Board to establish 2) To investigate international issues and to the profession networking opportunities and affiliations in relationship to mental health and the n Involving students and new profession- with ACA and the other associations. globalization of U.S. mental illness and als in the leadership of the association The aforementioned goals support the implications of such globalization in ALGBTIC’s vision of making counseling the treatment of mental health issues in a safer place for LGBTQQIA clients and international settings Association for Lesbian, Gay, students so that queer clients’ and students’ 3) To investigate ALGBTIC issues Bisexual and Transgender identities are appreciated and celebrated among ethnic minorities in the United Issues in Counseling throughout the counseling process. I look States in relationship to mental health forward to the successes and challenges issues this next year will bring. 4) To revisit poverty among ethnic minorities in the United States and the implications for mental health Association for Multicultural professionals Counseling and Development 5) To study and report the intersectionality of all these issues American Mental Health Michael P. Chaney, President Counselors Association I am humbled to be serving in the role of president of ALGBTIC and am keenly aware that the privilege of representing the association today is due to the passion and motivation of past queer and ally leaders who fought and persevered to create and Edil Torres Rivera, President maintain ALGBTIC. Saludos. Let me start by expressing what One of my goals for the coming year an honor it is for me to be the AMCD is to highlight some of the unethical and president for the 2010-2011 period and oppressive counseling practices that take presenting my agenda for the coming year. place within our profession, such as sexual AMCD and its members have been at Tom J. Ferro, President orientation change efforts and other anti- the forefront of social change and social We just finished our Annual Conference queer counseling practices. Additionally, action. They have spoken out against all in Boston, which I am proud to report queer-affirmative counseling will be forms of inequalities and discrimination was a huge success, with attendance up by underscored. — racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, 10 percent! I am now starting to focus on A secondary goal is to focus on our age, language, religion, etc. This is a some of the goals I have for my term as membership. Like other associations time when global poverty is at an all- AMHCA president. within ACA, ALGBTIC’s membership time high, gender inequalities continue I plan to continue the two-year strategic has been influenced by the economy. I will to grow and global crises abound due to planning process I was part of as president- be working closely with our Membership natural catastrophes. AMCD needs to be, elect. I want to make sure that we meet the Committee to strategize ways to increase and will be, present with the expertise, specific goals and objectives that our stra- 56 | Counseling Today | October 2010 tegic planning outlined. For example, we based on the current demands of the pro- vision. Several years ago, ASCA adopted a want to continue to increase our member- fession. The goals that follow are organized governance structure that allows people to ship and to use our conferences as a tool to by content area. do what they do best and what only they build our organization. We are becoming Public policy and legislation. The goal this can do. In this model, I don’t perform any more aggressive with marketing and reach- year is to further develop ARCA’s lobbying of the functions necessary to keep ASCA ing out to past members to give them an position to increase contact with senators moving. Instead, my primary purpose is opportunity to join again. We are making and representatives on matters that af- to ensure that the association stays on its a strong effort to reach out to students and fect rehabilitation, including legislation, course of success and, at times, to stay out are pleased to see our student member- and to expand the association’s efforts by of the way. ship growing to its largest size in AMHCA building working relationships with the Even though the country is starting to history. We are committed to leadership Rehabilitation Services Administration and show signs of recovery from a difficult training and giving our state and regional the National Institute on Disability and economy, public schools are still suffering leaders tools and support to keep their Rehabilitation Research. from the effects of the recession. Conse- chapters strong and viable. Collaboration. The profession of re- quently, ASCA realizes that most school Another important goal is to advance habilitation counseling consists of more counselors have very limited resources, AMHCA’s legislative agenda. We must than the ARCA division and its members. so ASCA is introducing many programs continue to press for legislation related Rehabilitation counseling has multiple and services to provide resources at no to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE, organizations that represent the profession. or low charge to ASCA members. ASCA as well as implementation of the VA ARCA has historically worked closely with continues to expand its resources though legislation. Our director of legislative the National Rehabilitation Counseling its website, podcasts and social network, affairs, Julie Clements, has been doing Association, and the goal this year is to the ASCA SCENE, which allows school a fantastic job for us in this area, and strengthen the relationship and collaborate counseling professionals to share resources we are working closely with ACA, on joint strategic goals. with each other. Of course, ASCA contin- NBCC, AAMFT and other like-minded Membership. Like many other profes- ues to provide all professional and student organizations to make our senators and sional organizations, ARCA is struggling members $1 million of liability insurance representatives aware of our desire to better with the loss of membership in all catego- coverage as part of membership with no serve our members and clients in private ries. A long-term goal is to increase the additional cost to members. practice. Growing AMHCA’s Foundation number of student members joining the As a result of these efforts, ASCA is and helping it flourish is also a priority. organization and to work to better under- completing another very successful year. Two other areas of interest to me are stand the path by which student members We expect to finish Fiscal Year 2010 with a continuing our efforts to “go green” and become new and long-term professional healthy net income. Our membership ex- making online social networking available members. Additionally, ARCA plans to ceeded 27,000 for the first time in ASCA’s to AMHCA members. I look forward to focus on the benefits of membership and history, which means ASCA has more than the year ahead and to serving AMHCA. to enhance those benefits to long-standing tripled its membership since 2000. We professional members. expect these trends to continue. Research. Feedback from association Therefore, the goal of ASCA is to con- American Rehabilitation members, legislative staff and other pro- tinue to help all school counselors serve Counseling Association fessionals has caused ARCA to undergo their students, and my goal is to help a review of its journal, with the goal of ASCA continue its great success in achiev- establishing a research agenda for the up- ing this goal. We hope the economy will coming decade that is a collaborative effort improve in the coming year, but we’re sure between researchers, practitioners and ASCA will keep going strong. other stakeholders. Association for Spiritual, American School Ethical and Religious Values Counselor Association in Counseling Frank Lane, President My vision for the American Rehabilita- tion Counseling Association is to strength- en the organization by reinforcing and enhancing its existing relationships with stakeholders in counseling and rehabilita- tion while continuing to advocate for the profession of rehabilitation counseling as a specialization within the counseling pro- fession. The goals identified for this year Michael Brian Law, President Jennifer R. Curry, President were identified from the association’s stra- Like ASCA presidents who preceded me, I am honored to serve the ASERVIC tegic plan and determined to be important I have a simple role: to be the keeper of the membership as president this year October 2010 | Counseling Today | 57 and have already had the excitement ASGW president. Our website delineates baseball terms, it is difficult to score if you of successfully completing the second our values: service, leadership, community. never pick up the bat! Here is what’s on ASERVIC Conference on Spirituality: We plan to support services that focus on our agenda this year. Navigating the Spiritual Journey of Life. our values and to accent the importance of Our board has debated a division name As I began my year as president, I had happiness, unity in diversity and sustained change. The vote on that issue will go out the fortune of being able to interact social justice. Service, scholarship and to the membership very soon. This poten- with board members and to meet with leadership are interrelated. Hence, we plan tial change provides us an opportunity to members of the Summit on Spirituality at to further strengthen group work practices clearly and concisely share our philosophy the ASERVIC Conference. This allowed focused on multicultural community and our mission with the field. I’m excited me to thoroughly review any unresolved building, which is about caring. Commu- to have member feedback on that issue. ASERVIC goals from the past and to set nity is about a feeling of being at home, As a humanistic educator and clinician, new goals for the future. where we feel fully accepted and invited I am a believer in the effective application To begin with, we will be using feedback to grow. It is the result of competence and of these principles in both counseling and from our conference evaluations to plan the dedication of people like you and me. education. We are at work on a training our next Conference on Spirituality, It is about valuing relationships based on program that will bring our members which will be held in New Mexico. I have two essential elements: being in touch with recognition for having completed training identified two new conference chairs who our hearts and having clarity to see how in two available tracks: humanistic clinical have agreed to take on the task of planning things are done while having the courage work and humanistic educational work. to move beyond our comfort zone to see and coordinating that conference: Tracy The development of these credentials is Hutchinson and Monica Leppma. In how things could be in our community. I well under way. I plan to proceed with the addition, we are working with the New hope we will remain curious about what appointment of a Blue Ribbon Review Mexico ASERVIC state chapter to cohost brings gladness to our hearts and what Panel that will provide feedback for the this conference under the direction of may reduce the world’s hunger — the kind development of program content for both Elizabeth Ebner. of hunger that goes beyond a meal, the tracks. Another major goal this year is to com- hunger that reminds us of much-needed Finally, as a division, we recognize that plete our search for a new editor for the acceptance and care for each other. humanistic principles are often so widely Counseling and Values journal. Richard We plan to continue collaboration with Watts will complete his three years of edi- various divisions so we can complement accepted that they may not be identified in torship in June 2011, and we are grateful our focus on unity in diversity that goes newer and very effective approaches. We for the contributions he has made. We are beyond superficial boundaries. I am count- are currently at work on a book, to be ed- also thankful to those who have agreed to ing on our current and future members to ited by Mark Scholl, Scott McGowan and serve on our journal editor search com- join in and take further steps in identifying Jim Hansen, that will identify the human- mittee: Harriet Glosoff (search committee “the way things are” and “the way they istic principles in cutting-edge approaches chair), Leila Roach and Chris Faiver. could be.” Dr. King said love when others to both counseling and education. Our Our other goals this year include said hate. He said together when others said goal is to have that book available at the improving our financial infrastructure separate. He said peace when others said New Orleans conference. through changes to our investment portfo- war. May peace be the fabric in your life. I look forward to working with our lio, to begin work on counselor education I hope you will continue to find ASGW a members to ensure that our division monographs to use for assisting counselor home where you will have an opportunity remains as vibrant and relevant as ever. educators in integrating spirituality in to experience true happiness. As Adler I welcome any feedback from members CACREP core course work, to review and used to say, “True happiness is inseparable or potential members at michael.walsh@ revise our current bylaws and to plan our from the feeling of giving.” uscmed.sc.edu. I’m thrilled to step up to the participation in the ACA Community plate for a division I feel is vital to the past, Outreach initiative in New Orleans. present and future of our field. Batters up! Counseling Association for Humanistic Education Association for Specialists and Development Counselors for Social Justice in Group Work Michael Walsh, President Judy Daniels, President Bogusia Skudrzyk, President Hello again! My goals this year are As a founding member of Counselors for I feel very honored to serve as the ambitious, yet achievable. To put it in Social Justice, it is an honor to be elected 58 | Counseling Today | October 2010 president for the 2010-2011 year and to International Association joint reception at ACA, among other provide a vision for our rapidly growing of Addictions and Offender cooperative efforts. The field of addictions organization. Counselors and offender counseling intersects with The historical roots of the counseling many other division interests and areas of expertise. profession are grounded in a tradition of social justice. It is my hope that all coun- selors will consider how they can promote International Association social justice in the work they do with of Marriage and Family their clients, their students and within the Counselors organizational and community contexts in which they interact. Every day, we are con- fronted with incidents of injustice includ- Juleen K. Buser, President ing, but not limited to, oppression, racism, IAAOC is an organization made up of sexism, classism, heterosexism and ageism. committed, passionate members, and I am Our task as counselors is to identify and honored to serve as this division’s president name these issues and to have the courage for 2010-2011. I have been consistently to take a risk by initiating change strate- impressed by the dedication of IAAOC’s gies. Please join CSJ in our many projects members, and a primary goal I hold Stephen Southern, President as we work toward creating a more just and for this year is to increase the resources Our division provides a home for peaceful world. IAAOC makes available to its members. Specifically, I am interested in expanding professional counselors committed to Some of our initiatives include: the resources offered on IAAOC’s scholar working with couples and families. We n Providing leadership for and joining website so that members can access believe the systems and postmodern with all ACA divisions in a day of and share relevant, useful information perspectives applied in couples, marriage service and leadership development to assist them in their practice and/or and family counseling afford excellent on March 24 at the ACA Annual teaching. Resources such as PowerPoints opportunities for all counselors to identify strengths and resources presented by Conference in New Orleans; working and podcasts would likely