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# Counseling Today Archive

Archive

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/blog/)
- [The mental health needs of older caregivers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/the-mental-health-needs-of-older-caregivers/) - Caregiving is challenging at any age, but older adults who find themselves in this role face unique stressors that can affect their own well-being.
- [Have you gone gray?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/06/have-you-gone-gray/) - The United States is going through a rapid demographic shift unlike anything it has ever experienced. Approximately 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day. Meanwhile, the average life span in the United States has increased to approximately 81 years for women and 76 years for men, with a significant number of people living well beyond
- [Thriving in times of crisis](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/thriving-in-times-of-crisis/) - I am now reaching the age when people assume that I have achieved a certain amount of wisdom. I admit that I usually enjoy playing the role of the sage as a professor, but at times it definitely has its downside. For example, a new faculty member once said to me, “Hey, Lennie, you’re the
- [It’s not about ‘clean’: Dismantling the language of HIV stigma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/its-not-about-clean-dismantling-the-language-of-hiv-stigma/) - Words matter. The language we use when discussing sensitive, controversial or stigmatized topics reflects and shapes our attitudes and beliefs about those topics. Such is the case with HIV and AIDS. Since being widely identified in the 1980s, HIV and AIDS have been perceived negatively by the general public, resulting in the pervasive use of
- [Nonprofit News: Self-care for caregivers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/nonprofit-news-self-care-for-caregivers/) - The field of counseling is one that offers great rewards. We get to see people go from their worst to their best. We get to be a part of the change that our clients are seeking. Even so, the hours and hours we spend listening to the pain of others can take its toll. That
- [ACA participates in White Ribbon Day in Congress](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/aca-participates-in-white-ribbon-day-in-congress/) - ACA partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to support the White Ribbon VA campaign, an initiative that calls for the end of sexual harassment, sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
- [Counseling Today’s 15 most-read articles of 2023](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/counseling-todays-15-most-read-articles-of-2023/) - Some of our most-read stories in 2023.
- [An integral model for using empathy in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/an-integral-model-for-using-empathy-in-counseling/) - Counselors understand the importance of empathy, but they sometimes find it challenging to fully integrate into practice.
- [The balance of innovation and ethics with artificial intelligence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/the-balance-of-innovation-and-ethics-with-artificial-intelligence/) - Artificial intelligence is here to stay, but issues around regulation and ethical use of it remain unclear.
- [Advocacy Update: Your vote is your voice ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/advocacy-update-your-vote-is-your-voice/) - Election Day 2024 is less than a year away, so now is the time to learn about and act on issues that matter to you and the counseling profession.
- [The benefits and challenges of grieving online](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/the-benefits-and-challenges-of-grieving-online/) - As technology continues to change the way people grieve, counselors need to be prepared to help clients navigate how they express their grief online in safe and healthy ways.
- [How to manage sexualized transference](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/how-to-manage-sexualized-transference/) - Stigma, fear and a lack of training cause many counselors to feel unprepared and vulnerable when faced with sexualized transference.
- [From the President: Recent decisions regarding ACA’s governance and leadership ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/12/from-the-president-recent-decisions-regarding-acas-governance-and-leadership/) - ACA President Edil Torres Rivera provides an update on ACA leadership and the recent decision to reorganize the Governing Council.
- [Addressing problematic internet use with youth and families](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/11/addressing-problematic-internet-use-with-youth-and-families/) - In an ever-increasing digital world, counselors can help families develop healthy guidelines on internet use that consider each child’s developmental needs.
- [Helping clients navigate religious trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/11/helping-clients-navigate-religious-trauma/) - Religious and spiritual experiences are not always positive; sometimes, they cause emotional harm that affects a client’s identity, belief and sense of safety.
- [Advocacy Update: Looking ahead to the 2024 elections](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/11/advocacy-update-looking-ahead-to-the-2024-elections/) - Counselors have a stake in the policies and decisions that affect their profession, clients and communities.
- [Coping with the stress and uncertainty of chronic health conditions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/11/coping-with-the-stress-and-uncertainty-of-chronic-health-conditions/) - People with chronic health conditions often face uncertainty and psychological distress, which is why validation and emotional regulation are crucial in helping clients learn to cope and live productive lives.
- [Behind The Book: Q&A with the authors of Interactive Group Work (second edition) ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/11/behind-the-book-qa-with-the-authors-of-interactive-group-work-second-edition/) - The co-authors of the second edition of Interactive Group Work discuss the benefits and challenges of group work and what it takes to be an effective group leader.
- [From the President: Recovering historical memory](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/11/from-the-president-recovering-historical-memory/) - "Professional counselors ... seek to empower individuals and communities to challenge and transform the systems and structures perpetuating violence and inequality."
- [Treating clients with long COVID](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/11/treating-clients-with-long-covid/) - We still don’t know the long-term effects of living with long COVID, but counselors can help people learn to manage the emotional toll that comes with living with this chronic condition.
- [3 Takeaways from the 2023 ACA Professional Practice Summit ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/3-takeaways-from-the-2023-aca-professional-practice-summit/) - There’s still time to register for on-demand content from the 2023 ACAPPS, which covered pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, counselor identity and practice, and clinical supervision.
- [Voice of Experience: A farewell and final reflection ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/voice-of-experience-a-farewell-and-final-reflection/) - For five years, Gregory Moffatt has shared his clinical experiences with our readers, and in this farewell column, he reflects on his own career experiences and how he has always welcomed and embraced new opportunities.
- [What I’ve learned as a new professional counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/what-ive-learned-as-a-new-professional-counselor/) - Starting a new career in counseling later in life taught one new counseling professional a few important lessons.
- [The importance of human sexuality in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/the-importance-of-human-sexuality-in-counseling/) - Because sexuality is a central part of the human experience, counselors need to be trained and prepared to broach the topic in session.
- [Behind the Book: Q&A with Ford Brooks and Bill McHenry on substance use and addiction ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/behind-the-book-qa-with-ford-brooks-and-bill-mchenry-on-substance-use-and-addiction/) - The third edition of A Contemporary Approach to Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Counseling includes new sections on harm reduction strategies, medication-assisted therapy and the use of telebehavioral health therapy in treatment.
- [The benefits of clinical consultation groups](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/the-benefits-of-clinical-consultation-groups/) - Two clinical supervisors share their advice on how to create successful consultation groups, which reduce isolation, provide clinical support, foster professional growth and improve client outcomes.
- [Addressing the loneliness epidemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/addressing-the-loneliness-epidemic/) - Loneliness is a growing public health concern, but counselors can help clients examine the underlying cause of this feeling and learn to rebuild their connections to others.
- [Advocacy Update: Building stronger coalitions in counseling advocacy ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/advocacy-update-building-stronger-coalitions-in-counseling-advocacy/) - Networked coalitions offer a pathway to transcend divisions, promote inclusivity and contribute positively to the well-being of individuals and communities.
- [Prioritizing trauma-informed care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/prioritizing-trauma-informed-care/) - A trauma-informed approach benefits both counselors and clients, yet more work needs to be done to ensure these principles are adopted across health care systems.
- [From the President: Decolonizing and reshaping the profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/10/from-the-president-decolonizing-and-reshaping-the-profession/) - The decoloniality process will allow counselors to reshape their professional identity and become more effective in their areas of specialty.
- [Voice of Experience: The danger of misinterpreting risk  ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/voice-of-experience-the-danger-of-misinterpreting-risk/) - Fear and stigma can often cause people to incorrectly perceive individuals with a mental health disorder as a threat, which can have serious consequences.
- [Racial bias in gifted and talented programs](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/racial-bias-in-gifted-and-talented-programs/) - A recent article in a special issue of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development explores why racial bias often prevents Black boys from being placed in advanced learning programs.
- [Essential skill development for meaningful social connection](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/essential-skill-development-for-meaningful-social-connection/) - By working on basic developmental social skills, clients with insecure attachment and trauma histories can learn to build healthy, meaningful relationships.
- [Advocacy Update: An accidental advocate shares secrets to success](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/advocacy-update-an-accidental-advocate-shares-secrets-to-success/) - The executive director of Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance shares 10 tips for successful advocacy.
- [Coping with the loss of a supervisee to suicide](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/coping-with-the-loss-of-a-supervisee-to-suicide/) - One counselor shares his painful story of losing a supervisee to suicide and offers advice on how to cope after traumatic loss.
- [Navigating white privilege in the counseling room](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/navigating-white-privilege-in-the-counseling-room/) - Without the awareness and willingness to acknowledge how they have benefited from cultural racism, white counselors risk creating fractured alliances and distrust in the therapeutic process.
- [Taking a culturally responsive approach to suicide assessment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/taking-a-culturally-responsive-approach-to-suicide-assessment/) - The recent rise in suicide rates among marginalized communities highlights the need for counselors to use culturally responsive practices when assessing suicide risk.
- [Assess more, judge less](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/assess-more-judge-less/) - To decrease the stigma around mental health in society, we must confront stigmatizing and biased thinking in the clinical world.
- [From the President: Building new partnerships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/09/from-the-president-building-new-partnerships/) - The ACA president emphasizes the need to build mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations that promote mental health, and he provides an update on the Governing Council meeting happening this month.
- [Voice of Experience: Disorders with the potential for dangerous outcomes](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/voice-of-experience-disorders-with-the-potential-for-dangerous-outcomes/) - When working with people with disorders that are associated with more dangerous behaviors, counselors must be prepared to assess the client’s risk of violence to themselves and others.
- [Behind the Book: Q&A with Danica G. Hays](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/behind-the-book-qa-with-danica-hays/) - Danica G. Hays, author of Assessment in Counseling, discusses what’s new in the recently published seventh edition and how proper assessment of clients can help strengthen the therapeutic alliance.
- [Cultivating patience in counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/cultivating-patience-in-counselors/) - A desire for change can sometimes cause counselors and clients to overlook the importance of building a sense of safety first.
- [Making schools more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/making-schools-more-inclusive-for-lgbtq-students/) - By creating an inclusive and trauma-informed environment, schools can serve as a source of support and safety for LGBTQ+ students.
- [A mental wellness program for law enforcement](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/a-mental-wellness-program-for-law-enforcement/) - Using a mental health program designed for law enforcement may help remove barriers that often prevent officers from getting the mental health care they need.
- [Advocacy Update: Becoming your own advocate](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/advocacy-update-becoming-your-own-advocate/) - ACA's aims to empower its members by equipping them with the tools needed to successfully advocate on the federal, state and local levels and let their voices be heard.
- [Reducing the occupational hazard of sexual boundary violations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/reducing-the-occupational-hazard-of-sexual-boundary-violations/) - Counselors can decrease their risk for sexual boundary violations, but first they have to talk about it.
- [Treating anxiety in children](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/treating-anxiety-in-children/) - With childhood anxiety increasing at an alarming rate, early assessment and treatment can help children struggling with anxiety live a healthy life.
- [Don’t forget school counselors on the list of first responders ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/dont-forget-school-counselors-on-the-list-of-first-responders/) - School counselors’ efforts on the front lines of managing mental health crises are often overlooked and misunderstood.
- [From the President: Creating change through dialogue](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/08/from-the-president-creating-change-through-dialogue/) - The ACA President discusses how counselors can foster more open, honest dialogue with their clients and themselves.
- [Voice of Experience: The gift of friendship](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/voice-of-experience-the-gift-of-friendship/) - Supportive friendships can improve people’s professional and personal lives and remind them that life is more than just work.
- [Seasonal affective disorder and the summertime blues](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/seasonal-affective-disorder-and-the-summertime-blues/) - People often don’t expect to feel sad, agitated or depressed during the summer, but if they do, then they may be suffering from summer seasonal affective disorder.
- [Integrating psychological flow in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/integrating-psychological-flow-in-counseling/) - Focusing on a challenging activity may have mental health benefits, especially for clients experiencing anxiety, depression or trauma.
- [Treatment strategies for race-based traumatic stress](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/treatment-strategies-for-race-based-traumatic-stress/) - Treating stress that stems from racial discrimination and oppression can help address the mental health inequities Black clients face.
- [Counseling Today recognized with five awards](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/counseling-today-recognized-with-five-awards-2/) - The Counseling Today staff won five awards in APEX 2023, the 35th annual awards program recognizing excellence in publishing.
- [Edil Torres Rivera: Ready for action](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/edil-torres-rivera-ready-for-action/) - Edil Torres Rivera, ACA’s 72nd president, shares how his Puerto Rican heritage and the women in his life have made him the counselor and scholar he is today.
- [Adapting CBT to meet clients’ needs](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/adapting-cbt-to-meet-clients-needs/) - Counselors are tailoring how they approach cognitive behavior therapy to better fit the changing needs of their clients.
- [Advocacy Update: Tips for effective advocacy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/advocacy-update-tips-for-effective-advocacy/) - Learn six tips that can help you or your organization effectively advocate for the mental health profession.
- [Conceptualizing and assessing race-based traumatic stress](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/conceptualizing-and-assessing-race-based-traumatic-stress/) - The toll of racism is implicated in health and mental health disparities that can be addressed only through knowledge, awareness and a commitment to culturally responsive care.
- [From the President: Creating change within the profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/07/from-the-president-creating-change-within-the-profession/) - The 72nd president of the American Counseling Association introduces himself to members and outlines his initiatives for the year.
- [5 takeaways from the 2023 Virtual Hill Day](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/5-takeaways-from-the-2023-virtual-hill-day/) - ACA’s 2023 Virtual Hill Day provided counselors with tips on how to effectively advocate with members of Congress.
- [Voice of Experience: Professional organizations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/voice-of-experience-professional-organizations/) - It’s easy for counselors to become isolated unless they are intentional about joining professional organizations that meet their needs.
- [ACA and SAIGE co-host webinar on LGBTQ+ advocacy and allyship](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/aca-and-saige-co-host-webinar-on-lgbtq-advocacy-and-allyship/) - With more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced every day, counselors can take steps to advocate on behalf of their clients.
- [Behind the Book: Counselor Self-Care (2nd edition)  ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/behind-the-book-counselor-self-care-2nd-edition/) - ACA's latest book provides practical advice for how counselors can manage stress, create a self-care plan and put this plan into action.
- [A cultural framework for generational trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/a-cultural-framework-for-generational-trauma/) - With the right clinical framework, counselors can help clients identify and process the complex experiences of intergenerational trauma.
- [Behind the Book: Doing Counseling: Developing Your Clinical Skills and Style ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/behind-the-book-doing-counseling-developing-your-clinical-skills-and-style/) - This ACA book breaks down the counseling process and helps counselors cultivate their own counseling style.
- [Forming friendships as a neurodivergent adult](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/forming-friendships-as-a-neurodivergent-adult/) - Making friends isn’t always easy, but it can be especially challenging for neurodivergent adults.
- [Legislative bills increase fear and trauma in transgender community ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/legislative-bills-increase-fear-and-trauma-in-transgender-community/) - Advocates and allies say counselors can take additional steps to offer support, both professionally and politically.
- [Advocacy Update: Collaborating for change](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/advocacy-update-collaborating-for-change/) - We must think beyond fill-in-the-blank traditional advocacy approaches and work toward greater collaboration among mental health providers.
- [Addressing intimate partner violence with LGBTQ+ clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/06/addressing-intimate-partner-violence-with-lgbtq-clients/) - Intimate partner violence among LGBTQ+ individuals often goes unacknowledged and untreated, despite occurring at rates equal to or greater than those experienced by heterosexual couples.
- [Voice of Experience: Swords and shields](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/voice-of-experience-swords-and-shields/) - Clients often use their words and behaviors as weapons, and how counselors respond to this makes a difference in the therapeutic outcome.
- [The mental toll of adult bullying](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/the-mental-toll-of-adult-bullying/) - Counselors can help clients who have experienced adult bullying learn to heal and take back their power.
- [Kimberly Frazier: Presidential year in review](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/kimberly-frazier-presidential-year-in-review/) - Over the past year, ACA President Kimberly Frazier has worked hard to move the counseling profession and ACA forward with her three spotlight initiatives.
- [Conceptualizing diagnosis through a social justice lens](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/conceptualizing-diagnosis-through-a-social-justice-lens/) - Approaching diagnosis through a lens that considers systemic, cultural and ecological factors leads to better treatment outcomes for clients.
- [ACA hosts webinar on navigating Medicare reimbursement](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/aca-hosts-webinar-on-navigating-medicare-reimbursement/) - ACA hosted an informational webinar on how the Mental Health Access Improvement Act will affect practicing counselors.
- [Working with adults who bully](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/working-with-adults-who-bully/) - Counseling can help adults with bullying behaviors learn to change how they relate to others and accept responsibility for their actions.
- [A closer look at the mental health provider shortage](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/a-closer-look-at-the-mental-health-provider-shortage/) - Solutions to the nationwide mental health provider shortage are often as complex as the reasons behind it.
- [Advocacy Update: Update on key legislation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/advocacy-update-update-on-key-legislation/) - This advocacy update provides an overview of select key legislation.
- [From the President: Benefits and barriers to wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/05/from-the-president-benefits-and-barriers-to-wellness/) - Being able to apply wellness and self-care long term allows you to build long-term strategies that can be applied in every aspect of your life.
- [Voice of Experience: Building a career path](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/voice-of-experience-building-a-career-path/) - One counselor shares his career journey to inspire others to forge their own path.
- [The protective side of anger](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/the-protective-side-of-anger/) - Exploring the potential positive and protective aspects of anger can help clients accept their feelings and learn to regain control in safe, healthy ways.
- [Advocacy Update: National strategy to address the mental health crisis](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/advocacy-update-national-strategy-to-address-the-mental-health-crisis/) - Learn more about the national strategy to address the mental health crisis in the United States.
- [Building rapport with clients experiencing psychosis](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/building-rapport-with-clients-experiencing-psychosis/) - Stigma and misunderstanding about clients with severe mental illnesses can prevent some counselors from taking the necessary steps to build a strong therapeutic relationship.
- [Fast-food frenzy: Treating emotional eating](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/fast-food-frenzy-treating-emotional-eating/) - Eating is often viewed exclusively as a nutritional issue, but counselors can play an important role by helping clients unpack the emotional aspects of their relationship to food.
- [Recognizing burnout and compassion fatigue among counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/recognizing-burnout-and-compassion-fatigue-among-counselors/) - Counselors have a responsibility to take care of their own mental health before they can help others with their well-being.
- [Mental health apps as therapeutic tools](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/mental-health-apps-as-therapeutic-tools/) - Using mental health apps as a supplement to counseling may help clients to foster their own healing.
- [The impact of telebehavioral health on clinical practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/the-impact-of-telebehavioral-health-on-clinical-practice/) - As telebehavioral health continues to reshape the profession, counselors are adapting the clinical skills they use for in-person therapy to better fit an online environment.
- [From the President: Making time for wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/from-the-president-making-time-for-wellness/) - Wellness is an active process of becoming aware and making choices that will aid in having work-life balance.
- [Learning to heal a busy brain](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/04/learning-to-heal-a-busy-brain/) - In the second keynote at the ACA 2023 Conference & Expo, Dr. Romie Mushtaq provided the audience with a brain shift protocol that helps restore wellness.
- [Preparing to be mentally fit for the future ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/preparing-to-be-mentally-fit-for-the-future/) - Wendy Borlabi, a sport psychologist for the Chicago Bulls, stresses the importance of mental wellness both on and off the court at the ACA 2023 Conference & Expo.
- [Voice of Experience: Transition to private practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/voice-of-experience-transition-to-private-practice/) - Starting a successful private practice is doable with careful planning.
- [Expanding the conversation on international perspectives and practice in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/expanding-the-conversation-on-international-perspectives-and-practice-in-counseling/) - An introduction to the work of the ACA International Committee
- [The power of counselor advocacy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/the-power-of-counselor-advocacy/) - Through their advocacy efforts, ACA and licensed professional counselors continue to make progress that affects not only the counseling profession but also the entire country.
- [Why, when and how to talk with grieving clients about sex](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/why-when-and-how-to-talk-with-grieving-clients-about-sex/) - Addressing the interplay between grief and sexuality can help clients better understand and navigate changes in sexual desire after loss.
- [‘Child abuse in disguise’: The impact of parental alienation on families](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/child-abuse-in-disguise-the-impact-of-parental-alienation-on-families/) - Parental alienation can be hard to notice much less treat, but the long-term effects can be devastating for the children and targeted parent.
- [Is mindfulness a cure-all approach?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/is-mindfulness-a-cure-all-approach/) - Mindfulness is often seen as a cure-all approach, but as with other clinical approaches, counselors should carefully consider when and how they integrate this practice into sessions.
- [The maternal mental health of Black women](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/the-maternal-mental-health-of-black-women/) - Because Black women in the United States face an alarmingly higher rate of maternal mortality and mental health conditions, counselors should be prepared to help clients manage their mental health while also advocating for quality care from health providers.
- [From the President: Making a smooth transition from student to new professional](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/03/from-the-president-making-a-smooth-transition-from-student-to-new-professional/) - Mentoring ensures the counseling profession continues to grow by helping students, new professionals and others entering the field develop the skills they need to succeed.
- [Mental health care stigma in Black communities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/mental-health-care-stigma-in-black-communities/) - Black individuals are more likely to experience mental health problems but are less likely to seek treatment for a variety of reasons.
- [The loss of our ‘humanness’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/the-loss-of-our-humanness/) - By remaining clinically objective, do counselors inadvertently sacrifice the client’s humanity?
- [Helping youth in foster care cope with grief and abandonment  ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/helping-youth-in-foster-care-cope-with-grief-and-abandonment/) - Counselors can help youth aging out of foster care process feelings of grief and loss and develop coping skills that can help them build healthy relationships in the future.
- [Voice of Experience: Social media and mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/voice-of-experience-social-media-and-mental-health/) - Social media has escalated the impact of bullying, especially for youth, so counselors may need to include a client’s social media footprint as well as suicidal ideation in the intake process.
- [The benefits of a multisensory experience in therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/the-benefits-of-a-multisensory-experience-in-therapy/) - The rise of telebehavioral health led one therapist to rediscover the value of in-person therapy and multisensory experiences.
- [‘The walls come right down’: The clinical benefits of therapy dogs](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/the-walls-come-right-down-the-clinical-benefits-of-therapy-dogs/) - Therapy dogs can be more than our best friends; they can also help reduce clients’ stress and provide the emotional safety needed to process traumatic and painful life events.
- [Identifying psychological abuse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/identifying-psychological-abuse/) - Psychological abuse is a complex and prevalent issue that can go unnoticed unless clinicians learn to recognize the signs and use appropriate interventions to support clients.
- [Counseling youth aging out of foster care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/counseling-youth-aging-out-of-foster-care/) - Older youth who have aged out of the foster care system face many challenges — all of which can negatively affect their mental health without proper support, empathy and guidance.
- [From the President: The cost of being a counselor, leader and advocate](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/02/the-cost-of-being-a-counselor-leader-and-advocate/) - Answering the call of being a counselor, leader or advocate comes at a cost.
- [Is Medicaid properly serving youth in foster care?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/is-medicaid-properly-serving-youth-in-foster-care/) - Counselors can work to improve reimbursement policies with Medicaid to ensure youth in foster care get the mental health services they need.
- [Voice of Experience: Losing Summer](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/voice-of-experience-losing-summer/) - Counseling continues to have a positive, long-lasting impact on clients even after they terminate session.
- [What quiet quitting says about workplace mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/what-quiet-quitting-says-about-workplace-mental-health/) - The term “quiet quitting” has gained popularity since COVID-19 began, but what does this really say about our work boundaries and mental health?
- [Does your personality make you more vulnerable to abuse?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/does-your-personality-make-you-more-vulnerable-to-abuse/) - Here are four personality characteristics that make a person more vulnerable to psychological abuse.
- [Generational trauma: Uncovering and interrupting the cycle](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/generational-trauma-uncovering-and-interrupting-the-cycle/) - Counselors who understand the complexities of generational trauma can help clients acknowledge the role it plays in their lives, find healing and ultimately break the cycle.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Brain science, courage and chronic pain](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/the-counseling-connoisseur-brain-science-courage-and-chronic-pain/) - People’s thoughts and beliefs about pain — not just their physical injuries — play an important role in the overall experience of pain.
- [Unexpected lessons and connections in sex offender counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/unexpected-lessons-and-connections-in-sex-offender-counseling/) - Working with a client who committed a sex crime taught one counselor the importance of building rapport and finding creative ways to help the client regain a sense of humanity and connection.
- [The impact of cultural resiliency on traumatic loss](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/the-impact-of-cultural-resiliency-on-traumatic-loss/) - Trauma and resiliency are not individualistic experiences, so approaching traumatic loss through a cultural resilience framework helps strengthen clients’ healing process and prevent severe mental health outcomes.
- [Helping youth who self-harm](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/helping-youth-who-self-harm/) - As increasing numbers of youth turn to self-injury, counselors can offer empathy while guiding young clients to better tolerate their emotions and find healthier ways to cope.
- [From the President: Renew your 'why'](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2023/01/renew-your-why/) - As we begin the new year, it is important to reflect on why you answered the call to be a leader and advocate within the counseling profession and reexamine how you are expanding your knowledge and skill set to best answer that call.
- [Counseling Today’s 20 most-read articles in 2022](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/counseling-todays-20-most-read-articles-in-2022/) - What counseling topics were the most popular in 2022? Our most-read articles dealt with stress, anxiety, youth mental health, relationships, counselor training, legalized marijuana and the need for financial change.
- [Confronting client resistance](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/confronting-client-resistance/) - Counselors will deal with resistant clients, so they need to learn to recognize when it happens and know what to do about it when it does.
- [4 steps to refresh, recharge and reconnect](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/4-steps-to-refresh-recharge-and-reconnect/) - Self-care is always easier said than done, but with these four steps, counselors can ensure they are taking time to care for and invest in themselves.
- [Mental Health Access Improvement Act poised to pass in Congress](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/mental-health-access-improvement-act-poised-to-pass-in-congress/) - Licensed professional counselors are one step closer to being reimbursed for mental health services to clients with Medicare.
- [Voice of Experience: Home visits](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/voice-of-experience-home-visits/) - Home visits come with many potential challenges, but the ease and accessibility may make all the difference to the client.
- [Tips to navigate workload and prevent burnout  ](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/tips-to-navigate-workload-and-prevent-burnout/) - Job burnout can affect our professional and personal life but following these tips can help us regain a healthy perspective.
- [Tough love: Supporting parents of children in unhealthy relationships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/tough-love-supporting-parents-of-children-in-unhealthy-relationships/) - Having an adult child who is in an unhealthy relationship can leave parents feeling helpless, but with the support of a counselor, parents can learn to navigate this situation while still maintaining their own well-being.
- [Resisting a savior mentality](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/resisting-a-savior-mentality/) - If counselors assume the role of a “savior,” then they risk stripping clients of their empowerment and ability to make meaningful progress.
- [Behind the book: Handbook for Human Sexuality Counseling: A Sex Positive Approach](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/behind-the-book-handbook-for-human-sexuality-counseling-a-sex-positive-approach/) - Sexuality — a core part of the human experience — is often left out the clinical conversation, but ACA’s latest book aims to address this gap.
- [From the President: What good mentoring looks like](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/12/from-the-president-what-good-mentoring-looks-like/) - It is important to remember mentoring is used to help aid in navigating your leadership and career goals to pursue your life’s work.
- [Pushing back against fatphobia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/pushing-back-against-fatphobia/) - Counselors must help clients recognize and reject weight stigma before they can begin to heal and reconnect to themselves.
- [Fatphobia: How can counselors do better?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/fatphobia-how-can-counselors-do-better/) - Weight stigma can show in counseling, so clinicians need to work to dismantle it both in themselves and in their clients.
- [Treating depression by focusing on solutions and acceptance](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/treating-depression-by-focusing-on-solutions-and-acceptance/) - Solution-focused brief therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy are effective — yet underutilized — clinical approaches counselors can use to help clients with depressive symptoms.
- [Voice of Experience: Self-assessment and professional growth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/voice-of-experience-self-assessment-and-professional-growth/) - Obtaining a professional counseling license should be the beginning of supervision and self-growth, not the end of it.
- [The emotional effects of cancer](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/the-emotional-effects-of-cancer/) - Counselors need to be prepared to help clients who are undergoing cancer treatment process a range of emotions, including loss, anxiety, resentment and anger.
- [A beginner’s guide to alexithymia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/a-beginners-guide-to-alexithymia/) - Because alexithymia can be a risk factor for a range of mental health problems, counselors need to know how to identify and treat the symptoms of this condition.
- [Embracing fandom in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/embracing-fandom-in-counseling/) - Counselors can build rapport with clients who belong to fandoms by creating a safe environment, incorporating fandom in session and acknowledging the important role it can play in their lives.
- [Are counselors ready for the metaverse?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/are-counselors-ready-for-the-metaverse/) - As technology continues to shape the world we live in, counselors must not only adapt to but also prepare for the change.
- [Incorporating clients’ faith in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/incorporating-clients-faith-in-counseling/) - Faith can play an important role in a client’s healing process, but a lack of knowledge and training often makes counselors hesitant to incorporate it into the therapeutic session.
- [From the President: Finding the right mentor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/11/from-the-president-finding-the-right-mentor/) - The mentoring relationship is a two-sided relationship that requires commitment and buy-in from both parties. You need to do a realistic assessment regarding the areas of growth that you need mentorship in and begin to research potential mentors who demonstrate the growth that you seek.
- [Curfew is when?! Helping parents and teens see eye to eye on boundaries and rules](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/curfew-is-when-helping-parents-and-teens-see-eye-to-eye-on-boundaries-and-rules/) - Rules are often a point of contention for parents and teenagers, but counselors have the skills to help both parents and teens put the situation into context and find common ground.
- [Confidentiality comes first: Navigating parent involvement with minor clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/confidentiality-comes-first-navigating-parent-involvement-with-minor-clients/) - Counselors must strike a balance between maintaining young clients’ confidentiality and accommodating parents who want to be kept in the loop about their child’s progress in therapy.
- [De-escalating conflict between parents and teens](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/de-escalating-conflict-between-parents-and-teens/) - Friction between parents and teenage children is an inevitable part of adolescent development, but often the parents need as much — if not more — work in counseling as the teen to build the skills needed to navigate conflict.
- [Taking a clinical selfie](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/taking-a-clinical-selfie/) - A selfie can say a lot about a person, and when used clinically, it can prompt deeper discussions about self-image and foster the therapeutic alliance.
- [Miller sheds light on culture and introspection in closing keynote](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/miller-sheds-light-on-culture-and-introspection-in-closing-keynote/) - Rwenshaun Miller challenged counselors to consider how culture affects counseling and to reflect on their well- being during the closing keynote of ACA’s 2022 Virtual Conference Experience.
- [Kristy Gerke of Spring Arbor University wins grand prize in 2022 Future School Counselor Essay Contest](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/kristy-gerke-of-spring-arbor-university-wins-grand-prize-in-2022-future-school-counselor-essay-contest/) - ACA celebrates the top essayist in the Future School Counselor Graduate Student Essay Competition.
- [Voice of Experience: The future of mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/voice-of-experience-the-future-of-mental-health/) - The mental health profession has come a long way in the past 100 years, but where is it headed?
- [Scurry’s opening keynote highlights the importance of intentional effort](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/scurrys-opening-keynote-highlights-the-importance-of-intentional-effort/) - Briana Scurry kicks off ACA’s 2022 Virtual Conference Experience and reminds counselors that hard work — in any profession — is what matters most.
- [Erin Gellings of Minnesota State University wins grand prize in 2022 Tomorrow’s Counselor Essay Contest](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/erin-gellings-of-minnesota-state-university-wins-grand-prize-in-2022-tomorrows-counselor-essay-contest/) - ACA celebrates the top essayist in Tomorrow’s Counselor Graduate Student Essay Competition.
- [Building resilience in children after a pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/building-resilience-in-children-after-a-pandemic/) - Caregivers can use these four simple steps to build a stronger connection with youth and help them learn skills to cope with the increased stress associated with COVID-19.
- [Team from DePaul University wins first place in master's ethics competition](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/team-from-depaul-university-wins-first-place-in-masters-ethics-competition/) - A team from DePaul University – Courtney Griffin, Veronica McMillion, Anya Ross and Angela Sundstrom (Alexandra Novakovic, faculty advisor) – won top honors in ACA’s annual ethics competition for master's level students.
- [Learning to be fierce in the face of intraprofessional challenges](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/learning-to-be-fierce-in-the-face-of-intraprofessional-challenges/) - A counselor offers guidance on how to navigate difficult interactions in the workplace.
- [‘Not a monster’: Destigmatizing borderline personality disorder](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/not-a-monster-destigmatizing-borderline-personality-disorder/) - The stigma attached to borderline personality disorder can make both clients and counselors resistant to treatment, but by working together, they can sort through these misconceptions and help clients rediscover themselves.
- [From the President: The four attributes of a good mentor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/10/from-the-president-the-four-attributes-of-a-good-mentor/) - Mentoring should offer four main things to the person seeking and being mentored: Support, introspection, access, and opportunity.
- [HBCU students take first place in ACA's doctoral ethics competition](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/hbcu-students-take-first-place-in-acas-doctoral-ethics-competition/) - A team from North Carolina A&T University – Anitra Powell, Sylvester Smith and Ulisha Fraser Reese (Shea Dunham, faculty advisor) – won top honors in ACA’s annual ethics competition for doctoral level students.
- [What’s new with the DSM-5-TR?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/whats-new-with-the-dsm-5-tr/) - Find answers to common questions counselors have about the new edition of the DSM.
- [Finding hope after surviving suicide](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/finding-hope-after-surviving-suicide/) - People who survive a suicide attempt often struggle alone, but with help, they can begin to see their challenges in a new light and rebuild their lives.
- [Disarming anger](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/disarming-anger/) - Viewing anger as a messenger rather than an adversary can help clients decouple it from shame, unpack its origins, explore related feelings and gain self-awareness.
- [Voice of Experience: Diversity and third-culture kids](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/voice-of-experience-diversity-and-third-culture-kids/) - Third-culture kids grow up in a diverse cultural environment — one that can have positive and negative effects on their mental health.
- [Working with perpetrators of child sexual abuse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/working-with-perpetrators-of-child-sexual-abuse/) - Counseling can help people who have sexually abused children learn to address their distorted thinking and take responsibility for their actions, but clinicians have to be careful not to burnout in the process.
- [Preventing veteran suicide](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/addressing-the-suicide-epidemic-among-veterans/) - As veteran suicide rates continue to rise, counselors can incorporate creative clinical approaches to better serve those who serve us.
- [Rewriting the client’s narrative through colors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/rewriting-the-clients-narrative-through-colors/) - Color therapy offers a nonintrusive and engaging way to help clients gain a greater understanding of themselves and others.
- [The shame of sexual addiction](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/the-shame-of-sexual-addiction/) - Sexual addiction is shrouded in shame and secrecy, which can prevent clients from seeking treatment and receiving the help they need to lead a healthy sexual lifestyle.
