Integrating Spirituality Into Counselor Preparation: A Developmental,Wellness Approach

Recent surveys of the general public and of counseling professionals suggest the pervasive importance of spirituality in the lives of all individuals. Yet, the infusion of spirituality in counselor preparation programs continues to be a concern. Incorporating spirituality within a wellness paradigm can help counselors and counselor educators value and address spirituality as an integral component of optimum human functioning. By distinguishing between religiosity and spirituality and operationally conceptualizing spirituality as a life span developmental phenomenon that is essential for achieving wellness, counselor educators can more readily incorporate spiritual issues within the philosophy of the counseling profession.     

Diversity and General Student Scholarship Recipient Essays: 2010 National Society of Genetic Counselors Membership Committee

In an effort to increase the diversity of the membership of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), the Membership Committee provided two $500 scholarships to genetic counseling students planning to attend the NSGC AEC meeting in Dallas, Texas in October 2010. Requirements for applicants of both scholarships included enrollment in the fall of 2010, good standing at an accredited genetic counseling training program, and NSGC membership or plans to join in 2011. Students who are from communities underrepresented in the NSGC, including, but not limited to, those of minority cultural/ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities were eligible to apply for the “Diversity” scholarship. Students from all backgrounds who have an interest in diversity issues were eligible to apply for the “General” scholarship. Applicants wrote essays 1000 words or less answering the following questions: How has your identity as a member of a group underrepresented in the genetic counseling profession affected your pursuit of this career? What do you feel is lacking in genetic counseling to address the issues of underrepresented groups? What strategies do you recommend for addressing these issues and/or increasing diversity? Why do you think diversity is an important issue for the field of genetic counseling? What strategies do you recommend to attract and retain students, especially those from underrepresented populations, into the field of genetic counseling? How do you envision contributing to these strategies? The essays by the award recipients elucidated interesting perspectives and ideas for increasing diversity in the genetic counseling profession.     

Counseling the Gifted: Past,Present, and Future Directions

In the 29 years since the last special issue in the Journal of Counseling & Development focusing on gifted individuals, there has been considerable research regarding giftedness. However, meeting the counseling needs of gifted individuals has not been on the national agenda in counselor preparation. This article outlines the status of counseling the gifted from the standpoint of both the counseling and the gifted education professions and includes recommendations for future directions for both fields.     

Prospective Evaluation of Predictive DNA Testing for Huntington’s Disease in a Large German Center

We present a prospective study of counselees seeking predictive testing for Huntington’s disease at the Huntington Center North Rhine-Westphalia (Bochum, Germany) between 2010 and 2012. The aim was to observe the decision-making process of at-risk individuals and explore their experiences following the decision as well as the impacts of positive and negative mutation results. Data were collected using two standardized questionnaires as well as via a semi-standardized telephone interview one year after the initial counseling session. Seventy-two  individuals participated in at least one of the three phases of the survey, including 31 individuals in the telephone interview. Sociodemographic data were in accordance with previous reports. The process of predictive testing was generally perceived in a positive manner, with almost all interviewees reporting a balanced emotional state one year after initial counseling, regardless of the decision for or against the test. The most important reasons named in favor of or against testing were assembled as well as different aspects regarding the satisfaction with the reached decision. In line with and expanding previous observations on gender-related differences in decision-making, our results suggest that gender-related aspects should be more strongly taken into account in genetic counseling during the predictive testing and counseling processes.     

CF carrier testing: Experience of relatives

Consensus exists that genetic counseling and CF carrier testing should be offered to individuals with a positive family history of CF. To learn more about their experience with genetic counseling and testing we conducted a series of structured telephone interviews and focus group discussions with individuals and couples who had undergone genetic counseling and carrier testing because of a family history of CF. Traditional genetic counseling appears to have been effective for this population. Subjects generally report having a positive counseling experience and few difficulties upon learning their carrier status. Subjects were quite knowledgeable about CF and their carrier risk and were highly motivated to seek testing. They may not be representative of all individuals with a family history of CF however. For carriers, concerns about whether and when to have children tested, and concerns about insurance implications of carrier status may emerge sometime after the initial counseling. Strategies for addressing these concerns and for providing efficient and effective education and genetic counseling for people with a family history of CF need to be developed.     

Liberation Psychology as the Path Toward Healing Cultural Soul Wounds

Oppression resulting in soul wounding has afflicted indigenous communities and the counseling profession. Internalized oppression has become part of oppressive practices inflicted on communities served. The authors delineate a liberation psychology that leads toward the psychological and spiritual emancipation of individual clients, communities, and the counseling profession.     