be valuable to the persons we serve. We would like to with the Louisiana Counseling members. An exciting prospect for IAAOC provide membership services, professional Association to sustain these service members is the first IAAOC Day of development (including our Certified initiatives after the conference Learning, which will be held at the ACA Family Therapist credential) and n Collaborating with other divisions to Conference in New Orleans in March networking for specialists in the division, promote an interdivisional ancillary 2011. We have an exciting conference while reaching out to colleagues in other event in New Orleans called “Unity planned for our members, including our divisions and all professional counselors. Through Dialogue: The Intersection of annual IAAOC breakfast. Therefore, we have a few related goals for the upcoming year. Different Identities Into One Mission” Another goal for this year is to increase focus on process addictions within on March 26 n Collaborate with other divisions in IAAOC. Our division has done an cosponsoring programs, distributing n Strengthening CSJ as an organization excellent job of this in the past, and I information and sharing manuscripts by continuing to increase our hope to continue to expand this focus for potential publication membership, providing outreach by bringing attention to concerns such services to our members, improving as Internet addiction, eating disorders n Continue outreach across the nation our website, providing computer-based and gambling addiction, among others. and abroad to professional counselors who would benefit from training, board meetings and membership Venues for this added focus may include our IAAOC newsletter and scholar website consultation, credentialing and outreach initiatives, collaborating with resources, in addition to other possibilities. advocacy for couple, marriage and other divisions, providing outreach to This emphasis is already beginning with an family counseling/therapy students, providing outreach to CSJ upcoming ACA Professional Counseling chapters and creating opportunities for Digest, which is a way for divisions to n Enhance the use of rapidly expand- kids and young people to join CSJ and focus on relevant issues. This digest, ing technologies to reach current and prospective members and involve them become active in social justice service which I coauthored with Mark Woodford, in deliberation and decision making and advocacy is titled Eating Disorders and Religious/ Spiritual Beliefs and begins IAAOC’s The challenges and opportunities in n Completing the CSJ social increasing dialogue on these issues. professional counseling are just ahead. justice ethics Moreover, I hope to maintain and Family life is in the process of being n Undertaking projects initiated increase collaboration with other divisions reconstructed. Our collective interests by members in ACA, continuing our tradition of a are more important than individual October 2010 | Counseling Today | 59 preferences and concerns. We believe that National Employment join NECA and help us confront our IAMFC can offer a forum for the exchange Counseling Association current employment crisis. We work best of ideas, professional development for when we work together — and together is current and prospective members, and a the best way to heal the employment crisis. sense of community for those committed to helping couples and families. Midwest Region National Career Development Association Kimberly Key, President Employment is in crisis. Job security is at an all-time low. Jobless claims are rising. Pay cuts are increasing, while benefits are decreasing. The result is insecurity, fear, shuffling to learn new skills, working more Thelma Greaser, Chair than one job and working for oneself. The goals identified for my year as Politics and positioning on the job are also region chair are to promote leadership Cheri Butler, President at a peak as people struggle to keep their training, to support branch development The National Career Development jobs and defend their turf. The emotional and to encourage professional relationships Association inspires and empowers people toll can be seen through depression, among the counselors in the Midwest. to achieve their career and life goals. As anxiety, relationship troubles, workplace To work at achieving these goals, I will the leading career organization, NCDA bullying and overall confusion about what encourage region leaders who attended accomplishes this by providing quality to do. Moreover, roughly 40 percent of the 2010 ACA Institute for Leadership resources, standards, scientific research and the homeless population is made up of Training to contact individuals with whom public policy and advocacy. families with jobs who are still unable to they are acquainted in their own states and During my year as president of NCDA, meet living expenses. In extreme cases, in other states to increase communication, I will serve as the captain of Team NCDA. people commit suicide — some in their provide support and begin dialoguing The team’s goals are to: workplaces. about ways to maximize leadership 1) Implement a new Gallup poll As president of NECA, my goal is to training opportunities within our region. surveying working America to update the reach out and share how employment Branch leaders will be encouraged to invite previous one commissioned in 1999 issues (from finding employment to ACA members from neighboring states 2) Strengthen the connections with state dealing with underemployment and to attend their state branch and division career development associations through unemployment) impact mental health, conferences. Branches will be challenged the regional trustees families, education and our overall to think about planning joint conferences 3) Extend member benefits through the community. to promote communication, enhance the use of technology, including professional I want to ensure that NECA serves potential for quality training and decrease development as a resource to everyone, whether one costs. This could also be an opportunity 4) Continue our connections with other is working in workforce development, to reach out to branches that are inactive countries to solidify our position as the serving as an employment counselor, or struggling with either leadership or premier career development organization working in a private practice, employed economic concerns. in the world in a school district or teaching in We also plan to continue our focus 5) Collaborate with other like-minded higher education. NECA provides on increasing student involvement in organizations because there is strength in trends, statistics, case studies, research, state branches. Recruitment of student numbers professional development, networking, members will not only enhance the 6) Position NCDA to promote resource sharing, education and more to mission of the branches but also the the importance of the delivery of keep its members abreast of important region. Investment in our students today is career services across the life span by employment issues and their impact on an investment in our future. professionally trained career practitioners clients. During the past two years, we have been As the oldest counseling organization Finally, I want to pay homage to encouraged to think about leadership in the field, we are also beginning to NECA’s roots and remember the group of development in new ways. In the next make plans to celebrate our 100-year people who got together in 1966 with the year, region leadership and ACA staff will anniversary in 2013 in Boston, the site of Department of Labor to provide support be working with President-Elect Don the beginnings of our organization. Team to counselors confronting “real-world” Locke to plan for the 2011 leadership NCDA will continue to promote our issues in employment. We faced difficulties institute. As your Midwest Region chair, I motto, which is to “Inspire Careers and then, and we face new kinds of difficulties am advocating for two emerging leaders to Empower Lives.” now. I ask that all counseling professionals be identified from each state in our region 60 | Counseling Today | October 2010 to attend this event. Several state branches of ideas can help facilitate the development 4) Continue to reinforce the significant have already paid for two registrations for of solutions. Lastly, I would like to serve role that branches play in strengthening emerging leaders from their branches. as an effective liaison between the NAR ACA. Branches build members and Finally, I challenge each individual who branches and ACA and the NAR branches leaders from the ground up. For is in leadership in a branch or division and ACA divisions. many professional counselors, branch in the Midwest Region to identify one membership represents their first exposure student or counselor to mentor as an to and participation in professional Southern Region emerging leader. associations. It may be through this opportunity that active and vibrant ACA members are created. North Atlantic Region Western Region Mary L. Libby, Chair Little did I know when I became state branch president-elect four short years Pasquale Giordano, Chair ago that Southern Region chair was in It is my pleasure to be serving as the my future as well. Funny how a little North Atlantic Region chair. I have been arm twisting and a lot of mentoring can Rachel Kristianson, Chair very fortunate the past two years to work create leadership paths. It is truly an honor The Western Region will support the with great leaders who have helped me to serve all professional counselors in branches and address their concerns as focus on the needs of the branches within Southern Region. Some things I hope to well as carry out the tasks assigned to the our region. I would like to say that I will accomplish during my time of service: region by ACA. A continuing goal of our not be reinventing the wheel during my 1) Grow leaders. Southern Region region has been better communication year as chair. The goals set by the previous continues to “grow” leaders who are with the branches. The overall goal for the leaders need continued attention. ready and willing to serve at the national region this year is to improve upon that The primary issue affecting our region level (go Marcheta!), the division level, and to promote regular communication is the number of inactive state branches. the region level and on committees. If among the branches, between the branches Currently, five out of 10 states within there is a place to serve, someone from and Western Region, and between the the NAR are inactive. Recent efforts Southern Region will be ready to step branches and ACA. have been made to rebuild some of up. My goal is to simply continue this To this end, the following is planned: these branches, and our focus will be to tradition by inviting individuals to serve as Officers of the region will maintain regular continue helping struggling state branches opportunities arise. That won’t take much contact with the branch leaders. Branches to develop. Because 50 percent of the arm twisting in this region. are encouraged to contact Western region’s branches are inactive, the board 2) Be available to branch leadership — Region’s Governing Council representative felt it necessary to focus additional efforts period. Should it be through mentoring, about their concerns, and the Governing on this area. Consequently, I appointed being a liaison between branches and Council representative will inform the Terry Mitchell, past NAR chair, as NAR ACA, encouraging a struggling branch branches about Governing Council’s branch development chair. Terry is well or simply being available by e-mail or deliberations. aware of the struggles NAR has had with telephone, I want to walk with branch Also, a Western Region Google website inactive branches and brings knowledge leadership through their opportunities and and communication link was established of both state and national associations. He challenges and ultimately celebrate their last year. The intention is to make greater will lead a small committee designed to successes. use of this to communicate with the help coordinate the efforts of counselors 3) Facilitate communication, branches, to highlight branch activities in states with inactive branches. Terry understanding and acceptance between and to share information throughout the will also sit on the national committee of state divisions and the state branch. region. u branch development. Whether already separate or currently An additional goal will be to increase engaging in difficulties that may lead to communication between branches of separation, there is plenty of opportunity the NAR. It is my goal to keep branches to weather the storm with health, not connected by using an electronic mailing destruction. This is occurring for a variety list, e-mail correspondence and social of reasons, but these are not as important media. Branches in the region are as the result: a disturbance in a united and struggling with similar issues, and sharing unified professional identity. October 2010 | Counseling Today | 61 Bragging on the Big Easy ACA members who live and work in New Orleans share their insider knowledge of the 2011 ACA Annual Conference & Exposition’s host city Compiled by Jonathan Rollins hich U.S. city comes of Mardi Gras,” she says. “My son-in- to mind most readily in law from New York complains that we Wconnection with the word don’t have seasons down here, and I celebration? New Orleans would be near explained to him that we do. They just the top of the list for most people, with happen to be different seasons: crawfish Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and a year-round season, Mardi Gras season, Jazz Fest schedule jam-packed with merrymaking. season, oyster season and many more. Which U.S. city is most associated We love sharing our gifts with others, so with the term resilience? Again, New we welcome with open arms our visitors, Orleans can make a strong case, especially including those who will come for the given its ongoing rebirth five years after ACA Conference.” the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Beth Christensen’s family’s roots in when many commentators were openly New Orleans stretch back to the 1700s. A questioning what — if any — future the doctoral candidate in counselor education city might have. at the University of New Orleans, she And how about culture (and multicul- grew up watching countless Mardi Gras turalism)? Admittedly, cities such as New parades while sitting on her father’s York and San Francisco might spring to shoulders. “New Orleans is not just a mind first, but few places can match New place; it is a state of being,” she declares. Orleans for its intriguing mishmash of “New Orleans carries its emotions and cultures and traditions that find exotic passions very close to the surface and voice in the city’s food, music, arts, archi- releases them so freely that they become tecture and spirit. a part of the air. So take in a good long What better city then to host the breath while you’re here. Don’t even try American Counseling Association’s to compare New Orleans to anyplace else 2011 Annual Conference & Exposition, you have ever been — you can’t. Just let cosponsored by the Louisiana Counseling yourself soak up as much of it as you can Association. while you’re here.” “Our strong connection to our families, Quo Vadis Maria Webster, another our faiths, our neighborhoods, our native of the Big Easy and a licensed city, our environment, our culture and professional counselor intern, is also traditions and even our sports teams excited to show off her city’s sights and is so appealing that many of those strengths to ACA Conference attendees. wonderful folks who came from other “It’s been said time and time again that cities to help us rebuild after Katrina had New Orleans is quite resilient. Despite trouble leaving. Quite a few didn’t!” says efforts to write us off, our spirit sustains Marguerite “Peggy” Villere Demarest, us,” she says. “The way we talk, what we a private practitioner in New Orleans eat, how we dance, the music we listen whose family has been in the city for to and how we treat others — even generations. Her ancestor, Jacques Villere, complete strangers — is a testament to was the second governor (and first Creole the rich