Counselor training that does not attend to dynamics of cultural differences and oppression can run the risk of promoting false empathy that serves the voyeuristic purpose of the counselor rather than achieving accurate empathy for the client. In this article, we discuss the differences between true and false empathy and how Whiteness, racial…

Using a qualitative design, a clinical mental health counselor explored the use of trauma-informed self-regulation strategies with clinical mental health counselors in training (CITs) to capture their experience of vicarious trauma. Participants included three CITs in an urban setting and two CITs in a rural setting enrolled in a CACREP-accredited…

Empathy for mental health professionals is often inferred from dispositional assessments that misrepresent the temporal, contextual, and multidimensional nature of empathy. This article presents the State-Interpersonal Reactivity Index, a multidimensional assessment of in-session empathy for mental health professionals. Results suggest good…

This qualitative instrumental case study explores the self-efficacy and preparedness of Title-I high school counselors in Georgia, focusing on their experiences and efficacy in providing postsecondary counseling to Black students. It illuminates these dynamics through a comprehensive qualitative case study methodology rooted in a theoretical…

Empathy has been linked to therapeutic alliance and positive client outcomes. However, the operationalization of empathy varies in definition and measurement, presenting challenges for assessment. This study describes the formulation of the Empathic Counselor Response Scale (ECRS), examines scale properties using Rasch analysis, and considers…

This qualitative study explores the lack of African American students enrolled in AP Calculus courses in North Carolina public high schools. It considered the perception of student-counselor relationships, academic advising practices, and identity of high school counselor participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with three, African…

Empathy plays an integral role in the facilitation of therapeutic relationships and promotion of positive client outcomes. Researchers and scholars agree that some components of empathy might be dispositional in nature and that empathy can be developed through empathy training. However, although empathy is an essential part of the counseling…

This study examined whether attitudes based on labels and counselor demographics predicted empathy and rape myth acceptance in counselors. A difference in attitudes based on the labels of either "prostitute" or "sex trafficking" was found. Attitudes based on labels and counselor demographics additionally predicted scores of…

According to recent research, counselors may benefit from a variety of supports offered by mental health agencies after a client dies by suicide. Research is sparse concerning how often agency supports and outreach are offered to counselors and what supports counselors find to be the most helpful after a client suicide. In this cross-sectional…

This research study explored possible relationships of professional mental health counselors who have experienced a phenomenon called posttraumatic growth (PTG), which is a positive cognitive and emotional change that stems from surviving a traumatic life crisis. The current study aimed to investigate a connection of PTG in professional counselors…

Mental health professionals in all settings work with clients who are affected by trauma. Traumatic events expose mental health professionals to the negative psychological and emotional impact of witnessing and listening to client stories. Vicarious trauma is the emotional consequence of this empathic engagement with clients. The purpose of this…

The authors argued that death competence, defined as specialized skill in tolerating and managing clients' problems related to dying, death, and bereavement, is a necessary prerequisite for ethical practice in grief counseling. A selected review of the literature tracing the underpinnings of this concept reveals how a robust construct of death…

Mindfulness-based practices are associated with increased attentional qualities, improved self-focus styles, enhanced empathic understanding, and strengthened self-compassion, making these practices a viable addition to counselor training programs. However, current mindfulness training models are primarily designed for relief of psychological…

The authors conducted an exploratory study using cultural domain analysis to better understand the meaning that advanced students and professional counselors in Mexico give to their professional identity. More similarities than differences were found in the way students and professionals define themselves. The most relevant concepts were empathy,…

Background: Motivational interviewing is a promising method to increase treatment motivation for people with mild intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. The purpose of the present study was to identify how professionals could adapt motivational interviewing techniques for use with clients. Method: We conducted semistructured…