Nation caught in meth's grip - American Counseling Association

Counselors advocate for worthy causes on Capitol Hill

BY ANGELA KENNEDY

Crystal, crank, Tina, ice, glass— it’s all methamphetamineand, increasingly, it’s every-where.

Last month, the SubstanceAbuse and Mental Health Ser-vices Administration released areport stating that admissions totreatment for methamphetamineabuse have increased signifi-cantly across the nation, movingfrom West to East. States in theMidwest and South, where methrates were relatively low only adecade ago, are now experienc-ing high rates of treatmentadmissions. In the National Sur-vey on Drug Use and Healthissued three years ago, morethan 12.3 million Americansindicated they had tried meth,and 1.5 million said they were

regular users. The Federal DrugEnforcement Administration re-ported that it had seized 17,033methamphetamine labs in 2004,an increase of 129 percent fromfive years earlier.

This widespread surge inmeth use is affecting more thanjust addicts. Law enforcementagencies nationwide rank methas the No. 1 drug they are bat-tling today. Meth addicts arefilling the U.S. prison system,while their children are floodingthe social services system. Metheven affects the environment.For every pound of meth that iscreated (or “cooked”), as muchas eight pounds of toxic wasteare produced. In an effort tostem the tide of meth abuse,President George W. Bush on

Senate considers mentalhealth insurance issues

Members of Congress are dis-cussing health insurance legisla-tion, including provisions toestablish minimum federal stan-dards for the coverage of mentalhealth services. On March 8, theSenate Committee on Health,Education, Labor and Pensionsbegan marking up the HealthInsurance Marketplace Modern-ization and Affordability Act of2005 (S. 1955).

Committee Chair Mike Enzi(R-Wyo.) is sponsoring the bill,which is designed to increasehealth insurance coverage bywhittling down the types of careand services actually covered byhealth insurance. S. 1955 seeksto foster development of “asso-ciation health plans” by exempt-ing them from state regulations.The bill would pre-empt state-passed laws on coverage of spe-cific health services, including

BY ANGELA KENNEDY

The American CounselingAssociation Office of PublicPolicy and Legislation held its2006 Legislative Institute in

Washington, D.C., from Feb.26-28. More than 50 ACAmembers from across thenation attended workshops andbriefings on various aspects oflegislative advocacy and publicpolicy. As part of the institute,counselors also toured the U.S.Capitol building and made lob-bying visits to their respectivesenators and representatives.

Legislative Institute sessionsinstructed attendees on thebasics of the policymakingprocess and how to engage instate and federal advocacy. Inaddition, attendees took part inrole-playing exercises that pre-pared them to conduct lobbying

visits. Other sessions coveredgrant writing, media relationsand how counselors can remainactive as advocates after return-ing home. The institute alsoprovided lobbying informationon issues of concern to schoolcounselors, rehabilitation coun-selors and mental health counselors.

“The importance of what pro-fessional counselors can do toimpact public policy is hard tooverstate in today’s policymak-ing environment,” said ACAExecutive Director RichardYep. “I was extremely pleasedto see such a hard-working and dedicated group of

professional counselors cometo Washington.”

When participants visitedtheir representatives’ and sena-tors’ offices on Capitol Hill onthe last day of the LegislativeInstitute, they lobbied on spe-cific issues: Medicare coverageof licensed professional coun-selors, recognition of LPCsunder TRICARE and otherDepartment of Defense pro-grams, funding for the Elemen-tary and Secondary SchoolCounseling Program and reau-thorization of the WorkforceInvestment Act.

AN AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION www.counseling.org/ctonline

8 ACA President-Elect-Elect Brian Canfield answers 20 questions 12 Therapeutic community embraces the healing power of the drum16 An in-depth interview with counseling advocate Jane Myers18 Report says nation’s mental health care system deserves a D grade23 Addressing end-of-life care issues in the ACA Code of Ethics30 Daniel Eckstein explores connections between sports and therapy39 Attention grad students: Enter the ACA Foundation Essay Contest47 Helping private practitioners establish a presence on the Internet

DEPARTMENTS4 Letters to the Editor5 From the President6 Executive Director’s Message14 Finding Your Way21 ACA Journal Spotlight26 Resource Reviews36 Dignity, Development & Diversity41 Student Focus51 Classifieds

12 30

CounselingTodayWASHINGTONUPDATE

PERIODICALS MAIL-NEWSPAPER HANDLING

Nation caught in meth’s gripRealistic and gritty awareness campaign launched in Montana to educate teens

Continued on page 32



WASHINGTONUPDATE

Written and compiled by Scott Barstow, Christopher Campbell and Brian Altman

A public service announcement currently airing on televisionfrom the Montana Meth Project captures the often disturbingconsequences of trying the drug “even once.” The group aimsto significantly reduce first-time meth use among teenagers.

AP

RIL

2006

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

2

NEWS BRIEFS

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

3

THIS ISSUE’S FEATURE ARTICLE SHORTS AND STATISTIC OF THE MONTH

AN

D

The Substance Abuse andMental Health Services Admin-istration awarded $19.2 millionin March to Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wiscon-sin, Missouri and Colorado forcrisis counseling assistance inthe aftermath of Hurricanes Kat-rina, Rita and Wilma. The grantswere awarded through a partner-ship between SAMHSA and theFederal Emergency Manage-ment Agency.

More than $66 million in fed-eral crisis counseling supporthas been made available tostates to date. Additional grantswill be awarded in comingweeks. The most recent grantsare meant to enable states toaddress the ongoing counselingneeds of people affected by thehurricanes, regardless ofwhether they are residing intheir home states or have reset-tled in other areas. States willreceive a portion of the funds

initially, with the remainingapproved funds released as service needs continue.

“The impact of HurricanesKatrina, Rita and Wilma isunprecedented,” said SAMHSAAdministrator Charles Curie.“Most survivors are demon-strating remarkable resiliencyand are rebuilding theirs lives.However, for some survivors,the psychological impact oftheir experiences is potentiallyboth serious and long-lasting.These new grants are part of abroader federal effort to assurethat emotional and psychologi-cal well-being are addressed inthe overall recovery process.”

The crisis counseling pro-gram will hire and train peoplelocally to provide outreach tosurvivors of the hurricanes whoneed mental health services.This outreach effort willinclude mobile services inwhich trained workers travel to

where disaster survivors havecongregated, including shel-ters, disaster recovery centersand temporary hotels, to pro-vide supportive contacts, edu-cational materials and briefcounseling services.

Texas has been hosting hun-dreds of thousands of evacueesfrom Louisiana and Mississippiwho began arriving prior toKatrina’s landfall. Texas wasapproved for up to $12.1 mil-lion to continue its outreachand support services to anunusually large number of dis-placed individuals who arespread out over 250 of thestate’s 254 counties.

Georgia, Colorado, Illinois,Missouri, Pennsylvania andWisconsin also received grantsto fund various programs thathave been established to meetthe needs of hurricane victimswho were forced to temporarilyor permanently relocate. �

ACA IN ACTIONStates provided with more than $19 million in crisis counseling aid for hurricane victims

By the Numbers: Methamphetamine Lab Seizures

This map shows the number of methamphetamine lab seizures in 2004 (a note on the U.S. DrugEnforcement Administration website says it includes “all meth incidents, including labs, dumpsitesor chemical and glassware seizures”). Missouri, which had only 439 meth lab seizures in 1999,jumped dramatically to 2,788 lab seizures in 2004, the highest number in the nation. Tennessee alsohad a large increase, from 143 seizures in 1999 to 1,327 in 2004. For more, read the cover story,“Nation caught in meth’s grip.” Source: National Clandestine Laboratory Database

“I believe that if we do not advocate for who we are as professionals and as a profession, then nobody is going to listen to us

when we stand up to advocate for clients.”—Jane Myers, “Advocacy and professional counseling,” p. 16

The Last Word

Celebrate Counseling Awareness MonthApril has been designated as Counseling Awareness Month.

The pivotal role that counselors play in society should be cele-brated year-round, but the American Counseling Associationhopes this specially designated month will be used as a focusedopportunity to call public awareness to the wide range of ser-vices that the counseling profession provides.

A visit to the ACA website will reveal a number of effectivestrategies counselors can use to promote the observance. Go towww.counseling.org/Resources/ and click on the download titled“Public Awareness Ideas and Strategies for Professional Coun-selors.” Single copies of the guide are also available for free toACA members by calling ACA Member Services at800.347.6647 ext. 222.

The guide is filled with advocacy and public relations strate-gies for use during Counseling Awareness Month and through-out the year. It includes sections on participating in professionalorganizations, group participation in civic and charitable activi-ties, delivering speeches and presentations, and working withthe media. In addition, there are helpful resources for use in pub-lic awareness materials, including “Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout Career Counseling,” “Professional Counselors asProviders of Mental Health Care” and “Scope of Practice forRehabilitation Counseling.”

ACA, NEA tout school counselorsACA has partnered with the National Education Association

to produce 3,000 copies of the brochure “What Is a SchoolCounselor: A Resource Guide for Parents and Students.” Thebrochure provides a quick overview of the role and value ofschool counselors. Both ACA and NEA have an online versionof the brochure available on their respective websites. Fromthe ACA website at www.counseling.org, click on “Public Pol-icy,” then “Resources & Reports,” then “Resources for SchoolCounselors.”

NEA plans to distribute the brochure to its 52 state affiliates,caucuses and board of directors. ACA will use the brochureswhen making lobbying visits on Capitol Hill as a leave-behindfor congressional staff. The brochures will also be distributed atprofessional meetings and conferences.

Present at the 2007 ACA ConventionBelieve it or not, the countdown is already on for the 2007

ACA Convention in Detroit. ACA has issued a call for programsfor the Detroit convention, and all proposals for Learning Insti-tutes and Education Sessions must be submitted by June 5, 2006.

The Learning Institutes, which will be held March 21-22,2007, provide counseling professionals with opportunities toenhance their skills while earning continuing education credit.Both three-hour and six-hour Learning Institute formats areavailable.

Education Sessions will be held March 22-25, 2007, and willfeature the following formats: 90-minute sessions, 60-minutesessions and 30-minute project/research poster sessions. Anindividual may not present at more than two ACA EducationSessions.

Prospective presenters should submit their proposals usingthe online form at www.counseling.org/convention. The user-friendly form (available on the website starting April 10) willguide presenters through the process. A committee of profes-sional counselors representing all ACA divisions and regionswill review the proposals using a blind review process. Accep-tance/rejection notices will be delivered by Aug. 15, 2006.

The main presenter at each Learning Institute and EducationSession must be a current ACA member in good standing. It issuggested that main presenters verify their membership by call-ing 800.347.6647 ext. 222 before submitting a proposal. Themain presenter will serve as the contact person for the individ-ual Learning Institute or Education Session.

Call ACA Professional Learning at 800.347.6647 ext. 229with questions regarding the submissions process. �

Letters

Don’t condemn counselorswho have chosen not to celebrate LGB lifestyle

I read with interest Garrett J.McAuliffe’s article (“Speakingout for the love that dare notspeak its name”) that was pub-lished in the February 2006issue of Counseling Today.The article, which was writtenfor the Dignity, Development& Diversity column, called forall professional counselors tobecome staunch advocates forlesbian, gay and bisexualrights. The article was wellwritten but just a tad strident inits presentation. ApparentlyMr. McAuliffe does not allowfor those of us, professionalcounselors to be sure, who donot join him in passionateinsistence that the LGBlifestyle is something to becelebrated.

He states that “LGB peopleare indispensable,” as if a per-son’s contribution to societyhad anything at all to do withhis/her sexual preference.Granted, some of our mostgifted and talented human re-sources have been, and remain,gay or lesbian. But their gifted-ness has no more to do withtheir sexual connection thandoes the brand of toothpastethey use. They are giftedbecause they are gifted; theyare not indispensable becausethey are LGB. To insist other-wise must be offensive to thepeople for whom he speaks.

For example, I wonder howmany people who have en-joyed Oscar Wilde’s work forover a century had no idea hewas gay. Apparently his beinggay had nothing to do with hissuccess in the eyes of his pub-lic. He was indispensablebecause he was Oscar Wilde.(The quote Mr. McAuliffe usesfrom Wilde is not one of hismore cogent. I doubt any but avery few would agree that gaylove is the “noblest form ofaffection.”)

I’m glad Mr. McAuliffewrote his contributing piece,and I will continue to readsimilar pieces with interest andas much fair-mindedness as Ican, even if they do give mepause. But he goes beyond thepale to insist that I change myvalues, set aside who I am (I’m

pretty indispensable, my-self) or do my clients adisservice by pretending tocelebrate the struggle theyhave with being torn be-tween two worlds.

The struggle, frankly, istragic. I will help them findthe inner strength to make theright choice for themselvesand accept what they cannotchange. But if they need acounselor to help them pillagesociety for not cheering theirlifestyle as much as theywould like, I will, ethically,refer them.Mike SpencerMelbourne, [email protected]

Reader provides reportfrom the front lines of California licensure battle

I read with great interest theFebruary issue of CounselingToday. I wanted to add a bit ofmaterial to the article titled“California licensure billstalls,” which appeared in theACA in Action column anddealt with the licensing effortfor professional counselors inCalifornia.

The article suggests that BillWilson’s testimony at the Cal-ifornia Assembly Business andProfessions Committee helpedpassage of AB 894, the Cali-fornia counselor licensure bill.While that is true, it does notmention that I was the otherdesignated speaker for the Cal-ifornia Coalition for CounselorLicensure. I am a licensed psy-chologist and marriage andfamily therapist and a coun-selor educator at San Francis-co State University with a pri-vate practice. I hold a 30-yearmembership in the AmericanCounseling Association. I wasasked by CCCL to give testi-mony to the Business and Pro-fessions Committee in Januaryas well as to the Joint Commit-tee on Boards, Commissionsand Consumer Protection lastDecember. We won that roundbefore we moved on to theBusiness and ProfessionsCommittee. Since CounselingToday is interested in reportingthe activities of ACA mem-bers, I thought you should beaware of this.

You should also know that Iand other CCCL members metwith the California State Psy-chological Association Politi-cal Action Committee chairand with the Board of Behav-ioral Science and its executivedirector. This has been a verydifficult and disillusioning bat-tle — less about serving andprotecting the public and moreabout protecting professionalturf. It has been especially dif-ficult for me because otherlicensed friends and col-leagues view me as a traitor.Nevertheless, what I havefound from this political expe-rience is that at least at thestate level, the membership ofACA and other interested par-ties need to contact and informlegislators. Letters are niceand are certainly helpful, butthis licensing game is aboutnumbers and politics. When Ispeak to members of theAssembly and Senate, they allwant to know the size of theconstituency I represent and,of course, who votes.Robert ChopeSan Francisco State University

Correction: In the January2006 article “EB-ACA, BACP:Counseling with a European‘flavor,’” the chief executive ofthe British Association forCounselling and Psychotherapywas misidentified as Jan Wat-son. Laurie Clarke has served asBACP’s chief executive sinceMay 2002. Counseling Todayregrets the error. �

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

4

Counseling Today Staff

PublisherRichard Yep800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]

Editor-in-ChiefJonathan Rollins800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]

Senior Staff WriterAngela Kennedy800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]

Advertising RepresentativeKathy [email protected]

Graphic DesignerCarlos J. Soto800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]

CT Column CoordinatorsWashington UpdateScott Barstow800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]

Finding Your WayJeffrey A. KottlerCalifornia State University— FullertonDepartment of CounselingFullerton, CA [email protected]

Dignity, Developmentand DiversityMichael D’AndreaDept. of Counselor Education1776 University Ave.University of HawaiiHonolulu, HI [email protected] DanielsDept. of Counselor Education1776 University Ave.University of HawaiiHonolulu, HI [email protected]

Student FocusRichard HazlerDept. of Counselor Education,Counseling Psychology andRehabilitation Services327 CEDAR BuildingPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA [email protected] ReviewsJames S. Korcuska624 Catalina Ave.Vermillion, SD [email protected]

ACA Journal SpotlightSusan X [email protected]

The AmericanCounseling AssociationPresidentPatricia Arredondo800.347.6647 ext. [email protected] [email protected] DirectorRichard Yep800.347.6647 ext. [email protected] Executive DirectorCarol Neiman800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]

Counseling Today(ISSN 1078-8719) is the monthly newspaper of theAmerican Counseling Association,5999 Stevenson Ave.,Alexandria, VA 22304–3300;Tel: 703.823.9800;Web: www.counseling.org.Subscriptions are available for $98 for 12 issues by calling PP&F at800.633.4931. Single copies areavailable at $9 each by callingACA in-house fulfillment at800.422.2648.Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria,Va., and additional mailing offices.Postmaster: Send addresschanges to: ACA Member Ser-vices, 5999 Stevenson Ave.,Alexandria, VA 22304. All rightsreserved, 2006 by the AmericanCounseling Association.

Editorial PoliciesCounseling Today accepts unso-licited articles and guest editorials.Please send via e-mail to [email protected] or to CounselingToday at 5999 Stevenson Ave.,Alexandria, VA 22304–3300 astyped, double-spaced copy. Sub-missions will not be returned.For more information, [email protected] to request acopy of the writing guidelines.

Letters PolicyCounseling Today welcomes lettersto the editor. Only letters fromindividuals will be published. Indi-viduals may write as often as theylike, but Counseling Today willprint only one letter per person pertopic in each 365-day period.Counseling Today will publishletters anticipated to be of interestto readers. Due to time and spacelimitations, letters cannot beacknowledged or returned, andCounseling Today reserves the rightto edit letters. Include your home and e-mailaddresses for contact purposes. Ifyou wish to have your e-mailaddress listed with your publishedletter, please specifically note thatin the body of your letter.Opinions expressed in letters do notnecessarily reflect the views ofACA or the Counseling Today staff.Send letters and comments toCounseling Today, Letters to theEditor, 5999 Stevenson Ave.,Alexandria, VA 22304-3300;Fax: 703.823.0252;E-mail: [email protected].

Anti-Discrimination PolicyThere shall be no discriminationagainst any individual on the basisof ethnic group, race, religion,gender, sexual orientation, age,and/or disability.

Mission StatementThe mission of the American Coun-seling Association is to enhance thequality of life in society by promot-ing the development of professionalcounselors, advancing the counsel-ing profession, and using the pro-fession and practice of counselingto promote respect for human dignity and diversity.

Counseling TodayVolume 48/Number 10

Counseling Today welcomesletters to the editor via e-mailat [email protected]. Lettersmay also be sent to Letters tothe Editor, c/o CounselingToday, 5999 Stevenson Ave.,Alexandria, VA 22304.

From the President – BY PATRICIA ARREDONDO

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

5

May there be peace on mor-tal, immortal and divine planes.I meditate to the most brilliantsplendor of spirit. May spiritguide us to take the correctaction at the correct time. Maythere be peace, the most won-derful peace.

As I sat down to write thiscolumn, I noticed an uneasi-ness. The words were notspilling onto the computerscreen. I had swirling thoughtsabout multiple topics that Iwanted to write about, but noth-ing felt cognitively coherent.Words and phrases trickled out,but nothing that led to the evo-lution of a column.

As luck would have it, I inter-

rupted the task of writing formy yoga class. I try to attendyoga class at least three times aweek — more if I’m not travel-ing. For me, yoga is a form ofspiritual, mental and physicalnourishment. I have been in-volved with yoga for nearly fiveyears, and after each 90-minutesession, I feel replenished, calmand emotionally stronger.Sometimes I feel as if I am justfloating away.

At the beginning of class, theinstructor generally invites us todedicate our practice to some-thing or someone. On this par-ticular day, the word “inspira-tion” immediately appeared inmy consciousness. Yes, my

practice would serve as a sourceof inspiration so that I couldreturn and put my thoughts topaper with ease and joy.

At the start of class, we oftenchant. Chanting is a ritual thathelps us to focus on our practiceand minimize stray thoughts thatare bound to flow in, oftenupsetting our concentration. Iam sharing the English versionof today’s mantra at the top ofthe column. Generally, we chantin Hindi because most of yoga isgrounded in Indian philosophyand worldviews. Surprisingly,after chanting the mantra threetimes, I found that I was veryconnected to the rhythm of ourvoices. I was breathing moreconsciously and no longer con-cerned about my writer’s block.

I am now back at the comput-er, ready to write about myattempts to practice wellness. Inso doing, I hope I will inspiresome of you to consider differ-ent avenues for bringing well-ness into your daily lives.

My routine of simple wellness practices

Since coming to Phoenixseven years ago, I have foundmany opportunities to work onmind-body balance. One of my

favorite activities is walking thelabyrinth at the nearby Francis-can Renewal Center. A labyrinthis defined as a maze of intercon-necting passages that allow theexplorer to circulate through. Iwalk the labyrinth because itallows me to connect with mythoughts and feelings, puttingme into a meditative state.

The worldview of AmericanIndians, the original residents ofthis vast Southwest, indicatesthat people, animals, plants, theearth and all forms of nature areinterconnected. Since moving toPhoenix, I have taken this prin-ciple to heart. When I take my1.5 mile walk around the neigh-borhood, I am keenly aware ofthe stark blue sky that serves asa backdrop for Piestewa Peakand Camelback Mountain. Inotice the tiny hummingbirdsbeating their tiny wings inmidair. I notice the colorfulwildflowers that decorate theearth, rocks and gardens. Then,of course, there are the phenom-enal cacti. If I want to get arefresher on the range of cacti, Idrive to the Botanical Gardens.There, I can wander liberallyamong desert gardens filledwith barrelhead, prickly pearand saguaro cactus.

Once again, I am surroundedand humbled by the power ofnature and plants. There is some-thing very peaceful here, and asthe mantra indicates, a sense ofsplendor and of the divine. Myappreciation for the AmericanIndian worldview of nature hasincreased greatly, and I feel veryfortunate that all of these placesof beauty are close by.

Symbols of spiritualityand wellness

The cultural influence ofAmerican Indians, primarily theHopi, Apache, Tohono O’othamand the Navajo, is pervasivethroughout Arizona and otherparts of the Southwest. Theirworldview, which is inclusive ofliving beings, plants and nature,holds respect and appreciationfor the power of animals.

I have been introduced tototem power stones, which arealso known as fetishes. Theseare carved objects, generallyfrom stone, in the shape of ananimal. Fetishes have meaningsthat I find to be sources of sup-port and reaffirmation. Forexample, the eagle is associatedwith terms such as divine, spirit

Practicing wellness for inspiration and balance


common goal is to determinehow best to help those in need.

From my perspective, it ishigh time that counseling pro-fessionals and others in themental health arena cometogether to take an in-depth lookat issues that affect the servicesbeing provided to children, ado-lescents, adults, couples andfamilies. We have an adminis-tration in Washington, D.C., thatis proud of its cuts in nondiscre-tionary domestic spending (i.e.,education, health care andhuman services). It seems to methat those of us involved inadvocating for people who areseeking help with life’s chal-lenges need to join forces nowmore than ever if we are tomaintain, and hopefullyincrease, the amount of fundingthat is spent on those in need.

If you are a member of ACA,please consider joining ourGovernment Relations listservso that you can stay up-to-dateon the latest developments inthe public policy arena and,

more importantly, find out whenyour voice is needed! You canjoin the network by sending ane-mail to [email protected]. It’s that easy.

I also want you to know thatACA will continue its efforts toform coalitions with thosewhose missions are consistentwith the association’s agenda.While we are here in large partto provide services so that ourmembers can become even bet-ter at what they do for theirclients and students, we alsoknow that you want us to con-sistently advocate for the pro-fession of counseling. Yourrenewal of membership in ACAeach year will tell us if we areon the right track.

However, I encourage you tomove beyond a “once-a-year”vote on the subject. You can dothis by simply telling us when-ever you identify a need that weshould address. Send us an e-mail, call us toll free(800.347.6647) or even send aletter through the mail and let

your voice be heard. If you arean ACA member, this is YOURassociation. We can only dowhat you want if we know thatyou want it.

While there is a finite budgetfor services and programs, themore information we have on aparticular subject, the better thedecision-making process will befor your elected leaders andyour professional staff here atACA headquarters.

