bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Object Lessons: A Theoretical and Empirical Study of Objectified Body Consciousness in Women
Authors: Sinclair Stacey L.
Published: May 2015

Theorists have increasingly emphasized the importance of the sociocultural context in the development of women's body experience. As a result, mental health professionals working with individuals suffering from negative body experiences should be apprised of culturally relevant theories. One such theory, objectified body consciousness theory, proposes that cultural constructions of the female body as an object and expectations of physical and sexual appeal lead to a myriad of negative mental health outcomes for women. This study investigated the relationship among objectification experiences, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, and objectified body consciousness. Findings provide strong support for a feminist and sociocultural understanding of the development of objectified body consciousness. Implications for mental health counselors and for research are presented.
The Empowerment Program: An Application of an Outreach Program for Refugee and Immigrant Women
Authors: Khamphakdy-Brown Supavan , Jones Leslie N. , Nilsson Johanna E. , Russell Emily B. , Klevens Carissa L.
Published: May 2015

Refugee and immigrant women may face a variety of pre- and post-migration stressors that make them susceptible to mental health disorders and adjustment problems. Recommendations on how to effectively provide mental health services to this population, based on a mental health program developed to meet the specific needs of refugee and immigrant women in a Midwestern city, are provided. This specific program offers a holistic approach, including counseling, home visits, psycho-educational workshops, and support and advocacy from other refugee and immigrant women. A case study is included to illustrate how this program functions.
Treatment Experiences of Gays and Lesbians In Recovery from Addiction: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Matthews Connie R. , Lorah Peggy , Fenton Jaime
Published: May 2015

The literature has suggested that addiction treatment programs are not addressing the unique recovery needs of gays and lesbians. This qualitative study examined gay men’s and lesbian women’s experiences with addiction treatment and recovery. Ten themes emerged to define their experiences. These themes are described, along with implications for mental health counselors working with this population.
Trauma Reenactment: Rethinking Borderline Personality Disorder When Diagnosing Sexual Abuse Survivors
Authors: Trippany Robyn L. , Helm Heather M. , Simpson Laura
Published: May 2015

Adult survivors of sexual trauma often experience symptoms related to their childhood experiences that are analogous to many of the diagnostic criteria of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This article examines these symptoms in the context of a trauma framework and postulates that mental health counselors need to consider if the symptomatic behaviors are more indicative of a post-traumatic response, specifically trauma reenactment. Recognizing self-harming behaviors in adult survivors as reenactments of childhood sexual trauma rather than characterological manifestations of personality deficits serves to improve the quality of care of such clients in that mental health counselors may then focus on the unresolved issues rather than personality restructuring. Thus, understanding clients from a trauma framework can minimize the stigma that is often associated with the diagnosis of BPD and provide a more objective treatment climate.
Voluntarily Childfree Women: Experiences and Counseling Considerations
Authors: Mollen Debra
Published: May 2015

Traditional mothering continues to receive social sanctioning while women who choose not to have children are oftentimes ignored or criticized. Voluntarily childfree women participated in a qualitative investigation in which semi-structured interviews, journals, and a focus group were utilized to capture their experience of stigmatization. Data source triangulation, member checks, and consultation with a peer debriefer contributed to the authenticity of the results. Two broad themes capturing reasons for the choice not to have children and five categories of stigmatization were delineated from the participants' narratives. Considerations for mental health counselors who work with women who do not want children are offered.
The DSM and the Professional Counseling Identity: Bridging the Gap
Authors: Eriksen Karen , Kress Victoria E.
Published: May 2015

Many of the values, assumptions, and philosophies inherent in the DSM diagnostic system conflict with those of the mental health counseling profession.This article describes these conflicts; provides clinical practice suggestions for addressing these issues when using the DSM system; and offers strategies for bridging the divide between mental health counseling's professional identity, and the DSM system of conceptualization.
Unanticipated Psychotropic Medication Reactions
Authors: Otis H. Gray , King Jason H.
Published: May 2015

Research from a variety of sources demonstrates that psychotropic medications have induced a number of unanticipated physiological and psychological client reactions. Although a great deal of literature is published concerning potential expected side effects from psychotropic medications, little is understood regarding other unexpected reactions that may cause significant client discomfort. These unanticipated psychotropic reactions may be considered as effects that may be rare and therefore not accounted for in randomized clinical drug trials. Like any medication, psychotropic medications do not produce the same effect in everyone. Some people may respond better to one medication than another. Mental health counselors are advised to be aware that some unexpected reactions can be important in determining client outcomes. In this article, we discuss the client's right to be informed about unanticipated side-effects of their medication regimen and the ethical question as to how much information to give clients.
Psychotherapy-Driven Supervision: Integrating Counseling Theories into Role-Based Supervision
Authors: Pearson Quinn M.
Published: May 2015

