Sexuality is a core aspect of the human experience, yet it is often a topic clouded in shame and secrecy. Some people can’t even bring themselves to say the word “sex” out loud, resorting instead to euphemisms such as “the birds and the bees,” “the horizontal tango” or “getting to
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How to elicit and implement group feedback
Remember when we were all eager-minded counseling students? We were delighted with the pursuit of self-improvement and strove to be the best versions of new counseling professionals. To that end, we feverishly sought the feedback of our faculty and peers to enhance our basic counseling skills. So, what happened? Where
Self-esteem: Tending to the roots and branches
Self-esteem is tied into nearly everything, from career and relationship issues to anxiety and other mental health challenges, that bring clients through the counselor’s door. And if their self-esteem is unhealthy and out of balance, it hinders clients’ ability to grow and heal from their presenting issues — unless they
Considerations for athletes in counseling
“I have to do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being.” Hearing those words from Simone Biles, the epitome of talent in the world of gymnastics, and witnessing her personal battle in deciding to remove herself from competition at the
Self-diagnosis in a digital world
For better or worse, social media posts about mental health, paired with the ease of Googling one’s own symptoms, are enticing many people to self-diagnose. In fact, a 2021 Vox article, “How mental health became a social media minefield,” asserted that social media is becoming known as the “WebMD for
Other people’s monsters: A personal account of vicarious traumatization
Last year, I was fortunate to have a piece published in Counseling Today with my co-author, Adrian Warren. The article, which appeared in the June 2021 issue, encapsulated our research on adult male survivors’ lived experiences of disclosing child sexual abuse. Necessary to this research was the interview process in
Incorporating creativity into outreach on a college campus
So, you may ask, “What can a small college counseling center with a limited budget do to provide outreach to students during a worldwide pandemic that has dramatically impacted all aspects of campus life?” Well, the answer to that question is “get creative”! As the director of the Counseling Center
Two years in: Reflecting on counseling during a pandemic
This month marks two years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, more commonly known as COVID-19, a pandemic. At the time, there were more than 118,000 recognized cases of the coronavirus in 114 countries and just under 4,300 deaths attributed to it. Those
Addressing the Afghanistan humanitarian crisis
In August 2021, Americans who were already dealing with the upheaval and roller coaster of emotions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic faced another frustration when the U.S. military suddenly withdrew from Afghanistan. The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has caused many mixed emotions for individuals who identify with the military
One size does not fit all in couples counseling
Our field needs competent and effective couples counselors now more than ever. Couples’ distress is a public health issue affecting families and communities. But many counselors did not receive enough training in their graduate school days to work effectively with couples, and now they are scrambling to choose from the