bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relation Between Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Growth: A Study of First Responders to Trauma-Inducing Incidents
Authors: Chopko Brian A. , Schwartz Robert C.
Published: May 2015

Research on the reactions of first responders (e.g., police officers, fire fighters) to traumatic incidents has largely focused on negative symptoms (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder) rather than aspects promoting mental health. Consistent with the counseling profession’s focus on growth and development, this study investigated the relation between mindfulness (using the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills) and posttraumatic growth (using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory) among 183 police officers. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that effort toward spiritual growth was positively correlated, and accepting events without judgment was negatively correlated, with posttraumatic growth. Implications for mental health counseling are discussed.
The Loss of Client Agency into the Psychopharmaceutical-Industrial Complex
Authors: Murray Thomas L.
Published: May 2015

The psychopharmaceutical industrial complex (PPIC) and its adherence to the disease model pervades mainstream culture and greatly impacts psychotherapy. Consequently, the effects of the PPIC may have resulted in some psychiatric consumers adopting disease-model messages in ways similar to cult indoctrination. Consumer adoption of the disease model can create obstacles to treatment when hope is fundamental. In this article, I draw parallels between cult indoctrination and PPIC techniques and note similarities between cult members and consumers who are vulnerable to losing their identities to the PPIC. Suggestions for the profession of mental health counseling and those working with these consumers conclude the article.
Comparison of Two Group Interventions to Promote Forgiveness: Empathy as a Mediator of Change
Authors: Sandage Steven J. , Worthington Everett L.
Published: May 2015

Undergraduate student volunteers (N=97) were randomly assigned to one of two six-hour forgiveness psychoeducational seminars or to a wait-list control group. Based on attachment theory, forgiveness was conceptualized in relation to the care-giving behavioral system (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007). Both the Empathy Forgiveness Seminar and the Self-enhancement Forgiveness Seminar facilitated forgiveness to a greater degree than the wait-list control group at post-test and six-week follow-up. Empathy mediated changes in participants' forgiveness scores regardless of seminar condition. Shame-proneness was negatively related to post-test forgiveness scores and guilt-proneness was positively related to forgiveness at post-test and follow-up. Implications for interventions are discussed.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Forgiveness in Therapy
Authors: Wade Nathaniel G.
Published: May 2015

Psychological and clinical research on forgiveness has grown exponentially over the last two decades. Recognizing that counselors might be able to help clients not only reduce the negative in their lives but also promote the positive, researchers and clinicians have addressed ways that forgiveness might be promoted after interpersonal hurts and injustices. In this Introduction to the Special Issue on Forgiveness in Therapy, the four articles following are placed in the larger context of forgiveness and clinical research.
Faculty and Student Curricular Experiences of Nonerotic Touch in Counseling
Authors: Burkholder David , Toth Michele , Feisthamel Kevin , Britton Paula
Published: May 2015

This phenomenological study explored both faculty and student curricular experiences of nonerotic touch in counseling. Data analysis demonstrated that counselor educators experienced uncertainty and apprehension in training students on the use of nonerotic touch. Students received inadequate training and internalized an assortment of conceptualizations about whether to touch in counseling, which caused them confusion, frustration, and insecurity. The emergent themes of this research mirrored empirical and theoretical research and strengthened the case for improving the training mental health counselors receive on the topic of nonerotic touch.
Counseling Adult Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Benefits of a Wellness Approach
Authors: Hodges Elizabeth A. , Myers Jane E.
Published: May 2015

Adult women survivors of childhood sexual abuse may face numerous lifelong challenges. Recommended therapeutic interventions for survivors assume that the process of reliving and exploring the abuse experience leads to psychological healing. Yet such therapeutic approaches may be traumatizing for both client and counselor, and seem to be somewhat limited in affecting change in the numerous areas of concern of many survivors. Strength-based wellness counseling interventions may help survivors develop coping skills to enhance both overall quality of life and everyday functioning across multiple domains, while also providing a healthy foundation from which to explore and reframe their abuse experiences. A case example demonstrates this approach.
A Suicide Crisis Intervention Model with 25 Practical Strategies for Implementation
Authors: Granello Darcy Haag
Published: May 2015

Suicidal clients are a difficult and challenging population in counseling. This article contains 25 practical, hands-on strategies for mental health counselors to assist in their interactions with suicidal clients. The strategies are situated within a seven-step model for crisis intervention that is specifically tailored to suicidal clients.
Differential Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder from Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Hatchett Gregory T.
Published: May 2015

