Examined how elementary school counselors see their actual versus ideal roles and identified preparation they perceive as necessary to meet their roles successfully. Findings from 95 elementary school counselors revealed that, in actual versus ideal consultant roles, as well as in counselor preparation comparisons, significant discrepancies were…

Analyzed 63 initial interviews of structural-strategic therapy with families with child-focused problems to determine differences in process of therapy between male and female therapists. Family members made more structuring statements toward male therapists; stated more disagreement with other family members with female therapist. Male therapists…

Surveyed school counselors (n=149) concerning their referral practices. Found that average number of students that counselors reported referring to other professionals during typical year was 30 (average of 6.5% of students they served). Emotional concerns, family concerns, alcoholism or drug abuse, and suspected child abuse were concerns most…

To investigate impact of counselor style, offered 2-session motivational checkup to 42 problem drinkers randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: immediate checkup with directive-confrontational counseling, immediate checkup with client-centered counseling, or waiting-list control. Clients receiving immediate checkup showed significant reduction in…

Assessed extent and nature of involvement of school counselors in parenting skills training and parent consultation. Findings from 213 elementary and secondary school counselors revealed that school counselors on all levels recognized importance of working with parents for benefit of students, yet many had little contact with parents. Many…

Compared job satisfaction and functions of 47 school counselors serving multischool units with those of 52 counselors serving single school units. Counselors serving multiple schools reported being busier and spending more time on 15 of 17 guidance activities and being less satisfied on 14 of these activities. (NB)

Previous ethnographic studies have suggested that debriefing can have positive effects on the therapeutic process. This research project attempts to augment the previous work in this area by comparing and contrasting clients' perceptions of their therapists' role as debriefer vis-a-vis a third-party debriefer. (Author/MKA)

Defines childhood depression and symptoms associated with its occurrence. Addresses some questions around the use of antidepressant medication in children, including its safety, how it works, who prescribes it, and whether or not there are alternatives to medicine. Provides ways treatment staff and teachers can take an active role in helping…

Tests an eight-factor model of client actions/decisions in terms of the extent to which professionals counseling persons with HIV/AIDS believed that those actions/decisions presented ethical dilemmas, and the frequency with which they encountered such actions. Support for the model was shown. Several predictors of participant ratings are…

Gay and lesbian youth are an invisible minority in schools. Since homosexuality has been viewed as an adult issue, many educators remain uninformed about the concerns of these students. Harassment or violence instigated by homophobic attitudes in schools teaches students intolerance of diversity. Several suggestions are presented on the ways…

Explores the roles that school psychologists theoretically might adopt as change agent. Analyzes data from a sample of practicing school psychologists to see the extent to which these roles are actually manifest in their orientations toward serving as change agent. Outlines techniques for school psychologists to learn to better adapt to political…

A total of 204 middle and high school counselors from across the United States responded to a survey in which they were asked to determine whether they view specific adolescent risk-taking behaviors of varying intensity, frequency, and duration as warranting parental notification. Results suggest that counselors' perceptions that it is ethical to…

Most studies of therapeutic alliance have focused on adult populations and been written from the therapist's perspective. Thus, there is a clear need for studies of therapeutic alliance that focus on adolescent populations from the perspective of the adolescents. The current study is an exploratory process investigation using a focus group…

Many professional counselors have related the positive impact that their own personal counseling has made on their mental health and on their behavior with clients. A national survey of 146 counselors certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors was conducted to determine the extent to which counselors seek out and benefit from personal…

Previous research on training for community psychology has failed to distinguish between the effects of different types of training programs or to address the viability of master's level training in community psychology. To explore the value of master's level training in non-clinical community psychology, 83 of 112 students who earned master's…