In a world where our voicessometimes seem to be drownedout by others, know that as amember of ACA, we want yourvoice to be heard, especially aswe look at how best to provideservices, resources and advoca-cy on behalf of the counselingprofession.

As always, I hope you willcontact me with any comments,questions or suggestions thatyou might have. Please contactme via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at800.347.6647 ext. 231.

Thanks and be well. �

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

6

Coalitions and coalescingLast month, the American

Counseling Association collab-orated with three other nationalassociations to present infor-mation to congressional staffon school-based mental healthservices. ACA joined the Amer-ican School Counselor Associ-ation, the National Associationof School Psychologists andthe School Social Work Associ-ation of America in conjunctionwith the offices of Sens.Edward Kennedy (D-Mass)and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) toprovide compelling informa-tion about the growing needthat our nation’s students havefor school-based mental healthservices.

Key staff members of the sen-ators’offices offered remarks, asdid several professionals,including a professional schoolcounselor, school psychologist,

school social worker and a prin-cipal. In addition, the audienceheard from a parent who provid-ed firsthand information about asituation that involved herdaughter. She stressed the out-standing services that herdaughter had received from theschool counselor and schoolsocial worker.

This first-ever event was astunning success and demon-strated the growing importanceof working together in profes-sional coalitions.

Also last month, a meetingthat included master’s levelmental health care providersconvened to explore issues ofcommon concern to profession-al counselors, social workers,and marriage and family thera-pists. This group meets quarter-ly to discuss issues at the stateand national levels, and the

Executive Director’s Message – BY RICHARD YEP

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

7

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

8

BY ANGELA KENNEDY

On Feb. 23, American Coun-seling Association Nomina-tions and Elections Chair SamGladding called Brian Can-field to tell him the good news— Canfield had won the ACApresidential election and wouldbegin his term in July 2007.

For the past five years, Can-field has headed SoutheasternLouisiana University’sDepartment of Human Devel-opment. Previously he was amember of the EducationalLeadership and CounselingDepartment at the Universityof Louisiana-Monroe and alsotaught at Louisiana State Uni-versity-Shreveport and TexasA&M University. He earnedhis doctorate from TexasA&M and received both hismaster’s and bachelor’sdegrees from Louisiana TechUniversity. Canfield is alsothe past president of the Inter-national Association of Mar-riage and Family Counselors,a division of ACA. Counsel-ing Today caught up withACA’s future leader to find

out more about his vision forboth the association and thecounseling profession as awhole.

1. Why did you decide to runfor ACA president?

The counseling field in gen-eral and ACA in particular areevolving in a sociopoliticalcontext that presents uniquechallenges for our members. Anumber of friends and col-leagues, particularly those inthe International Associationof Marriage and Family Coun-selors and other divisions,encouraged me to run for ACApresident, believing that Imight be able to make a posi-tive contribution to the futuredirection and growth of ACA.

2. In the past, many ACApresidents have had a theme.Any thoughts as to what yourswill be?

I have some ideas, but I’mstill giving this some thought.

3. In running for ACA pres-ident, you said, “Healthybranches and divisions are the

key to a healthy ACA.” Whatdo you mean by that, and howdo you hope to achieve that inyour term?

Our association was foundedmore than 50 years ago by fourcounseling-related groups thatcame together to provide acommon voice. Even if it werepossible, I think it would beunwise to attempt to steercounseling into some genericidentity in which all counselorsare trained and cast in essen-tially the same mold. We are adiverse group whose memberswork with very different typesof client populations in variedsettings. While this diversitypresents some challenges, Ithink it is potentially one of ourgreatest strengths.

I’m hopeful we can find bet-ter ways to support interest andmembership in the divisionsand state branches among allACA members and vice versa.This could take many forms,such as enhanced dues incen-tives for joint ACA and divi-sion membership and rebatesfor division, region or statebranch members attending the

annual ACA conference. Weneed to find new ways to re-structure ACA in relation to thedivisions and branches so thatwe are not competing againsteach other for membership duesand other resources. This willnot be an easy task, and it canonly be accomplished by build-ing a strong consensus amongconstituent counseling groupsand within the ACA GoverningCouncil.

4. You also mentioned in-creasing membership. Whatare some of your ideas forimproving the value of ACAmembership and boosting themembership numbers?

The political reality is thatnumbers equal influence. Oneorganization speaking with thevoice of 50,000 members ispotentially more politically andsocially impactful than 10 orga-nizations of 5,000 memberseach. Helping all counselorsunderstand that a single profes-sional voice — one that onlyACA is potentially in a positionto provide — will have a directand meaningful impact upon thestatus of the counseling profes-sion and our ability to practice.However, this does not need tobe and cannot be done at theexpense of the divisions.

I think obtaining licensure inall 50 states by adding Califor-nia and Nevada to the foldshould remain a top priority.These additions would greatlyenhance our association.

5. You said, “I would work toincrease parity, particularly inthe public sector.” Explain howyou would like to forge orimprove these relationships.

The goal of professional pari-ty for counselors is realistic andobtainable. It is an ongoing taskthat requires a focused use ofour resources to educate thepublic and our legislators atboth the state and federal levels.The more members we have,both in our state associationsand within ACA, the strongerour voice in the legislativeprocess, which ultimately de-fines our scope of practice andthe roles we play in society.

6. You specifically mentionedworking with the Departmentof Defense. Why do you feelthis is an important partnershipto have?

Counselors will increasinglybe an invaluable resource inhelping military families andsociety in general to cope withthe inevitable challenges createdby the war on terrorism. As

such, we need to ensure thatcounselors are empowered toprovide services in both thecivilian and military sectors onpar with our social work col-leagues. I think the time is rightto build stronger partnershipswith the Department of Defenseand various branches of thearmed services.

7. You also noted that youwould like to work with theGoverning Council to revise/review fiscal and administra-tive policies to help ACA oper-ate more efficiently and cost-effectively. What financial con-cerns do you have about theorganization, and what im-provements do you hope tomake as president?

ACA must continue to oper-ate as a fiscally sound and opti-mally efficient corporation. Myperception is that, at present, weare on fiscally stable ground, tothe credit of our recent group ofelected leaders and professionalstaff. One of the benefits ofbringing “new blood” into topleadership roles is for ACA togain new perspectives. I have afairly extensive managementbackground, but I recognizethat a major task of the presi-dent-elect is to “listen andlearn” as much as possibleabout current association proce-dures and practices. I’m fortu-nate that I will have some excel-lent teachers to assist me in thislearning process. Only thenwould I be in any position tooffer specific thoughts as topossible improvements.

8. Leading up to your term,how do you see the organiza-tion? After your term, how doyou hope to leave the position?

In the past several decades Ihave watched the counselingfield become increasingly frag-mented. I would like to helpreverse that trend by positioningACA to serve as the umbrellaorganization for all counseling-related groups, while concur-rently empowering our divi-sions, chapters and regions.

9. Explain the ideas andambitions behind the “summitmeeting” you proposed whenrunning for ACA president.

A number of professionalassociations (e.g., the AmericanAssociation for Marriage andFamily Therapy, the AmericanPsychological Association, theNational Association of SocialWorkers) are spending a greatdeal of money and resourcesaddressing similar issues. While

Twenty questionswith Brian CanfieldGetting to know ACA’s new president-elect-elect

The Canfield family (left to right): daughters Sarah and Catherine, wife Irene, daughter Caroline,and Brian with son Jack.


Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

9

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

10

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

11

Counseling Career Corner – BY AMY REECE CONNELLY

Q: What’s the difference between aresume and a vita? And how do I knowwhich one I should use?

A: Let’s start with simple definitions.Webster’s Dictionary defines a resumeas a “condensed statement, or summa-ry.” In this case, it serves as a summaryof your experience. A vita, short for cur-riculum vitae, is Latin for “the course ofone’s life.”

The two terms are often used inter-changeably, with resume the more fre-quently used in the general population.Vita or “C.V.” (for curriculum vitae) ismore often used in academic and researchenvironments. Both types of documentsrelate the same kinds of information,including academic background, workhistory, significant accomplishments, etc.However, the presentation and the amountof information can vary substantially.

In general, a resume is a one- to two-page document (sometimes a littlelonger) that concisely describes thebackground of an individual. Because ofthe widespread use and availability of

computers, the resume has evolved dur-ing the last 20 years to become a docu-ment targeted for a specific purpose.With relatively few keystrokes and agood printer, a resume can be trans-formed to appropriately address theadvertised needs of a potential employer— assuming, of course, you have thedesired background.

A resume is intended to be brief. Achief executive officer with decades ofexperience in business may have a mul-tipage resume, but a one-page executivesummary that highlights the person’smost pertinent accomplishments is like-ly to accompany the document.

A vita, on the other hand, is supposed tolengthen over time. The vita includes thesame general categories of information asare found in most resumes, but in addi-tion it also features listings (oftenlengthy) of the individual’s publicationsand presentations. (This is, after all, adocument targeted for academe, where“Publish or Perish” is the mantra forlong-term survival.) As a result, vitae

tend to be substantially longer thanresumes.

In a vita, the “academic background”or “education” section is almost alwayspresented first (a nod to its academiccomfort zone), whereas “related profes-sional experience” usually leads off awell-written resume.

If you are applying for a position in anagency or a counseling center, you’llmore than likely send a resume. On theother hand, the application process forresearch and faculty positions will usu-ally require a curriculum vitae.

Career Center practical tip of themonth: If you have to use an industrial-strength stapler for your resume, youshould edit it down or write a one-pageexecutive summary. �

Resume or vita? What’s the difference?

Amy Reece Connelly is ACA’s managerof Career Services. Send her your career-related questions at [email protected].

Common categories used in both resumes and vitaeEducation or academic

backgroundLicensure/certification/

endorsementsProfessional experienceClinical experienceRelated experienceInternships/practicaCommunity involvementProfessional membershipsAwards/recognition/honorsPublicationsPresentations

Categories used more frequently in vitaeBooks and book chaptersRefereed publicationsWorks in progress/manuscripts

in progressPresentationsConference and workshop

presentationsInstitutional service/committeesGrants receivedSupervision experience Research or research in progress

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

12

BY MARK REISER

Editor’s note: This is part oneof a two-part series. Part twowill appear in the May 2006issue of Counseling Today.

You, my friend, are a truemusician. Without an instrumentin hand, you make music with-out even realizing it. For we areall, by our very nature, drum-mers. We clap when impressed.We tap our feet when hearing afavorite song. We bounce a pen-cil on a desk when nervous. Wepace our breathing whenstressed.

No doubt, rhythm is an inte-gral part of everyday life. Asdrummer Mickey Hart noted inan interview with Maclean’s,“Rhythm … is the one commondenominator we have. We’rerhythm animals.” Whether it’sthe steady pounding of ourheartbeat or the synchronizedfiring of neurons in our brain,we are driven by rhythm. Inessence, the drum is nature’suniversal instrument.

This universality is evidentwhen we peer into our past.Since ancient times, indigenouscultures have used drums in reli-gious ceremonies, healing ritu-als, tribal celebrations and com-munal expression. Too often we

seem to forget the lessons thatour ancestors can teach us. Butthis ancestral legacy — the heal-ing power of the drum — isbeing rediscovered the worldover. In particular, it is gradual-ly being embraced by the thera-peutic community. In fact, drumtherapy is currently being usedwith an astounding variety ofclients, from adult sexualoffenders to autistic children.Drums are providing a way forclients of all kinds to expressthemselves, connect with othersand heal from within.

My friend the drumWhile I am eager to jump into

the scores of ways in which peo-ple are using drum therapy —and why it is working — I amfirst compelled to address myown history with this topic.Admittedly, I was not drawn tothe drums 10 years ago by ther-apeutic goals. But just the same,I have reaped profound emo-tional rewards from my experi-ence on a drum kit.

As a teenager, I was enamoredwith some of the “masters” ofrock drumming: Keith Moon,John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell,Neil Peart. Gradually, I becameobsessed. When listening tomusic, the drums became theonly instrument that I heard.

Naturally, this fueled my desireto pick up the sticks. A few yearsago, I finally found the courageto buy a trap kit (snare drum,toms, bass drum, cymbals, etc.).Thus far, my relationship withthe drums has been nothingshort of magical.

The drums have provided mewith my most effective outletfor stress relief. Whether I’mnervous, angry or bored, I con-sistently feel lighter and happierafter a session on my kit. When-ever I feel exhausted fromstress, a light bulb immediatelycomes on, and I say, “Ooh, Iknow why I feel like this — it’sbeen too long since my last jamsession.” So I drum. Afterward,I have far more energy, motiva-tion and optimism.

The benefits do not stop there,because the drums also serve asmy emotional barometer. Ondays when I feel down, I playwith a slow tempo. When I’mfrustrated, my improvisationalskills are diminished; my drum-ming sounds sloppy and forced.When I’m happy, I play louderand cleaner. But regardless ofmy initial mood, I frequentlyplay until I find a steady rhythmand until I feel revived andenergized. In short, drums aremy therapy.

Drum therapy, you say?I am hardly unique in realiz-

ing the profoundly therapeuticpower of the drum. In fact,drums are becoming more com-monplace in the world of coun-seling. But how are they beingused and with whom? Let’sexplore how a special musicalinstrument can be so cathartic.

We’ll start with Doug, anautistic adult with severe senso-ry impairments. Doug was 40years old, virtually deaf andmute, and had severe visionimpairment. To experience thebenefits of therapy, Doug need-ed a voice — a way to interactboth with himself and others.Enter the drum.

Doug’s therapist, LawrenceKeats, chose to set up a series offour drum stations, each onedesigned to explore differentfacets of cognition, emotion and

both inter- and intrapersonalcommunication. As he describedin his article, “Doug: TheRhythm in His World,” Keatsnamed each station, with titlesranging from “Hello” to“What’s New?” Doug delightedin these exercises in percussion,often laughing and dancing withunbridled joy.

The various stations served aswindows into Doug’s world. AsKeats noted, “Doug’s choice ofdrums, combination of sonori-ties and the dynamic level atwhich he played were very oftenindicative of his emotional stateat the time.” Hmmm … thatsounds oddly familiar to how Iuse the drums. Parallel to myown experience, Doug createdunique and dynamic patterns ondays when he was in high spir-its. He was disjointed and with-drawn on the drums when hewas worried or anxious. Thatwas invaluable information forthe counselor, especially giventhat Doug could not expressthose emotions verbally.

Doug also gained a new socialconsciousness through thedrums. On the fourth drum sta-tion, “Let’s Jam,” Doug onceinvited his friend Grace for animpromptu jam session. Duringthat time, Keats noted that thethree of them were transformedinto a “spirited trio of creativityand laughter.” It became evidentto Keats that Doug was able to“experience the unique feelingthat one gets from entertainmentwith a fellow musician — evenmore special for Doug consider-ing his hearing impairment.” Intime, Doug’s skills on the drumsgrew tremendously, as did hisinterpersonal communicationwith the outside world. In short,the drums provided a way forDoug to know himself and reachout to his external world.

Like individuals with autism,Alzheimer’s patients are anotherpopulation that experiencessevere communicative impair-ments. Conny Tomaino of theInstitute for Music and Neuro-logical Function uses drumsextensively in therapy. In aninterview with the Wall Street

The rhythm of emotionUnleashing the therapeutic power of the drum


Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

13

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

14

Finding Your Way – BY HEATHER SAVARD

My mother woke me one morning, and Iknew, just by the look on her face, that theworld had shifted drastically in some way.From that moment on — the moment Iheard that Jessie, my 18-year-old sister,had died — everything in my familychanged forever.

Jessie spent her first night at collegewith her newfound friends at a fraternityparty. Around 1 a.m., after a night ofsocializing, Jessie and a young man leftthe party. While walking back to Jessie’sdorm, they decided to sit down on a grassyarea to continue discussing the foundationof their friendship. The discussion wasinterrupted, however, when the sprinklers

suddenly turned on. As they proceeded toan intersection, the young man noticedthat a car was approaching rapidly. Hetried to grab Jessie’s hand and pull heraside, but it was too late.

Two days later, the driver of the carturned himself in to the police department.With lawyer in tow, he admitted he wasthe owner of the abandoned, blood-spat-tered automobile. In spite of that fact, heentered a plea of “not guilty.” His lack ofaccountability only served to add rage tomy mourning process. I assumed, ofcourse, that my other family memberswere also experiencing the same feelingsof loathing that I had for the driver.

Instead, I was astounded by my father’sresponse to the situation. He was gen-uinely concerned about the well-being ofthe driver, as well as the driver’s family.In fact, my father said he understood thedriver’s “not guilty” plea. He knew thedriver never meant to hurt his daughter.It was an accident, a mistake. In otherwords, my father viewed the driver ofthe car as a victim too.

At that stage of my mourning process,I was struggling with the loss of a sister-ly relationship that was never given theopportunity to flourish and mature. Tomake the situation even tougher, my per-spective, my grief and my anger werenot being validated by the individualfrom whom I constantly sought accep-tance — my father. I detached myselfmentally, emotionally and physicallyfrom my family. I justified this disen-gagement by viewing my father’s per-ception and forgiveness of the driver asimmoral. My anger and fear provided afalse sense of security and an excuse toavoid being fully alive.

In the years following Jessie’s death, Ifound myself flailing about in a viciousdownward spiral that left me doubtingmy sense of self. I felt a void in my soul,which I desperately tried to fill by bing-ing on food and alcohol. I also exercisedexcessively in hopes of temporarilynumbing myself to the emptiness that Ifelt. Subconsciously, these outlets servedas a means of self-punishment that halt-ed me from the process of exploring mytoxic negative emotions.

The emotion that reared its head mostoften was anger. I found myself displac-ing my anger on the people who meantthe most to me — my family. I wasangry that no one discussed what hap-pened to Jessie, what we saw and heardat the trial or the reality of our family’saltered dynamics. Instead of being joyfulevents, birthdays and holidays only trig-gered painful memories and reminded usthat Jessie was gone.

As a result of feeling estranged frommy family, I indulged in social activi-ties. I interacted with individuals frommy past as well as new faces, but thesocializing was defined by drinking. Iwas reintroducing myself, socially, asthe girl who recently lost her youngersister; this became my identity. Drivenby my need for social acceptance, Ichanged my identity like a chameleon,blending in with the surrounding envi-ronment. When speaking with males, Iwould alter my perception (utilizing myfather’s viewpoint) and explain how Ihad “forgiven” the driver. Subcon-sciously, I was longing for acceptancefrom any male. On the other hand, whenconversing with other females, I would

confess my lack of forgiveness andexpress the anger and disgust I felt forthe driver. Indeed, my sense of self, aswell as the clarity of my feelings, wasmaimed. Ultimately, this repetitivesocial behavior sabotaged my “friend-ships,” resulting in isolation and anincreased lack of acceptance by others.

Of course, I used my interpretation ofmy family and my social detachment tojustify my anger — “they” don’t knowwhat it’s like; “they” don’t understandme. Consequently, I transformed myfeelings of anger and rejection into anexcessive exercise regime. In fact, atthe time, I viewed this routine as arenewed focus for improving myself. IfI were not accepted emotionally andsocially, perhaps I could be acceptedphysically. Every morning, I went tothe gym at 5. I proceeded to endure aone-and-a-half-hour cardiovascularworkout before concluding with a half-hour of weight training. This intensetwo-hour workout consistently mademe late for work, but I couldn’t bringmyself to leave the gym until I hadcompleted my exercise routine.

An additional ingredient in this “recipefor self-destruction” was food. My rou-tine now consisted of overeating, purgingand increased exercise. In other words,the manifestation of bulimia. Thesebehaviors were my coping mechanisms.They created a false sense of control (aswell as instant, though temporary, com-fort) in my desperate attempts to fill thevoid in my heart. This cycle was a toxicoutlet in which I continued to punishmyself for feelings of inadequacy, help-lessness and unworthiness.

Eventually, I voluntarily started coun-seling. Initially, I was extremely appre-hensive about going, in part because Iwas petrified to admit what I conscious-ly, as well as “subconsciously,” knew. Atthe end of my first session, I courageous-ly admitted that I was engaging in self-destructive behaviors. Of course, at thattime, I believed Jessie’s death was thecatalyst for these behaviors. But in fact,numerous factors had contributed to myself-destructive behaviors, including afear of abandonment and lack of accep-tance. These were compounded by beingraised in an authoritarian, critical house-hold and interwoven with alcoholism(across generations).

Forgiveness became the catalyst foraltering my perceptions and challengingmy fears, assumptions and grievances topromote a stronger sense of self. In addi-tion, I was able to transform judgment ofmy father’s response to Jessie’s deathinto a channel for growing self-accep-tance. In so doing, I have become moreforgiving of both myself and the man

Holding on to Jess, letting go of the rest

of my father’s forgiveness enriches mylife and my work as a counselor. Hisexample of forgiveness has taught me toaccept myself. This generates accep-tance of others, and I find that people areinnately good.

The turning point in my counselingcame when I realized that instead of judg-ing or attacking people’s character, Ineeded to accept individuals and theiremotions with respect. I exhibit uncondi-tional love for others and myself, givingmy clients permission to open their mindsand emotions to receive feedback. Every-one has a story to tell.

Forgiveness and a nonjudgmental out-look are the gifts that I pass along frommy father to others, as well as to myself.

Every day I strive to be myself. I respect-fully listen to my inner voice, unwrappingthe connection to my inner being.Through the adversity of Jessie’s deathand my father’s forgiving response to thispersonal tragedy, I also became empow-ered in my ability to forgive. As a result, Ialso have an increased passion for coun-seling others. �

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

15

Heather Savard is a school counselor at Millstone Township Middle Schoolin Clarksburg, N.J., and a graduatestudent at Kean University.

Jeffrey A. Kottler is the column coordinator for Finding Your Way. Submit columns for consideration [email protected].

who killed my sister. I now accept that itwas an accident, a mistake. I take nopleasure in his downfall; in fact, I knowthat his wife, his two small children andhis parents are victims as well.

Even though the process is ongoing, Ican confidently attest that I am achievinga stronger sense of identity. Through myjourney, I have been given the opportuni-ty to explore the essential elements of mysoul and define my sense of self. Indeed,this inner search has enhanced my accep-tance of my personal style, perceptions,desires, skills, internal barriers and needs.I am aware of and appreciate my individ-uality, which encompasses both mystrengths and, more importantly, myweaknesses. In the beginning of my ther-

apeutic journey, the power of choice wasone of my weaknesses because I chose toengage in self-destructive behaviors.However, after facing my vulnerabilities,I am empowered by the concept ofchoice, which is directly connected to myacceptance of a healthier sense of self.For example, I am aware that I truly donot enjoy drinking to get drunk. In regardto exercising, I am aware that, at times, itdoes take on a form of punishment,depending on the state of my emotions.

I have woven the experience of mysister’s death into the essence of my ownlife. As a school counselor, I am keepingJessie’s spirit and soul alive by utilizingher death as a catalyst for a new, nour-ishing perspective on life. The posture

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

16

BY COLIN C. WARD

“Counselors need to recog-nize their expertise and thatbecoming counselors occursnot by accident but by hundredsof hours of training and coursework. … To be silent while oth-ers talk about counseling andsay that ‘anyone can counsel’implies we have no profession-al pride.” — Jane Myers &Thomas Sweeney (2002)

As described by Edwin Herrin 1985 in the Journal of Counseling & Development,the American Counseling Asso-ciation was founded as a “confederation of relativelyautonomous, incorporated na-tional divisions reflecting dif-ferent sets of member interests,employment settings and pro-fessional functions.” Whileemphasizing a common profes-sionalism, ACA has retainedthe right of divisions toadvance their own special inter-

ests. But as numerous counsel-ing specialties and diversecounseling roles have evolved,it has sometimes been difficultto maintain the professionaland political strength that isgained through greater unity.

In an interview published inthe July 2005 issue of Counsel-ing Today, Reese House sug-gested that professional coun-seling might address this strug-gle by unifying through a com-mon voice of social change. Toexplore this topic further, Ispoke with Jane Myers, a pastpresident of ACA and a distin-guished scholar on issues relat-ed to counseling, aging andwellness.

Colin Ward: What wouldyou describe as the key ele-ments in your development asan agent of social change?

