Ten years ago, I was in my office at school when a student came in, threw herself in the chair and stated emphatically, “Life really sucks, and I hate all my teachers.” She then burst into tears with such force that she began to hiccup uncontrollably. I immediately sat across
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A national obsession
If you think elementary school students are only learning their ABCs and 123s, think again. Some are also absorbing societal messages that place importance on counting calories and dropping dress sizes. Anna Viviani, a counselor in private practice in Peoria, Ill., who works with eating disorder clients, remembers a conversation
Straight from the horse’s mouth
Five years ago, Kay Sudekum Trotter arrived at a muddy Texas horse ranch wearing capri pants and sandals and wanting to learn more about equine-assisted therapy. By the end of the afternoon, her cute outfit was dirty, her shoes ruined, but this self-proclaimed city girl had been roped by this
Collaborative law offers emerging income stream
Q: You talk a lot about multiple income streams for a successful practice. In my practice, I have incorporated that concept and do traditional talk therapy, work with insurance and managed care companies, contract with employee assistance programs, give speeches on parenting and positive communication, and conduct a mood disorders
Bound with pink ribbons
She is taught early on to search for something that she doesn’t want to find: an uninvited guest lurking within. From the point when she finds a lump, her fear is real and sometimes immobilizing. When breast cancer is diagnosed, it’s as if her body — her womanhood — has
Counseling Today’s 15 most-read articles of 2023
Growing demands for mental health services. Provider shortages. Concerns over youth mental health and self-harm. The loneliness epidemic. These are a few of the topics that dominated the news and our minds in 2023. Before we ring in a new year, let’s look back at our 15 most-read articles published
An integral model for using empathy in counseling
Although empathy is considered a critical aspect of effective counseling, confusion about its definition and practical application often prevents it from being fully utilized in counseling. Contemporary counseling textbooks, for example, vary in how they discuss this topic. Some authors present empathy as a clinical skill, whereas others simply equate
How to manage sexualized transference
Amar Davé, a licensed professional counselor in Maryland, sat in his therapist chair puzzled after a client made an indirect romantic pass at him. After discussing the situation with his clinical supervisor, he broached the exchange with the client, who proceeded to confide his feelings for his therapist in an
Coping with the stress and uncertainty of chronic health conditions
Living with a chronic health condition can be physically and emotionally stressful. Imagine waking up in the morning to searing pain because of reoccurring migraines or experiencing vision and speech problems and mobility challenges because of multiple sclerosis. Common types of chronic pain or illness include low back pain, cancer,
Behind The Book: Q&A with the authors of Interactive Group Work (second edition)
The second edition of Interactive Group Work serves as a comprehensive resource on group work for practitioners and counseling training programs. It includes the history of the evolution of group-specific theory, updated perspectives on diversity and social justice, current research on group efficacy and process, and a discussion of group