- [Counseling Today recognized with four awards](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/counseling-today-recognized-with-four-awards/) - The Counseling Today staff won a total of four awards in APEX 2022, the 34th annual awards program recognizing excellence in publishing.
- [From the President: The journey to finding meaningful work](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/09/from-the-president-the-journey-to-finding-meaningful-work/) - "This month, I challenge you to consider what you need to do professionally and personally to follow your values and passion while taking into account your overall wellness."
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Fostering female mentorship in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/counseling-connoisseur-fostering-female-mentorship-in-counseling/) - Female mentorship can help women in counseling better navigate the barriers they face and improve their psychosocial and clinical growth.
- [Breaking the silence around the childhood sexual abuse of Black men](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/breaking-the-silence-around-the-childhood-sexual-abuse-of-black-men/) - The childhood sexual abuse of Black men remains a taboo subject, but counselors can help clients break the silence and reclaim their own power.
- [Shawn E. Boynes: The right leader at the right time](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/shawn-e-boynes-the-right-leader-at-the-right-time/) - "We are embarking on creating the next life cycle for ACA, and in order to do that, I want members to fully engage in charting the course. This is your organization; I, along with staff, am a steward of it."
- [Counseling a broken heart](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/counseling-a-broken-heart/) - Romantic breakups often come with a lot of painful feelings and loss, but when processed in counseling, they can also be an opportunity to connect with oneself and make meaning from the experience.
- [Voice of Experience: The search for intimacy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/voice-of-experience-the-search-for-intimacy/) - Counselors can help clients discover healthy ways to fulfill their human need for intimacy.
- [Helping LGBTQ+ individuals — One story at a time](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/helping-lgbtq-individuals-one-story-at-a-time/) - One counselor’s story of conversion therapy sparks others to reach out for support and guidance.
- [Compromising care: An occupational hazard for counseling leaders](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/compromising-care-an-occupational-hazard-for-counseling-leaders/) - Counseling leaders face difficult choices when they work in an environment where the organizational values clash with their own personal and professional ones.
- [A cognitive behavioral understanding of social anxiety disorder](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/a-cognitive-behavioral-understanding-of-social-anxiety-disorder/) - Once clients understand that anxiety is not something that is going to disappear altogether, they can turn their attention to managing it and loosening the grip it has on their lives.
- [Increasing mental health access through school and community partnerships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/increasing-mental-health-access-through-school-and-community-partnerships/) - Some schools are partnering with mental health agencies to address the rise in mental health needs among students.
- [Growing up between cultures](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/growing-up-between-cultures/) - Counseling can provide third-culture kids with a space to grieve their losses and celebrate the beauty and possibility within their unique experiences.
- [From the President: Taking the next steps toward creating diverse and inclusive workplaces](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/08/from-the-president-taking-the-next-steps-toward-creating-diverse-and-inclusive-workplaces/) - Ultimately, we must all think about what our purpose is and what we find most meaningful about the work we do. And we also need to explore why we are often willing to stay in places that may not align with who we are personally and professionally.
- [Supporting transgender and gender-expansive youth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/supporting-transgender-and-gender-expansive-youth/) - Counselors can use their position and power to better serve transgender and gender-expansive youth whose mental health and well-being are threatened by oppressive policies.
- [Responding to the youth mental health crisis in schools](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/responding-to-the-youth-mental-health-crisis-in-schools/) - A youth mental health crisis is rising to a crescendo in American schools, so now more than ever, school-based counselors need support and buy-in from school staff, parents and outside mental health professionals.
- [5 tips to generate more leads from a therapist directory listing](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/5-tips-to-generate-more-leads-from-a-therapist-directory-listing/) - Counselors can use these five tips to optimize their therapist directory profile and grow their business.
- [Voice of Experience: Our new world](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/voice-of-experience-our-new-world/) - Telebehavioral health emerges as one positive change in a post-pandemic world.
- [Behind the Book: Crisis Intervention Ethics Casebook](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/behind-the-book-crisis-intervention-ethics-casebook/) - "What you learned in your legal and ethical issues class may not cleanly or clearly apply in a crisis situation."
- [Rethinking the accessibility of digital mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/rethinking-the-accessibility-of-digital-mental-health/) - Digital mental health has been touted as a solution to filling the mental health access gap, but do these platforms really provide access for all?
- [Regulating the autonomic nervous system via sensory stimulation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/regulating-the-autonomic-nervous-system-via-sensory-stimulation/) - Are your clients too dysregulated to access coping skills? Reset the nervous system.
- [The unacknowledged stigma of mental illness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/07/the-unacknowledged-stigma-of-mental-illness/) - Stigma surrounding mental illness may linger as the elephant in the room and negatively affect client outcomes if counselors don’t recognize and address it in session.
- [Breaking barriers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/breaking-barriers/) - Kimberly Frazier, ACA’s 71st president, is comfortable with challenging the status quo and passionate about promoting diversity, mentoring, and counselor wellness and self-care.
- [From the President: Highlighting  three key areas for the year ahead](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/from-the-president-highlighting-three-key-areas-for-the-year-ahead/) - "I am excited to embark on this new journey, and I hope that I can inspire students, clinicians, professors, researchers and members along the way."
- [Why the body matters](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/why-the-body-matters/) - The lack of evidence-based research supporting somatic therapy raises skepticism among many clinicians, but for those who do use it with clients, the benefits are clear.
- [It’s time for a financial change in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/its-time-for-a-financial-change-in-counseling/) - The fact that counselors are, by nature, helpers and are often willing to give freely of their time does not mean that they should be treated unfairly as a labor force.
- [Building trust with reluctant clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/building-trust-with-reluctant-clients/) - Rather than labeling hesitant clients as “resistant,” counselors should check their assumptions, work to better understand the underlying reasons and barriers these clients face, and double down on unconditional positive regard.
- [The effects of gender socialization on boys and men](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/the-effects-of-gender-socialization-on-boys-and-men/) - Counselors who work with men have the opportunity to facilitate a greater clarity on their desired self-definitions, on the roles they play in their spheres of influence, and on the quality of their relationships, striving toward greater authenticity and multidimensionality.
- [Past, present or future: Where do you usually live?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/past-present-or-future-where-do-you-usually-live/) - When you are in the present moment, you are not waiting for the next moment to be fulfilling or happy.
- [Embracing the realities of retirement](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/embracing-the-realities-of-retirement/) - Many people spend their working lives dreaming of retirement, only to be blindsided by the social and emotional issues that may be awaiting them once they leave the job behind.
- [Journeying through betrayal trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/journeying-through-betrayal-trauma/) - Individuals who discover a partner’s infidelity and deception must undertake a challenging journey to find healing for the mind, heart and soul.
- [Behind the scenes with a counselor-in-training](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/behind-the-scenes-with-a-counselor-in-training/) - "If you’re a counselor-in-training, licensed clinician or healer looking for an article to share when you’re too tired to explain to a loved one what’s going on for you, here’s that link."
- [From the President: When I was younger](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/from-the-president-when-i-was-younger/) - Let’s move past the feel-good moment where we are inspired by a message and empower each other to get out and do the work... Together, let’s demand a just world where each of us gets to be our whole, unapologetic selves in spaces where we were once denied.
- [CEO's Message: My final column —  three decades in the making!](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/06/ceos-message-my-final-column-three-decades-in-the-making/) - "Working for ACA has been way more than just a job. It has been one of the greatest experiences and honors of my lifetime. I am indebted to all who walked with me on this journey, and I hope that as I exit, I am leaving ACA and the counseling profession just a little better than when I started."
- [Rebuilding after brain injury](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/rebuilding-after-brain-injury/) - Professional counselors possess the skills needed to help clients with traumatic brain injury process loss and change while also finding new meaning.
- [Voice of Experience: The mean dog](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/voice-of-experience-the-mean-dog/) - Counselors: Consider keeping this metaphor in your back pocket to help clients understand grief, addictions, trauma and other challenges that seem to linger -- no matter how much you want them to go away and stop "barking."
- [Statement of the American Counseling Association on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/statement-of-the-american-counseling-association-on-the-school-shooting-in-uvalde-texas/) - While we expect to hear a renewed debate about the access that people have to guns in our country, there also needs to be discussion, discernment and action focused on societal issues that set the stage for these tragic events.
- [Sex-positive counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/sex-positive-counseling/) - Counselors must increase their own comfort and knowledge around sexuality before they can help clients navigate theirs.
- [Counseling after brain injury: Do’s and don’ts](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/counseling-after-brain-injury-dos-and-donts/) - Counseling can make a big difference in the lives of people who have experienced a brain injury — as long as the practitioner understands the challenges they live with and nuances of their needs.
- [Mental gymnastics: Navigating challenging relationships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/mental-gymnastics-navigating-challenging-relationships/) - Helping clients through problematic relationships can be one of the toughest challenges for counselors. Consider these strategies for addressing some of the mental and emotional issues clients face in navigating their relationships.
- [Developing competence to address undue police violence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/developing-competence-to-address-undue-police-violence/) - The demands of the task are complex and politically charged, but counselors have a responsibility to address undue police violence in support of the wellness of the client populations they serve.
- [How to elicit and implement group feedback](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/how-to-elicit-and-implement-group-feedback/) - Given the complex variables at play in group settings, it is critical that counselors seek client feedback directly rather than relying on their own clinical judgments regarding treatment efficacy.
- [Counseling girls and women in the current cultural climate](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/counseling-girls-and-women-in-the-current-cultural-climate/) - Superwoman, #metoo, COVID-19 and so much in between: Refocusing on the complex, intersectional, and cultural needs of girls and women in counseling.
- [Getting triggered as a counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/getting-triggered-as-a-counselor/) - Counselors will inevitably be confronted by countertransference, but by learning to recognize and manage it, an experience that has sometimes been stigmatized can become a tool for professional and personal growth.
- [CEO's Message: More good days than bad ones: The second-to-last goodbye](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/ceos-message-more-good-days-than-bad-ones-the-second-to-last-goodbye/) - On June 30, I will look back knowing there were many more good days than bad ones. What made the good days so “good” were the people I was blessed to work with at the staff, volunteer, member and leader levels.
- [From the President: What do you want for your children?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/05/from-the-president-what-do-you-want-for-your-children/) - The blueprint I have for my life is to live every day to the fullest. I am the one who matters, and only I can preserve the sanctity of my space — especially because when I give it over to someone else, they tend to mishandle it.
- [Voice of Experience: How do you know?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/voice-of-experience-how-do-you-know/) - Counselors sometimes have a "gut feeling" that a session with a client went really well or the therapeutic relationship is clicking. But the client doesn't always feel the same way.
- [Self-esteem: Tending to the roots and branches](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/self-esteem-tending-to-the-roots-and-branches/) - Improving self-esteem involves exploring and dismantling unhealthy self-talk, values and beliefs that clients have internalized, often without realizing it.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Nature therapy and brain science in children](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/counseling-connoisseur-nature-therapy-and-brain-science-in-children/) - Integrating nature-informed practices and activities into clinical work can help children learn to reduce defensive states, increase homeostasis and activate their social engagement system.
- [Suicide attempt survivors: How counselors can help with disclosures](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/suicide-attempt-survivors-how-counselors-can-help-with-disclosures/) - Because suicide attempt survivors are at higher risk for both fatal and nonfatal suicide attempts, disclosure of past attempts is an important aspect of their mental health treatment.
- [Creating meaningful and lasting change](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/creating-meaningful-and-lasting-change/) - An interview with ACA Antiracism Commission Chair Taunya Tinsley.
- [Considerations for athletes in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/considerations-for-athletes-in-counseling/) - Elite-level athletes often need support and encouragement to discover and define themselves beyond the limited realm of sport achievement.
- [Rev. Tutu delivers a message of hope and connection after crisis](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/rev-tutu-delivers-a-message-of-hope-and-connection-after-crisis/) - The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, keynote speaker at ACA's 2022 Conference & Expo in Atlanta, reminded counselors that in times of crises we have an opportunity to forge new connections that empower us all.
- [Preparing for private practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/preparing-for-private-practice/) - Three counselors share lessons learned so that other clinicians can enter private practice with eyes wide open — both to the challenges and the opportunities.
- [CEO's Message: Hey, counselors: This month is all about you](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/ceos-message-hey-counselors-this-month-is-all-about-you/) - Given what society has experienced over the past few years, I truly believe that the work of those who identify as professional counselors has made things much better than what might have been.
- [From the President: April musings](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/from-the-president-april-musings/) - Counselors, get excited! It is our month, and what a month it is.
- [Breaking the binary: Transgender and gender expansive equality](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/04/breaking-the-binary-transgender-and-gender-expansive-equality/) - Now more than ever transgender and non-binary clients are in need of knowledgeable and affirming clinicians.
- [The impact of legalized marijuana on professional counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/the-impact-of-legalized-marijuana-on-professional-counseling/) - With more states legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, counselors are being forced to consider the potential pros and cons in their work with clients.
- [Self-diagnosis in a digital world](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/self-diagnosis-in-a-digital-world/) - Thanks to the popularity of social media postings about mental health and the ease of searching for symptoms online, more people are being tempted to self-diagnose, but is that necessarily a troubling trend for counselors?
- [The rise of counselors on social media](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/the-rise-of-counselors-on-social-media/) - More people are turning to social media for mental health advice, so how can counselors use the platforms to educate others while still maintaining their own boundaries?
- [Voice of Experience: If it were easy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/voice-of-experience-if-it-were-easy/) - We master our craft by working with the hardest clients, facing the most difficult ethical problems and pushing ourselves professionally in every area. You will never sharpen a knife with a soft piece of wood, and you will never sharpen your skills by taking the path of least resistance.
- [When counselors grieve: Witnessing a loved one approach death gracefully](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/when-counselors-grieve-witnessing-a-loved-one-approach-death-gracefully/) - "The price we pay for loving someone so fully, so unconditionally and so openly is to grieve their passing with our whole heart, soul and being."
- [Counseling From a Survivor’s Perspective: Understanding the cycle of abuse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/counseling-from-a-survivors-perspective-understanding-the-cycle-of-abuse/) - Understanding that the cycle of abuse can feel like a never-ending roller coaster ride for survivors is the first step in helping clients prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
- [Behind the Book: Counseling Leaders and Advocates: Strengthening the Future of the Profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/behind-the-book-counseling-leaders-and-advocates-strengthening-the-future-of-the-profession/) - The next generation of counseling leaders and advocates “must embrace the complex issues facing our clients, the profession as a whole, and our national and global societies if we are to advance and continue to distinguish excellence in professional counseling.”
- [Other people’s monsters: A personal account of vicarious traumatization](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/other-peoples-monsters-a-personal-account-of-vicarious-traumatization/) - A regimen of mindfulness practices, meetings with a professional support network and authentic sharing with his natural supports helped a counselor accept and manage the symptoms of vicarious trauma.
- [Counselor burnout during COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/counselor-burnout-during-covid-19/) - Three research studies suggest that counselors did not burn out at a higher-than-normal rate during the first year of COVID-19, but the experience of pandemic fatigue remains an ongoing challenge.
- [Incorporating creativity into outreach on a college campus](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/incorporating-creativity-into-outreach-on-a-college-campus/) - Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, college counselors' outreach to the campus community has required outside-of-the-box thinking and initiatives to connect with students who may not independently seek professional counseling support.
- [Two years in: Reflecting on counseling during a pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/two-years-in-reflecting-on-counseling-during-a-pandemic/) - Counselors look back on the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the hard-won lessons they have learned along the way.
- [CEO's Message: As always, counselors are adapting to change](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/ceos-message-as-always-counselors-are-adapting-to-change/) - Counselors understood the importance of continuing to provide services in whatever way possible during the pandemic. Rather than simply plugging along, you “plugged in” by using technology when necessary so that you could continue helping others.
- [From the President: Reality](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/03/from-the-president-reality/) - If we are truly honest and actively listening, we come to realize that our history is embedded within and walks beside us every day. And when the salient lessons are not by our side, tugging at us like a toddler, they are smack dab in our faces, taunting and beckoning us to fight on.
- [Why your own therapy is so important as a counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/why-your-own-therapy-is-so-important-as-a-counselor/) - When clinicians shy away from engaging in therapy themselves, they are limiting their ability to be effective counselors.
- [Voice of Experience: A frightening truth in the profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/voice-of-experience-a-frightening-truth-in-the-profession/) - There is a frightening truth in our profession: After we leave our graduate programs and finish supervision, nobody is there to tell us what to do. It is up to us to focus on ethics and, sadly, this is where things start slipping.
- [Addressing the Afghanistan humanitarian crisis](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/addressing-the-afghanistan-humanitarian-crisis/) - Counselors have a significant role to play in helping Afghan refugees and U.S. veterans as they face several challenges and conflicting emotions after the U.S.’s sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan this past summer.
- [Behind the book: Counseling Practice During Phases of a Pandemic Virus](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/behind-the-book-counseling-practice-during-phases-of-a-pandemic-virus/) - The COVID-19 pandemic has been a soul wounding experience for many, and therapeutic post-disaster recovery requires transcending the mind, body and spirit for optimal health in the “new normal.”
- [Peer support, mad pride and disability justice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/peer-support-mad-pride-and-disability-justice/) - Turning toward the critical feedback that these social movements have for the mental health professions can aid counselors in repairing ruptures and strengthening the therapeutic work.
- [One size does not fit all in couples counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/one-size-does-not-fit-all-in-couples-counseling/) - Framework integration provides flexibility to personalize, individualize and sequence the treatment according to the stage of the process, all while safeguarding the therapeutic alliance.
- [Tapping the inner child to bolster couples counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/tapping-the-inner-child-to-bolster-couples-counseling/) - Uncovering the childhood genesis of unresolved wounding, relational patterns and conflicts can help couples reach new levels of understanding and compassion.
- [Counseling From a Survivor’s Perspective: The unrecognized grief of IPV survivors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/counseling-from-a-survivors-perspective-the-unrecognized-grief-of-ipv-survivors/) - Survivors of intimate partner violence experience a range of emotions, but their grief and loss after ending the abusive relationship often go unnoticed and unaddressed.
- [CEO's Message: Love and hope](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/ceos-message-love-and-hope/) - "With all that is currently going on in the world, I also continue to be in awe of the love shown by so many professional counselors and counselor educators through efforts to improve our communities."
- [From the President: Archbishop Desmond Tutu knew love](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/02/from-the-president-archbishop-desmond-tutu-knew-love/) - This February, let’s end the need to possess others, control their narratives and selfishly use fear to harm their growth and development.
- [Building a foundation in premarital counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/building-a-foundation-in-premarital-counseling/) - Professional counselors are blending aspects of couples counseling into premarital work to meet the needs of today’s couples.
- [What the No Surprises Act means for counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/what-the-no-surprises-act-means-for-counselors/) - ACA organized a town hall to discuss the changes counselors need to make to meet new requirements under the No Surprises Act.
- [Stress vs. anxiety vs. burnout: What’s the difference?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/stress-vs-anxiety-vs-burnout-whats-the-difference/) - People often view stress, anxiety and burnout as three interchangeable conditions, but understanding what differentiates them can help in addressing what lies at the heart of each.
- [Voice of Experience: Freud may have been right](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/voice-of-experience-freud-may-have-been-right/) - Regardless of your theoretical orientation, one can’t deny that Freud gave us a lot to think about.
- [How to land an internship you’re excited about in 48 hours or less](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/how-to-land-an-internship-youre-excited-about-in-48-hours-or-less/) - "All it takes is a sincere and genuine email to open a conversation with someone you admire and want to work for. Who knows what will happen?"
- [Making every moment of clinical supervision count](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/making-every-moment-of-clinical-supervision-count/) - A three-step method can help counselor supervisors use their limited time more efficiently while building strong competency in supervisees.
- [Overcoming counselors’ hesitancy to engage with autism](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/overcoming-counselors-hesitancy-to-engage-with-autism/) - It is critical that counselors think of their helping role and what they could do to address the mental health needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
- [Reintegrating into a changed world amid an ongoing pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/reintegrating-into-a-changed-world-amid-an-ongoing-pandemic/) - Despite the challenges and continued strain on many individuals, counselors have succeeded in identifying opportunities for growth, both for clients and the profession.
- [Behind the book: Distance Counseling and Supervision: A Guide for Mental Health Clinicians](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/behind-the-book-distance-counseling-and-supervision-a-guide-for-mental-health-clinicians/) - "Although telebehavioral health will never be able to replace the experience that comes with in-person treatment/therapy, telebehavioral health is essential for the future of professional counseling."
- [The emotional and social health needs of Gen Z](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/the-emotional-and-social-health-needs-of-gen-z/) - Uncertainty and stress have left Generation Z feeling anxious, depressed and isolated and in desperate need of skills that counseling can provide.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Reconnection — Healing the embodied self](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/counseling-connoisseur-reconnection-healing-the-embodied-self/) - Psychosocial, historical and cultural context affects the way clients view their physical selves, but through counseling, they can learn to reconnect and gain a new appreciation for the bodies they inhabit.
- [Wellness: Aiming for an ever-moving target](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/wellness-aiming-for-an-ever-moving-target/) - Counselors must get creative and work collaboratively to help clients address all dimensions of wellness, especially with the pandemic having altered almost every aspect of life.
- [CEO's Message: Vision, action and hope for 2022](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/ceos-message-vision-action-and-hope-for-2022/) - My hope is that 2022 will allow us to reflect on those things that are so important in life, to value the friendships and family that grace us, and to appreciate the opportunities that present themselves to us in the coming months.
- [From the President: The importance of self-love](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2022/01/from-the-president-the-importance-of-self-love/) - When you embrace and unconditionally love the being you are, then no one can disrupt that narrative and take it away from you.
- [Our most-read articles of 2021](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/our-most-read-articles-of-2021/) - What were counselors reading in 2021? Our most-read articles dealt with trauma, grief and loss, and a range of mental health issues connected to the pandemic.
- [School counseling and COVID-19: ‘We can’t go back to normal’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/school-counseling-and-covid-19-we-cant-go-back-to-normal/) - Despite the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, school counselors continue to find creative ways to meet students’ mental health needs in an ever-changing environment.
- [Voice of Experience: Betrayal](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/voice-of-experience-betrayal/) - This word is most often applied in the case of infidelity in a relationship, but I’ve learned there are many other ways in which we feel betrayed.
- [Returning to campus with a wellness focus](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/returning-to-campus-with-a-wellness-focus/) - Youngstown State University has been intentional about fostering student engagement and wellness as the campus resumes in-person classes and activities.
- [Real talk](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/real-talk/) - Better communication for couples requires going well beyond word choice to focus on the practice of emotional regulation skills.
- [Play (in) therapy: Approaches to working with young children](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/play-in-therapy-approaches-to-working-with-young-children/) - Play is highly facilitative when included in a child’s counseling, but it is important to understand the difference between including play in sessions with young clients and true play therapy.
- [Growing percentage of American adults are living single](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/growing-percentage-of-american-adults-are-living-single/) - More and more American adults are choosing not to get married or live with a romantic partner. How can the counseling profession best meet the unique mental health needs of this growing demographic?
- [From the President: Who holds you accountable?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/from-the-president-who-holds-you-accountable/) - Who’s checking you, boo? And if they are, are you listening? Does it make you consider changing your thoughts and actions?
- [CEO's Message: Achievements in spite of challenges](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/12/ceos-message-achievements-in-spite-of-challenges/) - Any column referencing the good news of 2021 would not be complete without mentioning the great work being done by the members of ACA. You learned how to adapt so that you could continue serving as valuable resources and advocates for your clients and students.
- [Bringing pornography use out of the shadows](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/bringing-pornography-use-out-of-the-shadows/) - Counselors can offer a nonjudgmental space for clients to authentically discuss a subject they have likely never talked about openly with anyone else.
- [Voice of Experience: Three rules for identifying abnormal child sexual behaviors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/voice-of-experience-three-rules-for-identifying-abnormal-child-sexual-behaviors/) - As a counselor, I must be able to identify sexual behaviors that are common — as well as those that may not be normal but aren’t unusual either — and put a parent’s mind at ease while also respecting their culture and belief systems.
- [Culture-centered counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/culture-centered-counseling/) - Advocates argue that for the profession to evolve and better serve the needs of diverse clients, it must embrace counseling theories that address lingering gaps in more traditional approaches.
- [Helping counselors who serve sexual and gender minority youth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/helping-counselors-who-serve-sexual-and-gender-minority-youth/) - Harms to sexual and gender minority youth are increasing because of an apparent lack of clinical competence and awareness on the part of professional counselors. Discovering what counselors are thinking about ethical consideration for serving SGMY might help clinicians and educators overcome inadequacies and increase therapeutic progress for SGMY clientele.
- [Life after sport](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/life-after-sport/) - The application of existential psychology can help athletes who are wrestling with a loss of identity and meaning after suffering a career-ending injury.
- [Four lessons in building therapeutic relationships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/four-lessons-in-building-therapeutic-relationships/) - The promise of the therapeutic relationship is at the center of client change, but it also provides a North Star to counseling interns and other beginning counselors who are still trying to find their way.
- [Women and alcohol: Drinking to cope](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/women-and-alcohol-drinking-to-cope/) - With rates of binge drinking and alcohol use among women on the rise, counselors need to be sensitive to how trauma and shame can intersect with substance use disorder in female clients.
- [From the President: Reclaiming heritage and giving loss its proper due](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/from-the-president-reclaiming-heritage-and-giving-loss-its-proper-due/) - Loss inevitably is the precursor to grief. One grieves because one has lost something that had significant meaning in one’s life. The switching of the terms was very eye-opening and deliberate to me from a counseling perspective. Perhaps it is true that in the past, I have tried to treat the grief and, in turn, have not paid enough attention to the loss.
- [CEO's Message: Being thankful year-round](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/11/ceos-message-being-thankful-year-round/) - When I reflect on what I am thankful for, in addition to my family, I also include the terrific group of staff people who are dedicated to helping make the counseling profession even better.
- [Adapting evidence-based interventions for telehealth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/adapting-evidence-based-interventions-for-telehealth/) - Learning how to use technology to successfully implement evidence-based counseling interventions is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
- [Perspectives on grief and loss](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/perspectives-on-grief-and-loss/) - The experience of grief and loss is universal; the circumstances surrounding it and the way people understand and process it are anything but.
- [Voice of Experience: A not-so-simple question](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/voice-of-experience-a-not-so-simple-question/) - Should counselors contact their clients by email or text to confirm appointments? While it seems like the answer is an obvious "yes," there is more to consider.
- [Addressing sexual violence among teens](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/addressing-sexual-violence-among-teens/) - We have to educate our youth in all things concerning sex, not just the parts that are comfortable to discuss. Then and only then can we begin to end the cycle of teen dating violence and sexual violence.
- [The sensitivity of boundary setting in collectivist cultures](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/the-sensitivity-of-boundary-setting-in-collectivist-cultures/) - Counselors must understand that relationship boundaries considered ‘healthy’ by the dominant culture in the U.S. don’t automatically apply to immigrant and bicultural clients.
- [Six steps for addressing behavioral addictions in clinical work](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/six-steps-for-addressing-behavioral-addictions-in-clinical-work/) - It is imperative that all counselors, regardless of setting, are able to recognize and respond appropriately to behavioral addictions.
- [From the President: Everything is not a cause](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/from-the-president-everything-is-not-a-cause/) - Sometimes when we open our mouths to fight a cause, we are more annoying than we are impactful. We often jump on bandwagons without receiving context or knowing why we are doing a certain thing. Everything is not a cause! We sometimes protest too much.
- [CEO's Message: Change happens](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/10/ceos-message-change-happens/) - "... Your ACA is on the move. We have been learning to adapt to the changing needs of professional counselors, counselor educators and graduate students. We do this by asking you what you want. We also do this by hearing directly from you. That is something that will not change. We want to know how we can meet the professional needs that you have."
- [Fostering healing and community through an art and wellness magazine](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/fostering-healing-and-community-through-an-art-and-wellness-magazine/) - An online art and wellness magazine does more than just highlight students’ creativity; it creates a therapeutic space for students, counselors and community to come together.
- [Tapping into the benefits of EMDR](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/tapping-into-the-benefits-of-emdr/) - EMDR can be a powerful therapy for clients, but first counselors must learn how — and when — to use it effectively.
- [Voice of Experience: Three pieces of anger](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/voice-of-experience-three-pieces-of-anger/) - Early in my career, “anger management” with clients involved a set of techniques such as deep breathing and the development of varied coping skills. While those are certainly important areas on which to focus, I was missing a piece of the puzzle at the time that is also critical in managing anger.
- [Assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning: A map for the journey ahead](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/assessment-diagnosis-and-treatment-planning-a-map-for-the-journey-ahead/) - Competently assessing client needs and determining an accurate treatment plan are skills that counselors need to continually develop and improve throughout their career.
- [African Americans and the reluctance to seek treatment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/african-americans-and-the-reluctance-to-seek-treatment/) - When placed in historical context, it becomes easy to understand why many Black Americans remain skeptical that mental health professionals are truly here to help them.
- [Humility wins](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/humility-wins/) - Inside the walls of a therapy office, there is not a single human on this planet who is (or would have been) the best therapist for everyone. Do not be anxious about all the things you are not as a counselor; rather, stand tall in exactly what you are.
- [Trauma stabilization through polyvagal theory and DBT](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/trauma-stabilization-through-polyvagal-theory-and-dbt/) - ‘Developing balance therapy’ helps provide clients with the necessary skills to stabilize or self-regulate so that they can proceed on to deeper trauma work.
- [Yes, and … improv can be therapeutic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/yes-and-improv-can-be-therapeutic/) - They say laughter is the best medicine, and improv does make clients and counselors laugh, but in the process, it also teaches life skills that can improve mental and emotional well-being.
- [Internet gaming disorder: A real mental health issue on the rise in adolescents and young adults](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/internet-gaming-disorder-a-real-mental-health-issue-on-the-rise-in-adolescents-and-young-adults/) - Using games as a coping strategy for other underlying issues can lead to an addiction, as real life is replaced with a virtual and more favorable one.
- [CEO's Message: School-based counselors will have their hands full this fall](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/ceos-message-school-based-counselors-will-have-their-hands-full-this-fall/) - With all that we will see students experiencing on K-12 and college campuses this fall, it is clear that mental health professionals working in school settings will be in high demand. Let the staff and leaders at ACA know what you need.
- [From the President: What is really in our power to do?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/09/from-the-president-what-is-really-in-our-power-to-do/) - "Yes, I am a counselor, but at times like these, when someone was hurting silently, and they were family and therefore 'under my care,' but not in ways in which I am trained to care, I come to a standstill."
- [Hard at work](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/hard-at-work/) - Counselors can be a source of support for clients whose mental health is affecting — or even derailing — their work life.
- [Suicidality among children and adolescents](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/suicidality-among-children-and-adolescents/) - The isolation and stress of COVID-19 have exacerbated a preexisting upward trend in serious mental health problems in those under 18.
- [Voice of Experience: The ughly child](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/voice-of-experience-the-ughly-child/) - Ughly children demand others’ energy. They break things. They often rub people — including their peers — the wrong way. That is what makes them “ughly” — they cause us to go “ugh.”
- [Counseling Today recognized with five awards](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/counseling-today-recognized-with-five-awards/) - The Counseling Today staff won a total of five awards in APEX 2021, the 33rd annual awards program recognizing excellence in publishing.
- [Learning about the experiences of canine-assisted therapy handlers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/learning-about-the-experiences-of-canine-assisted-therapy-handlers/) - With animals included in therapeutic interactions, counselors have an additional model of empathy-like responses to present to clients. Animals in animal-assisted therapy settings can supplement traditional therapeutic interactions by demonstrating positive behaviors with humans who are experiencing negative emotions.
- [A survivor's lens on counseling and intimate partner violence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/a-survivors-lens-on-counseling-and-intimate-partner-violence/) - Clients who have experienced domestic violence need to find safety and validation in the therapeutic relationship, not be pressed to answer questions about why they didn’t leave their abuser.
- [A firsthand experience of grieving pet loss](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/a-firsthand-experience-of-grieving-pet-loss/) - A counselor turns to Worden’s tasks of mourning as he tries to navigate the nonlinear and sometimes unpredictable course of his own personal grief.
- [Restoring relationships with survivors of human trafficking](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/restoring-relationships-with-survivors-of-human-trafficking/) - The therapeutic relationship helps provide a healthy model and counterpoint to the disconnection and uncertainty survivors experienced when they were trafficked.
- [Supporting AAPI communities: 'We still need to do more'](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/08/supporting-aapi-communities-we-still-need-to-do-more/) - ACA organized a roundtable discussion with congressional and state representatives on policies that can help reduce anti-Asian racism and discrimination.
- [From the President: A time of intense difficulty](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/from-the-president-a-time-of-intense-difficulty/) - As we are suffering through things, we may not believe there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the truth of the matter is that we often emerge on the other side of trouble better and stronger for having persevered through it. There is a lesson to be learned somewhere in our hardships if we are truly listening — actively listening — and ready to hear it.
- [CEO's Message: Not a return to normal: Rising to new challenges](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/ceos-message-not-a-return-to-normal-rising-to-new-challenges/) - "We are entering a renaissance of counselor education, preparation and training."
- [Voice of Experience: Proceed with caution when advocating on clients’ behalf](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/voice-of-experience-proceed-with-caution-when-advocating-on-clients-behalf/) - Counselors may want to help clients by providing court testimony, writing letters of documentation and other methods of advocacy, but clinicians should be careful not to extend themselves beyond the limits of their training and expertise.
- [Cultivating space for inclusivity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/cultivating-space-for-inclusivity/) - S. Kent Butler is no stranger to courageous conversations and social justice advocacy, and as ACA's 70th president, he plans to use these skills to create a more inclusive counseling environment.
- [Counselors as agents of change](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/counselors-as-agents-of-change/) - Bernadine Craft, an ACA member and former state legislator, urges other counselors to speak out for those whose voices go unheard.
- [Game, set, mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/game-set-mental-health/) - Athletes face unrealistic expectations to be unbreakable — both physically and mentally — but they are susceptible to the same mental health problems as the rest of us.
- [A hero/heroine’s journey: A road map to trauma healing](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/a-hero-heroines-journey-a-road-map-to-trauma-healing/) - Counselors can encourage clients on a journey to transform their pain and fear into a guiding wisdom that leads them toward self-awareness and emotional growth.
- [Taking a strengths-based approach to suicide assessment and treatment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/taking-a-strengths-based-approach-to-suicide-assessment-and-treatment/) - By embracing a holistic, strengths-based and wellness orientation in their work with clients who may be suicidal, counselors can improve on traditional approaches to suicide assessment and treatment.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Trauma-informed return from COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/counseling-connoisseur-trauma-informed-return-from-covid-19/) - As trauma therapists, we recognize that we cannot be expected to resume pre-COVID activities at full capacity. We can help our clients and one another understand the changes and aid in a trauma informed re-entry.
- [From the President: Shaking it up and tapping you in](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/from-the-president-shaking-it-up-and-tapping-you-in/) - Given where we have been, I know without a doubt that we are on an upward trajectory and destined for transformative justice. Counselors united! Ready to #ShakeItUp? Well, join me in making a difference because I am tapping you in. We are the game changers, so tap someone else in and begin the metamorphosis.
