Rates of mental health challenges among children and youth are on the rise. Physical activity has been identified as a promising intervention to improve mental health outcomes for youth. This study aimed to investigate how mental health clinicians perceive and utilize physical activity as a mental health intervention for children and adolescents.…

The role of competencies in lifelong education is of great interest across helping professions. However, no known empirical research has focused on exploring the relationship between competencies and job tasks within the context of helping professions. This study sought to establish the competencies (i.e. knowledge, skills, and abilities) that the…

Autistic children and adolescents are more likely than non-autistic youth to experience mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, but less likely to receive psychotherapy to address these concerns. Recent research indicates that clinician factors, such as knowledge, attitudes, confidence and beliefs, can impact their decisions to…

Graduate trainees from mental health disciplines have been found to exhibit higher levels of distress in comparison to the general population. Emotional distress is not a disqualifying factor in keeping trainees from the field. However, to provide ethical care, trainees must learn the skills necessary to manage their emotions while providing…

Background: There is limited Australian research investigating health practitioner knowledge and/or confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Method: Ninety-three health practitioners from four professional groups (primary health practitioners, psychologists, mental health…

Research supports the use of psychological therapies among people with mild to moderate intellectual disability (ID). One barrier to people with ID accessing psychological treatments is the confidence of mental health practitioners. This article explores the confidence of Australian clinicians in providing therapy to people with ID. One hundred…

Current research on therapist self-disclosure suggests that not all therapy skills have been successfully adapted when working with clients from diverse backgrounds. Using semi-structured interviews, nine therapists were asked about the ways in which they use self-disclosure with their clients and the ways in which they refrain from revealing…

The authors present the development of the Helping Professional Wellness Discrepancy Scale (HPWDS). The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) present a rationale for the HPWDS; (b) review statistical analyses procedures used to develop the HPWDS; and (c) offer implications for counselors, other helping professionals, and future research.

Despite efforts to boost mental health treatment-seeking behaviors by combat veterans, rates have improved relatively little since 2004. Previous work suggests that trust and confidence in the mental health community may be a significant factor. This study explored how professional titles may impact trust and confidence among active-duty U.S. Army…

Extensive research suggests that adolescence is a critical developmental period, especially when it comes to factors that influence mental health problems. Systematic efforts to promote adolescent help-seeking are essential for improving long-term mental health outcomes. Defined as a "behavior of actively seeking help from other people,"…

Once considered rare, autism is now viewed as a common and highly debilitating condition that has generated great interest among mental health professionals worldwide. The disorder is quite heterogeneous, can be very debilitating, and has a lifelong course. The general consensus among researchers, therefore, is that intervention should start at a…

The professional literature related to social justice has increased, but there has been little discussion of the practical issues and implications associated with social advocacy. However, adding new roles will result in new considerations for counseling psychologists. The need to be attuned to how the practical aspects of advocacy intersect with…

This conclusion to the volume presents a dialogue from the perspective of educator and clinician. With examples from professional development and practice, the discussion revolves around teacher training and the role of the administrator in creating a bounded and safe environment in which teachers can develop healthy relationships. It discusses…

Numerous efforts to describe the health service provider or clinical workforce in psychology have been conducted during the past 30 years. The American Psychological Association (APA) has studied trends in the doctoral education pathway and the resultant effects on the broader psychology workforce. During this period, the creation and growth of…

Research suggests that mental health professionals have more problematic family backgrounds than those in other professions, but little is known about the role that early experience has on career choice. This is of particular importance for the education of psychologists, given the current emphasis on skills and research training and the call for…