culture and history upon which governor) of the state of Louisiana. the city is built. For those visiting for the “We have a joie de vivre that is first time, I encourage you to step outside demonstrated in our music, our festivals, of franchise eateries and chain restaurants our jazz funerals, our love of good food to experience that which is uniquely ours. and, of course, our biggest celebration For those who have already fallen in love 62 | Counseling Today | October 2010 with New Orleans — and you soon-to-be learned that New Orleans was second The second thing is the food. It is a converts — welcome home, cher!” only to New York in terms of its “born, wonderful mix of cultures that results in If you’re planning to attend the 2011 live and die” rate, meaning that people some amazing cuisine. You can get a great ACA Annual Conference & Exposition tend to stay here rather than move meal just about any time of the day or being held March 23-27, take advantage away. As a transplant, I have come to evening with a side of fun and ambiance. of the recommendations provided by love the family-oriented nature of this The third thing is the party atmo- fellow ACA members who also happen to community. sphere. You can find something to do any be proud New Orleanians. Donald P. Owens Jr.: New Orleans is day, any time, any season. As a culture, one of the most unique cities I have ever our schedules revolve around what special What do you love about New Orleans? known, steeped in history and culture. event or holiday is coming and what we Leslie M. Culver: We have our own The culture is a mixture of French, need to do to prepare for it. There is very style. It’s an approach to life that involves Spanish, Acadian, Creole, English, little down time between one party and the next. celebrating and embracing the moment. German, Italian, Vietnamese and others. The final thing is the music and how We have outrageously interesting food The food represents all of these and a it ties the first three things about New and drink, music and art, architecture mixture of each. It is the home of jazz; Orleans together. and streets, history and tradition, religion hence, music plays a large part in the life and spirituality. Jen Morant: My dad was in the of the city. Here also is the experience of The experience of Hurricane Katrina military. Therefore, I have lived many the African culture and religion known and its aftermath taught us about our places, and nothing compares to the as Voodin, which many know as voodoo. most valuable commodity: our people. diversity and heritage of New Orleans. Yes, it is alive and well here in New We are a diverse population with a wide New Orleans has the most down-to-earth variety of skin colors, accents, attitudes Orleans. and caring people I have ever met. We are and wardrobes — and that’s just the Mark D. Thornton: The first thing a true melting pot of culture, but we all surface stuff. Our differences are what about New Orleans is the people. They love this city equally. Where else can you make us so interesting, and our spirit is are kind, friendly and always willing to go and have never-ending food, music what makes the city so special. lend a helping hand. I was here before and partying? Nancy Webb Olinde: New Orleans the storm, and I returned after. Even five Chantel Gant: I love New Orleans is a city of neighborhoods, and most years later, people are still willing to offer because it’s a historic city with a spirit visitors do not get to experience that assistance and compassion to those in and resiliency that is unmatched. This wonderful quality. During Katrina, I need. is a place where people remain hopeful Nancy Webb Olinde has lived in Mark D. Thornton has lived in Leslie M. Culver is a native New New Orleans for almost 30 years and New Orleans for more than a decade. Orleanian, a counselor intern at Family is the president of Career Management He is an elementary school counselor, Service of Greater New Orleans and supervises counselor interns working Associates LLC, a firm providing a full-time doctoral student in the toward their license and sees clients in a management consulting, organizational counselor education program at the development and career management private practice setting. University of New Orleans. services. Beverly Barry is a retired school Chantel Gant is a college counselor Holly Baudier grew up in Folsom, counselor who has lived in New Orleans La., and moved to New Orleans three for 33 years. in New Orleans who has lived in the years ago. She is finishing her last year Quo Vadis Maria Webster has lived city most of her life. in the Bywater section of New Orleans’ of graduate school in counseling at Our Henry McCarthy has lived in New Ninth Ward all of her life. An LPC Lady of Holy Cross College. Orleans for more than 25 years. He intern, she received her master’s from The Rev. Donald P. Owens Jr. is is a professor in the Louisiana State Xavier University of Louisiana this past a licensed professional counselor and May. University Health Sciences Center licensed marriage and family therapist Marguerite “Peggy” Villere Rehabilitation Counseling Department. who has lived in New Orleans since Demarest is an LPC and LMFT in Beth Christensen is a doctoral 2000. He is an associate professor at the private practice in New Orleans. candidate in counselor education at the Tulane University School of Medicine Jen Morant recently moved back University of New Orleans and a native and an ordained Episcopal priest. to New Orleans after graduating from New Orleanian. Brandon Hartenstein is a native of Southeastern Louisiana University Ronda L. Bonnette, a doctoral New Orleans who will graduate from with her master’s degree in counselor the community counseling master’s education. She works at the National student at the University of New program at Loyola University New Alliance on Mental Illness New Orleans Orleans and a counselor intern, has Orleans this December. Friendship Club. lived in New Orleans since 2005. October 2010 | Counseling Today | 63 even in the darkest hour. It is a place that Brandon Hartenstein: The New Preserve. The park has a boardwalk that represents various cultures and religious Orleans African American Museum takes you through cypress swamps while traditions. Creativity flows naturally in of Art, Culture and History. Also, our keeping your feet dry and away from the blood of its residents through the cemeteries, although I do not recommend critters like snakes and alligators. If you sweet sounds of jazz, the intricate designs tours. You can take the Canal Street are more adventurous, there are ranger- of the Mardi Gras Indians and the streetcar to the end of the line, where led canoe tours as well. The park office energetic charisma of the residents. New there are three cemeteries you can explore is actually in the French Quarter at 419 Orleans is a canvas of the celebration on your own. Also, the Ninth Ward — Decatur Street, and they have ranger-led of life. rent a bike and head down St. Claude. walking tours of the Quarter as well as a Beverly Barry: My favorite places are pretty nice indoor exhibit. What sights should be on visitors’ Audubon Park, City Park, the French Brandon Hartenstein: Yoga at the “must not miss” list? Quarter and the riverfront (wherever Cabildo on Jackson Square (Tuesday, Henry McCarthy: Two good tourist it is). I love riding the streetcar, biking Thursday and Saturday mornings). options are the streetcars up and down the levee path and walking the French Quo Vadis Maria Webster: HBO may the two main drags. The Canal Street line Quarter. have put New Orleans’ famed Tremé ends at the Museum of Art in City Park Leslie M. Culver: St. Charles neighborhood on the map, but the and has a second branch that goes to one Avenue (via streetcar ride, if possible); Backstreet Cultural Museum gives you a of our unique aboveground cemeteries. Audubon Zoo and Park (don’t miss the real sense of its rich culture. St. Charles Avenue is the most elegant Swamp Exhibit); the Garden District Jen Morant: The best-kept secret of street. This line, which goes past many (take a guided tour of this historical New Orleans is Algiers Point. This is one mansions, two universities and Audubon neighborhood); the French Quarter of the oldest communities in NOLA, Park, is a National Historic Landmark. (venture away from Bourbon Street); second to the French Quarter. This Better value still is the free Algiers ferry the Moon Walk (stroll along the muddy community embodies a balance of city that gives a neat view of the skyline of Mississippi). life and small-town living just a five- downtown and the French Quarter as you Chantel Gant: Visitors should minute ferry ride away from downtown. stand 5 feet above the roaring, muddy definitely take the streetcar down St. After you have enjoyed your walk around Mississippi. The quaint Algiers Point Charles Avenue to take in the nostalgia of the community, take a break at some of community on the west bank of the ferry New Orleans. Other great places to visit the local neighborhood cafés or bars. The ride has a few pubs and restaurants that are the St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, Canal Street Ferry is located across from are interesting but don’t draw a typical the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Harrah’s Casino next to the aquarium. tourist crowd. National D-Day Museum (now known as Peggy Villere Demarest: Visitors to the National World War II Museum). Which restaurants, bars or nightclubs our city should take a tour of the French Ronda L. Bonnette: The National will give visitors a true taste of New Quarter, including having beignets World War II Museum (make sure to Orleans? and coffee at Café Du Monde, peeking go across the street to watch the movie Quo Vadis Maria Webster: Acme in the St. Louis Cathedral, as well as after touring the museum); the George Oyster House (chargrilled oysters are the Presbytere and Cabildo on either Rodrigue Blue Dog Art Studio; a ride on delectable); Mandina’s (I dare you to try side, and possibly touring a cemetery the streetcar down St. Charles Avenue; the turtle soup; catch the Canal Street or a home like the Hermann-Grima or Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World (how Streetcar and take it up to 3800 Canal Beauregard-Keyes houses. The Garden they make all of the parade floats); St. Street); collection of bars and restaurants District is beautiful to drive through, and Louis Cathedral; the Louisiana Children’s on Frenchmen Street (great food and there are some nice walking tours of that Museum (fabulous!). music minutes away from the French area as well. Near the Garden District Quarter); Harrah’s Casino New Orleans is Magazine Street, which is full of fun Recommend a hidden gem that might (live jazz on Thursdays in the Masquerade shops and restaurants. Taking a streetcar not show up in most guidebooks. lounge); Elizabeth’s Restaurant (take a ride down St. Charles Avenue will lead Holly Baudier: Plum Street Snoballs short cab ride downriver from the French you through the edge of the Garden are the best in the city. You can’t go Quarter to this Bywater gem) District to Audubon Park, which is across through a hot day in New Orleans Nancy Webb Olinde: Here are a few from the beautiful campuses of Loyola without one! in the downtown area that are great: and Tulane University. If you choose to Nancy Webb Olinde: The New Mother’s (for po-boys), the Gumbo Shop take a walk through the park, you will Orleans Center for Creative Arts. During (for Louisiana-type food), Acme Oyster not only see the magnificent oaks and the school year on Friday afternoons, House, Bayona’s (the salmon is to die for) the lagoon, but will happen upon the the students from the voice and music and Café Maspero (for big sandwiches). Audubon Zoo, a favorite place for adults disciplines have their performance class These are all medium-priced places. and children. Our other large park, City … wonderful. HerbSaint, NOLA, the Palace Café and Park, has near its entrance the Museum of Beth Christensen: You might be here Red Fish Grill are all wonderful, more- Art, as well as the botanical and sculpture in time to see the wild irises blooming in gardens. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Continued on page 67 64 | Counseling Today | October 2010 Wyndham Riverfront Orleans New Blvd. Center Convention 701 Center Ernest N. Morial Convention Blvd. Center 900 Convention 7. 8. Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown Marriott Downtown Inn by Residence Center at the Convention Joseph Street 345 St. Marriott Springhill by Suites Center at the Convention Joseph Street St. 301 5. 6. 3 7 1 8 6 4 5 Hilton New Orleans Riverside New Hilton (ACA Headquarters Hotel) Street Poydras Two Center Orleans Convention New Hotel Blvd. Center Convention 881 2 3. 4. Courtyard Marriott by Center at the Convention 300 Julia Street Convention Inn and Suites Hampton Hotel Center Blvd. Center Convention 1201 1. 2. October 2010 | Counseling Today | 65 Touring New Orleans Attendees of the ACA Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans can get an in-depth look at the Big Easy by taking advantage of the following tours New Orleans City Tour Behind the Scenes Big Easy Venture: French Thursday, March 24, 2-5 p.m. and of Mardi Gras Quarter & Riverboat Saturday, March 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, 1-5 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday, March 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This guided tour includes Jackson March 26, 1-5 p.m. Beginning at the St. Louis Cathedral, Square, on the edge of the French Because Mardi Gras will be taking guests will learn the real history of the Quarter, and Esplanade Avenue. You’ll place, it is only fitting for guests to get a people and places that make up the then travel outside the city center to behind-the-scenes look at the festivities. mysterious French Quarter, settled in the better understand the areas devastated Travel to Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, early 1700s. Guests will then take a two- by Hurricane Katrina. Next, the tour a Carnival showcase, with thousands of hour harbor cruise along the Mississippi will follow the path of the St. Charles sensational sculptured props and breath- River aboard the Steamboat Natchez Avenue streetcar past stately mansions taking giant figures on display. Guests are while enjoying a traditional Creole lunch and the world-famous Garden District. encouraged to bring their cameras. buffet. Guests will then pass Tulane and Loyola Price: $65 per person (includes private Price: $88 per person (includes lunch and universities across from Audubon Park. guided tour and deluxe transportation) transportation) Price: $25 per person (includes transportation) Garden District Gems Steamboat Natchez National World War II Museum Walking Tour Dinner Cruise Saturday, March 26, 1-5 p.m. and Sunday, Thursday, March 24, 2-5 p.m. and Friday, March 25, 6-9:30 p.m. and March 27, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, March 27, 6-9:30 p.m. The National World War II Museum Visit the “American” section of town Enjoy a harbor cruise along the (formerly the National D-Day Museum) that was built to rival the architectural Mississippi River aboard the Steamboat is the only museum in the United States splendor of the Creoles’ French Quarter. Natchez while being entertained by a that addresses all of the amphibious Enjoy a walk through New Orleans’ traditional New Orleans Dixieland band. invasions of World War II, paying tribute elegant Garden District, known for its Price: $98 per person (includes full- to the more than 1 million Americans marvelous examples of Greek Revival and course dinner, live entertainment and who took part. Italianate architecture. Includes a tour of transportation) Price: $40 per person (includes admission the Van Benthuysen-Elms Mansion. and a 45-minute presentation) Price: $35 per person For more information or to reserve your tour, visit counseling.org/conference and click on “Tours.” 