- [From the CEO: Continuous improvement as a new year begins](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/07/from-the-ceo-continuous-improvement-as-a-new-year-begins/) - Moving forward, ACA must take what it learned from operating during a pandemic to maximize the services, resources, representation and advocacy we provide to the counseling profession. We do this so that you can better serve your clients, students and communities.
- [Voice of Experience: Why would he lie?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/voice-of-experience-why-would-he-lie/) - There are many reasons why our clients deceive us, but a common one is because they are testing our trustworthiness. How easy it is to test us with one story when there is a much more important story they really need to tell.
- [Pride in practice: The journey towards LGBTQ+ counseling competence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/pride-in-practice-the-journey-towards-lgbtq-counseling-competence/) - We must all become queer-competent counselors and the agents of change in our increasingly progressive field.
- [Counseling while Black](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/counseling-while-black/) - Counselors share what it is like to experience the world as a Black person while working in a profession that remains predominantly white.
- [White House: Counselors have role to play in fostering trust of COVID-19 vaccine](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/white-house-counselors-have-role-to-play-in-fostering-trust-of-covid-19-vaccine/) - U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says the key to increasing vaccination rates is for people who are uncertain about the COVID-19 vaccine to hear from people they trust, including professional counselors.
- [There’s nothing small about trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/theres-nothing-small-about-trauma/) - Trauma doesn’t have to revolve around a large-scale, life-shattering event to have a profound and negative effect on clients’ mental health.
- [Therapy services: Money talk](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/therapy-services-money-talk/) - Why isn’t mental health therapy more affordable?
- [Team from Montclair State University wins ACA's 2021 Doctoral level ethics competition](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/team-from-montclair-state-university-wins-acas-2021-doctoral-level-ethics-competition/) - Winning doctoral level team celebrated for essay entry highlighting a counseling scenario using the ACA Code of Ethics.
- [Counselors and the urgent care clinic: A new accessible delivery option](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/counselors-and-the-urgent-care-clinic-a-new-accessible-delivery-option/) - The addition of providing mental health services in urgent/immediate care facilities would expand exposure and treatment to reduce the prevalence of mental health disorders —disorders that cost billions financially through expenditures and loss of work.
- [What discomfort can teach you](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/what-discomfort-can-teach-you/) - Allow discomfort to be part of your experience. Welcome it fully from the heart center. At the core of your pain or fear, you will grow and you will learn.
- [Team from New Jersey City University wins ACA's 2021 Masters level ethics competition](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/team-from-new-jersey-city-university-wins-acas-2021-masters-level-ethics-competition/) - Winning masters level team celebrated for essay entry highlighting a counseling scenario using the ACA Code of Ethics.
- [Supporting disclosure for adult male survivors of child sexual abuse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/supporting-disclosure-for-adult-male-survivors-of-child-sexual-abuse/) - Through first understanding the narratives and other barriers that discourage survivors from disclosing, counselors can provide a foundation of support and empowerment that leads clients toward healing.
- [Maggie Latta-Milord of North Carolina State University wins grand prize in 2021 Future School Counselor Essay Contest](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/maggie-latta-milord-of-north-carolina-state-university-wins-grand-prize-in-2021-future-school-counselor-essay-contest/) - ACA celebrates the top essayist in Future School Counselor Graduate Student Essay Competition
- [Celebrating Man’s Search for Meaning](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/celebrating-mans-search-for-meaning/) - On the 75th anniversary of this acclaimed memoir of finding meaning and hope even in the midst of great suffering, Viktor Frankl’s ideas continue to influence and inform the field of mental health.
- [Adriana Labarta of Florida Atlantic University wins grand prize in 2021 Tomorrow’s Counselor Essay Contest](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/adriana-labarta-of-florida-atlantic-university-wins-grand-prize-in-2021-tomorrows-counselor-essay-contest/) - ACA celebrates the top essayist in Tomorrow’s Counselor Graduate Student Essay Competition
- [Responding to the increase of hate crimes against Asians and Asian Americans](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/responding-to-the-increase-of-hate-crimes-against-asians-and-asian-americans/) - To provide stronger support to this community, it helps for counselors to understand the factors and prejudices that have historically contributed to anti-Asian sentiment and discrimination.
- [When the behavior of others negatively affects clients’ mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/when-the-behavior-of-others-negatively-affects-clients-mental-health/) - How can counselors help clients when their mental health and coping abilities are being thwarted by the unhealthy behaviors of their loved ones?
- [CEO's Message: With gratitude for those serving in our ACA community](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/ceos-message-with-gratitude-for-those-serving-in-our-aca-community/) - We can be discouraged by many things, but I find myself constantly reenergized by what I know you are all doing to make our communities, our nation and, really, our world a better place. You are what keeps me going, and for that I am grateful.
- [From the President: Ingenuity and perseverance](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/06/from-the-president-ingenuity-and-perseverance/) - In the spirit of resilience, as we pivot out of the darkness and into the light, everything is possible. The sky is no longer the limit. On Feb. 18, a NASA helicopter named Ingenuity, attached to a rover named Perseverance, landed in the Jezero crater on Mars. On April 19, Ingenuity took its first of
- [Listening to voices of color in the LGBTQ+ community](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/05/listening-to-voices-of-color-in-the-lgbtq-community/) - Those who are part of communities across the BIPOC spectrum face increased oppression and unique challenges because of the intersection of their cultural and LGBTQ+ identities.
- [Voice of Experience: The power of a moment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/05/voice-of-experience-the-power-of-a-moment/) - Every time a client comes through my office door, I have my agenda and activities ready to go, but it may be just one serendipitous moment — maybe even a moment I don’t recognize at the time — that changes them forever.
- [Investigating the impact of barbershops on African American males’ mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/05/investigating-the-impact-of-barbershops-on-african-american-males-mental-health/) - Are barbers untrained solution-focused counselors?
- [Working with clients who are angry at God](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/05/working-with-clients-who-are-angry-at-god/) - Counselors can use a CBT approach to help clients of spiritual and religious faith when their expectations of God don’t match their experiences.
- [From the President: Childhood development through a songwriter’s lens](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/from-the-president-childhood-development-through-a-songwriters-lens/) - “Let Go and Have a Little Fun” — Lele Rose A year of shutdown finally brings May flowers. When I heard that every adult in the U.S. should be able to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by May, I realized the keys to life outside of our homes would soon unlock doors that have been
- [CEO's Message: The importance of professional counselors: Way more than a job](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/ceos-message-the-importance-of-professional-counselors-way-more-than-a-job/) - As a society, we have much to learn. As a profession, counselors have much to do. The path involves the following: question, discuss, reflect, counsel, grow. If this can be done with patience, respect, grace and openness, I think the importance and influence of the counseling profession will continue to flourish.
- [Voice of Experience: We are all writers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/voice-of-experience-we-are-all-writers/) - Words are carefully chosen, and my movements, facial expressions and use of silence in counseling sessions are my punctuation. If you aren’t doing something similar, you should be.
- [Pandemic telehealth: What have we learned?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/pandemic-telehealth-what-have-we-learned/) - Many counselors have changed their perspective on telehealth after a year spent interacting with clients via video, but that doesn’t mean a return to in-person sessions will be any less welcome.
- [‘Color of Money’ columnist offers counselors tips for financial health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/color-of-money-columnist-offers-counselors-tips-for-financial-health/) - Financial expert Michelle Singletary advises ACA’s Virtual Conference Experience audience on steps to take to improve their financial health and attitude toward money.
- [Feeling the strain: The effects of COVID-19 on children and adolescents](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/feeling-the-strain-the-effects-of-covid-19-on-children-and-adolescents/) - Counselors are trying to help young clients who may not know how to talk about or even recognize the myriad ways the pandemic is affecting them.
- [The future of telehealth: Looking ahead](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/the-future-of-telehealth-looking-ahead/) - Will counseling clients via video remain a viable option for practitioners as pandemic restrictions lessen and many return to in-person office settings?
- [A time to make dreams come true](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/a-time-to-make-dreams-come-true/) - "It is not that I need to wear a sign around my neck reading 'Bipolar II right here,' announcing it to every stranger I meet, but do I want to live in a world where, if that was my choosing, I could do so without being judged or shamed into the darkness."
- [Bassey Ikpi shares her gradual journey toward a healthy relationship with therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/bassey-ikpi-shares-her-gradual-journey-toward-a-healthy-relationship-with-therapy/) - The acclaimed writer and spoken word poet tells an ACA Virtual Conference Experience audience why reducing the stigma surrounding mental health diagnosis and treatment has become part of her life’s mission.
- [Counselors weigh in on weighted blankets](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/counselors-weigh-in-on-weighted-blankets/) - Do weighted blankets, often touted as a way to ease stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and other troubles, really help? Professional counselors share their thoughts.
- [COVID-19 and the ‘casino effect’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/covid-19-and-the-casino-effect/) - Staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic has many parallels to the numbing, timeless experience of being on a casino floor. If recognized, we might use these observations to inform our understanding of some of the mental health pitfalls that our clients are currently experiencing.
- [The intersection of childhood trauma and addiction](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/the-intersection-of-childhood-trauma-and-addiction/) - In being aware of the vulnerability to addiction for those affected by adverse childhood experiences, professional counselors can play a pivotal role in prevention and early intervention.
- [Incorporating interprofessional education and practice in counselor development](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/incorporating-interprofessional-education-and-practice-in-counselor-development/) - A growing need exists to ensure that future counselors possess the skills and mindset required to easily transition to working as part of interdisciplinary teams.
- [Yalom discusses power of therapeutic relationships at ACA Virtual Conference Experience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/yalom-discusses-power-of-therapeutic-relationships-at-aca-virtual-conference-experience/) - The renowned psychiatrist and author says he finds new meaning in the power of existential therapy and relational connection after the death of his wife.
- [Money on the mind](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/money-on-the-mind/) - Financial therapists tackle one of Americans’ top sources of stress by helping clients conquer their monetary demons.
- [Opening keynote underscores a holistic approach to self-care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/opening-keynote-underscores-a-holistic-approach-to-self-care/) - ACA kicked off its 2021 Virtual Conference Experience with a keynote panel on counselor self-care.
- [Yoga-informed self-care strategies to help counselors avoid burnout](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/04/yoga-informed-self-care-strategies-to-help-counselors-avoid-burnout/) - Yoga-informed self-care strategies give counselors the tools they need to avoid burnout and thrive for years to come.
- [CEO's Message: Honoring and celebrating professional counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/ceos-message-honoring-and-celebrating-professional-counselors/) - If there were ever a time when our communities, nation and world needed the amazing work of professional counselors, it is now.
- [From the President: A perfect time to advocate for counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/from-the-president-a-perfect-time-to-advocate-for-counseling/) - Professional counselors possess a multitude of skills. We are practitioners, educators, business owners, executives, writers, authors and researchers. We observe, measure/assess, question, adapt and a whole lot more.
- [Starting a counseling career in the time of COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/starting-a-counseling-career-in-the-time-of-covid-19/) - Landing that first job after graduation is rarely without challenges, but what happens when the beginning of your counseling career coincides with a global pandemic?
- [Voice of Experience: Spokes of a wheel: A lesson in physics](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/voice-of-experience-spokes-of-a-wheel-a-lesson-in-physics/) - Our ability to cope with stress, frustrations, anger, relationship problems and grief — all magnified by the pandemic — is based on multiple strategies working together. The more the load is shared, the better.
- [Finding balance in counseling private practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/finding-balance-in-counseling-private-practice/) - Counselors who enter private practice often find themselves confronting the push and pull between their desire to provide empathic, client-focused care and the need to turn a profit.
- [Pro bono counseling: How to make it work](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/pro-bono-counseling-how-to-make-it-work/) - Counseling clients for a reduced fee or for free – pro bono – in a private practice setting comes with some ethical caveats.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Navigating the losses of COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/counseling-connoisseur-navigating-the-losses-of-covid-19/) - The truth is that even when it is safe to resume previous activities, it will never be the same. It can’t be. Too much has happened.
- [Loving what may sting: In literature and in therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/loving-what-may-sting-in-literature-and-in-therapy/) - Counselors, what's on your bookshelf? The good books you read offer the same opportunity as therapy does: to connect with your emotions and your humanity.
- [Enhancing the genogram to incorporate a narrative perspective](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/enhancing-the-genogram-to-incorporate-a-narrative-perspective/) - A merging of chronology and genogram pushes clients toward rich insights regarding the identity of key moments in their lives and the reasons behind them.
- [Five regrets of the counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/five-regrets-of-the-counselor/) - It is important for counselors to stop and consider whether their perspectives and patterns are forging paths of regret or paths of health and healing.
- [Master conflict therapy as a critical component of couples and sex therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/master-conflict-therapy-as-a-critical-component-of-couples-and-sex-therapy/) - Master conflict therapy provides counselors with an effective framework for going deeper with couples who present with a wide variety of relational and sexual problems.
- [How COVID-19 is affecting our fears, phobias and anxieties](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/how-covid-19-is-affecting-our-fears-phobias-and-anxieties/) - The pandemic has given rise to some very specific worries that threaten to exert control over clients’ thoughts and behaviors, leaving counselors to rethink how they approach treatment.
- [CEO's Message: Counseling in a post-traditional world](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/ceos-message-counseling-in-a-post-traditional-world/) - We have entered a new environment, one in which we will still depend on our life experiences but also need to embrace how we will operate with those whom we interact. For counselors, this encompasses clients and students who have been affected and shaped by the pandemic.
- [From the President: An expanded formula  for life and career happiness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/03/from-the-president-an-expanded-formula-for-life-and-career-happiness/) - As we look toward planning the next phase of our lives in a post-pandemic world, it seems to me it will be important to take a holistic approach that considers the emotional, social, physical, economic and spiritual values of one’s life, coupled with work and leisure activities. In doing so, a convergence or intersectionality occurs.
- [Working our way through a pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/working-our-way-through-a-pandemic/) - COVID-19 has largely redefined where people work, how people work and the workplace challenges that confront employees as they try to make ends meet.
- [Counseling outside the box](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/counseling-outside-the-box/) - Counselors are always looking for creative and inviting ways to better connect with clients, explore emotions, encourage new insights and reflections, and spur personal growth and development.
- [Voice of Experience: Managing requests for client information](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/voice-of-experience-managing-requests-for-client-information/) - Without experience, it might be easy to be intimidated by police, angry parents or clever attorneys. But you cannot be arrested (as I was threatened on one occasion) for following counseling ethics and HIPAA requirements regarding client information. In fact, you will likely be in greater trouble if you concede to these “requests” and thus violate our code of ethics.
- [Online role-playing games as group therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/online-role-playing-games-as-group-therapy-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/) - Role-playing games have long been an effective group therapeutic modality, but creating a shared imaginary world presents unique opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we are unable to safely convene in person.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Hope in action and mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/counseling-connoisseur-hope-in-action-and-mental-health/) - As we forge ahead, recovery from the trauma of COVID-19 will take time, patience and work. Yet, there are signs of change. Glimmers of hope. Flickers of light from the shards of a very broken year.
- [Delivering difficult news: From adults to future adults](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/delivering-difficult-news-from-adults-to-future-adults/) - By not telling children about an event, we risk the likelihood of them hearing false information from someone else or finding out about it in an uncontrolled way.
- [Exploring class privilege in counselor education](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/exploring-class-privilege-in-counselor-education/) - Even as economic disparities have widened, issues of class privilege have gone largely unaddressed in counseling programs, creating real barriers for entry into the profession for all but the most economically privileged.
- [Addressing the invisibility of Arab American issues in higher education](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/addressing-the-invisibility-of-arab-american-issues-in-higher-education/) - To establish culturally responsive care, counselors must consider both the macro-level political stress that is causing these students harm and the micro-level challenges that affect their psychological well-being.
- [No rest for the bullied](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/no-rest-for-the-bullied/) - The pandemic — and a frayed political climate — have been at the center of various instances of workplace bullying.
- [CEO's Message: Certainty is not guaranteed](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/ceos-message-certainty-is-not-guaranteed/) - "While 2020 was the year of surprises, 2021 will be a year of uncertainty. In fact, I think the only certainty this year is knowing that it will be filled with uncertainty."
- [From the President: The healthy workplace](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/02/from-the-president-the-healthy-workplace/) - The intersectionality of career and employment counseling with mental wellness has never been clearer. As we look over the themes that are applicable to the workplace, most if not all of them can be applied in any counseling setting.
- [Gone but not missed: When grief is complex](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/gone-but-not-missed-when-grief-is-complex/) - Clients still need to process the death of a person with whom they had a rocky, toxic or strained relationship, even if they don’t express feelings of sadness or recognize the death as a true loss.
- [Far away, so close: Negotiating relationships during COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/far-away-so-close-negotiating-relationships-during-covid-19/) - Counselors are helping couples and families survive working, learning, playing and coexisting in their chaotically busy homes, where privacy is virtually nonexistent and conflict is easily flared.
- [Voice of Experience: Violations of trust](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/voice-of-experience-violations-of-trust/) - "An ethical 'oopsie' that violates trust might never be known to anyone else. But then again, it might. Even the slightest breach might damage a client’s trust to the point that they will never seek counseling again. And that, my dear colleagues, is unforgivable."
- [Using the ‘tap in dedication’ technique](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/using-the-tap-in-dedication-technique/) - A technique adapted from the world of theater may offer counselors a helpful way to deal with sensitive subjects, remain present and engaged with clients, and still leave work at the door at the end of each day.
- [‘But my clients don’t get eating disorders’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/but-my-clients-dont-get-eating-disorders/) - Even if they don’t specialize in eating disorders treatment, counselors need to be aware of common dilemmas related to clients who struggle with eating, weight and body image.
- [The darker side of sleep](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/the-darker-side-of-sleep/) - For many people, getting a good night’s sleep could depend on the identification and treatment of trauma-induced insomnia.
- [The forces that could shape counseling’s future](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/the-forces-that-could-shape-counselings-future/) - Forty diverse counselors give consideration to what might pose the most significant change, challenge or opportunity to the profession over the next decade.
- [Counselors look back on 2020](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/counselors-look-back-on-2020/) - With 2020 in the rearview mirror, what advice would professional counselors give to their colleagues? Practitioners reflect on the challenges and successes, losses and unexpected gifts of 2020 -- a year like no other.
- [From the President: Healing, health and happiness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/from-the-president-healing-health-and-happiness/) - Rather than dwelling on how we have been emotionally drained to the point of exhaustion (and navigating this new world of Zoom fatigue), let’s embrace the future through the practice of camaraderie, outreach, caring and bonding.
- [CEO's Message: Running from 2020 …](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2021/01/ceos-message-running-from-2020/) - Let’s be hopeful for 2021. Let’s be joyful that we are entering a new year. And let’s make sure that communities, the media and public policymakers truly understand what a key role professional counselors can play in the lives of those seeking help.
- [Our most-read articles of 2020](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/our-most-read-articles-of-2020/) - What were counselors reading in 2020? Many of Counseling Today’s most-clicked articles reflect the upheaval and uncertainty felt throughout the year.
- [Grief and the COVID-19 pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/grief-and-the-covid-19-pandemic/) - The COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example of how understanding the different types of grief, especially original grief, can be helpful to us when we experience current daily triggers, because our deep grief awareness can better inform the tools we implement to ground ourselves.
- [Voice of Experience: Intake: Avoid wasting paper — and clients’ time](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/voice-of-experience-intake-avoid-wasting-paper-and-clients-time/) - I’m suggesting that you examine your paperwork. If we are going to ask a client to do something — complete homework, see a physician, change life habits or, yes, even fill out pieces of paper — we need to have a good reason for it.
- [Paths to wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/paths-to-wellness/) - A practical model for integrative self-care can help counselor clinicians, supervisors, counselor educators and organizational leaders in their efforts to further wellness development.
- [Turning your emotions into positive actions: A psychological approach to COVID-19 challenges](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/turning-your-emotions-into-positive-actions-a-psychological-approach-to-covid-19-challenges/) - As you think about the realities and uncertainties of our world during the crisis we are all facing, be mindful of the different ways that you can change your emotions into positive actions, starting with being kind to others and being kind to yourself.
- [Case conceptualization: Key to highly effective counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/case-conceptualization-key-to-highly-effective-counseling/) - Novice and experienced counselors alike too often ignore this process for understanding and explaining a client’s presenting issues and guiding the counseling process.
- [Perinatal health: Education and screening in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/perinatal-health-education-and-screening-in-counseling/) - Professional counselors can support perinatal clients and aid them in finding and advocating for appropriate support services during and after pregnancy -- boosting protective factors both for mother and baby.
- [CEO's Message: So long and good riddance, 2020](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/ceos-message-so-long-and-good-riddance-2020/) - "As we begin to put 2020 in the rearview mirror, take a moment to reflect on how you overcame challenges this year, and then know that the resilience you possess truly makes you an even better professional counselor."
- [From the President: Renewing focus on self-care and wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/12/from-the-president-renewing-focus-on-self-care-and-wellness/) - As we coast into 2021, it has never been more imperative that we practice what we teach and advocate as counselors. To be our “healthiest self” by participating in daily exercise and incorporating wellness strategies into our lifestyle is of paramount importance.
- [Seeing the whole gifted child](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/seeing-the-whole-gifted-child/) - Counselors must avoid common misconceptions and take a holistic view of gifted children to better assess and treat their mental health needs.
- [Wellness: Getting beyond the buzzword](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/wellness-getting-beyond-the-buzzword/) - Wellness is a framework that allows counselors to treat clients holistically and leverage their strengths to address not only presenting concerns but also overall life satisfaction.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Counselors, pets and COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/counseling-connoisseur-counselors-pets-and-covid-19/) - The human-animal connection is an interdependent relationship and one that can be especially healing during difficult times.
- [Voice of Experience: Caution for second-language speakers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/voice-of-experience-caution-for-second-language-speakers/) - If you serve populations that speak languages other than English, finding a local translator and training that translator for the counseling room is critical.
- [DXM: A drug in plain sight](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/dxm-a-drug-in-plain-sight/) - A potentially dangerous drug found in most over-the-counter cough medicines is more popular than opioids among teenagers, largely because it is legal, inexpensive and easy to obtain.
- [@Tech Counselor: Fighting the fake news and misinformation onslaught](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/tech-counselor-fighting-the-fake-news-and-misinformation-onslaught/) - For most of us, the positive aspects of social media certainly outweigh the negative ones, so it is more important than ever that we consider our own media literacy to differentiate facts from fake news and misinformation.
- [Integrating substance dependence and pain management into counseling approaches](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/integrating-substance-abuse-and-pain-management-into-counseling-approaches/) - Counselors can create a safe place for clients to speak openly as they try to navigate the complicated landscape of their struggles with substance use and pain management issues.
- [CEO's Message: It’s a critical time for self-care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/ceos-message-its-a-critical-time-for-self-care/) - "... In order to keep going and to help others thrive, I encourage you to continue practicing the basics of self-care. Just as you are passionate about helping others find their way, you must know when it is time to take a break, consult with colleagues or even stop counseling long enough to recharge."
- [From the President: Reasons to celebrate: Career development and mentorship](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/11/from-the-president-reasons-to-celebrate-career-development-and-mentorship/) - While every day is an opportunity for counselors to help clients with career exploration and personal goals, the month of November recognizes the importance of lifelong career development through an annual observance. Collaboration among counselors, teachers, students, families, communities, schools and businesses is a cornerstone throughout the month.
- [Healing attachment wounds by being cared for and caring for others](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/healing-attachment-wounds-by-being-cared-for-and-caring-for-others/) - When working with individuals who have experienced either “small t” or “large T” trauma, it is essential to engage them in action-based responses that provide a healing alternative to the fight, flight or freeze reaction.
- [How (not) to isolate during  the COVID-19 pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/how-not-to-isolate-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/) - When almost everyone is practicing isolation or experiencing its effects to some degree, how do counselors assess and respond to isolating behaviors among their clients?
- [Addiction: Paving the way to recovery](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/addiction-paving-the-way-to-recovery/) - The road to recovery is rarely smooth, but counselors can help clients process the pitfalls that led them to addiction and avoid the potholes that can lead to relapse.
- [Fear and anxiety at the ballot box](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/fear-and-anxiety-at-the-ballot-box/) - Presidential elections always inspire strong feelings such as anticipation, a sense of hope and sometimes anger, but the pandemic and general chaos of 2020 have tightened the public’s tension. Voters are looking to counselors to help them cope with their anxiety and fear.
- [ACA legislative briefing tackles racism, police reform and mental health issues](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/aca-legislative-briefing-tackles-racism-police-reform-and-mental-health-issues/) - ACA recently held a briefing on racism, police reform and mental health for association members, legislative staff and advocates who are working on bills currently before the 116th Congress.
- [Pop-top cans: Ensuring services truly support those experiencing homelessness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/pop-top-cans-ensuring-services-truly-support-those-experiencing-homelessness/) - Counselors can create spaces for individuals to work through feelings of guilt, shame, helplessness, hopelessness and fear associated with simply surviving from day to day.
- [Social media and active listening skills don’t seem to mix](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/social-media-and-active-listening-skills-dont-seem-to-mix/) - Are your clients struggling with active communication? How social media and the pandemic are contributing to this challenge and how we as counselors can address it.
- [Voice of Experience: The hurting counselor (an update)](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/voice-of-experience-the-hurting-counselor-an-update/) - "I know that in my prior life of poor self-care, I could not have weathered this current hurricane. Today I’m so strong, even though daily I’m feeling vulnerable and battered."
- [The return of psychedelics to counseling: Are we ready?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/the-return-of-psychedelics-to-counseling-are-we-ready/) - A “psychedelic renaissance” is occurring in the research and treatment fields but without the counseling profession’s voice or values being heard and integrated.
- [Lessons learned from a community crisis](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/lessons-learned-from-a-community-crisis/) - The small city of Charlottesville, Virginia, was left reeling after a large-scale White nationalist rally resulted in deadly violence in 2017, but a community of counselors quickly coalesced to offer help and hope — and to better plan for future crises.
- [CEO's Message: How many more?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/ceos-message-how-many-more/) - As Desmond Tutu once said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Our society is at one of those crossroads at which we all need to step up, speak out and advocate for what we know is just.
- [From the President: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/10/from-the-president-october-is-national-disability-employment-awareness-month/) - How can we as counselors increase employment access, opportunity and wellness for those living with disabilities?
- [Choosing your path wisely](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/choosing-your-path-wisely/) - Veteran counseling professionals tackle a dozen of the most frequently voiced questions from novice counselors pertaining to navigating career options.
- [Techniques for helping children navigate anxiety related to COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/techniques-for-helping-children-navigate-anxiety-related-to-covid-19/) - The deepening of a connection to a loved one can be a reassuring experience when a child’s sense of safety has been compromised due to the unforeseen circumstances families find themselves in currently.
- [School counseling in the time of the coronavirus](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/school-counseling-in-the-time-of-the-coronavirus/) - School counselors are doing their best to maintain the social and emotional well-being of students in an educational environment unlike any other.
- [Helping clients develop a healthy relationship with social media](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/helping-clients-develop-a-healthy-relationship-with-social-media/) - Social media has an outsize influence on many people, making it imperative that counselors provide education, guidance and strategies to ensure that clients take control of the role it plays in their lives.
- [Using existential-humanistic psychotherapy in the treatment of COVID-19 survivors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/using-existential-humanistic-psychotherapy-in-the-treatment-of-covid-19-survivors/) - Existential-humanistic psychotherapy can be a helpful method for counselors to guide clients through the many stages of their COVID-19 journey.
- [ACA online event encourages conversation about counselor stressors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/aca-online-event-encourages-conversation-about-counselor-stressors/) - Much of the discussion from panelists and attendees alike focused not just on the additional stress that counselors and clients have been experiencing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but also on the trauma, grief and exhaustion raised by recent social turmoil tied to systemic racism in America.
- [Voice of Experience: The miracle of 28 days](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/voice-of-experience-the-miracle-of-28-days/) - This current pandemic is changing the way we do business, and that change isn’t going away when the virus eventually fades away. I predict that some of our clients will never choose to go back to the way it was. And maybe they shouldn’t.
- [Self-injury: An overview for counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/self-injury-an-overview-for-counselors/) - By building an understanding of the motivations for nonsuicidal self-injury, counselors can develop detailed plans that address clients’ underlying issues.
- [A beginner’s guide to client confabulation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/a-beginners-guide-to-client-confabulation/) - Confabulation has the potential to compromise screening, assessment and treatment planning, making it a crucial clinical phenomenon for mental health professionals to understand and address in practice.
- [Solution-focused tools to help school counselors in a pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/solution-focused-tools-to-help-school-counselors-in-a-pandemic/) - Practical and efficient, solution-focused counseling tools are a good fit for school counselors working in the virtual school climate brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [Unmasking White supremacy and racism in the counseling profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/unmasking-white-supremacy-and-racism-in-the-counseling-profession/) - If counselors are truly committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, it is time to challenge the status quo rather than remain silently complicit.
- [The costs of COVID-19: Parental anxiety syndrome](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/the-costs-of-covid-19-parental-anxiety-syndrome/) - Comparable to separation anxiety, parental anxiety stems from an increase in parental stress related to the reopening of states, businesses and schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [Ethics in the time of COVID: Contact tracing](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/ethics-in-the-time-of-covid-contact-tracing/) - "Counselors should avoid any unnecessary breach of client information, but the prejudicial nature of revealing a client’s identity might be outweighed by the probative value for public health and slowing down this virus."
- [CEO's Message: A very different start to the school year](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/ceos-message-a-very-different-start-to-the-school-year/) - Those who neglect to practice physical distancing, wear a mask or follow guidelines for proper hand-washing are putting both their own health and well-being at risk and the health and well-being of those trying to help them. This means that professional counselors, who are key providers of critical services, are put at risk. While it may be an individual’s “right” to put themselves in harm’s way, what if doing so places mental health professionals in danger? Frankly, that is not OK.
- [From the President: Live your dream](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/from-the-president-live-your-dream/) - As a counseling professional, have you ever thought about starting your own business?
- [Making the ‘new’ normal: Five tips for providing teletherapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/09/making-the-new-normal-five-tips-for-providing-teletherapy/) - I have found that teletherapy takes a slightly different way of working with clients than does providing in-person sessions. I liken the two approaches to watching a movie versus reading a book of the same title.
- [Grappling with compassion fatigue](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/grappling-with-compassion-fatigue/) - Counselors and other helping professionals who are regularly exposed to others’ trauma almost invariably find themselves confronting symptoms of compassion fatigue at some point during their careers.
- [Revisiting 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/revisiting-20-20-a-vision-for-the-future-of-counseling/) - Counseling leaders involved in the strategic planning initiative that launched in 2005 reflect on how the multiyear endeavor helped to forge consensus and moved the profession forward.
- [Climate in crisis: Counselors needed](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/climate-in-crisis-counselors-needed/) - Counselors have a role to play not only in helping clients cope with the mental health effects of climate change but also in fostering climate resilience in communities.
- [Utilizing evidence-based practices in telehealth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/utilizing-evidence-based-practices-in-telehealth/) - Counselors must determine how to select and implement evidence-based practices when working with child and adolescent clients via telemental health during times of crisis.
- [Primum cura te ipsum: First, heal thyself](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/primum-cura-te-ipsum-first-heal-thyself/) - "... avoiding burnout is not enough. We need to set the bar higher to competently render care. Make no mistake, this is an ethical issue."
- [Using apps to promote client safety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/using-apps-to-promote-client-safety/) - Technology can play an important role in supporting survivors’ safety, autonomy and empowerment as part of a trauma-informed counseling approach.
- [Encountering and addressing racism as a multiracial counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/encountering-and-addressing-racism-as-a-multiracial-counselor/) - A conversation between two counselors of different backgrounds opens up a dialogue about race, systemic issues, client care and possible steps for moving the profession forward.
- [A climbable mountain: Quitting smoking and managing mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/a-climbable-mountain-quitting-smoking-and-managing-mental-health/) - Managing your mental health while freeing yourself from tobacco is possible -- and professional counselors are well-equipped to support you on the climb.
- [Identifying and addressing competing attachments with couples](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/identifying-and-addressing-competing-attachments-with-couples/) - When either partner in a relationship turns toward someone or something else outside of the relationship to get their needs met, it poses a threat to romantic attachment bonds.
- [The revised meaning of self-care in the wake of COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/the-revised-meaning-of-self-care-in-the-wake-of-covid-19/) - Counselors are re-thinking self-care -- both for themselves and their clients -- as routines have been offset by quarantining measures from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [Starting post-college life in a pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/08/starting-post-college-life-in-a-pandemic/) - Making the transition to life after college has never been without its challenges, but COVID-19 has introduced the class of 2020 to a whole new set of obstacles.
- [From the President: Answering our call during a double pandemic](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/from-the-president-answering-our-call-during-a-double-pandemic/) - "Each one of us is responsible not only for ourselves but for one another too. What have you done? What will you do? How will you hold yourself and others accountable and measure your progress?"
- [CEO's Message: Putting the "me" in advocacy for what is just and right](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/ceos-message-putting-the-me-in-advocacy-for-what-is-just-and-right/) - "In the midst of the pandemic, we realized there is no vaccine for racism."
- [Voice of Experience: Revenue streams for counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/voice-of-experience-revenue-streams-for-counselors/) - "As a general rule, I tell my students to plan on five years post-bachelor’s degree before they really start making a decent living and can focus on their preferred areas of practice. That is a long time and, even then, annual incomes vary tremendously."
- [Black mental health matters](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/black-mental-health-matters/) - Counselors can help clients heal from racial trauma and take steps to intervene in the racist systems that negatively affect the mental health of Black Americans.
- [Keeping victims safe: Crisis response planning with perpetrators of IPV](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/keeping-victims-safe-crisis-response-planning-with-perpetrators-of-ipv/) - "We can do more as counselors by providing these clients with behavioral support as they work to change. We must give the clients real, behavioral techniques that they can use in the moment."
- [Counseling Today wins awards for writing, design](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/counseling-today-wins-awards-for-writing-design/) - The staff of Counseling Today recently won four awards in APEX 2020, the 32nd annual awards competition for publication excellence presented by Communications Concepts. Senior writer and social media coordinator Bethany Bray won a Grand Award in the writing category for her January 2020 cover story, “Dealing with the realities of dementia.” Only 100 Grand
- [The marital paradox](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/the-marital-paradox/) - Working on the marriage means that each individual must also work on themselves.
- [Reformulating client well-being during an economic crisis](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/reformulating-client-well-being-during-an-economic-crisis/) - Supporting clients' mental health takes on a new dimension when a job loss or income reduction is added to everything else they are managing during COVID-19.
- [A counselor’s journey to healing from chronic pain](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/a-counselors-journey-to-healing-from-chronic-pain/) - An integrative mind-body counseling approach often holds answers for clients who have suffered for years from chronic pain and exhausted traditional medical interventions with little to no relief.