Mental health counselors often play an integral part in the training and supervision of students and new practitioners. Whether they are teaching clinical skills in academic settings, providing on-site supervision for practicum and internship students, or serving as clinical supervisors for unlicensed or less experienced counselors, supervision is a relevant component of mental health practice. Designed as a practical approach that builds on the clinical strengths of mental health counselors, psychotherapy-driven supervision advocates blending psychotherapy-based approaches to supervision with role-based models of supervision. Strengths and weaknesses of psychotherapy-based approaches are discussed. Detailed descriptions of the teacher, counselor, and consultant roles of supervisors are presented. Psychotherapy-driven supervision is illustrated for three theoretical approaches: humanistic-relationship oriented, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused.
Assessing Suicide Risk in Children: Guidelines for Developmentally Appropriate Interviewing
Authors: Barrio Casey A.
Published: May 2015

Although suicide is considered a leading cause of death for all age groups, resources and recommendations regarding methods of assessment of suicide risk in children appears to be scattered across related disciplines. Most risk assessment measures for "youth" are intended for use with adolescents, and the nature of children's developmental functioning presents particular challenges for accurate assessment. This article includes a brief review of risk factors and recommendations for preparing to conduct suicide risk assessments with children. Guidelines for mental health counselors who conduct developmentally appropriate risk assessments with children are detailed, and suggestions for consulting with caregivers are provided.
Sanctioned Supervision: Voices from the Experts
Authors: Rapisarda Clarrice A. , Britton Paula J.
Published: May 2015

This qualitative study took an initial step in gathering ideas from professionals and academics in the counseling field regarding the efficacy of sanctioned supervision as an intervention for counselor impairment.The results of the focus group suggest that sanctioned supervision is a worthwhile endeavor but needs improved structure, organization, and clarity. Based on feedback from study participants, the authors developed a preliminary model as to how sanctioned supervision could work more effectively.
Existential Theory and Solution-Focused Strategies: Integration and Application
Authors: Fernando Delini M.
Published: May 2015

A sound theoretical approach is essential to the professional integrity of mental health counselors. This article examines the basic concepts of existential theory, indicates how this theory provides a sound theoretical basis for mental health counseling, and supports the thesis that brief solution-focused therapy is a clinical application of existential theory. An illustration of brief solution-focused existential therapy is provided from the author’s experience counseling tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.
The Mental Health Practitioner and Psychopharmacology
Authors: Kaut Kevin P. , Dickinson Josephine A.
Published: May 2015

Today’s mental health practitioner is likely to be quite familiar with a rather diverse range of pharmacological issues confronting clients seeking mental health services. Indeed, drug therapies are commonplace, and in some cases, might be viewed as the primary intervention for a presenting problem. Pharmacological approaches to mental health concerns can be effective, and provide treatment options with significant therapeutic potential. Nevertheless, the current pharmacological and ever-growing biomedical milieu that so often characterizes modern health care can potentially undermine the importance of the bio-psycho-social perspective of mental health assessment and intervention. The growing emphasis on pharmacotherapy must certainly be recognized by the mental health practitioner, but frameworks for mental health service delivery should continually identify better ways to integrate pharmacological options with the psychological and socio-cultural context that influence the behaviors, cognitions, and emotions of clients.
Exercise and Functioning Level of Individuals with Severe Mental Illness: A Comparison of Two Groups
Authors: Perham Abigail S. , Accordino Michael P.
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if differences exist in the functioning level between adults with severe mental illness who participated in exercise activities and those who did not. The researchers assessed participants’ levels of hygiene, nutrition, ability to hold a job, social situations, and pursuit of appropriate independence in a state hospital. The Current Evaluation of Risk and Functioning-Revised (CERF-R) assessed data. Participants engaging in exercise scored significantly (p > .01) better than non-exercise participants did on variables of hygiene (d = .81) and pursuit of appropriate independence (d = .71). The implications of the study are discussed for mental health counseling.
Using to Numb the Pain: Substance Use and Abuse Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals
Authors: Weber Genevieve N.
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between heterosexist events, internalized homophobia, and substance use and abuse among 824 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. Participants completed the Schedule for Heterosexist Events (SHE), Internalized Homophobia Scale (IHP), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST). A MANCOVA with age as a covariate and sexual orientation as a cofactor indicated there were significant differences in how lesbians, gay males, and bisexuals experienced heterosexism and internalized homophobia. In particular, gay males and lesbians reported experiencing more heterosexism than bisexuals, and gay males and bisexuals reported experiencing more internalized homophobia than lesbians. Participants who were classified as having at least one alcohol or drug use disorder were significantly more likely to have experienced heterosexism and internalized homophobia than those who were not classified as having a substance use disorder. Implications for mental health counselors, counselor educators, and researchers are noted.
Forgiveness and Forgetting: Clinical Implications for Mental Health Counselors
Authors: Cosgrove Lisa , Konstam Varda
Published: May 2015