66 | Counseling Today | October 2010 Jen Morant: A couple of the best true on Magazine Street for great people Continued from page 64 New Orleanian restaurants are Palace watching. Hear live music on Frenchman Café, located on Canal Street, and Court Street. For a peek into our spiritual realm, upscale establishments. You can walk into of Two Sisters. You will enjoy the unique join a nighttime ghost tour in the French pretty much any restaurant, including flavors and traditional ambiance that Quarter or visit the unique aboveground holes in the wall, and find great food. these restaurants have to offer. cemeteries. If you’re feeling adventurous, Expect to gain weight. Beth Christensen: The famous book a swamp tour. View the mighty Holly Baudier: You can always count restaurants in the French Quarter and the Mississippi River from the Moon Walk, on Mimi’s to have ice cold Abita beer. Warehouse/Arts districts are great, but steamboat or ferry. Wander in the art Coquette restaurant on Magazine Street I think that many of the neighborhood galleries on Julia and Royal Streets. will rock your socks off. If you are craving joints are worthy of the trouble of going Mark D. Thornton: One thing a late-night meal or something to snack off the beaten path. Just be sure to go a visitor can do that will be fun and on while you watch the sun come up, hit with someone who knows the way, or different is to get out of the French up La Peniche in the Marigny. Even if it’s get a taxi. As in any city, you need to be Quarter, head over to Frenchmen and 2 in the morning, they are there to serve aware of what areas are safe. hang out with the locals. You will be you a home-cooked meal! Liuzza’s, in the Mid-City section of happy you did! Donald P. Owens Jr.: Ralph’s on the town, is a noisy, crowded, generally Park (out by City Park), Bacco (in the Donald P. Owens Jr.: If there is a boisterous kind of place. They serve beer festival going on, go to it. Have a great French Quarter), Coquette (Magazine (or root beer, if you prefer) in gigantic time in our city: Laissez les bon temps Street) and Mulate’s (across from the frozen mugs and have some of the best rouler! Hilton Riverside, Riverwalk and the seafood po-boys in town. Another Mid- Holly Baudier: Do not miss a convention center). City gem is Mandina’s. Their cuisine is night filled with jazz music by Jeremy Brandon Hartenstein: Bacchanal Creole, and their turtle soup is fantastic. Davenport at the Ritz Carlton. Wine (live music and curious The Parkway Bakery, also in Mid-City, Beverly Barry: For authenticity, eat environment); Irene’s; Tujagues; Mimi’s is, in spite of its name, not a pastry shop. some spicy seafood, listen to some cool (fantastic tapas and DJ Soul Sister on It is actually po-boy heaven, and on Saturday nights at 2601 Royal St.); weekends they usually have live music. jazz and ride the streetcar. Feelings Café (absolutely fine courtyard, In the Uptown area, one local favorite Beth Christensen: For sheer ambience, authentic Louisiana Creole food and is Clancy’s. You’ll need a reservation here. go to Napoleon House at 500 Chartres housed on a historic plantation site). Their contemporary Creole cuisine is Street in the French Quarter. The bar Mark D. Thornton: There is not masterfully crafted but a bit pricey. Mat itself is a work of art and, somehow, when enough space to list all the great places to & Naddie’s is pretty casual. Brigsten’s you cross the threshold, you’re a character eat and drink in New Orleans, but here is another local favorite Uptown, and a in an old black-and-white movie. Bring are a few that I recommend: Liuzza’s by reservation there is generally a good idea. along a like-minded friend and discuss the Track at 1518 N. Lopez (great gumbo It’s not cheap, but it is worth every penny. philosophy or physics while sipping and po-boys); Juan’s Flying Burrito at The food is beyond description, the your wine. Write a sonnet or two. Order 4724 S. Carrollton Ave (great tacos); service is impeccable, and the atmosphere bottles of wine and discuss the meaning Magazine Po-Boy Shop at 2368 Magazine is classy but never stiff. of life until you have come up with the St. (great sandwiches); Kjean Seafood at definitive answer. Then, please, get a cab. 236 N. Carrollton Ave. (takeout only but What else can visitors see or do to Ronda L. Bonnette: Go and sit at Café really worth it); Cooter Brown’s at 509 S. experience an authentic slice of the Du Monde and have some beignets and Carrollton Ave. (great food, and you can Big Easy? café au lait (iced, because it will probably take the streetcar there). Most important, Chantel Gant: Visit the New Orleans be too hot!). Sit and watch the people these are not tourist spots! around you. Listen to the jazz band Beverly Barry: My favorite places are African American Museum of Art, Culture and History and the Piazza playing and relax. This is how we roll! It the Gumbo Shop, Red Fish Grill, and is all about takin’ it easy in the Big Easy! Mat & Naddie’s. d’Italia, eat beignets at Café Du Monde Peggy Villere Demarest: My goodness, and get a taste of Mardi Gras with Blaine there’s barely a bad restaurant in the city. Kern’s Mardi Gras World. But the greatest w For a nice meal in the Quarter, we love way to experience the city is to talk to the To learn more about the 2011 ACA Galatoire’s, Palace Cafe and NOLA. For residents, ask about the rebuilding process Conference & Exposition in New a casual meal in the Quarter, Johnny’s and join in on the continued efforts for Orleans or to register, visit counseling.org/ Po-boys and Fiorella’s are great. For recovery. Often, residents just appreciate conference or call 800.347.6647 ext. 222. that their stories are not being forgotten. a great atmosphere as well, go to the Register early to ensure the best rates. u Napoleon House for a drink and some Leslie M. Culver: For goodness good food. If you feel like a little red sake, venture out of downtown to streetcar ride down Canal Street, one of visit the Garden District and Uptown Jonathan Rollins is the editor-in- our most favorite neighborhood joints is neighborhoods. Stroll around the streets chief of Counseling Today. Contact Mandina’s. You must get some onion rings by foot to appreciate the amazing him at [email protected]. and a shrimp or oyster po-boy there. architecture. Sit outside a coffee shop October 2010 | Counseling Today | 67 Leading the way Participants reflect on ACA’s Institute for Leadership Training By Lynne Shallcross embers from throughout to network with others already in the American Counseling leadership positions,” she said. “You MAssociation’s ranks gathered get the opportunity firsthand to talk this past summer to brainstorm, learn, to others who may be experiencing mingle and lobby for the profession at some of the same issues you may be the second annual ACA Institute for encountering in your division or region. Leadership Training. Held July 21- Also, as an emerging leader, you have the 25 in Alexandria, Va., just outside of opportunity to discuss the pros and cons Washington, D.C., the institute attracted of leadership with people who are actually more than 100 participants from 36 ACA engaged in leadership.” Mississippi Counseling Association branches and 14 divisions, including Bill Braden, chair of the ACA Public President Aretha Hargrove-Edwards (left) presidents, presidents-elect, past joined ACA President-Elect Don Locke Policy and Legislation Committee and (right) and other counselors in advocating presidents, region chairs, region chairs- executive director of the Kentucky for the profession with Capitol Hill staffers. elect, region past chairs, emerging leaders, Counseling Association, said Evans executive directors and board members. and the ACA staff established a very Mother Nature introduced a slight welcoming tone, and the session that glitch to the event’s proceedings, with opened the event, “The Leader Within,” temperatures in the nation’s capital proved both helpful and enjoyable. The reaching the triple digits. But that didn’t succeeding topics were timely and the seem to affect the enthusiasm of the presenters outstanding, said Braden, who participants, who said the institute’s found the session “School Counselor offerings, from keynote speeches and Leadership Roundtable” particularly learning sessions to visits with elected beneficial. “In Kentucky, like many states, officials on Capitol Hill and networking school counselor survival is a budgetary opportunities with colleagues, made for struggle,” he said. With retention and a worthwhile and memorable experience. recruitment proving challenging during The 25 leadership content sessions economic tough times, Braden also found included topics such as ACA structure, the “Membership Round Robin,” helpful. finances, school counselor issues, ethics, Another highlight for Braden was a membership, current counseling issues, session on social media, which he called a reducing liability, recruiting diverse “new horizon” both for recruiting and for volunteers and increasing the involvement promoting the profession. of students and new professionals. Yep’s session on “Marketing on a ACA Executive Director Richard Yep Shoestring” was particularly impressive believes the event’s value is closely tied to to Christopher Roseman, executive the collaborative opportunities it offers director of the South Dakota Counseling for leaders. “The Institute is a relatively Association. “He provided some of intimate gathering of about 115 members the most practical tips and formats who have committed themselves to to market the organization that has a serving in leadership positions,” Yep said. nominal budget,” said Roseman, who “This is the one time of the year when is also president of the North Central leadership at all levels of the organization Association for Counselor Education can come together to explore issues and and Supervision, chair-elect of the ACA network together. The fact that we have Midwest Region, cochair of ACA’s leaders from all over the country, who Branch Development Committee and an work in a myriad of work settings, means ACA Insurance Trust board member. that the richness of this event is beyond For Midwest Region Chair Thelma compare.” Greaser, networking with colleagues ACA President Marcheta Evans was one of the high points. “Getting agreed. “This is a wonderful opportunity to know ACA staff and other leaders 68 | Counseling Today | October 2010 personally helped me to develop a everyone to the global issues that impact counseling is all about, Roseman said. support system for myself as I move into our profession,” said Levitt, who is a “Anytime I have the opportunity to meet region leadership,” said Greaser, a clinical career consultant in private practice. other leaders in the field and listen to manager and internship coordinator with Visiting Capitol Hill also made a their vision and ideas to achieve that Child Guidance & Family Solutions significant impact on many of the vision, I am in awe of the commitment in Akron, Ohio. “I now have names leaders. “The day on the Hill is always to the field of professional counseling,” and contact information for specific a highlight,” Greaser said. “The he said. “I believe it is at the [Institute people who can assist me in my role. preparation for the experience is very for Leadership Training] where people Connecting with others in leadership beneficial [because it] helps me feel more become leaders and they learn how to do helps me to feel that I am not alone in confident when I meet with aides for my it in a professional and ethical manner. my role, that I have a safety net of very state legislators to talk about statewide I feel so connected upon leaving that I well-qualified role models to turn to issues of interest to counselors. I believe always know there is a colleague with when I have questions or when I just that I, as one counselor, really do have an whom I can consult and share. The need someone to listen attentively as I impact on legislative decision making.” relationships I develop instill in me a process my concerns or issues. I became “I always knew that counselors were sense of responsibility not only to our more aware of the fact that leaders in all great advocates for their clients and clients but to our organizations and their the regions and divisions and branches students,” Yep said. “What I found in members and the profession as a whole.” have many of the same concerns. the visits we did with elected officials The 2011 Institute for Leadership Together, we were able to problem solve in the House of Representatives and Training will be held July 27-31 in the and be exposed to new ideas.” Senate is that they are terrific advocates Washington metropolitan area. Mark the The Institute for Leadership Training for the counseling profession as well. In dates on your calendar and make plans offered opportunities to learn about a relatively brief three-hour period, the to attend with your branch, region or ACA’s structure, meet colleagues and impact that our leaders made on Capitol division leaders. u attend in-depth sessions, said Ilana Hill was phenomenal.” Levitt, president of the New Jersey Career During their time on the Hill, ACA Lynne Shallcross is a senior writer Development Association/Employment leaders visited approximately 150 for Counseling Today. Contact her Counselors Association. “I would congressional offices. at [email protected]. encourage others [to attend the Institute] The Institute has a way of reminding because the experience connected counselors what the profession of October 2010 | Counseling Today | 69 CSCORe Perspective - By John C. Carey Is school counseling effective? very profession goes through guidance on how to solve the problem. outcomes. Across the two states, school a stage during which it must This past year, the national Center for counseling was shown to be related to a Edemonstrate its effectiveness to School Counseling Outcome Research range of important student outcomes, the public to earn credibility and respect. and Evaluation has been partnering including increased math proficiency The medical profession, for example, with state departments of education levels, increased reading proficiency levels, went through this stage almost 100 and state school counseling associations lower suspension rates, lower disciplinary years ago and emerged having earned in Connecticut, Missouri, Nebraska, rates, increased attendance rates, higher widespread public confidence in the Rhode Island and Utah to conduct graduation rates, higher Perkins program benefits of medicine and widespread rigorous statewide policy studies on the completion rates, greater percentages public respect for doctors. effectiveness of school counseling. The of students taking the ACT and higher The school counseling profession, Nebraska and Utah studies are now average ACT scores. These results show despite its nearly 100 years of history, has complete and are being prepared for clearly that after schools are equated for yet to emerge successfully from this stage. widespread dissemination. The results are differences in student outcomes due to A critical factor in establishing public compelling. demographic factors, school counseling credibility and trust for a profession is CSCORE used the same research adds value to the education of students the degree to which rigorous research methods in both Nebraska and Utah. and enhances their engagement and indicates that the profession’s work has Principals and counselors from every performance. value and worth. Evidence of this type high school in the two states were asked 2) Student-to-counselor ratios related to school counseling is difficult to complete an extensive survey that matter. In both states, the ratio of to find for several reasons: The outcomes documented the nature of their schools’ students to counselors in a school was of school counseling are somewhat less counseling programs and the nature of strongly related to that school’s student easily defined and measurable than those the work and working conditions of outcomes. In Nebraska, more favorable of other professions; few rigorous, large- school counselors. ratios were associated with improved scale studies of the benefits of school We collected data from state attendance rates, enhanced technical counseling have been conducted; good department of education databases on proficiency in Perkins programs and research is expensive, and few foundations a wide range of student educational increased completion rates in Perkins or federal agencies are interested in outcomes such as graduation rates, programs. Similarly, in Utah, more supporting research in school counseling. discipline rates, attendance rates, ACT favorable ratios were associated with both In early March 2010, Public Agenda (American College Test) completion rates, increased attendance rates and decreased released a research report on school achievement test scores, Perkins program discipline incident rates. For a school counseling effectiveness funded by the completion and so on. From these counseling program to be effective, there Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The databases, we also collected information must be a sufficient number of counselors report, “Can I Get a Little Advice Here? on school demographic variables known to address student needs. How an Overstretched High School to influence student outcomes (for 3) How the program is organized Guidance System Is Undermining example, percentage of low-income matters. The results from Utah, which Students’ College Aspirations,” should students in the school and yearly per has been implementing the Compre- be read by every school counselor and pupil expenditures by the school). We hensive Developmental guidance model counselor educator. The results are were therefore able to determine if for more than 25 years, indicated that quite startling and disconcerting. The characteristics of the school counseling the longer a school had been imple- research vividly documents students’ program and the nature of the work and menting this model, the better were and parents’ widespread dissatisfaction working conditions of school counselors its educational outcomes. Results from with the availability, quality and were related to improved student both states indicated that organizing the comprehensiveness of school counseling outcomes after controlling for differences school counseling program according to services related to successful college between schools in demographic factors American School Counselor Association placement and transitions. that influence these outcomes. National Model principles had positive Although the Public Agenda research The results are intricate and complex, effects on student outcomes. In Utah, report clearly documents a serious but four important conclusions are clear ASCA National Model management problem, it was not designed to shed and consistent: practices seemed somewhat more impor- light on the origins of the problem. 