Elements of Supervision in Sexual Violence Counselors' Narratives: A Qualitative Analysis

The literature on vicarious traumatization has suggested that traumasensitive supervision may help to minimize the effects of vicarious exposure to trauma; however, nothing from the perspective of trauma counselors was noted. The present qualitative study involved 1 male and 8 female sexual violence counselors who had worked with sexual violence survivors from 1 to 9 years. The use of semistructured interviews and basic interpretive analysis revealed 4 themes: counselor feelings, vicarious traumatization, helpful qualities of supervision, and organizational considerations.     

Wounded Healers: Graduate Students with Histories of Trauma in a Family Violence Course

Social work students are witness to a variety of challenges from course content through scenarios, videos, role-plays, and field practice. Students may be vulnerable to experiencing vicarious traumatization from this exposure. Some students, however, may have personal histories of trauma and may therefore experience posttraumatic stress reactions due to triggering of past trauma through course content. This case study examines feedback from three graduate students from a family violence class who self-identified that they had personal histories of trauma from family violence. Their feedback can be beneficial to instructors in managing students' reactions that might be triggered from course content.     

How Counsellors Cope with Traumatized Clients: Personal, Professional and Organizational Strategies

This qualitative study examined the experiences of counsellors and their perceptions of resources that helped them cope with traumatized clients and difficult client sessions. The research was conducted using in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of eight counsellors working in five counselling agencies. The study identified how counsellors develop their own personal and professional strategies for coping with challenge, and the supportive structures and coping strategies provided by agencies. From these counsellors’ stories of learning to cope with traumatized clients and traumatic material, we highlight some recommendations that may facilitate the development of effective coping strategies for the prevention or amelioration of vicarious traumatization.     

Integrating DSM-III-R Training Into School,Marriage and Family,and Mental Health Counselor Preparation

The authors discuss integrating Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edition, revised; DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) training into the school, marriage and family, and mental health counseling tracks of a master's level program that was designed according to Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs standards.     

Consensual Faculty—Student Sexual Relationships in Counselor Education: Recommendations for Counselor Educators' Decision Making

The authors explore the issue of consensual sexual relationships between counselor educators and students. The American Counseling Association's (2005) ACA Code of Ethics is consulted, and the complex issues associated with these relationships are discussed. A case example is provided that generates suggestions to guide counselor educators' decision making related to consensual sexual relationships with students.     

Quantitative Research Attitudes and Research Training Perceptions Among Master's‐Level Students

This study explored master's‐level counseling students' (N = 804) perceptions of training in the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs ( 2009 ) Research and Program Evaluation standard, and their attitudes toward quantitative research. Training perceptions and quantitative research attitudes were low to moderate, with no statistical differences across program accreditation or specialty area. Implications and possibilities for future research are discussed.     

Practicing What We Teach: Trauma-Informed Educational Practice

This article presents the starting case for applying the elements of trauma-informed care (TIC) to education and outlines the authors’ initial efforts to develop guidelines for what they call trauma-informed educational practice. To this end, the article starts with a literature review related to the potential for vicarious traumatization and retraumatization among students in clinical training, followed by a discussion of the TIC framework and past efforts to be trauma sensitive in social work education. The authors then describe what drew them to this perspective and inspired them to apply it to educational practice. They then present guidelines for implementing the trauma-informed principle of safety in the classroom in several domains.     

Gatekeeping During Admissions: A Survey of Counselor Education Programs

Within counselor preparation, gatekeeping begins during the admission process. This article focuses on the prevalence of screening procedures used in master's‐ and doctoral‐level counselor educator programs (N = 79) accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Additionally, programs' selection and matriculation processes are discussed along with implications for counselor education and supervision.     

The Journal of College Counseling Turns 20: Celebrating Two Decades of Advancing College Counseling Theory,Research, and Practice

This issue marks the beginning of the Journal of College Counseling 's 20th volume. For 2 decades, the journal has served as a trusted resource for college counseling researchers and practitioners working with a diverse mix of college and university students at 2‐ and 4‐year institutions worldwide. Reaching this milestone is a significant accomplishment. The author looks back at the history and evolution of the journal throughout the years as a way to celebrate.     

Creating a Safe Frame for Learning

Abstract

This article addresses the significant responsibilities of teachers of trauma courses to conscientiously create a safe frame for learning, in consideration of the student, who is inevitably exposed to the intense emotional and conceptual challenges of trauma study. During their study, many students revisit earlier trauma or loss, perhaps unexpectedly, and in the context of academic demands for achievement. Learning can be deepened as students experience a safe context for the material, and for the recognition of the demands of trauma study and treatment. Curriculum inclusion of: the impact of trauma study on all students; recognition of additional demands on students with a history of trauma; a teaching process attending to class experience; addressing vicarious traumatization and encouraging enhancement of self-care, is included.     

