Is Counseling For You?

(First paragraph) Have you been in counseling or therapy? If not, have you ever hesitated in seeing a counselor, or wondered why you felt so wary? Studies show about 20 to 35% of Americans having attended some form of counseling and psychotherapy compared to approximately 80% of mental health professionals

Perceptions of the HS-BCP Credential: A Survey of Human Service Professionals

With the Human Services Board Certified Practitioner credential (HS-BCP) being a few years old, this article sought to obtain the current perception it by members of the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS). A survey of NOHS members suggests that respondents overwhelmingly heard of the credential, that 42% had obtained the credential, and that a large number who were not credentialed indicated a desire to obtain it. Perceived awareness of employers was also obtained from NOHS members, as well as differences as a function of demographics and the perceived value of the credential. In addition, respondents expressed their views regarding their preference toward using the NOHS or HSBCP code of ethics. Suggestions for increasing the visibility of the credential were made, and future directions of research related to the credential were suggested

An Introduction to the Special Section on Professional Standards in Human Services

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics related to human services including accreditation, code of ethics, and assessment tool

Poner Fin a la Violencia Hacia la Mujer: Estrategias y Opiniones de Tres Organizaciones Feministas en Valparaíso, Chile

Violence against women is a worldwide problem that affects about 1 in every 3 women in Chile (Ministerios del Interior y Seguridad Pública, 2013). In this study, I research the responses to this issue in Chile by asking the following questions: What strategies do some feminist organizations of the civil society in Valparaíso, Chile use in order to combat violence against women: Do you strategies include men? Why or why not? I hope to accomplish three objectives: outline the deep-rooted causes of violence against women and ways to combat these causes, define the forms in which some feminist organizations try to end the violence, and describe and analyze the opinions that these organizations have regarding the role of men in the fight against the violence. The theme of this project is important to study, because violence against women is a widespread, is not adequately addressed on an institutional level in Chile, and researching this issue reveals insights that can be used to prevent the violence. I have chosen to use a gender perspective in this study because it recognizes gender-based oppression and aims to end it. This perspective makes a distinction between sex and gender in order to assert that gender is socially constructed. Furthermore, the female gender is constructed as inferior to the male gender because society is patriarchal. This gender hierarchy is a core cause of violence against women, because men use violence to reinforce the power that the hierarchy grants them. Feminism is a way to end this violence, because it aims to uproot the patriarchy. In order to collect my data, I interviewed women leaders of three feminist organizations in Valparaíso, Chile that combat violence against women and also participated in a demonstration to denounce femicidio. I found that all three organizations aim to make the violence visible in order to eradicate it, and they use educational and activist prevention strategies to do so. I also found that none of the organizations deliberately include men. Furthermore, though all of the leaders I interviewed believe that men should participate in the fight against violence, they maintain that men should do so outside of their feminist organizations. Thus, although it may be difficult, we should determine ways to encourage men to participate in and create their own organizations while also, of course, working to address the complex problem of violence against women in a varied and multicausal way

Identifying Barriers to Attendance in Counseling Among Adults in the United States: Confirming the Factor Structure of the Revised Fit, Stigma, & Value Scale

The primary aim of this study was to cross-validate the Revised Fit, Stigma, & Value (FSV) Scale, a questionnaire for measuring barriers to counseling, using a stratified random sample of adults in the United States. Researchers also investigated the percentage of adults living in the United States that had previously attended counseling and examined demographic differences in participants’ sensitivity to barriers to counseling. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis supported the factorial validity of the three-dimensional FSV model. Results also revealed that close to one-third of adults in the United States have attended counseling, with women attending counseling at higher rates (35%) than men (28%). Implications for practice, including how professional counselors, counseling agencies, and counseling professional organizations can use the FSV Scale to appraise and reduce barriers to counseling among prospective clients are discussed

Inclusion of Human Service Professional in the Standard Classification Occupation System

The human services field has continued to grow, and today, it is considered one of the major social services professions. Despite its establishment, the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) continues to exclude the term “human service professional” from its classification system. This manuscript encourages advocacy for such inclusion