Although mental health professionals have attempted to specify the meaning of forgiveness, lack of consensus exists. Despite the lack of consensus over the meaning of forgiveness, there is agreement that forgiving is not forgetting or pardoning. However, the relationship between forgiving and forgetting has been undertheorized, and as a result, this relationship has not been empirically investigated. In this paper, we suggest that it would be fruitful to assess the meaning systems individuals associate with the definition of forgiveness. Focusing on the lived experience of individuals may help researchers and counselors avoid unhelpful dichotomizations such as “authentic vs. inauthentic” forgiveness. Implications for both research and mental health counseling are discussed.
Treating Outpatient Suicidal Adolescents: Guidelines from the Empirical Literature
Authors: Muehlenkamp Jennifer J. , Ertelt Troy W. , Azure Jeri Ann
Published: May 2015

Mental health counselors identify treating suicidal clients as one of the most stressful aspects of their work. Treating suicidal adolescents poses a range of additional challenges. Literature on suicidal behavior continues to grow and potentially efficacious treatments are being developed, however clinicians in the field are provided few guidelines for treating suicidal clients. In this paper we provide a brief review of evidenced-based treatments with suicidal adolescents and offer guidelines for the treatment of suicidal adolescents within outpatient settings. We conclude with a brief overview of special considerations for treating adolescents who are suicidal.
Assessment of Family Custody Issues Using Mental Health Evaluations: Implications for Mental Health Counselors
Authors: Patel Samir H. , Jones Karyn Dayle
Published: May 2015

In the past 30 years high-conflict families seeking resolution of child custody disputes have inundated family courts. Custody-related evaluations conducted by mental health counselors provide family courts with a thorough and unbiased assessment about the functionality of a family and offer recommendations about custody issues. The authors present (a) a description of mental health evaluations in child custody disputes; (b) ethical considerations involved in the evaluation process; (c) recommendations for conducting custody-related mental health evaluations; and (d) a format for the written report.
A Qualitative Study of Potential Suicide Risk Factors in Returning Combat Veterans
Authors: Brenner Lisa A. , Gutierrez Peter M. , Cornette Michelle M. , Betthauser Lisa M. , Bahraini Nazanin , Staves Pamela J.
Published: May 2015

According to the interpersonal-psychological theory of attempted and completed suicide (Joiner, 2005) suicide-related behavior is contingent upon three factors: acquired ability, burdensomeness, and failed belongingness. Qualitative research methodology was employed to explore these concepts among a group of returning Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) combat veterans. A sample of 16 individuals participated in interviews. Themes emerged regarding combat as a context for exposure to pain, subsequent coping strategies, and perceptions of burdensomeness, failed belongingness, and increased pain tolerance. Suicidal behavior was also articulated as a means of coping with risk factors outlined by Joiner. These results highlight the potential utility of this theory for OEF/OIF veterans. Interventions aimed at decreasing emotional dysregulation, and lessening perceptions of burdensomeness and failed belongingness may reduce risk for suicidal behavior.
A Study of Mental Health Counselors’ Use of and Perspectives on Distance Counseling
Authors: Centore Anthony J. , Milacci Fred
Published: May 2015

Using a survey measuring 21 factors proposed in recent literature to be advantages or disadvantages of distance counseling, with a sample of 854 mental health professionals, we investigated perceptions and use of counseling by telephone, e-mail, text chat, and videoconference. Most participants reported using distance counseling in some form, but they perceived more disadvantages than advantages. Recommendations are provided for professionals considering the practice of distance counseling.
Sexual Behavior Intervention Program: An Innovative Level of Care in Male Sex Offender Treatment
Authors: Roseman Christopher P. , Yeager Clancy , Korcuska James S. , Cromly Aaron
Published: May 2015

The literature does not provide practical, targeted alternatives to prosecution and incarceration for sexual offenders deemed at low risk for recidivism. The Sexual Behavior Intervention Program (SBIP) is an innovative level of care in male sex offender treatment that offers communities an option for treating sexual misconduct. SBIP is a focused, psychoeducational program rooted in the restorative justice model, one that attempts to meet the needs of both individuals and the community.
The Nature of Confirmatory Strategies in the Initial Assessment Process
Authors: Owen Jesse
Published: May 2015

