Interview With Dr. Judith Miranti: A Servant Leader and Advocate for the Association for Spiritual,Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling

Dr. Judith Miranti has contributed over 40 years of service to the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC). The purpose of this article is to highlight and recognize a pioneer and influential leader of ASERVIC. The interview discusses Dr. Miranti's (a) historical knowledge and memories of the development of ASERVIC, (b) involvement in ASERVIC in various leadership roles and with others who influenced her, and (c) hope for the future of ASERVIC.     

A Cross‐Cultural Exploration of Perceptions of Altruism of Counselors‐in‐Training

This study explored altruistic development as perceived by counselors‐in‐training from diverse cultures. Twenty‐two counselors‐in‐training from 4 countries participated in semistructured interviews about altruism. Using consensual qualitative research methodology, the authors identified 6 domains: biological, cognitive, social learning, religious/spiritual, counseling, and empathy. Findings and implications for counselor education are discussed.     

Experiences of Altruism in the Therapeutic Relationship: Perspectives of Counselors‐in‐Training and Their Clients

The purpose of this phenomenological investigation was to explore experiences of altruism in the therapeutic relationship to better understand how counselors‐in‐training (CITs) and their clients mutually perceived the construct in sessions. Findings from interviews with clients (n = 14) included emotional–relational characteristics and cognitive–behavioral aspects of altruism by their counselors. Findings from interviews with CITs (n = 10) included explorations of the role of altruism in counseling, overall experiences of altruism in counseling sessions, and experiences of altruism with specific clients. Implications for practice and research are discussed.     

Clarifying a Construct: An Integrative Functional Model of Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors

Reassurance seeking (RS) has emerged as an important transdiagnostic psychological construct. However, RS has been conceptualized inconsistently and applied to functionally disparate behaviors within research and practice. In order to clarify the construct, the presently proposed Integrative Functional Model of Reassurance Seeking (IFM-RS) operationalizes and categorizes RS behaviors according to their functions. The following three categories comprise the model: Avoidant (negatively reinforced) RS, Evocative (positively reinforced) RS, and Bifunctional (simultaneously reinforced) RS. To evidence the validity and utility of this model, a review of relevant research is presented. The IFM-RS is then applied in conceptualizing the deleterious effects of RS on mental health and relevant treatment implications are subsequently discussed. We contend that adoption of the IFM-RS and its terminology by clinicians and researchers would facilitate accurate communication about the construct, improve the validity and applicability of RS research, and guide clinicians to effectively identify and target RS behaviors in the context of psychopathology.     

Verbal and Nonverbal Metaphor With Children in Counseling

The metaphor is typically viewed as a verbal form of expression in traditional talk therapies. However, this definition excludes nonverbal metaphors that children use when they express themselves through play. In this article, the authors examine the use of therapeutic metaphors, both verbal and nonverbal, with children. The roles of the child, counselor, and family in treatment are discussed, along with the benefits and limitations of using therapeutic metaphors with children. The use of quantitative, qualitative, and integrated methods for studying children's use of verbal and nonverbal metaphors in counseling is also examined.