Barriers to Counseling Among Human Service Professionals: The Development and Validation of the Fit, Stigma, & Value Scale

This study sought to confirm rates of attendance in counseling of human service professionals and validate a 32-item questionnaire designed to identify barriers to counseling seeking behavior among this population. Results indicated that a large percentage of human service professionals attend counseling, with males and females attending at similar rates and non-Caucasians attending at lower rates. A multivariate analysis of variance and descriptive statistics identified the most common barriers to attendance in counseling and examined demographic differences in participants’ sensitivity towards barriers to attendance in counseling. A Principal Factor Analysis (PFA) revealed three subscales (fit, value, and stigma), which we called the Fit, Stigma, & Value (FSV) Scale. How the instrument can be used with students in human service programs, and with human service professionals, to reduce barriers to attendance in counseling and ultimately ameliorate personal problems, reduce vicarious traumatization, and limit countertransference are discussed

The NOHS 2024 Code of Ethics Update

The NOHS Ethics committee engaged in a revision of the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals (2024). This update focused on significant changes in the field of human services as they relate to a broad group of human services professionals. The article explores interviews with key members of the revision committee sharing their thoughts on the necessity for the current revision and the ever-present importance for human service professionals to understand and engage with the NOHS ethics code as an essential living document for the benefit of client well-being, to promote the integrity of the human services profession, and to support professional relationships that are respectful and trustworthy within the wide diversity of human services stakeholders (e.g., practitioners, students, faculty, administrators, leaders)

The NOHS 2024 Code of Ethics Update

The NOHS Ethics committee engaged in a revision of the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals (2024). This update focused on significant changes in the field of human services as they relate to a broad group of human services professionals. The article explores interviews with key members of the revision committee sharing their thoughts on the necessity for the current revision and the ever-present importance for human service professionals to understand and engage with the NOHS ethics code as an essential living document for the benefit of client well-being, to promote the integrity of the human services profession, and to support professional relationships that are respectful and trustworthy within the wide diversity of human services stakeholders (e.g., practitioners, students, faculty, administrators, leaders)

Water woes: the institutional challenges in achieving SDG 6

Background Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 envisions a future where everyone has access to clean water and sanitation. Yet, as 2030 looms closer, the complexity of achieving this target becomes apparent, with issues far surpassing basic water infrastructure and utility challenges. The underlying problems lie in broader spheres such as governance, policymaking, and financing. Main body The global landscape of water management is marked by complexities that transcend the operational troubles of water utilities. Financial sustainability is a monumental task. And while it is true that water utilities struggle with revenue generation, the broader picture reveals systemic challenges. The true cost of water provision often extends to ecosystem services such as watershed protection. Often, these services are not internalized in the revenue models of utilities but are typically subsidized by governments or simply not considered. Balancing affordability for users with cost recovery for service providers, however, is not just an arithmetic exercise. It is also a question of equitable policies. Non-revenue water (NRW), resulting from physical losses such as leaks, theft, and inaccurate [or lack of] metering, exacerbates existing financial strain. Annual NRW losses are estimated at an astonishing 126 billion cubic meters, costing roughly USD 39 billion. But at the most fundamental level of achieving SDG 6 is misgovernance. Effective water governance demands consistent policies, coherent collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and comprehensive strategies that cater to specific regional contexts. Current models often suffer from fragmented policies, inadequate public-private partnerships, and weak engagement mechanisms. A glaring gap exists between academic advancements in water management and their practical implementation in policymaking. Moreover, international cooperation, while vital, reveals an unequal landscape in knowledge exchange. Knowledge transfer is often skewed, favoring dominant nations while sidelining voices from the Global South. This emphasizes the need for an inclusive, equitable, and context-specific global cooperation model. Conclusion The road to realizing SDG 6 is multifaceted, and while on-the-ground solutions are essential, the real success lies in addressing the foundational challenges. This requires innovative financial solutions, reimagining water governance structures, and ensuring all voices, especially from the Global South, are heard and integrated into global policies. As 2030 nears, it is the synergy of governance, finance, and technology that will ultimately make clean water and sanitation a reality for all