Because mental health counselors typically rely on confirmatory or supportive questions to gain initial impressions about their clients' presenting concerns, they tend to search for differential diagnostic information less frequently (e.g., Haverkamp, 1993; Parmley, 2007). There has been little empirical attention given to the potential mechanisms for confirmatory questions. Accordingly, this study used multilevel modeling to analyze 772 confirmatory and disconfirmatory questions generated by 97 mental health counselors in training. Mental health counselors in this study, as in previous research, generated more confirmatory questions that supported their initial diagnostic impression than disconfirmatory questions; confirmatory questions were rated as having more diagnostic clarity and as being more specific. Further, confirmatory questions were more likely to be elicited from the initial case data presented to the counselor. These findings suggest that the ability of mental health counselors to generate questions that support their initial impressions may surpass their ability to formulate questions that adequately test differential diagnoses. Implications for training and practice are offered.
Differences in Mental Health Counselors’ Diagnoses Based on Client Race: An Investigation of Adjustment, Childhood, and Substance-Related Disorders
Authors: Feisthamel Kevin P. , Schwartz Robert C.
Published: May 2015

This study of mental health counselors' diagnoses of African-American and Euro-American clients (N=899) found that African-Americans were diagnosed disproportionately more often with disruptive behavior disorders whereas Euro-Americans were diagnosed more often with less severe adjustment disorders. These findings mirror those of researchers from other mental health professions considering different mental disorders. Implications for mental health counseling practice and future research are discussed, and pathways to account for the phenomenon are proposed.
“It Was like a Partnership of the Two of Us Against the Cutting”: Investigating the Counseling Experiences of Young Adult Women Who Self-Injure
Authors: Craigen Laurie M. , Foster Victoria
Published: May 2015

Self-injury is an increasing phenomenon among young adult women. This qualitative study explored the counseling experiences of 10 young adult women with a history of self-injurious behavior. It examined the nature of the client-counselor relationship and how self-injury was treated. It also accessed the participants' thoughts and feelings about their experiences in counseling. Implications for training and treatment are set out, as are recommendations for research.
Adult-Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury: Existential Implications and Clinical Considerations
Authors: Patterson Faith L. , Staton A. Renee
Published: May 2015

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause irreparable harm to individuals and have profound effects on families and communities. In addition to the physical and neurological effects, brain injury creates an intense boundary experience for clients that forces them to confront the existential givens of freedom, death, isolation, and meaninglessness. This article provides an overview of TBI and its existential implications for clients, emphasizing interventions and clinical considerations for mental health counselors working with clients who have experienced TBI.
Using Puppets with Children in Narrative Therapy to Externalize the Problem
Authors: Butler Sue , Guterman Jeffrey T. , Rudes James
Published: May 2015

A clinical application is presented for using puppets with children in narrative therapy to externalize the problem. A case example illustrates the clinical application. Implications for the practice of narrative therapy are considered.
Influence of the Supervisory Working Alliance on Supervisee Work Satisfaction and Work-Related Stress
Authors: Sterner William R.
Published: May 2015

This article presents an empirical study that identified agency supervisees' perceptions of clinical supervision and its influence on work satisfaction and work-related stress in professional settings. Because there is a paucity of literature addressing supervision of professional counselors, there is a need to better understand what influence supervision has beyond academic settings. Participants were 71 members of the American Mental Health Counseling Association who were selected using a criterion-based random sample methodology. The methodology pulls together a unique combination of variables and instruments for exploration with professional mental health counselors. Results revealed relationships between work setting, supervisees' perceptions of the supervisory working alliance, work satisfaction, and work-related stress variables. Implications for practice, training, and research are discussed.
Psychological Differences in Shame vs. Guilt: Implications for Mental Health Counselors
Authors: Parker Stephen , Thomas Rebecca
Published: May 2015

Recent work on the psychological distinctions between shame and guilt has important implications for mental health counselors. In particular, the work of Lewis (1971) and Tangney (1990, 1995; Tangney & Dearing, 2002) identifies psychological differences between shame and guilt and how they are phenomenologically expressed that provides helpful insight to those working with clients experiencing these emotions. This paper draws upon this work to establish criteria for distinguishing shame and guilt and to offer guidelines for their treatment.
The Experiences of Transgendered Persons in Psychotherapy: Voices and Recommendations
Authors: Bess J. Alison , Stabb Sally D.
Published: May 2015

