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

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

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

Theory, Practice, and Trends in Human Services: An Introduction

This easy-to-understand text addresses critical topics in human services to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the field. You\u27ll learn about professional issues and major theories related to human service work as well as about how to work with varying client populations and become a culturally competent helper. Major content areas include professional issues, standards in the profession (skill standards, ethics, accreditation, and credentialing), history, counseling theory, helping skills, human development, group and family counseling, community systems, consultation and supervision, and research, testing, and evaluation. The last chapter (on career development) gives you an opportunity to examine whether human services is the right field for you and helps you understand the career counseling process. The book is further distinguished by its experiential emphasis, unique use of personal vignettes, and focus on the development of the helper. [From Amazon.com]https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chs_books/1007/thumbnail.jp

Counseling Theory and Practice (2nd Edition)

Developed for helping professionals, Counseling Theory and Practice explains what it means to be an effective helper, discusses foundations of classic counseling and psychotherapy theories, provides an overview of emerging theories, and gives students the opportunity to develop their own approaches to counseling and psychotherapy practice. The book is organized into four primary sections, each addressing theoretical schools. Section 1 explores psychodynamic approaches, including psychoanalysis, Jungian therapy, and Adlerian therapy. Section 2 is devoted to existential-humanistic approaches such as existential therapy, Gestalt therapy, and person-centered counseling, while Section 3 discusses cognitive-behavioral approaches, including behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, rational-emotive behavior therapy, and reality therapy. Section 4 describes post-modern therapies and examines the relatively new approaches of narrative therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and relational cultural therapy, a form of feminist therapy. The final chapter explores a number of more recent and emerging theories. [Amazon.com]https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chs_books/1038/thumbnail.jp

The World of the Counselor: An Introduction to the Counseling (6th Edition)

The sixth edition of The World of the Counselor: An Introduction to the Counseling Profession provides readers with an illuminating window into the day-to-day realities of a practicing counselor. Comprehensive and highly practical in nature, the text presents readers with critical skills and concepts, helps them develop their professional identity, and features illustrative case examples and personal narratives to bridge theory and practice. This new edition includes updated information within every chapter to reflect the latest ethical codes and standards, updated content on cutting-edge issues, and alignment with 2016 CACREP standards. In keeping with current trends, cultural competence, social justice concerns, technological issues such as tele-mental health counseling, some of the newest theories in counseling, and crisis, disaster, and trauma counseling are highlighted. Throughout the text, students are provided with meaningful self-reflection opportunities, hands-on experiential activities, and enlightening case studies to enrich their learning experience. A full set of ancillaries to assist in teaching is available and includes a sample syllabus, exam questions, vignettes, ethical dilemmas, videos, and much more. [Amazon.com]https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chs_books/1036/thumbnail.jp

Skills and Techniques for Human Service Professionals: Counseling Environment, Helping Skills, Treatment Issues (Second Edition)

The second edition of Skills and Techniques for Human Service Professionals: Counseling Environment, Helping Skills, Treatment Issues provides readers with valuable information about how the counseling environment impacts the helping relationship, ways of delivering critical helping skills, and the necessity of understanding important treatment issues when working with clients and consumers. [Amazon.com]https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chs_books/1037/thumbnail.jp

Experiencing the World of the Counselor: A Workbook for Counselor Educators and Students (4th Edition)

EXPERIENCING THE WORLD OF THE COUNSELOR is a workbook that can be used in conjunction with THE WORLD OF THE COUNSELOR or other Introduction to Counseling texts. It also can be used as a stand-alone workbook for a series of courses where there is an emphasis on activities that focus on self-development. Filled with experiential exercises; vignettes on ethical, professional, and legal issues; self-assessment techniques; and other self-awareness activities, the workbook offers students an opportunity to examine their own lives as they weave through the chapters. Based on the eight core-curriculum areas of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the workbook will help students better understand the importance of self-awareness and self-knowledge when pursuing a career as a counselor. [Amazon.com]https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chs_books/1041/thumbnail.jp