Kyle hears the drone of the elevator music playing behind the bland voice that states, “All calls are important to us. Thank you for your patience. A customer service representative will be with you in just a moment.” Kyle knows the message well because he has been on hold for
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Actors, dancers, musicians and other performers are vulnerable to a variety of challenges and clinical issues that are unique to those who choose to make their living using their creative talents and skills. Although artists are people just like the rest of our clients, I believe it is important for
A lot has been written about domestic violence, the cycles that keep people in violent relationships and how to get out of them. The commentary focuses on the role of substance abuse, the role of personality disorders and a cycle of conflict that ends with the exchange of a “never
Take a moment to imagine the following scene, with you as the protagonist: A few days ago, you woke, went for a run, had breakfast and headed to work, where you attended a committee meeting. The next thing you remember is lying in a hospital bed and being told that
Catherine Beckett, an American Counseling Association member with a private practice in Portland, Oregon, has made it a habit to avoid using “must” phrases with clients. “It sends a message to the client about what they’ve experienced,” says Beckett, who specializes in grief counseling. “I don’t ever want to say,
The cover story for this issue of Counseling Today is an important one. We rarely enjoy stopping to reflect on our vulnerabilities, but in the counseling profession, being aware of our strengths and our vulnerabilities will make us better counselors. The word “burnout” gets used a lot these days. I’ve
I am of the mindset that professional counselors are today’s superheroes. True, you may not be able to fly over tall buildings or single-handedly defeat invading aliens, but those are fantasies that we see in the movies. The work you do is real. It is also impactful, challenging and, hopefully,
“Nothing is hopeless; we must hope for everything.”― Euripides Recently I was invited to provide an afternoon keynote at a conference examining community trauma and human violence. The morning keynote speaker, Reverend Matt Crebbin, gave a compelling presentation about his congregation’s role in helping Newtown, Connecticut rise from the
Fill in the blank: The way to avoid burnout is __________ . Self-care? Professional fulfillment? Spirituality? All of the above? The answer to this question will be different for each person — and most likely involve more than one idea. The question, however, needs to be continually on the minds
Should I tell my partner about my abortion? Fielding questions about sensitive and complicated topics is all in a day’s work for many professional counselors. This question, however, is one that counselors must handle with particular care. Abortion is among an infinite number of scenarios that clients might want to