Gatekeeping Ourselves: Counselor Educators' Knowledge of Colleagues' Problematic Behaviors

Counselor educators in programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (N = 335) were surveyed about their knowledge of colleagues' problems of professional competency (PPC). Findings suggest most participants are aware of colleagues with PPC. Professional behavior standards must be developed for those entrusted with counselor preparation.     

Through the Looking Glass: Reflecting on Counsellor Dreams for Enhanced Self-Care and Effective Practice

A wealth of information can be extracted from clients’ dream narratives. Few counsellors, however, recognize the significance of monitoring their own dreams. In this clinically-informed position paper, counsellors are urged to consider their own dream content. Self-awareness is vital to the therapeutic relationship, but also instrumental to the safety and well-being of counsellors themselves. Dreaming about one’s client can reflect troubled therapeutic rapport and highlight emotional or countertransference issues. Dreams can be harbingers of vicarious traumatization. Thus, counsellors are encouraged to reflect on their own dreams as a deliberate self-care initiative in order to promote a safe and effective practice.     

Doctoral Student Persistence in Counselor Education Programs: Student–Program Match

The authors present the findings of a qualitative study (N = 33) of doctoral student persistence in counselor education programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (2001). Using in‐depth interviews with students representing 17 different doctoral programs, the findings revealed factors that influenced students' decisions to persist or leave their counselor education doctoral programs. A key determinant in attrition or persistence decisions was a match between the students' goals/expectations and the faculty members' expectations and goals for the program. Implications of the findings for program selection, recruiting, and student retention are discussed.     

One School, Many Differences: An Assessment Tool for School Counselors and Multicultural Counseling

Multicultural counseling competencies (MCCs) have typically been measured with instruments designed for and normed on mental health professionals – for example, MCCTS-R; Holcomb-McCoy (Professional School Counseling 4:195–208, 2001); MCI; Sodowsky et al. (Journal of Counseling and Development 41:137–148, 1994); D’Andrea et al. (Journal of Counseling & Development 70:143–150, 1991). One published instrument specifically assesses school counselor MCCs – MCCTS-R; Holcomb-McCoy (Professional School Counseling 4:195–208, 2001) – but it does not conform to ASCA standards (2010, E.2). Following a set of validation procedures, an instrument designed to specifically assess school counselors’ multicultural counseling competencies was created that conforms to American School Counselor Association and Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development standards. Its creation is detailed here and the resulting instrument is presented for examination and consideration.     

C.H. Patterson: Reflections on Client-Centered Therapy

C.H. Patterson (Pat) has long been a prominent contributor to counseling and counselor education. His published works have been many and varied, including such books as Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy and Foundations for a Theory of Instruction and Educational Psychology. Though these efforts have proven of considerable value, Pat's presentation and interpretation of client-centered therapy has been of particular significance. In this article Pat is interviewed regarding his current views on the client-centered approach.     

Crisis in the Curriculum? New Counselors' Crisis Preparation,Experiences, and Self‐Efficacy

Professional counselors are responsible for providing crisis assessment, referral, and intervention ( Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, 2009 ); however, little is known about their preparation and experiences in these areas. This study examined new professional counselors' (N= 193) crisis intervention preparation, crisis intervention self‐efficacy, and crisis intervention experiences. Although participants had limited crisis preparation during their master's programs, most engaged in crisis intervention during their field experiences. Implications for continuing education and counselor education are explored.     

Ward v. Wilbanks: Counselor Educators Respond

This article investigated 71 counselor educators' perspectives and pedagogical practices related to Ward v. Wilbanks (2009) and the American Counseling Association (ACA) response to the case. The authors used qualitative content analysis to identify 6 themes from survey data: (a) views on gatekeeping and student training; (b) perceptions of Julea Ward and Eastern Michigan University; (c) values, skills, and competency; (d) reactions to ACA policy on referral; (e) initiation of ethical responsibility to client; and (f) Ward v. Wilbanks: impact on the profession.     

A Measure of Counselor Competency

Counselor educators need to be able to demonstrate their effectiveness in training new counselors; however, currently few valid or reliable measures exist for assessing educators' impact. The authors describe the development of such an instrument, the Counseling Skills Scale. They began by revising an existing scale and then they solicited feedback from experts and a focus group. They used the instrument to compare beginning counselors‐in‐training with those who had completed a counseling skills course. Finally, they conducted an item analysis. A paired t test showed significant improvements in counseling skills (t = 4.51, p < .000) from pretest to posttest. Cronbach's alpha showed internal consistency to be .90.     

Counseling Programs' Informed Consent Practices: A Survey of Student Preferences

This study examined 115 master's‐level counseling students' preferences for content, timing, and method of programmatic informed consent. Students rated the majority of items as moderately or extremely important to receive, and they indicated a desire for the informed consent to be facilitated through a combination of both oral and written methods throughout their programs of study. Results reinforce and go beyond the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (2009) and American Counseling Association (2005) expectations for informed consent. Implications for counselor education are discussed.