Use of Bibliotherapy in the Treatment of Grief and Loss: A Guide to Current Counseling Practices

Grief is a complex and dynamic process influencing individuals of all ages. This article provides an overview of historical and contemporary constructs of grief counseling. Bibliotherapy, a creative counseling tool, is presented as an appropriate intervention when counseling grieving clients. Guidelines for using bibliotherapy with grieving clients are considered.     

Urban School-Based Family Counseling: Role Definition,Practice Applications,and Training Implications

The authors describe an expanded role for counselors in urban school settings that can improve the linkages among families, schools, and communities: school-based family counseling. The focus of this process is to assist children in becoming more successful in the classroom by increasing family and community involvement in addressing specific barriers to learning. The function of school-based family counseling, strategies, and challenges for implementation of this process; a case study of a school-based family counseling intervention; and implications for counselor training are presented. Benefits of the school-based family counseling model for diverse students, parents, schools, and communities also are discussed.     

Counseling Gay Men with AIDS: Human Dimensions

As the incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) becomes more widespread, individuals with AIDS will present themselves for counseling in both public and private settings, and counselors will need to become familiar with the psychological manifestations of the AIDS virus. This article provides case material that demonstrates the emotional responses of gay men to AIDS. Specifically, denial, anger, rage, guilt, and shame are discussed with an emphasis on the human dimensions of AIDS.     

“Born Black and Male”: Counseling leaders’ self-discovery of strengths

Africentric/Afrocentric psychology frames the interview findings on five African-American male leaders in a racial, ethnic, and culturally diverse counseling association. The consensual qualitative research method was used to extrapolate themes from the five interviews. Africentric cultural strengths suggested in the themes are (a) autogeny, (b) primacy of the person in the context of community, (c) consubstantiality of primordial substance, (d) perpetual evolution, and (e) living forever. Two themes related to counseling practice are (f) social justice and (g) cultural empathy. Common trends in statements across interviews are illustrated with rich quotations and summaries. Although the framework of continental African world view facilitated understanding a few African-American male counseling leaders, the study evidences a larger universal human dimension of individuals’ pain, resilience, self-discovery of strengths, and leadership bound to a collective self-concept by which leadership can take place both individually and collectively.     

A Comparison of Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth and On-Site Consultations: A Pilot Study for Prenatal Genetic Counseling

Many different fields of medicine are now utilizing video conferencing as a means to offer consultations to individuals in rural communities. However, there is a lack of published literature regarding the use of telehealth in clinical genetics and, specifically, in genetic counseling. Those experiences that have been reported mostly centered on cancer genetic counseling, sickle cell anemia consultation and care, or pediatric/adult genetic assessment. In these studies, the patients reported an overall satisfaction with telehealth, signifying that this type of communication may play an important role in the future of medicine. This pilot study compared patient satisfaction with prenatal genetic counseling performed via video conferencing versus that performed on-site. The results show that there was a high level of patient satisfaction when video conferencing was used to conduct prenatal genetic counseling consultations, suggesting that telehealth can be utilized as a means to offer this service to underserved populations. Telehealth refers to any type of communication technology in health care, distance education, transmission of radiological images, etc. The actual screening, diagnosis, treatment, management, etc., using distance technology is referred to as telemedicine.The term on-site indicates that genetic counseling was performed in person, rather than using telehealth.     

Brain Wave Biofeedback: Benefits of Integrating Neurofeedback in Counseling

Consistent with the 2009 Standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, counselors must understand neurobiological behavior in individuals of all developmental levels. This requires understanding the brain and strategies for applying neurobiological concepts in counseling practice, training, and research. Neurofeedback, biofeedback for the brain, is one modality based in neuroscience that empowers individuals to recognize, monitor, and self‐regulate brain wave activity to create greater wellness. Neurofeedback has significant potential in counseling preparation, research, and practice.     

Genetic Counseling for Early-onset Familial Alzheimer Disease in Large Aboriginal Kindred from a Remote Community in British Columbia: Unique Challenges and Possible Solutions

A novel, pathogenic presenilin 1 (PS1) mutation has recently been identified in a large Aboriginal kindred living in dispersed communities throughout British Columbia, Canada. Disseminating genetic information and ensuring that appropriate genetic counseling services are provided to all concerned relatives have posed several unique challenges. These challenges include knowledge exchange and continuity of care in a geographically remote and culturally distinct community. To our knowledge, this is the first time a specific genetic counseling approach has been needed for early-onset familial Alzheimer disease (EOFAD) in a North American Aboriginal community.     