- [Overcoming free-time boredom during COVID-19: Combining a home-based optimal leisure lifestyle with behavioral activation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/overcoming-free-time-boredom-during-covid-19-combining-a-home-based-optimal-leisure-lifestyle-with-behavioral-activation/) - Research demonstrates that people can remedy stress if they laugh more (casual leisure), find a hobby (serious leisure) and engage in meaning-making activities such as volunteering in their communities or toward social causes (project-based leisure).
- [Putting first responders’ mental health on the front lines](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/putting-first-responders-mental-health-on-the-front-lines/) - Counselors can take steps to lower some of the barriers that prevent those who respond in emergency situations from prioritizing their mental health.
- [From the President: A vision for the year ahead](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/from-the-president-a-vision-for-the-year-ahead/) - "For the coming year, let’s begin with ACA’s vision: Every person has access to quality professional counseling to thrive. Building on this, my personal vision for ACA is to be the professional home for every counselor from every program and from every nation."
- [CEO's Message: We will not tolerate racism](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/ceos-message-we-will-not-tolerate-racism/) - "As you deal with your own emotions over what has unfolded, remember to check on those who may feel isolated, marginalized and forgotten. What has been happening has profoundly affected me professionally and personally. I believe that each of us must do what we can to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. In our own way, each of us needs to make a difference."
- [Sue Pressman: ACA president  and practitioner-in-chief](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/sue-pressman-aca-president-and-practitioner-in-chief/) - Career counselor and business owner Sue Pressman brings a practitioner’s perspective and a collaborative spirit to her term as ACA’s 69th president.
- [The power of virtual group therapy during a time of quarantine](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/07/the-power-of-virtual-group-therapy-during-a-time-of-quarantine/) - "Once we got used to the Brady Bunch-looking setup of the virtual platform, we didn’t skip a beat in this regard. The synergy we had developed over time carried over to make the virtual group setting still feel organic and comforting."
- [For such a time as this: A plan of action for moving forward](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/for-such-a-time-as-this-a-plan-of-action-for-moving-forward/) - The experience of the coronavirus does not have to become a traumatic and overwhelming experience that marks us for life. On the contrary, it can be an excellent opportunity to exercise our resilience — that is, to grow in the face of adversity.
- [Counselor participates in White House conference call, task force](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/counselor-participates-in-white-house-conference-call-task-force/) - "By asserting that older adults are every bit as deserving of mental health services as people of other ages, members of the counseling profession combat ageism, strengthen the case for Medicare reimbursement and improve the lives of socially isolated older adults."
- [A quest for identity and connection](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/a-quest-for-identity-and-connection/) - Being part of two different cultures and not truly feeling a sense of belonging in either is not an uncommon experience among individuals who are biracial or multiracial and those who are transracial adoptees.
- [ACA anti-racism statement](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/aca-anti-racism-statement/) - Given the rapidly evolving double pandemic of COVID-19 and the continued exposure of Black people to institutionalized racism, ACA wants to be clear about where we stand and the ongoing actions we will take. As proactive leaders, counselors, mentors, supervisors, scholars, and trainers we will break away from this structure of racism trauma, and the violence born on the necks of Black people.
- [For such a time as this: Plan of action for young adults, adolescents and parents](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/for-such-a-time-as-this-plan-of-action-for-young-adults-adolescents-and-parents/) - To adolescents, teens and young adults, the risk of contracting the coronavirus or suffering a negative outcome may feel remote. However, you have the power of good health, and it is your responsibility to help solve the problem by protecting yourself and others.
- [Supporting families with engagement strategies during COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/supporting-families-with-engagement-strategies-during-covid-19/) - Quarantine-friendly engagement strategies to promote the wellness of children and families.
- [For such a time as this: A plan of action for couples and individuals](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/for-such-a-time-as-this-a-plan-of-action-for-couples-and-individuals/) - This unplanned for and prolonged time to stay at home may bring discomfort for many of us, but we can come out the other side with new skills.
- [For such a time as this: A plan of action for general anxiety and depression](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/for-such-a-time-as-this-a-plan-of-action-for-general-anxiety-and-depression/) - For many, the financial stress and rapid changes brought about by the pandemic can be just as scary as the virus itself. Understanding what is happening in our brains and having a plan of action can help us manage these new challenges in the different areas of our lives.
- [School vaping cultures: Acknowledging the impact of COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/school-vaping-cultures-acknowledging-the-impact-of-covid-19/) - "Most students and parents recognize it as the small USB-shaped device that produces fruit-flavored smoke. Very few seem to grasp the long-term consequences of vaping habits. That being said, those consequences might already be here."
- [Professional advocacy: A call to the profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/professional-advocacy-a-call-to-the-profession/) - Counselors typically embrace the idea of advocating for clients and social issues, but the same passion and dedication must be extended to advocating for the profession itself.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Death and bereavement during COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/counseling-connoisseur-death-and-bereavement-during-covid-19/) - Grief can be an isolating experience and now, more than ever, it is important to have strategies to stay connected to family and friends. We can still be together while observing physical distance and small group limitations.
- [Counselor considerations for disclosing LGBTQ+ identity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/counselor-considerations-for-disclosing-lgbtq-identity/) - The issue of counselor self-disclosure is always tricky, but it can be especially so for clinicians who must determine how — or whether — to come out to clients.
- [CEO's Message: Counselors rise in a time of extraordinary circumstance](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/ceos-message-counselors-rise-in-a-time-of-extraordinary-circumstance/) - In optometry, people hope for 20/20 vision. Roughly 15 years ago, ACA embarked on the seminal initiative 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling. Well, here we are at the halfway point of 2020, and I feel like our vision for what lies ahead is cloudy. I never imagined that we would be living
- [From the President: Leadership and learning](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/06/from-the-president-leadership-and-learning/) - As I close in on serving for nearly a year as the president of the American Counseling Association, I would like to share with you some of the things I have learned about our profession and our association during this journey. Counselors are adaptable and experts in crisis. This has been a historic year. The
- [Affirming all shades of the rainbow](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/affirming-all-shades-of-the-rainbow/) - Even as the LGB community steadily gains wider acceptance across society, individuals who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming often struggle to find affirmation or even a safe place to be themselves.
- [Voice of Experience: Knowledge is a coping skill](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/voice-of-experience-knowledge-is-a-coping-skill/) - We’ll get through this. Here are some ways we can manage our stress and that of our clients as we work through this pandemic.
- [Coping with the (ongoing) stress of COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/coping-with-the-ongoing-stress-of-covid-19/) - Counselors can help clients and themselves develop effective coping strategies and build resilience as they respond to the anxieties surrounding COVID-19.
- [Counseling’s evolution under COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/counselings-evolution-under-covid-19/) - The COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered the landscape for counselor clinicians and counselor educators, but even under the strain of having to adjust practices on the fly, professional counselors are identifying silver linings and potential opportunities.
- [Encouraging T-shaped thinking in the counseling profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/encouraging-t-shaped-thinking-in-the-counseling-profession/) - Linking ideas from counseling with web design, political science or chemistry can lead to innovative solutions in any number of roles that counselors play, including as consultants, crisis responders or group facilitators.
- [Report: More than 1 in 5 children experience bullying](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/report-more-than-1-in-5-children-experience-bullying/) - Researchers have found that more than one in five American youngsters experience bullying victimization from their peers – and prevalence is higher among children under age 12.
- [The historical roots of racial disparities in the mental health system](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/the-historical-roots-of-racial-disparities-in-the-mental-health-system/) - "Focusing primarily on the race of the provider and the client, while valid, is an approach that does not consider the system itself, the functions of the diagnosis, and its structurally developed links to protest, resistance, racism and other associations that work against the therapeutic connection."
- [Mental imagery as an intervention for emotion regulation disorders](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/mental-imagery-as-an-intervention-for-emotion-regulation-disorders/) - Many clinicians in the field tend to neglect mental imagery despite evidence suggesting that it can be very helpful for clients who do not respond well to CBT ‘thought’ interventions.
- [Engaging avoidant teens](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/engaging-avoidant-teens/) - By using practical, attachment-informed approaches, counselors can build effective therapeutic alliances with youth frequently dismissed as being ‘resistant.’
- [Supporting families on their autism journeys](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/supporting-families-on-their-autism-journeys/) - Having a child with autism affects the entire family system, meaning counselors must take a wide-angle and long-term view when determining how best to offer guidance and encouragement.
- [CEO's Message: COVID-19 represents an inflection point for the profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/ceos-message-covid-19-represents-an-inflection-point-for-the-profession/) - The strength of a group is not measured by what its members do for themselves but rather in their humanity to help others. During the past two months, I have seen the care and compassion of our members and countless other mental health professionals play out over and over. Thousands have been involved in wanting
- [From the President: Rising to the challenge](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/05/from-the-president-rising-to-the-challenge/) - If you had asked me what I was looking forward to in the spring of 2020, I would have said, without a doubt, the ACA Conference & Expo in San Diego. As you know by this point, in mid-March our Governing Council made the difficult decision to cancel the conference. While this decision was made
- [Jane Myers and Tom Sweeney: Servant leaders and advocates for the counseling profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/jane-myers-and-tom-sweeney-servant-leaders-and-advocates-for-the-counseling-profession/) - Jane Myers and Tom Sweeney are the only husband and wife couple who have both been presidents of the American Counseling Association. They made substantial contributions to the evolution of the counseling profession, in addition to their work during their presidencies and as active members of ACA’s governmental structure.
- [Life after cancer](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/life-after-cancer/) - For cancer survivors, the in-the-trenches treatment may be complete, but their processing and healing are just beginning.
- [The psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on Asian Americans: Counselor interventions and considerations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/the-psychosocial-impact-of-covid-19-on-asian-americans-counselor-interventions-and-considerations/) - Knowing the multicultural considerations of the Asian American population -- and prioritizing culturally sensitive treatment approaches -- has become an essential service now and for the foreseeable future.
- [Exploring the ties that bind](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/exploring-the-ties-that-bind/) - Viewing clients, and their presenting issues, through the lens of their family systems often leads to insights and understandings that might remain obscured otherwise.
- [Adjustment disorder in the time of COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/adjustment-disorder-in-the-time-of-covid-19/) - As professional counselors, we are braving telehealth, juggling our own mental health needs amid those of our clients, and helping friends and family members adjust to uncertainty and unemployment, all while trying to pepper in some self-care and generally navigate this unprecedented time for ourselves.
- [Voice of Experience: It often comes down to grief](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/voice-of-experience-it-often-comes-down-to-grief/) - If we can see how grief might be driving our clients’ dysfunctions, then what we should be treating is grief rather than just depression, addiction or other symptoms of grief. We cannot change loss. Facing it and finding ways to cope are the keys to resolution.
- [The counselor’s role in community outreach and resiliency building](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/the-counselors-role-in-community-outreach-and-resiliency-building/) - Through education, outreach and advocacy, counselors can encourage the communities in which they live and work to develop trauma-informed programs and early intervention efforts.
- [The need for standardization in suicide risk assessment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/the-need-for-standardization-in-suicide-risk-assessment/) - When mental health professionals are left to base their decisions on what they feel or think is effective rather than on the results of research and standardization, they are putting their clients — and themselves — at greater risk.
- [How to help domestic violence clients during shelter-in-place situations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/how-to-help-domestic-violence-clients-during-shelter-in-place-situations/) - How can the counseling community help domestic violence clients who are trapped at home with their abusers? There is no “how-to” manual to deal with the current situation, of course, but the safety of this vulnerable population demands us to do our best.
- [How do counselors support clients during the coronavirus pandemic?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/how-do-counselors-support-clients-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/) - It is crucial to understand the social ramifications perpetuated by this outbreak so that we can promote optimal care for the clients we serve.
- [Spotlight on: ACA Future School Counselors Award winner](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/spotlight-on-aca-future-school-counselors-award-winner/) - Award-winning essay by Rebecca Alexandra Smith of East Carolina University
- [Interstate compact plan provides hope for licensure portability](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/interstate-compact-plan-provides-hope-for-licensure-portability/) - ACA has invested in a multiyear project that would finally allow professional counselors to move seamlessly from one state to another without jumping through hoops to secure a new license.
- [A note of encouragement for counseling students during COVID-19](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/a-note-of-encouragement-for-counseling-students-during-covid-19/) - "The bottom line is that as a counseling student today, you will be even better prepared than some licensed clinicians once you enter the counseling field. You will be able to show great empathy to clients when they seek services to manage the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."
- [From Combat to Counseling: Survivors guilt, shame and moral injury](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/from-combat-to-counseling-survivors-guilt-shame-and-moral-injury/) - Moral injury is a cluster of symptoms that is linked to but separate from PTSD. There is an emerging effort to distinguish between the two and recognize moral injury as a common and distinct syndrome that requires targeted treatment.
- [From the President: A month made for advocating and celebrating](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/from-the-president-a-month-made-for-advocating-and-celebrating/) - We need to promote help-seeking by continuously raising awareness about mental health and wellness and the important work that counselors do.
- [CEO's message: This is your month — celebrate and enjoy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/ceos-message-this-is-your-month-celebrate-and-enjoy/) - I believe Counseling Awareness Month could also be “Counselor Appreciation Month” because that is what I feel about all of you. I hope you will “celebrate yourselves” by recognizing each other in some special way.
- [Spotlight on: ACA Tomorrow’s Counselors Award winner](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/spotlight-on-aca-tomorrows-counselors-award-winner/) - Award-winning essay by Adriana Walsh of Wake Forest University
- [Recovering from the trauma of infidelity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/04/recovering-from-the-trauma-of-infidelity/) - Professional counselors play an important role in helping couples and individuals process and heal from the emotionally charged experience of confronting a betrayal in their relationship.
- [Counseling clients into new territory: Five steps to redefine a foundation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/counseling-clients-into-new-territory-five-steps-to-redefine-a-foundation/) - "We do not fill the role of advice givers as counselors, but if we’re not asking questions that encourage our clients to explore what’s true for them, then we are doing a disservice to them and to ourselves."
- [Marathon vs. sprint: Building a sustainable career as a professional counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/marathon-vs-sprint-building-a-sustainable-career-as-a-professional-counselor/) - ACA members share personal stories of what they have done (and are currently doing) to stay fresh, inspired and energized over the long haul of a counseling career.
- [Spotlight on: The ACA Graduate Student Ethics Awards for Master's Degree Students winner](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/spotlight-on-the-aca-graduate-student-ethics-awards-for-masters-degree-students-winner/) - Award-winning essay by master's-level students Samantha Burton, Ingrid R. Pipes, Ben Stoviak and Katie Voorman
- [Spotlight on: The ACA Graduate Student Ethics Awards for Doctoral Degree Students winner](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/spotlight-on-the-aca-graduate-student-ethics-awards-for-doctoral-degree-students-winner/) - Award-winning essay by doctoral students Connie Elkins, Jay Tift and John Bender
- [Helping clients rebuild after separation or divorce](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/helping-clients-rebuild-after-separation-or-divorce/) - After clients have gone through the emotional journey of divorce, they need to start rebuilding their lives and hoping for a better future.
- [@TechCounselor: Managing the culture of breaking news](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/techcounselor-managing-the-culture-of-breaking-news/) - How do we, as counselors, regain control of our newsfeeds? How do we help clients do the same? The first step is reflecting on the impact of this breaking news culture on your personal and professional life.
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: How to talk to children about the coronavirus](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/the-counseling-connoisseur-how-to-talk-to-children-about-the-coronavirus/) - Children pick up on the emotions of the adults around them. Adults need to manage their anxiety before attempting to address the concerns of children. It is essential to provide a calm setting before talking with children about COVID-19.
- [Counseling in jail](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/counseling-in-jail/) - Working as a counselor at an adult detention facility bears little resemblance to more “traditional” counseling, but the focus remains on treating each person as a human being while listening to stories of unresolved grief, tragedy and trauma.
- [COVID-19 update and resources](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/covid-19-update-and-resources/) - The American Counseling Association is working to keep its members and the public informed as the new coronavirus, COVID-19, becomes an increasing reality and issue of concern across the United States.
- [Hearing voices: A human rights movement and developmental approach to voice hearing](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/hearing-voices-a-human-rights-movement-and-developmental-approach-to-voice-hearing/) - All explanations are given space to be heard in the Hearing Voices Network, including the medical model, psychological models such as voices being subpersonalities of the voice hearer, spiritual beliefs that the voices are spirits, and other possibilities.
- [Learning from highly effective counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/learning-from-highly-effective-counselors/) - Research suggests there are certain characteristics and actions of “supershrinks” that clinicians can actively cultivate to improve client outcomes.
- [Creating successful home visits in community-based counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/creating-successful-home-visits-in-community-based-counseling/) - Home-based counseling offers some real advantages over office-based services, but those benefits can’t be fully realized without navigating a variety of challenges.
- [Voice of Experience: The dangers of cultural un-awareness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/voice-of-experience-the-dangers-of-cultural-un-awareness/) - "Frankly, I’d rather see graduate programs drop a personality theory class or something else and add a second or third required course on diversity. In one semester, I can only introduce the topic. Competence is still far from the reach of these young clinicians."
- [Bouncing back from ‘failure’ as a counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/bouncing-back-from-failure-as-a-counselor/) - The question is not whether counselors will make mistakes and have missteps over the course of a career but what they will learn from them when they do.
- [CEO's Message: It’s time for professional counselors to blow their horn](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/ceos-message-its-time-for-professional-counselors-to-blow-their-horn/) - Are you a “best kept secret”? Does your community know about the amazing work that you and your fellow professional counselors do? Are other members of your higher education community aware of the academic rigor, research and scholarship among those who call themselves “counselor educator”? Do the parents, faculty and administrators of your school know
- [From the President: Advocacy for military mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/03/from-the-president-advocacy-for-military-mental-health/) - One of my favorite things about being ACA president is the opportunity I am given to meet our members and learn more about their work. The topic of military mental health is rightly receiving increased attention. This month, I want to highlight three ACA members whom I have become better acquainted with over the past
- [Help wanted: Managing work stress](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/02/help-wanted-managing-work-stress/) - Work stress rarely takes a day off or remains confined to the office, instead spilling over into clients’ personal lives and relationships in ways that can do serious damage if left unchecked.
- [Should I stay or should I go now?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/02/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-now/) - What should a counselor’s role be when clients who are overwhelmed by work stress want to throw in the towel and leave their job?
- [Can you hear me now? Ways to reduce sound transfer between rooms](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/02/can-you-hear-me-now-ways-to-reduce-sound-transfer-between-rooms/) - Helpful tips to maintain privacy and reduce noise transfer between rooms in your counseling office -- with or without remodeling.
- [Voice of Experience: Billing guilt](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/02/voice-of-experience-billing-guilt/) - "I completely understand why we feel guilty about charging as professional counselors. After all, we are helpers, not mercenaries. But few things in life are free."
- [Celebrating the role of rehabilitation counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/02/celebrating-the-role-of-rehabilitation-counseling/) - Rehabilitation counseling is a counseling specialty that embraces social justice, multiculturalism, disability advocacy and inclusion.
- [@TechCounselor: Navigating social media with teens](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/02/techcounselor-navigating-social-media-with-teens/) - Keeping up with the ways in which technology is changing our relationships and world can be a lot of work, but we cannot allow ourselves to take our hands off the wheel.
- [Helping clients grow from loss](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/02/helping-clients-grow-from-loss/) - Posttraumatic growth should never be pushed on clients, but having a counselor attuned to growth may be the missing piece that helps them become more resilient in the face of traumatic loss.
- [CEO's Message: You make the world a much better place](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/ceos-message-you-make-the-world-a-much-better-place/) - When I think about the embodiment of a true leader, I use descriptors such as inspirational, compassionate, caring, humble, willing to sacrifice, committed to listening, putting the good of the people above personal gain. Before anyone assumes that this is a column bashing the current U.S. president (although I suppose it could be), let me
- [From the President: Connecting research to practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/from-the-president-connecting-research-to-practice/) - This month’s Counseling Today cover story is about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive behaviors. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, these behaviors occur across the life span for about 1 in 100 adults and may be as common in children as diabetes (see tinyurl.com/NIMHOCDInfo). I have my son’s permission to share a little
- [Cultivating social class awareness in the counseling profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/cultivating-social-class-awareness-in-the-counseling-profession/) - Among all the “isms” that professional counselors focus on, classism often remains overlooked when it comes to valuing the intersectional identities of both clients and clinicians.
- [From Combat to Counseling: Getting started in counseling military clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/from-combat-to-counseling-getting-started-in-counseling-military-clients/) - Like many other underserved populations, it is necessary to understand the unique culture of the military and how it impacts our clients. Through diligence in our preparation, we can make sure to provide the best care possible for those who sacrificed much on our behalf.
- [Living with — and beyond — OCD](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/living-with-and-beyond-ocd/) - Counselors can provide support to clients with OCD as they learn to lean into their discomfort and confront the fear-inducing and sometimes debilitating effects of the disorder.
- [Michigan LPCs block attempt to take away their right to practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/michigan-lpcs-block-attempt-to-take-away-their-right-to-practice/) - This fall, approximately 10,000 licensed professional counselors (LPCs) participated in a grassroots campaign that thwarted an attempt to take away their ability to practice.
- [Hey, Siri: Did you break confidentiality, or did I?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/hey-siri-did-you-break-confidentiality-or-did-i/) - As counselors, we understand there are some limits to confidentiality. However, voice assistant technologies in cell phones and other devices have the capability to leak what clients and counselors once believed to be confidential information.
- [When the caring is too much](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/when-the-caring-is-too-much/) - The mental health needs of veterinarians and veterinary students are increasingly coming to light as more research is conducted on the stresses and strains under which these professionals operate.
- [Our most-read articles of 2019](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/our-most-read-articles-of-2019/) - Which counseling topics grabbed the most reader attention in 2019?
- [Uncovering the root cause of mother-daughter conflict](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/uncovering-the-root-cause-of-mother-daughter-conflict/) - Hormones and personality differences are often blamed for tensions in the mother-daughter relationship, but a therapy model argues that societal expectations routinely set mothers and daughters up for conflict.
- [Grieved: A firsthand account of enduring a client grievance as a counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/grieved-a-firsthand-account-of-enduring-a-client-grievance-as-a-counselor/) - "Because the personal is professional and the professional is personal in our work, it can be hard to separate the two. This makes it difficult to prevent internalization during the grievance process. I felt like a bad counselor and, thus, a bad person."
- [Deconstructing anxiety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2020/01/deconstructing-anxiety/) - When we clearly identify and deconstruct the hidden forces that have been driving our lives, it transforms the way we think about and treat anxiety and opens a path to enduring fulfillment.
- [Digesting the connection between food and mood](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/digesting-the-connection-between-food-and-mood/) - A growing body of research suggests counselors should no longer think of mental health in isolation but rather as part of a complex system that includes what people eat.
- [CEO's Message: Your clients, your profession and ACA need you more than ever](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/ceos-message-your-clients-your-profession-and-aca-need-you-more-than-ever/) - The term Y2K reminds some of us of a happening long ago that was the source of much concern, anxiety and perhaps hysteria. As we prepared to enter the new millennium in the year 2000, there were warnings that the data in our computers would be significantly corrupted (or worse), that electrical plants could shut
- [From the President: Setting goals to advance the profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/from-the-president-setting-goals-to-advance-the-profession/) - Happy New Year! The end of the old year and the beginning of the new one is often a time for reflection, review and goal setting. Counselors are experts at helping their clients to develop and achieve their goals. We know that the goals with the best chances for success are those that are simple,
- [Dealing with the realities of dementia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/dealing-with-the-realities-of-dementia/) - Counselors can serve as a steadying presence as individuals, families and caregivers confront the array of challenges and intense emotions that follow an Alzheimer’s disease or dementia diagnosis.
- [Voice of Experience: The boring (and risky) part of the job](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/voice-of-experience-the-boring-and-risky-part-of-the-job/) - "Assume someone else — a judge, a jury, a licensure board member, an attorney — might someday see what you have written. Don’t write anything that you would be ashamed or embarrassed for someone else to see."
- [The impact of internet self-disclosure on the counseling relationship](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/the-impact-of-internet-self-disclosure-on-the-counseling-relationship/) - "In our internet-driven and instant-knowledge society, many clients will desire to learn all they can about us before, during and after the counseling process. Getting out ahead of potential problems that could arise as a result may prove helpful for clients."
- [Q+A: Helping clients affected by dementia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/qa-helping-clients-affected-by-dementia/) - The most important message a counselor can give these clients – whether that be an individual with dementia or the family or caregivers of someone with dementia – is that they are not alone.
- [Technique without soul is dead](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/technique-without-soul-is-dead/) - To truly be effective at connecting with and helping clients, counselors must find a way to artfully blend the scientific and evidence-based with the interpersonal.
- [From Combat to Counseling: Veterans and the criminal justice system](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/from-combat-to-counseling-veterans-and-the-criminal-justice-system/) - Treating the emotional and behavioral problems that lead to criminal behavior is one of the keys to helping veterans get—and stay—out of the criminal justice system.
- [Understanding stillbirth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/understanding-stillbirth/) - Mothers going through the hurt and trauma of stillbirth need counselors who recognize the true nature of their loss and are willing to sit with them through their pain rather than rushing them to “move on.”
- [Maintaining counselor identity in interdisciplinary teams](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/maintaining-counselor-identity-in-interdisciplinary-teams/) - It is imperative that counselors maintain their professional identity, uphold the ACA Code of Ethics, and advocate for their clients’ well-being, even as they work with other health care treatment providers.
- [Human rights 101, Part 2: Implications for graduate students and counselor education programs](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/human-rights-101-part-2-implications-for-graduate-students-and-counselor-education-programs/) - Intentionally infusing social justice advocacy and human rights components into the array of coursework will benefit graduate students’ self-efficacy, their clients, and, ultimately, society at large.
- [From the CEO: ACA members are  generous and  have ‘priviligation’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/from-the-ceo-aca-members-are-generous-and-have-priviligation/) - You have the control and ability to elect those whom you believe will best serve your interests and those of the profession. I encourage you to take a look at who is running for ACA national, region and division positions. Make your voice heard — by voting!
- [From the President: Sustaining the lifeblood  of our profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/12/from-the-president-sustaining-the-lifeblood-of-our-profession/) - December is here, a time of year (along with the months of May and August) when many colleges and universities hold commencement. The prospect of completing a hard-earned master’s or doctoral degree in counseling is both awesome and daunting. Rightly, graduates are proud of the time and personal and financial investments they have put into
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Autumn lessons in turning inward and letting go](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/counseling-connoisseur-autumn-lessons-in-turning-inward-and-letting-go/) - As we work with clients who are transitioning from the summer of their youth to the autumn passage of middle adulthood, we can remind them of their strengths and the gifts they have cultivated throughout their lives.
- [Pushing through the vape cloud](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/pushing-through-the-vape-cloud/) - Vaping has received a significant amount of negative publicity over the past several months, but counselors say that alone won’t motivate most users to stop.
- [Multicultural encounters](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/multicultural-encounters/) - Counselors share the lessons they’ve learned along the way in their efforts to translate the ideal of multicultural competence into practical action.
- [Voice of Experience: Diagnosing and its future impact](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/voice-of-experience-diagnosing-and-its-future-impact/) - "What I am suggesting is that, at a minimum, we take the time to think about the potential ramifications of [client] diagnoses 10 or 20 years into the future. We can’t know every possible outcome, of course, but some things are predictable."
- [Human Rights 101: Implications for counselors and the counseling profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/human-rights-101-implications-for-counselors-and-the-counseling-profession/) - "Human rights issues can potentially affect anyone. Therefore, human rights have a seat at the counseling table."
- [Counselors, represent!](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/counselors-represent/) - As a licensed professional counselor, you have knowledge, awareness and skills that would be tremendously useful in times of strife. It is just a matter of getting that content “out there” in the public.
- [Counseling from an editor’s perspective](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/counseling-from-an-editors-perspective/) - By using the journalism technique of three-word narratives, counselors can “elicit story” from their clients and help them pursue alternative life narratives.
- [One in three American kids affected by adverse childhood experiences](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/one-in-three-american-kids-affected-by-adverse-childhood-experiences/) - One-third of American children have gone through a negative experience that can have lasting implications for their physical and mental health, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
- [Counseling survivors of sexual violence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/11/counseling-survivors-of-sexual-violence/) - The Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies provide a framework to best support survivors of sexual violence not simply on the intrapersonal level but on all socio-ecological levels.
- [Supporting survivors of suicide loss](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/supporting-survivors-of-suicide-loss/) - Grief journeys can be difficult enough without the additional layers that come with a suicide loss. Gaining additional expertise in counseling survivors of suicide loss through training, consultation and supervision can make all the difference in the care you provide to clients.
- [CEO's Message: Be not fearful of our future](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/ceos-message-be-not-fearful-of-our-future/) - Last month, Governing Council convened to discuss the American Counseling Association’s current strategic plan. Now in its second year, this road map helps to chart our direction for both the association and the profession. More than just an academic exercise, ACA’s plan is a living, breathing, evolving guide for ACA. I was impressed with the
- [From the President: Counselors embracing their roles as advocates](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/from-the-president-counselors-embracing-their-roles-as-advocates/) - By definition, counselors are agents of change. We are called upon, via our ethical codes, competencies, and personal vision, to advocate for and with our clients and communities. We are a mission-based profession.
- [How do you know it’s not counseling?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/how-do-you-know-its-not-counseling/) - Individuals with dementia are frequently looking for a sense of safety and security. Letting clients know that they are not alone in their fear is crucial.
- [Procrastination: An emotional struggle](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/procrastination-an-emotional-struggle/) - Mental health professionals are increasingly beginning to recognize and treat chronic procrastination as something much deeper than a time-management or lifestyle issue.
- [Voice of Experience: Looking for honesty in the supervisory relationship](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/voice-of-experience-looking-for-honesty-in-the-supervisory-relationship/) - A trusting supervision relationship means the counselor-in-training is comfortable admitting “I messed up,” even knowing that it may slow the licensing process down.
- [Going beyond sadness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/going-beyond-sadness/) - When it comes to assessing for and treating depression in clients, counselors must be careful to steer clear of one-size-fits-all thinking.
- [Maldistribution: Mental health care in America](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/maldistribution-mental-health-care-in-america/) - When it comes to mental health, how does your state stack up?
- [Healing the healers: Counselors recovering from familial addiction](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/healing-the-healers-counselors-recovering-from-familial-addiction/) - It’s time to treat the addicted person, the family, and the loved ones with humanity and compassion —- the same way we treat others with any type of potentially deadly disease.
- [Breaking the silence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/breaking-the-silence/) - Counselor educators, counseling students and professional counselors in the community have meaningful roles to play in addressing acts of hate on college campuses.
- [Counseling termination and new beginnings](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/counseling-termination-and-new-beginnings/) - The end of the counseling relationship can be emotional for clients and counselors alike, but when done well, the process can serve as a tool to empower clients and prepare them for continued personal growth.
- [From the President: Calling all volunteers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/from-the-president-calling-all-volunteers/) - The vision of the American Counseling Association is that “Every person has access to quality professional counseling to thrive.” Our organization’s mission is to “Promote the professional development of counselors, advocate for the profession, and ensure ethical, culturally inclusive practices that protect those using counseling services.” You might be interested to learn about some of
- [CEO's Message: College counseling centers are owed more](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/10/ceos-message-college-counseling-centers-are-owed-more/) - Counseling services at postsecondary institutions are critical, and they need to be integral and fully funded endeavors.
- [The invisibility of infertility grief](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/the-invisibility-of-infertility-grief/) - Although infertility is fairly common, the losses associated with it are less likely to be recognized, acknowledged, validated and supported, which often leaves women and couples to navigate the experience on their own.
- [Fostering resiliency in families and caregivers of individuals with disabilities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/fostering-resiliency-in-families-and-caregivers-of-individuals-with-disabilities/) - Families with individuals who have a disability are at greater risk of developing psychological problems. However, if these families learn how to cope well, it can increase the strength of the family.
- [Finding strength in sensitivity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/finding-strength-in-sensitivity/) - Highly sensitive people are often misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed, but in a supportive and validating counseling environment, they can frequently tap into their many strengths.
- [Counselors as human beings, not superheroes](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/counselors-as-human-beings-not-superheroes/) - A counseling license doesn’t inoculate practitioners against wrestling with “what if” thinking, struggling with problems in their home life and personal relationships, or experiencing some of the same hardships that they help clients walk through.
- [Advice for the highly sensitive therapist](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/advice-for-the-highly-sensitive-therapist/) - Because highly sensitive people process more deeply, counselors with this trait may have difficulty leaving work at work.
- [Voice of Experience: Confidentiality – The core of ethics](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/voice-of-experience-confidentiality-the-core-of-ethics/) - "I would suggest that confidentiality comes in at a close second place for the core of our ethical conduct."
- [From Combat to Counseling: Cultural competence in the military affiliated population](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/from-combat-to-counseling-cultural-competence-in-the-military-affiliated-population/) - Although many counselors recognize the unique nature of military service, it’s also essential that they understand how important that culture is to a member’s self-image.
- [Five social, emotional and mental health supports that teens need to succeed](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/five-social-emotional-and-mental-health-supports-that-teens-need-to-succeed/) - A survey of nearly 200 high school students sheds light on some of the primary issues confronting today’s teenagers and offers insights into what schools can do to help them navigate those challenges.
- [The case for universal mental health screening in schools](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/the-case-for-universal-mental-health-screening-in-schools/) - Research indicates that universal screening is associated with early identification and treatment of mental health and behavioral concerns, thus helping ensure that fewer students fall through the proverbial cracks.
- [Suicide, substance abuse and medical trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/suicide-substance-abuse-and-medical-trauma/) - Counselors embedded in a trauma center in a busy hospital facility find that suicidality and medical trauma often intersect with alcohol or substance use.
- [Maintaining motivation as a counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/09/maintaining-motivation-as-a-counselor/) - Is a passion for helping others enough to carry counselors through an entire career, or is it sometimes necessary to f ind other sources of inspiration?
- [CEO's Message: You didn’t cause the crisis, but you can be key to the solution](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/ceos-message-you-didnt-cause-the-crisis-but-you-can-be-key-to-the-solution/) - Divisiveness. Family separation. Gun violence. Racism. Bullying. Disrespect. Do these words seem as if they were pulled directly from the most recent issues of The Washington Post or the evening news? Do these words raise something in those of you who work as professional counselors or counselor educators? Are these words that you have been
- [From the President: Suicide does not discriminate](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/from-the-president-suicide-does-not-discriminate/) - In graduate school, I completed my practicum at a children’s counseling center. The evening I was to meet with my very first client, I entered the room but didn’t immediately see him. I looked around and saw that he had crawled under the couch. I knelt down and introduced myself. I then asked how he
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Picnicking as a therapeutic tool](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/the-counseling-connoisseur-picnicking-as-a-therapeutic-tool/) - The next time you are faced with clients who could benefit from a mini-break that would include a therapeutic experience that will encourage positive interactions and reflection, suggest they pack their favorite goodies and head for an outdoor space.
