The field of counseling is one that offers great rewards. We get to see people go from their worst to their best. We get to be a part of the change that our clients are seeking. Even so, the hours and hours we spend listening to the pain of others
Search “play therapy”
618 Results
Search Results
Creative and novel approaches to empathy
Near the end of Carl Rogers’ life, he wrote a scathing article noting that his conceptualization of empathy had little to do with the popularized notion of empathy that had become known as “reflection of feelings.” He may have been particularly angry because there were some apocryphal stories circulating about
The (misguided) pursuit of happiness
Happiness. Most Americans seem to believe that it is something to which we are entitled. After all, happiness — or at least the pursuit of it — is enshrined in our nation’s Declaration of Independence. As a result, we invest a significant amount of time, money and effort looking for
Ask your doctor if nature is right for you
Happy-looking people take a walk in the woods as small-print disclosures scroll across the bottom of the TV screen and a soothing voiceover explains possible side effects. As the scene closes, one of the actors looks squarely into the camera and says, “Ask your doctor if nature is right for
‘I’m not broken, just stuck’
Yet another model of counseling? I would have asked the same question before my introduction some years ago to acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT, and pronounced as the word, act). It is a model that stands on the shoulders of long-endorsed approaches to counseling, yet it takes these ideas into
Practicing cultural humility
Privilege is invisible to those who have it.” This pithy statement from sociologist Michael Kimmel reflects the state of research on privilege and also calls attention to the importance of counselors raising self-awareness about how privilege affects their work. A general consensus exists among counselors that they need to be
Is it OK to have it all?
As Lindsey Mitchell approached the end of her doctoral program in counseling at George Washington University, she wasn’t quite sure what was next. After a decade of intense focus on her education, she found her career options in the field both exciting and intimidating. When Mitchell began talking to other women
The Counseling Connoisseur: Enjoying the holidays by letting go of expectations
“Peace begins when expectation ends.” — Sri Chinmoy My family recently celebrated several milestones of honor. Turning 16 and now boasting a driver’s license, my nephew has intensified his campaign to own that ever-elusive Mustang. Meanwhile, his parents celebrated their 50th birthdays. The grandest of celebrations, however, honored my
Nonprofit News: Surviving the loss of key members
When counselors look to build a board of directors and fill key positions in their nonprofit programs, it is imperative to remember that there are many different types of leaders. Some leaders are great thinkers and developers of new ideas and programs but lack the desire to maintain or reconfigure
Investigating identity
“W hat are you?” That is a question commonly asked of individuals who are multiracial. As a society, we have gotten used to checking off a metaphorical — and often literal — “box” when it comes to questions of race. We seem to expect everyone to “just pick one.” But the