This study explored the therapeutic alliance and satisfaction between transgender clients and their therapists. The design was qualitative and heuristically based. Seven transgendered participants who had lived full-time as their non-natal gender for at least three months and who had spent at least the majority of a course of therapy discussing their current gender identity were recruited. Interviews were semistructured, and each was transcribed verbatim. Three levels of coding were used for analysis: seven individual depictions in narrative form, a single composite depiction bringing together similarities between the experiences of the participants, and a single exemplary depiction of critical themes. Results suggest that the participants did not experience many of the heterosexist, sexist, and pathologizing biases described in previous studies. Rather, they described supportive and affirming relationships with their therapists. Some participants had had negative experiences with previous therapists. Participants called for further training and education for therapists and other helping professionals. Implications for theory, research, practice, and policy are explored.
Sustained Effectiveness of Two Brief Group Interventions: Comparing an Explicit Forgiveness-Promoting Treatment with a Process-Oriented Treatment
Authors: Blocher Wei-min G. , Wade Nathaniel G.
Published: May 2015

The present study is a two-year follow-up to an outcome study conducted by Wade and Meyer (2009) in 2004-05, in which participants were randomly assigned to an explicit forgiveness treatment, a processed-oriented treatment, and a wait list. The effectiveness of both treatments was maintained after two years. Participants'revenge ideation and psychological symptoms remained the same as when treatment terminated, but negative reactions to their offenders had continued to abate. Positive regard toward the offender was the same pre- and post-treatment but was reduced during the two-year period between termination and follow-up. No statistically significant differences in the outcome measures were found between the two treatment groups. However, in qualitative analyses of open-ended responses about their experiences with the treatments, participants seemed to favor the forgiveness-promoting one. Most participants, regardless of condition, identified group therapeutic factors as major contributors to their positive group experiences.
Empathy and Sympathy: Therapeutic Distinctions in Counseling
Authors: Clark Arthur J.
Published: May 2015

At various times in the treatment process, mental health counselors may inadvertently equate the concepts of empathy and sympathy. This confusion is understandable because there is ambiguity between the two terms that could contribute to miscommunication in counseling. This article clarifies the therapeutic distinctions between empathy and sympathy through the dimensions of aim, appraisal, apprehension, and agreement.
Tablets or Talk? A Critical Review of the Literature Comparing Antidepressants and Counseling for Treatment of Depression
Authors: Hagen Brad , Wong-Wylie Gina , Pijl-Zieber Em
Published: May 2015

Antidepressants re generally considered to be the standard treatment for depression, despite a large body of research evidence documenting the equal or superior efficacy of counseling. This article provides a critical review of the literature comparing the efficacy of antidepressants and counseling for adults with depression. Highlighted are several issues that must be considered when reviewing the literature, including methodological problems, the placebo effect, trauma and depression, comparative safety profiles, and the marketing of antidepressants. Implications for mental health counseling practice and research, including the suggestion that counseling alone should be the first treatment of choice for most persons with depression, are discussed.
Comorbidity of Bulimia Nervosa and Substance Abuse: Etiologies, Treatment Issues, and Treatment Approaches
Authors: Carbaugh Rebecca J. , Sias Shari M.
Published: May 2015

Recently the comorbidity of substance abuse and eating disorders has become a concern. Treating these disorders is particularly important for bulimia nervosa, which is characterized by "binge eating and inappropriate compensatory methods to prevent weight gain" (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 589). In this article we explore common pathways to the development of bulimia nervosa and substance abuse, how treatment is begun, and treatment options (cognitive behavioral therapy/coping skills training and dialectical behavioral therapy). A case study shows the application of coping skills training and dialectical behavioral therapy in clinical practice.
Self-Reported Experience of Self-Injurious Behavior in College Students
Authors: Kakhnovets Regina , Young Hannah L. , Purnell Amanda Lienau , Huebner Edward , Bishop Christa
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this study was to gain firsthand qualitative information about the experience of self-injurious behavior (SIB) by asking the 79 participants to describe their experiences before, during, and after SIB. Students with a history of SIB were separated into two groups: those students who self-injured only once and those who had harmed themselves multiple times. The most common experiences for both groups directly before SIB were feeling depressed, angry, and out of control, but the two groups reported different experiences during and after SIB.
Matching Animal-Assisted Therapy Techniques and Intentions with Counseling Guiding Theories
Authors: Chandler Cynthia , Portrie-Bethke Torey , Minton Casey , Fernando Delini , O'Callaghan Dana
Published: May 2015

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) interventions are often used in mental health practice, yet there are few studies to assist mental health counselors in integrating AAT practice with theoretical foundations. The authors draw upon the literature on AAT intentions and techniques to illustrate how these practices are consistent with a variety of theoretical orientations. Case illustrations are provided.
The Significance of Spirituality for Individuals with Chronic Illness: Implications for Mental Health Counseling
Authors: Nichols Lindsey M. , Hunt Brandon
Published: May 2015