Many psychiatrists have reconceptualized borderline personality disorder (BPD) as a variant of bipolar disorder and, consistent with the treatment of bipolar disorder, emphasize the use of mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics in treatment. This change in diagnostic practice is unfortunate. BPD is a distinct diagnostic construct, and clients who fit this pattern require a fundamentally different treatment approach than what is typically recommended for bipolar disorder. The purpose of this article is to update counselors on the expansion of bipolar disorder in the psychiatric literature, present evidence for the validity of BPD, discuss strategies for the differential diagnosis of it from bipolar disorder, review proposed changes in DSM-V, and integrate the literature into a mental health counseling framework.
Helping Bereaved Children and Adolescents: Strategies and Implications for Counselors
Authors: Morgan James P. , Roberts Jesse E.
Published: May 2015

This article provides an overview of how loss affects young people of different ages and describes methods for helping bereaved children and adolescents. Case examples demonstrate the use of drawings to elucidate the inner experiences of young people who are grieving and to facilitate the counseling process. A format for a bereavement support group is detailed, and guidelines are provided for the use of bibliotherapy. Cultural, ethical, and counselor competency issues are also considered. The importance of counselors' awareness of the impact of their own loss experiences is also discussed.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: A National Survey of Counselor Educators
Authors: Cannon Edward , Cooper Joseph
Published: May 2015

This study reflects a national survey of 295 CACREP counselor educators regarding their understanding of and support for the 2009 CACREP standards revision. It also assessed respondents' opinions about the proposed number of program credits (48, 60, other) and internship hours (600, 900, other) based upon whether the community counseling and mental health counseling specialty tracks merge or remain separate. Results indicate a difference in opinions about the curricular changes that reflects a historic and continuing tension around counselor identity issues.
Women Breast Cancer Survivors: Stories of Change and Meaning
Authors: Sadler-Gerhardt Claudia J. , Reynolds Cynthia A. , Britton Paula J. , Kruse Sharon D.
Published: May 2015

Breast cancer research has addressed prevention, early treatment, and quality of life, but research from the perspective of survivors has been limited. This is a qualitative investigation of the experience of eight women breast cancer survivors, ranging in age from 28 to 80 at diagnosis, six of whom were Caucasian and two African American. The research consisted of a phenomenological and case study examination of change and meaning-making during their experience. The findings support a posttraumatic growth model of change as part of survivorship for the participants, as well as the presence of negative changes and a state of new normal in their lives. Recommendations are made for mental health counseling and for future research.
Features of Psychopathology in Self-Injuring Female College Students
Authors: Kerr Patrick L. , Muehlenkamp Jennifer J.
Published: May 2015

Although research on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is accumulating, there is as yet little data on psychopathological features associated with NSSI in nonclinical samples. College students may be particularly susceptible to engaging in NSSI and NSSI may be phenomenologically and etiologically different for males and females. This archival study examined differences between college student women with (n = 34) and without (n = 32) a history of NSSI in scores on the clinical scales and subscales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Multivariate analyses revealed significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, borderline personality features, suicidality, and certain psychotic features in self-injurers. Follow-up analysis identified four symptom themes associated with NSSI across diagnostic categories: emotional distress, physiological distress, cognitive distortion, and interpersonal difficulties. This study confirms previous findings of higher levels of affective symptoms in self-injurers. Unique findings of this study included significantly higher scores for self-injurers on the PAI Thought Disorder, Psychotic Experiences, and Hypervigilance subscales. This suggests a need to expand the conceptualization of the clinical correlates of NSSI to encompass a broader array of symptomatology. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
The Relationship Between Acculturation and Mental Health of Arab Americans
Authors: Aprahamian Mireille , Kaplan David M. , Windham Amy M. , Sutter Judith A. , Visser Jan
Published: May 2015

This study investigated the relationship between mental health and the degree of acculturation among Arab Americans. Subjects were adults of Arab or Chaldean descent who took part in the 2003 Detroit Arab American Study (DAAS). Data from 1,016 Arab American families revealed that the relationship between acculturation and mental health is complex and influenced by a number of other variables. There was significant evidence that besides demographic variables, factors like religion, discrimination experiences, and age at migration are also related to the mental health of Arab Americans. However, acculturation was not found to be as significant in the current study. Implications for mental health counselors who work with Arab Americans and researchers who study this population are presented.
E-mail Communication: Issues for Mental Health Counselors
Authors: Bradley Loretta J. , Hendricks Bret , Lock Robin , Whiting Peggy P. , Parr Gerald
Published: May 2015

In an era where fast, efficient communication is needed, e-mail has emerged. From its beginning in 1971, professionals have used e-mail to communicate—lawyers, counselors, psychologists, and social workers with clients; nurses and physicians with patients. But despite its advantages, e-mail can cause problems. This article discusses both the positive use of electronic communication and the need to address fundamental counseling issues that arise in using it. The article reflects the AMHCA and ACA ethical codes for the use of technology in the counseling relationship. It also looks at e-mail communication between counselor and client with special attention to challenges of which counselors should be aware.
Promoting the Adjustment of Parentally Bereaved Children
Authors: Howarth Robyn A.
Published: May 2015

