The Great Pivot: The Profession of Counseling has Changed, Has Your Pedagogy?

The profession of counseling is impacted by more than mental health theories and models. COVID-19, external or adjacent industries, and technology have all left their imprint on the provision of competent and relevant counseling services. In general, most counselor educators were clinically trained prior to many of these influences. Which begs the question, if the profession has changed, should your pedagogy? This presentation introduced some of the challenges and opportunities in training clinicians impacted by these forces

An exploratory study of the association between reactive attachment disorder and attachment narratives in early school-age children

To explore attachment narratives in children diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder (RAD). Method: We compared attachment narratives, as measured by the Manchester Child Attachment Story Task, in a group of 33 children with a diagnosis of RAD and 37 comparison children. Results: The relative risk (RR) for children with RAD having an insecure attachment pattern was 2.4 (1.4-4.2) but 30% were rated as securely attached. Within the RAD group, children with a clear history of maltreatment were more likely to be Insecure-Disorganised than children without a clear history of maltreatment. Conclusions: Reactive attachment disorder is not the same as attachment insecurity, and questions remain about how attachment research informs clinical research on attachment disorders

Virtual Research Conference Presentations: A Research Course Assignment Students Love

Developmentally appropriate research experiences can help students develop an interest in research and motivation to engage in the research process. This conference proceeding will introduce a conference presentation assignment for students in an online master’s level counseling research course. Through this comprehensive assignment, students, in a virtual setting, learn the process of developing a research topic, doing an extensive literature review, submitting a conference proposal, providing a blind review for their peers, creating a conference poster, and presenting their virtual poster. Discussion includes various software and technology used for this assignment, along with best ways to support students throughout the process

Using AI-Supported Supervision in a University Telemental Health Training Clinic

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential of transforming clinical education and supervision in university-based telemental health training clinics. AI can improve the accuracy of diagnoses, automate routine tasks, and personalize treatment plans, potentially enhancing the accessibility and quality of mental health care. In this paper, we describe why training clinics serve as an optimal setting to adopt innovation and share lessons from the field to inform future integrations of AI in clinical supervision. The lessons include support for case conceptualization, feedback on session quality, and automation of routine tasks such as sending standardized assessments and writing progress notes. However, implementing new technology requires careful consideration of ethical and practical issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency. AI-supported supervision can provide valuable support for clinical training, but adequate training and education are necessary for successful integration

Humanistic Pedagogy in Online Counselor Education

This article explores the integration of humanistic pedagogy in online counselor education. Humanistic pedagogy, based on the affirmation of the dignity of every human being, allows the educational experience to be student-centered and focused on crafting dignity and autonomy of the adult learner. The article presents specific class activities to showcase humanistic opportunities within online counselor education, aiming to increase presence, encourage students to bring real-life experiences into the online classroom, and promote the wellness of the whole person. The integration of humanistic pedagogy in online counselor education is a promising approach that can benefit both students and instructors alik

Telehealth Best Practice: A Call for Standards of Care

Teletherapy is an approach to working with clients that mental health providers have used in some form for years. However, the onset of COVID forced the provision of therapy into teletherapy almost exclusively for a period of time. Currently, mental health providers conducting therapy virtually are not required to be trained in telehealth and are operating without consistent uniform standards of practice. This manuscript pulls from the current literature and guidelines across counseling, psychology, psychiatry, family therapy, and social work to provide a Proposed Standards of Practice for Telehealth. Such standards benefit mental health counselor by grounding practice in common aims and benefits out clients by creating a unified framework for providers engaging in telehealth with their clients. This manuscript provides a review of current literature around the provision of teletherapy and proposes a set of standards of care based on existing literature. In addition, gaps in current literature are addressed

Effective Online Synchronous Group Counselor Training: Challenges, Strengths, and Solutions

Abstract This paper on Online Synchronous Group Counselor Training was presented at the first annual Counselor Education Distance Learning Conference on February 19, 2021. In the Counseling field, skills-based courses like Group Counseling are often taught in residential settings regardless of whether the training program is online or brick and mortar. Describing a model for teaching Group Counseling in an online virtual synchronous format, this article shares strategies, challenges, and opportunities for group instructors in counselor training programs during the Covid 19 pandemic and beyond. Keywords: Group Counseling, Synchronous, Distance Learnin

Project SEARCH: Analysis of Employment Outcomes for Students with Disabilities Across Two Districts

Rehabilitation professionals have a major focus on competitive employment, which is a central component of adult life that provides not only economic benefits, but also a social network and enhanced self-esteem. The employment gap for individuals with disabilities has remained consistently high despite concerted efforts to provide access to quality job readiness training and a simultaneous increase in awareness of the value of diversity in the workforce. This study examined the outcomes of Project SEARCH, an employer-based transition program for young adults with disabilities that promotes partnerships among the school and community by utilizing a unique collaborative approach that brings the education system, employers, and rehabilitation services together to provide meaningful individualized employment experiences for students with disabilities. Findings suggest Project SEARCH appears to have the potential to address employment outcomes for young adults with various disabilities. Implications for practice and future research are also discussed

Effects of Clinical Skills Training: Technology and Pedagogy for the Quality Virtual Classroom

There is a dearth of research on the effects of online delivery of clinical skills training. This pilot study examined the effects and experiences of 27 master’s students receiving 8-week remote basic counseling skills courses. Results suggested that by the end of online training, all participants met the course criteria of skills development. There is a statistically significant increase in students’ beliefs about their own capabilities to effectively facilitate counseling techniques and counseling-related activities. Four themes emerged in participants’ perception of online skills training, including concerns, challenges, technology tools, and overall learning experience. Limitations and recommendations for implications and future research are discussed

Artificial Intelligence for mental health support during COVID-19: Experiences of graduate counseling students

The purpose of this study was to examine how an AI chatbot could provide mental health support to counselors-in-training during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chatbot “Tess” was available to participants for two weeks. Participants responded to questions about their experience and the content of this qualitative data was analyzed. Themes emerged that focused on mental health during the pandemic, utility of the AI chatbot during the pandemic, and potential therapeutic use in general. Findings were mixed and suggest some skepticism among counseling students towards the use of an AI chatbot