Understanding the significance of spirituality for individuals with chronic illness is advantageous to mental health counselors because it combines knowledge from multiple disciplines to find approaches useful to help individuals create meaning and purpose in their lives. Chronic illness is defined by not only the physical but also the mental and spiritual effects of the disease. This review of the literature addresses ways spirituality can help people with chronic illness and what it means to individuals undergoing physical and emotional challenges as a result of their illness. Recommendations are provided for how mental health counselors can help clients with chronic illness explore spirituality.
Bulimia and Dissociation: A Developmental Perspective
Authors: Cowan Eric , Heselmeyer Rebecca
Published: May 2015

Counselors and researchers are increasingly recognizing that persons diagnosed with bulimia nervosa typically manifest high levels of the defense of dissociation. Treatments for bulimia nervosa may be unsuccessful due to insufficient acknowledgment of the role that dissociation can play in mediating the disorder. Failing to acknowledge client dissociation constricts the potential for an efficacious therapeutic relationship because certain aspects of the client’s self-experience are prevented from emerging in counseling. The authors explore core concepts in the development of self-formation that illuminate the origins and function of dissociation in bulimia. The exploration suggests developmental explanations, implications for alternate and effective treatment, and possibilities for future research.
The Relationships of Public and Self-Stigma to Seeking Mental Health Services
Authors: Bathje Geoff J. , Pryor John B.
Published: May 2015

The label of mental illness has long been recognized as one of the most powerful of all stigmas. Public stigma, the common societal reactions to people who seek help for psychological distress, can be distinguished from self-stigma, the internalized impact of public stigma. This study examined how awareness and endorsement of public stigma may influence self-stigma. It also examined how both types of stigma are connected to attitudes and intentions to seeking counseling. Awareness and endorsement of public stigma were found to predict self-stigma. Endorsement of sympathy for a person with mental illness was especially predictive of self-stigma, while endorsement of public stigma and self-stigma were independently related to attitudes to seeking counseling. Finally, attitudes were most proximally related to intentions to seek counseling. These results suggest that different aspects of stigma play different roles in influencing attitudes to seeking mental health counseling.
The Role of Relational-Cultural Theory in Mental Health Counseling
Authors: Duffey Thelma , Somody Catherine
Published: May 2015

One feature that distinguishes professional counseling from other mental health and illness disciplines is its developmental, strength-based, contextually-focused, and wellness perspective. Given the multicultural paradigm that the counseling field emphasizes, it is increasingly important to identify models like relational-cultural theory (RCT) that support these principles. This article includes an overview of the basic tenets of RCT and applications to mental health counseling
Psychopharmacology and Mental Health Practice: An Important Alliance
Authors: Kaut Kevin P.
Published: May 2015

Many mental health professionals are concerned about an increasingly "medicalized" society, driven in part by significant growth in biomedical research and biological perspectives on psychological disorders. The modern medical era, which has endorsed reductionism as the principal way of viewing many health conditions, offers many options for treating psychiatric diagnoses. Pharmacology is a major influence in psychiatric treatment decisions, and despite questions by mental health practitioners about reliance on drugs (Murray, 2009), psychopharmacology provides helpful alternatives. However, pharmacological options for mental health concerns should not be considered in isolation, and the use of drug treatments for cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders warrants careful contextual analysis. Mental health practitioners are encouraged to view pharmacology within a comprehensive sociohistorical framework that recognizes the value of a reductionist perspective as part of psychology's rich cognitive and behavioral contributions to contemporary mental health assessment and intervention.
Helping Society’s Outcasts: The Impact of Counseling Sex Offenders
Authors: Dreier Amy Sholler , Wright Stephen
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this qualitative study, which uses a constructivist approach, was to explore the impacts on mental health counselors of counseling convicted sex offenders. Five participants were interviewed using a semistructured format. The data were analyzed using a phenomenological method by breaking down the interviews into themes, comparing the participants’ experiences, and determining the essence of those experiences. Themes identified were feelings of increased competence, closeness, and support from coworkers and supervisors; belief in a mission or responsibility for safety; disconnect from general society; intrusive thoughts of traumatic material; and increased suspicion of others. The findings suggest that mental health workers experience both positive and negative impacts from counseling convicted sex offenders. The research and practice implications for counselors are discussed.
The Journal of Mental Health Counseling Publication Pattern Review: A Meta-Study of Author and Article Characteristics, 1994-2009
Authors: Crockett Stephanie A. , Byrd Rebekah J. , Erford Bradley T.
Published: May 2015

