A Phenomenological Investigation of Counselor Competencies in Working with Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their Families

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a profound diagnosis that affects 1% of the world’s population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]; 2015a). Counselors can play a dynamic role in treating ASD and promoting greater life satisfaction; however, the counseling field has not identified how counselors develop their competencies working with children with ASD and their families. Therefore, the phenomenological investigation examined the experiences of 15 counselors in the field and their self-perceived competencies of treating ASD. A model of ASD counseling competencies development emerged from the data. Participants described the developmental components of Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC; Ratts, Singh, Nassar-McMillan, Butler, & McCullough, 2016) such as building awareness, knowledge, skills, and action competencies. By gaining exposure to the diagnosis, the cyclical, developmental process of MSJCC built their clinical expertise. Additionally, analysis illustrated participants increased their competence by describing a strong counseling identity, professional orientation, and personal characteristics to meet the needs of the child and their family. To better serve this ever-increasing population, implications for counselor education, supervisors, and professional counselors is presented

Social Justice Advocacy Training: An Innovative Certificate Program for Counselor Education

The authors outline an innovative certificate program that promotes the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC; Ratts, Singh, Massar-McMillan, Butler, & McCullough, 2015) and how counselor education programs can commit to a social justice approach. In addition, the authors provide a detailed summary of the certificate program that requires counselors-in-training to move beyond a multicultural understanding of diverse cultural worldviews so that they commit to becoming social change agents and take action on issues of equality and justice. Limitations and implications for counselor educators are presented

Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission

AbstractUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in higher education settings is important to limit spread between students, and into at-risk populations. In this study, we sequenced 482 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from the University of Cambridge from 5 October to 6 December 2020. We perform a detailed phylogenetic comparison with 972 isolates from the surrounding community, complemented with epidemiological and contact tracing data, to determine transmission dynamics. We observe limited viral introductions into the university; the majority of student cases were linked to a single genetic cluster, likely following social gatherings at a venue outside the university. We identify considerable onward transmission associated with student accommodation and courses; this was effectively contained using local infection control measures and following a national lockdown. Transmission clusters were largely segregated within the university or the community. Our study highlights key determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and effective interventions in a higher education setting that will inform public health policy during pandemics.</jats:p

A Phenomenological Investigation of Counselor Competencies Treating Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1% of the world’s population; however, the counseling field has not identified the counseling competencies needed to treat ASD. This presentation will provide an overview of the phenomenological inquiry that investigated the self-perceived competencies of treating ASD and how they will prove essential to enhance counselor training, practice, and standards. Implications will be discussed

Creating A More Inclusive Feminist Identity Development Model

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has highlighted identity differences among feminists. Downing and Roush’s (1984) feminist identity development model was based on privileging White women but today’s young feminists are more focused on oppression of all targeted groups and more inclusive of women of color and men. They rejected Clinton’s feminist identity. We need to develop a new feminist identity model

An Open, Large-Scale, Collaborative Effort to Estimate the Reproducibility of Psychological Science

Reproducibility is a defining feature of science. However, because of strong incentives for innovation and weak incentives for confirmation, direct replication is rarely practiced or published. The Reproducibility Project is an open, large-scale, collaborative effort to systematically examine the rate and predictors of reproducibility in psychological science. So far, 72 volunteer researchers from 41 institutions have organized to openly and transparently replicate studies published in three prominent psychological journals in 2008. Multiple methods will be used to evaluate the findings, calculate an empirical rate of replication, and investigate factors that predict reproducibility. Whatever the result, a better understanding of reproducibility will ultimately improve confidence in scientific methodology and findings