Multimedia in guidance and counseling

This article examines some of the typical functions of the guidance program and describes the usefulness of multimedia as extensions of the counselor's abilities and work. Media may also be important where the counselor's own potential is limited. The author describes briefly his own research and use of affect simulation and videotape recall to accelerate the usual counseling processes and to better assure that traditional goals in counseling will be achieved. He also examines the potential of multimedia for allowing a client to view objectively his own “inner” reactions as well as his “outer” behaviors to himself and his environment.     

Implementing a program in developmental guidance and counseling

This is a “how to” article. Too often in the past 10 years we have heard the term “change agent” applied to the counselor without the necessary filing in of how one goes about making major changes in a school or other social system. Tuma describes her early frustrations, her exposure to a “theory” of change, and the step-by-step application of the same—including how her plans had to change to meet the changing reality. And with a successful ending!     

Identifying young people's guidance needs through telephone counseling.

This study examined the needs that young people in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, expressed in phone calls to a research unit of the Mexican Social Security Institute. Three hundred forty-five calls, from individuals 11 to 24 years old who phoned from June 1995 to November 1998, were analyzed. Two hundred ninety-four of the callers were female and 51 were male. Greater percentages of females than males called to ask about sexuality and family problems. Males more than females asked about reproductive health (particularly pregnancy) and mental health. There were significant differences by gender and age, differences that were not detected in health service statistics. The findings have implications for decision makers and health and education service providers. They point to the need for programs that will reinforce young people's good health practices and help them avoid risky behaviors.     

Systems design in the development of counseling and guidance programs

This article discusses problems in developing counseling and guidance programs. The systems approach is presented as an approach founded on scientifically based principles which counselors might consider in planning effective and efficient programs. The systems concept, analysis and synthesis, systems design, behavioral objectives, feedback, and flowcharting are briefly explained, followed by the application of the systems technique for a generalized model for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of a counseling and guidance program.     

Special Feature: Research,training, and demonstration funds for guidance and counseling

The support programs of federal, state, and private agencies are reviewed so that educators may know some of the sources of financial aid for all levels of education. Federal legislation provides the most funds whether the programs are administered by federal or state agencies. Several basic sources of additional information on available programs are also presented.     

Group counseling

This article reviews the major concerns of group counseling and differentiates among group guidance, group counseling, and group therapy. It also evaluates the research status of group counseling. Finally, the author presents implications for the future of this approach.     

Reciprocity counseling: A rapid learning-based procedure for marital counseling

Existing marital counseling procedures have not been experimentally evaluated or generally have not been based on an experimentally derived theory. The present study formulated a model of marital discord based on reinforcement theory, developed a marital counseling procedure based on that theory and experimentally evaluated its effectiveness. The model viewed marital discord as the resultant of non-reciprocated reinforcement. The counseling procedures attempted to establish general marital reciprocity of reinforcement by teaching reciprocity in several specific areas of marital unhappiness. The reciprocity procedure was conducted for about 3–4 weeks with 12 couples, after first conducting a catharsis-type counseling as a control procedure. The results showed that the reciprocity procedure increased reported marital happiness, whereas the control procedure did not. Once reciprocity was achieved in a specific problem area, the benefits generalized somewhat to other yet-to-be counseled areas. The increase in marital happiness occurred for each of the specific areas of marital interaction, for 96 per cent of the clients, and was maintained and increased during the available follow-up period. These results indicate that the procedure is an effective, rapid and enduring method of producing marital happiness.     

Deepening our counseling

Abstract

The counselor deepens his therapeutic work by analyzing what happens during the counseling session. Subtle details in the off ice interactions are used to refer to personality traits and behavioral patterns manifesting themselves in the client's daily life. The counselor must also be sensitive to his own feelings and reactions and employ these as indicators to objective elements in the client's personality.