Patterns of articles published in the Journal of Mental Health Counseling (JMHC) from 1994 through 2009 were reviewed. Characteristics of authors (e.g., sex, employment setting, nation of domicile) and articles (e.g., topic, type, design, sample, sample size, participant type, statistical procedures and sophistication) are described and analyzed for trends over time.
Mobile Mind Mapping: Using Mobile Technology to Enhance Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Authors: Warren Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2015

Email, chat rooms, and websites are often used in counseling. Now, smartphones and their applications can also be used. Mobile mind mapping tools can support counseling frameworks, such as rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). The integration of counseling and technology has great potential for helping clients to lead healthier and more productive lives. This article describes REBT and outlines four ways to use mobile mind maps in REBT. It also offers tips on how to use mobile mind mapping to enhance the counseling process. The article concludes with a brief case study demonstrating how mobile mind maps can be integrated into counseling.
Understanding the Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Women's Sexuality
Authors: Colangelo James J. , Keefe-Cooperman Kathleen
Published: May 2015

The relationship between child sexual abuse and adult sexual functioning is well-established. Given the documented high incidence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and negative consequences for adult sexuality, many mental health counselors will encounter and provide therapeutic services to members of this population. Counselors must have a good understanding of how sexual victimization during childhood impacts a woman's sexuality and sex life. We discuss the prevalence of CSA among women in different populations and the significant impact it has on women's sexuality. Generalized practice issues are applied using a case study and phase-oriented approach.
The Effect of Childhood Trauma, Personal Wellness, Supervisory Working Alliance, and Organizational Factors on Vicarious Traumatization
Authors: Williams Amy M. , Helm Heather M. , Clemens Elysia V.
Published: May 2015

Scholars have identified vicarious traumatization (VT) as one of the most extreme effects of working with traumatized clients; however, not all mental health therapists develop VT (Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995). Path analytic procedures were used to assess a comprehensive theoretical VT model based on constructivist self-development theory (CSDT). The model explained 46% of the variance in VT in mental health therapists surveyed.
Explanatory Style as a Mediator Between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury
Authors: Buser Trevor , Hackney Harold
Published: May 2015

For this study the researchers recruited a random sample of college men and women (N = 390) and examined whether a pessimistic explanatory style mediated the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the past year. The study found that pessimistic explanatory style was positively associated with NSSI and that pessimistic style functioned as a partial mediator of the childhood emotional abuse-NSSI relation. Clinical implications for mental health counselors are discussed.
Strong Mindfulness: Integrating Mindfulness and Character Strengths
Authors: Niemiec Ryan M. , Rashid Tayyab , Spinella Marcello
Published: May 2015

This article explores the integration of mindfulness meditation and character strengths. Beyond simply focusing attention, mindfulness involves the cultivation of attention infused by an unconditional friendliness and interest. Universally valued character strengths (Peterson & Seligman, 2004) are useful constructs for such an infusion. Most mindfulness approaches and programs deal with managing a problem or psychological disorder; far less discussion, empirical work, and scholarly papers have addressed mindfulness from a positive psychology perspective that explicitly attempts to increase what is good. We review research and practice considerations for such an integration and discuss how character strengths enhance mindfulness (i.e. Strong Mindfulness) by dealing with barriers to mindfulness practice and augmenting mindful living in walking, driving, consuming, speaking, and listening.
Mindfulness and Mastery in Counseling: Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Ponton Richard F.
Published: May 2015

This introduction to the special issue on mindfulness integrates concepts of mindfulness with the counselor development literature. Discussing the elements of mindfulness, especially the choice to attend to the experience of the present moment with nonjudgmental acceptance, it outlines how mindfulness skills can be applied to the practice of counseling and how the mental health counselor develops from novice to expert.
Developmental Counseling and Therapy: A Promising Intervention for Preventing Relapse with Substance-Abusing Clients
Authors: Clarke Philip B. , Myers Jane E.
Published: May 2015

Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT) increases awareness by helping clients understand their cognitive style preferences and gain insight into factors underlying their substance abuse. This article presents the four DCT cognitive emotional styles, their relationship to relapse, and a format for conducting a DCT assessment-intervention interview and counseling intervention plan with a relapsing substance-abuse client, which is also demonstrated in a case vignette.
Hope Inspiration among People Living with HIV/AIDS: Theory and Implications for Counselors
Authors: Zinck Kirk E. , Cutcliffe John R.
Published: May 2015