The death of a parent is one of the most stressful life events to encounter during childhood. Given its detrimental impact on psychological development, a better understanding of outcomes associated with childhood bereavement and factors that affect these outcomes is necessary. The adjustment of bereaved children is linked to such factors as age of the child, sex of child and parent, circumstances of parent death, and the adjustment of the surviving caregiver. In this article I highlight considerations that may increase children’s positive adjustment to parental death and also discuss specific treatment recommendations.
Bereavement Among African Americans and Latino/a Americans
Authors: Schoulte Joleen C.
Published: May 2015

Mourning is the term for the culturally-informed practices through which grief is expressed. Although grief is a universal human experience, mourning varies greatly by culture and ethnic group. In this article, I examine bereavement and mourning in African American and Latino/a American groups. I also discuss broader cultural issues related to assessment and intervention.
Best Practices in Counseling Grief and Loss: Finding Benefit from Trauma
Authors: Altmaier Elizabeth M.
Published: May 2015

Grief may be a primary presenting concern of clients or may form a background to another presenting concern. In either case, use of best practices in assessing and treating grief is essential. In this article I review what best practices are in general and in assessment and treatment. I also evaluate ways to measure grief and describe domains of the grief experience. The article also discusses controversies within the literature on grief counseling, including the potential for deterioration after treatment. It concludes with a view of counseling grief that promotes finding benefit from trauma.
Sexuality of Women with Young Children: A Feminist Model of Mental Health Counseling
Authors: Trice-Black Shannon , Foster Victoria A.
Published: May 2015

Although postpartum recovery and women’s sexual behavior have received significant attention, little is known about the experiences of mothers with young children. Socially constructed images of mothers often depict them both as rebounding with sexual enthusiasm and sensuality and as devoted primary caregivers, while also holding a job. This fantasy breadwinner/homemaker model denies the challenges many mothers of young children face in struggling to reclaim their sexual selves. Such constructions are incongruent with the realities of motherhood and the psychological challenges women face to reassemble sexual identity, self-image, and sexual scripts. This article presents a feminist model of mental health counseling that offers women affirmation, encouragement, and support as they explore their identities as sexual women and as mothers.
Examining Distress of Parents of Children With and Without Special Needs
Authors: Daire Andrew P. , Munyon Matthew D. , Carlson Ryan G. , Kimemia Muthoni , Mitcham Michelle
Published: May 2015

This study was designed to examine differences between parents of children with special needs and parents of children without special needs in levels of distress and community resource engagement. There were 29 participants. No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to individual and marital distress, but parents of children with special needs had significantly more engagement with community resources. When analyzing parent total visits (PTV) and child total visits (CTV), the CTV for parents of children with special needs averaged just over 50 visits for a six-month period compared to 0.29 for the comparison group. Implications for practice, such as use of transdisciplinary teams, and for future research are discussed.
Substance Use, Misuse, and Abuse Among Older Adults: Implications for Clinical Mental Health Counselors
Authors: Briggs Wanda P. , Magnus Virginia A. , Lassiter Pam , Patterson Amanda , Smith Lydia
Published: May 2015

Researchers project a threefold increase in substance abuse, inclusive of alcohol, prescription, and illicit drugs, for adults aged 50 or older by 2020, when an estimated 5 million older adults will need treatment for substance abuse problems (Gfroerer, Penne, Pemberton, & Folsom, 2003). This suggests a need for heightened awareness among clinical mental health counselors as they treat this population. This article (a) discusses the prevalence, vulnerabilities, and consequences of misuse and abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit substances; (b) reviews age-specific counseling considerations and approaches to assessment, diagnosis, and intervention; and (c) calls for more attention to the subject in training and research.
Ethnic Minority-Majority Status and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Perceived Discrimination
Authors: Cokley Kevin , Hall-Clark Brittany , Hicks Dana
Published: May 2015

This study examines the role of perceived discrimination as a mediator of the relationship between ethnic minority-majority status and mental health in a sample of college students, of whom 246 were members of an ethnic minority (African American, Latino American, or Asian American) and 167 were European Americans. Ethnic minority students were significantly higher in perceived discrimination and significantly lower in mental health. African Americans were most likely to perceive racial discrimination, followed by Latino Americans, Asian Americans, and European Americans. Asian Americans reported the poorest mental health. Results of mediational analyses by ethnic status (minorities and majority) and across ethnic group pairings (Americans and European Americans, Latino Americans and European Americans, Asian Americans and European Americans) confirmed in every instance that perceived discrimination accounts for a modest part of the relationship between ethnic minority-majority status and mental health. We address the implications for mental health practice on college campuses.
Enhancing Attitudes and Reducing Fears about Mental Health Counseling: An Analogue Study
Authors: Ægisdóttir Stefanía , O’Heron Michael P. , Hartong Joel M. , Haynes Sarah A. , Linville Miranda K.
Published: May 2015

