Autistic children and adolescents are more likely than non-autistic youth to experience mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, but less likely to receive psychotherapy to address these concerns. Recent research indicates that clinician factors, such as knowledge, attitudes, confidence and beliefs, can impact their decisions to…

Most adults on the autism spectrum have co-occurring mental health conditions, creating a high demand for mental health services -- including psychotherapy -- in autistic adults. However, autistic adults have difficulties accessing mental health services. The most-reported barriers to accessing treatment are therapists' lack of knowledge and…

The authors explored the relationship between counselors' multicultural counseling competence (MCC), poverty beliefs, and select demographic factors. Results of hierarchical linear regressions indicate that MCC is predictive of counselor individualistic and structural poverty beliefs. Implications for counselor multicultural training and immersion…

Previous research on remediation has examined course placement practices, but little is known about first responders and how their beliefs about proper course placements help maintain patterns in course access. This study examined how taken-for-granted racial beliefs were used as legitimate knowledge by community college counselors. Haney López's…

This qualitative study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine how Christian counselors-in-training engaged their theological beliefs about sexual orientation in relation to the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association (ACA). The ACA Code of Ethics requires counselors to refrain from imposing their personal values on…

This quantitative study examined professional identity development and orientation for 489 counseling practitioners, educators, and trainees as predicted by participant-identified sex and engagement in professional activities. Differences between male and female participants regarding aspects of professional identity were evaluated. Discriminant…

Clients with learning disabilities constitute a cultural group that has not been extensively studied. The professional literature has found that counselors have reported the need for additional training in working with clients with disabilities. This study explored counselors' beliefs and perceived knowledge regarding counseling clients with…

This study investigated Michigan Counseling Association members' perceptions of spirituality and religion in the therapeutic process. Specifically, this study sought to find out if spirituality and religion were important in the lives of counselors; how they define these concepts; if they have received training in working with these issues in…

Collected national survey data from 579 counselors certified by National Board for Certified Counselors concerning their beliefs about whether each of 88 behaviors was ethical and how confident they were of their judgment. Systematic patterns in responding emerged in regard to age, sex, primary work setting, and degree. Participants indicated…

This study investigated recovering and nonrecovering substance abuse counselors' beliefs about the etiology and treatment of substance abuse disorders. Qualitative methods were used to investigate these variables. Analysis of the data revealed several key findings with implications for future research. (Contains 1 table.)

Explores role played by personality attributes of family therapist in facilitating and or inhibiting one's adherence to variety of approaches to family practice using experienced family therapists (N=156). Found personality attributes of family therapist did play role in predicting adherence to belief and action systems unique to particular…

In 2001, a federal appeals court upheld the job termination of a counselor who requested being excused from counseling a lesbian client on relationship issues because homosexuality conflicted with the counselor's religious beliefs ("Bruff v. North Mississippi Health Services, Inc.," 2001). This article provides the facts of the case and the legal…

Surveys attitudes of 147 Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in 2 southeastern states concerning spirituality in the therapeutic process. Findings indicated that LPCs recognize the importance of being aware of their own spiritual beliefs. Respondents believe that men and women do not experience spirituality differently. LPCs reported that…

The most frequently identified factor associated with the use of religious and spiritual interventions in counseling has been therapists' personal religious attitudes or behaviors. Church attendance and personal religious behaviors, in particular, have been found to correlate with therapists' use of religious and spiritual interventions in…

Although conservative Christians have been shown to have rates of mental health problems comparable with the general population (King, 1978), research has found that conservative Christians hesitate to seek counseling from a counselor who does not label him- or herself a "Christian counselor" and often drop out of counseling early when…