Romantic breakups can be a painful process that often involves feelings of loss on many levels. According to Jessica Rizk, a licensed professional counselor and supervisor who owns a private practice in Northern Virginia, initial feelings of loss after a breakup can occur in two phases, the first of which
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A cognitive behavioral understanding of social anxiety disorder
“Don’t let anxiety drive the car,” I learned to tell myself. I was standing in the hallway of the hotel’s conference center where our state counseling association was hosting its annual conference. I had co-presented with my professors at the conference a handful of times before, but I viewed them
Growing up between cultures
Kurt Bannert, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), left his home in Texas to move overseas at age 10. When his parents told him they were moving to Serbia for missionary work, his initial reply was, “That sounds awesome. You guys have fun. Don’t forget to call or write me or
Responding to the youth mental health crisis in schools
Late last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory to call attention to what he described as a “youth mental health crisis.” Depression, suicidality and other mental health challenges have been on the rise among American youth in the past decade, but Murthy believes the stressors and isolation
Behind the Book: Crisis Intervention Ethics Casebook
Crisis situations often require rapid decision-making from a counselor, and those decisions have ethical and legal implications, write Rick A. Myer, Julia L. Whisenhunt and Richard K. James, the co-authors of the Crisis Intervention Ethics Casebook. Their book, published in late 2021 by the American Counseling Association, explores the nuances
Regulating the autonomic nervous system via sensory stimulation
It is estimated that around 70% of the global population has been exposed to a traumatic event at some point during their lifetime. This is a staggering approximation when we consider that beginning counselors are often woefully unprepared to support clients from a trauma-informed perspective. Although the annual rates of
Building trust with reluctant clients
The Washington Post’s “Dear Carolyn” advice column recently fielded a question from a person who was unsure if they were ready to seek counseling to cope with a strained relationship with a parent. Although the person was aware that counseling could be helpful in this particular situation, they were still
The effects of gender socialization on boys and men
This piece is the final of a three-part series for CT Online. It is the result of the work of ACA President S. Kent Butler’s Gender Equity Task Force. The first article, “Breaking the binary: Transgender and gender expansive equality,” was published on April 4, and the second article, “Counseling
Journeying through betrayal trauma
“Cathy’s” life has just been turned upside down. She picked up her husband’s cellphone only to discover a loving message from his affair partner. Cathy’s brain is spinning, and her emotions are all over the map. She feels embarrassed and alone, disconnected and detached from reality. She questions whether her
Rebuilding after brain injury
“I just want to feel useful again, like I have some purpose.” “I just want to know is there anything I can do?” “I just want to know I’m not going crazy.” “I want to be happy again, have friends again and feel satisfied in relationships.” These are among the