1) School counseling contributes tant, while in Nebraska, delivery system Consequently, the report provided little to important educational student practices were more important. In sum, 70 | Counseling Today | October 2010 these results suggest that better organized programs are also better able to produce positive outcomes with students. 4) What counselors choose to do matters. Finally, these studies produced some very intriguing results that need Cyberbullying: to be replicated across the other states. Both the Nebraska and Utah results What Counselors indicate that career development-focused interventions seem to be particularly important in producing positive academic Need to Know outcomes with students. In the near “Dr. Bauman does a great job future, CSCORE hopes to be able to of providing readers with a provide some additional research-based guidance on the things that school comprehensive and illuminating counselors do which are most effective. overview of this disturbing In the next few months, CSCORE issue. The ton of resources and will complete the analyses with the research she presents makes remaining three states and disseminate this book a valuable, ready all the results. We see these results both as clearly establishing the effectiveness of reference.” school counseling and providing guidance —Russell A. Sabella, PhD for how school counseling can be made Florida Gulf Coast University even more effective in the future. We hope these studies will pave the way for This informative book offers complete, up-to-date coverage of a comprehensive national policy study the growing problem of cyberbullying. Written for counselors, teachers, school leaders, and others who work with children and of school counseling effectiveness, which teens, Cyberbullying addresses the real-life dangers students’ face is needed to guide and support effective practice. on the Internet. Ó䣣ÊUÊÓ£xÊ«}à Meanwhile, we can conclude that if a Benefits and Features school wants to improve its educational ■ Discussion of the different types of cyberbullying outcomes, school leaders should: and cyberbullying environments n Hire enough counselors to satisfy the ■ Overview of prominent theories of aggressive behavior needs of students and parents ■ Examination of the developmental differences in cyberbullying n Support the counselors as they and victimization across the life span establish a well-organized program that ■ Practical tips to identify and follow cyberfootprints serves all students ■ Proactive responses to cyberbullying ■ n Support the counselors as they focus Effective, nonpunitive strategies for responding to cyberbullying on implementing more effective ■ Useful information for parents on current technology and interventions and discontinuing popular websites ineffective interventions u ■ Guidance on the role of counselors in prevention, intervention, and advocacy ■ Chapter on adult cyberbullying ■ List of helpful websites, books, and media ■ Appendix with review of the latest cyberbullying research John C. Carey is director of Order #72900 - ÊÇn£xxÈÓäÓ{ä the national Center for School ÃÌÊ*ÀVi\ÊfÓ°xÊ ACA Member Price: $24.95 Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation. Contact him at jcarey@ Please include $8.75 for shipping of the first book educ.umass.edu. and $1.00 for each additional book. American Counseling Association Letters to the editor: nää{ÓÓÓÈ{nÊÝÓÓÓÊUÊVÕÃi}°À} [email protected] October 2010 | Counseling Today | 71 division, region & Branch News Apply for the ASGW supervisors, mentors, major professors or and deadlines for submission, can be Peg Carroll Scholarship other individuals knowledgeable about found at c-ahead.com. We look forward Submitted by Lorraine Guth the applicant’s work. Recommendation to receiving nominations and recognizing [email protected] sources should forward letters directly humanistic work in our profession. to the address below by Jan. 31. Letters If you are a graduate student prepar- The Association for Specialists in should address topics such as group ing to conduct or currently conducting Group Work Awards Committee invites counseling skills of the applicant research or a graduate student with an applicants for the $2,000 annual scholar- and evidence of ethical behavior and interest in humanistic approaches or a ship honoring Marguerite “Peg” Carroll, professional commitment/potential. desire to make a difference, C-AHEAD former ASGW president and pioneer in Electronic submissions are preferred; may be able to help through the Make group work. The purpose of the award submit as e-mail attachment to kelly. a Difference Grant. The grant supports is to support the study of group work [email protected]. Submissions via research with a humanistic philosophy and further the understanding of group regular mail should include three typed, that will make a difference in the lives dynamics. Any student interested in the double-spaced copies of the application of people in need. The grant includes field is eligible. and be sent to: Kelly McDonnell, West- $500 for research expenses, in addition Applicants should answer the following ern Michigan University, CECP-5226, to C-AHEAD-supported opportunities questions: 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, to promote the research. Visit c-ahead. 1) There are many types of group MI 49008. The deadline is Jan. 31. The com for details or e-mail Jeff L. Cochran, experiences, such as therapeutic and/ scholarship recipient will be announced committee chair, at [email protected] or counseling, decision-making, task- at the ASGW Luncheon at the American with questions. oriented, psychoanalysis, etc. What area Counseling Association Annual Confer- ACCA invites Executive Council interests you most and why? ence in New Orleans. Recipients must be nominations, new members 2) Where would you obtain training (or become) members of ASGW. in your area of interest? Be specific about Submitted by Sylvia Shortt trainers, institutions, workshop sponsors, C-AHEAD seeks [email protected] award nominees etc. Also describe your intended degree The American College Counseling program, if it applies. Submitted by Michelle Perepiczka Association is seeking nominations for 3) In what setting(s) and population do and Jeff Cochran Executive Council positions. Serving on you hope to use your expertise? [email protected] the ACCA Executive Council is a way 4) How do you plan to assess if you [email protected] to enhance your professional experiences and your groups are making progress? The Counseling Association and influence the direction of your pro- Have you had any experience with these for Humanistic Education and fession. It’s an opportunity to network evaluation tools? Explain. Development Awards Committee is on the national level and get connected 5) List the types of groups in which you seeking nominations for the 2011 with colleagues all over the country while have participated. Describe their dura- C-AHEAD national awards, which giving back to the profession. ACCA is tion, positive and negative aspects of each will be presented at the ACA Annual seeking nominations for several Executive experience, and your role. Conference & Exposition in New Council positions, including president- 6) Describe your participation in Orleans in March. The following awards elect, secretary and member-at-large, with professional organizations related to are available for nomination: Humanistic the term of office beginning July 1, 2012. group work. Leadership Award, Past President’s For nomination forms, visit the ACCA The application should have a cover Award, Humanistic Clinician Award, website at collegecounseling.org. sheet with name, address, home and Distinguished Journal Reviewer Award, In other news, ACCA is running a work phone numbers, e-mail, Social Humanistic Educator/Supervisor Award, membership drive in which any current Security number and names and Humanistic Impact Award, Humanistic ACCA member gets a $5 Starbucks card contact information for those writing Advocacy and Social Justice Award, and a super-cool “I have a friend” pin for letters of recommendation. Letters of Humanistic Dissertation Award and signing up a new member. It’s like that recommendation should be solicited from Make a Difference Grant recognition. old Columbia House record deal where three professionals in the field familiar Full information for awards, such as you got some free CDs for signing up a with the applicant’s work, whether descriptions, instructions for nominations friend — but without all that hassle. New 72 | Counseling Today | October 2010 members sign up at collegecounseling.org/ proposal (two-page limit) regarding an setting Oct. 9 for a National Employ- pdf/acca_membership_brochure_2010. issue that mirrors the current mission and ment Counseling Association workshop pdf, and current members can fill out goals of AMCD. Selected research propos- offering tools and information to help a form to get the gift card and pin at als will be presented in a poster presenta- clients and counselors in the continuing collegecounseling.org/members/friend. tion at the Mentoring Program Research tough economy. Titled “Employment Symposium held at the annual mentoring Solutions for Success,” the workshop will AMCD offers mentoring program meeting during the ACA Annual run from 1 to 5 p.m. The fee is $45. As program to members Conference. Applications should include many as four CEU recertification contact Submitted by Kimberly Frazier a cover sheet with full name, institutional hours will be offered. The workshop will [email protected] affiliation and applicant status (either be held prior to and in conjunction with The Association for Multicultural graduate student or early-career faculty the annual conference of the Florida Counseling and Development is member). Graduate students must also Counseling Association. accepting applications for the 2011 submit a letter from their adviser verifying Employment solutions must be more Mentoring Program. Graduate counseling graduate student status. comprehensive to deal with today’s com- students (master’s or doctoral level) Application materials must be received plex economic issues. Long-term unem- and early-career counseling faculty by midnight (Pacific Time) Dec. 3. They ployment not only suppresses productiv- (untenured) are encouraged to apply. should be sent to AMCD Mentoring Pro- ity in the workplace and economy but Selected applicants will receive free gram Chair Kimberly N. Frazier, either creates havoc within families, relation- registration for the upcoming conference via e-mail at [email protected] or via ships and communities. Solutions need to and a ticket to the AMCD luncheon. ground mail at Eugene T. Moore School address all players involved to overcome Applicants will also be paired with a of Education, Counselor Education De- the consequential dysfunctions within mentor throughout the current program partment, 318 Tillman Hall, Clemson, society. year. Graduate students will serve as S.C., 29634. Please visit the AMCD web- Employment has never been more volunteers for the various AMCD- site at amcdaca.org for updates. important, so learn solutions to help sponsored events at the upcoming ACA NECA hosts employment your clients in these challenging times. Annual Conference in New Orleans. workshop in Miami Institute topics will include helping coun- For consideration, applicants must be selors make money in the coming decade, AMCD members by January 2011, for- Submitted by Kay Brawley helping graduate students find employ- ward a letter of support from a current [email protected] ment in the next decade, helping retir- AMCD member and submit a research Miami’s Blue Lagoon hotel will be the ing counselors transition into their next October 2010 | Counseling Today | 73 career, bridging the workplace generation “Projective Techniques for Assessing and gap between baby boomers and millenni- Spiritual Issues,” “Narrative Therapy als, and bouncing back from unemploy- and Expressive Activities,” “Sexuality ment in the next decade. Training From a Sexological Perspective,” Tom Ayala, founder of People Solu- “Eco-Therapy and Nature-Based tions LLC, will introduce one workshop Stress Reduction,” “The Interpersonal with the question, “Why is emotional Neurobiology of Shame,” “Wellness intelligence so critical to employability?” Through the Art of Oriental Dance,” Transitioning through life stages requires “Emerging Brain Research,” “Cognitive understanding the realm of career man- Therapy for Psychosis,” “Experiential agement and acknowledging personal as- Strategies for Traumatic Stress” and From left, North Atlantic Region Treasurer sets and limitations. With these insights, “‘Greening’ Your Counseling Practice J. Otis Smith, NAR Past Chair Robert people can leverage who they are to attain in 10 Steps.” In addition, the schedule Schmidt, ACA President Marcheta Evans what they pursue. While employment is includes lunch, poster and brief research and NAR Chair Pasquale Giordano spend a basic need for survival, personal drives presentations, as well as an awards time together at a sponsored event at the and wishes are critical to success on this ceremony, banquet dinner and dinner ACA Institute for Leadership Training in journey called life. speaker Dave Wenzel following a reception Washington, D.C., in July. A presentation from Carolyn Greer, and live music. past president of the Association for The conference will conclude Oct. 30 Adult Development and Aging and a following breakfast, a keynote by Donna The Thelma Duffey Vision and NECA leader, will analyze older work- Schuurman (executive director of The Innovation Award was established at the ers and the generation gap between baby Dougy Center), lunch and a full day of 2008 ACA Conference in Hawaii. It boomers and the millennials, focusing on concurrent breakout sessions. Presenta- recognizes an ACC member whose vision what is happening on the worksite and tions offered on Saturday will include and innovation have advanced the practice in the marketplace. NECA leader Seneka “Breathwork