Using Flipgrid Discussions to Increase School Counseling Students’ Cultural Competence in the Online Classroom

This pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design study investigated the use of Flipgrid to increase school counseling students’ cultural competence, which was measured by the Global Perspectives Inventory (GPI). Student participants in the experimental group utilized Flipgrid to engage in cultural discussions while participants in the control group utilized Blackboard discussion boards. An independent samples and paired-samples t-test were used to analyze the participants’ scores in the experimental and control groups. The statistically significant findings of the paired samples t-test suggest the effectiveness of utilizing Flipgrid in order to increase students’ cultural competence in the online learning environment. The study’s implications for teaching and research are discussed

Urban School Counselors\u27 Perceptions of Low-Income Families

There is a paucity of research on the topic of professional school counselors and their perceptions of families. The purpose of this phenomenological, qualitative study was to examine how urban professional school counselors perceive low-income families in their schools. To accomplish this investigation, ten school counselors in two urban school districts were interviewed twice and were then sent an email with follow-up questions. The data was analyzed for themes and patterns, which were subjected to verification procedures. Three categories emerged from the data: urban school counselors\u27 perceptions of the low-income families in their schools, effects of school counselors\u27 perceptions on their collaboration with low-income families, and school counselors\u27 personal feelings and reflections in response to their experiences with low-income families

Counseling LGBT Military Clients Using the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies Framework

When working with LGBT service member clients, counselors should use the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies as a framework to guide their practice as they navigate the intersection between the military culture and LGBT culture. This framework addresses four domains that are foundational for multicultural and social justice competency: (a) counselor self-awareness, (b) the client worldview, (c) the counseling relationship, and (d) counseling and advocacy interventions. Included in the framework are the following aspirational competencies within each domain: attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, skills, and action. Best practices for culturally competent, social-justice-focused work with LGBT service members within each of these domains are discussed

Self-Injury and Eating Disorders in Minors: When Should the Human Service Professional Break Confidentiality?

The decision to protect or breach confidentiality is a common ethical dilemma for human service professionals. This decision is further complicated when the client is a child or adolescent. This manuscript examines the issue of confidentiality and minors with two common harmful behaviors in adolescents: self-injury and eating disorders. A continuum of physical and psychological factors are included to help the human service profession in ethical decision making. Two case studies followed by a list of questions to use in the decision making process are also provided

Understudied and Underfunded: Potential Causes of Mass Shootings and Implications for Counseling Research

Mass shootings are becoming more commonplace in our society. Despite this increase in frequency, research on mass violence has lagged behind due to halted federal research funding. Counselors and other mental health professionals find themselves at the forefront of this issue due to the contentious debate surrounding the intersection of mental health issues and mass shootings. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness of the cause of this dearth of research, examine what is currently known in the limited scholarly literature, and discuss what still needs to be explored. Implications for positive social change and advocacy efforts are also provided

The Affordable Care Act and Addiction Treatment: Preparing the Undergraduate Human Services Professional

The steady growth of the substance abuse and addiction field in addition to the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACT) increases the need for competent and credentialed substance abuse professionals. As generalists in the helping field, human services professionals would benefit from education and sufficient credentialing in substance abuse and addiction treatment. The authors of this article suggest that substance abuse and addiction education be considered for inclusion at the accreditation level for human services programs. Furthermore, a discussion of the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) international credential and its benefits and implications for human services professionals will be presented

Counseling Active-Duty Female Service Members who have Experienced Sexual Assault: A Guide for Professional Counselors

Sexual assault is a prevailing problem for active duty women in the United States military. We explore the unique nature of military culture and explain the military’s dual pathway process for reporting sexual assault. In addition, we describe, in depth, evidence-based theoretical approaches applicable for counselors to use in their work with female service members who are survivors of sexual assault. Finally, we discuss sexual assault resources available to military clients and the steps counselors can take to engage in advocacy for and with this population

School based sexual abuse prevention: Implications for professional school counselors

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore the experiences of four key internal stakeholders who are involved with a school-based child sexual abuse prevention program in a southeastern state in the United States. In order to explore the experiences of participants, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted. After the data were collected, transcribed, and coded by a qualified research team, three main themes emerged from this study. These themes highlighted the importance of school-based child sexual abuse prevention education, various program impacts resulting from child sexual abuse prevention and intervention within a school setting, and barriers to implementation of child sexual abuse prevention programs in school settings. Implications for professional school counselors, including how they can assist with the implementation of child sexual abuse prevention education, are discussed. Finally, inherent limitations to the research design and implications for future studies are addressed

School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: Implications for Professional School Counselors

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore the experiences of four key internal stakeholders who are involved with a school-based child sexual abuse prevention program in a southeastern state in the United States. In order to explore the experiences of participants, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted. After the data were collected, transcribed, and coded by a qualified research team, three main themes emerged from this study. These themes highlighted the importance of school-based child sexual abuse prevention education, various program impacts resulting from child sexual abuse prevention and intervention within a school setting, and barriers to implementation of child sexual abuse prevention programs in school settings. Implications for professional school counselors, including how they can assist with the implementation of child sexual abuse prevention education, are discussed. Finally, inherent limitations to the research design and implications for future studies are addressed