Prologue: Your feedback needed! The Technology Tutor column has returned and will be published more often (bimonthly instead of quarterly). With more opportunities to bring you information about technology use in counseling, I want to know what you want to read about. In the past we’ve covered practice management systems,
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G roup counseling was known to be a beneficial method of treatment for substance abuse even prior to the 1935 founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, but it wasn’t until after World War II that group therapy became a widely accepted form of treatment. It was used in psychiatric hospitals, outpatient treatments,
Every January, right as the new year begins, we are saturated by commercials for diets, advertisements for exercise machines and stories of people whose lives were transformed upon attaining the elusive goals of slimness and fitness. This message is an undercurrent throughout the entire year, of course; it just becomes
In the 21st century, we have more ways to communicate and get information than ever before. News headlines and celebrity gossip reach millions of people in seconds on Twitter. We share our lives with friends and family on Facebook, post our pictures on Instagram, look for jobs on LinkedIn and
The holidays are supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year,” right? After all, the greeting cards and carols of the season are filled with words like “cheer,” “joy,” “merry” and “happy.” For many people though, the holidays invite the opposite: dread, deep sadness or a resurgence of
When it comes to mental health care, how does your home state rank? The advocacy organization Mental Health America (MHA) recently compiled a state-by-state ranking of mental health indicators nationwide. The 50-page report exposes disparities across the United States, not only in the availability of mental health services but also
Watching a movie — whether at home curled up on the couch or at the theater with a tub of popcorn — is a great way to relax and check out from reality for two hours. Movies can also be a hit-the-nail-on-the-head portrayal of life, including mental health struggles and
Last month, I asked ACA members to enter a drawing by sharing their thoughts on the following question: What do you find most meaningful as a professional counselor or counselor educator? I thank all of you who chose to respond. The answers I received were from a cross section of our
Meeting with emerging leaders of the American Counseling Association is one of the most rewarding experiences for any ACA president. I have had the opportunity on several occasions to meet with emerging leaders, including at the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, in October. The
After three sessions with “Alicia,” a 45-year-old African American woman who was the victim of acquaintance rape, the treatment goals centered on addressing her symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The perpetrator of the rape had been a member of Alicia’s church. Although Alicia had subsequently stopped attending worship, the