Mental health counselor relates personal experience of learning that his son had been shot in the head and was being cared for in an intensive care unit. Describes his reactions to this trauma and explains the emotions he had. (NB)

Discusses the effects of Hurricane Andrew on disaster workers, followed by some reported experiences of workers as well as victims. Background on natural disasters in general is given, along with information about crisis intervention. Discusses mental health interventions and various skills needed by disaster mental health counselors. (Author/KW)

During the Gulf War, Israeli mental health professionals played an invaluable role, but their efforts raise questions about what constitutes an appropriate, supportive response for a population suddenly faced with a hazardous event, whether hostile or not. Discusses the strategies used, with lessons that might enhance the disaster services of any…

Explored the employment of master's degree level counselors in substance abuse centers (N=435) and examined the direct care services and administrative duties they perform. Findings suggest that a high percentage of mental health counselors are employed in substance abuse centers and that mental health counselors function as individual, group,…

Discusses use of metaphors in mental health counseling. Presents examples of metaphors that are concrete and that use objects and situations familiar to clients so that the properties of the metaphorical items are known. Elaborations of metaphors are provided for readers. (NB)

Suggests that strategy for mental health counselors and other American Association for Counseling and Development (AACD) professionals is to focus on service to the consumer, unity within, and the clear articulation of the meaning of a developmental approach to counseling, therapy, and human growth. Practice within AACD is seen as…

Ethical issues related to rights of children to participate fully in their own mental health treatment decisions are examined. Clarifies concepts of children's rights in relation to legal and psychological aspects, discusses Kitchener's theory and model of moral judgment, and proposes ethical standards for moral reasoning in counseling children.…

Traces historical development of training standards for mental health counseling and gives a detailed rationale of the importance of such standards. Presents newly adopted training standards of the American Mental Health Counselors Association and discusses implications of these standards. (Author)

Notes that many mental health counselors work in settings where they are represented by unions or are encouraged to participate in union membership. Discusses four global issues central to mental health counselor unionization: professionalism of counseling, client care, mental health counselor-supervisor relationship, and professional obligations…

Participants from five groups completed a questionnaire that required them to assess their use of 11 coping mechanisms. Participants differed from one another, depending on group affiliation, on five strategies. The strategy judged most important was "maintaining contact with other helpers." Concludes that training programs should…

Participants (n=161) viewed a videotaped "disaster" during which they "placed" themselves on the scene as helpers. Results indicate that two groups, those who had received previous training in coping skills versus those who had not, differed significantly in the use of skills and level of psychological comfort. (Author)

Acknowledging the increasing need for professionals trained to provide health counseling, describes number of interventions mental health counselors can incorporate and thereby extend their practice options. Presents three-phase strategy along with interventions for assessment, treatment, follow-up, and relapse prevention. Uses extensive case…

Phenomenological methods were used to explore the experience of grief after bereavement. Nine bereaved adults volunteered to participate in interviews in which they discussed their experience of grief after the death of a loved one. An analysis of the interviews revealed the following themes in the experience of grief after bereavement: Coping,…

Discusses problems with current definitions and uses of eclecticism in counseling practice and importance for mental health counselors of learning to apply theory even if they wish to be eclectic. Proposes a hierarchy of eclectic practices. Claims mental health counselors need to make use of theoretical knowledge of counseling profession to offer…

Investigated mental health counselors' (N=223) perceptions of ethical and unethical behaviors. Examined ability to recognize whether ethical violations had occurred, to identify ethical issues, and to project how subjects would have behaved. Found significant differences for course work, degree, and situation. (Author/ABL)