This study examined the effects on 330 college students of addressing and validating negative client attitudes and fears associated with seeking counseling at a university counseling center, and client willingness to engage in counseling past the first session. Results suggest that addressing fears and negative beliefs about counseling during an intake interview influenced male students who had not previously sought counseling. Their image concerns were reduced and their tolerance for stigma associated with seeking counseling increased. Suggestions about how to address negative attitudes and fears about counseling are provided.
The Role of Psychopharmacology in Mental Health: A Response to Kaut (2011)
Authors: Murray Thomas L.
Published: May 2015

This article replies to comments made in the July 2011 issue of this journal on the author’s original article (Murray, 2009). Kaut (2011) encourages mental health counselors to consider biological reductionism as the preferred lens through which to understand both psychological and emotional symptoms and the high prevalence and superior efficacy of psychopharmaceuticals. His position stands in stark contrast to what I espoused in 2009, when I drew parallels between the methods of the psychopharmaceutical industrial complex and those used in cult indoctrination. While Kaut focuses on biological reductionism and the legitimacy of pharmacological intervention, I propose that mental health counselors have an ethical mandate to confront the oppressive effects of dominant social narratives associated with the psychiatric disease model and move toward a more socially just understanding of the role of psychopharmacology.
Searching for a Good Night’s Sleep: What Mental Health Counselors Can Do About the Epidemic of Poor Sleep
Authors: Puterbaugh Dolores T.
Published: May 2015

Sleep problems are epidemic in the United States. Many adults complain of poor sleep yet engage in behaviors that are counterproductive to sleep. This article briefly reviews recent research on the treatment of insomnia and discusses application of mental health counseling strategies for treatment. Case studies illustrate the application of current research within counselor areas of expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral counseling.
Counseling Adolescents Who Engage in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Dialectical Behavior Therapy Approach
Authors: Choate Laura H.
Published: May 2015

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), the direct and intentional destruction of one's own body tissue in the absence of any intent to die, is becoming an alarmingly common behavior in adolescents of both sexes and across all racial and ethnic groups. The purpose of this article is to (a) provide a model for conceptualizing the onset and maintenance of this behavior, and (b) describe how a dialectical behavior therapy treatment approach can be applied to working with adolescents who engage in NSSI.
Working with Forced Migrants: Therapeutic Issues and Considerations for Mental Health Counselors
Authors: Akinsulure-Smith Adeyinka M. , O'Hara Maile
Published: May 2015

The number of forced migrants arriving in the United States continues to increase. To provide effective therapeutic services and interventions for them, it is important for clinicians to understand the unique role that mental health professionals can play in improving the mental health of this diverse population. This article draws attention to the mental health needs of forced migrants and highlights considerations, such as medical, social, legal, cultural, and linguistic factors, that providing services to this population may entail. It also suggests ways in which counselors can actively, competently, and ethically address the social justice issues that impact forced migrants.
Minimizing Social Contagion in Adolescents Who Self-Injure: Considerations for Group Work, Residential Treatment, and the Internet
Authors: Richardson Brent G. , Surmitis Kendra A. , Hyldahl Rebecca S.
Published: May 2015

Social contagion among adolescents is a growing concern as the numbers of youth who self-injure increases. Mental health counselors face challenges in treating self-injurers in settings that are prone to social contagion. This article describes social contagion as one factor motivating self-harm in group settings, residential facilities, and audiences for social and electronic media. It reviews possible benefits and pitfalls of self-injury treatment in these environments and presents approaches to minimize social contagion. Responses to self-injury and social contagion are explored.
The Essence of Hope in Domestic Violence Support Work: A Hermeneutic-Phenomenological Inquiry
Authors: Crain Maggie , Koehn Corinne
Published: May 2015

This study explored the lived experience of hope for domestic violence support workers. A hermeneutic-phenomenological approach was used to collect and analyze the experiences of six professional women, aged 37 through 69. Four themes, each with subthemes, emerged from the findings: Hope is visceral reveals the phenomenology of hope as experienced through bodily sensations, reactions, and emotions. Hope is contextual describes how experiences of hope are enhanced by personal perspectives and social environments. Hope is mutual reveals how interactions with other people inspire hope. Hope is a journey illustrates how hope evolves over the years to reveal new understandings of what it means to live hopefully. The article discusses implications for counseling, counselor education, and service provider organizations and presents suggestions for future research.
Executive Functioning as a Component of Suicide Risk Assessment: Clarifying its Role in Standard Clinical Applications
Authors: Homaifar Beeta Y. , Bahraini Nazanin , Silverman Morton M. , Brenner Lisa A.
Published: May 2015