- [Challenging the inevitability of inherited mental illness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/challenging-the-inevitability-of-inherited-mental-illness/) - Clients with family histories of mental illness sometimes feel defeated right out of the gate, but counselors can spread an empowering message that genetics aren’t necessarily destiny when it comes to mental health.
- [Counseling Today wins top marks for feature writing, website](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/counseling-today-wins-top-marks-for-feature-writing-website/) - Counseling Today recently received three awards in APEX 2019, the 31st annual awards program recognizing excellence in publishing. Senior writer Laurie Meyers was the recipient of a Grand Award in the writing category for her October 2018 feature, “Could toxic workplaces be killing your clients?” Only 100 Grand Awards total were presented across 12 major
- [Making it safe to talk about suicidal ideation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/making-it-safe-to-talk-about-suicidal-ideation/) - By sensitively — yet straightforwardly — addressing the topic of suicide, counselors can encourage clients to open up about an issue that too often remains shrouded in shame and stigma.
- [Understanding the gap: Encouraging grad students to work with an aging population](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/understanding-the-gap-encouraging-grad-students-to-work-with-an-aging-population/) - Regardless of how old the person sitting in our office or classroom is, engaged learning can happen in countless forms, as can growth through stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
- [Looking back, looking forward](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/looking-back-looking-forward/) - Simone Lambert provides a wide-angle view of her recently completed year as ACA president and highlights some of the issues likely to influence the counseling profession’s direction for years to come.
- [From Combat to Counseling: Characteristics of the military affiliated population](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/from-combat-to-counseling-characteristics-of-the-military-affiliated-population/) - It’s true that there are many common factors among those who serve in or are affiliated with the military, but there are a large number of differences too. Age, ethnicity, gender, period of service, full time or part time, combat or not — all of these factors have their own impact on the experiences of military-affiliated clients.
- [Client suggestibility: A beginner’s guide for mental health professionals](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/client-suggestibility-a-beginners-guide-for-mental-health-professionals/) - When conducting clinical interviews, the types, manner and context of questions have the potential to result in false responses, with implications for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
- [Counseling in the land of religious liberty](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/counseling-in-the-land-of-religious-liberty/) - Misconceptions abound about religious minorities in Western societies, but counselors can take the lead in widening the tent and welcoming those of other faith traditions.
- [Taming impulses](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/taming-impulses/) - Impulse-control disorders can exert a firm grip on children and adults alike, and if left unaddressed, they can end up wreaking havoc, not just for the individuals who have them but for everyone else in their orbit.
- [CEO's Message: Calling all advocates](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/ceos-message-calling-all-advocates/) - We simply must make sure that professional counselors are seen, that they are heard, and that we take advocacy seriously. Too many people in positions of authority to make decisions that affect counselors’ practice and the lives of clients do not have the information or expertise necessary to deliver choices that will be of the greatest community benefit.
- [From the President: New beginnings, new learning opportunities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/08/from-the-president-new-beginnings-new-learning-opportunities/) - On a wall in my daughter’s former elementary school is a quote that reads, “Un experto en cualquier cosa, alguna vez fue principiante” (“The expert in anything was once a beginner” — Helen Hayes). I keep a picture of this quote on my phone and am mindful of these words when I am faced with
- [Heading to college with social anxiety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/heading-to-college-with-social-anxiety/) - Counselors who are working with college-aged clients with social anxiety should talk through and create a plan for the client to navigate the many anxiety-provoking situations that may arise as they begin (or return to) school.
- [More than simply shy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/more-than-simply-shy/) - Highly treatable but often passed off as shyness or awkwardness, social anxiety can bring clients to a counselor’s door when they’ve reached a breaking point and are no longer able to get by with their long-held coping mechanisms.
- [I don’t care what my body looks like on the beach, bro!](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/i-dont-care-what-my-body-looks-like-on-the-beach-bro/) - It is possible that some of the men who end up in your office may experience symptoms related to a negative body image. By helping clients confront the negative thoughts that plague their minds, we can potentially eliminate the harmful and, most times, irrational thoughts that haunt them.
- [From pain to empowerment: Lessons learned through physical therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/from-pain-to-empowerment-lessons-learned-through-physical-therapy/) - "I believe the lessons and approaches presented in the PT model of conducting therapy, albeit in the physical realm, apply in very concrete ways to our work as professional counselors."
- [Voice of Experience: Giving away power](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/voice-of-experience-giving-away-power/) - "He had no reason to trust me. If I had been in his shoes, I wouldn’t have trusted me either."
- [The pretend professional](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/the-pretend-professional/) - Impostor syndrome — and the sense of self-doubt, insecurity and inadequacy that accompany it — isn’t a stranger to most counseling professionals, and that’s ultimately good news.
- [Caring vs. carrying: A therapeutic review of empathy and boundaries](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/caring-vs-carrying-a-therapeutic-review-of-empathy-and-boundaries/) - Empathy allows for the full and complete exploration of thoughts, feelings and behaviors, with no intent to short-circuit the process simply because we cannot tolerate someone else’s pain.
- [Facilitating support groups for caregivers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/facilitating-support-groups-for-caregivers/) - Professional counselors possess the skills to mold groups that offer caregivers a safe place to voice their strong feelings and stressful experiences while receiving authentic empathic understanding in return.
- [From the President: What is your mission?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/from-the-president-what-is-your-mission/) - Greetings! Although it is July, we are kicking off a new fiscal year at the American Counseling Association and transitioning leadership roles. I am excited to begin my term as president. I want to extend my appreciation to immediate past President Simone Lambert and acknowledge all of her contributions to our association this past year.
- [CEO's Message: Welcoming new leadership and issuing a call to action](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/ceos-message-welcoming-new-leadership-and-issuing-a-call-to-action/) - Each July, the American Counseling Association welcomes many new and returning volunteers to its ranks. As we begin a new program year, I am so pleased that ACA President Heather Trepal will be leading our Governing Council and serving as the profession’s primary spokesperson. Dr. Trepal has distinguished herself as a scholar, mentor and advocate.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Revisiting the Spoon Theory](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/counseling-connoisseur-revisiting-the-spoon-theory/) - Counselors can assist clients and families who are impacted by chronic illness by validating their experiences, providing psychoeducation, and stepping up to advocate on local, regional and national levels.
- [A passion for the profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/07/a-passion-for-the-profession/) - Heather Trepal didn’t initially set out to become a counselor, but as she takes the reins as ACA’s 68th president, no one questions her drive and desire to advocate for the profession she grew to love.
- [Addressing intimate partner violence with clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/06/addressing-intimate-partner-violence-with-clients/) - Professional clinical counselors are charged with learning how to spot red flags and then carefully respond to a complicated and emotionally charged issue that is present in an uncomfortably large percentage of intimate relationships.
- [Coalson, Mifsud earn top marks for counseling essays](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/06/coalson-mifsud-earn-top-marks-for-counseling-essays/) - Jessica Coalson and Anabel Mifsud, both of the University of New Orleans, were named grand prizewinners for essays that they submitted to the ACA Future School Counselors Awards and the ACA Tomorrow’s Counselors Awards, respectively.
- [Using reality therapy to help military families](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/06/using-reality-therapy-to-help-military-families/) - Counselors who work with military children must understand the unique stressors that these children face, but counselors also must be prepared to help meet these children’s needs in a short amount of time because their families move often.
- [What does therapy mean to you?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/06/what-does-therapy-mean-to-you/) - Therapy is what counselor practitioners do – but it means something different to each professional. It’s a place for the client to heal, grow, be vulnerable, set goals, get to know themselves and many, many more things.
- [Bringing evidence-based processes into the therapy room](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/06/bringing-evidence-based-processes-into-the-therapy-room/) - A hospital-based outpatient mental health clinic shares its approach for closing the science-practice gap while moving beyond the era of prescriptive treatment protocols for specific disorders.
- [The miscommunication model and the WDEP system](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/06/the-miscommunication-model-and-the-wdep-system/) - A creative and cathartic drawing exercise that gives clients insights into the ways they miscommunicate can move couples past the blame game and toward stronger relationships.
- [Voice of Experience: Invisible people, Part 3: The homeless](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/06/voice-of-experience-invisible-people-part-3-the-homeless/) - Our clients who are homeless need transportation, food, clothing and jobs. I know that we aren’t social workers, but those who work with the homeless have to think pragmatically.
- [CEO's Message: Professional counselors lend a helping hand](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/ceos-message-professional-counselors-lend-a-helping-hand/) - I hope you will consider participating in ACA this year as a volunteer, as a conference attendee, or simply as an informed and educated member (because that is also quite powerful).
- [From the president: A game-changing tool for counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/from-the-president-a-game-changing-tool-for-counselors/) - Technology that is appropriately implemented could have an extensive positive impact, including increasing access to mental health services.
- [Stepping up to the challenge](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/stepping-up-to-the-challenge/) - Counselors can help stepfamilies normalize their struggles, navigate complex family dynamics, and work toward establishing a more cohesive, stable and supportive family environment.
- [Healing from multiple personalities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/healing-from-multiple-personalities/) - Throughout our work, Angela would repeat to me, “I want to be one of your success stories.” Many times, she felt the way was too difficult, but as I continued to hold a safe place for her, she developed the courage to face her fears one by one, dismantling the entire structure of her constructed “personality” and reclaiming her original innocence and wholeness.
- [Learning to love (or at least leverage) technology](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/learning-to-love-or-at-least-leverage-technology/) - Few people would describe the counseling profession’s relationship with technology as comfortable, but more of today’s professionals are beginning to embrace the possibilities and envision the ways it might supplement therapy.
- [Respecting the faith of clients and counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/respecting-the-faith-of-clients-and-counselors/) - "It is one thing for us to challenge one another, hold each other accountable, and even heartily debate. It is another thing entirely to expect that any group of people should change their entire belief system or else not be included in the field."
- [A script for socialization to the cognitive model](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/a-script-for-socialization-to-the-cognitive-model/) - Although we may not be able to fix a stressor at hand, we do have the opportunity to access alternative thoughts. It is those alternative thoughts that kickstart the process of reduced distress, healthier behaviors, and the satisfying experience of more desirable results.
- [One school counselor per 455 students: Nationwide average improves](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/one-school-counselor-per-455-students-nationwide-average-improves/) - Across the U.S., there is an average of one school counselor for every 455 public K-12 students. However, Individual state ratios vary widely, ranging from 202-to-1 in Vermont to 905-to-1 in Arizona.
- [Remembering Martin Buber and the I–Thou in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/remembering-martin-buber-and-the-i-thou-in-counseling/) - In the search for empirically validated methods, are counselor researchers, educators and clinicians in danger of losing touch with what matters most in counseling?
- [Voice of Experience: Invisible people, Part 2: The incarcerated](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/voice-of-experience-invisible-people-part-2-the-incarcerated/) - "They are numbers in a system, not names. And they are identified by their crimes by probation officers, future potential employers and others. I would hate to be identified by my mistakes rather than by my character."
- [Culturally competent end-of-life counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/culturally-competent-end-of-life-counseling/) - Helping clients experience peace as the end of life approaches involves understanding and processing the lived experiences and aspects of identity that have shaped them.
- [CEO's Message: The influence of one — multiplied by 52,000](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/ceos-message-the-influence-of-one-multiplied-by-52000/) - "When the counseling profession comes together, many positive results are possible."
- [From the President: Doing our part to promote mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/05/from-the-president-doing-our-part-to-promote-mental-health/) - While prevention services are critical across the life span and in various settings, early identification and treatment of mental health issues can have a life-changing impact on our youth. Counselors can lead the way in mitigating risk factors and fostering resiliency.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: The Gift of Community for Counselors -- An Interview with Thelma Duffey](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/counseling-connoisseur-the-gift-of-community-for-counselors-an-interview-with-thelma-duffey/) - Take the time to seek out a community that will ignite you and your clinical practice. It will not only inspire you-- it will also benefit your clients.
- [When yelling doesn’t work](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/when-yelling-doesnt-work/) - Counselors can come alongside parents to help them adjust their perspectives on the purposes of and approaches to the contentious topic of child discipline.
- [New maternal mental health certification available to counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/new-maternal-mental-health-certification-available-to-counselors/) - Postpartum Support International’s new Certification in Perinatal Mental Health became available in August to counselors and other helping professionals.
- [Grieving everyday losses](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/grieving-everyday-losses/) - Counselors help clients recognize that grief is not reserved solely for big life events such as the loss of a partner, child or other family member, but also for ‘ordinary’ and sometimes societally unacknowledged losses.
- [Behind the Book: Critical Incidents in School Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/behind-the-book-critical-incidents-in-school-counseling/) - A school counselor’s graduate degree and academic training serve only as a base for the continuous learning that happens on the job — in classrooms, via interactions with students, via collaboration with colleagues, and through professional development.
- [@TechCounselor: Retaking ownership of your time](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/techcounselor-retaking-ownership-of-your-time/) - "I don’t know about you, but I want to have greater ownership over my calendar rather than allowing my calendar to have ownership over me."
- [Five points of discussion for conversations about racial injustice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/five-points-of-discussion-for-conversations-about-racial-injustice/) - Counselors can tap into their interpersonal skills to facilitate meaningful dialogue that invites others to engage rather than become defensive.
- [Should we talk about politics? What we are missing in counseling sessions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/should-we-talk-about-politics-what-we-are-missing-in-counseling-sessions/) - To work with immigrant and refugee populations more effectively, it is important to understand that discussing political issues with these clients can have a positive impact in their lives.
- [How can we truly help clients in a relationship?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/how-can-we-truly-help-clients-in-a-relationship/) - In some cases, counselors may need to tweak their own ways of thinking before offering clients in a relationship alternative ways of relating to each other.
- [Interventions for attachment and traumatic stress issues in young children](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/interventions-for-attachment-and-traumatic-stress-issues-in-young-children/) - With their emphasis on human development, prevention, ecosystems and wellness, counselors are well-positioned to address the unique service needs of the pediatric population.
- [CEO's Message: Counseling’s voice louder with the support of others](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/ceos-message-counselings-voice-louder-with-the-support-of-others/) - To help students become the adults we want them to be, we need more professional school counselors.
- [From the President: What it means to be a professional counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/04/from-the-president-what-it-means-to-be-a-professional-counselor/) - Being a professional counselor is an honor. It is a privilege to walk with clients and communities through difficult journeys of healing.
- [Inviting young people to talk about mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/inviting-young-people-to-talk-about-mental-health/) - Keynote speaker Cynthia Germanotta tells ACA Conference attendees that today’s youth value mental health but don’t know where to turn for help.
- [Bundle of joy?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/bundle-of-joy/) - The arrival of a new baby is cause for celebration, but it also comes with night feedings, diaper changes and, often, a host of psychological stressors, from intense feelings of self-doubt to struggles with identity.
- [Establishing a private practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/establishing-a-private-practice/) - Counselors who dream of the freedom and autonomy they would gain by being their own bosses should also be aware of the many challenges that accompany the rewards.
- [Behind the Book: Wellness Counseling: A Holistic Approach to Prevention and Intervention](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/behind-the-book-wellness-counseling-a-holistic-approach-to-prevention-and-intervention/) - "Wellness counseling is client-centered [because] you are offering the client new ways of understanding and experiencing themselves and new avenues for goal achievement."
- [Building a kinder and braver world](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/building-a-kinder-and-braver-world/) - "As adults who care about and work with young people, counselors can and do help young people understand how to be kind to themselves, how to cope with the challenges that life will throw their way, and how to take care of their own well-being while they’re busy changing the world."
- [The caregiving conundrum](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/the-caregiving-conundrum/) - Counselors can help those who are shouldering end-of-life caregiving responsibilities to navigate sensitive issues such as burnout, guilt and family dynamics.
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Cultivating silence in a noisy world](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/the-counseling-connoisseur-cultivating-silence-in-a-noisy-world/) - It is imperative to make time for silence in our noisy lives. Modern-day living is accompanied by a cacophony of external noise and internal concerns. Our bodies and minds cannot sustain the ongoing level of stimulation without disease or disorder.
- [Parent-child interaction therapy for ADHD and anxiety disorders](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/parent-child-interaction-therapy-for-adhd-and-anxiety-disorders/) - Child-directed interaction and PRIDE skills can be used in the counselor’s office, in the home, in schools and elsewhere to help children produce more desired social behaviors.
- [Counseling individuals of African descent](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/counseling-individuals-of-african-descent/) - To work effectively with these clients, counselors must acknowledge the institutionalized racism and race-based oppression that influence clients’ trauma experiences and trauma responses.
- [Containment in restraints](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/containment-in-restraints/) - Art therapy is one of four hours out of the week in which these clients are let out of their cells. How then does a clinician establish boundaries and a contained, safe therapeutic environment in a context defined by walls, chains and fences? Walk beside and begin with the art.
- [From the President: Trauma: An issue for all counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/from-the-president-trauma-an-issue-for-all-counselors/) - The pervasiveness of trauma necessitates that counselors, regardless of their work settings and specialty areas, become proficient in treatments to address trauma and provide crisis intervention.
- [CEO's Message: Celebrating is a good thing to do](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/03/ceos-message-celebrating-is-a-good-thing-to-do/) - "What I remain sure of is that professional counselors are the change agents who can truly make society a more inclusive, less damaging and more welcoming world. I encourage you to continue your good work."
- [The messy reality of perfectionism](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/the-messy-reality-of-perfectionism/) - The pursuit of perfection becomes problematic when people won’t grant themselves permission to make mistakes and instead cede total command to their self-critical voice.
- [Voice of Experience: Facing death](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/voice-of-experience-facing-death/) - "Knowing our defects and failings as counselors, many of us struggle to live with ourselves, just like our clients do. I suppose what I’m hoping is that you too can find a place where you are OK with the end, no matter how many years away that might be. That strength is the firm foundation we need to manage the curveballs that life throws at us, thus making us better helpers for our clients."
- [Touched by trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/touched-by-trauma/) - As counselors dig below the surface and uncover clients’ personal histories, they often find that lingering trauma is exerting undue influence on people’s lives.
- [The gifts of volunteering as a disaster mental health counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/the-gifts-of-volunteering-as-a-disaster-mental-health-counselor/) - "When these people had awoken that fateful morning, they had no warning of the impending doom, no way to prepare and just barely enough time to get out of harm’s way. The fragileness of humanity struck me as I tried my best to help those in dire need."
- [Study: Genetic wiring as a ‘morning person’ associated with better mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/study-genetic-wiring-as-a-morning-person-associated-with-better-mental-health/) - Research suggests that the genetic tendency toward being a morning person is “positively correlated with well-being” and less associated with depression and schizophrenia.
- [Is there an epidemic of emotional support animals?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/is-there-an-epidemic-of-emotional-support-animals/) - In a rush to provide documentation for the growing numbers of people desiring emotional support animals, mental health providers could be putting others at risk.
- [Counseling encounters with the puppet masters](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/counseling-encounters-with-the-puppet-masters/) - Antisocial personality disorder remains a misunderstood and arguably underdiagnosed issue that can manifest in a number of ways.
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Cannabidiol and mental health therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/counseling-connoisseur-cannabidiol-and-mental-health-therapy/) - Overall, current research indicates that CBD has significant potential as a treatment for a number of mood disorders.
- [CEO's Message: In support of thousands of professional counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/ceos-message-in-support-of-thousands-of-professional-counselors/) - Next month, thousands of professional counselors, counselor educators, researchers and graduate students will convene in New Orleans for the ACA 2019 Conference & Expo. This annual event comprises more than 400 education sessions, over 100 exhibitors and countless opportunities to network with those who understand your unique professional role. In some ways, I think this
- [From the President: Thriving in relationships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/02/from-the-president-thriving-in-relationships/) - This month, the sixth annual Time to Thrive conference will be co-presented by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the National Education Association and the American Counseling Association. In preparing to represent ACA and present at Time to Thrive (#TimeToThrive), the topic of strengthening client relationship skills is forefront in my mind. My session at Time
- [PTSD and climbing out of the valley of the shadow of death](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/ptsd-and-climbing-out-of-the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death/) - Using metaphors in trauma work can provide clients with a much-needed bridge to understanding and normalizing their experiences.
- [Counselor self-disclosure: Encouragement or impediment to client growth?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/counselor-self-disclosure-encouragement-or-impediment-to-client-growth/) - Self-disclosure can establish trust and strengthen the bond between counselor and client, but the trick is knowing when it is (and isn’t) an appropriate tool to use.
- [Workforce projections show a coming surplus of school counselors, shortage of addictions counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/workforce-projections-show-a-coming-surplus-of-school-counselors-shortage-of-addictions-counselors/) - According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), there will be a shortage of addiction and mental health counselors and a surplus of school counselors and marriage and family therapists in the decade to come.
- [Relationship management](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/relationship-management/) - Strengthening skills relative to building and maintaining close personal connections is key to clients’ health and overall well-being.
- [Voice of Experience: Facing the wind](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/voice-of-experience-facing-the-wind/) - Sofia’s clothes were stylish and neatly pressed, and her jet-black hair was immaculate. Cropped short, not a strand was out of place. Subtle makeup highlighted her athletic features and youthful appearance, making her look much younger than she actually was. Only by looking closely could I see a hint of red in her eyes. She
- [Technology Tutor: Taking a closer look at telehealth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/technology-tutor-taking-a-closer-look-at-telehealth/) - As people in a helping profession, many counselors know the frustration of something getting in the way of us being there for our clients. At some point in our careers, we all must deal with scheduling conflicts, illnesses, weather delays and other events outside of our control. Typically, these are temporary setbacks, and we find
- [The pros and cons of contracting with online counseling companies](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/the-pros-and-cons-of-contracting-with-online-counseling-companies/) - The day I decided to close my private practice and move to another state was one of both excitement and remorse. I knew that I would be starting from scratch in building a practice in a new region, yet I did not have the time and energy to devote to the marketing and networking that
- [Volcanic adolescence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/volcanic-adolescence/) - In the early days, Caroline, a 14-year-old girl, started each session with a chin thrust indignantly at her counselor. She wanted to be seen as a warrior, and she offered answers that were blunt as a sledgehammer. And why should she drop her defenses? She had seen too many adults — teachers, social workers, friends
- [Leading an anti-bullying intervention for students with disabilities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/leading-an-anti-bullying-intervention-for-students-with-disabilities/) - For more than 40 years, bullying in schools has remained relatively stable and today is recognized as a serious social problem. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Education released the first federal standardized definition of bullying, which includes unwanted aggressive behavior, observed or perceived power imbalance, and
- [Talking about menopause](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/talking-about-menopause/) - Sleepless nights. Sudden temperature spikes and night sweats. Fluctuating moods. Brain fog. Sudden hair loss (head). Sudden hair growth (face). Dry skin, leaky bladder, pain during intercourse. This litany of symptoms may sound like the signs of a mysterious and slightly terrifying disease, but they’re actually all possible side effects of a normal, natural life
- [Fighting suicide: The importance of hope](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/fighting-suicide-the-importance-of-hope/) - Scary numbers about suicide have been splashing across the headlines for some time now. Many of us have seen the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicating that suicide rates have been rising and that suicide is now the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States. According to the CDC, nearly 45,000
- [What’s left unsaid](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/whats-left-unsaid/) - A child discloses that her grandfather has been sexually abusing her, and the mother’s response is shock that his abuse didn’t stop with her when she was a child. This scene is not uncommon for Molly VanDuser, the president and clinical director of Peace of Mind, an outpatient counseling and trauma treatment center in North Carolina. As
- [Behind the book: Counselor Education in the 21st Century](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2019/01/behind-the-book-counselor-education-in-the-21st-century/) - A counselor educator is much more than a hybrid of counselor and professor. The job requires skills from both of these realms, as well as those of an administrator, mentor, researcher, collaborator, gatekeeper and many others. It can be overwhelming if a person comes into the role unprepared, write Jane E. Atieno Okech and Deborah
- [From the President: Fostering resiliency](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/from-the-president-fostering-resiliency/) - Happy New Year! According to Oxford Dictionaries, the word of the year for 2018 was toxic. What would it take for the word of the year in 2019 to be resilience? The Oxford Dictionaries define resilience as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” How do we, as counselors, help clients and communities transform
- [CEO's Message: Upping our game](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/ceos-message-upping-our-game/) - Each day it seems that the world becomes smaller thanks to the advent of technology, allowing us to more easily travel, communicate, interact and learn about others. From my perspective, this means we can also learn more about diverse cultures, customs, perspectives and motivations that we may not inherently understand. I’m not speaking here about
- [Building client and counselor resilience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/building-client-and-counselor-resilience/) - Merriam-Webster offers two definitions for resilience. One is literal and drawn from physics: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress. The second definition is a symbolic mirror of the first: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. In
- [Our most-read articles of 2018](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/our-most-read-articles-of-2018/) - What were counselors reading in 2018? This year saw the explosion of the #MeToo movement, so it’s no surprise that a piece on supporting clients through sexual assault response was among the top five articles that received the most views at Counseling Today’s website, ct.counseling.org. Readers were also interested in pieces on navigating and preventing
- [Voice of Experience: Avoiding boundary violations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/voice-of-experience-avoiding-boundary-violations/) - Boundary violations happen in two general ways — a momentary bad decision or a long series of bad decisions that leads to a huge error. Here are examples of each. A clinician friend attended a client’s graduation party. She had worked with this client for months as he dealt with the ending of his marriage,
- [America’s mental health disparities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/americas-mental-health-disparities-2/) - Mental health care availability and access vary tremendously depending on where you live in the United States. In Massachusetts, for example, there is one mental health care provider for every 180 residents. That ratio is far different in Texas and Alabama, however, where there are more than 1,000 residents for every one provider. Mental Health
- [Some thoughts on thoughts: The inner critic and self-talk](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/some-thoughts-on-thoughts-the-inner-critic-and-self-talk/) - Raising personal awareness of negative self-talk and replacing it with positive and more accurate messaging can be transformational for clients and for counselors.
- [The use of evidence-based practices with oppressed populations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/the-use-of-evidence-based-practices-with-oppressed-populations/) - Therapy must always be tailored to the individual; there is no one-size-fits-all model. However, certain approaches have been empirically verified for use with a variety of clientele. It is critical that all counselors, especially those working with client populations that are oppressed, have both an overview of evidence-based practices and specific techniques related to these
- [Team sports vs. solo exercise: Which is better for your mental health?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/12/team-sports-vs-solo-exercise-which-is-better-for-your-mental-health/) - Professional counselors often recommend exercise to clients as a way to improve mood and overall wellness. In addition to boosting serotonin, a neurotransmitter connected to feelings of well-being, exercise offers the chance to unplug from the busyness of daily life and process one’s thoughts. A recent journal study in The Lancet Psychiatry takes that recommendation
- [From the President: Making progress toward portability](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/from-the-president-making-progress-toward-portability/) - Imagine being able to move to another state and seamlessly maintain your license as a professional counselor. Consider the possibility of providing mental health services via telehealth across the nation without having to maintain 50-plus licenses. Envision working in the offices of a practice that spans two or three border states in a metropolitan area
- [CEO's Message: Your light continues to shine brightly](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/ceos-message-your-light-continues-to-shine-brightly/) - Respectful discussion, the inclusion of diverse voices and compassion for our fellow humans seem to be waning these days. Many pundits and others will tell you what (or who) has driven this “new normal” in American society. But the question is, does it really matter who started this or who perpetuates the growing divide? Isn’t
- [Finding love in a ‘swipe left’ universe](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/finding-love-in-a-swipe-left-universe/) - When it comes to dating, it’s often said there are plenty of fish in the sea. But when you’re dangling a fishing pole in the seemingly vast ocean of online dating and not getting many nibbles, it can leave you with a seasick feeling. Or perhaps you’ve heard tales of other people connecting with really
- [Supporting clients through the anxiety and exhaustion of food allergies](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/supporting-clients-through-the-anxiety-and-exhaustion-of-food-allergies/) - The diagnosis of a food allergy is life-changing, not just for the individual but for those who love and live with that person. In addition to avoiding exposure to certain foods, the condition requires that these families and individuals explain, over and over again, the seriousness of the allergy at schools, restaurants, social gatherings, workplaces,
- [Helping families cope with cancer](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/helping-families-cope-with-cancer/) - Cancer. The word alone can evoke terror amid visions of painful treatments and possible early death. Even though many advances have been made in cancer treatment, and despite the fact that heart disease is the actual No. 1 cause of death for adults in the United States, cancer is the diagnosis that many people fear
- [Voice of Experience: Know everything](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/voice-of-experience-know-everything/) - If you want to be a good counselor, know everything. Did I get your attention? I don’t really expect counselors to know everything, but I use this simple phrase to make a point. Remember how exciting it was when you finished your graduate work? No more tests, no more papers and no more assignments. When
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Children and grief](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/counseling-connoisseur-children-and-grief/) - Nicolas was just under 3 years old when he attended his grandfather’s funeral. He wandered through the sea of adults, holding tight to his mommy and daddy’s hands as he made his way to the front of the line where his grandfather lay peacefully in the casket. His grandmother picked him up as he tried
- [Moving through trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/moving-through-trauma/) - I am a wounded healer. I remember a professor in graduate school telling our class that most counselors are wounded healers. As human beings, we gravitate toward what we know. As counselors, many of us are attracted to this work because of our difficult life experiences. These events in our lives often include trauma. Trauma
- [Key considerations for counselor community engagement](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/key-considerations-for-counselor-community-engagement/) - If you are reading this article, it is likely because you have a strong interest in counseling. We might even be able to go a step further in saying that you probably love counseling, right? As members of the Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) Counselor Community Engagement Committee, we agree — we love counseling. We also
- [A different approach to recording sessions for counselors-in-training](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/a-different-approach-to-recording-sessions-for-counselors-in-training/) - It’s one thing to hear about a problem; it’s another to adopt that issue as your own and seek counseling to help resolve issues.
- [CEO's Message: The toxic environment goes beyond air and water](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/ceos-message-the-toxic-environment-goes-beyond-air-and-water/) - I can remember when we read about and had to endure smog, polluted streams and factories that contributed to a degradation of physical health. But in this day and age, especially here in the United States, the phrase “toxic environment” has taken on other contexts. The ongoing divisiveness between many groups, the bullying of others
- [From the President: A counseling focus on teens and young adults](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/11/from-the-president-a-counseling-focus-on-teens-and-young-adults/) - Today’s adolescents and emerging adults are facing an ever-changing world, with growing repercussions on their well-being and ability to be contributing members of society. Young people struggle with forming their identities, engaging in healthy relationships and navigating life transitions. In addition to confronting the challenges of these developmental tasks, approximately 20 percent of youth experience
- [Standing in the shadow of addiction](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/standing-in-the-shadow-of-addiction/) - Theresa Eschmann, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and addiction family specialist in private practice in St. Louis, experienced firsthand the power of denial in adult children of parents with alcohol use disorders. All her life, Eschmann had witnessed her mother struggle with this disorder, yet upon finding her mother dead with a bottle of alcohol
- [Generational divisions in the workplace: Where counselors come in](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/generational-divisions-in-the-workplace-where-counselors-come-in/) - More than 1 in 3 American workers are part of the millennial generation, according to the Pew Research Center. This growing contingent of young professionals works alongside supervisors and co-workers who came of age when workplace dynamics were very different. These differences encompass everything from demographics to overall level of reliance on technology. If left
- [The ‘storm and stress’ of  adolescence and young adulthood](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/the-storm-and-stress-of-adolescence-and-young-adulthood/) - For much of human history, the idea of adolescence being a distinct life stage was nonexistent. True, in the Middle Ages, children were recognized not merely as “mini” adults but as distinct beings with different needs. However, the years from ages 13 to 19 were not considered part of childhood until the turn of the
- [Voice of Experience: Losing a client](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/voice-of-experience-losing-a-client/) - My colleague sat across from me, teary-eyed, in the conference room where we had met so many times before while she was under my supervision. Now, only a few months into her new life as a fully licensed clinician, she had lost a client to suicide. She was understandably distraught. The client was high risk
- [Helping clients with post-date anxiety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/helping-clients-with-post-date-anxiety/) - As a counselor, I have a front-row seat for watching anxiety develop in new relationships. It is truly fascinating to observe how quickly two people can become emotionally stuck together. A therapy client will leave for a week and return reporting that he or she has started dating someone new. This former stranger now has
- [Life after traumatic brain injury: Lessons from a support group](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/life-after-traumatic-brain-injury-lessons-from-a-support-group/) - Support groups are wonderful opportunities for people with similar life experiences to meet each other, share their stories and encourage one another. Group members benefit from learning coping strategies and everyday tips for dealing with various experiences. For people with traumatic brain injury (TBI), support groups offer informal opportunities for understanding a shared experience that
- [Understanding and working with service dog handlers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/understanding-and-working-with-service-dog-handlers/) - It happens almost as soon as Emily steps through the door of the grocery store. “What do you think you’re doing in here with that?” an employee demands loudly while moving to block her path. He’s pointing in anger at the black Labrador retriever beside her. As Emily comes to a halt, her service dog,
- [Working with foster and adoptive families through the lens of attachment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/working-with-foster-and-adoptive-families-through-the-lens-of-attachment/) - Counselors can help parents form stronger relationships with their children and experience a reduction in difficult behaviors that have resulted in chaos and discouragement.
- [Promoting LGBTQ students’ well-being in schools](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/promoting-lgbtq-students-well-being-in-schools/) - In their role as allies and social justice agents, school counselors are uniquely positioned to address myths about LGBTQ youth, to advocate for these students and to effect change.
