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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
Assessing depression in those who are chronically ill
You receive a referral for a new client from a local physician. Great! As you review the materials, it is clear that the physician thinks the client’s issues are “all in her head.” Perhaps she is depressed. A good strengths-based and ecologically grounded counselor is just what she needs. On
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
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