Clinically, because executive dysfunction (e.g., impulsivity, insight, thinking process) is often thought of in the context of those with traumatic brain injuries and other neurologic conditions, its formal assessment has historically been seen as the domain of those who assess and treat patients with neurologic disease. However, mental health counselors (MHCs) could benefit from learning how executive functioning relates to suicide risk assessment and coping strategies. Assessment of executive functions can be incorporated in routine clinical practice without the need for formal neuropsychological measures or other time-consuming procedures. In fact, during standard clinical assessment, mental health professionals often informally assess components of executive functioning such as impulsivity, insight, and thinking processes. This article highlights aspects of executive functioning with which MHCs may already be familiar and demonstrates their clinical utility in enhancing assessment and management of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors.
Mindfulness Competencies for Counselors and Psychotherapists
Authors: Stauffer Mark D. , Pehrsson Dale-Elizabeth
Published: May 2015

This article examines the results of a survey about mindfulness competencies in the area of counseling and psychotherapy; it specifically addresses competencies needed for training clients in the use of mindfulness methods. The study investigated whether experts on mindfulness (N = 52) agreed with a proposed set of 16 competency statements. It also asked about recommended levels of personal mindfulness practice for those new to the specialty. In general, participants agreed on the proposed 16 competencies. Here we offer recommendations about mindfulness practice for counselor preparation, cultural competency, continuing education, and clinical applications, and suggest questions for future research.
The Use of Mindfulness in Trauma Counseling
Authors: Goodman Rachael D. , Calderon Angela M.
Published: May 2015

Although there is increasing support for the use of mindfulness-based interventions in counseling, there has been little discussion of its use in trauma counseling. We explore the use of mindfulness interventions within trauma counseling, with particular attention to how mindfulness can address the neuropsychological aspects of trauma. A case example explicates the application of mindfulness in trauma counseling. Implications for counseling practice and counselor training and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Teaching Mindfulness to Create Effective Counselors
Authors: Campbell Jennifer Chrisman , Christopher John Chambers
Published: May 2015

Over the last decade a number of researchers have proposed that therapeutic presence can be fostered through training in mindfulness practices. Most counseling training programs focus on teaching students a set of skills, although the common or contextual factors movement contends that the quality of the therapeutic relationship and the personal characteristics of the therapist are the key determinants of positive therapy outcomes. For the past 10 years we have been teaching mindfulness practices to counseling students in a CACREP-accredited program. Our research suggests that training in practices like mindfulness meditation, yoga, qigong, and body-awareness can help counselors to realize and embody the personal characteristics that foster therapeutic presence. This article provides a detailed description of our mindfulness-based course, proposes recommendations for counseling coursework in mindfulness, and discusses the impact of the course on the ability to cultivate therapeutic presence.
Mindfulness Based Approaches to Obesity and Weight Loss Maintenance
Authors: Caldwell Karen L. , Baime Michael J. , Wolever Ruth Q.
Published: May 2015

Counselors may encounter clients who wish to make such lifestyle changes as healthy eating and weight management. Mindfulness, defined here as the practice of nonjudgmentally attending to the present moment while monitoring reactivity, has been adapted for use in treating many self-regulation disorders; mindfulness-based eating approaches support intuitive or attuned eating, an approach to weight management that helps individuals recognize internal cues in support of enhanced self-regulation. One program for developing mindfulness skills in individuals who want to maintain weight loss is the Enhancing Mindfulness for the Prevention of Weight Regain (EMPOWER) Program. Participants report changes in eating behavior, thinking patterns, emotional reactions, and physical activity and increased acceptance of personal responsibility for making choices, planning, asserting needs, and accomplishing personal goals. The article reviews key mindfulness skills for clinical practice.
A Model of Professional Identity Expression for Mental Health Counselors
Authors: Burkholder David
Published: May 2015

Because professional identity is one of the most controversial and confusing issues within counseling, it is often studied and discussed. Yet there are no studies examining how professional identity is actually expressed. Because the topic is theoretical and sometimes abstract, counseling students in particular may struggle to understand how to express professional identity. This article fuses ideas expressed by Boyer (1990) in Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate and the concept of practical intentionality into a theory-grounded model to help counselors to conceptualize, contextualize, and express their professional identity through application, discovery, teaching, and integration.
How Gratitude Relates to Burnout and Job Satisfaction in Mental Health Professionals
Authors: Lanham Michelle E. , Rye Mark S. , Rimsky Liza S. , Weill Sydney R.
Published: May 2015

