This digest on counselor intentionality notes that the counseling profession has historically searched for characteristics and behaviors that contribute to successful helping relationships. It identifies one such characteristic, the counselor's level and degree of intentionality, as relating to the notion that successful counselors select their…

Multiculturalism has been defined as the fourth force in psychology, one which complements the psychodynamic, behavioral, and humanistic explanations of human behavior. Pederson's (1991) definition of multiculturalism leads to the inclusion of a large number of variables making multiculturalism generic to all counseling relationships. Locke (1990)…

This fact sheet examines the impact of cultural diversity in the United States on the counseling profession. Three major difficulties for multicultural counseling created by this diversity are considered: (1) the counselor's own culture, attitudes, and theoretical perspective; (2) the client's culture; and (3) the multiplicity of variables…

This digest focuses on issues of supervisee resistance, defined as defensive behaviors of the supervisee that serve to reduce supervision-induced anxiety. It describes resistant behavior and identifies ways to counteract it, while noting that supervisee resistance is common. The purposes and goals of supervisee resistance, as manifested in verbal…

Substance abuse is a major social problem and concern for counselors. It is the most prevalent mind disorder encompassing some 40% of the diagnoses in the DSM-IV, the number one continuing health problem, and the number one prison problem in the United States. Yet, school, rehabilitation, and mental health counselor education programs do not…

This digest familiarizes counselors with the four major types of child maltreatment: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation, and emotional abuse or neglect. A definition is provided for each, along with relevant symptoms and statistics. The subsequent discussion focuses on identifying maltreatment and on counseling abused children.…

This document highlights progress in sex equity over the past 15 years, examines the current status and trends, and describes the role of counselors and educators as change agents in reducing sex bias. (NB)

The need for quality standards in career counseling and for the articulation of competencies required for practitioners delivering these services, is gaining increased attention in Canada and elsewhere. This digest outlines governmental efforts to develop guidelines for the career counseling of girls and women. Career counseling includes services…