Defines counselor self-abuse as a phenomenon which differs from burnout, unethical behavior, and inappropriate countertransference in its underlying dynamics and some of its manifestations. Delineates the main manifestations of counselor self-abuse and outlines appropriate treatments. Emphasizes the need for further research to determine more…

Proposes a battery of semi-structured interviews, global assessment scales, attachment-specific scales, and behavioral observations to help mental health counselors identify Reactive Attachment Disorder, a syndrome associated with extreme attachment problems. (Contains 25 references and 2 tables.) (GCP)

Reviews material related to American Mental Health Counselors Association Clinical Judgment Project. Recommendations include invoking more sensitive analyses of clinical judgment process, establishing defensible diagnostic and treatment criteria, attending to threats to statistical conclusion validity, and increasing attention to counselor…

Surveyed Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (N=380) to investigate their use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edition). Results indicate that counselors use the diagnostic system for billing insurance, case conceptualization, treatment planning, communication with other professionals, meeting requirements…

Reviews development of standardized case simulations and treatment planning criteria by two nationwide panels of interdisciplinary mental health experts. Notes that simulations show promise as performance-based assessments of clinical judgment across profession, theoretical orientation, and other therapist variables. Discusses application of…

Reviews the development and psychometric analyses of the Suicide Assessment Checklist (SAC), a 21-item, 2-part instrument constructed for use as a standardized component of a comprehensive suicide risk assessment and documentation strategy in the emergency evaluation of risk for suicidal behavior. Results suggest SAC is psychometrically sound.…

Notes that studies of clinical judgment provide some important findings about how specific cognitive processes influence these decisions. Reviews research on understanding of clinical judgment, with implications for training and credentializing of mental health counselors. Examines potential of this research to respond empirically to questions of…

A clinical case of penile obsession and compulsive hypersexuality is interpreted from four different theoretical frameworks--psychoanalysis, behaviorism, Bowen-type multigenerational therapy, and structural/strategic systems theory--to illustrate how conceptual frameworks implicitly or explicitly underlie all therapeutic approaches. Implications…

Examined psychometric properties of four clinical treatment planning simulations (CTPS) developed by interdisciplinary mental health experts to examine clinical judgment in treatment planning processes of practitioners. Found that scoring reliability was high and simulations demonstrated adequate content, discriminant, and predictive validity.…