Jane Myers: I think what hasinfluenced me the most arethose individuals whom I haveadmired or respected, especial-ly when I was growing up. As a

child I wanted to be like AlbertSchweitzer because I admiredhis selfless devotion to theneeds of others and his tremen-dous reverence for life in all itsforms. He was a great humani-tarian who set up a hospital inAfrica to serve people who hadno access to health care.

In the sixties, I read JohnKennedy’s book Profiles inCourage and found manyheroes whose lives spoke totheir passion in following acause. I was drawn to MartinLuther King as a leader andsaw the goals and ideals that hebelieved in as worthy of pursu-ing. But I saw myself not somuch as an advocate for socialchange on a macro level but assomebody who, on a microlevel, worked with individualsto bring about change in theirlives.

I would say it is who clientsare as individuals that mattersto me. I have trouble seeingclasses of people when there isan individual in front of me. Ihave never wanted to be out onthe front lines, being the leaderand standing up and convincingother people that they shouldwant to change. Rather, I seemy role as working one-on-oneand encouraging others to bethe macro-level leaders.

CW: As you continue tothink about your own develop-ment as a counselor and advo-cate, what obstacles did youneed to overcome?

JM: First, I needed to learn towork within bureaucratic sys-tems that I found stifling. Ifound that I was unable toadvocate effectively for clientswhen I found myself in conflictwith administrators and the sys-tem. When I moved into highereducation I found that, althoughthere are still politics, I hadmuch more freedom to choosewhat I would like to do.

The other obstacle was myown personal growth. I havehad to deal with being a prod-uct of a dysfunctional familyand how that influenced me asan adult. I have often wonderedhow much more effective Imight have been in my work asa counselor, and as a person,had I participated in counselingat a young age. As an advocacyissue, I think we need to ensurethe availability of counseling toyoung people to increase theircapacity to cope with life chal-lenges — both the ones theyexperience growing up and

those they will encounteracross the life span.

CW: So as you developed asan adult, you began to havemore clarity about what washappening around you as well asyour role as a social advocate?

JM: Yes, that and the experi-ence of working with a varietyof clients. I came to realize thatI was not effective with somepeople and some client popula-tions. Coming to terms withthat was a major move forwardin my life. I could focus on mystrengths. I think the challengegoes back to accepting every-body.

I worked with an offendercaseload and had two men onwork release follow me homeone night. I realized, “This isnot a good thing.” I couldn’tsave everybody, and I couldn’tbe open to the possibility of try-ing to do that. I had to look atwhat I reasonably could beexpected to do and what I wasdrawn most to do. That turnedout to be a passion for workingwith adults with disabilities andolder adults (many of whomalso have disabilities).

CW: So a focus on what youhave a passion for. In yourrecent survey on Advocacy inthe Counseling Profession, youand Thomas Sweeney concludethat there is a need to betteridentify characteristics of effec-tive counselor advocates. Whatcharacteristics have you foundimportant in your own develop-ment as a counselor advocate?

JM: I would have to say apassion for the counseling pro-fession and for the people weserve as counselors. A passionfor work with clients is whatgot me involved and whatkeeps me involved, and mylove of the profession devel-oped the more I learned aboutwhat counselors do and how tobe effective in our variousroles.

One of the things I like to dois to help other people discoverwhat their particular passion isand to pursue that, as there arefar more individual and socialneeds than any of us can singu-larly or collectively meet. Iguess this translates into a lot ofindividual work with studentsproviding support and encour-agement. Being an introvert, Ido best one-on-one. I don’tespecially like large classes,and when I have them, I try tofind a way to connect with stu-dents individually. It is those

Advocacy andprofessionalcounselingAn interview with Jane Myers

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

17

individual relationships andthe encouragement withinthose relationships that aremeaningful to me.

I really do want people towant to be professional coun-selors. I can’t think of a betterjob to have. I don’t want peo-ple to tread water goingthrough our counselor educa-tion programs and just get by. Iwant them to really get in thereand look for the best in them-selves and find out what theirniche is. I think a commitmentto excellence is the hallmarkof a good counselor, in what-ever role they choose.

CW: You want to push themto identify and focus on theirarea of professional passion.

JM: Yes. Further, I don’texpect anyone to be just likeme. We all have unique gifts,and as teachers and supervi-sors, we need to help studentsfind out what their unique giftsmay be. We can help super-visees find an area of passionas well as provide them theskills they need to be effectiveadvocates. When one is pas-sionate, can one help but be anadvocate for positive change?

Reese House’s point aboutidentifying a group of com-mitted allies targets the needto network. You have to go outand find people to networkwith if you are going to find away to create change. Youhave to build on people’sstrengths. When we are look-ing at counselors, individuallyand collectively, we have atremendous variety ofstrengths and a tremendousvariety of potential.

Somewhere in the programor in supervision we have tohave a process where peoplecome together and have somedialogue as well as encourage-ment from each other. Rightnow we send people out andsay, “Go forth and makechange,” but I believe wehaven’t given them adequateskills and we haven’t helpedthem develop a commitment touse those skills.

CW: How do we promote acommitment from counselorstoward advocacy work?

JM: I think we start withcounselor preparation. Train-ing in advocacy has to beinfused in our professionalstandards so that all counselorsreceive training in this criticalskill. I think we have to trainevery counselor with the skills

required to be an effectiveadvocate. They have to knowthat this is part of their roleregardless of the setting inwhich they work or the clientpopulations with whom theywork. We have to expose peo-ple to the broad range of strate-gies for what advocacy is andwhat differences it can makeand then help them carrythrough with the challenge ofbecoming an advocate forchange.

CW: What holds us back as aprofession from doing more ofthis?

JM: Well, although theCACREP standards includeadvocacy in the core curricu-lum standards and in the doc-toral standards, I think we lacka strong advocacy curriculumto implement the standards.More and more counselor edu-cation programs are responsiveto the standards, which areminimum expectations. How-ever, to meet the standards,only minimal training in advo-cacy is required, and this can

be theoretical and not practical. Many programs are small and

struggling, and if they can hitthe minimum they are doingquite well. Not all programs areaccredited, either. All programshave their own unique em-phases that make them strong.However, advocacy seems tobe an area where we could domore in terms of training.

Our professional associationshave government relations andadvocacy committees at thestate and local levels which dotheir own training for members.Chi Sigma Iota has a strongadvocacy emphasis, and NBCC(National Board for CertifiedCounselors) has a strong advo-cacy emphasis. We need to starttraining counselors with theexpectation that the skills ofadvocacy are an integral part ofwhat the profession is aboutand are central to who we are asprofessionals.

If we can be clear about ourcounselor identity and clearabout our roles as advocatesand the expectations that this

embodies, I think we will dobetter in the future, for both ourprofession and the clients weserve. If you take a class of 40counseling students and say,“How many of you consideryourselves advocates?” youmight get some hands, but mostwill say, “More or less.” Theywill walk around it. I’d likecounselors to graduate and say,‘Oh, yes, I am an advocate!”

CW: So we need to find away for the profession to hangits hat on the identity and skillsof advocacy. How do we goabout doing that?

JM: We need somethingmore in our training programs.Let me say “we” loosely. Ifmost programs are like theones I have taught in, the facul-ty has not sat down togetherand discussed advocacy assomething that is mandatoryfor the curriculum.

In many programs, advocacytraining and advocacy activitiesare being emphasized throughCSI (Chi Sigma Iota) chapters.CSI members, both students

and professionals, have recog-nized the need. The CSI Advo-cacy Committee is very strongand one of the most importantinitiatives of our CSI chapter.The committee writes letters toall the students every yearencouraging them to engage inadvocacy activities and ex-plaining to them what advocacymeans. There are also work-shops on advocacy techniquesand strategies. The CSI statecounseling organization has anadvocacy listserv, and we makesure all students are members.We encourage students to writeletters and/or be involved inlocal organizations.

The one thing that comesback to me over and over is thatthere is advocacy for the pro-fession and there is advocacyfor the people the professionserves. I don’t see them asmutually exclusive. I becomefrustrated with people whothink that advocacy for the profession is self-serving andcriticize the time spent in


Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

18

According to the first state-by-state report on the nation’smental health care system inmore than 15 years, the UnitedStates gets only a D grade forhelping adults with serious men-tal illnesses. “Grading theStates: A Report on America’sHealth Care System for SeriousMental Illnesses” was funded bythe Stanley Family Foundation.The National Alliance on Men-tal Illness released the 230-pagereport in March.

According to NAMI, the re-port confirms in detail for thefirst time what a presidentialcommission appointed by Presi-dent George W. Bush has called“a system in shambles” andwhat the Institute of Medicine ofthe National Academy of Sci-ences recently called a “chasm”between promise and practice.Grades were calculated by scor-ing 39 criteria and were based inpart on a survey of state mentalhealth agencies conducted be-tween October and December oflast year.

No state recorded a gradehigher than a B, and only fivestates received grades higherthan a C-plus: Connecticut,

Ohio, Maine, South Carolinaand Wisconsin.

On the other hand, eight statesreceived F’s: Iowa, Idaho, Illi-nois, Kansas, Kentucky, Mon-tana, North Dakota and SouthDakota.

“Grades are more than reportcards,” said NAMI ExecutiveDirector Michael J. Fitzpatrick.“They reflect standards that helppeople recover and choicesbeing made by governors andlegislatures every day. Statesdoing well in the report havedeveloped a common vision andpolitical will to move their treat-ment systems forward.”

Millions of adults with schizo-phrenia, bipolar disorder andmajor depression depend pri-marily on state public healthsystems for treatment and sup-port services. “Treatment works,if you can get it and if states getit right,” said Ken Duckworth,NAMI’s medical director.“Unfortunately, too many statesare willing to risk or toleratepremature deaths.”

Duckworth warned that D’sare unacceptable, while C’s canhardly be considered a passinggrade. “If you need heart

surgery, you don’t want a sur-geon who only got a C in med-ical school,” he said. “The sameprinciple applies in helping peo-ple with mental illnesses. Toomany states are behind thecurve. They are not keepingpace by moving toward a recov-ery-oriented health care systembased on proven, cost-effectivepractices. They are selling tax-payers short by settling forpieces of systems that are large-ly obsolete.”

The NAMI report makes sev-eral recommendations:� Invest in proven, cost-effec-

tive practices (i.e, evidence-based practices)

� Increase funding tied to per-formance and recovery

� Improve data collection� Increase access to information� Involve consumers and fami-

lies at all levels� Eliminate discrimination

In addition to being the onlypopulous state to receive an Fgrade, Illinois ranked 46th in thenation in a “consumer and fami-ly test drive” of informationaccessibility conducted throughthe state mental health agency’swebsite and telephone system.According to NAMI, in oneinstance an Illinois agencyemployee told a consumer, “No,I don’t want to help you.”

“Getting help means gettingaccess to information,” Duck-worth said. “When 40 statescan’t pass a pop quiz on provid-ing basic information to the peo-ple they are supposed to serve,then the system is in trouble.”

States that received excellent“test drive” scores were Ten-nessee, Ohio, Indiana, SouthCarolina, Michigan and WestVirginia.

Fitzpatrick predicted thereport would have policy conse-quences. “Consumer and familyadvocates will use it as a tool forchange,” he said. “Governorsand legislators should use it as achecklist. The goal is to raise thelevel of awareness, dialogue andcreative action.”

He hopes the report’s impactwill extend to national debate.“Iowa is a prime example,” Fitz-patrick said. “It gets an F over-all. Eighty-nine out of 90 of itscounties are classified as rural,but the state lacks a strategy foraddressing distinctive ruralneeds. Tell that to presidentialcontenders in 2008 who plan onvisiting the state.”

He also noted that NewHampshire, once considered tohave one of the nation’s best

mental health care systems, wasone of 19 states to receive a D.

Colorado and New Yorkdeclined to participate in thesurvey and were graded U for“unresponsive.” NAMI hascalled on the New York Legisla-ture to investigate the stateOffice of Mental Health after itsrefusal to participate. Coloradodeclined to participate becauseof “significant staffing reduc-tions” and lack of data, but NewYork offered no excuse.

“Access to mental health caredepends on access to informa-tion,” Fitzpatrick wrote in aMarch 1 letter to the New Yorkstate legislative committeesthat oversee the agency. “Ac-countability depends on open-ness. Public confidence cannotexist in health care systems thatdo not respond.”

Fitzpatrick also noted thatNew York’s attitude toward thenational survey was in “dramat-ic contrast” to that of Alabama,Louisiana and Mississippi, allof which participated “even inthe wake of the catastrophecaused by Hurricanes Katrinaand Rita.”

According to NAMI, NewYork ranked 16th in the nationin the consumer and family testdrive of basic informationaccessibility.

Overall grades for helpingadults with serious mental ill-nesses were assigned as follows:

B: Connecticut, OhioB-minus: Maine, South Car-

olina, WisconsinC-plus: Maryland, Michigan,

Minnesota, OregonC: California, District of

Columbia, Hawaii, New Jersey,Rhode Island, Texas

C-minus: Delaware, Florida,Massachusetts, Missouri, NewMexico, Tennessee, Vermont

D-plus: Arizona, North Car-olina, Pennsylvania

D: Alaska, Alabama, Georgia,Mississippi, Nebraska, NewHampshire, Oklahoma, Utah,Virginia, Washington, West Vir-ginia, Wyoming

D-minus: Arkansas, Indiana,Louisiana, Nevada

F: Iowa, Idaho, Illinois,Kansas, Kentucky, Montana,North Dakota, South Dakota

U: Colorado, New York

The report, including individ-ual state narratives and scoringtables, is available online atwww.nami.org/grades. �

Nation’s mentalhealth care systemreceives D gradeOnly five states earn better than a C-plus, while eight states get failing marks in latest report

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

19

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

20

ACA 2007 – 2008 Election Results

AACEAACE President-ElectDonna M. Gibson

Governing Council RepresentativeBradley T. Erford

SecretaryCatherine Y. Chang

Member-at-Large (MAL) AwardsJoshua Watson

AADAAADA President-ElectCarolyn Greer

SecretarySummer Reiner

Member-at-Large MembershipLarry Burlew

ACCAACCA President-ElectRichard Hanson

SecretaryShannon Andreas

Member-at-LargeKathryn (Tina) P. Alessandria

ACEGACEG SecretaryJanet E. Wall

TreasurerPatricia A. Siulte

Board of Directors Grey Edwards, Jr.Nancy M. Shrope

ACESACES President-ElectJudi Durham

SecretaryCarlotta Willis

AGLBICAGLBIC President-ElectPhyllis Mogielski-Watson

Governing Council RepresentativeNed Farley

TrusteeAnneliese Singh

AMCDAMCD President-ElectCirecie A. West-Olatunji

Governing Council RepresentativeQueen D. Fowler

NAR RepresentativeMark E. Kenney

MWR RepresentativeKaren Bibbins

WR RepresentativeDione Taylor

ASERVICASERVIC President-ElectMichele Kielty Briggs

Governing Council RepresentativeJ. Scott Young

Board of Directors H. Ray WootenHolly Hartwig MoorheadMarsha Wiggins-FrameMarie F. Shoffner

ARCAARCA President-ElectPatty Nunez

Governing Council RepresentativeCarolyn Rollins

TreasurerRichard Coelho

Council on Research & KnowledgeJoseph E. Keferl

Council on Administration, Organization & ManagementConnie McReynolds

ASGWASGW President-ElectJanice DeLucia-Waack

TreasurerRebecca Schumacher

CSJCSJ President-ElectHugh Crethar

Governing Council RepresentativeSandy Lopez-Baez

Retired RepresentativeGeorge Andrews

Communications OfficerDenise Pickering

Student RepresentativeAmelia Risner

C-AHEADC-AHEAD President-ElectColette T. Dollarhide

SecretaryJohn F. Arman

NECANECA President-ElectCarolyn Kalil

Governing Council RepresentativeKay Brawley

SecretaryLinda Kobylarz

Board of TrusteesMary Ann DavisMargaret Robinson

IAAOCIAAOC President-ElectSimone Lambert

SecretaryNicole Pizinni

Western RegionGoverning Council RepresentativeLaura Jo Severson

American Counseling AssociationPresident-Elect Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6

� Brian S. Canfield 579 600 646 680 759 833

A. Michael Hutchins 388 406 433 459 NA NAWyatt D. Kirk 318 337 NA NA NA NAMichael C. Lazarchick 252 NA NA NA NA NAJudith A. Seaborn 550 574 598 675 721 818Colleen R. Logan 536 553 581 629 691 NALynn E. Linde 375 395 426 NA NA NA

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

21

The best practices movementin counseling parallels theempirically supported treatmentsmovement in the broader worldof psychology. Both are organi-zational efforts to identify spe-cific treatments that are optimalfor specific disorders.

In the January 2006 Counsel-ing and Values (pages 154-160),J.T. Hansen argues that the bestpractices movement is inconsis-tent with the traditional values ofthe counseling profession. Thebest practices movement clearlyfollows the medical model bymatching treatments to diseases.In contrast, during the past fewdecades researchers in counsel-ing outcomes have endorsed theeffectiveness of common factors,finding little evidence that anyspecific technique is necessaryfor therapeutic change.

In best practices studies, clientproblems are defined by DSM-IV-TR diagnoses, which coun-selors usually view as reductiveand unreliable. These studiescannot usually be generalized toreal counseling practice, whereclients do not represent pureexamples of defined disorders asresearch clients do (or asresearchers hope they do). Thevalues of the counseling profes-sion promote a holistic view ofthe client rather than a view ofthe client as a person with a spe-cific disorder.

Finally, the word “best” in bestpractices suggests a hierarchyfrom best to worst, whereascounselors are urged to under-stand that “best” is a matter ofperspective. Hansen fears thatadopting a best practicesapproach “will have a stiflingeffect on diversity and innova-tion” by discounting alternativeconceptualizations.

Do your clients get better?Then prove it

“Mental health counseling isnearly unique in that its productis comparatively invisible,”writes Todd W. Leibert in theintroduction to “Making ChangeVisible: The Possibilities inAssessing Mental Health Coun-seling Outcomes” (Journal ofCounseling & Development,Winter 2006, pages 108-112). Inthis article, Leibert establishesthe desirability of measuring thedegree and rate of client change.Furthermore, he argues for stan-

Best practices, worse valuesdardizing assessment methodsso that outcome studies can becompared and for using normedmeasures with known psycho-metric properties so that clientscan be compared to similarclients as well as to the general,nontreatment population.

Leibert goes on to explain inclear language the measurementdifficulties inherent in outcomeassessment. The person whorates a client’s improvement —be it clients themselves, thetherapist, an outside observer orthe client’s significant other —strongly affects the bases usedfor rating. (For instance, clientsoften rate their counselors high-ly because they have felt under-stood; therapists rate theirclients’ change highly becausethey want to be effective.) Theratings method employed —using true-or-false statements, 1 to 5 scales or checklists —also influences how a rater

answers questions. Client satis-faction surveys, which manyagencies depend on, are re-turned only 5 to 10 percent ofthe time, but they contain posi-tive feedback 80 percent of thetime. Again, a client can behighly satisfied for many rea-sons, not all of which correlateto positive change.

Tailoring the outcome mea-sure to the client with assess-ments such as the Target Com-plaint Inventory, which lets dif-ferent goals be set for eachclient, means that comparingclient groups is difficult, andcombining data from differentclients produces results that arehard to interpret. Counselorswho work in agencies thatendeavor to come up with clientoutcome data will benefit great-ly from Leibert’s knowledge-able and well-written overviewof the technical aspects of mea-surement.

Exploring the multipleroles of career clients

A constructivist approach tocareer counseling includes ex-ploring the client’s perspectiveon life roles and their relationsto each other. Life roles includepositions such as son or daugh-ter, student, leisurite, citizen,worker, spouse or partner,homemaker, parent and retiree.These roles take on differentproportions in our lives at dif-ferent times, and their salienceis affected by the culture andsubcultures that influence us.

In “A Constructivist Look atLife Roles,” which appears inthe December 2005 issue of TheCareer Development Quarterly(pages 138-149), Pamelia E.Brott summarizes several coun-seling techniques that careercounselors can use to helpclients identify life roles in theirpast, present and desired future.Several of these techniques are

graphic exercises designed tomap out roles: life-space maps,life lines, life-space genograms(three-generation family treesof occupations) and life rolescircles. Other techniques, suchas life roles analysis and liferoles assessment, utilize lists ofquestions that shed light on val-ues, beliefs, and costs and bene-fits of role expectations. Coun-selors looking for techniques toilluminate a client’s life as awhole will be interested in thisarticle. �

Textbook author Susan X Dayteaches research methods andadvises graduate students incounseling education at theUniversity of Houston. She can be contacted at [email protected].

To subscribe to any of thejournals mentioned in this column, call 800.633.4931.

ACA Journal Spotlight – BY SUSAN X DAY

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

22

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

23

information to ensure that clients receivethe necessary help.”

Because of this statement, counselorscannot be brought up on charges to theACA Ethics Committee of doing harmby helping a terminally ill client exploreend-of-life decisions. The other side isthat counselors who feel that their ownmorality and personal views will notallow them to assist terminally ill clientswho wish to explore end-of-life optionscannot be brought up on charges forrefusing to assist the client, as long asthey provide appropriate referral infor-mation. (Editor’s note: Note that statelaws that conflict with this response takeprecedence.)

DK: Does competence play into thedecision about whether to provide end-of-life care to terminally ill clients?

VT: Yes. The provision of end-of-lifecare is a very specialized and complicat-ed matter. It requires knowledge ofholistic approaches — not just counsel-ing interventions but also knowledge ofmedicine and the exploration of spiritu-ality. There are very particular types ofskills involved, and counselors who arein a general practice at times will needto consult with or refer to a variety ofprofessionals.

CM: Competence in working withterminally ill clients means having theability to integrate the clients’ physical,emotional, social, spiritual, cultural andfamily needs into a plan that helps themeffectively work through this last devel-opmental life stage.

DK: Let’s get back to the importantaspirational aspect of Standard A.9.,“End-of-Life Care for Terminally IllClients.” While we have been focusingon mandates, this standard actually hasa preponderance of aspirational state-ments.

CM: This was not just written as a“nuts and bolts” standard. As I statedbefore, it is important to remember that

we are working with clients on a devel-opmental moment in their life that willaffect how peacefully they die, whattheir legacy will be and the impact theyhave on their family and community offriends.

VT: Counselors are different than suchprofessionals as clinical psychologistsbecause, in addition to assisting theclient with solving problems they mayexperience, we focus on assets and thegrowth and development that one canexperience during the dying process. Sothe “Quality of Care” section of A.9. waswritten to make sure that we don’t getlost in the stampede to focus on the actu-al moment of death or the method ofdeath, so we do not get bogged downpurely in legal details.

The “Quality of Care” section focuseson making sure that we are attuned tohelping clients obtain high-quality end-of-life care for their physical, emotional,social and spiritual needs, exercising thehighest degree of self-determinationpossible, giving them every possibleopportunity to engage in informed deci-sion-making regarding their end-of-lifecare and receiving complete and ade-quate assessment regarding their abilityto make competent, rational decisions ontheir own behalf from a mental healthprofessional who is experienced in end-of-life care practice.

DK: Both of you, as well as the entireEthical Code Revision Task Force, are tobe congratulated for writing a very sen-sitive and helpful new standard thatfocuses on the best interests of a clientwith a terminal illness. �

Editor’s note: American CounselingAssociation members received the 2005ACA Code of Ethics bundled with theDecember 2005 issue of CounselingToday. Completed over a three-yearperiod, this revision of the ethical codeis the first in a decade and includesmajor updates in areas such as confiden-tiality, dual relationships, the use oftechnology in counseling, selectinginterventions, record keeping, end-of-life issues and cultural sensitivity.

All ACA members are required toabide by the ACA Code of Ethics, and 21state licensing boards use it as the basisfor adjudicating complaints of ethicalviolations. As a service to members,Counseling Today is publishing amonthly column focusing on newaspects of the ACA Code of Ethics (theethics code is also available online atwww.counseling.org/ethics). ACA ChiefProfessional Officer David Kaplan con-ducted the following interview withVilia Tarvydas and Christine Moll, twomembers of the ACA Ethical Code Revi-sion Task Force.