This study investigated how gratitude relates to burnout and job satisfaction in mental health professionals. Sixty-five mental health professionals (counselors, case managers, clinical administrators/supervisors, employment/housing specialists, social workers, psychologists) completed questionnaires assessing demographics, job context variables, hope, gratitude, burnout, and job satisfaction. Consistent with hypotheses, workplace-specific gratitude predicted emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and job satisfaction after controlling for demographic/job contextual variables, hope, and dispositional gratitude. In addition, dispositional gratitude predicted personal accomplishment after controlling for demographic/job contextual variables but not after controlling for hope. Implications for counselors and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Effective Clinical Supervision in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs and Counselor Job Performance
Authors: Laschober Tanja C. , de Tormes Eby Lillian Turner , Sauer Julia B.
Published: May 2015

When mental health counselors have inadequate training in substance use disorders (SUDs), effective clinical supervision (ECS) may advance their professional development. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ECS is related to the job performance of SUD counselors. Data were obtained in person via paper-and-pencil surveys from 392 matched SUD counselor-clinical supervisor dyads working in 27 SUD treatment organizations across the United States. Counselors rated ECS on five multi-item scales (sponsoring counselors’ careers, providing challenging assignments, role modeling, accepting/confirming counselors’ competence, and overall supervisor task proficiency). Clinical supervisors rated counselor job performance on two multi-item scales (task performance and performance within the supervisory relationship). Using mixed-effects models, we found that most aspects of ECS are related to SUD counselor job performance. Thus, ECS may indeed enhance counselor performance on tasks and within the supervisory relationship, which may offset limited formal SUD training.
Older Adults and Sexuality: Implications for Counseling Ethnic and Sexual Minority Clients
Authors: Muzacz Arien K. , Akinsulure-Smith Adeyinka M.
Published: May 2015

The literature on older adults and sexuality suggests that culturally sensitive counseling may give older adults an opportunity to express sexual concerns and promote healthier attitudes toward sexuality. Guidelines for counseling older adults who self-identify with ethnic minority groups or as gay, lesbian, or bisexual are given, with recommendations for training, practice, and research.
Stress, Spiritual Coping, and Bulimia: Feeling Punished by God/Higher Power
Authors: Buser Juleen K.
Published: May 2015

This study investigated the relationship between stress, spiritual coping, and bulimic symptoms in college students (N = 605). Participants who felt punished by God/Higher Power during difficult times reported more symptoms. This spiritual coping strategy also partly mediated the link between stress and bulimic symptoms; the link was partly explained by a coping style that involved beliefs about punishment by God/Higher Power. These findings have implications for mental health counseling in terms of addressing spiritual coping strategies with clients who identify as having faith beliefs and who struggle with bulimic symptoms.
Text Messaging and Private Practice: Ethical Challenges and Guidelines for Developing Personal Best Practices
Authors: Sude Michael E.
Published: May 2015

The impact of technology on mental health practice is currently a concern in the counseling literature, and several articles have discussed using different types of technology in practice. In particular, many private practitioners use a cell phone for business. However, no article has discussed ethical concerns and best practices for the use of short message service (SMS), better known as text messaging (TM). Ethical issues that arise with TM relate to confidentiality, documentation, counselor competence, appropriateness of use, and misinterpretation. There are also such boundary issues to consider as multiple relationships, counselor availability, and billing. This article addresses ethical concerns for mental health counselors who use TM in private practice. It reviews the literature and discusses benefits, ethical concerns, and guidelines for office policies and personal best practices.
Shared Trauma in Counseling: Information and Implications for Counselors
Authors: Bell Chastity , Robinson Edward
Published: May 2015

A trauma is shared when both counselor and client experience the same traumatic event simultaneously. Disasters often cause mass trauma, affecting counselors both personally and professionally. The purpose of this article is to (a) discuss conceptualizations of shared trauma, and offer a comprehensive definition; (b) educate counselors on the effects of shared trauma; and (c) discuss the implications of shared trauma and strategies for its treatment.
Smart Phone Applications in Clinical Practice
Authors: Epstein Joel , Bequette Amanda
Published: May 2015

Smart phone usage has greatly increased in recent years. Not only has the computing power of these mobile devices dramatically improved but so has the variety of functions they can accomplish—an amazing array of tasks that once would have been considered remarkable. Historically, mental health professionals have been quick to embrace smart phone technology and there are now literally hundreds of applications for practitioners and clients alike. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using smart phone technology in clinical practice and considers the implications for the future of clinical practice.
Recovering Identity: A Qualitative Investigation of a Survivor of Dissociative Identity Disorder
Authors: Fox Jesse , Bell Hope , Jacobson Lamerial , Hundley Gulnora
Published: May 2015