Despite the dramatic reversal in prognosis for people living long-term with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), the literature indicates, counter-intuitively, that PLWHA often do not have much hope for the future. The authors undertook a grounded theory study (Cutcliff & Zinck, 2011) that resulted in a four-stage theory of hope inspiration for PLWHA. Both the core variable, “Turning from death to life, “ and the four stages of the theory have significant practice, education, and policy implications for counselors working with PLWHA, which this article explores in detail. It draws attention to specific counselor qualities (i.e., awareness, possessing a working knowledge of HIV/AIDS) and a sense of hope that the authors argue is needed to underpin effective work with PLWHA. It describes hope-inspiring interventions—witnessing hopelessness, punctuating resources, networking, and re-storying—that counselors might consider, linking each to the theory and stages of hope inspiration
Creative and Novel Approaches to Empathy: A Neo-Rogerian Perspective
Authors: Neukrug Ed , Bayne Hannah , Dean-Nganga Lashauna , Pusateri Cassandra
Published: May 2015

This article describes the historical antecedents of empathy, elaborates on the Rogerian definition of basic and advanced empathy, and relates how some authors have expanded on those definitions. It then describes six creative and novel empathic responses that fit the original Rogers definition of empathy: reflecting deeper feelings, pointing out discrepancies, and the use of visual imagery, analogies, metaphors, and targeted self-disclosure. The benefits and limits of how empathy is taught in counselor training programs are discussed and ways seasoned counselors can improve their skill in making complex empathic responses are suggested.
Managing Hurt and Disappointment: Improving Communication of Reproach and Apology
Authors: Miller Andrea J. , Worthington Everett L. , Hook Joshua N. , Davis Don E. , Gartner Aubrey L. , Frohne Nicole A.
Published: May 2015

The resolution of transgressions in close relationships often depends on how victims reproach offenders and how offenders explain. A research-based framework for teaching clients how to communicate when they are upset (reproach) and how to respond when someone is upset with them (apology) was evaluated using a between-groups (control, treatment) randomized psychoeducational intervention. We tested whether a 2.5-hour workshop that taught skills for communicating reproach and apology changed participants’ videotaped ratings of role-played reproaches and apologies. Participants were 111 undergraduate students. Video-recorded behavioral data were collected pre-test, post-test, and at 2-4-week follow-up. Workshop participants exhibited higher levels of constructive emotional reactions than control participants, though the differences were not maintained at follow-up. This brief workshop provides a basis for interventions to improve communication while managing transgressions in many settings (e.g., an adjunct to counseling, supplementing marital workshops, and enhancing general relationship skills in college students, dating couples, or families).
The Introduction of a Task Model for Crisis Intervention
Authors: Myer Rick A. , Lewis J. Scott , James Richard K.
Published: May 2015

This article reviews published models for crisis intervention to identify common tasks. Two categories of tasks were identified, continuous and focused. Continuous tasks (assessment, safety, and support) are those that are addressed throughout the entire intervention process. Mental health counselors (MHCs) must attend to these at all times when assisting clients in crisis. Focused tasks (contact, re-establishing control, defining the problem, and follow-up) are time-encapsulated: once a task is accomplished, MHCs can move on to another. However, given the chaotic nature of crises, MHCs may have to return to these at points during the intervention.
Integrating Leadership Skills into Anger Management Groups to Reduce Aggressive Behaviors: The LIT Model
Authors: Burt Isaac , Patel Samir H. , Butler S. K. , Gonzalez Tiphanie
Published: May 2015

Mental health counselors encounter numerous complex situations when working with children and adolescents in anger management groups. This study promotes the use of Social Cognitive Theory to reduce cognitive distortions and aggressive behavior in youth. Specifically, it highlights Leadership Implementation Training (LIT), a youth-oriented model that integrates leadership skills into school-based anger management groups with the intent of reducing agression in angry youth, initial data suggest that doing so is an effective tool for mental health counselors who facilitate groups in schools.
Building a Practice in Rural Settings: Special Considerations
Authors: Cohn Tracy J. , Hastings Sarah L.
Published: May 2015

Private practice in rural areas presents special challenges. Rural communities often hold more stigmatizing views about psychotherapy and have fewer economic resources, yet rates of mental health problems are comparable to those in metropolitan areas. Rural practice can be particularly rewarding for clinicians who can build collaborative networks, adjust to visibility, negotiate boundaries, and successfully integrate into the community. This article offers recommendations for mental health counselors on building a practice for branding, marketing, collaborating, and exercising self-care. It also discusses challenges associated with counseling in rural areas and gives suggestions for building a thriving practice.
Ensuring Ethical Practice: Guidelines for Mental Health Counselors in Private Practice
Authors: Brennan Cecile
Published: May 2015

Since mental health counselors in private practice often work in relative isolation, it is especially important that they attend to ethical issues. This article reviews four dimensions of ethical knowledge: the foundation of ethical actions, counselors as agents of ethical action, the need to establish a decision-making process, and the importance of sustaining ethical practice by keeping current with clinical developments and attending to their own well-being.