Although gratitude has been rediscovered by the field of positive psychology, strength-based wellness-oriented interventions have historically been a part of the humanistic tradition in counseling. The article is a review of emerging gratitude research including characteristics of gratitude, theoretical explanations, specific interventions, and…

Although school psychologists have been called on in recent literature to assume a leadership role in a collective and comprehensive effort to address students' mental health needs, many practitioners find that their professional roles continue to be narrowly focused on special education-related activities, such as individualized assessment…

A large body of research has indicated that rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) is highly effective for treating many chief complaints. Because of the neurological and developmental limitations of young children, a counselor is required to use concrete and stimulating ways to treat young children. By incorporating art, color, and texture to…

Trauma-related assistance in response to disasters or catastrophes is needed locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and the authors argue that there is a necessity for counseling psychologists and counseling psychology programs to incorporate it into their prevention, training, and social justice repertoire. Counseling psychologists…

Creativity is a crucial component in the advancement of all major cultural entities, including effective counseling. It is through creativity that major theories of counseling and skills in counseling have been developed. Creativity is longitudinal in its impact. If counseling is to progress in the future, it is essential that counselors be…

Presents a survey of published and private opinions of mental health professionals revealing a previously hidden consensus concerning certain values that enhance mental health: Freedom, Love, Identity, Truth, Universals, Symptom Management, and Work. There was disagreement about the effect of many other values on mental health. (Author/BH)

Discusses problems with current definitions and uses of eclecticism in counseling practice and importance for mental health counselors of learning to apply theory even if they wish to be eclectic. Proposes a hierarchy of eclectic practices. Claims mental health counselors need to make use of theoretical knowledge of counseling profession to offer…

Sees healthy development as specified aim of mental health counseling. Classifies theories of development along two dimensions: person's internal drive and person's relationship to environment. Contends that each pole implies different role for counselors, that counselors must combine roles of cultivator and coach, and that mental health…

Provides historical overview of changes in psychodynamic theory that have provided foundation for reassessing significance of client-mental health counselor interactions. Introduces Mobius interaction, interaction qualitatively different from Freud's concepts of transference and countertransference. Argues that Mobius interaction results from…

Counseling orientations are redescribed in terms of the relative importance they place on knowing. This epistemological redescription results in a reconsideration of the role of humanism. Specifically, rather than a treatment orientation, the author argues that humanism should be considered a moral imperative. Implications of this conclusion for…

Comments on Hershenson, Power, and Seligman's position on mental health counseling theory and also on the evaluation of their article by Blocher. Criticizes Hershenson et al.'s models, claiming they fail to provide a clear image of how theory plays a role in present and future endeavors of mental health counselors. (Author/ABL)

Reviews issues raised in ongoing debate between advocates of eclecticism and proponents of single-theory-based counseling. Sees essential issue for field of mental health counseling to be need to build theory base specific to profession. Asserts that adequate theory must be based on defining principles of mental health counseling profession and…

Introduces special journal issue on ecosystemic mental health counseling, defining ecosystemic thinking as thinking that recognizes indivisible interconnectedness of individual, family, and sociocultural context. Contends that ecosystemic mental health counseling enlarges the field of inquiry and interventions and leads to depth perception and…

Contends that ecosystemic model represents counter-cultural movement in mental health field. Contends it is worldview that does not fit narrative story, politics, economics, normal science, or traditional therapeutic practice in Western culture. Discusses implications of ecosystemic perspective for practice of mental health counseling as…

A sound theoretical orientation is essential to the professional integrity of mental health counseling. Existential theory is congruent with the values of mental health counseling and offers a useful theoretical framework for explaining interventions. The basic concepts of existential theory as a basis for practice are delineated. (Author/EMK)