Mateo (not his real name) sat on the floor in my office playroom. Each week in therapy, he routinely played with a small plastic doll and every time, without fail, he placed objects in the doll’s mouth. This day, however, he did something more aggressive. His eyes wide and his
Category: Counseling Today
Lori Russell-Chapin was a quarter of the way through her scheduled 40 sessions of therapy with a 22-year-old college graduate with Asperger’s syndrome whose social shortcomings — understanding cues, relating with others — were hampering his relationship with his girlfriend and his parents. As Russell-Chapin has done with hundreds of
As we move the discipline of counseling into a season of stability, increased professionalism and sustainability, we must place greater emphasis on research in counseling. There are four primary reasons for this impetus. First, by prioritizing counseling research, we move forward as a discipline to our next developmental step — from
The demographic profile of the United States is undergoing rapid transformation as a result of factors such as immigration and the fertility/mortality rates among the various population groups. According to the 2008 Pew Research Center actuarial projections, the percentage of the White population will decline from approximately 67 percent to
Working with children who have been sexually abused has taught me many things. While some children progress very quickly, I have learned to have patience with the children whose recovery comes more slowly. I’ve learned to be careful in taking notes, how to spot parents or guardians who are trying
Being aware of one’s theoretical orientation is vital to any counselor’s good practice in working with clients.
The NBCC Foundation (NBCCF) recently selected the recipients of its 2013 Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) scholarships. Scholarship recipients will receive $5,000 to support their counseling education and recognize their commitment to providing career counseling and guidance. The goal of the GCDF scholarship program is to increase the number of
Mehmet Akkurt’s overriding goal is to advance the profession of counseling in his home country of Turkey. Eventually, he also hopes to serve as a bridge between Turkish and American counselors and counseling techniques because he believes there are “great opportunities for mutual learning.” Akkurt, a member of the American
I knew that this month’s column would be both difficult and easy to write. Easy because the content came to mind quickly; difficult because I dreaded the task. Writing this column would mean that a chapter of my life had ended. As the publisher of Counseling Today and your CEO, I appreciate
Among the changes found in the recently released f ifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is the addition of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. During the two-week span between ovulation and the first day of their period, women with PMDD typically feel symptoms which include