Community is a state of being together in which people lower their defenses and learn to accept and rejoice in differences among people. The characteristics of true community are true inclusivity; no one is exclusive or excluded. People are social creatures who desperately need each other not only for company but for meaning in their lives.…

Young black males in contemporary American society face major challenges to their development and well-being. Social, cultural, and economic forces have combined to keep black males from assuming traditional masculine roles. Counselors committed to the cause of black male empowerment can play an active role in promoting developmental initiatives…

Counselors working in the areas of marriage and family counseling and therapy are expected to work effectively with couples and families experiencing a variety of issues and problems. Structural, strategic, and transgenerational family therapists may seem to be operating in similar manners, and it appears that many practicing family therapists go…

This overview of the self-concept theory describes how people organize and interpret their personal existence. It discusses the beginnings and recent history of the self-concept theory, and presents three major qualities of self-concept: that it is learned, organized, and dynamic. It asserts that individuals have relatively boundless potential for…

A form of consultation called staff development or in-service training is the clearest definition of counselor consultation with the judiciary. The role of the counselor educator is uniquely appropriate to meet the needs of judges. The ability to effectively utilize a variety of media is most appealing to judges. The knowledge base of counseling…

Computers have been around since 1946. The relationship between computers and counseling, and in a wider sense psychotherapy, has existed for decades. The impact of computer technologies on counseling has changed over time. The purpose of this digest is to summarize and review the historical events of the counseling-computer relations. This will…

Positive Uncertainty is a flexible, ambidextrous approach to managing change, which encourages the use of both the rational and intuitive mind, and incorporates techniques for both making up one's mind and changing it. Positive Uncertainty, as a new philosophy for counseling, will require a paradigm shift for counselors. It is possible that a new…

This digest discusses the importance of marketing in the field of career planning and placement. It explains the use of marketing techniques in counseling and the human services, lists major relevant marketing concepts, and provides a marketing list for career planning and placement counselors. (NB)

Too often parents, teachers, and even counselors assume that underachievers are students who can, but simply don't (or won't) achieve. But student underachievement is a complex problem that defies a "one size fits all" solution. Although past research has extensively explored and documented the links between personal and social variables…

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…

The Counseling and Human Development Foundation (CHDF) is the only national philanthropic organization whose sole purpose is the enhancement of individual human development by conducting and fostering programs of research and education in counseling and human development. A 1991 review decided future focus of resources should be on research,…

Peer counseling is defined and the rationale for using peer counselors is given in this factsheet. A discussion of the history and research on peer counseling is followed by a list of successful peer counseling program foundations. Other sections discuss the operating components of selection, training, supervision, and evaluation. The professional…

With over 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, career counselors need to be aware of the special issues that confront partners who are contemplating, in the throes of, or in the aftermath of a divorce. This chapter explores the unique career issues individuals confront when involved in a divorce including issues related to: 1) divorce laws…

There are numerous benefits to be gained by the school counselor who chooses to do action-oriented research. Program evaluation and planning are facilitated through the use of measurable student outcomes obtained through action-oriented research. Collaborative research efforts are made possible by data gained through action-oriented research.…

School counselors are beginning to find family counseling an effective and needed skill. Moreover, family counseling represents a distinctive alternative for resolving persistent problems in the schools. Re-training opportunities for school counselors wanting to engage in family counseling have been limited. With appropriate training,…