Earlier this year, a 12-year-old boy in Florida beat a 17-month-old girl to death with a wooden baseball bat because she was crying while he was watching television. Last month, national news outlets repeatedly played segments of a videotape in which a group of girls — ages 14 to 17
Month: May 2008
The curtain rises and the houselights dim. A shy and anxious young woman sits bathed in a spotlight as she wails her confession: “I’ve got problems! I’ve got problems!” Other actors appear around her and gleefully shout out their reply: “We’ve got them too! Welcome to the group!” Welcome, also,
Michael Firch spends a lot of time in the halls of Milford (Del.) Middle School and its busy cafeteria chatting with students, gathering information and spotting problems. One thing the veteran school counselor quickly notices amid the confusion, clamor and camaraderie is the student who doesn’t fit in — the
Each month, I share with you some thoughts, update you on what the American Counseling Association is doing and, sometimes, offer some personal reflections. This month, I am asking for a favor. In some respects, I think ACA is one of the “best kept” secrets from those who could stand
There are hundreds of theories and approaches to counseling and psychotherapy documented in the professional literature. Counselors often ask, “What theory works best? What approach will best meet the needs of my clients?” Along with my students, supervisees and colleagues, I often struggle to make sense of this reality. Like
Professional counselors sometimes question whether their efforts are having an impact. While some see results quickly, others wonder if they are making a difference. If you look at our society in its current state, I think a lack of professional counseling services and counselor education would have resulted in many