David Kaplan: The 2005 revision ofthe ACA Code of Ethics breaks newground in addressing the needs of theterminally ill and end-of-life care (seeStandard A.9.).

Christine Moll: Palliative end-of-lifecare is a growing area for all human ser-vice practitioners, whether they arecounselors, social workers or psycholo-gists. Through the new standard on end-of-life care, ACA has become a pioneerin addressing the immediate needs of theterminally ill in our society. In addition,Standard A.9 was written to assist coun-selors for the next 10 years, and I thinkthat this is truly visionary.

DK: Why did the Ethical Code Revi-sion Task Force feel that it was impor-tant to address end-of-life care?

Vilia Tarvydas: The ACA EthicsCommittee had been periodically receiv-ing inquiries about end-of-life care. Thenumber of inquiries grew with theimplementation of the Oregon assistedsuicide law and some prominent cases,such as the Terri Schiavo right-to-diecase in Florida. It became obvious to usthat our code was not giving sufficientguidance to counselors.

CM: We are affirming the right of aperson to determine their level of care,and if that means talking with their doc-tor about hastening their death, thenthat’s where that person’s right of deter-mination is. We recognize that this is ascontroversial for many counselors withparticular religious values and moralitystances as the issue of abortion. We arenot taking a moral stance on this, and weare not promoting physician-assisted

suicide. What we are promoting is anindividual’s right to determine their ownchoice.

DK: Isn’t the new end-of-life carestandard about more than physician-assisted suicide?

VT: Absolutely! It is really all abouthelping a client maximize their qualityof life. The section is focused on helpingterminally ill clients live with a decentquality of life until they die. It recog-nizes the terminal illness but focuses onthe need to be alive until the moment ofdeath, to make choices, get emotionalsupport and meet holistic needs whilethe client is still alive.

CM: The new standard focuses on theend-of-life developmental stage thataffects the client, their family, theirlegacy and their community of friends.It is about developing and implementingplans that will increase and enhance aclient’s ability to make decisions andremain as independent and/or self-determining as possible.

VT: And the new ethical code standardmakes it clear that professional coun-selors can play an important role in pro-viding end-of-life care for terminally illclients.

DK: The recent revision of the ACACode of Ethics calls for confidentialityto be broken to protect a client from“serious and foreseeable harm” (seeStandard B.2.a). Does the new standardspeak to confidentiality with a terminal-ly ill client who wishes to consider has-tening his or her death?

CM: Standard A.9.c. states, “Coun-selors who provide services to terminal-ly ill clients who are considering hasten-ing their own deaths have the option ofbreaking or not breaking confidentiality,depending on applicable laws and thespecific circumstances of the situationand after seeking consultation or super-vision from appropriate professional andlegal parties.”

So in and of itself, a statement from aterminally ill client that they want yourhelp in thinking through the issue of has-tening their death does not constituteserious and foreseeable harm and thuswould not automatically call for thebreaking of confidentiality.

DK: Can an ethical complaint be filedwith ACA against the counselor for vio-lating the edict to “do no harm” if thecounselor agrees to assist a terminally illclient to explore the hastening of his orher own death?

VT: Standard A.9.b. states that “Rec-ognizing the personal, moral and compe-tence issues related to end-of-life deci-sions, counselors may choose to work ornot work with terminally ill clients whowish to explore their end-of-life options.Counselors provide appropriate referral

Ethics Update – BY DAVID KAPLAN

Next month: A new focus on culturalsensitivity

Letters to the editor: [email protected]

End-of-life care for terminally ill clients

Canfield Continued from page 8C

ou

nse

lin

g T

od

ay

�A

pri

l 2

00

6

24

respecting our differences, itonly makes sense that weexplore areas of common inter-est and cooperation. A steptoward this possibility is toengage organizational leaders ina dialogue through a hostedsummit meeting. Organizationsdon’t make connections; peoplewithin those organizations makeconnections.

10. What current hot topicsrelated to mental health mostinterest you?

Intercultural counseling theo-ry and applications that betteraddress the needs of a culturallypluralistic society. I also have along-standing interest in coun-seling holding a philosophicalposition which views humanbehavior from a nonpathologi-cal perspective whenever possi-ble. I find the growing trend toview poor life choices and

socially unacceptable behaviorthrough the lens of pathologyvery problematic.

Don’t get me wrong. Tradi-tional psychiatric treatment hasits place, but I don’t think med-ication is a panacea for thehuman condition. For me, coun-selors can make a major contri-bution to society by empower-ing people to acquire new skillsand make better choices thatenhance the quality of life.

11. As an ACA member foralmost 30 years, how has theorganization changed over thedecades?

I’ve watched ACA grow sig-nificantly since the late 1970swhen I first became part of thecounseling field. In the lastdecade or so, the trend has beentoward increased specializationand subsequent fragmentation.It doesn’t matter whether we

view this trend as a good thingor a bad thing — it is a reality.However, I believe we caneffectively evolve and adapt.

12. What made you decide tobecome a counselor?

As an undergraduate, I wasinvolved in student organiza-tions and became fascinatedwith group dynamics and howpeople interact. I was fortunateto be attending a college,Louisiana Tech University,which had a good counseloreducation program. I wasattracted to a career that offeredboth intellectual challenge andan opportunity to help others.For me, counseling has been agood fit.

13. Living in Louisiana, wereyou affected by the hurricanes?

My family evacuated toShreveport before Katrina, but I

remained at home to look afterour pets. This was our commonpractice when previous hurri-canes had threatened. Living onthe north shore, we didn’t flood,but the wind was severe and wehad a large oak tree fall on ourhouse. Immediately after thestorm, there were no utilities orpolice, fire and medical ser-vices. No stores were open,many roads were impassableand gas was impossible to find.It felt like being in some type ofbad post-apocalyptic B movie,only it was real life!

It was a month before we hadpower restored. For the mostpart, people were truly on theirown. However, something un-expected happened. Neighborsbegan to interact with eachother in a way they had notdone before the storm. Peopleshared food and water andhelped neighbors remove fallen

trees from their houses and dri-veways. Watching people cometogether was an affirmingexperience.

In our community, the physi-cal damage has been repaired,and we feel very fortunate. Themost difficult thing for me hasbeen seeing how the aftermathof the storm has disrupted andaltered the lives of many of myclients, students and faculty col-leagues, some of whom losteverything. Even today, thereare vast areas of New Orleansand the region, both affluent andpoor neighborhoods, which arevirtual ghost towns. It may beold news for most of the world,but it remains much worse thanpeople can imagine.

14. Who was the most influ-ential person in your career?

My parents instilled in me awork ethic and core values. And

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

25

of course, my wife Irene, whois also a counselor and mystrongest supporter, has been avery positive influence. Severalmentors have provided guid-ance and encouragementthroughout my career — AlanHovestadt, Robert Smith,David Fenell and Don W.Locke immediately come tomind. There have been manyothers who have influenced mein sometimes subtle but pro-foundly meaningful ways.

15. What are you most proudof professionally?

I am most proud of thoseoccasions throughout my careerwhen I have had a positive im-pact on my students and clients.

16. What advice do you havefor young professionals/student counselors?

Do what you love and youwill never work a day in yourlife. Success follows commit-ment and enthusiasm in anyendeavor. Seek out the besteducation and training experi-ences available and make thenecessary personal and profes-sional commitments to suc-ceed. Find teachers and super-visors who can serve as men-tors. By all means, get involvedas a student and remain activein ACA and its divisions andstate branches. These groupsguide the future of your career,so be a part of the process.

17. Fill in the blank. BrianCanfield was the ACA presi-dent who __________ .

Helped expand the scope andpractice of the counseling pro-fession.

18. What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?

Most of my activities out-side of work tend to be family-oriented sorts of things. Mywife Irene and I like to travelto new places and meet newpeople. I enjoy playing thepiano. I have been a student ofthe martial arts for more than30 years and hold a black beltin Isshinryu karate. I loveworking out, but at 51 years ofage, my body is somewhat lessforgiving of abuse.

I derive a great deal of satis-faction from taking on newprojects and seeing themthrough to fruition. This pen-chant to build things takes anumber of forms. I have com-pleted several major house ren-ovations myself. I also enjoydeveloping new academic pro-grams, study abroad programsand other professional opportu-nities for my students and col-

leagues. Aside from spendingtime with my family, one of mygreatest pleasures is reading agood book.

19. Would you like to men-tion your family?

My wife Irene and I have twochildren at home: Catherine and

Jack. My two oldest daughters,Caroline and Sarah, are bothaway at college. Though mydad passed away some yearsback and we no longer live inthe same community, I stay inclose contact with my mom, aswell as my three brothers andtheir families.

20. Anything you would liketo add?

Just that I am truly honoredby the expression of confidencemy colleagues have shown tome in electing me to serve asACA president in 2007. I willdo my best to be an effectiveleader. �

Angela Kennedy is a seniorwriter at Counseling Today. E-mail comments about thisarticle to [email protected].

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

26

Addiction TreatmentHomework Planner, 2nd editionBy James R. Finley and BrendaS. Lenz, 2003, Hoboken, NJ:John Wiley & Sons Inc., 370pages, $49.95 (with CD-ROM),ISBN 0-471-27459-3.

As a pedagogical practice, theconcept of homework plays avital role in the developmentand maintenance of an adult’slevel of motivation in recovery.Homework provides adults withpersonal time and an experienceto develop positive beliefs abouttheir achievements in recovery.It also allows them to developstrategies for coping with diffi-culties such as mistakes andunexpected setbacks. Further-more, homework of the mostcollaborative kind places theclient behind the wheel of her orhis recovery. This second edi-tion of James Finley and BrendaLenz’s book, which is accompa-nied by a CD-ROM, is an excel-lent interactive resource de-signed for therapists and clientsalike.

At 370 pages, the handbook ismassive but is well organizedaround 37 addiction-relatedthemes and correspondinghomework assignments. Eachtheme is presented with a briefoverview of the particularaddictive and/or symptomaticbehavior, as well as attendantgoals. For example, the hand-book begins with a generalintroductory chapter on co-dependency as an addictivebehavior and, from there, coversother key types of co-dependentsymptoms and behaviors. Eachsection offers ideas for addition-al homework that can be appliedto a particular addictive behav-ior, as well as additional prob-lems for which the homeworkexercises in that section may beutilized. Finally, each theme-related section presents at leasttwo homework “strategies” andexercises to help clients learnabout, monitor and/or resolvetheir presenting issues.

The authors stress the impor-tance of homework as a criticalcomponent for supplying adultswith the training they need tobecome more aware of andchange their addiction andbehavioral cycles. Thus, thehomework assignments are pre-sented as personal technologiesto help clients make positivechanges in their lives. Theassignments assist clients withlearning the differences between

inappropriate and appropriateattitudes, thinking cycles andbehaviors. Significantly, theyalso encourage the practice ofpositive thoughts, attitudes andbehaviors. The homework as-signments included in this bookcan support clients in learninghow to detect their destructiveaddictive cycles and how toreduce them in day-to-day life.

The homework exercises areclear, simple and to the point.This accessibility encouragesclients to develop (and practicedeveloping) systematic strate-gies not only in therapy sessionsbut also outside of them. Eachexercise provides clients withvarious coping skills and tech-niques that they will need to uti-lize between therapy ses-sions in order to self-monitor their recov-ery.

The handbookcovers a widerange of chemi-cal and non-chemical addic-tive behaviors,including nico-tine depen-dence, alco-holism, gam-bling, “anger as adrug,” “being gen-uinely unselfish” andseveral other issues thattypically stem from co-depen-dency. The exercises can be usedstraight from the book to workwith both individuals and groups. Theymay also be used as a startingpoint for discussion. The hand-book’s CD-ROM encouragesclients and counselors to indi-vidualize the homework exercis-es using a word processor.

The authors have created anexceptionally useful resourcetool for an area that encom-passes several different typesof attitudes and behaviors. Thecommon theme is that they areall addictive in nature. Thehandbook is reader-friendly forboth the therapist and theclient, providing a wealth ofinformation for either thoseworking in addictive counsel-ing or those experiencingaddictive traits in their ownlives. The book is well-written,well-organized and provides ano-nonsense approach to help-ing clients learn about anddevelop strategies for treatingco-dependencies and addic-tions.

I would strongly recommend

this book especially for thoseclinicians who are just begin-ning or are early on in their edu-cation and training as addictioncounselors. But this handbookisn’t just for “beginners.” Infact, the homework exercisespresented in this book mayspark some new and creativeideas for therapy among thoseaddiction clinicians who aremore seasoned.

Reviewed by Christopher P.Roseman, a licensed profession-al counselor and a doctoralcandidate in counseling educa-tion and supervision at the Uni-versity of Toledo.

On Becoming a Survivor:A Psychologist Who Survived Violent CrimeProvides Comfort andGuidelines for Survivors,Their Families and FriendsBy Barry Reister, 2003, NorthCharleston, SC: Book Surge LLC,40 pages, $9.99, ISBN: 1-59109-811-4.

A friend once remarked,“Sometimes you find the mostremarkable things at garagesales.” Counseling Today liter-ally receives hundreds of bookseach year from publishers andauthors hoping for a review.Publishing houses large andsmall contribute to the stacks ofbooks in my office. Typically,we publish 36 or so bookreviews each year. We aim toreview books that fill the needsof a diverse professional coun-seling audience. Combingthrough these stacks of possibil-ities is akin to a garage sale ofthe most wonderful sort. Iexpect a hearty selection of

books that address issues ofinterest to counselor trainees,professional counselors andcounselor educators. I alsoexpect to find a fair number ofbooks that must hold someappeal for a particular profes-sional audience; however, thatprofessional audience does notnecessarily include counselors.From the remaining pile ofbooks — books that steadfastlydefy any sorting calculus I candivine — I sometimes unearththe remarkable.

Wrapped in the decidedlyunremarkable cover of the self-published, Barry Reister’s verylittle book is for victims of vio-lent crimes who are now readyto tackle the difficult work ofsurvivorship. Reister has aunique set of credentials inform-ing his work. A licensed psy-chologist and certified coun-selor currently in private prac-tice, he has directed collegecounseling centers and held fac-

ulty and administra-tive positions. As alieutenant with

Armored Caval-ry, he spent a

year in Viet-nam, anexperienceh ereferences

throughouthis book.

More to the point,he and a female friend foundthemselves victims of a horrify-ing violent crime.

Although traces of Reister’sprofessional persona occasion-ally surface throughout thebook, he mainly writes from theposition of a survivor, a personinvested in healing. He writesnot just to tell his story (whichincludes the sanitized butnonetheless graphic details oftheir kidnapping and the rape ofhis companion) and not simplyto move himself into survivor-ship. Instead, Reister writeswith a compassionate eye on hisaudience — other victims. Insharing his personal tale, hecleanly walks the line of a per-son who is writing for othersrather than for himself.

A number of books such asthis one sit on my self; somehave already found their wayinto a review. What gives thisslim volume significant stand-ing among this segment of thebook market is the writer’s per-spective. Rarely do men divulgefirst-person accounts of being

tossed into the chaotic down-ward spiral of trauma. Evenmore rare, perhaps, are menwho provide personal accountsof being a victim and admit tothe accompanying loss of con-trol and the consuming sense ofhelplessness. Reister also givesa glimpse of what transpires in aman’s mind — a man accus-tomed to taking charge of phys-ically and psychological dan-gerous situations — as he isheld helpless at gunpoint,unable to rescue his femalefriend from a brutal attack.

Reister delivers the book’smain message — survivorship— with a powerful, steadyingvoice. He goes out of his way togive others permission to “feelwhatever you need to feel.”Rather than dishing out expertadvice, he offers practical sug-gestions that are both rooted inhis personal experience andinformed by his professionaltraining. For example, despitehis experiences as a war veteranand the victim of a gun-relatedcrime, Reister cautions that“carrying firearms can be morea danger than a protection.”

More than any other quality,Reister conveys a genuineness.That genuineness thrives despitehis experience of being victim-ized, which should offer hope toothers. In the final pages of hisbook, Reister provides insightinto his healing. “There mayalso be a desire, as I obviouslyfeel, to find some kind of mean-ing in the event. That meaningmight be something like I’m try-ing to do, by sharing thoughtsand feelings that might be ofassistance to others.”

Packaging concerns itselfwith the wrappings and trap-pings of a product. Increasingly,we confuse the package with thething itself. Barry Reister’searnest little book is an unpre-tentious, genuine offer to beuseful to survivors. In the end,perhaps, the packaging fits.

Reviewed by James S. Korcuska, the ResourceReviews editor for CounselingToday and associate professorof counseling at the Universityof South Dakota. �

Resource ReviewsResource Reviews

Submit reviews for consider-ation to column coordinatorJames S. Korcuska at [email protected].

inner world. If the child playswith constricted hands and a reg-ular, safe pattern, this might sug-gest he is scared and nervousand that he finds comfort inorder. He may not feel comfort-able taking the lead. Farleywould then reflect these person-al qualities back to the client,and the two of them couldprocess how these qualitiesaffect his social relationships.

One possible intervention ishaving the client play “sloppydrums” for five minutes. Farleyand the child would then pro-cess how this feels, with Farleyfurther encouraging the client totake a risk and loosen up. Next,Farley might play drums alongwith him, providing a smallsense of order, while illustratingto the client that a lack of perfectorder doesn’t mean his worldwill fall apart; letting go is OK.Six months later, Farley mightagain see how the client playsthe drums, using this as a litmustest for the efficacy of treatment.

Percussive healing: From intrapersonal to interpersonal

The efficacy of drums as acounseling tool is not restrictedto individuals. In fact, couples

and groups can also reap thebenefits. This is precisely whatRobert Friedman, author of TheHealing Power of the Drum, isfinding in his own practice.Friedman helps couples findnew avenues of discussion viathe drum. According to an inter-view with Michelle Cook,Friedman seeks to enable hisclients to become more “syn-chronized with their personalrhythms.”

How about the utility of per-cussion for group therapy? Per-cussion can be a means of groupcommunication, just as tribalcultures have used it for millen-nia. In fact, you may be sur-prised at some of the specificpopulations benefiting from thisform of group counseling. Forexample, Dalena Watson foundthat drum therapy groups couldallow sexual offenders toprocess and regulate intenseemotions. Similarly, VaughnKaser has discovered that suchgroups can help pedophiles gainkinesthetic awareness and con-trol. Drum therapy has alsoenhanced the social skills of stu-dent groups and has facilitatedimprovements in communica-tion, behavior and cooperationamong angry adolescents.

But one of the most innova-tive applications of group drumtherapy has occurred at a pair ofclinical mental health centers inKansas City, where severelymentally ill patients weretrained to become performingmusicians. An anthropologist, asocial worker and two profes-sional musicians initiated adrum therapy program for adiverse group of patients whowere struggling with severe dis-orders such as manic depres-sion, schizophrenia and multiplepersonality disorder. Accordingto Jeffrey Longhofer and JerryFloersch, the facilitators choseto teach the group the African“Dagbama” tradition, which ispolyrhythmic and quite differentfrom anything in Western cul-ture. Patients were told rightaway that they would have thechance to become legitimatemusicians. Imagine the empow-erment that went along with thatassurance!

The group practiced togetherand, over time, they becamemore proficient. Each personhad a unique part in the produc-tion, yet each was allowed tocontribute to a meaningfulwhole. Inclusion is a crucialhealing factor for individuals

whose illnesses so often are anexclusionary factor. In time,their self-esteem skyrocketedand their interpersonal skillsflourished. They gained both asense of accomplishment andidentity within a group.

The story does not stop there.Throughout the musical train-ing, the facilitators had plannedto allow these patients to taketheir performances into thecommunity. And perform theydid. In essence, these concertsgave the patients not only ameaningful way to contributeto society but a context withinwhich they could reintegratethemselves into the societythey might someday rejoin.Indeed, this experience offeredan incredible source of empow-erment for this population,while perhaps unexpectedlyproviding a viable path to anew vocation. �

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

27

Mark Reiser will receive hismaster’s degree in counseloreducation from the Universityof Wyoming in May. He alsoteaches for the Department ofPhysics and Astronomy onthe side, and will be enrollingin the doctoral program incounselor education nextyear. Contact him [email protected].

Journal, she said, “I found anew way to interact with thosewho do not engage with othersand are not aware of their envi-ronment.” Eric Hall, CEO of theAlzheimer’s Foundation ofAmerica, said, “Drum therapygets them to participate in lifeonce again. … There is sometype of power in the rhythm thatpromotes cognitive function.”This “power” that Hall refer-ences is a topic of research.Drums truly do affect the brainin a profound way (I’ll addressthis research next month). Butfor now, let’s continue dippinginto the world of therapeuticpossibilities with the drum.

Can drums help a personovercome trauma? That’s pre-cisely what Helen Zador ofCanada discovered. Zador had ahistory of being abused, includ-ing being the victim of a brutalgang rape when she was in her20s. As she noted to interviewerB.D. Johnson, “At first justlooking at the drums aroused afear. … They’re phallic in shape… the sound is primal, deep inyour body.” When she firstattempted to play the drums, theexperience brought back vividphysical memories of the trau-ma, and tears filled her eyes.But over time, she was gradual-ly able to confront her fear, andthe drums gave her a means ofovercoming the pain. Zadornow works as a massage thera-pist and, fittingly, her worktableis surrounded by a variety ofpercussion instruments.

Counseling with the drumLou Farley, a licensed profes-

sional counselor and a memberof the American CounselingAssociation, also surroundshimself with percussion instru-ments. Farley has been playingthe drums for more than 10years. He has received both for-mal training and private lessonsin percussion and currentlyworks with native healers in theLaramie, Wyo., area. Farleyoften uses percussion to supple-ment talk therapy in his privatepractice, both in individual andgroup sessions. In fact, Farleyasserts that drums can be a valu-able component in all four mainstages of therapy (assessment,treatment planning, treatmentand evaluation of treatment).

Farley provided an example ofhow he might utilize drums inworking with a highly resistantadolescent. Let’s say the youngboy indicated a fondness for per-cussion. Farley would drop adrum in front of him and askhim to play for five minutes. Theway the child plays the drumscan reveal a huge piece of his

Drums Continued from page 12

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

28

Bruce Dickinson, a retired LPC fromNebraska, said the practice lobbyingsessions were especially helpful inpreparing him to meet with Rep. JeffFortenberry to discuss Medicare issues.First-time attendee Deborah Braboy, alicensed associate counselor from Okla-homa, came away from the LegislativeInstitute with a new appreciation of thegovernmental process. “It’s vitallyimportant for counselors to attend thesetypes of opportunities, study the issuesand speak to members of Congress toshed some light on mental health con-cerns and the population that we serve,”she said.

Braboy said she had an “awesome”visit with Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.).“He honestly gave me his undividedattention,” Braboy said. “He was atten-tive and asked some very pertinentquestions. We talked about the TRI-CARE issue before the House right now,and he agreed to co-sponsor the bill. Infact, he said he would contact the appro-

priate offices and add his name to thebill that day.”

ACA Public Policy Director ScottBarstow said the association hosts theannual Legislative Institute as a way toencourage counselors to participate inthe legislative process and become avoice for the profession on Capitol Hill.He noted that legislators are often morewilling to listen to a counselor fromtheir own state or district than to a paidlobbyist.

“The single biggest factor in getting amember of Congress or a state legisla-ture to do something on a given issue isconstituent contact,” Barstow said. “Weneed to get as many counselors as possi-ble up to Capitol Hill making congres-sional office visits on a regular basis.We also need to get as many counselorsas possible motivated to call, write andvisit their legislators once they get backhome. We can never have too manycounselors doing this, and the more peo-ple we can train, the better.”

Legislative Institute Continued from page 1

The award goes to …Each year during the Legislative Insti-

tute, ACA recognizes a member of Con-gress who has demonstrated leadershipon behalf of the counseling profession.This year, the Federal Legislative Ser-vice Award was presented to Rep. RobinHayes (R-N.C.) for his hard work andleadership in support of establishingindependent practice authority forlicensed professional counselors underthe TRICARE program.

