Journal of Counseling & Development

Harris, Alex H. S.; Thoresen, Carl E.; Lopez, Shane J.

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00438.xpmid: N/A

Counseling psychology has a historical commitment to enhancing human strengths, a focus that has enjoyed broader interest with the recent emergence of positive psychology. However, theory and evidence linking strength enhancement to counseling goals are still relatively nascent. The authors outline rationales and practical strategies for integrating strength promotion into counseling practice. Forgiveness and spirituality are used as examples illustrating the opportunities, limitations, and challenges of making strength promotion practical (and reimbursable) in counseling.

Collins, Noah M.; Pieterse, Alex L.

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00439.xpmid: N/A

The authors discuss 2 perspectives on the Multicultural Counseling Competencies (D. W. Sue, P. Arredondo, & R. J. McDavis, 1992): fixed goal and process. Noting that the process has been underemphasized, they introduce active racial/cultural awareness as an operationalization of this perspective. Current training approaches are critiqued from this process perspective, and critical incident analysis is discussed as a tool for increasing active racial/cultural awareness. A sample analysis and suggestions for implementation are provided.

Constantine, Madonna G.; Hage, Sally M.; Kindaichi, Mai M.; Bryant, Rhonda M.

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00440.xpmid: N/A

The authors discuss the historical and contemporary connection to social justice issues in the fields of counseling and counseling psychology via the multicultural counseling movement. In addition, the authors present ways in which social justice issues can be addressed in counselors' and counseling psychologists' work with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and in graduate training programs.

Penny, Judith; Borders, L. DiAnne; Portnoy, Francie

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00441.xpmid: N/A

Five adoption‐reconstruction phases were identified in narratives of 100 adoptees ages 35 to 55 years. Phases ranged from no awareness of adoption issues (Phase 1) to acute awareness accompanied by anger, resentment, and sadness about adoption (Phase 3) to a sense of peace and acceptance (Phase 5). Consistent quantitative and qualitative differences were found among adoptees at the 5 phases on multiple measures of functioning.

Lambert, Simone F.; LeBlanc, Michael; Mullen, Jodi Ann; Ray, Dee; Baggerly, Jennifer; White, JoAnna; Kaplan, David

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00442.xpmid: N/A

Through a joint research committee sponsored by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) and the American Counseling Association (ACA), The National Play Therapy in Counseling Practices Project conducted the first phase of investigation. Findings offered a snapshot of mental health providers of play therapy, regarding the nature of who they are and what they do. In terms of training, play modalities, theoretical orientation, and employment setting, comparisons were made based on membership of participants in ACA or APT. Further research was suggested to examine the effectiveness of play therapy with specific therapeutic issues.

Young, J. Scott; Wiggins‐Frame, Marsha; Cashwell, Craig S.

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00443.xpmid: N/A

A random sample of 505 American Counseling Association (ACA) members completed a questionnaire that evaluated respondents' ratings of the importance of 9 competencies developed at the Summit on Spirituality (G. Miller, 1999; “Summit Results,” 1995) meetings to effectively address spiritual and religious issues in counseling practice. Results suggest that, in general, ACA members strongly support the importance of the competencies for effective counseling practice.

Christofi, Victoria; Thompson, Charles L.

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00444.xpmid: N/A

The goal of the present study was to describe the structure of the experience of individuals who returned home after studying abroad, became disillusioned with their home country, and returned to their sojourn country. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with participants. The emerging bipolar themes of conflict/peace, reality/idealization, freedom/restriction, changing/static, and comfort/discomfort were grounded in the theme of cultural comparison. Implications for counseling those who study abroad are included.

Balkin, Richard S.; Roland, Catherine B.

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00445.xpmid: N/A

This research examined goal attainment as it related to client stability in the process of counseling adolescents admitted to a crisis residence. Data were collected from licensed master's‐level clinicians treating adolescent clients admitted to an acute care psychiatric program at 1 of 2 hospitals located in the mid‐South. There was a statistically significant relationship between the goal‐attainment model and client stability, as defined by symptom manifestation.

Brummett, Bradley R.; Wade, Jay C.; Ponterotto, Joseph G.; Thombs, Brett; Lewis, Charles

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00446.xpmid: N/A

This study examined the relationship between psychosocial well‐being and a multicultural personality disposition in undergraduates (N = 124). Measures of universal‐diverse orientation, hardiness, psychosocial‐interpersonal functioning, self‐esteem, and political correctness ideology were administered. Results indicated that the multicultural personality disposition of universal‐diverse orientation significantly predicted psychological hardiness, psychosocial‐interpersonal functioning, and self‐esteem beyond the influence of politically correct responding. These findings suggest that having a multicultural personality disposition (universal‐diverse orientation) may be positively related to psychosocial well‐being.

Lambie, Glenn W.

doi: 10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007.tb00447.xpmid: N/A

This article reports the findings of a national survey study of school counseling professionals to determine if higher ego development contributed to a lower degree of burnout. Although the primary path analysis model tested did not fit the data observed, a significant positive relationship indicated that participants scoring at higher levels of ego functioning also scored at higher levels of personal accomplishment (1 dimension of their level of burnout). Implications of the findings are discussed.