for Self-Care,” “Bullies, of counseling and counselor education Arrington will provide additional research Victims and Mental Health Counselors,” by fostering creative interventions and findings on family and relationship is- “Managing and Marketing a Thriving resources through practice, publication or sues connected to unemployment. For Private Practice,” “Renewal: Self-Care for leadership. more information and registration, visit Counselors,” “Wilderness Therapy for The Samuel T. Gladding Inspiration employmentcounseling.org or e-mail NECA Adolescents,” “Losing Our Spark! The and Motivation Award, also established Professional Development Director Kay Ability to Know Our Limits,” “Counseling at the ACA Conference in Hawaii, Brawley at [email protected]. Through a Narrative Therapy Lens,” “Ex- recognizes an individual whose example, OCA gears up for panding the Possibilities of Mindfulness: encouragement and inclusive practice Annual Fall Conference Recollective Awareness Meditation” and inspire and motivate others to use “After a Suicide: Principles and Practices of creativity in its various forms in counselor Submitted by Rachel Starck education and clinical practice. [email protected] Postvention.” Counselors, therapists, and social The ACC Professional Service Award The Oregon Counseling Association’s workers can earn as many as 19 CEUs honors outstanding service to ACC and to the promotion of creativity in counseling Annual Fall Conference continues to during this three-day event. For more provide a format for Oregon counsel- practice. Consistent with the mission of information, visit or-counseling.org or call ing professionals to reconnect annually. ACC, the nominee must promote greater 503.722.7119. The Events Planning Committee has put awareness, advocacy and understanding of together an enticing lineup for this year’s ACC opens award creativity in counseling and advance cre- conference, to be held in Silverton at the nominations process ative, diverse and relational approaches to Oregon Garden Resort. The theme will be Submitted by Stella Kerl-McClain counseling within the profession. The ACC Research Award recognizes “Counseling Effectively in the New De- [email protected] cade: Reconnect, Rejuvenate and Renew.” a research project that addresses issues re- The conference is an excellent opportunity The Association for Creativity in Coun- lated to creative, diverse and relational ap- to network, reconnect and become reinvig- seling is pleased to announce this year’s proaches to counseling. Attach a summary orated and inspired while earning CEUs. nomination and selection process for of research and relevance to the profession The event will begin Oct. 28 with honoring outstanding contributions to the related to creativity in counseling. The a full-day preconference workshop on profession. The various categories will be nominee must be a current ACC member. ethics presented by Douglas S. Querin awarded at the ACA Annual Conference in The ACC Graduate Student Award and Charles Hemingway. The conference New Orleans. Nominations are due Nov. recognizes an outstanding ACC graduate will commence Oct. 29 with a keynote 15. For more information on the awards student member at the master’s or doctoral by clinical psychologist Thomas Joseph criteria and the submission process, visit level who has participated in promoting Doherty speaking on environmental aca-acc.org or contact Stella Kerl-McClain creative, diverse and relational approaches psychology. Presentation topics include at [email protected]. to counseling or whose scholarship 74 | Counseling Today | October 2010 promotes creative, diverse and relational cent months and was a follow-up to several expression in counseling. other activities ARCA leadership has con- We have many energetic and invested ducted on behalf of membership. members in ACC representing a In October 2009, ARCA then-president number of countries all over the world. Carolyn Rollins and Lane joined National We encourage you to nominate your Rehabilitation Counseling Association colleagues, and we look forward to leadership in sending a letter of support for acknowledging deserving members of our Ruttledge’s nomination as RSA commis- association in New Orleans. sioner. In January 2010, Lane and Wilde traveled to Washington to lobby on the ARCA leaders head to the Hill From left, Lynnae Ruttledge, Carrie Wilde, Frank Lane, Tom Finch and Ed Anthony. issue of the Workforce Investment Act and Submitted by Carrie Wilde reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act [email protected] and to meet with RSA staff. Meetings were Rehabilitation Services Administration The American Rehabilitation held with staff from the House Education (RSA) commissioner and acting director Counseling Association leadership has and Labor Committee and the Senate been busily engaged in legislative activities of the National Institute on Disability and Committee on Health, Education, Labor on behalf of membership. In July, Rehabilitation Research. Also present were and Pensions before heading to RSA. ARCA President Frank Lane and ARCA Deputy Commissioner Ed Anthony and Ruttledge had just been appointed and President-Elect Carrie Wilde attended the Tom Finch, director of the Training and was traveling at that time, so the meeting ACA Institute for Leadership Training in Services Division. Discussion centered was held with Anthony and Finch. ARCA Washington, D.C. This event provides on research priorities, grant funding and presented its research agenda and planned training and networking opportunities to the importance of continued support for activities for the coming year. The discus- incoming ACA leaders and culminates in a the hiring of graduate-level rehabilitation sion also involved working with RSA to “Day on the Hill.” counselors to work with people with dis- develop mechanisms to identify, support The morning on Capitol Hill was spent abilities toward meaningful employment. and disseminate critical rehabilitation re- meeting with Senate staff on the issue Ruttledge shared her vision and priorities search. For the full ARCA legislative report of TRICARE. In the afternoon, we ar- for her new role. This was the second on the visit with Ruttledge and RSA staff, ranged to meet with Lynnae Ruttledge, meeting between ARCA and RSA in re- refer to the upcoming ARCA newsletter. u ������������������������������� ����������������������������� ���� ������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������� ������������� ������������������ ������ ���������������������� ��������������������� ���� �������������� �������������������������� ������� ������������� ���������������������������������������������� ������� ������������� �������� �������������� �������������������������������� ������������� ����������� ������������������������������������������������� ������� ����������� �������������������������������������������������������� ������� �������������� ������������������������������� ������� ��������� �������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� ����������������� ���������� �������������������������������������� ���������� ������������������������� ������������������������� ��������������� ��������������� �������������� ������������ ����������� ������������� ���������������� ���������� ���� ������������ ��������� ������������ ��������������������� ���������� �������������������������� ������������ October 2010 | Counseling Today | 75 excellent networking opportunities, therapists will feature art, dance, music, drama Bulletin board pertinent presentations and as many as 19 and poetry therapies, as well as psychodrama, CEUs. A full-day preconference workshop play therapy and sandplay. Behavioral Coming events is offered Oct. 28 on ethics, presented by health care professionals and educators are Douglas S. Querin and Charles Hemingway. welcome. Daily and package registrations are ACCA Conference Friday’s keynote will be Thomas Joseph limited, and CEUs are available. For more Oct. 6-9 Doherty, a clinical psychologist speaking on information, visit summit.expressivemedia.org. St. Louis environmental psychology. Friday evening’s FYI Make your plans now to come to the fifth banquet speaker will be Dave Wenzel, American College Counseling Association professor of pastoral counseling at Western Call for submissions Conference, themed “ACCA: The Gateway Seminary and counselor with River Ridge The Journal of Counseling & Development to Excellence in College Counseling.” Brett Counseling. Saturday’s keynote speaker will invites submissions for a special section Sokolow, president of the National Center be Donna Schuurman, executive director of focusing on the prevention and treatment for Higher Education Risk Management, The Dougy Center. For more information, of eating disorders. Interested scholars and will be the keynote speaker. Preconference visit or.counseling.org or call 503.722.7119. practitioners are invited to send proposals sessions will be offered for those who would ACAM Day of Continuing Ed of original manuscripts in the following like more in-depth workshops, including Oct. 30 areas: manuscripts that describe and provide “Best Practices for Behavioral Intervention St. Louis support for primary prevention programs in and Threat Assessment” presented by The American Counseling Association schools and communities or for secondary Sokolow. For more information, visit of Missouri, the American Counseling prevention programs for groups at highest collegecounseling.org or contact Sylvia Shortt Association of Missouri-St. Louis and risk for eating disorders, and manuscripts at [email protected]. Missouri Baptist University will host a day of that describe and provide support for best FCA Annual Convention continuing education seminars at Missouri practices in the treatment of eating disorders. Oct. 10-11 Baptist. The morning speaker will be Manuscripts that address the unique Miami Charles E. Stikes, professor of psychology at treatment needs of diverse client groups are The Florida Counseling Association’s 61st Missouri Baptist, presenting on the topic of strongly encouraged. Submit your proposal Annual Convention returns 10-10-10 to “Assessment and Diagnosis.” The afternoon to Laura Choate, guest editor, no later than the excitement, energy and sabor (flavor) of presenter will be Tricia K. Brown, who Dec. 15. For more information regarding south Florida. Scheduling the conference on teaches and supervises in the Play Therapy the preparation of proposals, e-mail Laura a Sunday and Monday allows attendees to Certification Program at MidAmerica Choate at [email protected]. make this year’s event a destination vacation. Nazarene University. Her presentation will Call for proposals Launching sailboats into Biscayne Bay during focus on play therapy. Attendees can earn as The South Carolina Counseling the Columbus Day regatta and holding an many as three CEUs. For information, visit Association will be hosting its 47th Annual alligator after experiencing an Everglades counselingmissouri.org. Conference Feb. 3-5 at the Marriott Resort at airboat ride are part of the conference APCP Conference the Grand Dunes in Myrtle Beach. Themed experience. Preconference is Oct. 9. For more Nov. 10-12 “South Carolina Counselors: Agents of information, e-mail FCAPresident2010@ San Juan, Puerto Rico Change,” the conference will be loaded with yahoo.com. The Asociacióon Puertorriqueña de great workshops on numerous topics related ACAM Seminar Consejería Profesional (Puerto Rico to mental health. We are still accepting Oct. 23 Association of Professional Counselors) proposals for workshops. CEUs for workshop Kansas City, Mo. invites colleagues to its 33rd Annual attendance will be available. For more The American Counseling Association Convention at the Sheraton Puerto Rico information, visit sccounselor.org or contact of Missouri and the Avila University Hotel & Casino. The theme is “Professional David Scott at [email protected]. Counseling and Neuroscience: Strategies Department of Psychology will present a Call for submissions for Total Development.” With more than seminar featuring Harriet Lerner, a leading Contemporary Psychotherapy is a free 1,200 members in the association, over voice on the psychology of women and international e-journal for counselors and 800 people are expected at the convention. family relationships. Lerner, a distinguished psychotherapists of all modalities. With the For more information or to register, e-mail lecturer, therapist and workshop leader, professional community of psychotherapists [email protected]. will speak about “Shame: A Blueprint for and counselors in mind, Contemporary Restoring Voice and Self-Esteem.” For more Expressive Therapies Summit Psychotherapy aims to be progressive, inquiring information, visit counselingmissouri.org. Nov. 12-15 and creative; to encourage interactive debate OCA Annual Fall Conference New York with its international readership; and to Oct. 28-30 Attention, Association for Creativity in address, rather than avoid, the possibly Silverton, Ore. Counseling members! The first Annual contentious. We are seeking authors interested This year’s Oregon Counseling Expressive Therapies Summit will be held in submitting articles of up to 2,500 words Association Annual Fall Conference will in New York City’s Times Square. The on all therapeutic issues. The spring 2010 be held at the Oregon Garden Resort. event will offer more than 50 distinguished issue is available at contemporarypsychotherapy. With a theme of “Counseling Effectively clinicians, researchers and educators offering org. For more information, e-mail Werner in the New Decade: Renew, Rejuvenate, papers, panels, workshops and classes. This Kierski, editor-in-chief, at editor@ Reconnect,” the conference will provide extraordinary gathering of creative arts contemporarypsychotherapy.org. u 76 | Counseling Today | October 2010 News & notes International students sought Hayes at [email protected]. The more information about the nominations for ACA Conference panel deadline for nominations is Dec. 15. process, call 800.347.6647 ext. 212 or The American Counseling Association e-mail [email protected]. Get involved by serving International Committee is seeking nominations for the International Student on an ACA Committee Nominate deserving ACA Panel, “Internationalizing Mental Health ACA President-Elect Don W. Locke members for National Awards Counseling,” which will be held during the is currently seeking nominations for The ACA Awards Committee is seeking ACA Annual Conference & Exposition in ACA committee appointments. For nominations for the 2011 ACA National New Orleans in March 2011. each committee, he will be appointing Awards, which will be presented at the Five international students will be professional members to serve a three-year ACA Conference in March. selected to share with the audience their term and a student representative to serve ACA members can nominate one or perspectives pertaining to education, a one-year term. Positions on the following more fellow ACA members who have made training, services and mental health needs committees will be available beginning July noteworthy contributions to the counseling in their respective countries. Students will 1, 2011: Awards, Branch Development, profession at the local, state or national also be asked to highlight their experiences Bylaws and Policies, Ethics, Graduate levels. ACA divisions, regions, branches, of studying in the United States. To be Student, Human Rights, International, organizational affiliates, chapters or considered for selection, the applicant’s Interprofessional, Professional Standards, committees may also submit nominations. home country must be international and Public Awareness and Support, Public All nominations must be submitted by the applicant currently must be enrolled Policy and Legislation, Publications, and Nov. 8. in a graduate program that focuses on Research and Knowledge. Complete information on the counseling. Selection will be based on the ACA members may nominate themselves nominations process is available on the quality of the nomination packet and a or be nominated by other ACA members. ACA website at counseling.org under telephone interview. Each student selected Information is available on the ACA “Resources.” You may also request a 2011 will receive a complimentary registration to website at