In March 2005, Hayes introduced theTRICARE Mental Health ServicesEnhancement Act (H.R. 1358) in aneffort to provide military personnel andtheir families easier and faster access toqualified mental health professionals.There is a significant need for improvedaccess to mental health services for thispopulation, but federal law still requireslicensed professional counselors to seeTRICARE beneficiaries only underphysician referral and supervision.

“ACA is very grateful for Rep. Hayes’successful work in gaining House pas-sage of the language in H.R. 1358 with-in the Fiscal Year 2006 defense autho-rization bill,” said Yep, who presented

the award to Hayes. “Mental health ser-vices for those in uniform and theirdependents is not a Republican issue,and it’s not a Democratic issue — it’s apeople issue. We are pleased to honorRep. Hayes with our highest public pol-icy commendation.”

Upon receiving the award, Hayes said,“I am honored to be recognized by theAmerican Counseling Association, butthe people we should really honor areour hard-working men and women inuniform. As a member of the HouseArmed Services Committee, I believe itis necessary to change our existing TRICARE system to include unfetteredaccess by our soldiers and their familiesto licensed mental health counselors.Exposure to the type of prolonged stressour soldiers face in Iraq requires Con-gress to make it easier for soldiers toreceive the mental health care they mayneed.”

Hayes is currently serving his fourthterm in Congress and represents NorthCarolina’s 8th Congressional District.He is a member of the House Armed Ser-vices subcommittee on Military Person-nel.

ACA Executive Director Richard Yep presents the Federal Legislative ServiceAward to Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) for his support in establishing independentpractice authority for licensed professional counselors under TRICARE.

Attendees of the 2006 ACA Legislative Institute tour the U.S. Capitol building.

so I will have to boil down allthe stories into a two-page doc-ument,” he explained. “Thus, ifyou can provide me a para-graph that you think will havethe most personal and emotion-al impact, that would be great.”

Submission can be e-mailedto [email protected] should include “MedicareStory” in the subject line.

Announcements regardingnext year’s ACA LegislativeInstitute will come out this

summer and fall. Counselorsinterested in attending or learn-ing more about legislativeadvocacy may contact ACA’sChristie Lum at [email protected] or by calling800.347.6647 ext. 354. �

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

29

Angela Kennedy is a seniorwriter at Counseling Today. E-mail comments about thisarticle to akennedy@ counseling.org.

Continuing the fightAlthough the Legislative

Institute’s attendees havereturned home, their work is farfrom over. They are continuingtheir advocacy efforts on behalfof the counseling professionwith calls, letters and e-mails totheir state leaders. ACA staffmembers are coordinating fol-low-up contacts to the congres-sional offices visited by Leg-islative Institute attendees.

“Ultimately, all members ofCongress should know a coun-selor in their community whocan tell them about the profes-sion’s policy needs,” Barstowsaid. “Ongoing contact withcongressional offices by Leg-islative Institute attendees —and other counselors — is thesurest way of keeping counsel-ing issues firmly on their radarscreen. All counselors shouldview it as both their right andtheir duty to regularly contacttheir elected officials.”

One of the reasons this is soimportant is that anecdotalinformation on how govern-ment policies affect their con-stituents is invaluable to legis-lators. Consequently, Brian Alt-man of ACA’s Public Policyand Legislation staff is encour-aging ACA members to play arole in advocacy efforts bysending him personal storiesabout why Medicare reimburse-ment for LPCs is so important.“It was wonderful for our mem-bers to be able to go up to Capi-tol Hill,” he said, “but this isanother way that ACA memberscan make our voices heard. I’masking for members to provideme with quotes and anecdotesregarding why LPCs needMedicare reimbursement. Wewant to be able to share thesewith staff members on theHill.”

He continued, “Have coun-selors had to reject clientsbecause they can’t billMedicare and they had no otherway to pay? Are clients whoonce were seeing a counselorthrough private health insur-ance now paying completelyout of pocket because they’renow Medicare beneficiaries?Have counselors tried to billindirectly through the ‘incidentto’ clause and been unable tofind a direct billing providerwilling to take them on as anemployee? We need to hearthese stories.”

Altman request that ACAmembers make their stories asconcise as possible. “CapitolHill staff have very little time,

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

30

BY JIM PATERSON

Listening to Daniel Ecksteinis a bit like switching channelsback and forth between ESPNand PBS.

In one instant he’ll tell youabout the time he was congratu-lated for catching a long, soaringpass from Bart Starr, one of themost famous quarterbacks everto play in the National FootballLeague. Or he’ll describe howhe jumped into a practice drillwith Ray Nitschke, a linebackerwhose name, four decades later,is still synonymous with the ath-letic violence that takes place onthe pro football field. He’llexcitedly dissect a college foot-ball championship game inwhich one player in particularexhibits an almost superhumaneffort.

Then, barely catching hisbreath, he’ll analyze, with thesame passion and pride, the

emotional state of that winningcollege player and the implica-tions for all of us. Or describe anew Adlerian technique he’sdeveloped which he thinkscounselors can use to moreeffectively work with teens.

That link — the connectionbetween sports and therapy— isat the center of Eckstein’s life,and for good reason. He has per-formed in both arenas at thehighest levels.

Eckstein, for 33 years ateacher, author, administratorand counselor, was a star foot-ball player early in his life. Hemade a big enough name forhimself at tiny Presbyterian Col-lege that the Green Bay Packers,champions of the first two SuperBowls, and their legendarycoach Vince Lombardi selectedhim in the 15th round of the1969 draft as a wide receiver.

He would eventually be thelast man cut from that team, an

experience that led him to writehis first book, The 41st Packer,published in 1970. The titlealludes to the fact that each profootball team was allowed tokeep only 40 players. In thebook, Eckstein chronicled thetime he spent with the celebrat-ed Packers team.

Eckstein received his bache-lor’s in psychology from Presby-terian College in Clinton, S.C.,in 1969. While his football ca-reer continued with the MiamiDolphins after he was cut byGreen Bay, he nonetheless pur-sued other options. He movedquickly to obtain his master’s inguidance and counseling in 1971and his doctorate in counseloreducation in 1973 from the Uni-versity of South Carolina. Hehas written numerous articles ontopics ranging from “An Adler-ian Approach to Anger” to “Ex-ploring Different Expressions ofLove” to “First-born Depres-sives.” He has also authored 11other books on subjects such asencouragement, child disciplineand the Adlerian process oflifestyle assessment and has anew book coming out this springtitled The Five R’s of Relation-ships, a topic about which he haswritten extensively.

Eckstein is currently an asso-ciate professor at the Universityof Texas and Eastern Mediter-ranean University in NorthCyprus. He is also a teacher andadministrator at the AdlerSchool of Psychology in Toron-to, a faculty member with theonline Capella University andpast president of the NorthAmerican Adlerian Society. Hehas been an active member ofthe American Counseling Asso-ciation for 20 years and has con-tributed regularly to several ofits journals.

But despite his nine-page re-sume filled with his experienceswriting and teaching about emo-tional health, Eckstein is quickto talk about sports, and espe-cially how it is deeply connectedto the art of helping people livebetter lives. “There are so manylessons we learn in sports,” Eck-stein said. “Counselors canunderstand a lot from athletes —about things like team building

and flow especially. And, inturn, counselors can have a bigrole in the lives of athletes.”

Eckstein is testimony to thecompatibility of the two worlds,still sounding so much like theathlete and competitor he hasalways been yet clearly con-sumed by the world of counsel-ing and his role in it.

“I was ADHD before the termwas in vogue,” he said. “I knowthat prayer, meditation, relax-ation, guided imagery and hyp-nosis are all concrete ways tomove stressed-out or hyperac-tive Type A personalities fromthe sympathetic to the parasym-pathetic nervous system. Greatfoul shooters in basketball are agood, concrete example of thisphenomenon. Great performersof all types effectively managetheir own subjective states byfinding that still quiet voice or‘being in the zone.’ Counselorscan understand this process andhelp athletes and all public fig-ures and, yes, even school stu-dents, move to a more relaxedstate.”

Eckstein said counselors canencourage clients to use tech-niques such as guided imagerythat calm the mind. With thesetechniques, counselors can helpclients perceive troublesome cir-cumstance that are facing themand help them move throughthese circumstances by visualiz-ing the event, practicing themotions involved and experi-encing some of the sensations(repeating words one mighthear, for instance). He has dis-covered that such techniqueswork best when the imagery isinternal — when clients visual-ize the activity as if they wereparticipating in it rather thansimply watching themselves.

One of the key ways thatsports informs counseling, Eck-stein said, is through techniquesthat help athletes relax and con-centrate. In a recent paper, hedescribed “flow” as a statewhere the “mind remains totallyabsorbed in the feelings andbehaviors of the present mo-ment.” For the average person toachieve flow in the way top ath-letes often do, he said, theremust be balance between the

From football’sfrozen tundra toAdler’s warm spaceDaniel Eckstein has excelled at both sports and counseling and believes that each can support the other

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

31

challenge and the skill, clear goals, feed-back, concentration, loss of awareness ofself and time, and a merging of actionand awareness. “The mental and physicalprocess work together to produce a fluentmotion resulting in an automatic, sponta-neous unification of the self,” he said,where an individual is on “autopilot.” Byachieving such a mental state, Ecksteinsaid, counselors can help others to moreeffectively face stressful moments in life.

Counselors can prepare clients in theinitial stage of a session where theywould normally use “attending” ap-proaches by having them meditate orpray, Eckstein said. This method, he said,helps to“move our clients and us fromthe sympathetic to the parasympatheticcentral nervous system function.”Greater creativity, problem solving andinsight are possible when clients movefrom a “flight-fight” state to one wherethey are “calm and connected,” he said.

This approach can also assist coun-selors in calming themselves, making thetransition to another client and beingconnected to that person, he said. “Incounseling, like in athletics, flow is thatoptimal state of being present, makingcontact with our client and also maintain-ing an awareness of our own internalreservoir that is too often neglectedbecause we are not still and quietenough,” he said. “The more ‘ego’ weare in — ‘Will they like me?’ ‘I must doa good job’ —the less likely we are to bein the flow.”

Eckstein noted that “flow” might moveoutward and can be attained through theprocess of unity with teammates or acoach — or between a counselor andclient. That connection becomes part of abigger theme for Eckstein. He believesindividuals who are successful — insports, the arts, in business or even in arelationship — often reach the “flow”state and, importantly, understand theneed for self-esteem and social interest.

“This even relates to dance therapy,where we learn about two paradoxicalconcepts and how they relate,” he said.“You must individuate and learn yourown beat and your own music and haveyour own job to do. You match yourskills to the job, or you just might dancespontaneously to your own internal beat.But then we find interactional syn-chronicity — joining with a partner orthe group and blending energies. That ishow we learn what it means to behuman.” The equation — self-esteemplus social interest equals a “naturalhigh” — illustrates this melding of per-sonal achievement and awareness withour need to relate to others.

Eckstein delves deeper into the topicby discussing the performance of Uni-versity of Texas quarterback VinceYoung in the most recent NCAA footballnational championship game. Youngseemed to achieve both this higher senseof self and involvement with his teamand offered what Eckstein described as“one of the greatest performances ever incollege football.”

“How do you like that?” Ecksteinremarked. “In one thought you get dance

therapy, business, Adler and the nationalchampionship game in college football.”

Athletes have for years worked tounderstand the perfect blend of mind andbody, self and team, Eckstein said, andhe believes these elements are especiallycritical in today’s world. He worries thata new narcissism in our society, com-bined with our increased reliance ontechnology, is misplacing our prioritiesand blinding us to our need to interactwith others. This is particularly trueamong young people, he said, in partbecause self-esteem has been stressed tothem too much and they are unaware ofthe significance and value of our connec-tion to others.

He has thoroughly explored humaninteraction, including the ways that lead-ership in sports translates into leadershipin other endeavors — former profession-al or Olympic athletes who have gone onto careers in politics or business or enter-tainment of another type.

He has also examined how careful,thoughtful encouragement — so impor-tant to Adler and counseling and so criti-cal in leadership — can be used toimprove the mental health of virtually anyindividual, from the highest paid athlete toa couple attempting to achieve mutualunderstanding to an adolescent trying tocope with his confusion and pain.“Encouraging people have the ability toperceive a spark of divinity in everyoneand then act as a mirror that reflects thatgoodness to them,” said Eckstein, authorof Leadership by Encouragement. Hisinterest in this subject is further demon-strated on his website, www.leadershipbyencouragement.com.

Once again, Eckstein ties the topic into counseling, talking about Carl Rogers’“actualizing tendencies” and counselors’efforts to encourage clients to becomefully functioning by finding strengths intheir core inner selves and bringing thosestrengths forward.

Eckstein also tells a story about persis-tence in sports that he thinks is useful forcounselors. It involves a former collegeteammate who was too small and lackedthe natural skills to be a starter on theteam but who worked harder than anyother player. “Tommy Pounds came outfor four years and basically didn’t getmuch action because he just wasn’t thatgood,” Eckstein said. “But he worked sohard and enjoyed being out there day inand day out. There are a lot of those sortsof guys in sports. What makes it work forthem, and how can we translate that intosomething we can all use? It’s that loveof the game itself.”

Eckstein said encouragement can flowfrom any of four directions: from above(from a teacher), from below (in the caseof counselors, for instance, from a client),laterally (from an associate or person insimilar circumstance) and from within,which is something that athletes such asPounds seem to use and that adolescents,increasingly, ignore. “How do we give(adolescents) the inner sense of self?”Eckstein asks. “Kids must identify whatis right and find out their strengths andlearn that apart from production and per-

formance on tests, there is a joy in doing it— the joy of participating. More and moreoften, counselors can make a contributionby stressing the joy of doing it.”

He said counselors may best understandthis in the contrast between content andprocess. Rather than clients being con-nected with all that is happening in theirmind, they must also be in touch withwhat is happening in the here and nowand appreciate their existence.

“The content is the score — the so-called bottom line,” he said. “But alongthe way there is a rich ‘process’ in sports,and in life for that matter, which is simplythe ‘being’ and not the ‘doing’ of theactivity. Being a good athlete is (not only)about doing and accomplishing but alsoabout just being. And we all need to bereminded of that.”

Counselors can also help athletes them-selves, Eckstein said. Sports psycholo-gists can help young soccer players tomore fully enjoy the sport and translatethat into a healthier lifestyle by stressingthe benefits of teamwork or basic ideas

about understanding “flow.” Counselorscan help high school athletes, whose iden-tities are often wrapped up in their athlet-ic skill, to appreciate their value in otherways and to put sports in perspective.

Even the adult or professional athleteworries about success or a life withoutsports. They can be encouraged to exam-ine their other strengths and desires byactualizing. “Imagine an athlete who hasput everything into a sport,” Ecksteinsaid. “There is loss and depression andgrief when there is an injury or the end ofa career. That is devastating. But they canunderstand their value in other ways.”

“Counselors are needed in sports,” Eck-stein said, “and if they pay attention, theycan learn a lot from athletes.” �

Jim Paterson is a high school counselorand writer living in Olney, Md. Contacthim at [email protected].

Letters to the editor: [email protected]

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

32

March 9 signed the CombatMethamphetamine EpidemicAct, which limits the retail dis-tribution and sale of pseu-doephedrine, a legal ingredientthat is found in many cold med-icines but is also an essentialelement for making meth.

Methamphetamine is a pow-erfully addictive stimulant thatdramatically affects the centralnervous system. Clandestinelaboratories easily produce thedrug, using relatively inexpen-sive ingredients available at thelocal hardware store and phar-macy. Meth can be ingested,snorted, smoked or injected.Regardless of how it enters thebody, the effects are the same:intense anxiety, nervousness,paranoia, mood swings anddepression.

American Counseling Associ-ation member Brian Dew hasstudied the effects of metham-phetamine use in Georgia and ispresenting an Education Ses-sion, “Behind the Eyes ofMethamphetamine Dependents:Critical Perspectives on Achiev-ing and Maintaining Absti-nence,” at the ACA/CanadianCounselling Association Con-vention in Montréal. “Atlantahas the fastest-growing rate ofmeth use in the country,” Dewsaid.

Dew, an assistant professor inthe Department of Counselingand Psychological Services atGeorgia State University, andhis research team conducted

qualitative interviews with morethan 70 recovering meth users.They were specifically interest-ed in three things: how usersdefined being dependent, fac-tors that impacted their decisionto quit using meth and factorsthat contributed to their stayingoff the drug. Seventy-five per-cent of the interviewees weremale, and they ranged in agefrom 18 to 53. The participantshad maintained their sobrietyanywhere from two weeks toeight years.

In defining their dependencyon meth, many of the formerusers made the same observa-tion: loss of control. They wereunable to function while on thedrug, and the factors that mostinfluenced their decision toseek treatment were the harmdone to family relationshipsand the loss of employment.Many also had mounting legalproblems and were in failinghealth because of complicationsfrom HIV infection, which theyhad contracted during their druguse. The former meth users stat-ed that family support wasessential in their efforts to stayclean, as was the determinationand dedication to make verysignificant lifestyle changes.

Many of those interviewedsaid treatment facilities werenot viable options. “Their per-ception was that the treatmentprograms were not capable orknowledgeable of the methproblem here in Atlanta,” Dew

said, “so therefore, they didn’tsee treatment as an alternative.That has some implications onwhat we need to do as far as thecommunity and education. Thatis a major finding.” He notedthat longer term treatment isneeded to help this specificpopulation.

“One system that is workingfairly well is the drug courts,”he said. “If you are found to bein possession and brought intothe court system, you are boundto be in that system for 18months.” During that time,Dew added, offenders areexpected to pass urine tests andmust attend mandated counsel-ing sessions. “That keeps themclean longer than a month or sixweeks,” he said.

Meth is unique, Dew said, inthat it spans cultures, ages, sex-ual orientation and geographiclocation. “States need to recog-nize the need for research inthis area,” he said. “Treatmentprograms are recognizing theneed to specialize programs formeth dependents and theirwithdrawal systems. But a lotneeds to be done.”

Counselors may request com-plete research findings and ses-sion materials distributed at theconvention via e-mail [email protected].

Montana Meth ProjectMany people still remember

the image: an egg sizzling, hiss-ing and bubbling in a skillet as avoice-over pronounced, “This is

your brain on drugs.” Or the boynext door telling his father, “Ilearned it by watching you!”Twenty years ago, these wereedgy, provocative antidrug mes-sages that targeted adolescentsand parents alike. But withtoday’s Generation Wired teens,those messages come across aslame attempts at drug lectures.That’s why the Montana MethProject is revamping the teendrug prevention and awarenessgenre by presenting gritty, har-rowing, true-to-life commer-cials, billboards, magazine ads,posters and websites.

Founded in February 2005,the nonprofit organization’s pri-mary objective is to significant-ly reduce first-time metham-phetamine use among teens inMontana. The Montana MethProject is also trying to raiseawareness about the scale, depthand critical nature of themethamphetamine problem bymobilizing communities acrossthe state to get involved in prevention, education and treatment efforts.

One out of five Montana ado-lescents ages 12-17 currentlyreports having close friendswho use meth. The admissionrate for methamphetamine/amphetamine use in Montanaincreased 520 percent between1992-2002. With the majority ofthe state being rural, it busts themyth that drug use is moreprevalent in urban areas.

In attempting to get inside the

minds of teens, the MontanaMeth Project developed the“Montana Meth Use and Atti-tudes Survey.” The online ques-tionnaire provided rich insight,both qualitative and quantita-tive, into young people’s atti-tudes and behaviors related tomethamphetamine. Additional-ly, the Montana Meth Projectutilized a series of teen focusgroups to gain more perspec-tive. The information gatheredwas key to developing the project’s media blitz of hard-hitting, anti-meth messages.The campaign kicked off last September and represents thelargest cause-marketing effortof its kind in the state’s history.Initial survey data are availableon the Montana Meth Project website at www.montanameth.org; the organi-zation is currently processingdata collected in the secondwave of the survey.

Peg Shea is executive directorof the Montana Meth Project aswell as a licensed addictionscounselor and social worker.She previously served as executive director of WesternMontana Addiction Servicesand as program director ofTurning Point in Missoula. Sheahas been working in the field ofaddictions and mental health formore than 28 years.

Shea said the organization’scampaign is different from mostother anti-drug messages in thatit views meth use as a consumer

Meth Continued from page 1

The billboard ad shown above is one of several graphic anti-meth messages produced by the Montana Meth Project. The not-for-profit organization has revamped the teen drug prevention and awareness genre by creating high-impact commercials, print ads, posters and websites that are often disturbingly true to life.

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

33

marketing problem. Basically,she said, it boils down to the factthat most kids who try methdon’t really know what it is orunderstand what they are get-ting themselves into. In the lastsix months, the Montana MethProject has purchased 25,000minutes of TV commercial air-time and 25,000 minutes ofradio airplay in addition tonumerous billboards andposters. “I think we have beensuccessful in raising the dialogabout methamphetamine andthe horrific nature of the drug,”Shea said.

The multimedia ads are justone facet of the project’s anti-meth crusade, which alsoincludes community action andpublic policy. “I travel aroundthe state to talk to anybody andeverybody about the campaignand deepen the conversation onmeth addiction, prevention andawareness,” Shea said. “I speakto middle schools, high schools,businesses, service clubs, PTAs,churches — whoever will inviteus to have a conversation aboutour project, our product and ourstrategies.” Since last October,she has averaged approximatelythree presentations a week,

speaking to more than 10,000individuals at 75 differentvenues.

“This is a very youth-informed campaign,” she said.“We learned from the focusgroups and surveys that kidsdon’t want lectures by adults.They want to hear from otherkids telling their stories. Theytold us in almost a daring way,‘If you do a television commer-cial, it has to be edgy. It has tocatch our attention and focusbecause we are a pretty media-savvy group of kids.’ So that’swhy you see what you see. Uni-versally, the feedback from thekids is that the ads are a homerun, that the television ads, inparticular, get their attention.Even though they find some ofthe ads disturbing emotionally,they watch them.”

In fact, Shea said, many of theteens are so taken by the TVspots that they instantly recallthe names of the ads and recitethe lines word for word. “Theycan literally describe the actorsand actresses, the scenes, lan-guage, the take-away mes-sages,” she said. “That recall iswhat we are shooting for.”

The Montana Meth Project

continues to collect feedbackand is further refining the cam-paign later this month with anew series of ads. Shea encour-ages other states to take a moreaggressive stance with theiranti-drug programs and hopesthe Montana Meth Project willbe viewed as a template forthose changes. “If another statewants to replicate this program,that would be great — mostimportantly, great for that state,”she said. “The impact that thishas had on increasing awarenessand communication is just phe-nomenal. I know for certain thatparents and kids are talkingabout methamphetamine be-cause these teaching momentsare in their face.”

For more information aboutthe Montana Meth Project, visitwww.montanameth.org. Theproject’s sister site, aimeddirectly at teenagers, is atwww.notevenonce.com. Coun-selors and other interested par-ties can download the print ads,commercials and radio mes-sages on both sites for free. Allthe ads may be viewed, airedand reproduced in any forum,with the exception of paidmedia outlets. For example,

any school may air the com-mercials for students, but thecommercials cannot run onanother state’s TV network orcable station.

Caitlin, 22Caitlin is well known in Mon-

tana. People hear her voice onthe radio in between pop songsand traffic reports. But she’s nota local disc jockey; she’s one ofthe many voices of meth. As aformer meth addict, she volun-teered her story to be aired asone of the Montana Meth Pro-ject’s four radio segments.

At the age of 15, Caitlin was anormal teen with loving parentsand lots of friends. She was anabove average student whoplayed soccer, volleyball andbasketball. Like many of herpeers, she had occasionallyexperimented with alcohol andmarijuana, but she describesherself as “a good kid.” One dayat lunch, however, her drugexperimentation took a sinisterturn while in the back seat of afriend’s car.

“(My friend) pulled out thislittle baggie of powder andasked me if I had ever tried it,”

Caitlin recalled. “I had no ideawhat it was. I asked her, and allshe said is that it would makeme feel really good and excit-ed. So I did it, and I felt on topof the world — fantastic. Littledid I know that was metham-phetamine.”

From that moment on, herworld shifted. Caitlin beganasking around school for moreof the drug, which was noncha-lantly referred to as “speed” bymany of the students. “For me,”Caitlin said, “it wasn’t cocaine,which kind of had a scariersound to it. I wasn’t informedabout meth and what speed was.So I thought it wasn’t that bad.”

