Stories are an essential part of counseling. Through stories, clients and counselors gain a deeper understanding of concerns brought into counseling sessions and strategies used to address them. Through storytelling, catharsis, power, insight, meaning, cultural awareness, and change take place. This article examines the research on stories in…

Musical lyrics play a significant role in many people's lives, including those of clients. This article describes ways lyrics can be used to help clients convey feelings of hurting and healing. Examples of lyrics that deal with pain (hurt and grief) and restoration (recovery and healing) are shared. The article then outlines six specific ways…

This article explores the existence of humor in counseling from the perspectives of several leaders in the field. Specifically, the last 5 authors describe some of their thoughts and experiences regarding the emergence of humor in counseling.

This document presents an instructor's manual designed to accompany the videotape, "Uses of Metaphors and Imagery in Counseling," a tool to teach beginning and experienced counselors how to more efficiently help their clients by focusing on the use of non-literal language and thoughts (i.e., metaphors and images). The format and content of the…

This paper focuses on two aspects inherent in working with families--fantasies and realities. A brief discussion of family life in the United States at the end of the 20th century is included at the outset with the intention of identifying who families are before making a diagnosis or intervention. The author encourages counselors to recognize the…

Using stories, illustrates some universal points regarding counseling. Claims that stories can help counselors understand the process of discovering their own identities and that outside knowledge can create new possibilities that lead to change. Emphasizes the blending of self-understanding with relevant outside knowledge. (RJM)

Numerous studies on the effects of common and unusual names reveal contradictory findings. Some studies conclude that an unusual first name or surname is detrimental to a person's self-concept; other studies conclude that an unusual first name, especially if it is a surname, cause no ill-effects on a person's psychological well-being. College…

Personal vignettes are used throughout this book to describe one counselor's developmental journey during his 30 years of counseling practice. Section 1 highlights learning about self discovery and methods of assisting others that developed early in his career. Section 2 discusses the process of determining what interventions worked with clients,…

Suggests that poetic and figurative language be incorporated into counselor education curricula and explores five practical ways of doing this. Concludes that a knowledge of the poetic may facilitate counselor-client communication and interaction, complement other counseling techniques, and help in counselor-client problem solving. (Author)