In April, the Tennessee Legislature passed a bill, which the state’s governor then signed into law, allowing counselors to refuse to see any client if counseling that client involves “goals, outcomes or behaviors that conflict with the sincerely held principles of the counselor or therapist.” The law, which is in
Tag: Professional Issues
Professional Issues
In recent months and years, I’ve seen counseling and mental health move up the list of “hot topics.” Influential actors, leaders and even government officials have spoken up and drawn these areas into the light in a new and brilliant way. As a culture, we are talking about mental health
Bonjour! As I sit in this overstuffed chair, sipping my coffee and letting the buttery chocolate croissant melt on my tongue, I quietly observe the bustle of Friday morning in Montreal, where I am attending and presenting at the American Counseling Association’s 2016 annual conference. I close my eyes and
As counselors, we are trained to focus on our clients’ needs and assist them through the therapeutic process. This focus on client needs is highlighted in the termination process. Counselors are trained to help clients prepare for termination from the beginning of therapy, to support clients through the termination of
Choosing the right graduate school for counseling can be both a challenging and exhilarating experience. Applicants have many motivators to weigh when making this decision and often have many choices concerning which school and program will best fit their needs. This article shares the stories of four students who recently
Psychiatrist Irvin Yalom is a giant in the field – a well-known author and scholar. But his life hasn’t always taken an easy or clearly-marked route to success. The new documentary Yalom’s Cure offers a glimpse of the man beyond his many degrees, accolades and accomplishments. Yalom offers insights through
After 30 years in the counseling profession, I have arrived at the conclusion that we counselors are sometimes our own worst enemies. When a unified voice could be the key to advancing our profession — such as with current efforts to expand reimbursement for counselors’ services under Medicare, initiatives to standardize
As graduate students, we are excited about getting out there in the real world and making a difference. After all, we have spent the last several years in classes reading and role-playing situations. We are prepared, excited and full of hope. You could add that although we feel prepared to
When I first transitioned into a helping profession 25 years ago, I was moving from a short career in retail management. My motivation was to find some deeper meaning in my work and a sense of giving back to the world. I hoped that by working with individuals in crisis,
Who are the major influences on today’s counseling professionals? What voices, both within and outside of the profession, are counselors listening to and intently following? Recently, Counseling Today posed these questions to a random assortment of American Counseling Association members and a few select counseling leaders. The responses were as