- [Working memory: A review for children’s mental health providers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/working-memory-a-review-for-childrens-mental-health-providers/) - Working memory is an essential cognitive skill that allows an individual to learn through the processing and manipulation of information. In other words, working memory is the process through which information is manipulated and then linked to other existing memories. A wealth of research has investigated the capacity of working memory in children. Working memory
- [CEO's Message: Walking taller: The professional counselor’s expertise](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/ceos-message-walking-taller-the-professional-counselors-expertise/) - I have to admit that I love going to the movies. However, over the past several years, I haven’t seen as many as I would like. There are various reasons for this, including simply not making the time, the cost of movie admission and the rise of alternatives such as Netflix and HBO. Recently, however,
- [From the president: Leadership in the counseling profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/10/from-the-president-leadership-in-the-counseling-profession/) - October means that it’s time for pumpkin spice lattes and that the fall counseling conference season is in high gear. When attending these ACA region, branch or division conferences, look around at the volunteer leaders who have worked tirelessly to put together top-notch professional development. Also note the presenters who put in many hours to
- [Could toxic workplaces be killing your clients?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/could-toxic-workplaces-be-killing-your-clients/) - Many American workers are overworked, exhausted and underpaid. Defying their biological clocks with shift work. Putting in 50-plus-hour workweeks and often juggling the work of two or more people — all under the eye of sometimes capricious management. Employees huddle together like Survivor contestants, hoping not to be voted off the island through layoffs, outsourcing
- [Infusing hope amid despair](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/infusing-hope-amid-despair/) - In 2015, two Princeton University economists, Anne Case and Angus Deaton, published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America that made a shocking claim: After decreasing for decades, the mortality rate for white non-Latinx middle-aged Americans was actually increasing. They ascribed this reversal of fortune
- [Voice of Experience: One quiet hour](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/voice-of-experience-one-quiet-hour/) - Seven-year-old “Adam” (not his real name) concentrates on the project in front of him. He is coloring on a piece of paper on the floor in my therapy room, and I am sitting close beside him. Crayons litter the floor, and I can see him thinking carefully as he selects each color. He leans back
- [Behind the Book: Gatekeeping in the Mental Health Professions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/behind-the-book-gatekeeping-in-the-mental-health-professions/) - The academic evaluation of graduate students in counseling education programs is straightforward: Their ability to master the material becomes apparent in grades assigned and credits earned. “However, evaluating trainee competency in the domains of interpersonal behavior, intrapersonal functioning and professional conduct to determine readiness to practice is much more subjective,” write Alicia M. Homrich and
- [Bringing CBT into the doctor’s office](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/bringing-cbt-into-the-doctors-office/) - When you get your annual physical, does your primary care physician ask if you’ve been feeling atypically sad or anxious lately? Primary care doctors are often the first professional a person will tell about symptoms related to depression or other mental health issues. With this in mind, two Pennsylvania counselors have created a presentation on
- [Technology Tutor: Making sure your website is seen and complies with the ACA Code of Ethics](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/technology-tutor-making-sure-your-website-is-seen-and-complies-with-the-aca-code-of-ethics/) - Having a website is a building block that is integral to most successful businesses these days. This is no different for counselors running a nonprofit, agency, private practice or other venture. Increasingly, people are connecting with their service providers by first encountering them online through directory listings and websites. Even when referred directly to a
- [Identifying colors to create a rainbow of cohesion in the workplace for helping professionals](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/identifying-colors-to-create-a-rainbow-of-cohesion-in-the-workplace-for-helping-professionals/) - The idea for this piece came about when I (Jetaun Bailey) was pursuing my master’s degree in counseling. I recall my professor stating clearly that burnout occurs often among helping professionals and that the average stay for a counselor employed at a mental health facility is two years. As one of my assignments, I completed
- [Group counseling with clients receiving medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/group-counseling-with-clients-receiving-medication-assisted-treatment-for-substance-use-disorders/) - Holistic care, or the integration of primary and behavioral health care along with other health care services, is becoming more common. In my experience as a mental health and chemical dependency counselor in an integrated care site, I have come to value the benefits that such wraparound services offer. I now have the opportunity to
- [Addressing ethnic self-hatred  in Latinx undergraduates](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/addressing-ethnic-self-hatred-in-latinx-undergraduates/) - When Europeans first made contact with the indigenous peoples of the Americas, a path toward Eurocentrism was set in the Western Hemisphere. In the years since the conquest and colonization of North America and the establishment of the United States, the cultural values and social policies of this country have favored people of Western European
- [Graduate counseling students: What makes you different?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/09/graduate-counseling-students-what-makes-you-different/) - As a counselor master’s student approaching graduation in December, a few lessons have become ingrained in my mind: “Always advocate on behalf of your clients”; “engaging in self-care is essential”; and “practice in accordance with the ACA Code of Ethics.” At times, when I am lying in bed after a long day, I find myself
- [From the CEO: ACA: Still a home  for professional  school counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/from-the-ceo-aca-still-a-home-for-professional-school-counselors/) - One of our longtime employees at the American Counseling Association recently reflected that we talk about team, but his perception was that ACA is really about family. He said that people can leave a team, or be asked to leave, but they are still part of the ACA family. That is our culture. I see
- [From the president: Play: A critical modality](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/from-the-president-play-a-critical-modality/) - The smell of a new box of crayons. The feel of a fresh can of Play-Doh. The sight of little miniatures neatly arranged in a sandbox. The sound of a puppet scene being acted out. These sensory experiences remind many of us of our childhood play with friends and family. When play therapy, the topic
- [Talking about #MeToo](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/talking-about-metoo/) - In 2006, activist Tarana Burke founded the “me too” movement — a grassroots campaign to help survivors of sexual violence, particularly young women of color from low-wealth communities. Over time, the movement with a simple message — you are not alone — built a community of survivors from all walks of life. In fall 2017,
- [Left to their own devices](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/left-to-their-own-devices/) - Unless counselors take the initiative to engage with them, fathers can be left to struggle silently and in isolation with a variety of issues related to parenting and masculinity.
- [Putting PTSD treatment on a faster track](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/putting-ptsd-treatment-on-a-faster-track/) - An exposure-based therapy method has shown to reduce the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in just five sessions, according to researchers. Written exposure therapy (WET) consists of one 60-minute and four 40-minute sessions, during which clients are guided to write about a traumatic event they have experienced and the thoughts and feelings they associate
- [The therapy behind play therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/the-therapy-behind-play-therapy/) - Ashley Wroton, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), says parents of her young clients have told her that pediatricians sometimes make comments suggesting that they try “real” therapy with their child rather than play therapy. “Play therapy is real therapy,” says Wroton, a registered play therapist who works with clients ages 3-12 at a group outpatient
- [Spinoza was right: Four steps to recovery from addiction](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/spinoza-was-right-four-steps-to-recovery-from-addiction/) - The 17th-century Dutch philosopher Benedict Spinoza wrote that “when a man is a prey to his emotions, he is not his own master, but lies at the mercy of fortune.” He named this condition “human bondage.” In my view, there is no greater form of human bondage among us now than drug addiction. Addiction is
- [Conquering the fear of flying](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/conquering-the-fear-of-flying/) - National Football League (NFL) commentator John Madden famously crisscrossed the United States for years in a custom coach bus so that he could make it to games and other commitments without having to board a plane. The former head coach of the Oakland Raiders and Pro Football Hall of Famer’s aversion to flying also led
- [The hurting counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/the-hurting-counselor/) - It was like someone was sitting on my chest. From the moment I awoke each day, I could barely breathe, and throughout the day, I teetered on the verge of tears. My wife and I had separated, and I thought my 20-year marriage was about to end. My heart was in shreds and, especially because
- [@TechCounselor: Counselors as innovators](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/techcounselor-counselors-as-innovators/) - Have you ever been at work using a software system and thought to yourself, “It would be so nice if this software would let me do ___________”? Maybe you wish collaborative comments were possible when a team of providers is involved in client care. Perhaps you’d like it if calendar reminders included a two-sentence summary
- [The beauty of client and supervisee resistance](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/the-beauty-of-client-and-supervisee-resistance/) - In the counseling profession, resistance is essentially considered a four-letter word. Actually, many counselors probably feel more comfortable using a four-letter word than they do talking about a client’s or supervisee’s resistance. There are good reasons for this aversion. Traditionally, resistance shown by clients or during supervision was considered a type of pathology. It was
- [Addicted to sex?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/addicted-to-sex/) - Rather than conceptualizing compulsive sexuality as a moral failing, the addiction model provides a framework to empower clients to manage their condition and establish a healthy sexuality.
- [The dismissal of divorce advice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/the-dismissal-of-divorce-advice/) - It’s a distressing reality, but advice for the newly divorced might be as common as advice for the newly married. Advice for the newly divorced often centers around protecting any children who might be involved because although parents get divorced from each other, children become divorced from the only life they have ever known. Parents
- [From the President: The journey toward licensure portability](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/from-the-president-the-journey-toward-licensure-portability/) - From the Building Blocks to Portability Project, which emerged out of the 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling initiative, to adoption of the ACA Licensure Portability Model in June 2016 by the ACA Governing Council, the counseling profession continues to further the licensure expedition. These ardent efforts began in 1976, when Virginia became
- [CEO's Message: It starts with you: Helping the voiceless have a voice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/08/ceos-message-it-starts-with-you-helping-the-voiceless-have-a-voice/) - In July, nearly 200 professional counselors went to Capitol Hill in Washington as part of the American Counseling Association’s Institute for Leadership Training (ILT). Celebrating its 10th year, the ILT brought together counseling leaders serving at the state, region, division and national levels. These counseling leaders, both seasoned and emerging, gathered to learn about key
- [When panic attacks](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/when-panic-attacks/) - Kellie Collins, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who runs a group private practice in Lake Oswego, Oregon, experienced her first panic attack when she was 14. She remembers suddenly feeling cold, losing sensation in her hands and her heart beating so rapidly that it felt like it was going to leap out of her chest
- [The age of isolation: How Instagram memes describe a lonely generation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/the-age-of-isolation-how-instagram-memes-describe-a-lonely-generation/) - Instagram tells millions of stories. Many exhibit our personal daily moments, and, from a wider lens, others describe entire populations and social movements. With 800 million users, Instagram is one of the biggest and richest collections of societal data on the planet. We can learn a lot by noticing what these users choose to showcase
- [In search of an affirming faith](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/in-search-of-an-affirming-faith/) - One of Cyndi Matthews’ most vivid memories of growing up in a fundamentalist Christian church was watching the minister point at her brother’s best friend during a service and say, “You don’t belong here. Get out.” The reason? The boy was gay. Matthews, a licensed professional counselor supervisor (LPC-S), says that incident was her first
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Enough: A call to action](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/the-counseling-connoisseur-enough-a-call-to-action/) - “Thou shalt not be a perpetrator, thou shalt not be a victim, and thou shalt never, but never be a bystander.” ― Yehuda Bauer The sun warmed my body. Blissfully fatigued following several laps around the pool, I stretched out on the chaise lounge chair. I sipped my cool lemonade and haphazardly lifted my
- [Is depression lurking in your medicine cabinet?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/is-depression-lurking-in-your-medicine-cabinet/) - An estimated one in three American adults are taking one or more medications that can – and often do – cause depression. A recent Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study found that many common medications that Americans take regularly, such as drugs for acid reflux or high blood pressure, have the potential to cause depression
- [Effective ways to approach sexual assault response](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/effective-ways-to-approach-sexual-assault-response/) - The overwhelming number of women who have participated in the #MeToo movement has drawn renewed attention to issues of sexual violence, which remains pervasive in our culture. This newly risen wave has created a refreshed platform for addressing gaps in counselor training for sexual assault response. Even though statistics from the National Sexual Violence Resource
- [Superheroes and play therapy: The perfect imaginary combination](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/superheroes-and-play-therapy-the-perfect-imaginary-combination/) - Superheroes have a profound influence on American culture. Recently, Marvel Comics’ Black Panther came to life on the movie screen. It appears the movie had a twofold impact. First, it brought heroic life to a seemingly little-known character. Second, unlike most other big-screen superhero movies, Black Panther placed value on social consciousness, awareness, community, family
- [Behind the book: Disaster Mental Health Counseling: A Guide to Preparing and Responding](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/07/behind-the-book-disaster-mental-health-counseling-a-guide-to-preparing-and-responding/) - Superstorm Sandy. Newtown. The Pulse nightclub. Counselors were there to help people through all of those disasters, plus countless others, both natural and human-caused, through the past decade. Disaster mental health counseling has grown and become more standardized in the process. With each disaster, practitioners learn the subtleties of what survivors and communities most need,
- [CEO's Message: Welcoming new volunteers and saying farewell to a family favorite](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/ceos-message-welcoming-new-volunteers-and-saying-farewell-to-a-family-favorite/) - Each July, you are likely to read the words “Happy New Year” from me, not because I can’t keep my months straight but because July is the beginning of ACA’s fiscal and programmatic year. This is the month we welcome our newest volunteers and leaders who are beginning 12 months of service to the association.
- [From the President: Counselor collaboration and advocacy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/from-the-president-counselor-collaboration-and-advocacy/) - In 1952, Mother Teresa opened a free hospice in the city of Calcutta, Elizabeth II began her reign as queen of the United Kingdom and Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for the first time (for nine months) as punishment for nonviolent civil disobedience for his role as volunteer-in-chief of the Defiance Campaign. That year also included
- [When bias turns into bullying](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/when-bias-turns-into-bullying/) - We all have our biases — but just because bias is a universal part of the human experience doesn’t mean it is something we should ever dismiss offhandedly, either in ourselves or others. That’s because bias has serious consequences, and when left unchecked, it can turn into bullying. A 2012 study of California middle and
- [A counselor to the core](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/a-counselor-to-the-core/) - When Simone Lambert was 4, she walked up to a circus elephant and tried to hug it. Lambert doesn’t wholly remember this episode, but her family tells her that she approached the majestic pachyderm fearlessly and enthusiastically. She never got close enough to complete the embrace, but the encounter marked the beginning of her lifelong
- [Five pragmatic tools to become a nonanxious presence: Tips and tricks for being a mindful counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/five-pragmatic-tools-to-become-a-nonanxious-presence-tips-and-tricks-for-being-a-mindful-counselor/) - One of the most uplifting and powerful things counselors can do for their clients is to become a “nonanxious presence.” The term, originally coined by Jewish Rabbi and family therapist Edwin Friedman, is used to describe an individual who provides a calm, cool, focused and collected environment that empowers others to be relaxed. This can
- [The lingering influence of attachment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/the-lingering-influence-of-attachment/) - A few years ago, American Counseling Association member Lisa Bennett took a trip to Southeast Asia. While there, she thought it would be fun to visit an elephant sanctuary where sick and injured animals had been sent to heal. What she saw fascinated her. The elephants engaged in attachment behavior. Among herds, young elephants are
- [The social justice of adoption](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/the-social-justice-of-adoption/) - The adoption journey is not an easy one. After three years and nine months of active pursuit, my husband and I finalized our adoption on Nov. 29, 2017. Through this process, I learned a great deal that has helped me grow as a counselor educator and supervisor. For example, I learned the benefits of being
- [Stepping into recovery](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/stepping-into-recovery/) - "At the heart of my work is the aim of being present with another person so that they can learn to be emotionally present themselves."
- [Counseling Connoisseur: Thanatechnology – Grief and loss in a digital world](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/counseling-connoisseur-thanatechnology-grief-and-loss-in-a-digital-world/) - Thanatechnology: Any kind of technology that can be used to deal with death, dying, grief, loss and illness. Kelly (an alias), an eighth-grader, sits with her friends in the school auditorium as her principal calls out the names of each of her classmates who were killed in the recent shooting. To honor the lives
- [Technology Tutor: Why counselors need to understand health information exchange](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/technology-tutor-why-counselors-need-to-understand-health-information-exchange/) - Because most counselors have flown under the “meaningful use” radar so far, they may not be familiar with the term health information exchange (HIE). Moving forward, however, it will be important for counselors to educate themselves because the model for provision of care in the United States continues to move toward that of interoperability and
- [Self-care for the activist counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/self-care-for-the-activist-counselor/) - An activist is a person who campaigns and takes action for social change. Counselors are often activists for their clients and for their profession by nature of being in a helping field. The issue of self-care looms for both counselor practitioners and counselor educators as we face difficult client issues, large caseloads and demanding work
- [A favorite, yet bittersweet, month](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/a-favorite-yet-bittersweet-month/) - June is one of my favorite months. Winter coats and gloves are stashed away, the pollen has usually come and gone, many of us are close to taking a vacation, and the fruits and vegetables at the farmers markets taste much better. What’s not to love about June? Well, here at the American Counseling Association,
- [From the President: Reflection and erratum](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/06/ref-lection-and-erratum/) - This last column for Counseling Today is a little bittersweet. This past year, as I have had the privilege of serving as American Counseling Association president, I have written these articles on planes and trains, in airports and in hotel rooms. (I even managed to write one or two at home or in my office.)
- [Rate of youth suicide-related hospitalizations has nearly doubled](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/rate-of-youth-suicide-related-hospitalizations-has-nearly-doubled/) - Recent research has revealed an alarming development: The number of youth admitted to the hospital for a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation nearly doubled between 2008 and 2015. The findings, published in the May 2018 issue of the journal Pediatrics, analyzed seven years of billing data for emergency room and inpatient visits at children's hospitals
- [Guiding lights](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/guiding-lights/) - Supervisors and beginning counselors who approach the supervision process as a relationship to be fostered rather than a set number of hours to be clocked may be more likely to experience growth and development, both personally and professionally.
- [Integrated interventions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/integrated-interventions/) - W hen people think about integrated care, they may imagine a mental health care professional (or two) working in the same building with a physician or other medical professional and following a mutual agreement to refer cases to one another as needed. Others might picture a specialized setting, such as a pain clinic or cancer treatment
- [Counselor supervision: Reflections and lessons learned](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/counselor-supervision-reflections-and-lessons-learned/) - [EDITOR’s NOTE: This is an online-only companion article to "Guiding lights," a feature on the ins and outs of the counselor supervision process appearing in the June issue of Counseling Today.] Counselor supervision can have quite a steep learning curve -- one that often comes with several ups and downs for beginning counselors. Counseling
- [Past trauma in counselors-in-training: Help or hindrance?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/past-trauma-in-counselors-in-training-help-or-hindrance/) - Counselors are not immune to trauma — in fact, far from it. Many practitioners say that personal or familial experience with trauma or mental illness actually spurred them to become professional counselors. The connection between personal experience and the pull to become a counselor is something that is hard to quantify, but “in my personal
- [The opioid crisis and a wounded counselor’s heart](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/the-opioid-crisis-and-a-wounded-counselors-heart/) - [Editor's note: Because of the personal nature of the narrative, the author is using a pseudonym.] “Welcome to the club!” This greeting, typically extended to new members, often implies certain advantages, discounts and perks. However, the club my husband and I unwittingly have joined is based on an experience I would not wish on my
- [Nonprofit News: Goodbye, farewell and amen](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/nonprofit-news-goodbye-farewell-and-amen/) - Change is a large part of what we do. Nothing stays the same no matter how hard we try, and that, my friends, can often be a good thing. A few years ago, I contacted the editor of Counseling Today and shared my thoughts on the need for a column that spoke to the masses
- [Applying the MCC in a divisive sociopolitical climate](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/applying-the-mcc-in-a-divisive-sociopolitical-climate/) - We are living through a historic era that many people describe as divisive, polarizing and disheartening. The world of social media never sleeps, and we are bombarded with images of pain and strife. The visible presence of neo-Nazi groups marching, the increase in arrests and deportations of immigrants from sanctuary sites, the killing of unarmed
- [Behind closed doors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/behind-closed-doors/) - Few topics are more controversial or downright uncomfortable to talk about than sex and sexuality. It seems we could examine any period of time in human history and find a number of social values and ideas related to sexual behavior, all of which might be discussed with some nuanced language or slang of the time.
- [Canine companions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/05/canine-companions/) - Having kids and young adults train rescue dogs isn’t technically animal assisted therapy, but for the kids—and dogs—involved in the Teacher’s Pet program, the result has definitely been therapeutic. The youth —with the help of professional animal trainers— use positive reward-based training to increase local rescue dogs’ chances of being adopted. In return, working with
- [CEO's Message: New professionals, I hope you will read this](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/ceos-message-new-professionals-i-hope-you-will-read-this/) - With spring’s arrival, we welcome many new graduates at the master’s and doctoral levels into the counseling profession. Some will continue on in their studies, whereas others will begin preparing for state licensure, look for jobs in K-12 schools or figure out how to repay student loans. Regardless of whether you fall into any (or
- [From the President: Mental health and optimal growth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/from-the-president-mental-health-and-optimal-growth/) - After just wrapping up Counseling Awareness Month in April, we are heading into Mental Health Month, an initiative begun by Mental Health America that the American Counseling Association has participated in for decades. We know that counselors help people who have mental or emotional disorders, but counselors also help people who are struggling with life’s
- [#disconnected: Why counselors can no longer ignore social media](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/disconnected-why-counselors-can-no-longer-ignore-social-media/) - As humans, we are wired to fear the unknown. A case in point: We often look askance at new technology, suspicious that it will completely upend our lives and perhaps even destroy society as we know it. These dire predictions have greeted every new technology, going back (in all likelihood) to Gutenberg and his printing
- [Cole delivers message of care and empowerment in Saturday keynote](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/cole-delivers-message-of-care-and-empowerment-in-saturday-keynote/) - Johnnetta Betsch Cole couldn’t help but chuckling at the audacity (or, as she phrased it, the “chutzpah”) of the keynote message she was about to deliver to the thousands of counselors congregated Saturday morning at the ACA 2018 Conference & Expo in Atlanta. With charismatic presence — and a knowing sense of humor — Cole
- ['Teach people that they have power'](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/teach-people-that-they-have-power/) - Dolores Huerta can be described in many ways: labor organizer, feminist, civil rights pioneer, social justice icon, impassioned speaker and lifelong advocate for the oppressed. On Friday, Huerta delivered a stirring keynote address to open the ACA 2018 Conference & Expo that proved the 88 year-old has lost none of her spark and drive to
- [Using nature as a therapeutic partner](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/using-nature-as-a-therapeutic-partner/) - In 2013, officials in Melbourne, Australia, assigned the city’s trees ID numbers and email addresses to make it easier for citizens to report problems such as fallen limbs and unwieldy branches. However, Melburnians used the email-a-tree-service for another purpose: to talk directly to the trees. They sent emails to the trees expressing their love and
- [Finding balance with bipolar disorder](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/finding-balance-with-bipolar-disorder/) - Licensed professional counselor (LPC) John Duggan didn’t plan on bipolar disorder becoming one of his specialties, but providing emergency room support gave him a close-up view of the consequences when the disease was left uncontrolled. Duggan, who is also a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), noticed the escalation in manic and hypomanic crises that accompanied
- [Behind the Book: Counselor Self-Care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/behind-the-book-counselor-self-care/) - There is no perfect plan when it comes to self-care. The important thing is to have a plan and make self-care a career-long focus. Not only will the methods that counselors find effective vary from practitioner to practitioner, but a self-care routine will also need to evolve to meet changing needs throughout a counselor's career.
- [@TechCounselor: Streamlining repeat emails](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/techcounselor-streamlining-repeat-emails/) - No matter my professional role, there always seems to exist the need to send out the same email over and over again. Either I write the same email monthly or annually, or I write the same email and send it to multiple people. When I was in private practice, it was a “New Client” email.
- [Counseling people who stutter](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/counseling-people-who-stutter/) - 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 nearly 15 minutes. While waiting,
- [Counseling people in the performing arts](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/counseling-people-in-the-performing-arts/) - 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 counselors to have a framework
- [The wise support system in domestic violence rescue efforts](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/the-wise-support-system-in-domestic-violence-rescue-efforts/) - 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 again” promise. Wash, rinse, repeat.
- [The counselor’s role in assessing and treating medical symptoms and diagnoses](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/the-counselors-role-in-assessing-and-treating-medical-symptoms-and-diagnoses/) - 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 you had a stroke. You
- [When post-abortion emotions need unpacking](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/when-post-abortion-emotions-need-unpacking/) - 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, ‘Oh, you must feel so
- [From the President: Cultivating a passion for counseling and self-care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/from-the-president-cultivating-a-passion-for-counseling-and-self-care/) - 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 heard young adults talking about
- [CEO's Message: Wonder Woman, Superman, Black Panther … now read about real superheroes](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/04/ceos-message-wonder-woman-superman-black-panther-now-read-about-real-superheroes/) - 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, rewarding. April is Counseling Awareness Month
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: The contour of hope in trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/the-counseling-connoisseur-the-contour-of-hope-in-trauma/) - “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 violence that devastated Sandy Hook
- [The battle against burnout](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/the-battle-against-burnout/) - 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 of counselors, both for their
- [Disclosing an innermost secret](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/disclosing-an-innermost-secret/) - 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 work through with a counselor
- [@TechCounselor: Creating email signatures](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/techcounselor-creating-email-signatures/) - We’ve all heard that a first impression is incredibly important, so we get dressed up, pay attention to our choice of words and do everything we can to present our most professional selves to the world. Sometimes, however, we don’t have the opportunity as counselors to put our best foot forward in the literal sense.
- [When help isn’t helpful: Overfunctioning for clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/when-help-isnt-helpful-overfunctioning-for-clients/) - “Erin” came to counseling with all the signs of depression. She was unhappy with her career, her health and her family. Her mother was distressed, her father was distant and her disabled brother was sick. Erin spent a lot of energy calming and directing her family, and she complained about how little her family supported
- [Five strategies to develop mental health models in schools](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/five-strategies-develop-mental-health-models-schools/) - Over the past 13 years, I have dedicated my career to developing mental health services and models within the academic setting as a school counselor, mental health therapist and now as an assistant professor in counselor education, where I engage in community action research to develop mental health models in schools from pre-K through 12th
- [Why neurocounseling?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/why-neurocounseling/) - Decades ago, you might have gotten some funny looks or raised eyebrows if you used the word "neurocounseling" in a professional setting. In recent years, however, counselors have become increasingly interested in using concepts from neuroscience to inform and support their work with clients. What makes professional counseling compatible with neuroscience? How can it help
- [Assessing depression in those who are chronically ill](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/assessing-depression-chronically-ill/) - Separating somatic from affective symptoms is important in determining the true level of depression in clients who are chronically ill.
- [Understanding and treating survivors of incest](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/understanding-treating-survivors-incest/) - Adults with histories of being abused as children present unique challenges for counselors. For instance, these clients often struggle with establishing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance. They may rapidly shift their notion of the counselor from very favorable to very unfavorable in line with concomitant shifts in their emotional states. Furthermore, they may anxiously expect
- [Nonprofit News: Who are you and why should I use your services?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/nonprofit-news-use-services/) - In the past few months, emails from several continents have come in asking about ways to establish a nonprofit and attract clients. While the “how-tos” of starting a nonprofit vary from country to country and state to state (province to province) based on tax and other laws, the “how to” of attracting clients starts by
- [CEO's Message: Professional counselors needed now more than ever](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/ceos-message-professional-counselors-needed-now-ever/) - Once again, the front-page headlines or the lead stories on cable news are all anyone needs to read or hear to realize the crucial role that professional counselors can play in today’s society. The news has reported on many horrific stories, from the terrible actions by a physician who sexually abused female gymnasts, to the
- [From the President: School counselors changing the world](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/03/president-school-counselors-changing-world/) - This is an exciting time of year for students at every level who are looking forward to spring break. We are also entering the season of college admissions decisions. That can be a season of celebration for college-bound students, but it can also be a time of frustration and despair for those whose plans begin
- [Remembering Minuchin and the democratization of therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/remembering-minuchin-democratization-therapy/) - Just after lunch on a Friday afternoon in late March 2017, Salvador Minuchin gently raised his hand to address the hundreds assembled to learn from him at the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium in Washington, D.C. If any of the attendees were drowsy from their meal or the demands of the week, they did not stay that
- [Parenting in the 21st century](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/parenting-21st-century/) - Remember when receipt of a coffee mug emblazoned with “Best Mom Ever” or a T-shirt proclaiming “Best Dad Ever” was enough to validate someone’s skills and aptitude as a parent? In the 21st century, it seems that the ante has been raised. In the eyes of society, parents barely qualify as competent — much less
- [Behind the book: Neurocounseling: Brain-Based Clinical Approaches](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/behind-book-neurocounseling-brain-based-clinical-approaches/) - The influence of neuroscience on the counseling profession is growing. So much so that the American Counseling Association has an interest network of members devoted to its exploration and discussion. Neuroscience can be both a tool -- one of many -- in a counselor's toolbox and a game-changing way to conceptualize clients, conduct assessments and
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Compassion and self-care during flu season](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/the-counseling-connoisseur-compassion-and-self-care-during-flu-season/) - Tips to get counselors and clients through the cold and flu season, from clarifying your cancellation policy to keeping a "care kit" of lozenges, tea, disinfectant wipes and other supplies at the ready.
- [@TechCounselor: Translating emails into efficient to-do lists](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/techcounselor-translating-emails-efficient-lists/) - This month, we return to our common email issues faced by counselors. The question we have been asking (and answering) is: Which inbox issue are you trying to solve? a) I write emails during nonworking hours (e.g., 4 a.m., weekends, holidays). b) The number of emails I get each day is out of control. c)
- [Fried chicken, watermelon, addiction and Appalachia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/fried-chicken-watermelon-addiction-appalachia/) - Hearing jokes about watermelon and grape Kool-Aid. Hearing someone talk about their “half-colored” nephew’s “nappy” hair. Being called “boy.” This is what I experienced over the year that I led an addictions process group in rural Appalachia. After working in the area for almost four years, I had grown accustomed to hearing these types of
- [Differentiation of self through the lens of mindfulness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/differentiation-of-self-through-the-lens-of-mindfulness/) - A few years ago, while teaching a course in family therapy, a particularly bright and insightful student named Maria lingered after class one day and asked, “Isn’t differentiation of self similar to mindfulness?” I hadn’t quite thought of it like that before, but it certainly seemed plausible. “Let’s set aside some time to talk,” I
- [Ethics, religion and diversity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/ethics-religion-and-diversity/) - Tears streamed down her face. Kaylah (not her real name) was a 21-year-old woman struggling with a romance in trouble. I’d seen it many times, even though I’d only been in the field for a few years at this point. My heart broke for Kaylah as I saw the same old story played out in
- [Nonprofit News: Dostadning (death cleaning) your program and home can bring new life and promote growth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/nonprofit-news-dostadning-death-cleaning-program-home-can-bring-new-life-promote-growth/) - The longer you‘ve been in a space, the more time you’ve had to collect things. Some of these things allow you to work more creatively and effectively or simply make your space more appealing to the eye. But sometimes your collection can lead to clutter that causes you to lose efficiency and can stunt the
- [Creating comics with clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/02/creating-comics-clients/) - Academic and clinical interest regarding the intersection of comics and health care is high right now, which is no surprise to readers of Counseling Today. The July 2017 issue of Counseling Today featured a cover story titled “‘Cultured’ counseling” that provided perspectives on the clinical utility of integrating pop culture (such as video games, movies
- [CEO's Message: In support of LGBTQ youth and professional school counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/ceos-message-support-lgbtq-youth-professional-school-counselors/) - Later this month, ACA will once again be a co-presenting sponsor (along with the National Education Association) of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Time to Thrive Conference. ACA has been a supporter every year that this event has been conducted. It is the only conference I know of where national professional associations, state-level advocates and
- [From the president: Love, is love, is love ...](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/president-love-love-love/) - February brings us a couple of fun holidays, including Groundhog Day (a personal favorite) and a few presidential birthdays. But the stores have been preparing us for St. Valentine’s Day since the day after Christmas (seriously). Aside from the blatant commercialism, it is nice to have a holiday devoted to love. In February, I also
- [Talking through the pain](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/talking-through-the-pain/) - By the time the 43-year-old man, a victim of an industrial accident, limped into American Counseling Association member David Engstrom’s office, he’d been experiencing lower back pain for 10 years and taking OxyContin for six. The client, whose pain was written in the grimace on his face as he sat down, was a referral from
- [A counselor looks at football](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/counselor-looks-football/) - I have been a lifelong football fan. I remember playing outside in the snow, emulating the National Football League (NFL) stars of the 1960s and then going inside to watch some of the fabled rivalries of the time, like the Kansas City Chiefs versus the Oakland Raiders. I grew up on Joe Namath’s Super Bowl
- [Food for thought](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/food-for-thought/) - With January now behind us, the annual barrage of diet and fitness commercials has started to fade. Many people who made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or “get fit” have already labeled themselves failures for indulging on leftover holiday chocolate and not making it to the gym more than twice per week. Other determined
- [Why do cops avoid counseling? Eight myths about law enforcement officers and mental health treatment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/why-do-cops-avoid-counseling-eight-myths-about-law-enforcement-officers-and-mental-health-treatment/) - Most clinicians who work with law enforcement officers will tell you that the experience can be a little different. Sometimes, it seems to incorporate elements of a spy thriller. First, the call from the unknown number. Then, the interrogation from the unidentified caller, asking about your experience with cops, your ability to keep secrets and
- [SAMHSA shutters database of evidence-based practices](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/samhsa-shutters-database-evidence-based-practices/) - A public database of evidence-based practices for the treatment of mental illness and substance abuse disorders has stopped accepting new entries. Federal officials announced the discontinuation of the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices earlier this month. Overseen by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the online database lists more than
- [Angry nation: A counseling perspective](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/angry-nation-a-counseling-perspective/) - “O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave …” is a favorite line in our country’s National Anthem because it seems to simultaneously confirm our current liberties and challenge us to answer how relevant this symbol still is. In light of the events of the past year — horrific shootings, kneeling protesters, the ravages of
- [Technology Tutor: Scams aimed at counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/technology-tutor-scams-aimed-counselors/) - Unlike social media, scams aren’t something new brought on by the advent of technology and the internet. Con artists, swindlers, charlatans, grifters — whatever you might call them — have existed since the dawn of humanity. What is new, however, is that these purveyors of fraud can carry out their schemes with more reach, speed
- [Understanding the connection between nutrition and mental health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/understanding-connection-nutrition-mental-health/) - The topic of childhood obesity is often sensitive, but school counselors can play a pivotal role in supporting better child nutrition and lifestyle choices to further promote students’ socioemotional wellness.
- [Counseling with artificial intelligence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/counseling-artificial-intelligence/) - Welcome to tomorrow. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now actual science, not science fiction. Although its formal inception took place in 1956, the idea of AI is known to most people only through imaginative movies such as The Terminator or the 2013 flick Her. However, right here and now, AI is real and maturing at a
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: New Year’s resolutions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/counseling-connoisseur-new-years-resolutions/) - "When the well is dry, we know the worth of the water." -- Benjamin Franklin The holidays are over. The ornaments are boxed and put away. The tree is at the curb ready to be recycled for mulch. The eggnog and cookies are gone leaving behind only the memory as I tug my snug
- [Changing the conversation about aging](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/changing-conversation-aging/) - Picture a grandson trying to help his grandfather adjust the tracking on his VCR. In the corner, the grandson’s friend jokes that they are ignoring the larger issue — that no one uses VCRs anymore. When the grandfather starts talking about his life, the young men make up an excuse to leave, but the grandfather
- [Speaking to the needs of women in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/speaking-needs-women-counseling/) - Counselors who understand the subtle and complex needs that women bring to session will be better prepared to help female clients navigate issues of family life, personal identity, societal expectations and work-life balance.
