Individuals' perceptions of their own level of cognitive ability are expressed through self-estimates. They play an important role in a person's self-concept because they facilitate an understanding of how one's own abilities relate to those of others. People evaluate their own and other persons' abilities all the time, but self-estimates are also…

The relationships among mattering, purpose in life, depression, and wellness among older adults were explored. Mattering, purpose in life, and depression accounted for 78% of the wellness variance. Older adults perceived that they mattered most to their children and friends. The importance of mattering when counseling older adults is discussed.…

Becoming mindful involves the cultivation of present-moment-attention, a type of awareness that helps us to tune in to our present experience and accept it for what it is, gently, and without judgment. Perhaps because client's issues commonly include elements of rumination, worrying, self-judgment or lack of awareness, mindfulness practices have…

There is increasing evidence for the utility of mindfulness training as a clinical intervention. Most of this research has examined secular-based mindfulness instruction. The current study examined the effects of a 10-day Buddhist mindfulness meditation course on the psychological symptoms of 53 participants. A repeated-measures analysis of…

Most psychotherapists hold preconceptions about what it could be like to deliver services using distance technology. Reactions to distance technology in counseling have been governed by guesses rather then by experience or research. However, a recent teletherapy project has provided insight into how remote systems of treatment actually are…

If counseling and guidance professionals are to improve the mental health of individuals and society, then they must carefully examine the relationship between mental health and technology. Healthy management of technological tools may be one of the most critical competencies a counseling professional can model and teach. The purpose of this…

Presents a theory of self-knowledge, a method of measuring it, research identifying four stages in its development, and strategies for increasing self-knowledge through education and counseling. (Author)

Describes a model for behavioral change which synthesizes behavioral awareness with empirically identified target behaviors. Stages of the model are presented and cautions for implementation are given. Suggests the model can help students gain an understanding of the consequences of behavioral problems. (BL)

Interpersonal behaviors and factors may facilitate or hinder the ability of one person to exert influence over another. To investigate the impact of counselor smoking behavior and status on potential clients' perceptions of counselor attributes, credibility, and expected helpfulness, 134 female college students viewed one of three vignettes…

This second paper in the intrapersonal skills series is concerned with belief systems and how individuals can manage self-esteem by internalizing assertion and awareness training program concepts. The introduction of the paper defines self-esteem and examines how individuals form their self-concepts. It is proposed that persons gather and…

This book is written for parents, teachers, and counselors who have both a desire and a commitment to help children who experience a death. The first chapter provides an introduction and discusses when death education should occur. The second chapter emphasizes the importance of creating a caring relationship with children when death is…

Counseling is a dyadic interaction between client and counselor, in which their cognitive processes influence how they interact and communicate. To investigate the effect that a match of cognitive complexity between counselor and client has upon the counselor's empathy, 9 counselors and 27 clients participated in a study. After 7 weeks of…

The National Audubon Society Expedition Institute utilizes an outdoor experiential program which allows people and nature to achieve dynamic equilibrium and has been demonstrated successfully with high school through field programs led by Master's students. The Institute works with the premise that truly sustaining and potent education is the…