Survey data indicates that spiritual and religious issues are therapeutically relevant, ethically appropriate, and potentially significant topics for counseling and counselor education in secular settings. Proposes that a balanced inclusion of these topics in Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) core…

Investigates the relative contributions of social desirability attitudes, previous number of multicultural counseling courses taken, and racism and White racial identity attitudes together in predicting therapists' self reported multicultural counseling competence. Results revealed, when controlling for social desirability attitudes and courses…

This study assessed the relationship between White racial attitudes and self-reported multicultural counseling competencies. Counselor characteristics were also examined in relation to multicultural competence. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that racial attitudes explained variance in selfreported multicultural competencies beyond…

The British Columbian Members of the Canadian Counselling Association were surveyed, in order to explore their attitudes and experiences regarding dual relationships. Of 529 deliverable surveys, 206 usable returns yielded a response rate of 39%. The survey instrument collected data regarding respondents' characteristics and ethicality ratings of…

Although advocacy has a long tradition in the counseling profession (Kiselica & Robinson, 2001), school counselors' roles as advocates have only recently received widespread attention (Baker & Gerler, 2004). The American School Counselor Association National Model describes advocacy as a key role for professional school counselors, and numerous…

Despite its widely acknowledged importance to effective therapeutic practice across theoretical orientations, it has been suggested that counsellor "personal development" remains a poorly defined area of training, and that the concept is itself endowed with numerous implicit meanings. In an attempt to move towards a more explicit and…

This digest on counselor intentionality notes that the counseling profession has historically searched for characteristics and behaviors that contribute to successful helping relationships. It identifies one such characteristic, the counselor's level and degree of intentionality, as relating to the notion that successful counselors select their…

This paper reviews research conducted over the past 25 years on the therapist's use of self-disclosure and the therapeutic relationship. Various definitions of self-disclosure are reviewed, the content of therapist disclosures is considered, and the choice to disclose is examined. Methods of measuring self-disclosure are discussed and research on…

The literature on social cognition and intergroup relations suggests that gender and age are social concepts which, because they are at the same level of abstraction, may produce interactive effects on person perception judgments. The purpose of this study was to explore gender stereotypes that therapists hold about people who differ in age;…

This handbook was written from a natural, non-drug oriented approach to psychotherapy and counseling and is intended to help individuals in selecting a therapist. The role of counseling and psychotherapy is described, possible benefits from therapy are listed, and characteristics of good therapists are considered. Developing a list of potential…

A review of the literature on sexual intimacy in psychotherapy revealed that male therapists were involved in sexual intimacies significantly more than were female therapists (approximately nine percent versus two percent). The research clearly shows that the overall effects of sexual intimacy are negative, ranging from clients experiencing…

The effect of counselors' level of experience on clients' expression of feeling has not been investigated using stylistic and semantic measures. To examine the influence of affectively oriented counselors' level of experience, six counselors at three experience levels (low--masters, counseling practicum students; medium--doctoral, counseling…

Examines the factor structure of ratings made with Carkhuff's revised scales of facilitative conditions. The general assumption has been that these counselor characteristics were discrete counselor variables; however, this study suggests that at least two of the variables are closely related aspects of the same underlying quality. (Author/PC)

In this evaluation of the effects of therapist disclosure on subject disclosure and attraction to therapist during a first interview, Professional and Paraprofessional therapists disclosed either personal disclosure, demographic disclosure or no disclosure. (Author/EK)

Reviews the research reported since 1960 by commenting on various approaches and by attempting to identify the conclusions that may be reasonably supported by the available evidence. (Author/BJG)