An American Counseling Association Publication

May 2012 | Cover Stories | Compiled by Lynne Shallcross

Specialist, generalist or niche provider?

Six ACA members share how they decided which path to take in their counseling careers and what they learned along the way.
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When budding counselors finish their graduate programs and head out into the world with degrees in hand, they face an often complex decision — whether to specialize in a certain area of counseling in hopes of working with a particular type of client or issue or whether to serve a broad swath of clients presenting… continue reading


April 2012 | Cover Stories | Lynne Shallcross

Bringing work home

Whether unemployed, putting in a 40-hour workweek or never truly unplugging from the job, work exerts a major influence on various aspects of clients’ lives, from self-identity to stress levels to their relationships and interactions with others
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It’s Monday of a three-day holiday weekend, and I’m sitting on my couch at home, staring at my laptop, trying to write a story about how work affects life. Ironic? Certainly. And as for you, Counseling Today reader, you’re likely skimming this story after a long day of work with clients or students, looking for… continue reading


March 2012 | Cover Stories | Compiled by Lynne Shallcross

What the future holds for the counseling profession

As ACA celebrates its 60th year as an organization, a variety of leaders do their best to peer into the future and predict the direction counseling will take in the next decade
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The future might be anyone’s guess, but David Pearce Snyder has spent his career making calculated predictions about what looms ahead. Snyder, a Bethesda, Md.-based consulting futurist who says he consults on the long-term future of anyone and anything, has a few ideas about what’s in store for the counseling profession throughout the next decade…. continue reading


February 2012 | Cover Stories | Lynne Shallcross

A calming presence

In the immediate aftermath of a disaster or crisis, therapy takes a backseat to meeting clients’ basic needs and offering a sense of safety and stabilization
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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


January 2012 | Cover Stories | Lynne Shallcross

Making your next move

Counselors regularly help clients with transitions, but that doesn’t mean counselors won’t face challenges of their own when moving from one stage to another along their career paths
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It’s been said that the only constant in life is change. Counselors aren’t exempt from that rule, as anyone who has made the transition from graduate student to new professional, from one job setting to another, or from practicing professional to retiree can attest. Sometimes the change is exhilarating, as when landing a long-sought-after position… continue reading