counseling.org. Nominations National Awards Packet by calling ACA the 2011 ACA Conference. are due Dec. 1 and must be sent to ACA Leadership Services at 800.347.6647 ext. Nomination information is available headquarters, c/o Holly Clubb, 5999 212. Contact Holly Clubb at hclubb@ at counseling.org or by contacting Robin Stevenson Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304. For counseling.org for additional information. u From The President Continued from page 5 We must do this as a profession as well. conducting these types of interviews — disagree agreeably. This is where our In my very first month as president of the who had a certain level of comfort and growth, our depth, occurs as a profession. American Counseling Association, I was expertise in doing them — to handle We have to be engaged in healthy challenged to do something I had never this one. But after conversing with ACA dialogue to identify areas of improvement done before. If you remember, there was staff, I decided the only way I would and not take it as a personal attack when a firestorm of e-mails and major network become comfortable with this challenge someone disagrees with us. broadcasts, including on CNN, discussing was by doing it. And believe me, it We are professional counselors, and developments at Augusta State University was a challenge. I could hardly get a if we cannot communicate effectively, and Eastern Michigan University related word in edgewise (as my grandmother shame on us. This is who we are. We to nondiscriminatory practices in the would say) with the interviewer, but work through problems. We work counseling profession. Multiple news I did it. I survived the interview, and through challenges. Rarely do we have outlets asked ACA to respond to these it actually turned out very well. Now individuals coming to us because they are cases in connection with the ACA Code I realize that I need more training on so happy they just don’t know what to of Ethics. I was also asked to give a radio media presentations such as these and interview related to this issue. will be even better prepared for the next do with themselves. Instead, they bring I immediately understood the gravity opportunity. problems or issues they need assistance in of this request and my responsibility to As a profession, we are currently facing solving. ACA and its members. It was clear that I the challenge of how to effectively serve We must do the same professionally would not just be representing my views all of our members while ensuring that as we move to the deeper depths of but responding as president of ACA. I everyone feels valued and that all voices professionalism and organizational admit, I was shaken. I could have asked have a place to be heard. We may not development. It will not be easy, and it is colleagues who were already used to always agree, but it is critical that we not for the “fair-weather” counselor. u October 2010 | Counseling Today | 77 READ Counseling Today, TAKE the CT Learning Exam, Now Available Online. See instructions. EARN Continuing Education Credit Earn 1 CE Credit by reading selected articles in this issue. Read the articles identified below and answer 7 of the 10 questions correctly to earn 1 CE credit. It’s that simple! By reading Counseling Today every month, you can earn up to 12 CE credits each year. And you’ll be well-informed. Start reading now! Success Stories With Challenging Clients Improving Students’ Career and College Readiness 1. John Sommers-Flanagan found his client let down her defenses a bit when he: 4. The Southern Regional Education Board’s (SREB) school improvement program ❍ Eased into discussing sensitive matters is known as: ❍ Conceded power ❍ No School Left Behind ❍ Inserted humor into the counselor/client relationship ❍ High Schools That Work ❍ None of the above ❍ Education for All 2. The historical view of challenging clients, according to Sommers-Flanagan, is ❍ Academic Accountability Project that they were: 5. To better prepare students for postsecondary education, Dr. Spence believes ❍ Resistant states must: ❍ Hesitant ❍ Bring preK-12 and higher education together to set college-readiness ❍ Angry standards ❍ Frightened ❍ Focus on the professional development of educators 3. Rita Sommers-Flanagan suggests which strategy as helpful with younger ❍ Develop assessment instruments that effectively predict college success clients: ❍ Reduce class size ❍ Counseling the family as a unit Extending the Humanistic Vision - Opinion ❍ Explaining the counseling process and the techniques to be used ❍ Employing group techniques 8. Dr. Hansen believes the counseling profession should be ideologically grounded ❍ Framing the counseling process as a consultation in the humanities, not science. ❍ True ❍ False The Confidence Factor Unlocking the Grip of PTSD Nightmares - Reader Viewpoint 6. Irvin Yalom’s “fellow traveler” perspective encourages the counselor to engage in what behavior(s) with the client: 9. The technique developed by Barry Krakow to eliminate “target nightmares” ❍ Meet on an equal footing with PTSD sufferers is called: ❍ ❍ Work in the here and now Adult Relaxation Therapy (ART) ❍ ❍ Respond to client questions Comfortable Sleep Therapy (CST) ❍ ❍ All of the above Image Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) ❍ Stress Reduced Sleep Therapy (SRST) 7. The technique counselors use to identity strengths and weaknesses in their knowledge and skills and in how well they are adapting to the unique cultural Private Practice in Counseling and personal backgrounds of their clients is: 10. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the ❍ Self-identity counselor must obtain what when releasing psychotherapy notes: ❍ Rapport assessment ❍ Oral consent from client ❍ Self-reflection ❍ Signed release from client ❍ None of the above ❍ Employer consent ❍ Written request from insurance provider ❑ I certify that I have completed this test without receiving any help choosing the answers. Signature ______Date ______ Instructions Online: Complete the test at counseling.org/Resources/OnlineLearning.aspx. You will be able to pay online and download your CE certificate immediately. Mail: Complete the test and form above and mail (with check or money order made payable to American Counseling Association) to: ACA Accounting Department/CT, American Counseling Association, 5999 Stevenson Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304. Allow 2–4 weeks for processing. For further assistance, please contact Debbie Beales at [email protected], or by phone at 800-347-6647, x306 Please print clearly Total amount enclosed or to be charged ❑ $20.00 member ❑ $30.00 non-member Name: ______❑ Check/money order (payable to ACA in U.S. funds) ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express ❑ Discover ACA Member Number ______Card #: ______Street address: ______CVC Code: ______Exp. Date: ______(AmEx, 4 digits above card number; VISA, MC, Dis., 3 digits by signature line) City: ______State/Prov.: _____Zip: ______Cardholder’s Name: ______Phone: ______Authorized Signature: ______78 | Counseling Today | October 2010 READ Counseling Today, % 1.77% CHANGE 1.90% 2.62% 1.34% 5.53% vs Mean -5.04% -7.16% -2.27% -9.16% -8.92% -4.48% -5.02% -8.96% -5.75% -5.37% -5.21% -0.54% -9.31% -7.65% -6.04% -5.05% TAKE the CT Learning Exam, -11.32% -3 # -38 -18 -56 -29 -90 -64 -40 -75 -29 -17 -44 -67 -41 -65 187 230 202 401 738 -144 -135 CHANGE vs Mean Now Available Online. See instructions. EARN Continuing Education Credit 707 230 285 922 752 511 301 508 424 810 Earn 1 CE Credit by reading selected articles in this issue. Read the articles identified below and answer 7 of the 10 questions correctly to earn 1 CE credit. 641 1,055 2,426 9,993 9,022 1,358 1,465 1,233 1,222 7,652 42,529 Mean It’s that simple! By reading Counseling Today every month, you can earn up to 12 CE credits each year. And you’ll be well-informed. Start reading now! 15,360 % 3.78% 4.81% 2.74% 2.86% 7.64% 3.48% CHANGE 7/1/09- -4.63% -9.80% -9.94% -7.89% -8.55% 6/30/10 -19.08% -10.97% -13.31% -15.35% -16.56% -17.59% -10.86% -15.00% -17.52% -14.94% Success Stories With Challenging Clients Improving Students’ Career and College Readiness -10.26% 1. John Sommers-Flanagan found his client let down her defenses a bit when he: 4. The Southern Regional Education Board’s (SREB) school improvement program 14 # 371 423 433 554 (73) (33) (52) (86) (81) (25) (82) ❍ Eased into discussing sensitive matters is known as: (70) (227) (115) (156) (247) (130) (178) (110) (131) 1,456 CHANGE 7/1/09- ❍ Conceded power ❍ No School Left Behind 6/30/10 ❍ Inserted humor into the counselor/client relationship ❍ High Schools That Work ❍ None of the above ❍ Education for All 963 672 215 262 834 525 706 459 292 386 746 ❍ 612 2,367 1,266 1,362 1,178 9,215 1,177 Academic Accountability Project 7,805 2010 43,247 30-Jun 10,177 2. The historical view of challenging clients, according to Sommers-Flanagan, is 15,591 that they were: 5. To better prepare students for postsecondary education, Dr. Spence believes ❍ Resistant states must: 961 680 219 256 842 517 716 464 288 385 759 ❍ Hesitant ❍ Bring preK-12 and higher education together to set college-readiness 619 2,365 1,281 1,369 1,123 9,224 1,171 7,743 42,956 31-May 2010 10,057 ❍ Angry standards 15,484 ❍ Frightened ❍ Focus on the professional development of educators ❍ Develop assessment instruments that effectively predict college success 985 675 217 268 863 535 729 481 294 394 781 3. Rita Sommers-Flanagan suggests which strategy as helpful with younger 628 2,436 1,311 1,392 1,198 9,251 1,189 7,787 2010 43,108 ❍ 30- A pr 10,128 clients: Reduce class size 15,485 ❍ Counseling the family as a unit Extending the Humanistic Vision - Opinion ❍ Explaining the counseling process and the techniques to be used 999 687 221 268 876 501 737 496 302 403 804 628 2,408 1,323 1,408 1,207 9,254 1,200 8. Dr. Hansen believes the counseling profession should be ideologically grounded 7,768 10,084 ❍ 15,432 42,999 31-Mar Employing group techniques 2010 ❍ Framing the counseling process as a consultation in the humanities, not science. ❍ True ❍ False 998 701 219 278 885 493 746 500 300 403 783 The Confidence Factor 634 2,392 9,996 1,325 1,402 1,218 8,735 1,207 Unlocking the Grip of PTSD Nightmares - Reader Viewpoint 7,689 15,514 2010 42,465 6. Irvin Yalom’s “fellow traveler” perspective encourages the counselor to engage 28-Feb in what behavior(s) with the client: 9. The technique developed by Barry Krakow to eliminate “target nightmares” ❍ Meet on an equal footing with PTSD sufferers is called: 703 230 285 904 489 753 522 296 441 806 ❍ Adult Relaxation Therapy (ART) 631 1,029 2,411 1,499 1,448 1,237 9,159 1,233 ❍ Work in the here and now 7,779 10,072 15,282 2010 42,760 ❍ 31-Jan ❍ Respond to client questions Comfortable Sleep Therapy (CST) ❍ ❍ All of the above Image Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) ❍ Stress Reduced Sleep Therapy (SRST) 715 238 293 940 505 765 528 305 436 806 7. The technique counselors use to identity strengths and weaknesses in their 634 1,070 2,441 9,925 1,343 1,477 1,255 9,077 1,216 7,643 42,303 31-Dec 2009 knowledge and skills and in how well they are adapting to the unique cultural Private Practice in Counseling 15,184 and personal backgrounds of their clients is: 10. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the ❍ Self-identity counselor must obtain what when releasing psychotherapy notes: 726 239 300 965 512 766 534 301 438 822 655 42,594 30- N ov 2009 1,083 2,481 1,369 1,482 1,257 9,056 1,233 ❍ Rapport assessment 7,678 10,002 ❍ Oral consent from client 15,367 ❍ Self-reflection ❍ Signed release from client ❍ None of the above ❍ Employer consent 722 237 300 959 510 771 539 296 430 827 647 1,106 2,463 9,907 1,368 1,500 1,254 8,875 1,236 ❍ Written request from insurance provider 7,596 42,191 31-Oct 2009 15,330 ❑ I certify that I have completed this test without receiving any help choosing the answers. Signature ______Date ______728 240 302 993 501 767 539 301 450 850 650 1,132 2,443 9,903 1,395 1,553 1,276 8,863 1,253 7,572 2009 42,172 30-Sep 15,354 Instructions Online: Complete the test at counseling.org/Resources/OnlineLearning.aspx. You will be able to pay online and download your CE certificate immediately. 735 240 297 988 500 779 530 314 459 858 Mail: Complete the test and form above and mail (with check or money order made payable to American Counseling Association) to: ACA Accounting Department/CT, 670 1,147 2,420 9,853 1,397 1,576 1,283 8,766 1,262 7,517 2009 41,762 31- A ug American Counseling Association, 5999 Stevenson Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304. Allow 2–4 weeks for processing. For further assistance, please contact Debbie Beales at 15,144 [email protected], or by phone at 800-347-6647, x306 Please print clearly Total amount enclosed or to be charged ❑ $20.00 member ❑ $30.00 non-member 745 248 314 511 792 540 317 468 877 682 1,190 2,482 9,806 1,422 1,609 1,308 8,792 1,012 1,287 7,251 2009 41,791 31-Jul Name: ______❑ Check/money order (payable to ACA in U.S. funds) 15,158 ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express ❑ Discover ACA Member Number ______Card #: ______Street address: ______CVC Code: ______Exp. Date: ______ (AmEx, 4 digits above card number; VISA, MC, Dis., 3 digits by signature line) Association’s American Counseling for the that a table of specific membership figures directs and Procedures Policies ACA of the Published Membership Figures, 201.5, Policy change in total numerical and percent well as the mean total, year as fiscal the previous month for by membership in divisions and regions ACA shows The table below One division (Counselors for was 42,529. the year The mean for of 1,456 members. with 43,247 — an increase with 41,791 members and ended the year began the year ACA divisions, organizational affiliates and regions will only show the ACA members in each entity and may not reflect the total membership of a division or organizational affiliate not ACA members in each entity and may the show regions will only organizational affiliates and divisions, ACA. membership in that does not require American Mental Health Counselors for the information The chart does not reflect 2010. Year Fiscal for The chartthat information presents each entity. membership for ACA membership figures. Association because these divisions maintain and publish their own American School Counselor Association or the in membership during FY 2010. an increase showed Western) Southern and Atlantic, North (Midwest, regions and all four Social Justice) City: ______State/Prov.: _____Zip: ______2010 statistics for Fiscal Year Membership AMCD ACES ALGBTIC Midwest Region ACCA ACEG IAMFC NCDA NECA No. Atlantic Region Southern Region A C ACC CSJ IAAOC AADA CAHEAD Organization AACE ASERVIC ASGW Cardholder’s Name: ______ARCA Region Western Phone: ______Authorized Signature: ______October 2010 | Counseling Today | 79 u Classified advertising categories include: Calendar; Merchandise & Services; Consult- ing; Office Space Available; Business Oppor- tunities; Educational Programs; Call for Pro- grams/Papers. Other categories can be added at no charge. Classifieds remotely or by phone. Contact Plynn: u Rates: Standard in-column format: $10 Merchandise per line based on 30 characters per line, services [email protected] or (480) $60 minimum. $8 per line for advertisers 282-3912 prepaying for six months. No cancellations or refunds. Classified ads can be placed on- Understanding the Abuse of Adults CRUISE FOR CREDITS line only at a rate of $8 per line, based on 30 Want to Travel to Exciting Places on a characters per line; 30-day posting. by Catholic Clergy and Religious NEW BOOK by Kathryn R Byrne, Relaxing CRUISE and Earn Continuing u Employment ads are listed under inter- national or national by state. MPM. Fwd by Joseph W. Whitwell, ThD, Education CREDITS? LMFT www.OpenHeartLifeCoaching.com You Can! Very reasonable pricing and u Rates: $10 per line based on 30 charac- To order, click on “Products.” ters per line, $150 minimum. $8 per line for much cheaper than land conferences. advertisers prepaying for three months. No Experienced LMFT & Certified Call Debbie at 918-734-4335 or visit cancellations or refunds. Employment ads www.CruisingforCredits.com can be placed online only at a rate of $8 per Supervisor for MH & MFT Interns. Reasonable Rates. Located in Miami, line, based on 30 characters per