- [@TechCounselor: A better way to email, Part II](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/techcounselor-better-way-email-part-ii/) - Last month, we asked readers, the following question: Which inbox issue are you trying to solve? a) I write emails during nonworking hours (e.g., 4 a.m., weekends, holidays). b) The number of emails I get each day is out of control. c) I need to translate my emails into tasks on a to-do list. d)
- [2017's most-read articles](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2018/01/2017s-most-read-articles/) - What were counselors reading in 2017? The year's most-read post at Counseling Today online was a first-person article that shared insights on recovering from -- and avoiding -- practitioner burnout. Readers were also interested in pieces that shared professional insights on social issues, strengthening the therapeutic relationship, client issues such as trauma and anxiety, navigating
- [Counseling students with DACA/undocumented immigration status](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/counseling-students-daca-undocumented-immigration-status/) - I was 15 years into my career as a professional school counselor when I met a young man who opened my eyes to the life of navigating the education system as a student with undocumented citizenship status. I was working in an upper-middle-class suburban high school in South Texas. This college student, who had recently
- [The people whisperers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/the-people-whisperers/) - Licensed professional counselor (LPC) Hallie Sheade can’t remember a time when she didn’t love horses. She has been told that her equine passion started when she was 2 and begged to be allowed to ride a carnival pony without her mother holding her hand. Sheade, an American Counseling Association member, has taken riding lessons since
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Cultivating “awesomeness” (lessons from a snowflake)](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/the-counseling-connoisseur-cultivating-awesomeness-lessons-from-a-snowflake/) - “Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.” ― Emily Dickinson I recently had a visit from my daughter, son-in-law and (almost) five-year-old grandson, Nicolas. They reside in Florida and in an attempt to make up for an absent Thanksgiving, we combined the holidays in one fun-filled long weekend. I
- [CEO's Message: Here's to a hope-full year](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/ceos-message-heres-hope-full-year/) - Here we are at the beginning of a new year. I look forward to it with a renewed hope that what we will face in the coming 12 months will be better than what we have encountered during the past dozen. Something about opening up that new calendar (printed or digital) and realizing that it
- [From the president: Resolutions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/from-the-president-resolutions/) - For many people, the beginning of the new year is a time for resolutions. If you would indulge me for a moment, there are a couple of “professional resolutions” that I think are worth consideration. Many of us came into the counseling profession imagining ourselves sitting across from a client who needed our support or
- [The role of value in adult self-esteem and life satisfaction](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/role-value-adult-self-esteem-life-satisfaction/) - While reflecting on my clinical experiences with adult clients during my postgraduate internship, I discerned a common thread. The thread was that the feeling of being valueless was at the root of my clients’ depression, anxiety, anger and substance abuse, as well as the violence and verbal abuse experienced within couples. Although the immediate cause
- [Nonprofit News: Burnout prevention for nonprofits](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/nonprofit-news-burnout-prevention-nonprofits/) - Even the most compassionate, empathic and dedicated clinician has to work to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. Where you work can often play a big role in the making or prevention of compassion fatigue and burnout. High-stress, high-volume work with little rest or downtime can be a major contributing factor to these issues. As a
- [@TechCounselor: A better way to email, Part I](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/techcounselor-better-way-email-part/) - Most of us have a love-hate relationship with email. Luckily, there are many software solutions to help counselors and counselor educators handle email more efficiently. Let’s begin by identifying the email issues you want to fix. If you choose more than one, don’t worry. We will take it one step at a time. 1)
- [Raising awareness of suicide risk](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/raising-awareness-of-suicide-risk/) - Suicides have increased steadily in the United States during the past decade. Suicide research has also grown, but pertinent findings are sometimes slow to reach mental health professionals and providers. Many misconceptions and gaps in the knowledge base remain. The role that mental illness plays in suicide is an area of research that both the
- [Grief, loss and substance use](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/grief-loss-substance-use/) - Andrew’s mother was so happy that he had finally agreed to enter treatment for his drinking problem. He had been an excellent college student until his hard partying began to take over his nights, leading to missed classes and incomplete assignments. He still managed to get a decent job that involved a lot of travel
- [Giving children a voice in addiction recovery](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/giving-children-voice-addiction-recovery/) - When treating clients struggling with substance abuse, Lindsey Chadwick would like her fellow counselors to keep in mind the toll that addiction takes on children. Addiction affects the whole household. Children feel the effects differently — but as acutely — as adults, says Chadwick, a licensed professional counselor and manager of the children’s program at
- [From the President: Seeking and celebrating diversity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/president-seeking-celebrating-diversity/) - Counselors believe that the importance of honoring diversity underpins all that we do. I identified two areas of focus for my year as president, including trauma and disaster mental health, the importance of which we have seen highlighted several times since summer. The other area of focus has to do with cultural encounters and how
- [CEO's Message: A year that benef ited from professional counselors' unique role](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/12/ceos-message-a-year-that-benef-ited-from-professional-counselors-unique-role/) - I think many of us would say that 2017 has been quite a year, from politics and public policy to foreign relations, natural and human-caused disasters, health care and social issues. In fact, I would venture to guess that a number of people would say we have witnessed more anger, anxiety, stress and conflict over the past
- [Preparing for retirement goes beyond a good 401(k)](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/preparing-retirement-goes-beyond-good-401k/) - Thou shalt contribute to thy 401(k) — or 403(b) or individual retirement account, etc. It is the first commandment of retirement planning. Contribute early and often, perch on that nest egg and make sure that it’s big enough for you to live on after you retire. That’s sound advice. After all, you will need lots
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Eco-culture: Clinical application of nature-informed therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/the-counseling-connoisseur-eco-culture-clinical-application-of-nature-informed-therapy/) - “Each of us inherits the story of our people, communities, nations, and it is remembered through, with and in the context of the land and seas, and air, and creatures.” — Kimberly Ruffin Anna, a small-framed 15-year-old Caucasian female, sat engulfed by the overstuffed chair in my office. She looked down, past the floor,
- [Tools for navigating the world at large](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/tools-navigating-world-large/) - By the time children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are approaching elementary school age, they are already exhibiting symptoms that typically lead to lifelong social difficulties. Among these symptoms: impaired communication and interaction, an inability to self-regulate and modulate emotions, very narrow and specific interests, and sensory processing difficulties that make it difficult for them
- [Understanding adult ADHD](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/understanding-adult-adhd/) - Many people ask, “Isn’t ADHD something that kids grow out of?” When people think of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), they usually picture a child “bouncing off the walls” and then being unable to follow directions to stop that behavior. In mainstream society, we don’t see adults bouncing off the walls, so it makes sense that people
- [Behind the book: Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: A Guidebook for Practitioners](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/behind-book-cognitive-behavioral-therapies-guidebook-practitioners/) - What makes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) such a tried-and-true, “go-to” method for professional counselors? Ann Vernon and Kristene Doyle put it simply in the preface to their book, Cognitive Behavior Therapies: A Guidebook for Practitioners: “CBT readily lends itself to a broad array of interventions that are practical in nature and have been proven to
- [@TechCounselor: There’s no escaping technology](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/techcounselor-theres-no-escaping-technology/) - Do you pay for your drive-through latte with your iPhone app while streaming Spotify through your Bluetooth speakers and double-checking your GPS for traffic notifications? Or are you the stalwart who prefers to park and go inside to order your coffee because drive-throughs seem so impersonal and face-to-face communication is an endangered art? Whether you’re
- [Bringing Syrian hospitality into your counseling practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/bringing-syrian-hospitality-counseling-practice/) - In a small village resting in a valley watched over by a medieval castle, the women made their morning rounds. At each house, they were met by the same ritual. A warm greeting with a kiss on each cheek, an invitation to sit and at least three rounds of offerings: sweets, coffee and fruit. This
- [Technology Tutor: Revisiting the ethics of discussing clients online](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/technology-tutor-revisiting-ethics-discussing-clients-online/) - If you have given even a cursory observation to the advertisements that appear on Facebook, during Google searches or on many of the websites that you visit, you will have noticed that these advertisements are targeted at you. The ads might be related to web searches you have performed, the area you live in or
- [Bringing counselor expertise to court](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/bringing-counselor-expertise-court/) - As a counselor educator, I could have done more to prepare counseling students for involvement with the court system. Pertinent discussions were usually limited to child custody, records, privileged communication, subpoenas and counselors’ vulnerability in the courtroom. I had experienced depositions and had written clinical summaries, but I had never appeared in court. My own
- [Building better counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/building-better-counselors/) - By integrating research-based relationship knowledge into counseling practice, counselors can continue to emphasize the therapeutic relationship and be evidence-based.
- [CEO's message: Gratitude for the work of every professional counselor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/ceos-message-gratitude-work-every-professional-counselor/) - For many in the U.S., this month’s celebration of Thanksgiving launches the winter holiday season. The spirit of the holiday, bringing an appreciation of the bounty in our lives, offers an opportunity to think about the many ways that the tireless work of every American Counseling Association member makes the world a better place. Professional
- [From the president: More powerful](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/11/from-the-president-more-powerful/) - Late summer saw several major hurricanes touch the United States, and the impact of those storms was devastating. Whenever an impending hurricane is described as powerful (as these were), we tend to tune in for predictions of the storm’s path, ongoing coverage as it makes landfall and, finally, initial assessments of the resulting damage. And
- [A protocol for ‘should’ thoughts](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/a-protocol-for-should-thoughts/) - As a licensed professional counselor, I believe that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) offers clients a natural platform to gain insight into the relationship between thoughts and emotions. Using cognitive behavioral techniques, I invite clients to explore the specific nature and content of their thoughts and examine the ways in which these thoughts influence emotional distress.
- [A light in the darkness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/a-light-in-the-darkness/) - For those who struggle with seasonal depression, winter can seem dark and endless, but counselors can encourage coping strategies that provide hope for brighter days ahead.
- [Nonprofit News: Taking safety seriously: Common issues found in small practices](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/nonprofit-news-taking-safety-seriously-common-issues-found-small-practices/) - As a writer, educator and counselor certified in two countries, I find myself consulting with folks all over the globe. I belong to various counseling-related groups and find much inspiration therein. I’ve also found many a post or question that made me cringe. Not because these professionals were less bright, energetic or talented than others,
- [Making the counseling profession more diverse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/making-counseling-profession-diverse/) - For many years, white men were presented as the face of the counseling profession and largely dictated its focus and direction. The American Counseling Association (originally known as the American Personnel and Guidance Association) was founded in 1952. Nineteen of its first 20 presidents — many of whom went on to become giants in the
- [U.S. student-to-school counselor ratio shows slight improvement](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/u-s-student-school-counselor-ratio-shows-slight-improvement/) - On average, there is one school counselor for every 482 K-12 public school students in the U.S. This number has decreased slightly from the previous year’s average of 491-to-1. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA), a division of the American Counseling Association, compiles a report each year on student-to-school counselor ratios, based on data from
- [Behind the Book: The Secrets of Exceptional Counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/behind-book-secrets-exceptional-counselors/) - Jeffrey Kottler has spent more than four decades as a counselor, educator and supervisor, and he has collected a lot of stories along the way. He passes some of these stories on in his latest book, The Secrets of Exceptional Counselors, which is published by the American Counseling Association. With chapter titles that include “Admitting
- [Spirituality in a church-based counseling program](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/spirituality-church-based-counseling-program/) - As a counselor in a group supported by a church, I regularly encounter clients who want to discuss spirituality, or who even want spiritual guidance, assuming that because the counseling department is located within the church building, all the counselors are equipped to be spiritual leaders. The situation can cause ethical concerns, especially considering Standard
- [Counseling survivors of human trafficking](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/counseling-survivors-human-trafficking/) - Millions of human trafficking victims exist across the globe. In the United States, hundreds of thousands of victims experience trafficking. As society expands and evolves, human trafficking perpetrators find new ways to recruit and victimize others. The evolution of perpetration ensues because of increases in accessing technology, shifting state and federal laws, and changing criminal
- [The fragility of freedom](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/the-fragility-of-freedom/) - With more than 2.2 million Americans behind bars, there are more citizens incarcerated in the United States than in any other country in the world, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. The United States can also lay claim to the highest rate of recidivism. According to a Department of Justice study, a staggering
- [CEO's Message: One year in and the changes we face](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/ceos-message-one-year-changes-face/) - Next month will mark the first anniversary of one of the most impactful, discussed and upending national elections in U.S. history. More importantly, that election was the beginning of a whole string of events that brought some groups together, drove a wedge between others and began a roller coaster of emotions connected to some of
- [From the President: The alphabet of trauma-informed treatment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/president-alphabet-trauma-informed-treatment/) - As I am writing this, American Counseling Association members from across the country are preparing to deploy to Texas and other Gulf states in response to the historic flooding that accompanied Hurricane Harvey. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this storm — a storm that has a historic twist. Following Hurricane Katrina
- [Integrating mindfulness interventions in counseling courses](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/integrating-mindfulness-interventions-counseling-courses/) - As a professor of counseling, I am invested in helping students develop the necessary and sufficient skills to become effective psychotherapists. There is a plethora of evidence to support mindfulness as a tool for fostering these skills. Integrating mindfulness training can: Improve how counselors-in-training relate to self and others with more acceptance, genuineness and empathy
- [Helping female clients reclaim sexual desire](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/10/helping-female-clients-reclaim-sexual-desire/) - If you see women in your counseling practice, it will be hard to ignore the issue of female sexual desire in your work together, even if the focus of treatment is something that appears unrelated to sexuality. In fact, a woman’s relationship with her own experience of sexual desire is often inextricably linked to her
- [Beyond words](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/beyond-words/) - Attempting to work from a purely cognitive or emotional perspective with clients who have experienced sexual trauma is like trying to build a sturdy house without laying down a solid foundation. Facilitating recovery from sexual trauma demands the inclusion of the site of the original wounding — the body. A clinical vignette “Jerry” arrives seven
- [Stories of empowerment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/stories-of-empowerment/) - In 2009, writer Chimamanda Adichie gave a TED Talk on the danger of reducing people to a single narrative, using her own personal stories to illustrate the complexity of individuals. In one of those stories, she revealed how her college roommate in the United States had a single understanding of Africa — one of catastrophe.
- [Nonprofit News: Preparing for your successor starts with the founding of your program](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/nonprofit-news-preparing-successor-starts-founding-program/) - Most of us have seen it happen. The founder of a nonprofit program retires or dies after decades of dedicated service and sacrifice, and their life’s work turns to shambles in no time because of drastic changes made by those who replace them. Sometimes it starts subtly, with a tweak or two to the mission
- [Informed by trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/informed-by-trauma/) - In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente began what would become a landmark study on the health effects of adverse childhood experiences. Over the course of two years, researchers collected detailed medical information from 17,000 patients at Kaiser’s Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego. In addition to personal and family
- [The mental health aftermath of Harvey, Irma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/mental-health-aftermath-harvey-irma/) - Residents of the Caribbean and the southern United States are still grappling with the aftereffects of two immensely powerful and destructive hurricanes — Harvey and Irma — both of which caused widespread damage and left millions of people displaced. Rebuilding what the hurricanes destroyed will be a long and painful process, but counselors who live
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Mental health cleanup following a natural disaster](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/the-counseling-connoisseur-mental-health-cleanup-following-a-natural-disaster/) - “The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” ~ Leo Tolstoy As I sit on my patio, warmed by the early autumn sun, I breathe in the alchemy of rosemary, thyme and oregano and a variety of mints — aromas from my herb garden. The squirrels chatter as they scamper across the trapezelike
- [Developing trust in your effectiveness as a helper](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/developing-trust-effectiveness-helper/) - As a newly minted counselor, I sometimes remember back to my early days in the program when my classmates and I shared some deep concerns about “doing it right.” Our heads were full of theories and dos and don’ts, and we really struggled to understand how we could possibly help anyone as we stumbled around
- [Achieving a better understanding of adult autism](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/achieving-better-understanding-adult-autism/) - Autism, Asperger’s and “nerd” personality features (to use a concept from Temple Grandin, a prominent author and speaker on both autism and animal behavior) seem to have something of an air of mystery and intimidation for many mental health professionals. Let’s face it, clients with autism/Asperger’s have very different ways of perceiving and thinking than
- [Coming to grips with childhood adversity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/coming-grips-childhood-adversity/) - Counselors and mental health professionals of all stripes are coming to understand the prevalence of childhood adversity, toxic stress and trauma in our caseloads. Barely a day goes by that we do not see someone with a trauma history, whether we are aware of it or not. Some have even called for universal trauma screening
- [Viewing fathers as attachment figures](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/viewing-fathers-attachment-f-igures/) - The role of fatherhood has changed over the years. Hundreds of years ago, the father was the most important parent for raising the children, then he became the breadwinner, and today an expansive volume of research details a general lack of involvement by fathers in their children’s lives. Plenty of fathers want to be a
- ['13 Reasons Why': Strengths, challenges and recommendations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/09/13-reasons-why-strengths-challenges-and-recommendations/) - Although 13 Reasons Why gives us pause for its poor portrayal of effective suicide intervention, we feel that the series raises awareness and, at its core, advocates a community-level response to suicide prevention. This message to “look out for each other” is aligned with more intervention-oriented gatekeeping.
- [Technology Tutor: Answering your questions: From protected health information to search engine optimization](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/technology-tutor-answering-questions-protected-health-information-search-engine-optimization/) - I often receive questions during consultations that require fairly brief answers. Although I tend to focus on “big picture” topics in this column, I thought I’d take a break from that routine to answer some of the most popular questions I get asked related to technology in private practice. Some of these questions touch on
- [CEO's Message: Professional counselors: Amazing healers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/ceos-message-professional-counselors-amazing-healers/) - First of all, my thanks to those of you who responded to last month’s column about pledging to help end the divisiveness in our society. Your words and commitment were inspiring, comforting and well-received. This column is about the next step we will need to take: healing. Professional counselors do an amazing job of working
- [From the President: When a career path blazes a trail](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/president-career-path-blazes-trail/) - Many counselors do not know Carol Bobby personally, but her work has influenced the work of almost every practicing counselor today. Carol began serving as the CEO of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in 1987 and has helped guide that organization, and the counseling profession, through times of incredible
- [High anxiety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/high-anxiety/) - Licensed professional counselor (LPC) Keri Riggs, an American Counseling Association member with a private practice in Richardson, Texas, started noticing the pattern about eight months to a year ago: clients reporting a sharp increase in anxiety. And it wasn’t only her existing clients who were expressing discomfort; new clients were seeking her out, surprised and
- [Nonprofit News: Writing a mission statement](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/nonprofit-news-writing-mission-statement/) - Many counselor clinicians contact me in a panic over writing a mission statement (which includes a purpose section) as part of applying for federal recognition as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation (tax-exempt). Although this can indeed be scary, it needn’t be overly confusing. The IRS page at the time of this writing gives the basic parameters
- [Counselors’ career paths and insights](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/counselors-career-paths-insights/) - [EDITOR’s NOTE: This is an online-only companion article to the September cover story that appeared in the print edition of Counseling Today.] Professional counselors find their way into the profession in a multitude of ways. Some individuals know it is their calling even in their undergraduate years. Others enter the counseling profession after first having
- [A path well chosen](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/path-well-chosen/) - Professional counselors find their way into the profession in a multitude of ways. Some individuals know it is their calling even in their undergraduate years. Others enter the counseling profession after first having had a career in another field or returning to the workforce after raising children. Still others are inspired to pursue training as
- [Forty years later, counselors are still asking, ‘What Color Is Your Parachute?’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/forty-years-later-counselors-still-asking-color-parachute/) - If there ever was a job seeker’s bible, it would be What Color Is Your Parachute? Four decades after Richard “Dick” Bolles’ seminal title was published, the book continues to influence job seekers and the counselors who support them. American Counseling Association member Rich Feller worked with Bolles and counts him as a mentor. Feller,
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: The canvas of counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/counseling-connoisseur-canvas-counseling/) - “My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue, an everlasting vision of the ever-changing view.” ~ Carole King Summertime often brings opportunities to gather with family and friends. Over grilled goodies and cold beverages, we wallow away the hours, reminiscing of old and fabricating new visions and ventures. It was during one
- [Behind the book: Postmodern Career Counseling: A Handbook of Culture, Context and Cases](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/behind-book-postmodern-career-counseling-handbook-culture-context-cases/) - In a postmodern world, supporting clients through career ups and downs demands consideration of the person’s cultural context and background. “Career counseling becomes not so much a procedure but a philosophical framework for guiding the work of counselor and client,” explain Louis A. Busacca and Mark C. Rehfuss in their book Postmodern Career Counseling: A
- [Embodying a critical counseling practice and radical wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/embodying-critical-counseling-practice-radical-wellness/) - A supervisee committed to a multicultural counseling practice approached me feeling distressed and self-critical. In my capacity as a doctoral candidate in counselor education and supervision, I had worked with this supervisee for several months and had also worked with him the year prior. At this point, he expressed uncertainty about his most recent session,
- [Keeping the focus](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/keeping-the-focus/) - During the counseling process, most clients will describe some form of interpersonal or relational trouble. This trouble might be identified as relationship dissatisfaction, conflict in a marriage or partnership, or even the absence of relationship (loneliness). One theoretical approach — emotionally focused therapy (EFT) — works well in individual, family or couple counseling. EFT for
- [Advancing multicultural and social justice competence in counseling research](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/advancing-multicultural-social-justice-competence-counseling-research/) - Despite several decades of counseling research focusing on culturally diverse populations, limited knowledge still exists about such issues as parenting, achievement, resilience, the intersectionality of identity and the psychological impact of systemic oppression on clients who are members of culturally marginalized groups. Most of the efforts within the counseling profession have focused on developing multicultural
- [CEO's Message: Will you take the pledge to end divisiveness in America?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/ceos-message-will-take-pledge-end-divisiveness-america/) - During my many decades on the planet, I have never seen such divisiveness across so many sectors of the United States. It seems that almost daily, we are alerted to this growing divide by examples in the newspaper, on television and via tweet. Please note that this column is not about political conservatives or progressives.
- [From the President: Resilience and growth after the storm](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/president-resilience-growth-storm/) - Natural disasters don’t discriminate. Storms, floods or fires can impact any community. Human-caused disasters sometimes do discriminate, with certain individuals or communities being targeted (e.g., the shooting at Pulse nightclub) or neglected (e.g., the water crisis in Flint, Michigan). This complicates the work that needs to be done, but whether the disaster is natural or
- [Counseling transgender persons and their families](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/08/counseling-transgender-persons-families/) - For the past several years, I have provided and supervised counseling services for transgender persons and their family members and conducted workshops for mental health professionals, school counselors and educators on optimal ways for responding to the needs of transgender youth and adults. The purpose of this article is to share information for understanding transgender
- [Observations from a licensing board](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/observations-licensing-board/) - In our respective positions with the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for the state of Ohio, we have the unique opportunity to encounter many clinicians as they are starting their careers. (We use the term “clinician” to refer to the counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists regulated by the
- [Healthy conversations to have](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/healthy-conversations-to-have/) - Some counselors prefer to avoid the topic of psychiatric medications for a variety of reasons, but dodging those discussions may be doing a major disservice to clients.
- [Lending a helping hand in disaster’s wake](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/lending-helping-hand-disasters-wake/) - Sept. 11, Hurricane Katrina, Virginia Tech, Newtown, Superstorm Sandy, Pulse nightclub … It is only a partial list, but this roll call of places and events seared into public memory makes it obvious: The 21st century has provided counselors with many unfortunate opportunities to exercise disaster mental health counseling skills. Post-9/11, the practice of disaster
- [Nonprofit News: Would the Founding Fathers have supported nonprofits and nationalized health care?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/nonprofit-news-founding-fathers-supported-nonprofits-nationalized-health-care/) - I’ve heard a lot about the Founding Fathers the past few years, and given that we celebrate American independence in July, I thought it would be fitting to explore what they might have thought about this work of ours as counselors working in the nonprofit space. There are many theories about what our Founding Fathers
- [ACA advocates for Medicare bill on Capitol Hill](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/aca-seeks-support-medicare-bill-capitol-hill/) - A bill that would allow professional counselors to be reimbursed for the treatment of clients under Medicare has been introduced in the House of Representatives, and more than 100 counseling professionals added to its momentum by advocating in person on Capitol Hill earlier this week in an event organized by the American Counseling Association (ACA).
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Feminist psychology and the Amazonian mystique](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/counseling-connoisseur-feminist-psychology-amazonian-mystique/) - She wanted a hero…so that’s what she became! –Anonymous Clad in her patriotic unitard and silver arm bands, her dark mane cascading as she twirls her golden lasso of truth, Wonder Woman has become an icon of beauty, physical strength and moral character. Her conception in 1941 has taken her from her Amazonian haven of
- [FASD: A guide for mental health professionals](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/fasd-guide-mental-health-professionals/) - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which researchers have estimated affect 2 to 5 percent of the U.S. population, are lifelong conditions that result from exposure to alcohol in utero. Kenneth L. Jones, David W. Smith and colleagues are credited with discovering the birth defects and long-term impacts on cognitive and social functioning caused by fetal
- [Homelessness: A counselor’s role in alleviating a complex systemic issue](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/homelessness-counselors-role-alleviating-complex-systemic-issue/) - How would you know if your client is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless? For counselors working in school or community settings, this seems like a simple question to answer. In reality, homelessness is a complex status that may be layered with shame, guilt, addiction, trauma, family strife, legal pitfalls, economic and employment barriers,
- [Vocational counseling in HIV/AIDS communities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/vocational-counseling-hivaids-communities/) - Following a career-ending injury as a firefighter captain, I embarked on a new adventure as a doctoral student, attending the University of Georgia’s counselor education and student personnel services program. In a leap of faith, my wife and our three small children moved from Rochester, New York, to Suwanee, Georgia, where we quite literally knew
- [‘That I may serve’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/07/that-i-may-serve/) - Counselors and counselor educators who have worked with Gerard Lawson describe him as an insightful, genuine and approachable leader who has a gift for listening to others and seeing to the heart of problems to find solutions. At the same time, Lawson, an associate professor of counselor education at Virginia Tech who became the American
- [CEO's message: Starting the ‘new’ year by pledging more services and resources](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/ceos-message-starting-new-year-pledging-services-resources/) - Happy New Year! At ACA, we begin our program year July 1. That means many new volunteers are beginning their work, projects are being launched and we are welcoming a new president. It is also nice to look back over the past 12 months to take stock of all that was accomplished on behalf of
- [From the president: 10 miles behind me, 10,000 more to go …](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/president-10-miles-behind-10000-go/) - Over the past several weeks, as I was getting closer to taking office as president of the American Counseling Association, a line from a James Taylor song kept rolling through my head (see the headline to this column). Actually, I think two things were on my mind. The first was that being ACA president involves
- [An eight-step process for implementing social justice and advocacy interventions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/eight-step-process-implementing-social-justice-advocacy-interventions/) - Viewing the landscape of today’s society, it is clear that multicultural and social justice issues have never been more visible. Although prejudice, racism and inequality have always plagued our nation, society is no longer keeping secret or turning its cheek to the omnipresent consequences of privilege and marginalization. Everyone is affected and everyone has a
- [Through the child welfare kaleidoscope](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/child-welfare-kaleidoscope/) - The amazing feature about kaleidoscopes is the endless, ever-changing scenes and complex patterns they reveal to anyone who takes the time to look. The gentlest of rotations invites a new and oftentimes completely different perspective on the same set of colorful shapes. Working with children, adults and families involved in the child welfare system is
- [Nonprofit News: Becoming the leader you always wanted](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/nonprofit-news-becoming-leader-always-wanted/) - It is unlikely that you have always been in a leadership role unless you were born into millions of dollars (and even then, working your way up should have been part of the plan). If you were like me, you worked in just about every position before taking the helm. I was a volunteer, a
- [‘Cultured’ counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/cultured-counseling/) - Pop culture has long exerted an influence on our lives, but some might argue that this overlap has unofficially reached its peak. After all, in November, a former reality TV star was elected president of the United States. And, of course, it is now possible for us to play computer games, listen to music, watch
- [Working with Latina/os in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/working-latinaos-counseling/) - According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2015, Latina/os made up approximately 56.5 million of the total U.S. population, making them the largest ethnic or racial minority in the country. The Latina/o population is projected to grow to 120 million by the year 2060. The question on many counselors’ minds is, how
- [Counselors asked to advocate against FY2018 federal program cuts](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/counselors-asked-advocate-fy2018-federal-program-cuts/) - The American Counseling Association will be keeping a sharp eye on federal budget proceedings through the next few months, as several programs critical to the work of counselors and school counselors are on the chopping block. Counselors can – and should – make their voices heard throughout the process by advocating to their congressmen and
- [Illuminate closing: Less talk, more action](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/illuminate-closing-less-talk-action/) - “We are well beyond just talking. We need to act,” said Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy during Saturday’s closing keynote address at the American Counseling Association’s Illuminate Symposium, a three-day conference that focused on the intersection of counseling and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) issues that took place June 8-10 in Washington, D.C. She urged
- [Examining our assumptions about emerging adulthood](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/examining-assumptions-emerging-adulthood/) - For many counselors and educators, the term failure to launch is a familiar part of the American lexicon. Some have referred to this phenomenon as an “epidemic,” and a few prominent clinicians have even described it as a “syndrome.” This classification is problematic for a number of reasons, including that it fails to consider the longer arc of
- [ACA’s Illuminate kicks off with reflection, rally cry](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/acas-illuminate-kicks-off-reflection-rally-cry/) - “Look at us now! We’ve come so far.” Colleen Logan, delivering Friday’s opening keynote address at the American Counseling Association’s Illuminate Symposium, broke into a wide smile when she noted that she didn’t even have to explain what the letters in the LGBTQ abbreviation meant to the packed room. Illuminate, a three-day conference focused on
- [Key concepts from Gestalt therapy for non-Gestalt therapists](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/key-concepts-gestalt-therapy-non-gestalt-therapists/) - Several years ago, I attended a reception for a faculty member whom we had recently hired in our department. She had just completed her doctoral degree, and this would be her first academic job. She had received her training in the Midwest in a program known for its emphasis on cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In
- [ACA continues push forward for licensure portability](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/aca-continues-push-forward-licensure-portability/) - Summer 2019 update: The American Counseling Association has created a state-by-state guide with updated information on licensure requirements across the country. Go to counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements for information on licensure in your state or U.S. territory. **** The American Counseling Association Governing Council has endorsed a plan that would allow counselor practitioners who are licensed
- [Addressing religion and spirituality in counseling with bullying survivors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/addressing-religion-spirituality-counseling-bullying-survivors/) - The alarming prevalence of bullying in the United States warrants continued education and dialogue among counselors regarding effective ways to serve clients who are survivors of bullying. One aspect in need of more inquiry is the ethical and effective integration of religion/spirituality in clinical work with clients who have experienced bullying. Bullying, defined as unprovoked
- [Helping clients build their life rafts](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/helping-clients-build-life-rafts/) - How can you judge the value of a life raft if you can’t measure the impact of the waves, the harshness of the current or the depth of the water? For clients, being in the midst of chaos feels like being in the middle of the ocean with no vessel, flailing arms in hopes that
- [From the president: Standing firm in our resolve](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/president-standing-firm-resolve/) - Dear Counseling Colleagues, As I write this final Counseling Today presidential column, I’ve reflected on the gifts and the challenges our profession has been presented in the past year. Each of us could list a few challenges, either from a personal or a professional vantage point. Included are challenges to the ACA Code of Ethics
- [CEO's Message: Coming to year’s end with gratitude and appreciation](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/06/ceos-message-coming-years-end-gratitude-appreciation/) - As we head into summer, we’re also nearing the conclusion of ACA’s fiscal and program year. We can certainly look back over the past 12 months and justify the need for professional counseling. Society has witnessed some amazing (and some not-so-great) moments. The changes we have witnessed in local communities, nationally and around the world suggest
- [Opioid SOS](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/opioid-sos/) - During a single afternoon this past August, 26 people overdosed on opioids in Huntington, a small city in West Virginia with a population of approximately 50,000. Bolstered by naloxone — an opioid antidote that often can revive overdose victims who have stopped breathing — and too much practice in overdose scenarios, police and paramedics were
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Free time: Vacationing and well-being](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/the-counseling-connoisseur-free-time-vacationing-and-well-being/) - My schedule is abysmal. I methodically pluck each hour and consume it with some obligation. At the end of my day, my free time is as nonexistent and barren as a sweet-corn field in October. — Cheryl Fisher ***** Exams are graded. Grades are finally posted. Commencement pomp and circumstance has been observed. I
- [Nonprofit News: Edible ‘offices’: Adding beauty to your program while helping the hungry](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/nonprofit-news-edible-offices-adding-beauty-program-helping-hungry/) - Multitasking is a way of life for many of us, although it would appear that with ever-shrinking budgets, counselors in nonprofit settings have made a true art of it. We can no longer afford to do something that only covers one area. Instead we need to reach deeper to do more with less. Thankfully, there
- [Living with anxiety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/living-with-anxiety/) - Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 18 percent of the adult population, or more than 40 million people, according to the National Institutes of Health. Among adolescents the prevalence is even higher: 25 percent of youth ages 13 to 18 live with some type of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders
- [Teaching counselor education curriculum in a ‘new reality’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/teaching-counselor-education-curriculum-in-a-new-reality/) - I love my job, my calling, as a counselor educator, and I take my role and passion as a graduate student advocate, public innovator and social justice change agent to heart every single day. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” His words are my mantra in
- [Aspiring to make suicide a relic of the past](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/aspiring-make-suicide-relic-past/) - The story of yet another medical breakthrough related to some disease may not catch your attention. In fact, in an era of technological advances, such innovation is expected. After all, longer life spans and the defeat of diseases are seen as inevitable. According to a story published last year in The New York Times, the
- [Counselors in the courtroom](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/counselors-in-the-courtroom/) - Counselor educators are responsible for ensuring that students are sufficiently prepared for entry into the counseling profession. It is challenging for counselor educators to include all areas of preparation because numerous content and curriculum standards must be met. One topic that often gets neglected is preparing counselors for testifying in court. In a paper presented
- [Preparing for the mental health impact of climate change](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/preparing-mental-health-impact-climate-change/) - Around the globe, coastlines are encroaching on communities, summer days are sweltering and reports of weather catastrophes often dominate the news media. These examples represent only a few of the monumental and pervasive environmental effects of our changing planet. Climate change may be the most crucial issue confronting the inhabitants of our world today. The dramatic
- [Bringing the family counseling perspective into schools](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/bringing-family-counseling-perspective-schools/) - Children in schools today come from increasingly diverse and complex families. As illustration, more than 1 million families are impacted annually by divorce. In fact, approximately 13.7 million single parents are raising 21.8 million children, and 1 in 3 Americans are stepparents, stepchildren, stepsiblings or part of a stepfamily. Furthermore, according to a 2009 article
- [Pain to purpose](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/pain-to-purpose/) - Burying a child is not something that most people think about — until they must do it. I’ve done it twice, and I must say, I really do not know how I survived it. It has been more than 10 years, and I still do not truly comprehend the impact these events have had on
- [Using your integrated behavioral health toolbox](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/using-integrated-behavioral-health-toolbox/) - People with common medical disorders who visit their primary care physicians have high rates of behavioral health concerns, including diabetes, chronic pain, obesity, sleep disorders and heart disease. Obesity is one of the biggest drivers of preventable chronic diseases and health care costs in the United States. Currently, estimates for these costs range from $147
- [Planting seeds in Somalia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/05/planting-seeds-somalia/) - A recent mental health conference in Mogadishu broke new ground in many ways. Not only did it draw attention to mental health, a little-discussed or addressed topic in war-torn Somalia, but it is believed to be the first time the American Counseling Association has been represented in Mogadishu. Yegan Pillay, an ACA member and associate
- [Understanding elder financial abuse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/understanding-elder-financial-abuse/) - “All forms of elder abuse are acts of violence” — Margaret Hudson (1991) ***** With the aging of the baby boomers and advances in medicine and technology, more people are living into old age, and more elders are experiencing abuse. According to the National Center for Elder Abuse, at least 1 in
- [The self ish act of forgiving](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/self-ish-act-forgiving/) - A rabbi, returning home on a train, sat near a group of salesmen who were playing cards. Absorbed as he was in meditation, the rabbi refused to join the card game. One of the salesmen, annoyed by the rabbi’s aloofness but unaware of who he was, pushed the rabbi out of the compartment. Upon reaching their destination,
- [From the president: Counselor advocacy strategies](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/president-counselor-advocacy-strategies/) - Dear Counseling Colleagues, What’s next for continuing our advocacy for the profession and for the work of counselors as we move forward after the inspiring and energizing ACA 2017 Conference & Expo in San Francisco? That list includes our ongoing work on licensure portability and staying acutely and accurately apprised of new and returning laws
- [CEO's Message: Firsthand experience and the importance of self-care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/ceos-message-firsthand-experience-importance-self-care/) - For a few months now, I have been contemplating whether to write this column or to keep these thoughts to myself. I have wondered if the subject might be too self-reflective, too self-indulgent or maybe just too personal. In the end, I decided to move forward and share these thoughts with you. My father came
- [Becoming shameless](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/becoming-shameless/) - You should be ashamed of yourself.” How many of us have heard — or perhaps even used — that phrase? Being on the receiving end of such a pronouncement is never pleasant. More important, experts firmly believe that attempting to wield shame as an instrument of change is both ineffective and harmful. In fact, many
- [Nonprofit News: Is international certification right for you?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/nonprofit-news-international-certification-right/) - Prior to 2016, I never gave much thought to becoming certified or licensed in another country. I mean, why go through all the hard work, pay all the fees and have to maintain a credential in a country that I had no plans of living in, let alone work in? And then it seemed like
- [Behind the Book: Counseling Research: A Practitioner-Scholar Approach](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/behind-book-counseling-research-practitioner-scholar-approach/) - The first paragraph of the preface in Richard Balkin and David Kleist’s book Counseling Research: A Practitioner-Scholar Approach acknowledges that research is probably not something that most counselors get excited about. However, it’s a much-needed endeavor and something that counselors are particularly suited for, they write. “Counselors make great qualitative researchers because of the natural
- [A counselor’s journey back from burnout](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/a-counselors-journey-back-from-burnout/) - I do not want to get out of bed, so I press snooze on my alarm again. I feel nauseated and think about calling in sick. Finally, I drag myself out of bed and take my time getting dressed for work. I leave my house reluctantly. On the drive to work, I find myself wishing that
- [The case for including animals in counselors’ duty to report](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/the-case-for-including-animals-in-counselors-duty-to-report/) - This past year, the American Counseling Association Governing Council endorsed formal competencies for the practice of animal-assisted therapy in counseling. The authors of the standards, and the coordinators of ACA’s Animal-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Interest Network, contend that the competencies (available at counseling.org/knowledge-center/competencies) represent a key step forward in both the protection of clients
- [CEO's Message: This month is about you!](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/ceos-message-month/) - When I talk to groups of professional counselors, I am always struck by two things: 1) their commitment to helping others and 2) how challenging it is for them to “blow their own horn” when it comes to sharing with others the amazing work that they are doing each and every day. April is Counseling
- [From the president: Generating awareness about counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/president-generating-awareness-counseling/) - Dear Counseling Colleagues, As you know, April is Counseling Awareness Month. It is also a month associated with new growth, fresh blooms and new beginnings. Now is the time for rebirth and reenergizing as we continue to celebrate who we are as counseling professionals across all venues. During my travels so far this year, I
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Pet loss: Lessons in grief](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/counseling-connoisseur-pet-loss-lessons-grief/) - “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France ***** On Jan. 22, following a three-week whirlwind diagnosis and decline, my husband and I said goodbye to our 6.5-year-old goldendoodle, Lily. Her disease had rendered this Frisbee-catching superstar unable to stand or walk. She needed
- [‘We’re in danger of losing a generation’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/danger-losing-generation/) - When a person is prescribed medicine by a doctor, the common assumption is that it’s best to take the dosage until it’s gone. In most cases, that’s true. But with opioids, a class of powerful, addictive and frequently prescribed pain relievers, dependence on the drug can begin within five days. Yet doctors often prescribe a
- [Behind the Book: The Creative Arts in Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/04/behind-book-creative-arts-counseling/) - The power of creativity to spark change and progress in clients has fueled the growth of play therapy, wilderness therapy, animal-assisted therapy and other interventions in recent decades. But when Samuel Gladding first began to use creative approaches with clients in the 1970s, it was far from mainstream. Gladding, a professor in the Department of
- [Technology Tutor: Ethical and legal considerations of counseling tech](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/technology-tutor-ethical-legal-considerations-counseling-tech/) - Last year, I interviewed a counselor who had been conducting text counseling via the Talkspace service (see ct.counseling.org/2016/06/technology-tutor/). Not long after this, two articles were published that brought some of the legalities and ethics of the Talkspace model into question (see bit.ly/ForbesTS and bit.ly/TSVerge). Given the continued growth of telehealth services, it seems a good
- [Facing the fear of incompetence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/facing-fear-incompetence/) - When Karena Heyward and Jessica Lloyd-Hazlett were enrolled in graduate school together at the College of William & Mary, they agreed to split the cost of a hotel room while attending the American Counseling Association’s annual conference. The two counselors didn’t know each other very well, but over the course of the weekend they found
- [Career counselors: On the front lines of battling student stress](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/career-counselors-front-lines-battling-student-stress/) - Finding a post-college career path can be difficult and stressful for young students. Visiting the campus career counselor -- even as a freshman -- will help.