In fact, she thought it waspretty good at first. She was ableto concentrate harder in schooland do her schoolwork twice asfast as before. But her casual usequickly turned into full-blownaddiction within a few shortmonths. To score more meth,she withdrew from her socialgroups and started to hangaround people who sold andcooked the drug. With the drugnow readily available to her, itbegan to take control of her life.


Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

34

Her addiction quickly escalated fromsnorting the drug to smoking it. She andher new friends would do meth before,during and after school, but somehow shemanaged to keep playing sports and pass-ing her classes. Because she was at leastsemifunctional at school and at home,Caitlin’s parents were oblivious to whatwas happening to their daughter.

“The last thing on their minds was thatI would possibly be doing drugs,” Caitlinsaid. “It just wasn’t in the cards for mylife. It wasn’t in their head that this wouldever possibly be something I would beinvolved in.” Her parents did notice a dif-ference in her attitude and behavior,Caitlin said, but because she had beendiagnosed with depression and attentiondeficit disorder prior to her drug addic-tion, they associated the changes with hermental conditions.

Caitlin became a skilled manipulatorto hide her habit and obtain more drugs.She constantly fed excuses to her par-ents. All too soon she was six monthsinto her addiction; for the last half of thattime she largely did meth alone everynight in her room.

“(Meth) makes you want to reallyfocus on a certain task and do it for hoursand hours,” she said. “I liked to do italone so I could do my own thing. Iwould draw or spend three hours slowlyputting on make-up. I would pick atmyself — at my face, my legs or arms —thinking there were things in my skin.”Caitlin would also meticulously cleanher room and bathroom. She would doher homework but not really get muchaccomplished because she would fixateon perfecting her handwriting rather thanon what she was writing about. “It’s

super-concentrating on silly little thingsfor long periods of time,” she said.

Meth is odorless, so it was easy forCaitlin to smoke it in her bedroom with-out getting caught. She often stayed upall night doing the drug, so she began tofall asleep in class. “All of the changeswere happening, but I could care less,”she said. “I could care less about myfamily or my friends, school — all Icared about was the drug. How am Igoing to get it and how am I going to payfor it?”

At that point, an anonymous studentwent to the school counselor and in-formed her that Caitlin was a meth addict.Her parents were called in to meet withthe school staff. That afternoon whenCaitlin returned home, her parents con-fronted her about the counselor’s accusa-tions. “I denied the entire thing,” she said.“Meanwhile, I was coming down off of it(meth) and I actually fell asleep in themiddle of (our conversation).”

While she was passed out, her parentssearched her room and found dozens ofsmall empty baggies, burnt tinfoil andseveral empty lighters. With the drugparaphernalia as solid proof, they had toaccept the fact that their only child had adrug problem.

Caitlin was sent to an outpatient pro-gram for six months and attended 12-stepmeetings. She stayed clean the entire sixmonths, but the very day she was releasedfrom the program, she met up with her oldfriends and got high. “I wasn’t planningon using again is the funny thing,” Caitlinsaid. “I really liked the 12-step meetings.Being clean was feeling good and thingsweren’t so crazy, but I just really loved thedrug and the way it made me feel. I start-ed all over again.”

For the next nine months, Caitlin had adaily drug habit. She conned her parentswith a series of lies. Her athletic build dis-appeared as she lost more than 30 poundsin a matter of weeks. Her face and legsbroke out with sores, which she coveredwith excessive make-up and clothes. Nowa senior in high school, her grades beganto plummet, and for the first time she wasfailing classes.

Even with all the telltale signs of druguse, Caitlin found ways to explain every-thing away to her parents. She was seeinga counselor on a regular basis for herADD and depression, but she never dis-closed anything about her drug habit. “Ihad all these excuses,” she said. “Itsounds so stupid (of my parents), but theyare actually really smart, educated people.They still wanted to believe that I wasclean. And I was a crazy manipulator. Icould talk them into anything. I’m break-ing out because I bought a new kind ofmake-up. I’m losing weight because I’mon a new diet. I’m not doing well inschool because of the ADD, and thesenior level work is just really hard. I’mdepressed, so it’s making me sleep andI’m on this new medication that makes

me tired. Those are the reasons — I’m notdoing drugs again.”

She even went as far as daring her par-ents to drug test her. “I was living thisone big lie,” Caitlin said. Her parentsbought into that lie, at least for a littlewhile. But her grades were slipping somuch that it appeared she might not grad-uate. That’s when her father confrontedher again about using drugs. This timeCaitlin didn’t deny it, although sheimmediately regretted telling him thetruth and left the house to go get high.

Acknowledging that outpatient treat-ment programs wouldn’t work for her,Caitlin was sent to a wilderness treatmentcenter, where she spent the next fiveweeks confronted by the elements of aUtah winter. Her next step was anotherinpatient treatment center for five months.While in treatment, Caitlin was approach-ing her 18th birthday, so she was givenintense counseling in the event she elect-ed to leave on her own. Instead, Caitlinsigned herself back in as an adult. Shewas determined to stay clean and evenearned her high school diploma while inthe treatment center.

Now, five years later, she is still soberand has earned a degree in social work.She is a drug addictions counselor at aresidential treatment facility in Missoulaand has applied to a master’s program.Her journey of addiction is a profoundone, and she is using her experiences tohelp those like her — the “normal” kids.

“Many parents think that their kid isn’tgoing to do meth,” she said. “Little Janeover there who gets straight A’s and playsbasketball, she’s never going to do it. ButI was that girl. People need to be constant-ly aware that anybody can do it. There areno stereotypes of what kind of kid will dometh. It can be any kid.”

While working for the treatment center,Caitlin was approached to tape the radiospot for the Montana Meth Project andagreed. “A big part of my story is that Ihad no idea what I was getting into,” shesaid. “I had no clue what it was. I wastotally uneducated and uninformed aboutmeth. These commercials will help pre-sent an awareness that I didn’t have.Hopefully these kids will take this mes-sage, and if they are ever presented withmeth, they will be able to make the rightdecision.”

Caitlin believes that if she had onlyknown more about meth that day at lunch— if she had seen or heard anti-meth mes-sages such as the ones being presented bythe Montana Meth Project — her lifemight have been different. �

Meth Continued from page 33

Angela Kennedy is a senior writer at Counseling Today. E-mail commentsabout this article to [email protected].

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

35

Keep the violence, ditch the food?

For decades, parents, educa-tors and mental health profes-sionals have been campaign-ing against violence in enter-tainment, fearing it increasesreal-life violence. But IzzyKalman, a nationally certifiedschool psychologist andexpert on bullying, claims weare worrying about the wrongproblem. The real danger, hesays, is not violence in enter-tainment — it is what we areeating.

The U.S. governmentrecently declared obesity anepidemic. Two out of everythree Americans are over-weight, and one out of three isobese. At the same time, thenation’s murder rate is 5.5 perevery 100,000 people. Kalmansays the damage caused byovereating, both to our healthand our self-esteem, is practi-cally incalculable. In fact,according to Kalman, we arefar more likely to be hurt byovereating than by violence.His research sheds light onthis observation.

Kalman has been conductingsurveys of mental health pro-

fessionals and educators whoattend his national seminars,“Turning Bullies Into Bud-dies.” One survey item states,“After watching people enjoy-ing food on TV, I feel an urge toeat.” Another item states,“After watching a violentmovie, I feel an urge to injureor kill people.” Of 1,174respondents, 36 percentanswered “yes” to the itemabout food. Only 0.8 percentanswered “yes” to the itemabout violence.

This means people are about50 times more likely to feel theurge to eat after viewing foodthan they are to feel an urge tocommit violence after viewingit on TV or in the movies,Kalman said. He points out thathundreds of people can sit in acrowded theater and watch aviolent film without fightsbreaking out. Yet the averageperson sits passively on thecoach and watches severalhours of TV per week, andimages of food are likely todrive that person to the refrig-erator during commercials.

Kalman claims attempts toprove that violent entertain-ment leads to real-life violenceare misguided. While graphic

violence on the screen isgreater than ever, he says, U.S.violence statistics are lowerthan ever. If violent entertain-ment actually caused real-lifeviolence, he said, the statisticsshould be going up rather thandown. For more on Kalman’sviews and research, visit www.bullies2buddies.com/news/2005_12.html#1.

Children still struggling in Katrina’s aftermath

Four national organizationsrecently held a press confer-ence to expose the unmet needsof children affected by Hurri-cane Katrina and called on theFederal Emergency Manage-ment Agency to establish anoffice responsible for anticipat-ing and meeting the uniqueneeds of children in times ofemergency and recovery.

The four national organiza-tions working together on thiseffort are Voices for America’sChildren, the Child WelfareLeague of America, the Na-tional Association of ChildCare Resource and ReferralAgencies, and the NationalMental Health Association.Press conference speakers

drew attention to what theyview as an overall lack of infra-structure and coordination ofrelief efforts to displaced chil-dren across the country. Theyalso claimed that there is a lackof preparedness to assess un-met childcare, child welfareand the mental health needs ofaffected children.

According to NACCRRA,Hurricane Katrina destroyedmuch of the child care infra-structure in New Orleans andthe Gulf Coast region. Thegroup claimed that FEMA hasdelivered mixed messages tochild care facilities about fund-ing for their reconstruction andrepair. None have receivedFEMA funding thus far, thegroup said, and one programreceived a formal rejection.Resulting from this lack ofhelp, many child care pro-grams are unable to reopen,meaning many parents areunable to return to work,according to the group.

Mental health services arealso of growing concern in theaftermath of Hurricane Katri-na. During the press confer-ence, Raymond Crowel, vicepresident of mental health andsubstance abuse services at

NMHA, addressed what hetermed a lack of appropriateservices and resources to sup-port children affected by Kat-rina. He emphasized the neednot only to provide immediatemental health assistance tochild survivors but also toensure long-term supports arein place for slowly emergingissues.

Foster children are anotherdistinct population still reelingfrom the impact of Katrina.According to CWLA, animmense need exists to im-prove communication and col-laboration among the manyagencies that serve these chil-dren. Shay Bilchik of CWLAdiscussed the urgent need torecruit, hire and train fostercare case managers as well asfinancial concerns about re-building facilities.

The coalition of groupsstressed that it was committedto providing assistance toFEMA to ensure that thenation’s children are protectedin times of disaster. An inde-pendent news service recordedthe press conference. It is cur-rently available at http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2006/02/8544.php. �

In Brief

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

36

Dealing with institutional racism:Moving beyond phenotypic explanations

This is the second column in afour-part series on the issue ofinstitutional racism and the roleprofessional counselors can playin dealing with this complexproblem. The initial column,which appeared in the March2006 issue, directed attention tothe low numbers of people fromracially different groups that aremembers of the leading U.S.counseling and psychology asso-ciations, the American Coun-seling Association and the Amer-ican Psychological Association.

According to the most recentinformation provided by ACA,the racial makeup of its member-ship is as follows (Note: Ap-proximately 50 percent of ACA’smembers have not supplied thisinformation to the association):

White: 86.5 percentAfrican American:6.2 percentHispanic: 3.4 percentAmerican Indian: 1 percent Asian/Pacific Islander:1.5 percentOther racial background:1.4 percent

The racial makeup of APA’smembership was reported in2003 as follows:

White: 94.2 percentAfrican American:1.7 percentHispanic: 2.1 percentAmerican Indian:0.3 percentAsian/Pacific Islander:1.7 percent

Why direct attention to racial makeup?

There is good reason to refer tothe racial makeup of the mem-bership of professional organiza-

tions, schools, universities andemployment settings whenexamining the problem of insti-tutional racism. The UnitedStates’ rapidly changing demo-graphics and the nondiscrimina-tion, desegregation and pro-integration principles that under-lie our legal codes and moralsensibilities suggest that signifi-cant underrepresentation of per-sons from diverse racial groupsin any professional group de-signed to serve the general publicrepresents one dimension ofinstitutional racism.

Stated another way, if theUnited States is truly a nation“of the people, by the people, forthe people,” then it is importantthat the racial composition ofprofessional groups and educa-tional institutions designed toserve the needs of the broad citi-zenry actually mirror the demo-graphic makeup of the nation asa whole. Many multicultural-social justice counseling advo-cates continue to raise this point.

Among the most notable argu-ments for this position comesfrom the 2001 Surgeon Gener-al’s Report on Mental Health. Inthat report, the surgeon generalemphasized that the mentalhealth professions have failed toadequately meet the psychologi-cal needs of millions of cultural-ly and racially different personsin the United States in part dueto the serious underrepresenta-tion of mental health practition-ers who come from these diversegroups. Despite calls by the sur-geon general and multicultural-social justice advocates to fur-ther desegregate the mentalhealth professions, there remainsa disproportionately high num-ber of White persons and a dis-

proportionately low number ofpersons of color who arerecruited, retained and promot-ed in the fields of counselingand psychology. This is indica-tive of the ways that institution-al racism continues to operate inour society in general and in themental health professions inparticular.

Desegregation versusintegration

As we pointed out last month,referring to an organization’sracial makeup is only one wayto assess the degree to whichinstitutional racism may beoperating in an organizationalsetting. Thomas Parham, anationally respected leader inthe multicultural-social justicecounseling movement, has con-sistently argued that counselorsneed to move beyond simplycalculating the racial composi-tion of organizations when de-termining the degree to whichinstitutional racism may bemanifested.

Parham notes that the martyrsand other participants in thecivil rights movement of the1960s fought hard to ensure thatall people, regardless of theirracial background, had the legalright to public accommodationsand transportation. Expandingon these important civil rightsvictories, leaders in our publicschools, universities and themental health professions werepressed to ensure that people ofcolor would be accommodatedin these organizational andinstitutional entities.

Parham’s most importantpoint, however, is that there is aprofound difference betweenhaving a desegregated societyand creating a fully integratedsociety. The physical presenceof persons from racially andculturally different groups iscommonly used as the soleindex for determining the de-gree to which public schools,universities and employmentsettings, as well as professionalcounseling and psychology or-ganizations, are practicing insti-tutional racism.

Parham readily agrees that itis important to develop andimplement organizational pro-grams to increase the racial-

cultural-ethnic diversity ofACA and other mental healthorganizations. Like other multi-cultural-social justice advo-cates, he believes such actionsare necessary to eradicate thecomplex problem of institu-tional racism in our society ingeneral and the mental healthprofessions in particular.

But to create a fully integrat-ed society, Parham argues thatorganizations and institutionsmust also undergo a radical andessential shift in their racial-cultural consciousness. Thisshift must reflect a muchgreater level of respect for andintegration of the differentworldviews, values and inter-personal styles that character-ize persons from diverse racial-cultural groups in our contem-porary society. To make thisshift in organizational con-sciousness, professional associ-ations such as ACA need tomake room for individuals whoare often viewed as “radicals”or “troublemakers” because ofthe assertive ways in whichthey initiate discussions aboutcontroversial issues and advo-cate for immediate and sub-stantial organizational changesto address these issues.

To expand your thinkingabout these issues, it is helpfulto refer to the various racial/cultural identity developmentmodels that have emerged inthe counseling literature duringthe past 35 years.

Using racial/cultural identity models

Culturally competent coun-selors are familiar with theunique psychological perspec-tives that characterize peoplewho operate from differentracial/cultural identity stagesand statuses. Although spacelimitations do not allow for adetailed discussion, we want tohighlight some of the character-istics associated with fourracial/cultural identity develop-ment stages and statuses be-cause they have particular rele-vance for the current discussion.

Janet Helms notes that manyWhite persons are oblivious tothe ways in which variousforms of racism and Whiteprivilege adversely affect peo-

ple of color. Her research intoWhite racial identity develop-ment led her to classify personsdemonstrating these character-istics as operating from whatshe refers to as the “contactstatus.” These individualscommonly promote universal-istic views of human develop-ment and underestimate thedevelopmental impact of peo-ple’s group-referenced identi-ties and experiences. Personsoperating from the contact sta-tus often resist participating indiscussions about institutionalracism and may exhibit antago-nism toward such discussionswhen they do occur in organi-zations such as ACA.

In presenting their theory ofracial/cultural identity develop-ment (R/CID), Derald andDavid Sue note that one of theresults of living in a racist soci-ety is that some persons ofcolor learn to operate fromwhat they refer to as the “con-formist stage.” This stage ismarked by the internalizationof oppression, which leadsindividuals to accept the stan-dards, values and worldview ofthe dominant cultural-racialgroup as superior to those oftheir own racial-cultural group.

Consequently, persons ofcolor who operate from theconformist stage are likely toendorse the views of Whiteindividuals functioning at thecontact status. They will em-phasize the universal common-alities of all people, whileresisting discussions about theimpact that institutional racismhas on our society in generaland professional organizationsin particular.

Persons operating from thecontact status and conformiststage of R/CID are likely towork well together in organiza-tional settings. However, theywill predictably respond nega-tively to individuals who arefunctioning from the “resis-tance and immersion stage” inthe R/CID model and Helms’“autonomy status” in Whiteracial identity development.

Persons of color who operatefrom the resistance and immer-sion stage are knowledgeableabout the ways in which institu-tional racism continues to be

Dignity, Development & Diversity– BY MICHAEL D’ANDREA AND JUDY DANIELS

of institutional racism is daunt-ing. Yet we are hopeful that bypresenting this four-part series,you will gain new insights intothe nature of this problem andthink in new ways about thethings you can do to help allevi-

ate this problem in whateverorganizations or institutions ofwhich you are a part.

We hope this series will stim-ulate more discussion aboutthese issues. With this in mind,we encourage readers to take the

time to submit letters to the edi-tor of Counseling Today thatreflect either your agreement ordisagreement with any of theideas presented in this column.Letters may be e-mailed [email protected]. �

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

37

manifested, both intentionallyand unintentionally, in organiza-tional settings. In addition, theyalso express their moral disdainfor the perpetuation of this com-plex problem in a militant man-ner. In a similar way, White per-sons operating from Helms’autonomy status are distin-guished both by their knowledgeof institutional racism and theirgenuine commitment to eradi-cate this form of oppression andinjustice.

What further distinguishes in-dividuals operating from theautonomy status of White iden-tity development is their will-ingness to not merely “talk thetalk” about institutional racismbut to consistently “walk thattalk” by advocating for radicaland immediate changes in orga-nizations such as ACA. Suchadvocacy efforts are designed toeliminate the complex problemof institutional racism by foster-ing the full integration ofdiverse racial-cultural perspec-tives, values and interpersonalstyles into the organizationalculture.

Organizations such as ACAare similar to all other societalinstitutions in that they operateas self-sustaining human enti-ties. This self-sustaining natureprovides the sort of stability andpredictability that are necessaryto achieve their goals and objec-tives. However, it often leads tothe dismissal and negation ofperspectives presented by per-sons who not only come fromdifferent racial-cultural groupsbut operate from racial/culturalidentity development stages andstatuses that are very differentfrom those of their fellow orga-nizational leaders.

We believe that many, if notmost, organizations and institu-tions that perpetuate variousforms of institutional racism aremore likely to favor persons ofcolor and White persons whooperate from the conformiststage and the contact status.These organizations are unlikelyto embrace and support theviews expressed by individualsfunctioning from the resistanceand immersion stage and theautonomy status. Yet, as Parhamand Helms suggest, putting per-sons who operate from the resis-tance and immersion stage andthe autonomy status in leader-ship positions is vital for movingfrom a desegregated society to amore truly integrated and demo-cratic nation.

Clearly, the challenge of deal-ing with the complex problem

Michael D’Andrea([email protected]) andJudy Daniels ([email protected]) are faculty members in the Departmentof Counselor Education atthe University of Hawaii.

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

38

AACE requests nominations for Executive CouncilSubmitted by Brad [email protected]

The Association for Assess-ment in Counseling and Educa-tion is soliciting member nomi-nations for several ExecutiveCouncil positions. Elected offi-cials begin their duties on July1, 2007. Interested membersshould immediately contacteither Past President DavidLundburg at [email protected] or President Brian Glaser [email protected].

The Executive Council is ac-cepting nominations for:� President-elect, serving a

three-year term� Treasurer, serving a two-year

term� Member-at-large for publica-

tions, who oversees the edi-tors of all AACE publicationservices, chairs the Publica-tions Committee and reviewsproposals for new AACEpublications

� Member-at-large for member-ship, who tracks membershipand chairs the MembershipCommittee The Executive Council also

encourages interested membersto volunteer for two essentialmember services. A webmasteris needed to oversee the AACEwebsite. As strange as thismight sound, very little comput-er sophistication is necessary, asnearly all the technical work canbe completed by the host orga-nization. Responsibilities in-clude periodic updating or cre-ation of website content. Alsoneeded is a liaison to Counsel-ing Today. The liaison preparesbrief, periodic articles (such asthis one) about AACE activitiesand submits them to the editorof Counseling Today.

Both positions are great op-portunities to serve the AACEmembership and assume a lead-ership position in AACE. Inter-ested members should contactBrad Erford at [email protected].

AADA’s ‘New Age ofAging’: A new but familiar faceSubmitted by Larry D. [email protected]

Once the American Counsel-ing Association/CanadianCounselling Association Con-vention in Montréal is behindus, Association for AdultDevelopment and Aging mem-bers can reflect on PresidentVonda Long’s vision about the“New Age of Aging,” which

President-Elect Wendy Enochswill most likely continue aspart of her agenda. You mayhave attended the AADA paneldiscussion or the research pre-sentation on the changingdynamics of adult develop-ment. These AADA-sponsoredevents highlight a very impor-tant fact: What looked typicalor “normal” for adults 10 or 20years ago may look quite dif-ferent in today’s technological,fast-paced, global Americanenvironment.

The “New Age of Aging” hasbrought about changes in de-velopmental tasks and chal-lenges for adults throughout thelife span. Who would havethought we’d be communicatingalmost every day via a comput-er with friends and relatives inother states instead of occasion-ally writing letters? Or talkingon mobile phones for businessor with loved ones while drivingdown a highway? How haveadults had to adapt to the chang-ing family structure, whether itbe the multiple layers of blend-ed families, women having chil-dren much later in life, or gaymen and lesbians adopting chil-dren and dealing with schoolsystems as two daddies or twomommies? What impact has thetrauma of 9/11 and dealing withthe threat of terrorism on Amer-ican soil had on adults thinkingabout longevity? What are thechallenges of the adult workerwho is facing one of the largestinternational working environ-ments ever experienced in U.S.history?

These changes in adult devel-opment for the 21st century areexactly what the “New Age ofAging” is all about. But whatare the changes? How have theyimpacted the “typical” develop-mental tasks and challenges ofAmericans through adulthood?The AADA Competencies TaskForce, co-chaired by PatriciaStevens and Summer Reiner, ischarged with exploring thesechanges and taking a leadershiprole in summarizing their con-clusions for AADA membersand the counseling professionin general.

AADA is focused on adultdevelopment throughout thelife span and feels strongly thatcounselors working with adultsshould have state-of-the-artinformation available to themabout typical adult develop-mental tasks. But again, the keywords are the “New Age ofAging,” because what oncewas “typical” about adultdevelopment has changed. A

person’s face changes with age.When you look in the mirror,you see a familiar person, butwith each decade there’s some-thing different about the faceyou’re viewing. Similarly,adult development has changedover the years, and AADAhopes to bring some clarity tothat newer, yet still familiarface. If you have any questionsabout the work of the taskforce, please contact eitherPatricia Stevens or SummerReiner.

ACC website now featuresmember practitioner pageSubmitted by Thelma [email protected]

Greeting ACCers! The Asso-ciation for Creativity in Coun-seling has been busy with itsmany projects and is workingtoward meeting the needs ex-pressed by our membership inthe most recent survey. In re-sponse to the survey, we haveposted a practitioner page on theACC website. If you would liketo have your name and area ofclinical practice listed on ourwebsite, please forward yourinformation to our webmaster,Shane Haberstroh, at www.aca-acc.org.

Because maintaining connec-tion with the membership isimportant to the ACC Board,please provide us with yourmost up-to-date e-mail anddirect mailing address so we cankeep you informed of ACCnews. To update your informa-tion, contact Membership ChairHeather Trepal at [email protected].

