Explores significance of new reference groups for maintenance of self-esteem from standpoint of Berger's sociology of knowledge. Argues from Berger's perspective that even extremely powerful experiences of self-acceptance are in desperate need of ongoing "plausibility structure" to reinforce new sense of self. Describes implications for…

Notes that feminist psychospiritual model of therapy can be used in working with clients who value spiritual dimension. Presents history, philosophy, and work of Women for a New World, multidisciplinary team of women representing psychology, religious education, and arts. Uses examples from developmental history of retreat-workshop paradigm and…

Responds to three response articles and notes in the articles insistence on: importing religion into psychotherapy; serious misunderstanding about the proposed psychology of spirituality; argument primarily by appeal to authority; and imprecision and ad hominem comments. Offers clarifications and suggests that the target article deserves further…

Environmental manipulation is a technique that can be utilized by counselors to supplement regular counseling activities. One expression of this technique involves working with that environment of the student which comprises other students, teachers and administrators. Other methods and results are discussed. (Author)

Advocates humanities-philosophy model of therapeutic practice that emphasizes empowering and promoting understanding in client by encouraging client to investigate and choose between alternative meaning structures in context of trusting human relationship. Proposes integration of existential and postmodern attitudes as template for understanding…

The lack of focus and direction in school guidance and counseling is considered. Counselors in secondary schools were surveyed regarding their philosophical orientation. Differences were related to personal variables and experience levels. Phenomenology was the most frequent orientation. Results are discussed in relation to professional practice…

Examines the emerging professional specialty of Christian counseling in light of its development, theoretical underpinning, training, and roles. Also examines the various approaches to Christian counseling and presents a rationale for classifying Christian counseling as a separate specialty. (Contains 32 references.) (Author/GCP)

This article describes one counselor's exploration of her spiritual beliefs in relation to Adler's theory of counseling and human development in an effort to move toward ideological consistency and to enhance competence in addressing spiritual dimensions of clients' development. (Contains 34 references.) (GCP)

This introduction to the cognitive-developmental view of growth and development asks: (1) What is development?; (2) What are the necessary conditions for development?; (3) How can development be generally assessed?; and (4) What are the various parallel forms of development? (RP)

Suggests theoretical renewal as protection against counselor burnout. Theoretical renewal involves a review of the practical value of a theory, objective criteria that offer credibility, subjective elements that influence theoretical preference, and the importance of maintaining a balance between objective and subjective factors. (JAC)

Demonstrates the relevance of the values ordering framework of Kluckhohn and Strodbeck to counseling theory and practice. Examines the commonalities in values for 12 counseling theories. Presents a method for quantifying the discrepancies between values orderings produced for different counseling orientations. (JAC)

Applying Kluckhorn's Value-Orientation model using the Intercultural Values Inventory with counseling practitioners, the author hypothesized that practitioners would endorse alternatives within value orientations according to their counseling orientation and, as a group, endorse certain alternatives within value orientations over others.…

Culture as a group phenomenon versus the need of counselors to work with the individual is addressed. The VISION model of culture, which accounts for within-group and between-group differences, the disappearance of groups, and the emergence of new ones, is presented. Two examples of multicultural interventions are reported. (Author/EMK)

Examines methods that are designed to expand and transform consciousness and argues that aspects of transpersonal psychology form the basis for the investigation of rituals, spiritual disciplines, and techniques that provoke shifts in awareness and energy. Outlines a psychosynthesis model for understanding these experiences, and presents a program…