line; 30-day ADD PSYCHOANALYTIC posting. FL, Between Dade and Broward COACHING TO YOUR Display ads in the employment classified Counties. (786) 350 6996 or rlo312o@ section are available and can be designed by gmail.com COUNSELING SKILLS ACA’s graphics department. Call for details. Dato Psychoanalytic Institute provides American Academy of Medical Classified and employment ads are not com- Hypnoanalysts excellent training at the Institute and by missionable and are billed at net rate only. Psychotherapy in an Altered State. phone. Free initial consultation offered u ACA Members: If you are seeking a po- Hypnosis training for mental health www.datopsychoanalyticinstitute.com sition you may place a 45-word ad for $10. professionals. www.AAMH.com This is a one-time insertion only. LET US DO YOUR NEWSLETTER u Deadlines: Vary per issue. Contact Kathy ATTRACT MORE FULL-FEE FOR YOU! Maguire at 607.662.4451 or kmaguire@ CLIENTS Unique, guaranteed service used and counseling.org for further details. List your practice on Find-a-Therapist. loved by other counselors to grow their u Direct all copy or inquiries to com. Thousands of visitors search our practice! www.NewslettersForTherapists. site each month and over half of them Kathy Maguire via e-mail at com (866) 200-6945. [email protected]. are private pay clients! Niche market Phone: 607.662.4451 your practice by listing on 5 of over 50 THE FAMILY & MARRIAGE directories to choose from. 1-866-450-3463 Fax: 607.662.4415 COUNSELING DIRECTORY Get referrals from one of the top ranked u Ads are subject to Counseling Today ap- PHD DISSERTATION CONSULTING proval; however, Counseling Today cannot Complete thesis support from hypothesis family & marriage counseling sites on the screen or evaluate all products or services to presentation and defense. Customized web. http://family-marriage-counseling. advertised in the classified section and does assistance including hypothesis generation com. not guarantee their value or authentic- or critique, literature review, test design, ity. The publication of an advertisement in LICENSURE EXAM REVIEW Counseling Today is in no way an endorse- test correlation, statistical analysis, thesis ment by ACA of the advertiser or the prod- writing, presentation and defense. Brian NCE & NCMHCE Exam Prep Review. ucts or services advertised. Advertisers may Bacon, Brian Bacon & Associates, Multiple choice questions, mnemonics. not incorporate in subsequent advertising or 850-236-8235 or [email protected]. Exam Tips, online and interactive Check promotion the fact that a product or service has been advertised in any ACA publication. BILLING SERVICE out our FREE SAMPLER!! hutchib@usa. ACA endorses equal opportunity practices Need more time? Let us handle your net www.CounselingExam.com and will not knowingly accept ads that dis- billing needs! We are experienced & CRAZED BY CLIENT BILLING? criminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, committed to you! BC Medical Claims national origin, sexual orientation, disability Visit www.ShrinkRapt.com today and or age. Phone# 724-744-0767, Toll Free Fax # 1-866-713-4569, Email: bcmedclaims@ learn more about ShrinkRapt™ the top u Counseling Today reserves the right to gmail.com selling billing and insurance program for edit all copy, request additional documenta- mental health practitioners. Easy to use! tion where indicated and to refuse ads that EDITING SERVICE/WRITING are not in consonance with these practices. COACH Order today and receive a FREE Email & ACA is not responsible for any claims made Are you working on an article, thesis FREE Backup Module! Limited time offer! in advertisements nor for the specific posi- Request a fully functional Demo Package at tion title or working of any particular posi- or a book and need help with writing or tion listed in employment classified ads. editing? Well-qualified consultation on all www.ShrinkRapt.com or by calling Saner aspects of craft and/or copy editing offered Software Inc (630) 513-5599. 80 | Counseling Today | October 2010 DISSERTATION COMPLETION be announced as soon as possible, and the CONSULTING editor-elect will be expected to begin work- MISSOURI Individualized program assists with all ing with the current editor at that time so as aspects of dissertation and thesis writing. to facilitate the official transition on July 1, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – By phone, by FAX, by e-mail, or in person. 2011. Inquiries should be sent to jcurry@ SAINT LOUIS Call “toll free” 1-(888) 463-6999 or lsu.edu. Please send applications electroni- Counselor Education / Counseling [email protected] cally by Oct. 15, 2010 to: Dr. Jennifer R. Psychology Curry, ASERVIC President, Counseling & The Division of Counseling and Family EMPLOYMENT Values Editor Search Committee Chair, Therapy at the University of Missouri-Saint CLASSIFIEDS [email protected] Louis seeks applications for a full-time, tenure track Assistant Professor position in clinical mental health counseling to NATIONAL KENTUCKY begin August 15, 2011. Applicants must Editor Sought for the Counseling & Lindsey Wilson College, have an earned doctorate in counselor Values Journal School of Professional education or counseling psychology from The Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Counseling a regionally accredited university (ABD Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) Position Available: Assistant Professor will be given consideration). Desired seeks applications for the position of editor Lindsey Wilson College is seeking qualifications include: the ability to teach of the Counseling & Values journal. Counsel- applicants for an Assistant Professor of a broad spectrum of graduate courses, ing & Values is a national, peer reviewed Counseling and Human Services to teach including psychological testing and career journal with distribution of approximately in graduate and undergraduate programs. counseling; the ability to provide strong 2000, and a readership comprised of coun- Positions are available in Southeastern practica and internship supervision; selor educators, practitioners, and gradu- Kentucky and in Western Kentucky. demonstrated potential for scholarly ate students. Its mission is to inform the Qualifications include a terminal degree in research and publication; strong potential readership of research, recent innovations, Counseling Education and Supervision or for securing outside grants to provide and critical issues related to the integration related mental health field. Applicants must funding for research; and commitment of spirituality and religion in counseling as also be eligible for licensure. Interested to cultural diversity and social justice. well as ethical issues. The appointment of individuals should send a cover letter and Teaching experience and licensure eligibility editor is for a 3-year term beginning July current vita to Karen Wright, Director of in Missouri are also desired. Salary is 2011. Appointment is conditional upon the Human Resources; Lindsey Wilson College; commensurate with qualifications and 210 Lindsey Wilson Street; Columbia, KY experience. The Division of Counseling following qualifications: - Experience as an editorial board mem- 42728; [email protected] and Family Therapy offers both CACREP- ber of a professional publication or similar experience (associate editor or editor of another publication) - A record of scholarly publications in refereed journals - A history of involvement in and contribution to the counseling profession, including a focus on spirituality, religion, and ethics - An understanding of and commitment to the mission of ASERVIC, including ASERVIC membership at the time of ap- plication submission. - Demonstration of institutional or organizational support (if applicable) is highly desirable. Interested individuals should submit a formal application containing the follow- ing materials by October 15, 2010: (1) A current curriculum vitae, (2) A complete list of publications and reprints of no more than five of the applicant’s most significant publications, (3) A statement of vision for the editorial direction for the Counseling & Values journal, and (4) A statement from an administrator of the applicant’s institu- tion or organization describing support for the appointment (if applicable). Phone interviews with top candidates will take place October 2010. The appointment will October 2010 | Counseling Today | 81 accredited doctoral degrees (counselor with teaching experience should include education and supervision) and masters’ teaching evaluations or reviews. Review degrees (school, community, and career begins on October 15, 2010; open until counseling). Review of applications will position is filled. Address: Chair of Search begin on October 31, 2010, but will Committee, Department of Counseling, continue until the position is filled. Send Administration, Supervision, and Adult a vita, three letters of recommendation, Learning, Cleveland State University, 2121 copies of transcripts, and a statement Euclid Avenue, EB 282, Cleveland, OH concerning your research interests to: Dr. 44115. Salary: Commensurate with experi- Mark Pope, Professor and Chair, Attn: ence. Hiring is contingent on maintaining Faculty Search, Division of Counseling existing levels of funding from the State of The Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy, College of Education, Ohio.For more info: www.csuohio.edu/ at The University of Montana, Missoula is University of Missouri-Saint Louis, One accepting applications for a tenure-track CASAL. Cleveland State University is an University Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO assistant professor, to begin Fall 2011. The AA/EOE committed to nondiscrimination. 63121-4400, USA. The University of Department offers master’s degree options M/F/D/V encouraged. in School and Mental Health Counseling. Missouri-Saint Louis is an Affirmative The Department also has a small doctoral Action/Equal Opportunity Employer program in Counselor Education and committed to excellence through diversity. WISCONSIN Supervision and an Ed.S. degree. The mas- ter’s degree options are CACREP accredit- OHIO LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES ed through 2013. Two Counseling Positions The Department is searching for a practi- CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin tioner-scholar who seeks to contribute to Assistant Professor – Tenure Track and Upper Michigan has 2 counseling the training of outstanding professional st Department: Counseling, Administra- positions available; one in Appleton and counselors for the 21 Century. Applicants one in Oshkosh. These positions provide should demonstrate professional compe- tion, Supervision, Adult Learning tence in teaching, scholarship, and clinical Position: Assistant Professor - Tenure Track. professional counseling services to older supervision of graduate student practica Start Date: August 22, 2011 adults and family caregivers. It also and internship experiences. We are a small Duties: Teaching graduate level courses provides and coordinates related education Department and a closely connected learn- in the counseling program; carrying on and groups. This position provides the ing community. Strong collaboration and supervision required toward achieving interpersonal skills are expected. an active research program in counseling; usual community and university service. 3,000 hours for licensure. Graduation The Doctorate in Counselor Education is Qualifications: Minimum Qualifica- from a recognized college or university required, as is school or mental health license with a master’s degree in counseling or eligibility in Montana. Applicants with tions: Doctoral degree in Education with expertise in school counseling and/or multi- specialization in Counselor Education from social work or a closely related field. Prior cultural counseling are strongly preferred. a CACREP Accredited Program. ABD work experience with older adults and/or The University of Montana is located in applicants will be considered; the Ph.D. family caregivers is preferred. Apply online Missoula, Montana, a thriving small city degree must be conferred no later than at www.lsswis.org LSS encourages people in the Northern Rockies. A center of live- July 1, 2011. Some teaching experience of all faiths, races, and ethnic backgrounds ly artistic, recreational and community and evidence of scholarship in the form of to apply. We are an Equal Opportunity activities, Missoula is home to superb sce- Employer nic beauty, world-class healthcare and either publications or conference presenta- excellent public schools. tion is necessary. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES Screening of applicants will begin Preferred Qualifications: Master’s Degree Therapist September 30, 2010 and continue until the in School Counseling and experience as Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin position is filled. Please submit the follow- a School Counselor are preferred. Back- and Upper Michigan is looking for a ing materials: Letter of application, vita, ground in Chemical Dependency or Early Licensed Behavioral Health Specialist. and names of three references, including Childhood Education will be preferred. Position is located in Appleton. The email and telephone number. Additional supporting materials are encouraged. Professional Counselor or School Counsel- position performs work involving the Contact person: or license eligibility in Ohio also preferred. clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment Ohio Counselor license eligibility criteria Professor Cathy Jenni of mental health, AODA, or co-occurring Search Committee Chair can be found at www.cswmft.ohio.gov. treatment needs of clients. Masters or Ph. Department of Counselor Education Ohio School Counselor license eligibility D. degree in Social Work, Counseling, 32 Campus Drive criteria can be found at www.ode.state. Psychology or related program. Minimum The University of Montana oh.us. Grant writing and funding ability is of 3000 clinical hours, or Ph. D in lieu of Missoula, MT 59812 preferred. those hours. Experience in attachment, Email: [email protected] Applications: Letter of application; a working with children, and/or working or (406) 243-2608 current curriculum vitae; graduate tran- with trauma preferred. Apply online at Email submission of materials is preferred. scripts; a sample of written or published www.lsswis.org LSS encourages people of philosophical work, if available; and at all faiths, races, and ethnic backgrounds AA/EOE/ADA/VETERANS least three letters of recommendation to apply. We are an Equal Opportunity PREFERENCE EMPLOYER sent under separate cover. Candidates Employer 82 | Counseling Today | October 2010 CON-CT 0110:CON-CT 0110 11/24/09 10:19 AM Page 1 A counselor’s story… 8:00 a.m. Get to the office early. Start the coffee. Check voice mail. Leave a brief message for my client Brad. Don’t want his wife over-hearing anything confidential. 9:00 a.m. First client, Mark. Dealing with depression. Lost his job of 15 years. Body language anxious. Admits he is contemplating shooting his ex-boss. 10:00 a.m. Christine has a long-running drug and alcohol problem. Making great progress. Offers to clean my house in return for counseling sessions. 11:00 a.m. Mary gave me a big hug, again. She wants me to testify at her son’s child custody hearing. Let’s me know husband is going to subpoena her records. She invites me to dinner. 12:00 Grab lunch at desk. Check email. Sign up for CE class on crisis management. Read an article on lawsuits filed over ‘client confidentiality.’ It is important to know when to protect a client’s privacy and when it’s required by law to report certain behavior. Just as important as having HPSO! Now with d new expande benefits! Make sure your story has a happy ending. Counselor’s Professional Liability Insurance 800.982.9491 • www.hpso.com/con1 Health Providers Service Organization is a registered trademark of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc., in CA (License #0795465), MN and OK, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency, Inc., and in NY, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency. ©2009 Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. CON-CT 0110 $VVRFLDWLRQIRU$GYDQFHG7UDLQLQJ LQWKH%HKDYLRUDO6FLHQFHV $VVRFLDWLRQIRU$GYDQFHG7UDLQLQJ LQWKH%HKDYLRUDO6FLHQFHV