- [LGBTQ issues across the life span](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/lgbtq-issues-across-life-span/) - The specific biological mechanisms that underpin how people develop as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer (LGBTQ) are still undiscovered, but what many researchers have determined is that neither sexual/affectional orientation nor gender identity is a choice. Rather, they are innate, unchangeable parts of who a person is, much like skin color. And like
- [What gets in the way? Examining the breakdown between research and practice in counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/gets-way-examining-breakdown-research-practice-counseling/) - It is frequently noted that counselor practitioners in the field do not contribute nearly enough to research and publications, despite calls for them to do so. It is believed that research should inform counseling practice and practice should inform counseling research, yet there appears to be a breakdown between the two. The counseling literature has
- [Pettitt to counselors: What are we doing to carve out unity?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/pettitt-counselors-carve-unity/) - At Saturday’s keynote session at the ACA 2017 Conference & Expo in San Francisco, Jessica Pettitt was introduced as someone who “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.” Then, shortly after taking the stage, she told the assembled crowd that she has created a career out of speaking about unspeakable topics. Given these early warnings,
- [Yalom urges ACA attendees to hold fast to self-care and the therapeutic alliance](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/yalom-urges-aca-attendees-hold-fast-self-care-therapeutic-alliance/) - At Friday’s opening keynote session of the American Counseling Association 2017 Conference & Expo in San Francisco, psychotherapy sage Dr. Irvin Yalom shared his insights on everything from self-care and vulnerability as a therapist to counseling by text, his love of literature and the essential nature of the therapeutic bond. Yalom, one of the most
- [Survey says: America is stressed out](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/survey-says-america-stressed/) - In five months between fall 2016 and January 2017, the overall stress levels of American adults increased from 4.8 to 5.1 on a 10-point scale, according to recent surveys by the American Psychological Association (APA). Fifty-seven percent of the more than 3,000 people surveyed in January said America’s current political climate is a “very” or
- [Counseling Connoisseur: What Would Yalom Do? A Tribute](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/counseling-connoisseur-yalom-tribute/) - Editor’s note: CT Online columnist Cheryl Fisher writes this appreciation of Irvin Yalom in anticipation of his keynote address at ACA’s upcoming 2017 Conference & Expo in San Francisco. Find out more at counseling.org/conference/sanfransisco2017. **** “What I want is to be intimate with the knowledge that life is temporary. And then, in
- [Group counseling: Neglected modality in private practice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/group-counseling-neglected-modality-private-practice/) - After approximately 25 years of working in private agencies, I started a part-time private practice a few years ago focusing on my specialty area of working with clients with substance use disorders. Having worked largely with adolescents, I was looking forward to working more frequently with adults, especially after I had the realization that I was
- [The healing language of appropriate touch](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/healing-language-appropriate-touch/) - I learned a lesson about the power of touch totally by accident. I didn’t learn this lesson in graduate school, from a book or journal article, or from any professional training. Instead, it happened in the front yard with my son. He was 8 years old at the time and already displaying the burgeoning need for
- [Technology Tutor: Starting the year off on the right technological foot](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/technology-tutor-starting-year-off-right-technological-foot/) - Many of us are aware of the ebb and flow of people seeking counseling services. Around the holidays and the beginning of the school year, more calls come in for help. During the summer, things slow down a bit. Having provided technology consultation to mental health clinicians for seven years now, I’ve noticed some patterns
- [Behind the Book: Group Work With Persons With Disabilities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/behind-book-group-work-persons-disabilities/) - Group counseling can serve as a powerful antidote to the isolation clients often feel, whether they’re going through infertility, addiction or a range of other issues. This can be especially true for clients with disabilities, say Sheri Bauman and Linda Shaw, co-authors of the American Counseling Association-published book Group Work With Persons With Disabilities. “For
- [To be a counselor is to be inclusive](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/to-be-a-counselor-is-to-be-inclusive/) - Dear Counseling Colleagues, This is the month I will meet and talk with thousands of our members at the ACA 2017 Conference & Expo in marvelous San Francisco. We will join together to create new networks and continue friendships, generate interest in any number of issues that have emerged and, finally, engage in powerful interactions
- [‘Now more than ever’: More than a buzz phrase](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/03/now-ever-buzz-phrase/) - The phrase “now more than ever” has been overused in any number of situations — politically, socially, economically. One need only open a newspaper, turn on the television or listen to the radio, however, to note that counseling is needed “now more than ever.” The important work of professional counselors in communities, schools, private practice,
- [Helping children and families address and prevent sibling abuse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/helping-children-families-address-prevent-sibling-abuse/) - Counselors play a fundamental role in the well-being of children and adolescents, including serving as advocates against abuse. We are trained to assess and intervene if clients are experiencing sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Children are a particularly vulnerable population given their size, power status and general lack of knowledge about how to
- [Conversion therapy: Learning to love myself again](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/conversion-therapy-learning-love/) - Conversion therapy is, without doubt, an act of maleficence. If we find ourselves disagreeing with someone’s sexual orientation, it may be time to take a step back and evaluate our own principles, morals and why we chose to enter this field.
- [Fostering a brighter future](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/fostering-brighter-future/) - Counselors’ skills and expertise as mediators, relationship builders and client advocates are critical to improving the lives of children in foster care and providing support to both foster and biological families.
- [When brain meets body](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/brain-meets-body/) - Chinese medicine has always acknowledged the link between the body and the mind. In Western medicine, from the time of the ancient Greeks through the Elizabethan era, the thinking was that four bodily humors (black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood) influenced mood, physical health and even personality. Shakespeare built some of his characters around
- [The journey to counselor educator: Deciding to get your doctoral degree](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/journey-counselor-educator-deciding-get-doctoral-degree/) - The moment you decide to pursue a doctoral degree is one of the defining moments of your career. You have decided that you want to go further, push yourself and obtain the skills needed for training new counselors. You begin to research schools and their doctoral programs. A glimmer forms of what you would like
- [Nonprofit News: Avoiding client disclosure on social media](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/nonprofit-news-avoiding-client-disclosure-social-media/) - To many people, social media is the best thing since the abacus, transforming the way we live and do business. It offers us a world of knowledge with the stroke of a few keys and the briefest of pauses. Of course, social media can be both a tool and a crutch that leads to sloppy
- [Digging into the numbers](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/digging-into-the-numbers/) - It has been relatively well-publicized in the media that mental illness typically affects 20 percent of the U.S. population, or about 1 in 5 people, yet the source of this statistic is rarely disclosed. Furthermore, media sources typically discuss mental illness in general terms and don’t address its susceptibility by age or present statistics on
- [The Social Adventures and Experiments of  Tommy Joe Peterson](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/social-adventures-experiments-tommy-joe-peterson/) - The idea of this therapeutic short story is to creatively illustrate the various dilemmas that occur from the perspective of a socially awkward young man, Tommy Joe Peterson. Through the story, the reader is able to gain perspective on the thought process and problem-solving skills of this uniquely talented 11-year-old boy. Whether this fictional story
- [APA accepting feedback for DSM revision](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/apa-welcome-dsm-feedback/) - The American Psychiatric Association has created an online portal for the public to submit suggested changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Launched this winter, the portal allows clinicians, scholars and members of the public to submit suggested additions, deletions or modifications to the DSM. Often called the “psychiatric bible,” the
- [CEO's message: Reflections on ACA’s 20th president](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/ceos-message-reflections-acas-20th-president/) - As the CEO of the American Counseling Association, I have many opportunities to meet leaders, members and those who are entering the counseling profession. Those who are newer to the profession or who are just starting along the leadership path bring energy, enthusiasm and new perspectives to the table. Just as I have great interest
- [From the president: Gaining strength through our history](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/president-gaining-strength-history/) - Challenges are everywhere if we look. Challenges emerge in state legislatures, on social media, in schools K-16 and beyond, in mental health agencies and in our private offices. Challenges are in our lives and hearts. Perspective is vital during this time. Our personal perspective at times falls behind, or sometimes ahead of, the general perspective
- [Creative and novel approaches to empathy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/creative-novel-approaches-empathy/) - Near the end of Carl Rogers’ life, he wrote a scathing article noting that his conceptualization of empathy had little to do with the popularized notion of empathy that had become known as “reflection of feelings.” He may have been particularly angry because there were some apocryphal stories circulating about Rogers’ work with clients. One
- [The (misguided) pursuit of happiness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/02/misguided-pursuit-happiness/) - Many clients are tempted by the lure of obtaining ‘happiness,’ but counselors can help identify goals and ways of living that ultimately offer more enduring satisfaction.
- [Irvin Yalom to welcome questions at ACA Conference](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/irvin-yalom-welcome-questions-aca-conference/) - Attendees of the American Counseling Association 2017 Conference & Expo in San Francisco will have an opportunity to direct their questions to a living legend in the field of mental health. Irvin Yalom, noted psychiatrist, author and scholar, will deliver the opening keynote speech on March 17 at the ACA Conference. He plans to format
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Winter wonderland: Lessons in patience and perspective](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/counseling-connoisseur-winter-wonderland-lessons-patience-perspective/) - I listen to the howling of the wind as it whips the snowdrifts about our modest rambler. Branches dangle from their fragile joints, and birds huddle beneath boxwoods and holly. The birdseed scattered just moments earlier is now covered with a new layer of snow. In the warm glow of our fire, the scent of
- [Comic books as a bridge to healing](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/comic-books-bridge-healing/) - Comic books such as Batman, Superman and The Avengers have become a common language in our culture. People have been drawn to superheroes since Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster introduced the world to Superman — the first hero to go beyond normal human abilities — in Action Comics #1 in 1938. In 1939 in Detective
- [Facing the realities of racism](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/facing-realities-racism/) - When Barack Obama was elected the first African American president of the United States in 2008, some optimistic observers thought that American society had finally reached a post-racial age. As the past two-plus years have highlighted vividly, however, the significance of race and the influence of racism on the American story are far from over.
- [Powerful conversations, with a side of laughs](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/powerful-conversations-side-laughs/) - Consider yourself warned: The keynote address on Saturday, March 18 at the American Counseling Association 2017 Conference & Expo in San Francisco will cover some uncomfortable topics. The speaker, Jessica Pettitt, has a gift for diving into things that are tough to talk about. At the same time, she brings a warmth and humor to
- [Document like a clinician: The ins and outs of documenting your training supervision](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/document-like-clinician-ins-outs-documenting-training-supervision/) - Supervision is critical to the career development and advancement of many mental health professionals, including counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers. The boards responsible for licensure set standards regarding the number of hours, frequency and nature of the supervision necessary for licensure as an independent professional. Various professional organizations also set standards for
- [Nonprofit News: Independent contractor or employee?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/nonprofit-news-independent-contractor-employee/) - As I review job postings for clinicians, I see a disturbing trend of nonprofits hiring independent contractors rather than full- or part-time employees. Although there can be some benefits for both the nonprofit and the contractor at times, many liabilities can come into play as well. This article is not meant to be an exhaustive
- [Hooah! Thoughts and musings on Operation Immersion](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/hooah-thoughts-musings-operation-immersion/) - Hooah: Military slang referring to or meaning “anything and everything except ‘no.’” Used predominantly by soldiers in the U.S. Army. My father was in the U.S. Army for more than 30 years. I grew up as a military dependent, relocating every few years (and attending more than 20 schools) until I graduated high school.
- [Ask your doctor if nature is right for you](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2017/01/ask-doctor-nature-right/) - Happy-looking people take a walk in the woods as small-print disclosures scroll across the bottom of the TV screen and a soothing voiceover explains possible side effects. As the scene closes, one of the actors looks squarely into the camera and says, “Ask your doctor if nature is right for you.” The tongue-in-cheek NatureRx video
- [CT Online’s most-read articles of 2016](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/ct-onlines-read-articles-2016/) - What were professional counselors reading at CT Online in 2016? The year’s most popular new posts ran the gamut, from articles on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to technology to issues surrounding multiculturalism and social justice. More than 150 articles, both online-exclusive pieces and articles that also appeared in Counseling Today’s print magazine, were posted at ct.counseling.org in
- [‘I’m not broken, just stuck’](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/im-not-broken-just-stuck/) - Acceptance and commitment therapy works across multiple diagnoses by focusing on the psychological inflexibility that paralyzes many clients.
- [Practicing cultural humility](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/practicing-cultural-humility/) - Privilege is invisible to those who have it.” This pithy statement from sociologist Michael Kimmel reflects the state of research on privilege and also calls attention to the importance of counselors raising self-awareness about how privilege affects their work. A general consensus exists among counselors that they need to be aware of their own privilege
- [New year, new challenges, new opportunities](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/new-year-new-challenges-new-opportunities/) - Happy New Year! I wish you a prosperous, healthy and productive 2017. My hope is that the year will be one of renewed compassion, caring and reflection. To say that we are in interesting times is an understatement. Changes in the American political landscape, the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and the ongoing strife
- [2017: Counselors stepping up to step forward](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/2017-counselors-stepping-step-forward/) - Happy New Year, counseling colleagues! If you’ve celebrated a holiday lately, I hope you enjoyed peace, joy, reflection and rest. As we begin this new year, it comes to mind that counselors are likely to face challenges in their work, and in their fortitude and resolve, that may be different from in past years. I
- [Is it OK to have it all?](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/is-it-ok-to-have-it-all/) - As Lindsey Mitchell approached the end of her doctoral program in counseling at George Washington University, she wasn’t quite sure what was next. After a decade of intense focus on her education, she found her career options in the field both exciting and intimidating. When Mitchell began talking to other women in her program about career
- [Cultivating a practice of mindfulness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/cultivating-practice-mindfulness/) - At root, mindfulness is simply the practice of being present in daily life.
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Enjoying the holidays by letting go of expectations](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/counseling-connoisseur-enjoying-holidays-letting-go-expectations/) - “Peace begins when expectation ends.” — Sri Chinmoy My family recently celebrated several milestones of honor. Turning 16 and now boasting a driver’s license, my nephew has intensified his campaign to own that ever-elusive Mustang. Meanwhile, his parents celebrated their 50th birthdays. The grandest of celebrations, however, honored my parents, who both turned 80
- [The culture of smoking in substance abuse recovery](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/culture-smoking-substance-abuse-recovery/) - Editor’s note: This online exclusive is a companion article to Counseling Today’s December feature “What counselors can do to help clients stop smoking,” http://wp.me/p2BxKN-4wQ Less than half of substance abuse treatment centers in the United States have tobacco cessation programs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the same
- [Raising public awareness of the counseling profession](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/raising-public-awareness-counseling-profession/) - Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals.” — Consensus definition of counseling developed and approved through 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Counseling Renaldo sits at home dreading when the next panic attack will hit him. It has happened
- [Bridging the divide between police and the public](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/bridging-divide-police-public/) - In a 2012 Counseling Today article titled “Counselors: Support local police by sharing your skills,” counselor educator Diana Hulse and retired police Capt. Peter J. McDermott advocated for counselors and counselor educators to serve their communities by training local police in interpersonal skills. They made the case that interpersonal skills are not inherent, but that
- [The holiday blues are real, and counselors can help](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/holiday-blues-real-counselors-can-help/) - The holidays can be a particularly challenging time, especially for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one or struggle with anxiety, depression or other mental illness. Counselors can provide support and guidance to those who are struggling through this season, from introducing coping techniques to dealing with loneliness or family tensions.
- [Adopting across racial lines](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/adopting-across-racial-lines/) - For decades, white Americans have adopted children of color here in the United States and from other countries such as South Korea, Guatemala, China and Ethiopia. In many cases, these children are raised in white families with no awareness of the culture they came from. This was particularly true in the past, says licensed professional
- [CEO's Message: Looking back with concern, looking forward with hope](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/ceos-message-looking-back-concern-looking-forward-hope/) - At the end of the year, many of us think about what we have experienced, witnessed, contributed to and shared. In addition, we might have a twinge of remorse or regret about things such as not exercising more, taking better care of ourselves or spending more time with the people we cherish. We don’t do this
- [From the president: Counselors and inclusive diversity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/12/counselors-inclusive-diversity/) - Dear Counseling Colleagues, My column this month focuses on serving our multicultural and multiple-identitied clients and students, especially those who are invisibly diverse. An “invisible” person or group might be unidentifiable immediately as a member of a multiracial or multiethnic population. Examples of this might be an individual who identifies as LGBTQ or someone with
- [What counselors can do to help clients stop smoking](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/counselors-can-help-clients-stop-smoking/) - Nearly half of the cigarettes consumed in the United States are smoked by people dealing with a mental illness, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The federal agency says that rates of smoking are disproportionately higher — a little more than double — among those diagnosed with mental illness than among
- [Nonprofit News: Surviving the loss of key members](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/nonprofit-news-surviving-loss-key-members/) - When counselors look to build a board of directors and fill key positions in their nonprofit programs, it is imperative to remember that there are many different types of leaders. Some leaders are great thinkers and developers of new ideas and programs but lack the desire to maintain or reconfigure a program once it has
- [The path forward: A counselor’s coming out in counselor education](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/path-forward-counselors-coming-counselor-education/) - To be who you are, you don’t have to wait a lifetime. I knew at age 5 that I was attracted to the same gender. This realization occurred during a time when, in my mind, it was not OK to be gay. I just couldn’t see it. It wouldn’t get better. I grew up in
- [Investigating identity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/investigating-identity/) - "W hat are you?” That is a question commonly asked of individuals who are multiracial. As a society, we have gotten used to checking off a metaphorical — and often literal — “box” when it comes to questions of race. We seem to expect everyone to “just pick one.” But the population of the United States
- [The Counseling Connoisseur: Mini-mindfulness moments](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/counseling-connoisseur-mini-mindfulness-moments/) - I wake up in the early morning to the sound of birds chirping delightfully outside my window. I quietly make my way to my yoga room, where the gentle flow of the tabletop waterfall cascades rhythmically, inviting me to my morning meditation. I inhale deeply, letting the stream of thoughts flowing in my mind pass
- [A scar is not a wound: A metaphor for counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/scar-not-wound-metaphor-counseling/) - In the client-counselor relationship, describing traumas from past experiences can reveal unresolved suffering in which a client’s beliefs, emotions and behaviors are filled with deep negative images. Ideally, clients will share their trauma with therapists and how images from the past continue to affect them. By describing their trauma, many clients can normalize past experiences
- [Technology Tutor: Mastering your domain (name)](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/technology-tutor-mastering-domain-name/) - It’s been some time since I have conveyed knowledge about a technical concept here in the Technology Tutor column. Now seems like a great time to discuss something that continues to be confusing not just to counselors but also for others who don’t possess inside knowledge of how the internet works. We aren’t necessarily required
- [From the President: Counselor resilience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/president-counselor-resilience/) - Dear Counseling Colleagues, This month, Counseling Today includes a cover story on death, dying and grief counseling — topics that can be difficult to reflect on and discuss. However, counselors have learned to embrace what is, hope for what can be, and the deep and consistent resilience that can emerge from transitions. Transitions can be
- [CEO's Message: Anger takes center stage](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/ceos-message-anger-takes-center-stage/) - Anger is sometimes an important emotion because it results in taking action to protect yourself and your family, friends, students or clients. For example, anger over some policy or act of evil can bring people together to make changes in society or local communities that result in a safe and caring environment. At other times, anger
- [Widening the scope of counselor self-education](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/widening-scope-counselor-self-education/) - Counseling is not a profession that has a knowledge ceiling. We are always working diligently to grow our knowledge so that we can be more efficacious for our clients. All too often, however, counselors may find themselves studying the same general areas: their chosen theoretical orientations, research studies on their favorite evidence-based practices, literature handed
- [Reach Higher: Bridging the gaps through cultural competency](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/reach-higher-bridging-gaps-cultural-competency/) - U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. was preaching to the choir at last week’s Reach Higher Convening when he said school counselors could make a powerful and long-term impact on the lives of students. “I am here because of the difference educators made for me. I know you make that difference. … You
- [Wellness matters](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/2016/11/wellness-matters/) - The concept of wellness can be found across history, from ancient civilizations through the foundational tenets and ethical codes of contemporary counseling and allied mental health and medical disciplines. Counseling professionals in particular have embraced a holistic, wellness-oriented approach that contrasts with traditional medical/illness models, and many of our theoretical approaches have adopted health-enhancing, prevention-oriented

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- [Adlerian theory](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/adlerian-theory/)
- [adoption](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/adoption/)
- [Adult Development & Aging](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-adult-development-aging/) - Adult Development & Aging
- [adventure sports](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/adventure-sports/)
- [Advocacy Update](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/advocacy-update/)
- [advocate](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/advocate/)
- [American Counseling Association](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/american-counseling-association/)
- [anger](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/anger/)
- [animal](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/animal/)
- [animal assisted therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/animal-assisted-therapy/)
- [Antisocial personality disorder](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/antisocial-personality-disorder/)
- [Assessment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-assessment/) - Assessment
- [attachment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/attachment/)
- [autism](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/autism/)
- [behavioral addiction](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/behavioral-addiction/)
- [bipolar](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/bipolar/)
- [body image](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/body-image/)
- [Bullying](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/bullying/)
- [CACREP](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/cacrep/)
- [cancer](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/cancer/)
- [Career & Employment Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/career-employment-counseling/)
- [Career & Employment Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-career-employment-counseling/) - Career & Employment Counseling
- [caretaking](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/caretaking/)
- [Children & Adolescents](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/children-adolescents/)
- [Children & Adolescents](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-children-adolescents/) - Children & Adolescents
- [chronic illness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/chronic-illness/)
- [cinematherapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/cinematherapy/)
- [civil rights](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/civil-rights/)
- [climate change](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/climate-change/)
- [clinical staging model](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/clinical-staging-model/)
- [code of ethics](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/code-of-ethics/)
- [codependent](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/codependent/)
- [cognitive behavioral therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/)
- [College Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-college-counseling/) - College Counseling
- [Coronavirus](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/coronavirus/)
- [counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/counseling/)
- [Counseling Connoisseur](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/counseling-connoisseur/)
- [Counseling From a Survivor’s Perspective](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/counseling-from-a-survivors-perspective/)
- [Counseling Today](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/counseling-today/)
- [Counselor Education & Supervision](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-counselor-education-supervision/) - Counselor Education & Supervision
- [Counselor Educators Audience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/audience-ct-counselor-educators/) - Counselor Educators Audience
- [counselor supervision](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/counselor-supervision/)
- [Counselor Wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-counselor-wellness/) - Counselor Wellness
- [Counselors](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/counselors/)
- [Counselors Audience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/audience-ct-counselors/) - Counselors Audience
- [Couples](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/couples/)
- [Creativity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-creativity/) - Creativity
- [crisis counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/crisis-counseling/)
- [culture](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/culture/)
- [dangerousness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/dangerousness/)
- [dementia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/dementia/)
- [Depression](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/depression/)
- [disenfranchised grief](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/disenfranchised-grief/)
- [dissociative identity disorder](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/dissociative-identity-disorder/)
- [divorce](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/divorce/)
- [domestic violence](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/domestic-violence/)
- [DSM](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/dsm/)
- [DSM-5](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/dsm-5/)
- [dual relationships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/dual-relationships/)
- [Eating Disorders](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/eating-disorders/)
- [Ecotherapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/ecotherapy/)
- [EMDR](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/eye-movement-desensitization-and-reprocessing/) - eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
- [emotional support animal](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/emotional-support-animal/)
- [emotionally focused therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/emotionally-focused-therapy/)
- [empathy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/empathy/)
- [end-of-life](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/end-of-life/)
- [Ethics & Legal Issues](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-ethics-legal-issues/) - Ethics & Legal Issues
- [exposure](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/exposure/)
- [facebook](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/facebook/)
- [Family](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/family/)
- [family counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/family-counseling/)
- [First Responders](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/firefighter/)
- [From Combat to Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/from-combat-to-counseling/)
- [gender](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/gender/)
- [Government Agencies](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-government-agencies/) - Government Agencies
- [Grief and Loss](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/grief/)
- [Group Work](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-group-work/) - Group Work
- [healthcare](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/healthcare/)
- [HIV AIDS](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/hiv-aids/)
- [Hoarding](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/hoarding/)
- [holiday blues](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/holiday-blues/)
- [homelessness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/homelessness/)
- [Human Development Across the Lifespan](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-human-development-across-the-lifespan/) - Human Development Across the Lifespan
- [human rights](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/human-rights/)
- [Humanistic Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-humanistic-counseling/) - Humanistic Counseling
- [humor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/humor/)
- [immigration](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/immigration/)
- [in-home counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/in-home-counseling/)
- [integrated care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/integrated-care/)
- [interdisciplinary](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/interdisciplinary/)
- [International Members Audience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/audience-ct-international-members/) - International Members Audience
- [Keynote](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/keynote/)
- [Lee Mun Wah](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/lee-mun-wah/)
- [LGBTQ Issues](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-lgbtq-issues/) - LGBTQ Issues
- [Licensure](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/licensure/)
- [loneliness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/loneliness/)
- [marijuana](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/marijuana/)
- [Marriage](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/marriage/)
- [Medicare](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/medicare/)
- [medication](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/medication/)
- [men's issues](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/mens-issues/)
- [Mental Health](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/mental-health/)
- [Military](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-military/) - Military
- [mindfulness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/mindfulness/)
- [Multiculturalism & Diversity](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-multiculturalism-diversity/) - Multiculturalism & Diversity
- [multidisciplinary](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/multidisciplinary/)
- [multiracial](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/multiracial/)
- [narcissist](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/narcissist/)
- [narrative therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/narrative-therapy/)
- [Native Americans](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/native-americans/)
- [Nepal](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/nepal/)
- [neurocounseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/neurocounseling/)
- [neurodiverse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/neurodiverse/)
- [New Members Audience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/audience-ct-new-members/) - New Members Audience
- [Nonprofit News](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/nonprofit-news/)
- [OCD](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/ocd/)
- [Offenders](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-offenders/) - Offenders
- [opioid](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/opioid/)
- [outreach](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/outreach/)
- [parenting](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/parenting/)
- [personality assessment](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/personality-assessment/)
- [phobia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/phobia/)
- [play therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/play-therapy/)
- [polyvagal theory](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/polyvagal-theory/)
- [Posttraumatic growth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/posttraumatic-growth/)
- [pregnancy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/pregnancy/)
- [Private Practice Management](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-private-practice-management/) - Private Practice Management
- [Professional Issues](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-professional-issues/) - Professional Issues
- [psychobiography](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/psychobiography/)
- [psychopharmaceuticals](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/psychopharmaceuticals/)
- [PTSD](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/ptsd/)
- [race](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/race/)
- [reality therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/reality-therapy/)
- [REBT](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/rebt/)
- [Rehabilitation & Disability](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-rehabilitation-disability/) - Rehabilitation & Disability
- [relationships](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/relationships/)
- [research](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/research/)
- [Resilience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/resilience/)
- [resistant clients](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/resistant-clients/)
- [risk](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/risk/)
- [schizophrenia](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/schizophrenia/)
- [School Counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-school-counseling/) - School Counseling
- [school counselors audience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/school-counselors-audience/)
- [school shooting](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/school-shooting/)
- [self esteem](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/self-esteem/)
- [Self-care](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/self-care/)
- [self-discovery](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/self-discovery/)
- [self-harm](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/self-harm/)
- [Sept. 11](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/sept-11/)
- [sex offender](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/sex-offender/)
- [sexual abuse](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/sexual-abuse/)
- [Sexual Wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/sexual-wellness/)
- [shame](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/shame/)
- [Shelter in place](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/shelter-in-place/)
- [sleep](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/sleep/)
- [social anxiety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/social-anxiety/)
- [Social Justice](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-social-justice/) - Social Justice
- [social media](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/social-media/)
- [solution-focused counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/solution-focused-counseling/)
- [Spirituality and Religious Values](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-spirituality-religious-values/) - Spirituality and Religious Values
- [Sports](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/sports/)
- [sports counseling](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/sports-counseling/)
- [stigma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/stigma/)
- [strength-based](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/strength-based/)
- [stress & anxiety](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/stress-anxiety/)
- [Students Audience (Grad/post-grad)](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/audience-ct-students/) - Students Audience
- [Substance Abuse & Addictions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/substance-abuse-addictions/)
- [Substance dependence and addictions](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-substance-abuse-addictions/) - Substance Abuse & Addictions
- [Suicide](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/suicide/)
- [suicide prevention](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/suicide-prevention/)
- [Technology](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/technology/)
- [technology tutor](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/technology-tutor/)
- [teenager](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/teenager/)
- [The Hope Chest](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/the-hope-chest/)
- [therapeutic alliance](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/therapeutic-alliance/)
- [therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/therapy/)
- [Through a glass darkly](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/through-a-glass-darkly/)
- [trauma](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/trauma/)
- [Trauma and Disaster](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-trauma-and-disaster/) - Trauma and Disaster
- [traumatic brain injury](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/traumatic-brain-injury/)
- [TRICARE](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/tricare/)
- [veterans](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/veterans/)
- [Voice of Experience](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/voice-of-experience/)
- [Wellness](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/topic-ct-wellness/) - Wellness
- [wilderness therapy](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/wilderness-therapy/)
- [women](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/women/)
- [workplace stress](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/workplace-stress/)
- [Yalom](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/yalom/)
- [yoga](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/yoga/)
- [youth](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/tag/youth/)

## Template Location

- [Header](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/template_location/header/)
- [Sticky Header](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/template_location/sticky-header/)
- [Footer](https://ctarchive.counseling.org/template_location/footer/)