Preliminary Note on a General Purpose Recording Technique

The extent to which attitudes towards mental illness and the mentally ill were influenced by the respondent's own level of personal adjustment was studied for 77 female psychiatric aides. The data suggested that, for this sample, the two variables were relatively independent of each other.     

Comparing Multicultural With General Counseling Knowledge and Skill Competency for Students Who Completed Counselor Training

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a counselor education program in teaching multicultural counseling knowledge and skills. Standardized examination scores and rater evaluations compare multicultural with general counseling knowledge and skill competency for students who completed a counseling master's program. The relationship between multicultural knowledge and multicultural and general skills is examined. Este estudio evalúa la efectividad de un programa educativo para consejeros a la hora de enseñar conocimientos y habilidades multiculturales en consejería. Se emplean tanto resultados estandarizados de exámenes como evaluaciones docentes para comparar los conocimientos de consejeria y la competencia en habilidades de tipo general con los multiculturales en estudiantes que han completado un Máster en Consejería. Se examina la relación entre conocimientos multiculturales y habilidades generales y multiculturales.     

Medicare Advocacy for the Counselor Advocate

Medicare reimbursement for counselors would expand older adults' access to mental health services and increase counselors' professional opportunities. To enhance advocacy efforts, the author reviews Medicare's current role in meeting older adults' mental health needs, examines the program's unique political development, and identifies contemporary values that may influence Medicare's future. Implications for counselor advocacy efforts are discussed.     

Effect of Client and Counselor Ethnicity on Preference for Counselor Disclosure

Preferences for counselor self‐disclosure based on the ethnicity of both the respondent and the counselor were examined for African American and Caucasian students. Results suggested that respondent ethnicity affected preferences for certain types of information about the counselor (personal feelings, sexual issues, professional issues, and success/failure) and that there were interaction (respondent by counselor ethnicity) effects on preference for disclosure in other areas (interpersonal relationships and success/failure). Implications for research and practice are discussed.     

A Family Systems Approach for the Career Counselor

Career counselors may find a systems perspective and strategies beneficial for the indecisive adult client who seems to be drowning in a sea of possibilities.     

Counselor Predictive Skill and Rated Counselor Effectiveness

Prediction is a fundamental part of counseling. Although counselors differ in their ability to predict accurately, there is no evidence that those who predict most accurately do the best job of counseling. Using 3 different sets of case data, 14 counselors predicted whether students would graduate and whether they would keep the “major” program selected at the time of admission. 3 supervisors agreed on the counselors rated “most” or “least” effective in their work with students. Although the amount of case data available to the counselors was unrelated to predictive accuracy, the counselors rated “most” effective predicted significantly better than those rated “moderately” or “least” effective.     

Screening for Medical and Neurodevelopmental Disorders for the Professional Counselor

This article reviews several assessment factors useful identifying the presence of a possible medical illness or neurodevelopmental disorder contributing to a client's adjustment problems. Use of behavioral observations, record reviews, brief neuro-behavioral screening tests, and the taking of a history are outlined that can assist in raising the index of suspicion for organic influence. Also addressed are issues pertaining to referral for medical and specialty assessments, including neuropsychological evaluation.     

Seven Salutary Suggestions for Counselor Stamina

Counselor stamina is deemed essential in the midst of a consistently challenging, complex, and changing mental health care environment. Rather than perpetuating conversations about “burnout” and “burnout prevention,” this article provides a salutary or health‐promoting perspective. Seven suggestions for counselor stamina are presented and discussed, based on a review of the literature and the author's reflections on clinical practice today. Each suggestion corresponds to 1 of the 7 letters in the word stamina.     

Men in Hiding: A Challenge for the Counselor

Men in our society are culturally conditioned to conceal their emotions and innermost thoughts. This article discusses how men learn to hide, why counselors should bring them out of hiding, and how counselors can do so.     

Client Hospitalization: Issues and Considerations for the Counselor

The author discusses the process of hospitalizing clients both voluntarily and involuntarily. Legal, ethical, and procedural aspects of the commitment process are examined, and the counselor's role in this process is highlighted.     

Counselor Accountability

With increasing competition for the tax dollar, it seems that the public demand for counselor accountability may persist. Therefore it may be in the best interest of the profession to seize the initiative by demonstrating collective worth via some accountability strategy, thus obviating the need for external monitoring and control. This professional initiative may protect the freedom of counselors to assume their appropriate roles and attend to the individual needs and aspirations of their clients.     

Counselor Signals

A humorous comparison of athletic and counselor signals is made, and the authors note unique aspects of counseling that make it more than a sport.     

Counselor Self-Disclosure

Self-disclosure in the counseling-therapy relationship has been an important area of research and study, with considerable emphasis placed on counselor self-disclosure. This study was initiated to explore further the phenomenon of counselor-therapist disclosure through direct assessment of potential clients' desires for disclosure and through development of a measure of counselor disclosure. Implications for counselor disclosure and for the counselor-client therapy relationship are discussed.     

Psycho-Palliation and the Enlightened Counselor

The counseling process of psycho-palliation is presented as a type of spiritual journey that leads to enlightenment. First, the theory of psycho-palliation is defined. Then, a step-by-step outline is given on how a psycho-palliative attitude produces enlightenment for the counselor. Throughout the exposition, the theory of psycho-palliative counseling is expanded upon through the use of parables and spiritual references from the world's religions. Wosong had learned much and thought that he was ready to enter Heaven. So he went to the doors of Heaven and knocked. A voice said, “Who is there?” “It is Wosong, and I am ready to enter.” The voice replied, “I am sorry Wosong, but there is not room for me and thee.” Dejected, Wosong returned to his place, studied all the prophets and gave all he had to the poor. Once again he returned to the doors of Heaven and knocked. A voice said, “Who is there?” “It is Wosong.” The voice replied, “I am sorry Wosong, but there is not room for me and thee.” In complete confusion, Wosong returned to his place. For 7 years, he meditated on the voice of Heaven. Then, in complete humility, he knocked on the doors of Heaven. A voice said, “Who is there?” Wosong replied, “It is thyself.” So the voice said, “Enter. I always have room for myself.”