In addition, ACC’s flagshippublication, the Journal of Cre-ativity in Mental Health, isscheduled for publication by theHaworth Press Inc. by the endof this month. As editor ofJCMH, I am very happy to bringthis new journal to you. If youare interested in submitting amanuscript for review, visit ourwebsite at www.aca-acc.org forinstructions.

JCMH is also pleased to an-nounce its upcoming thematicissue, scheduled for publicationin the fall. This issue will fea-ture creative ways to help indi-viduals, couples and familiestranscend the loss of a dream.Articles will include relevantinformation on various forms ofgrief and loss, including death,divorce, miscarriage, addic-tions, suicide and diverse formsof trauma. We will also includeinformation on other losses con-sidered by some as disenfran-chised, such as personal and

professional betrayal, unrequit-ed love and the loss of a pet.This thematic material will alsobe published in monograph/book form: When the MusicStops: A Dream Dies — Cre-ative Interventions in Grief andLoss Therapy.

This publication will describecreative approaches to diverseissues encountered by cliniciansin their practices. It is also de-signed to provide practical clin-ical information for practicum,internship, and grief and losscourses offered in counselingtraining programs.

On behalf of the ACC Board,we thank you for your effortstoward helping ACC achieve itsmission and goals. Please be intouch. We welcome and encour-age both your suggestions andparticipation.

ASERVIC announces election resultsSubmitted by Cheri [email protected]

The results of the nationalelection are in, and the newestadditions to the leadership of theAssociation for Spiritual, Ethi-cal and Religious Values inCounseling include MicheleKielty Briggs (president-elect-elect) and J. Scott Young (Gov-erning Council representative).The new ASERVIC Boardmembers are Marsha Wiggins-Frame, Holly Hartwig Moor-head, Marie F. Shoffner and H.Ray Wooten. Congratulations,and our thanks for their willing-ness to serve ASERVIC.

In state division news, thePennsylvania Division ofASERVIC will be sponsoring aSpring Retreat from May 19-21at Mountain Dale Farms inBeaver Springs. Topics willinclude “Effortless MeditationWorkshop,” “Convergence ofLGBT and Spirituality,” “Intro-duction to Reflexology Work-shop” and a “Dream RetreatWorkshop.” Retreat participantsmay earn up to 10.5 continuingeducation units. For more infor-mation, contact PennsylvaniaASERVIC Division PresidentJoanna Castro-Shaffer [email protected].

West Virginia is working to-ward chartering a state division.If you are interested in becom-ing involved in a future WestVirginia ASERVIC division,contact Darlene Daneker [email protected].

In journal news, ChristopherSink ([email protected]), editor ofCounseling and Values, hasannounced that article proposalsare being sought for a special

issue that will focus on the rela-tionship between philosophyand counseling, with particularemphasis on values. Proposalsshould include the author(s) andcontact information, the propos-al title, aims of the article and a500-600 word summary. Pro-posals should be attached to ane-mail in Microsoft Word for-mat and sent no later than May30 to the special issue editor:James T. Hansen, Ph.D., Oak-land University, Department ofCounseling, 450 E. PawleyHall, Rochester, MI 48309.Phone: 248.370.3071; fax: 248.370.4141; e-mail: [email protected].

In ACA/CCA Conventionnews, ASERVIC activities willtake place at Le Centre Shera-ton. All members are welcome.On Friday, the ASERVIC Boardwill be meeting in the Drum-mond Room from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

On Saturday from 8-9 a.m., E.H. Mike Robinson III will facil-itate the Town Meeting in Salon4. Devonne Reese and DianaHertzler, LASERVIC represen-tatives, will present a programabout Hurricane Katrina inSalons 6 and 7 from 12-2 p.m.Grant Hayes will host the Grad-uate Student Meeting in Suite3204 from 4:15-5 p.m.

On Sunday, Catholic Masswill be held from 7-8 a.m. inSalon 1; and an Interfaith Ser-vice will follow from 8-9. Fan-nie Cooley will host the PastPresidents’ Meeting in Suite3204 from 11 a.m.-noon. Gor-don Spice will host the StatePresidents’ Lunch in Suite3204 from 12-2 p.m. ASERVICwill hold a joint reception withAADA, ASGW, C-AHEADand CSJ in Salon Musset from6-8 p.m. ASERVIC will alsohave a booth in the conventionhall.

Check the ACA programguide for times/locations of thefollowing ASERVIC programs:“ACA’s New Ethical Guide-lines: Evaluating the Past andPresent Role of ASERVIC,”“Altruism and the CounselingProfession,” “Graduate Stu-dents’ Perceptions of the Needfor Spiritual Discussion andReligious Values Education inCounseling,” “The Intersectionof Faith and Sex: IntegratingDevelopmental Models to HelpGLBT Clients Develop aHealthy Identity” and “UsingSpiritual Interventions for Self-Care: Tools for CompetentPractice.”

Division, Region & Branch News


Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

39

Do you have an opinion relat-ed to the future of counseling?Would you like to share someideas about how counselingtraining and education programscould better prepare today’s stu-dents for the future demands ofthis profession?

The American CounselingAssociation Foundation notonly wants to hear your ideasbut is offering a $500 prize forthe most outstanding views andinteresting essay. The annualACA Foundation Graduate Stu-dent Essay Contest presents anopportunity for graduate stu-dents currently enrolled incounseling programs to sharetheir insights on this professionand its future.

The writer of the winningessay will receive a $500 grant,a free one-year membership inACA and publication of his or

her essay in Counseling Today.Four runner-up essayists willalso receive a free one-yearACA membership and publica-tion of their essays in Counsel-ing Today.

The competition, now in itsseventh year, provides youngcounselors with an opportunityto gain national exposure whilethey help educate seasonedcounseling professionals aboutthe ideas and views of the pro-fession’s newest members. Acommittee of experienced coun-selors will evaluate the essays.

“We have found the competi-tion to be an exciting opportuni-ty for young counselors,” saidJane Goodman, chair of theACA Foundation. “It givesthem a reason to really thinkabout the profession they’rejoining and its future directions.And we welcome their fresh

observations and thoughts.That’s why we’ve been so proudto serve as the contest’s sponsorfor so many years.”

Past essay competitions havedrawn hundreds of entries fromgraduate students at universitiesacross the United States, as wellas some from foreign countries.The result has been not onlyprizes for the winning essays,but an avenue for new and inter-esting viewpoints to be sharedamong all ACA members.

“Too often experienced coun-selors, especially those workingoutside the field of counseloreducation, have limited opportu-nities to interact with those newto our profession,” said ACAPresident Patricia Arredondo.“The publication of these essaysin Counseling Today lets thoseof us who have been working incounseling for many years see

how today’s emerging coun-selors are thinking and givesthem insight into the directionsour profession may be taking inthe years to come.”

This year’s essay competitionprovides entrants with theopportunity to address one oftwo possible topics:� If you could change one thing

to make the counseling pro-fession stronger and moreeffective, what would thatbe?

� How can the counseling pro-fession do more to reachthose most in need of ser-vices?The ACA Foundation Gradu-

ate Student Essay Contest isopen to all students enrolled ingraduate level courses at anaccredited institution of higherlearning. The entry deadline ismidnight on April 28.

Essay length is limited to 750words or less. Longer essayswill be disqualified and are noteligible for judging.

Entries can be submitted viae-mail, as a Word or WordPer-fect file, to [email protected]. If submitted by mail,essays must be typed and dou-ble-spaced, and three copies ofthe essay must be submitted.Mailed essays should be sent toACAF Graduate Student EssayCompetition, 5999 StevensonAve., Alexandria, VA 22304-3300. Mailed essays must bepostmarked by April 28.

Complete details and submis-sion guidelines for the essaycompetition may be obtained bycalling ACA Member Servicesat 800.347.6647 ext. 222 or bychecking the ACA website atwww.counseling.org. �

ACA Foundation’s annual essay contestoffers grad students prizes, recognition

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

40

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

41

Student Focus – BY JESSIE WETHERBE HAYMAN

I was thrilled to be learning about mul-ticultural counseling and developingimportant skills for working with clientsof different cultures. What I eventuallyacquired from the multicultural counsel-ing course, however, turned out to bemuch greater than knowledge and skills. Ireceived the gift of personal growth and apassion to promote multiculturalism in mypractice, my research and my life.

The class consisted of small group dis-cussions and in-class workshops. Weworked on many issues of race, ethnicity,gender and sexual orientation that createda growing awareness of multiculturalissues in counseling. The unexpectedaspect of these activities was to realize avery important part of my own culturalidentity development.

One key point in the process came whenwe watched The Color of Fear, a docu-mentary directed by a film producer andsocial worker. The video focused on agroup of men from culturally diversebackgrounds who assembled for a week-end retreat to have frank and involvedconversations about culture and race. Dur-ing the discussion, one of the White mensaid he was there because he was a racist

and needed to continue progressing in theways he thought and felt about race. Myinitial reaction was to think that he was aneo-Nazi or had perhaps committed a hatecrime. Surely owning up to the label of“racist” meant that this person had com-mitted an overt act of discrimination. Thelonger I watched, however, the more itbecame apparent that this man was not aWhite extremist but someone who wasdedicated to breaking down the racial bar-riers in his life.

Readings and classes began to clarifyfor me that this racist man was actually atwhat Janet Helms has termed the integra-tion stage of his White identity. He wasacknowledging responsibility for main-taining racism and had the courage to ownthe White history of oppression as well ashis part in that system. This realizationwas a catalyst for my own White identitydevelopment as someone who had beentoo scared and timid to admit ever havinga racist thought or reacting to someonebased on a stereotype.

Most White people, myself included,feel jittery and awkward even mentioningsomeone’s race. I first thought it was pre-posterous when we were told to ask a

Evolving from a racist worldview: A White woman’s perspective

client of color if working with a Whitecounselor would be an issue. How could Iask such a thing? Wouldn’t that damageany potential for therapeutic rapport?Wouldn’t that make me sound like a …gulp … racist?

To be honest, I still don’t fully know theanswer to that question, but what I doknow is that racial differences are oftenthe big elephant in the room whether wegive them recognition or not. Perhaps thisis not always true, but ignoring the issueof race may actually limit the rapport thatdevelops between client and counselor.Talking about race was not comfortable,but it was becoming very clear that themore I avoided it, the more I continued toproject myself as bumbling, awkward andmulticulturally incompetent.

I first admitted to being a racist a fewweeks later during a conversation with afriend. My friend’s eyes widened, and hetried to convince me that it wasn’t true,that I was a “good person.” I explainedthat I was a racist because I had catego-rized people in an unfair manner based ontheir race and reacted to people based on astereotype of their personal characteris-tics. I really was a part of the White major-

ity and needed to own up to the privilegesthat position had bestowed on me. My his-tory originates with people who haveoppressed others, and I have played a rolein the system that evolved from thosebeginnings. I’m not pleased to have thesethings in my history, but they are therenevertheless. The fact of the matter is thatbeing a “good person” does not exemptsomeone from being racist.

That moment was a big step in my racialidentity development, but it was certainlynot the most comfortable. I wouldn’t havedone it on my own, which has convincedme that more initiatives should be createdto help people own their learned racism.Many people must have similar thoughtsthat equate being a racist with being aWhite extremist. If we can redefine racismas a personal deficit or a deficient mindsetwith which we all struggle, more peoplemay be able to admit their racism andchange their behaviors.

Rita Hardiman’s White Racial IdentityDevelopment Model gives credence tothis idea. She names the resistance stageas one of the most difficult to overcome. It


both licensed professional counselor cov-erage laws and laws requiring minimumcoverage requirements for mental healthservices in general.

Given the federal government’s failureto pass legislation requiring health insur-ance companies to cover mental healthservices on the same basis as generalmedical services — without the use ofarbitrary and discriminatory visit limitsand cost-sharing requirements — statemental health parity laws are the onlybulwark against health plans cutting backon mental health coverage. If S. 1955becomes law, 39 state mental health par-ity laws that prevent discriminatory cov-erage of mental health services by insur-ers would be pre-empted. In addition, 32state minimum mental health benefitmandate or mandated offering lawswould be pre-empted. Finally, S. 1955would pre-empt stronger states laws thatlimit the ability of insurers to vary premi-ums based on health status, age, genderand geography.

During committee consideration of S.

1955, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.)offered language contained in the Housemental health parity bill, the Paul Well-stone Mental Health Equitable TreatmentAct (H.R. 1402), as an amendment. H.R.1402 would require private group healthinsurance plans to cover mental healthservices under the same terms and condi-tions as general medical services.

Unfortunately, Kennedy’s amendmentfailed on a 10-10 tie vote. Voting for theamendment were Sens. Kennedy,Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), TomHarkin (D-Iowa), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), PattyMurray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.),Hillary Rodham-Clinton (D-N.Y.),James Jeffords (I-VT) and Mike DeWine(R-Ohio).

Voting against the amendment wereSens. Enzi, Judd Gregg (R-N.H.),William Frist (R-Tenn.), Lamar Alexan-der (R-Tenn.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.),Johnny Isakson (R-GA.), John Ensign(R-Nev.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Jeff Ses-sions (R-Ala.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

42

Washington Update Continued from page 1

The vote’s outcome was disappointing,although not unexpected given the reluc-tance of congressional leadership to sup-port mental health insurance parity legis-lation. In this environment, the AmericanCounseling Association and other mentalhealth advocates are being forced to playdefense to try to stop legislation such asS. 1955 instead of playing offense andtrying to pass the Wellstone mental healthlegislation. Kennedy announced hisintention to reintroduce the Senate ver-sion of the Paul Wellstone Mental HealthEquitable Treatment Act with Sen. PeteDomenici (R-N.M.) in mid March.

For up-to-date information on mentalhealth parity legislation, visit www.counseling.org/PublicPolicy/PositionPapers.aspx and click on the briefingpaper titled “Parity of Insurance Cover-age for Mental Health Treatment,” orcontact Brian Altman with ACA at800.347.6647 ext. 242.

Langevin, Simmons send funding request letter

Reps. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and RobSimmons (R-Conn.) sent a “Dear Col-league” letter to their fellow representa-tives asking them to sign on to a letterurging the House Appropriations Com-mittee to provide adequate funding for theElementary and Secondary School Coun-seling Program in Fiscal Year 2007. Lastyear, 55 members of the U.S. House of

Representatives (49 Democrats and sixRepublicans) signed a similar letter orga-nized by Langevin and Simmons.

The letter is an important component ofthe effort to maintain, if not increase,funding for ESSCP. As usual, PresidentGeorge W. Bush has called for elimina-tion of the program’s funding. Thankful-ly, Congress has rejected this proposal,but the program remains stuck below the$40 million funding level. Until Congressappropriates at least $40 million forESSCP, no secondary schools are eligiblefor assistance.

The average student-to-counselor ratioin U.S. schools is 488:1, nearly double the250:1 ratio recommended by ACA and itsdivision, the American School CounselorAssociation. Establishing adequate accessto school counseling services has beenshown to improve students’ academicachievement while also promoting schoolsafety.

Counselors are encouraged to ask theirrepresentatives to sign the Langevin-Simmons letter requesting adequatefunding for ESSCP. To send an e-mail toyour Congress member on this issue, goto http://capwiz.com/counseling/issues/alert/?alertid=8531801&type=CO.

For more information, visit the ACAwebsite at www.counseling.org/publicpolicy or contact Chris Campbell withACA’s Public Policy staff at800.347.6647 ext. 241. �

Cover by Cindy Lewis

Impact addresses all those involved when a sex offense is com-

mitted, victims, offenders and significant others. Impact will also

help you explore your beliefs about all the populations sex offens-

es harm. Also, you will be given practical ways to prevent sex

crimes and be challenged to see the similarities between offenders

and the victims they harm.

Janet Nekooasl-Smith, M.Ed., is a Licensed Professional Coun-selor, she began treating victims of sexual abuse at a rape crisis cen-ter in 1993. She is a member of the American Professional Societyon the Abuse of Children and the Association for the Treatment ofSexual Abusers.

Price: $11.95To Order visit www. iUniverse.com

ONLY$11.95

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

43

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

44

Division, Region & Branch News Continued from page 38

EB-ACA issues call for proposalsto present at annual conferenceSubmitted by Rebecca [email protected]

The European Branch of the AmericanCounseling Association is pleased toannounce the 47th Annual EB-ACA FallConference to be held in Bad Herrenalb,Germany, Nov. 9-12. This professionaldevelopment event will offer a wide vari-ety of two-hour minisessions, as well asthree 15-hour Learning Institutes.

EB-ACA would like to encourageACA members to submit presentationproposals. Proposal forms can be down-loaded from the EB-ACA website andforwarded to the conference chair via e-mail. The deadline for proposal sub-missions is May 1.

Our conference theme this year is“Counseling in a Global Community.”David Jolliff and Arthur Horne will bedelivering the keynote address, “Surviv-ing and Thriving in a Time of GlobalChange,” at the evening banquet on Nov.9. Jolliff is an adjunct professor with theAdler School of Professional Psychologyin Chicago. He also works as a consultantto various social service agencies, offer-ing training seminars and spiritual devel-opment retreats. He is a licensed clinicalsocial worker and marriage and familytherapist, as well as a nationally certifiedclinical mental health counselor and anational certified counselor.

Horne is a professor on the faculty ofthe University of Georgia and formerchair of the Counseling Department. Heis the author of numerous books ongroup counseling, family therapy andschool violence. He is a licensed psy-chologist, a member of the AmericanAssociation of Marriage and FamilyTherapists and a certified clinical mentalhealth counselor.

The location for this year’s conferenceis the Treff Hotel. This delightful andcomfortable hotel offers first-classaccommodations and is surrounded bythe beautiful Black Forest region of hillsand mountains. Bad Herrenalb liesbetween Baden Baden and Karlsruhe andis easily reached by train from Frankfurtvia Karlsruhe. EB-ACA has negotiatedspecial conference prices for this event.More information about this lovely hotel

is available on its website at www.treffhotel-badherrenalb.de.

EB-ACA is dedicated to the support ofcounselors living and working in Europe.One of our main functions is to provideopportunities for continuing education inEurope. We invite you to join us at ourannual conference or at any of the Learn-ing Institutes we provide throughout theyear. Our website is constantly beingupdated with information about our cur-rent training opportunities. Also availableon our website is our award-winningnewsletter, Neues Perspectives.

For updates on the upcoming confer-ence program, proposal forms, and hoteland conference registration information,please visit the EB-ACA website atwww.online-infos.de/eb-aca/main.htm.

For more information, contact EB-ACA President and Conference Chair Frankie Nielsen at [email protected].

We hope to see you in Bad Herrenalb,Germany!

NCDA releases publication aimed at career enhancementSubmitted by Deneen [email protected]

How did you get started in your presentcareer? You probably answered a helpwanted ad or secured a job by happen-stance, then settled for the position youwere offered. And even though it wasn’tquite what you were hoping for, it paidthe bills, right?

Wrong, according to one of America’scareer development experts, former USAToday columnist and global businessconsultant-turned-author Michael Shah-nasarian. His book Decision Time: AGuide to Career Enhancement arguesthat “settling” is the last thing youshould do.

Published by the National CareerDevelopment Association, the world’sleading organization of professionalcareer consultants, this brilliant guide,which features a foreword by retiredArmy Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf,gives readers insiders’ secrets to helpthem identify opportunities and realizecareer goals.

“Work is a major life activity that con-sumes approximately one-half of ourwaking hours during our adult years,”

Shahnasarian says. “Being unfulfilled orless than fully satisfied in your careerdevelopment is akin to conceding thatyou don’t really want satisfaction inyour life.”

Based on proven methodology usedby career counselors, the book offers asystematic process for career decision-making and planning, taking out thetrial-and-error approach that too manypeople use. “When life is so short, itshould be everyone’s goal to avoid wast-ing valuable time by going down thewrong avenues,” Shahnasarian says.“That means helping people to moreclearly focus their objectives and devel-op reasonable plans for implementingcareer decisions.”

NCDA is offering this exciting newbook at an introductory rate of $20. Calltoll free at 866.367.6232 or visitwww.ncda.org to place an order.

NECA, MACD offer training for distance counselingSubmitted by Kay [email protected]

The Distance Credentialed CounselorWorkshop, being held April 27-28 in con-junction with the Maryland Associationfor Counseling and Development Confer-ence in Baltimore, still has space avail-able. The intensive distance credentialcounselor (DCC) training will be co-sponsored by the National EmploymentCounseling Association, the MarylandAssociation of Marriage and FamilyCounselors and ReadyMinds at the Her-itage Center in Baltimore.

The two-day DCC training helps coun-selors learn effective distance techniques,with specific applications to career,school and clinical counseling special-ties. ReadyMinds, a leader in distancecounseling, is the exclusive Center forCredentialing and Education-approvedprovider offering this training. Coun-selors will experience hands-on trainingthat can be applied effectively in theircurrent work environments.

Requirements for the DCC training andcredential are: � A master’s degree in counseling or a

related family/marriage/career/mentalhealth field

� A license to practice counseling or arelated occupation in the state or coun-

try of residence, or certification ingood standing as a national certifiedcounselor

� Successful completion of the two-daytraining program and written trainingaccountability Those not meeting the licensure or cer-

tification requirement can still partici-pate in the training workshop and willhave as long as five years to satisfy thisDCC requirement. All participants willreceive a letter of recognition and a cer-tificate from ReadyMinds after complet-ing the training.

The training fee is $515. NECA,MACD, MAMFC and ACA memberswill receive a $100 discount at registra-tion. To register for the training, visitReadyMinds at www.readyminds.com/dcclocations and click on the training sitefor the Heritage Center in Baltimore.After completing the online forms,receive the special discount by contactingLisa Miller via e-mail at [email protected] or calling 888.225.8248.

ReadyMinds is approved to providecontinuing education by the NationalBoard for Certified Counselors. Fifteencontinuing education hours will beawarded for this training.

NYMHCA makes preparations forfirst convention since licensureSubmitted by Larry Burlew

[email protected]

The New York Mental Health Coun-selors Association will hold its 2006 con-vention in Albany at the Marriott Hotelfrom April 28-30. This will be the firstNYMHC Convention since counselorsreceived licensure in New York, markingthis as a historic occasion. The theme ofthis year’s convention is “The Competi-tive Edge: Licensure, Professionalism &Clinical Practice.”

An exciting convention is plannedwith Bob Walsh, co-author of StartingYour Own Private Practice, serving asthe keynote speaker. Make your plansnow to attend this historic convention bylogging onto the NYMHCA website atwww.NYMHCA.org, going to the con-vention link and registering online. Seeyou there. �

my own cultural identity devel-opment. In the past, I felt apolo-getic about being a White personand felt a need to prove to non-White people that I was politi-cally correct and sympathetic totheir “plight.” This stage onlyseemed to create greater dis-tance between myself and othersand kept me from knowingmyself better. I came to realizethat the need is not to apologizefor who I am but to take respon-sibility for my own identity witha full awareness of my thoughts,feelings and biases. There is aneed not only to appreciate thedifferent experiences of othersbut also to realize that each indi-vidual is more complex thanhis/her race, gender or culture.We must allow for that kind ofunderstanding while giving peo-ple the space to be their ownunique beings.

These experiences lead me tobelieve that I am entering intothe stage of integration. It is asense of both feeling and actingcommitted to promoting multi-culturalism in the classroom,with friends, with family and asa counselor. I have opened my-self up to more diverse culturalexperiences because my fears

have been reduced about whatmight happen. Even being la-beled a racist is less frightening,which allows me to enter moresituations where I am not in themajority. Taking these risks isstill uncomfortable, but I nowwelcome these opportunitiesbecause they help me grow incultural awareness. My develop-ing awareness of self and othershas also expanded my ability tocreate culturally sensitive cur-riculum, research projects andcounseling interventions. Theimpact goes far beyond what Iwould have imagined.

Another area I’ve come to seeas equally essential to culturalcompetence is the intersection ofvarious identities. Prejudices in-filtrate our lives on a regularbasis, whether they are related tosexual orientation, gender or dis-ability, or involving older per-sons, those from religious mi-norities or individuals from theMiddle East who have beendemonized by the current war.These prejudices are not alwaysabout hatred, as is sometimesportrayed. More often it seemsthe prejudices are subtle andoriginate from a lack of contactand understanding.