This qualitative study investigated the subjective experience of a female survivor of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The study utilized the narrative method, interviewing the participant three separate times. Each semi-structured interview reconstructed a particular time in the participant's life (past, present, and future) as it related to the disorder. Three themes emerged from the participant's experiences with DID: (a) therapeutic outcomes, (b) chronology of DID, and (c) misperceptions of DID.
Monitoring Alliance and Outcome with Client Feedback Measures
Authors: Shaw Sidney L. , Murray Kirsten W.
Published: May 2015

The therapeutic alliance is foundational to counseling practice and has amassed strong empirical support as being essential for successful counseling. Counselors generally rely on their own perspective when assessing the quality of the alliance, though the client's perspective has been found to be a better predictor of outcome. Formal methods for eliciting client feedback about the alliance and counseling outcomes have been strongly supported in the literature, yet such limitations as time constraints hinder counselor efforts to gather formal client feedback. Two ultra-brief measures of alliance and outcome, the Session Rating Scale and the Outcome Rating Scale, are feasible methods for counselors to secure client feedback. This article reviews the two measures and makes a case for using empirical means to understand adult clients' views of the therapeutic alliance.
Personal and Contextual Predictors of Mental Health Counselors' Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
Authors: Thompson Isabel A. , Amatea Ellen S. , Thompson Eric S.
Published: May 2015

This study applied transactional stress and coping theory to explore the contributions of counselor gender, years of experience, perceived working conditions, personal resources of mindfulness, use of coping strategy, and compassion satisfaction to predict compassion fatigue and burnout in a national sample of 213 mental health counselors. Multiple regression analyses revealed that in this sample while perceived working conditions, mindfulness, use of coping strategy, and compassion satisfaction accounted for only 31.1% of the variance in compassion fatigue, these factors explained 66.9% of the variance in burnout. Counselors who reported less maladaptive coping, higher mindfulness attitudes and compassion satisfaction, and more positive perceptions of their work environment reported less burnout. The utility of these findings in understanding the development of counselor burnout and compassion fatigue are discussed, as are directions for future research.
Lessons Learned from Designing and Leading Multidisciplinary Diabetes Educational Groups
Authors: Glueck Bethany P. , Foreman Brett H.
Published: May 2015

Diabetes is a serious health condition that significantly impacts physical and emotional well-being. Working with primary care providers, clinical mental health counselors have an opportunity to contribute to its efficacious treatments. Researchers and clinicians have suggested a multidisciplinary approach to diabetes care may be useful. To increase knowledge and awareness about the use of collaborative care models for diabetes care, the authors—a licensed professional counselor and a family physician—share lessons learned from their experiences designing and cofacilitating a series of multidisciplinary-led diabetes groups in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The series covered education, support, and self-management techniques related to diabetes care. All 57 participants were asked to complete a program evaluation survey. All 29 participants who did so (100%) reported having a better understanding of diabetes, and 21 (71%) reported applying what they had learned (e.g., increasing exercise and making better nutritional choices). Implications for counselors in practice and research are discussed.
Integrated Health Care Best Practices and Culturally and Linguistically Competent Care: Practitioner Perspectives
Authors: Alvarez Kiara , Marroquin Yesenia A. , Sandoval Luis , Carlson Cindy I.
Published: May 2015

Practitioners in two federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) were interviewed to explore how their organizations carried out best practices in cultural and linguistic competence (CLC) when integrating mental health services into primary care. Archival data and data from interviews with eight clinical service providers were analyzed using exploratory cross-case synthesis. To highlight best practices in integrated health care (IHC), clinical, systemic, and organizational themes were identified: patient-centered care for underserved populations, building and sustaining a successful multidisciplinary team, and increasing capacity and adapting to changing circumstances. CLC did not emerge as a distinct interview theme, though it was present in subthemes and was discussed by both mental health and medical practitioners as central to effective healthcare delivery. The results underscore the need for culturally-tailored research and training that examines how IHC can best serve diverse groups and communities.
Behavioral Health Training Is Good Medicine for Counseling Trainees: Two Curricular Experiences in Interprofessional Collaboration
Authors: Cox Jared , Adams Eve , Loughran Mary Jo
Published: May 2015

Based on training efforts at two universities, this article explores considerations when mental health professionals (MHPs) are trained to work effectively in primary care settings. It first outlines the curriculum of an advanced doctoral level course in health psychology practice. To better refine the experiences of trainees, it then describes a qualitative pilot study of counseling psychology practicum students (N = 4) in a primary care setting. Six themes from the interviews and focus groups are identified: mental health culture, primary care context, challenging entry, adapting to the primary care context, managing complex cases, and results of the collaborative process. Finally, it provides recommendations for future training and research direction.
Mental Health Services in Primary Care: Implications for Clinical Mental Health Counselors and Other Mental Health Providers
Authors: Hooper Lisa
Published: May 2015

