A comprehensive discussion of counseling Native adults is presented through historical overview, demographics, and exploration of Native culture. Implications for counseling Native adults are offered with humanistic emphasis on identity; humor; cultural considerations; career planning; proactive practice; creating trust; and practical…

Humor via the door motif in Native American Indian cultures can be pervasive and perverse. Helping professionals are alerted to down humor as a positive counseling intervention for this population. Background information, possible cautions, and illustrations are offered, with the need for additional empirical support strongly encouraged.…

Contends counselors have the responsibility to consider Native Americans' values from both content and process emphasis when counseling clients from this group. Discusses six factors which influence counseling efforts with Native Americans. Stresses need to be aware of characteristics of Native Americans and their values. (Author/TE)

Advocates that counselors incorporate humor in their work with Native Americans. Discusses psychological theories of humor and explores Native American humor. Examines humor's implications for counseling and suggests specific strategies for the use of humor, such as storytelling, imagination, puppets, clowns, games, word games, and other devices.…

This paper documents the importance of nonverbal behavior and nonverbal communication across cultures, their relevance to interpersonal communication between ethnicities and cultures, and discusses their relevance to Native Americans. It presents a historical survey, a selective review of the literature, an overview of accepted theories of…

Identifies important qualities of American Native family structure and informs professionals about the importance of culture as a variable in human services. Underscores need for increased understanding by social and educational systems in their policy development and service planning efforts relative to the American Native family, especially…

Argues that synergetic counseling efforts with Native American Indian students, where the environment is balanced with the client's psychological aspects, increase counseling effectiveness. Outlines how the spiritual and secular concerns of Native American Indian students force school counselors to become more empathic and competent. A vignette…

Addresses inconsistencies in the identification and assessment of Native American Indian and Alaska Native gifted and talented youths. Offers suggestions to ensure a more humanistic and ethnic- appropriate method for the delivery of services to this population. Argues that the current system fails to identify gifted Native students. (RJM)