By Jessica Smith April 13, 2017
I do not want to get out of bed, so I press snooze on my alarm again. I feel nauseated and think about calling in sick. Finally, I drag myself out of bed and take my time getting dressed for work. I leave my house reluctantly. On the drive to work, I find myself wishing that…continue reading
By Troy Gregorino April 12, 2017
This past year, the American Counseling Association Governing Council endorsed formal competencies for the practice of animal-assisted therapy in counseling. The authors of the standards, and the coordinators of ACA’s Animal-Assisted Therapy in Mental Health Interest Network, contend that the competencies (available at counseling.org/knowledge-center/competencies) represent a key step forward in both the protection of clients…continue reading
By Kevin Doyle March 7, 2017
After approximately 25 years of working in private agencies, I started a part-time private practice a few years ago focusing on my specialty area of working with clients with substance use disorders. Having worked largely with adolescents, I was looking forward to working more frequently with adults, especially after I had the realization that I was…continue reading
By Gregory K. Moffatt
I learned a lesson about the power of touch totally by accident. I didn’t learn this lesson in graduate school, from a book or journal article, or from any professional training. Instead, it happened in the front yard with my son. He was 8 years old at the time and already displaying the burgeoning need for…continue reading
By Brandon S. Ballantyne February 7, 2017
The idea of this therapeutic short story is to creatively illustrate the various dilemmas that occur from the perspective of a socially awkward young man, Tommy Joe Peterson. Through the story, the reader is able to gain perspective on the thought process and problem-solving skills of this uniquely talented 11-year-old boy. Whether this fictional story…continue reading