The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by a range of intense emotions, and for many people, this includes acute feelings of uncertainty and worry. It seems some people have tried using weighted blankets to find comfort, as sales have increased during the pandemic. Manufacturers often tout the blankets as a
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Yoga-informed self-care strategies to help counselors avoid burnout
When I was in graduate school, burnout seemed like something that would never happen to me. I worked out regularly, ate healthy, and had a well-rounded social life and plenty of hobbies. I thought self-care was that simple. Fast-forward 10 months into my career: I quit my first professional counseling
Utilizing evidence-based practices in telehealth
The field of mental health is undergoing unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professional counselors who worked with children and adolescents before the pandemic have found that some traditional in-person techniques are not appropriate via virtual platforms. These circumstances are requiring counselors to consider the selection of treatment approaches and
Voice of Experience: Revenue streams for counselors
Counselors-in-training often ask me how much money a counselor can expect to make in a year. In many fields — education, for example — that is a fairly simple question. But not so for counselors. Counselors basically have to work for free until they complete their graduate work. Then, depending
Counseling’s evolution under COVID-19
Under a shelter-in-place order, are professional counselors considered essential workers? What if a client’s insurance covers in-person therapy but doesn’t cover video or telephone sessions? Are Skype, WhatsApp or Zoom compliant with health privacy laws? My employer expects me to continue seeing clients in person, but I’m not comfortable with
Exploring the ties that bind
Family therapy pioneer Virginia Satir famously said, “If we can heal the family, we can heal the world.” Satir believed the family to be the “factory” where all people are made. She was among the first to champion an idea now commonly acknowledged among counselors: A person’s family of origin
Marathon vs. sprint: Building a sustainable career as a professional counselor
Professional clinical counselors who sustain their careers over decades have literally thousands of clients come through their doors. There’s no denying that the job is rewarding, but the daily grind of helping people overcome trauma, loss, addiction and other “heavy” challenges can wear on even the most resilient of practitioners.
Living with — and beyond — OCD
In popular culture, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often portrayed through characters who can’t bring themselves to step on cracks in the sidewalk, who are germaphobes, or who are obsessed with cleanliness and organization. These “hang-ups” are often played for comic effect. “There’s a huge misconception that OCD is cute and
Our most-read articles of 2019
Which counseling topics grabbed the most reader attention in 2019? Close to 150 articles were posted at ct.counseling.org in 2019. Professional issues – including self-disclosure with clients, starting a private practice, impostor syndrome and the pros and cons of providing online therapy – topped the list of most-read articles at
Maintaining counselor identity in interdisciplinary teams
Professional counselors are increasing their presence in a variety of settings, including nonprofit agencies, clinics, private practice groups, schools, hospitals, and state and federal vocational rehabilitation centers. In these settings, counselors are likely to work with other health care professionals for the benefit of their clients. Some of these other