A client comes in for his first counseling session. He has a carrot sticking up his nose and a banana in his left ear. “Help!” the client cries. “Can you tell me what’s wrong with me?” “Simple,” the counselor says calmly. “You’re not eating properly.” Laughter is an essential part of the
Search “play therapy”
618 Results
Search Results
Group effort
When a client seeks help, often the focused, tailored nature of individual counseling is exactly what he or she needs. But sometimes there is a particular alchemy in a group. Many clients benefit from group counseling, either in addition to or instead of individual treatment. Why is that? The counselors
Handle with care: Addressing child trauma in West Virginia
“Their normal is chaos, and we have to bring calm.” For public school students in West Virginia, the calm therapist Felicia Bush is referring to comes in the form of an innovative, multidisciplinary program that aims to identify and treat trauma in real time. Bush, a provisionally licensed social worker
Fresh thinking on old issues
Trauma, suicide and bullying are not new topics for most counselors, who at some point in their careers have likely worked with clients on each of these issues. However, as research and practice continue to progress, some counselors are using emerging approaches or perspectives to tackle these problems. At the
A visual picture of the human psyche
The Mandala Assessment Research Instrument (MARI) is a Jungian instrument based on symbols and colors that are chosen intuitively. When displayed on the developmental template of the Great Round, these symbols and colors reveal a visual picture of one’s psyche. Joan Kellogg developed MARI as an art therapy tool in
Addressing counseling’s portability crisis
Summer 2019 update: The American Counseling Association has created a state-by-state guide with updated information on licensure requirements across the country. Go to counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements for information on licensure in your state or U.S. territory. **** It’s a frustrating scenario that happens all too often. A counselor moves to a
Embracing the ongoing push for progress
Positive social change is possible. It is often slow and halting, but it does happen. In the past decade, people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) have experienced some positive change regarding their human rights and societal attitudes. As of this writing, 37 states and the District
Empowering youth victimized by cyberbullying
Technology has changed the way adolescents bully one another. What once happened during an eight-hour school day now happens online within the home environment. This form of bullying is inescapable and occurs at all hours of the day and night. For victims, the consequences of being targeted by this behavior
Stumbling blocks to counselor self-care
As a counselor, which of the following elements are absolutely essential for you to do your job well? a) Thorough grounding in counseling methods and techniques b) A strong sense of empathy and compassion c) Adequate sleep d) Regular vacations or breaks e) All of the above The correct answer is
Partners in transition
Robyn Chauvin was happily married in the early 1990s. Having spent time in counseling, she had given up drugs and alcohol, was studying to be a music therapist and was working with patients in a psychiatric hospital. But she knew there was one more change she needed to make. “I