With a Coke and a tub of buttery popcorn in hand, a comfy seat to lean back in and a larger-than-life screen to take you somewhere new, movies provide a great escape from life. But, helping professionals say, movies can also come in handy in counseling by offering clients a
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Playgroup as peer group
When counselor Rachel Feldwisch transitioned from full-time to part-time work a few years ago, she struggled to find flexible day care for her daughter. Luckily, her longtime friend and fellow American Counseling Association member Molly Meier was also looking for child care to accommodate her new private practice schedule. As
The power of play
Pedra Ane clearly recalls the battle that played out in her office several years ago. It was orchestrated by a 7-year-old client who deftly maneuvered several plastic Army figures even as he worked through some of his toughest, most deep-seated issues. Ane, a counselor and registered play therapist who runs
Making time for play
Knowing that this month’s cover story was going to address the important topic of therapeutic play from the perspective of counselor practitioners specially trained in play therapy, I wanted to look at play from a personal perspective and share how it has manifested itself in my life. When I first
Remembering play
Sometimes, cohesion is an open therapy group’s biggest challenge. Although the open-door approach provides ongoing support as people find themselves in need, building connection may feel nearly impossible as members trickle in and out each week. “Our open groups never close. I may have 13 women one week and three
Addressing problematic internet use with youth and families
Making healthy decisions regarding our screen time and internet use can be challenging and often requires a fair amount of self-discipline. We may ask ourselves, “Why am I looking at my cellphone again?” or “Why did my screen time report go up by 15% this week?” Many families are struggling
Adapting CBT to meet clients’ needs
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used forms of psychotherapy in the mental health professions. It is also the most empirically tested modality, with more than 2,000 evidence-based studies, according to the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, a nonprofit organization (co-founded by the late
Voice of Experience: Building a career path
I started my career in 1983. Over the years, I’ve applied my skills in many areas. Here are a few: I have worked in private practice; consulted with businesses and schools; wrote more than a dozen books; consulted with authors, actors and directors; wrote regular columns for various publications; taught
The impact of telebehavioral health on clinical practice
Just a few years ago, telebehavioral health was not a service that many counselors provided for their clients. Jennifer Nivin Williamson and Daniel G. Williamson, both licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and core faculty at Capella University, say that the use of technology in counseling before the COVID-19 pandemic was often considered
From the President: Making a smooth transition from student to new professional
In the February column, I challenged you to reflect on the costs associated with answering the call of counseling, leadership and advocacy. I also asked you to consider what resources you might need to protect yourself from the costs of answering this call and pursuing your life’s work. This month,