If you want the specific details of an unpleasant or “emotionally provocative” experience recalled, University of Montreal research suggests that asking the male who was present instead of the female might lead to a more accurate description. “Very few studies have looked at how ‘valence’ and ‘arousal’ affect memories independently of each other, that is… continue reading
Research in the latest edition of Current Directions in Psychological Science further proves that social pain is just as real as physical pain. For the study, psychologist Naomi I. Eisenberger and fellow researchers asked female study participants to rate the pain caused by heat stimuli. When the women were looking at pictures of their romantic partners or… continue reading
Overcoming the trauma of abuse can be a lifelong struggle for some. “Studies have shown that childhood abuse unleashes a chain of negative emotions that can impact an individual’s future, producing feelings of shame, isolation, self-loathing and educational underachievement,” said Rosemary C. Reilly, an associate professor in Department of Applied Human Sciences at Canada’s Concordia University…. continue reading
A January report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that the most common age group for binge drinking is between the ages of 18 and 34. New research from Penn State University Park suggests that the best way to curb that binge drinking among college students is through early intervention. “Research… continue reading
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling in Ward v. Wilbanks on Friday, January 27, sending the case back to district court for a jury trial. The case has been closely followed by the counseling profession as it revolves around non-discrimination toward clients. Julea Ward, a former counseling student at Eastern Michigan University (EMU),… continue reading
Going through a traumatic experience and dealing with the long-term ramifications of a disorder like Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is never something anyone would hope for, but one psychologist says that undergoing trauma can actually turn out to be a positive thing. As AOL Lifestyle reports, University of Nottingham Professor Stephen Joseph said that working… continue reading
Despite the fact that some studies are reporting that blogging could be a useful tool for teens to overcome feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem and to help them better connect with friends, new research indicates that for people with low self-esteem, spending time on Facebook can actually be counterproductive in helping them feel better. “We had… continue reading
Features
Since 9/11 and the United States’ subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, many Americans have grown all too familiar with the term posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was first popularly applied to veterans of the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Today the term shows up regularly in headlines and in magazine articles, in TV news… continue reading
David Kaplan, chief professional officer for the American Counseling Association, delivered the following keynote presentation at the American Association of State Counseling Boards on Jan. 4. He can be contacted via email at dkaplan@counseling.org or by phone at 703-823-9800 ext. 397. “I am a prisoner in my own state.” These were the words of a… continue reading
No matter their specific area of concentration, all counselors have the same overall goal: to help their clients accomplish their mental health, wellness, education or career-related goals. Even though the underlying mission of the counseling profession is the same, the fact that there are so many different types of counselors — ranging from school counselors to… continue reading
Cover Stories
A calming presence Called to the scene of a fire, Michael Dubi immediately noticed the elderly woman. She stood in place, silently, simply watching as her home and all of her belongings were consumed in flames directly in front of her. “She could not speak or move,” says Dubi, president of the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP)… continue reading
From the President
DPC — the next step In my columns, I have presented what to me have been some exciting developments and additional recognition for us as professional counselors. As I reflect on those developments and think about the significant progress that our profession has made, I would like to share what I envision as a next step for professional counseling. In this… continue reading
From the Executive Director
Thanks, and a request For several months now, the American Counseling Association has been fortunate to see our membership numbers grow. At first, the inclusion of professional liability insurance for every master’s-level student member appeared to be the reason for our growth. However, we are now seeing increases in the “Professional” and “New Professional” categories as well. In fact,… continue reading
Knowledge Share
Bringing mindfulness into your counseling practice Sometimes the easiest tasks can be so difficult to perform. Mindfulness meditation has always fallen into this category for me. I struggle so much to get myself to sit down and meditate on a regular basis, even though I know from experience that when I sit in meditation for even a few minutes in the… continue reading