I am pleased to introduce this special issue of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling dedicated to mental health in primary care. Though the idea of incorporating mental health services into primary care is not new, there is a clear need to promote the transportability of counseling theories and culturally sensitive counseling practices to primary care settings. Clinical mental health counselors who are not aware of the importance of fostering meaningful collaborations and consultation with primary care physicians can garner useful information from the articles that appear in this special issue of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling. Knowledge acquired from this special issue about the dearth of quality mental health care for some patients seen in primary care settings may engender innovative solutions, both put forward by clinical mental health counselors and co-created with primary care physicians. I also hope that the articles in this special issue may stimulate future research and produce implications for treatment and services that can be piloted and evaluated for their sustainability, patient-centeredness, and cultural responsiveness to the long-standing clinical issue of ensuring effective mental health services in primary care settings.
Assessment of Malingered Psychosis in Mental Health Counseling
Authors: Richter James G.
Published: May 2015

Malingering is the gross exaggeration or fabrication of physical and psychological symptoms for secondary gain. Though a client’s potential secondary gain may be apparent to the counselor, determining the client’s situational stressors and motivation for that gain complicates definitive detection of malingering. Adopting the adaptational model of malingering in assessment can reframe the deception and misrepresentation as possibly an adaptive way to meet basic needs. Because malingering is a diagnosis of exclusion, it must first entail differential diagnosis with somatoform and factitious disorders. Assessment requires a solid clinical background in understanding malingering response style, target symptoms, psychotic symptom manifestation, and the subsequent differentiation between genuine and malingered psychosis. This article provides practical strategies for detecting feigned psychotic symptoms and briefly surveys psychometric tools counselors can use to detect malingering.
Using Control-Mastery and Jungian Theories to Treat Nightmare Disorder: A Case from Thailand
Authors: Wongpakaran Tinakon , Elsegood Kelly J. , Wongpakaran Nahathai , Wannarit Kamonporn , Promkumtan Pimporn
Published: May 2015

This case example describes the use of Control-Mastery Theory and Jungian dream theory to interpret a Thai woman’s dreams and treat her nightmare disorder. We posit that therapy enabled the client to identify and challenge unconscious beliefs that had been preventing her from pursuing romantic relationships and ultimately life goals. The case illustrates dream interpretation as a psychotherapeutic tool and highlights the importance of considering cultural context to help make sense of a client’s dreams and waking-life beliefs, feelings, and behaviors. The quality and rigor of the case example were enhanced by the use of the Messer (2007) Pragmatic Case method.
International Student Sociocultural Adaptation: Gossip and Place Attachment Contributions
Authors: Lee Ji-yeon , Pistole M.
Published: May 2015

This correlational study at a Midwestern university used hierarchical regression, with a primarily Asian international student sample (N = 293), to examine gossip functions, the tendency to gossip, and place attachment as contributing uniquely to international student sociocultural adaptation. The tendency to gossip and place identity attachment were found to contribute positively to the sociocultural adaptation of international students (ISs), and the influence gossip function and place dependence attachment contributed negatively. Because the study focused on gossip as a cultural learning mechanism, the findings may be relevant to future research and mental health counseling services that facilitate immigrant and IS sociocultural adaptation.
Integrating Interprofessional Education and Collaboration Competencies (IPEC) into Mental Health Counselor Education
Authors: Johnson Kaprea F. , Freeman Krystal L.
Published: May 2015

In 2009 six health disciplines identified interprofessional education and collaboration competencies (IPEC) to guide cross-discipline clinical and educational practices. This article gives an example of an attempt to integrate IPEC into mental health counselor education through an interprofessional course taught to 111 students of health sciences and counseling. Implications for mental health counselor educators and final conclusions are discussed.
Sharing Knowledge, Building Knowledge: The Journal as a Community of Practice
Authors: Ponton Richard F.
Published: May 2015

Communities of practice have long been recognized as a vehicle for building and sharing knowledge and skills. With advances in technology, communities of practice are not limited by geographic proximity but now extend globally. This article describes how the Journal of Mental Health Counseling is a community of practice and suggests new uses of technology to enhance its impact on the mental health counseling profession.
More Than a Vacation: Exploring the Impact of Reentry for International Sojourners
Authors: Kostohryz Katie , Wells Pamela C. , Wathen Cristen C. , Wilson David
Published: May 2015

As our population becomes increasingly internationalized in today’s global society, a need emerges for awareness, research, and support for the mental health needs of clients who have returned from sojourns abroad. This article describes how mental health counselors can become more aware of the reentry experience. It also explores such factors as expectations, transition, advocacy, and grief and loss. It diminishes the perception of sojourning as simply a vacation and discusses adjustments clients often have to make upon returning home. The article offers recommendations for working with clients who are finding reentry difficult, explores implications for the mental health counseling profession, and offers ideas for future research.