Jackson and Scheel aptly elucidate the relevance of master's level counselor training programs for counseling psychology doctoral training programs, highlighting key antecedents of the current critical period in our relationship. Counseling psychology has an essential role in the professional lineage of counseling master's programs. Master's…

An important original study by Dorland and Fischer noted how the use of inclusive language can affect the therapeutic relationship positively for gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients. In this extension of that study with heterosexual participants ("N" = 179), there seemed to be low, but positive, salience of the language used by the…

Although specialty board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) has been a valued standard for decades, the vast majority of counseling psychologists do not pursue board certification in the specialty. The present article provides a brief history of board certification in general and some historical information about…

Examines the credentialing process in mental health and likens it to the process of animals in confrontation over territoriality. Examines the data on which credentialing claims are predicated and the implications of and to the marketplace of licensing and certification. (BH)

In response to William Coulson's article in same issue, author expresses need to discover how to replicate reliably the potential of successful encounter process. He also feels that encounter should not become the prime focus of professional attention at the expense of other group counseling processes. (Author/CJ)

Certification procedures protect consumers, but when licensing institutions become monopolistic, alternative paths to credentialing need to be considered. A series of articles examine third party payments, a changing job market and consumer protection concerns, all of which have had an impact on credentialing problems. (JAC)

A survey was undertaken comparing all American Psychological Association (APA)-affiliated master's-degree holders in counseling with a Division 17 (Counseling) doctoral-level sample. Unlike the latter, the master's-level counselors viewed themselves primarily as practitioners, performing psychotherapy/personal counseling. They engaged in little…