In March 2010 at the American Counseling Association Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, delegates to the 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling initiative arrived at a consensus definition of counseling: a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals. The
Month: November 2011
A normal day for a professional counselor too often entails focusing on remedial concerns. So many clients suffer from the aftermath of trauma and violence, while severe mental health concerns such as anxiety, co-occurring disorders and chemical dependency — among other mental health disorders — also necessitate in-depth therapeutic treatment. That reality
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder that is typically believed to reveal itself in adulthood, but researchers are now discovering that a fair amount of children and teens have the condition as well. And as researchers begin exploring the roots of this disorder, early treatment of OCD through therapy is
So, this is life. Long, busy workdays and weekends with little rest. A weak economy and constant worry over the prospect of losing a job or even a home. Nonstop technology that never allows us to unplug. Ever-growing pressure on kids (and therefore on parents) to be involved in every
For nearly 60 years, ACA and its members have understood the importance of advocacy — both for our members and for those served by our members. An additional aspect is what I call the “external advocacy” conducted by ACA leaders, members and staff that is directed at those who make
As you have been able to tell if you have been reading my columns, I strongly believe that the future of the counseling profession might be determined to a large degree by the ability of our national organization (the American Counseling Association) and each state counseling organization (branches) to present a
With nearly 20 percent of American children classified as obese, obesity is a growing epidemic that is sweeping the country. And, as our children’s waistlines continue expand, Yale Professor Kelly Brownwell writes on TheAtlantic.com: “Today’s children will be the first generation in the history of the country to lead shorter
In an ideal world, “work life” would remain at work, “home life” would remain at home, and neither would affect the other. There would never be a late night at the office and a missed meal with the family due to a deadline nor a late arrival to work because of
Partisan differences within Congress on education spending and policy are coming to a head. Appropriations committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have drafted competing education spending proposals for federal Fiscal Year 2012, and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) plans to take