A Well-Kept Secret: What Counseling Psychology Can Offer Social Psychology1

Although social psychology has increasingly influenced counseling psychology, the impact that counseling psychology has had or could have on social psychology is less well developed. This paper considers factors that have limited counseling's influence on social psychology. In addition, contributions that counseling can make to social psychology are presented. It is argued that both disciplines have evolved to investigate the behavior of “normal” individuals in social contexts. It is concluded that there is much to be gained by both specialties in a fuller and more comprehensive integration and understanding of the findings and methods of the other.     

儿童心理咨询与治疗的生态模型

儿童心理咨询与治疗的生态模型强调将个体置身于家庭、学校和社会等环境中,这种治疗方法改变了传统的以个体为主的治疗模式。该模型围绕心理咨询与治疗中各阶段的评估、干预和激励三个方面来具体实施,本文总结了它的实施过程和特点,以及其典型应用家庭调查模型,最后,本文阐述了该模型的发展方向及启示。     

The Relationship of Infertility and Death: Using the Relational/Cultural Model of Counseling in Making Meaning

Although the crisis of infertility and attitudes associated with death are often approached differently in counseling, they both share similar attributes. Often, these experiences are described negatively and are associated with at least some form of loss. These negative experiences affect individuals' personal and existential meaning in a profound way. In this article, these experiences will be explored. Specifically, the relationship between these 2 experiences will be explored in order to understand how individuals attempt to make meaning. Finally, the application of the Relational/Cultural Model of counseling will be introduced as a way to facilitate meaning making.     

Prolongement du dispositif d’accompagnement sens de la vie et sens du travail : « Développer le sens de sa vie en cultivant ses liens aux autres et aux communautés sociales »

IntroductionAs an extension of the counseling program for adults, dedicated to meaning of life and meaning of work, a complementary session called “Developing the meaning of one's life by cultivating one's links with others and social communities” has been created. It is developed under the impetus in particular of formulated research perspectives in which broadening the focus is encouraged, by no longer focusing solely on individuals but also on social groups, collectives and communities.ObjectiveThe intention is to understand the way through which meaning is developed by way of contact with social interactions and how the development of reflection on social communities makes it possible to enrich the individual in the construction of his identity, his references and of his social integration. This session strives not to reinforce, with the accompaniment to meaning, individualism, excessive self-centeredness, withdrawal into oneself within what is known of the intimate sphere. On the contrary, it strives to promote an awareness of the importance of the link to others, of an openness to otherness which is fundamental in the construction of meaning.ProcedureThe objective of this study is to present the session by considering its processes and its effects in order to provide practicing psychologists and counselors in the field of orientation with an intervention device and operational tools.Concluding discussionThe scientific and practical implications are discussed in the light of the main results collected during the 2019 experimentation of this session with four communities and its application within five counseling programs validating its contributions for the beneficiaries and for the overall device.     

An ethical excursion through labeling the mentally retarded

Review of a representative body of research data concerning the effects of the “mentally retarded” (MR) label on parents, teachers, college students, nonretarded children, communities, and persons labeled fails to support the extravagant claim of some investigators that the labeling process has psychologically damaging effects upon the individuals labeled as well as society. Negative reactions to labels could be minimized by extensive public education and counseling. Labels should be retained as formal instruments essential to establishing the eligibility of the retarded for special assistance, and for maintenance of communication within and between disciplines, without which contemporary society could not operate. An argument for the judicious use of labels is fashioned, recommending replacement of the MR label by “AD” (adaptively deficient), in keeping with the modern view of mental retardation as a psychosocial challenge deemphasizing IQ and requiring adjustment of the whole personality to demands of a complex environment (e.g., coping skill, motivation). Parents, teachers, friends, employers, and public officials could support the AD's struggle to effectively participate in community life by promoting the perennial values of respect for human dignity, fairness, equality, autonomy, and compassion. As a result of monitoring the success of such programs in all settings, public policy administrators could formulate rational approaches to improvement of service programs in the national interest.     

Crisis counseling: A right and a necessity for members of the underclass

Crisis counseling, short-term, directive psychotherapeutic intervention, is an appropriate form of therapy for the low socioeconomics status (SES) individuals. Poverty, racism, and cultural alienation contribute to making crises a prominent feature of life among poor people. Members of the underclass frequently do not have the time or cultural affinity for many forms of long-term therapy. Oriented toward the solution of practical problems and toward quickly re-establishing emotional equilibrium, crisis counseling does not require the client's long-standing commitment to personal growth. Because it is relatively free of the social biases of most treatment modalities, crisis counseling is a way of introducing many low SES individuals to psychotherapy. For many underclass individuals, crisis counseling can lead them in the direction of overcoming other situations that keep them at a disadvantage.