Conversations with studentsfrom various counseling pro-grams suggest that some pro-grams only pay lip service tomulticulturalism. Multicultural-ism can be portrayed as simplylearning about other cultures orthe history of ethnic-racial mi-norities in counseling and psy-chology. These topics play arole in the developing multicul-tural competencies process, buttruly becoming a multicultural-ly competent counselor is somuch more.

Introduction of the Multicul-tural Counseling Competenciesin the American CounselingAssociation and endorsement ofthe Guidelines on MulticulturalEducation and Training, Re-search, Practice and Organiza-tional Change for Psychologistsby the American PsychologicalAssociation has created a higherstandard of ethics and compe-tence related to multiculturalissues. These organizations areshowing us that knowing whatmulticultural competence meansat an intellectual level must nextbe expanded to the experientiallevel. We can’t just know it; wemust do it and be it.

I have learned that becoming

multiculturally competent alsomeans pushing myself to havethe direct and honest interac-tions with others about cultureand race that I have alwaysfeared. It means taking respon-sibility, increasing awarenessand then moving forward toimpact other people.

Whether we become coun-selors, psychologists, teachers,researchers or choose someother career path, becoming amulticulturally competent per-son is an ethical way of life. It isan identity I’ve come to cherishfor myself. But this identitycomes with a responsibility tocontinually embrace it, promoteit and reintegrate it into my lifeand profession. This identityhas both excited and improvedme, and I know it can do thesame for you if you will takethe challenge. �

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

45

is during this stage that a Whiteperson begins to stop denying thereality of a racist society and be-comes aware of harboring his orher own racist attitudes. Engagingin frank conversations about raceis critical to accomplishing thisstep and, consequently, essentialto overcoming racism. Duringthese conversations, admissionscan occur that allow understand-ing and healing to begin.

My growth began in the multi-cultural counseling course. Thesmall group discussions, de-signed to be nonconfrontational,and films such as The Color ofFear created enormous culturaland emotional dissonance. I wasstudying counseling because ofmy love for humanity and adesire to help people. At thesame time, I experienced feel-ings of fear when passing aBlack man on the street or grewimpatient when working with anAsian immigrant. Even as Iwrite these words, a sense ofshame re-emerges. My reactionsand feelings may not be ones ofchoice, but they can arise frommy past and my social environ-ment nevertheless.

Owning my part in the institu-tion of racism has helped to foster

Student Focus Continued from page 41

Jessie Wetherbe Hayman([email protected]) is agraduate student at ArizonaState University.

Richard Hazler is the columncoordinator for Student Focus.Submit columns for considera-tion to [email protected].

and connection to creator. Thehorse conveys stamina, mobil-ity and strength.

One of the most carved ani-mal fetishes is the bear — alldifferent types of bears. Thebear is typically associatedwith power, health and heal-ing, and adaptability. I havepurchased many fetishes formyself and as gifts. In allcases, I have selected a fetishthat seems relevant for a givenlife circumstance, either posi-tive or negative.

All in all, my wellness prac-tices provide me with a senseof well-being, inspiration andoptimism. They remind methat I do not have to takeeverything so seriously all thetime. Letting go of “over-responsibility” is a message Icontinue to learn through yogaand meditation.

May there be peace, the mostwonderful peace. �

PresidentContinued from page 5

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

46

ACA Call to Action – BY SCOTT BARSTOW, CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL AND BRIAN ALTMAN

The VA health care system does not effectively utilize the services of licensed professional counselors for providing mental health services to veterans. LPCs are virtually shutout of clinical and supervisory positions within the VA, regardless of their expertise or experience. The Senate passed the Veterans Health Care Act of 2005 on Dec. 22, 2005.S. 1182 includes a provision explicitly recognizing licensed mental health counselors within the Veterans Health Administration. Counselors should call their Representativesand ask them to include the provision regarding LPCs in any veterans health bill that is drafted and passed this year.

Medicare Reimbursement of Licensed Professional Counselors

Veterans Affairs Recognition of Licensed Professional Counselors

Who to ContactYour Representative

Capitol Switchboard202.224.3121

www.house.gov

Message“I’m calling to ask the Representative to support language to formally establish recognition of licensed pro-

fessional counselors within the Veterans Health Administration. Such language is included in the VeteransHealth Act of 2005 (S. 1182), which passed the Senate last December.

“Currently, LPCs cannot be hired at the skill level and pay grade that other master’s level mental health pro-fessionals can be hired. However, LPCs are recognized by the Health Resources Services Administration andthe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and are covered by TRICARE. In addition,LPCs have the same expertise and meet virtually identical educational and training requirements as current VHAemployees. The VA needs to do more to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental andemotional problems, and expanding the pool of covered providers will help.

“Please support language that would add LPCs to the list of health providers that are eligible to be appointedto positions at the VHA.”

ACA ResourceBrian Altman800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]

Internet briefing paper:www.counseling.org/publicpolicy

Capwiz “Contact Congress!” site:http://capwiz.com/counseling

The Senate adopted language recognizing both licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists under Medicare late last year as part of broad budget rec-onciliation legislation. Unfortunately, the budget bill developed by the House-Senate conference committee on the legislation did not include this provision.

The American Counseling Association and the American Mental Health Counselors Association are holding many meetings on the House side to educate Representatives onthis issue. We want to ensure that when opportunities to include Medicare reimbursement arise in the future — perhaps later this year — we will have strong support in bothchambers. We are also working with our supporters on the Senate side to maintain their support. ACA encourages counselors to contact their Senators and Representative to letthem know you care about this issue.

Who to ContactYour Senators andRepresentative

Capitol Switchboard202.224.3121

www.senate.govwww.house.gov

Message for Representatives“I am calling to urge you to support Medicare reimbursement for licensed professional counselors. Language

establishing Medicare coverage of LPCs has passed the Senate twice in the past three years. It is time for theHouse of Representatives to take action on this important issue for our district’s senior citizens.

“The lack of an adequate mental health benefit is harming Medicare beneficiaries. According to the NationalInstitute of Mental Health, older Americans are the demographic group most likely to commit suicide. The poolof covered providers needs to be expanded to cover licensed professional counselors to allow better access tomental health treatment and more choice of provider.

“Please contact the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Health and let them know that you supportMedicare reimbursement for licensed professional counselors. Thank you for your consideration.”

ACA ResourceBrian Altman800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]



Message for Senators“I am calling to urge you to co-sponsor the Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2005 (S. 784).

Sens. Craig Thomas and Blanche Lincoln sponsor this bill, and the bill’s language has been passed twice by theSenate in the last three years but has yet to be enacted.

“The lack of an adequate mental health benefit is harming Medicare beneficiaries. According to the NationalInstitute of Mental Health, older Americans are the demographic group most likely to commit suicide. The poolof covered providers needs to be expanded to cover licensed professional counselors to allow better access tomental health treatment and more choice of provider.

“Please contact Sen. Thomas’ office and tell the staff that you would like to co-sponsor S. 784. Thank you foryour consideration.”

Appropriations for the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program

Who to ContactYour Senators andRepresentative

Capitol Switchboard:202.224.3121

www.senate.govwww.house.gov

Message“I am strongly opposed to President Bush’s proposal to eliminate funding for the Elementary and Secondary

School Counseling Program in his Fiscal Year 2007 education budget. ESSCP is the only federal program devot-ed expressly to supporting counseling programs in our nation’s schools. The school counseling program isimportant to me and to hundreds of thousands of students across the country.

“Please reject the president’s proposal to eliminate ESSCP. Instead, I strongly urge you to support sufficientfunding to allow middle and high schools, as well as elementary schools, to benefit from this program.”

ACA ResourceChris Campbell800.347.6647 ext. [email protected]



For the fifth year in a row, President George W. Bush has proposed an education budget that would eliminate funding for the Elementary and Secondary School CounselingProgram, the only federal program expressly devoted to supporting counseling programs in our nation’s schools. The elimination of ESSCP would end much-needed servicesto students in 103 school districts across 33 states and the District of Columbia.

Counselors should contact their members of Congress to express their opposition to President Bush’s proposed elimination of ESSCP and to ask for an appropriation for theprogram that allows support of both elementary and secondary school counseling services.

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

47

Private Practice in Counseling – BY ROBERT J. WALSH AND NORMAN C. DASENBROOK

Q: I am an ACA member and obtainedmy New York mental health counselorlicense in October 2005. I am seekingsome resource information for creatingmy own website, as I plan to have a pri-vate practice. Therefore, can you suggestsome web design services?

A: First, let us congratulate you andNew York on licensure and your deci-sion to go into private practice. Websitesare almost standard for anyone goinginto business for themselves, and privatepractice is no different. Just like businesscards, letterhead and brochures, websitesare a marketing tool and an informationsource that adds value to your practice.

In our workshops, we have always dis-cussed websites as a value added service.Recently, a workshop participant re-minded us that generations X and Y“Google” everything, which reinforcedthe marketing piece. This generationalreminder was enlightening. So now, westrongly encourage all private practition-ers to have a Web presence. The goodnews is that this technology is easilyobtained and very affordable.

In terms of websites, you have a lot ofoptions. One very inexpensive route is togo through your Internet provider(Optonline, Verizon, etc.) or large com-panies such AOL, Yahoo, 1and1.com orGodaddy.com. Most offer a do-it-your-self option for putting up a website.

If you only need a one-page website,then consider using an online referralservice such as Psychology Today(Psychologytoday.com) or ProvisionsConsulting through the American Men-tal Health Counselors Association(AMHCA.org). You simply upload yourpractice information to a template andoff you go. For a nominal monthly fee,they will host your one-page site andinclude it in their “Find a Therapist”consumer referral. However, potentialclients surfing the web will not be ableto find your one-page site on Google orYahoo.

Another avenue is to hire a privatedesign and hosting firm. These profes-sionals will help you create a customizedwebsite from scratch. The biggest advan-tage of hiring a professional is that theydo all the work for you so you can focusyour efforts on what you do best — treat-ing clients. Moreover, tech support usu-ally doesn’t cost extra, and you haveaccess to a live person.

Our research found that you can get acustomized 10-page website, from startto finish, from a professional firm forless than $600. The total fee shouldinclude domain registration and hostingfor the first year, design, e-mail accountsand search engine submission. After thefirst year, there is an annual hosting feeof $125-$150. The best way to find theseprofessionals is to ask for a referral froma colleague who already has a websitethat you like.

While we can’t endorse any one

provider, we have used two differentwebsite firms. Our e-commerce site,Counseling-PrivatePractice.com, wasdone by Digitaleagles.com. With an e-commerce website (which has theability to accept credit card paymentonline) there is an additional cost of $25per month for hosting. We sell ourbook, The Complete Guide to PrivatePractice, through this site. My privatepractice website, DasenbrookandJohn-son.com, was done by TherapyMatch.com. Joshua Rosenthal is the presidentof Therapy Match Inc. and is also a clin-ician. Both firms were easy to workwith and extremely helpful. Checkthem out.

In addition, check out Private PracticePointers on ACA’s website in June for amore detailed bulletin on websites forcounselors. And remember, websites arelike most other things: You get what youpay for.

Q: Could you write something aboutthe new CPT® (current procedural ter-minology) testing codes that specify (theservices of) a psychologist? Is it accu-rate that professional counselors wouldcome under that code even though it onlysays “psychologist”?

A: The American Psychological Asso-ciation has published the following bul-letin:

“As of Jan. 1, 2006, the CPT® codesfor psychological and neuropsychologi-cal testing have been revised. New codenumbers have replaced the old CPT codenumbers 96100, 96117 and 96115 forpsychological testing, neuropsychologi-cal testing and the neurobehavioral statusexam. The code for psychological test-ing, interpretation and reporting, former-ly known as 96100, is now:� 96101, for psychological testing, inter-

pretation and reporting per hour by apsychologist. All of the other new testing code num-

bers are published in CPT 2006©, whichis available from the American MedicalAssociation at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3113.html and(800) 621-8335.”

My initial read of the change is that itcovers anyone licensed to do testing.This varies from state to state. CPTcodes are for insurance reimbursement,and counselors are reimbursable for test-ing in many states. After calling providerrelations for Magellan/Aetna, I wasgiven information that these codes arefor master’s level providers as well asPh.D.s. We will continue to stay on topof this issue.

Q: I would appreciate your adviceconcerning the client confidentiality sec-tion of the “Informed Consent” form inyour book. Do “supervisor/supervisee”relationship and also “court order”need to be specifically addressed andspelled out, or are these exceptions to

client confidentiality covered respectivelyunder “consultants” and “state and federallaw” exceptions?

A: If your informed consent and HIPAAdisclosure form lists consultants and stipu-lates that you follow state and federal law,you should be OK. Keep in mind that we arenot attorneys. However, by including theabove you are making an effort to complywith the sprit of the law, which is whatHIPAA rules require.

Q: You have a section highlighting how tobuy or sell a private practice but not steps toclose your practice. Do you have that infor-mation?

A: We have a bulletin on buying and sell-ing a private practice on ACA’s website, butACA Professional Projects CoordinatorMartha McIntosh was gracious enough tosupply specific steps for closing a practice:� Designate a date you would like to close

your practice.� Notify your state licensure board of your

reason(s) and circumstances for closingyour practice in case there are state-mandated steps for closing a practice.

� Inquire about how long to keep yourrecords. Seven years is the recommendedtime frame by the ACA Insurance Trust.

Make sure your records are shredded, notsimply thrown out.

� Notify your insurance companies that youare closing your practice.

� Notify present and past clients in writingof your closing. Do not take on additionalclients in the meantime, thus ensuring thatyou will not have any more clients to treatat the desired date you wish to close.

� Clinical issues with your clients maydetermine the time frame for closing yourpractice. In other words, putting properclosure on relationships, holding transi-tional sessions and providing referralsmay determine the length of time youneed to close your practice.

� Inform clients how they can access theirrecords in the future.

� Buy tail insurance if you are ending liabil-ity insurance in case of a lawsuit afteryour practice is closed.

� Offer clients who need continued treat-ment two or three good sources to con-tact. Also provide release forms that willenable records to be forwarded if theclient wishes. �

Words of advice for establishing a Web presence

Robert J. Walsh and Norman C. Dasenbrook are the co-authors of The Complete Guide to Private Practicefor Mental Health Professionals(www.counseling-privatepractice.com). ACA members can e-mail their questionsto [email protected].

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

48

“Nation Caught in Meth’s Grip”

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

49

professional advocacy efforts. Ibelieve that if we do not advo-cate for who we are as profes-sionals and as a profession,then nobody is going to listento us when we stand up toadvocate for clients.

I won’t say “pleasure,” but Ihad the experience when I wasACA president of being infront of groups of people whodidn’t understand or didn’trespect counselors and wereunwilling to allow us access toclients as well as to jobs. I findthat an area where there is stilla tremendous amount of workto be done.

My hope is that all coun-selors and counselor educatorsand supervisors will take anactive role in social advocacy,but I do not wish that to sup-plant the need for professionaladvocacy. In many ways thereare special interest groups thatwe can join and be involvedand active with to advocate forany particular population.When I come back to profes-sional organizations, like ACA,I see their role more as advo-cating for the profession. It

goes back to the idea of net-working and building alliancesas well as building to ourstrengths. If our strengths are ina unified profession, then wehave to keep working on that. Itis only then that we can makealliances with many groups tocreate social change.

Having worked at ACA head-quarters, I was very aware ofthe fact that national organiza-tions networked all the time onissues related to client popula-tions, and very often ACA wasleft out of that network. Wewere often not seen as anessential group of mentalhealth professionals.

CW: There is still more workto be done as a profession.What lies in front of us that weneed to be attentive to?

JM: There is the ubiquitousissue of counselor identity. Itnever goes away. We need todecide who we are and to keepfocused on that.

There is the whole issue ofunification or fragmentation.We had a professionalizationmeeting in 1990 and, as is truenow, we were trying very hard

to get recognized as a coreprovider of mental health ser-vices. Representatives of all theACA divisions and accreditingand credentialing groups werein attendance. We invited a keydecision-maker from the Na-tional Institute of MentalHealth to help us understandwhy we were not yet recog-nized as having parity withother mental health profes-sions. He observed that if wewere a “group of groups,” wewere not going to get anywhereand might as well not comeknocking on his door to wastehis time.

If we were a group of profes-sional counselors and were50,000 to 60,000 strong, then hewould have no choice but to lis-ten to us. But if we came as10,000 mental health counselorsor 12,000 school counselors or5,000 marriage and familycounselors, then he didn’t haveto listen — and he wouldn’t lis-ten, and neither would anyoneelse.

Tom Sweeney, when he waspresident of APGA/ACA in1980-81, established the first

Advocacy Committee withspecific charges. When I wason the Governing Council inthe late 1980s, the committeewas eliminated due to a lack ofclear goals. I was fortunate tobe in a position to help recre-ate a similar committee twoyears later during my term aspresident.

I also participated in ACA’sfirst Professionalization Com-mittee meeting, which occurredduring my year as presidentand which brought together forthe first time in history — ifyou can imagine — representa-tives of each ACA division andrelated entity (i.e., CACREP,CORE, NBCC, AASCB,CRCC, etc.) to create a coordi-nated plan for professionaliza-tion. Tom Sweeney organizedand chaired the meeting, whichhad three major themes: advo-cacy, accreditation and ethics.We developed a unified strate-gic plan in each of these threeareas with specific markers forsuccess, and the ACA Govern-ing Council committed to theplan. Soon thereafter the planwas dropped, permanently, due

to lack of support from subse-quent ACA leaders. Now ACAis trying once again to get all ofthe entities together, but in aseries of meetings and not all atonce. The goal of coordinationremains a clear need.

So much has been done thattends to get lost. Our historyneeds to be part of the trainingof new leaders. New leadersand new counselors as well asexperienced ones need tounderstand the importance ofadvocacy and commit to beingadvocates. In large and smallways, we all play a part. �

Jane Myers Continued from page 17

Colin C. Ward is an associateprofessor at Winona StateUniversity. He has more than20 years of experience as aneducator and counselor withan interest in school coun-selor training, strength-basedapproaches to counselingand public policy for promot-ing the counseling professionand social mental health.

Letters to the editor:[email protected]

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

50

Bulletin Board

APRILACA/CCA Annual ConventionMarch 30-April 3Montréal

Join the American Counseling Associa-tion and the Canadian Counselling Asso-ciation in Montréal for their first jointinternational convention. Headliners willinclude two keynote speakers: StephenLewis, former Canadian ambassador tothe United Nations and a humanitarianwho has spearheaded a battle on behalf ofAIDS/HIV victims in Africa, and TipperGore, an advocate for the well-being ofchildren and families in the United Statesand the wife of former Vice President AlGore. For complete details, visitwww.counseling.org/Convention/.

Second Annual Spring Counseling ConferenceApril 7-8Silver City, N.M.

The Spring Counseling Conference issponsored by the Counselor EducationProgram at Western New Mexico Univer-sity. On April 7, Sara and Sigurd Hoppeof Minneapolis will present “The Art ofCreating Relationships.” The presenta-tion will focus on the tapestry that iswoven together by cultural, biological,ethnic and gender threads to make up arelationship and how to work with cou-ples and families in the art of couplestherapy. On April 8, the Hoppes will pre-sent “Couple/Family Therapy Con-sultation: Supervision Training.” Thispresentation will provide participants theopportunity to present their clients for anexample of consultative supervision.Contact Lynn K. Hall, associate professorof counseling, at [email protected] forregistration information.

Center for Pastoral Counseling of VirginiaAnnual Ethics SeminarApril 27 Fairfax, Va.

Looking for ethics CEUs for socialwork, counseling, or psychology? TheCenter for Pastoral Counseling of Vir-ginia presents Mary Alice Fisher of theCenter for Ethical Practice, who will pro-vide information on boundaries and dualrelationships. Three CEU hours will beawarded to attendees. The seminar willbe held at the Fairfax PresbyterianChurch located at 10723 Main Street inFairfax from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. A conti-nental breakfast will be provided. Thecost is $65 for professionals and $40 forstudents. For more information on theseminar, visit www.pastoralcounseling.com or call 703.903.9696.

COMING EVENTSAmerican Indian/Alaska Native Counseling WorkshopAug. 8-10Anchorage, Alaska

“The Creative Journey: Deepening theProcess of American Indian/Alaska

Native Counseling” is sponsored bySwan Circle and coordinated by the Uni-versity of Alaska–Anchorage.

The purpose of this conference is tocreatively deepen the process of counsel-ing American Indian/Alaska Nativeclients by building on their traditionalways of communication and healing.Visit www.swancircle.com for additionaldetails, or contact [email protected] [email protected] for moreinformation about the workshop.

FYIBoard members sought

A. Scott McGowan, editor of the Jour-nal of Counseling & Development, isseeking applicants for three-year appoint-ments to the JCD Editorial Board com-mencing July 1.

Counselors with editorial experienceand a record of scholarship relevant to thedomain of JCD are encouraged to apply.Publications in refereed journals arerequired. Applicants must be AmericanCounseling Association members andmust agree to provide high-qualityreviews on a timely basis. Applicantsinterested in reviewing quantitativeresearch manuscripts should identifytheir areas of expertise in terms ofresearch design and statistics. Reviewersfor qualitative research are also needed.Applications must be made electronical-ly, but hard copies must also be sent.Since JCD is moving to a complete elec-tronic manuscript submission and reviewprocess, prospective reviewers must havean e-mail address and be prepared to for-ward reviews electronically.

To apply, send the following materialselectronically as attachments to [email protected]: a letter of application describingqualifications and areas of expertise, avita and a list of publications. In addition,send hard copies of the materials, alongwith a recent representative article thatthe applicant has published in a refereedjournal, via regular mail to A. ScottMcGowan, Editor, JCD, Department ofCounseling & Development, Long IslandUniversity/C.W. Post Campus, 720Northern Blvd., Brookville, NY 11548.Incomplete or late applications will notbe considered. Applications are invitedimmediately but must be received elec-tronically no later than May 15.

The Journal of Humanistic Coun-seling, Education and Development, thejournal of the Counseling Association forHumanistic Education and Develop-ment, is seeking applicants for its Edito-rial Board. All ACA members interestedin serving on the journal’s EditorialBoard are encouraged to submit theirapplication materials by April 15.

Primary responsibilities include re-viewing manuscripts and submittingreviews to the editor in a timely manner.Editorial Board members should befamiliar with the content and aims of The

Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Edu-cation and Development and the C-AHEAD division. Several openingsare available for the three-year termbeginning July 1.

Those selected must be willing to joinC-AHEAD. Please send electroniccopies of your vita and a cover letterhighlighting your qualifications [email protected].

Seeking editors The National Career Development

Association calls for applications for theeditorship of the Career DevelopmentQuarterly for a term beginning Aug. 1,2008, and running through July 31, 2011.The following qualifications are desiredin candidates:� Previous experience as an editor or

editorial board member� Doctorate in counseling or a related

field� Membership in NCDA� A vision for CDQ that is consistent

with the journal’s purpose and mission

� Significant publication record� Evidence of strong organizational

skills� Employer/institutional support for

serving as editor The incoming editor should be avail-

able to receive manuscripts on Aug. 1,2007. NCDA encourages participationby members of underrepresented groupsin the publication process and would par-ticularly welcome such applicants. Toapply, candidates should submit a vita,five sample journal articles, two exam-ples of the applicant’s editing skills,three letters of reference, a one- to two-page statement discussing the applicant’svision for CDQ and a letter of supportfrom the candidate’s employer. Deadlinefor application is May 1. Finalists will beinterviewed at the NCDA Conference,being held in Chicago from July 7- 9.

Send applications to: Dennis Engels,Ph.D., Regents Professor and EditorSearch Committee Chair, Department ofCounseling Development and HigherEducation, University of North Texas,P.O. Box 310829, Denton, TX 76203.Phone: 940.565.2918; fax 40.565.2905;e-mail: [email protected]

Call for papers, manuscriptsThe Association for Spiritual, Ethical,

and Religious Values in Counseling, adivision of ACA, invites article propos-als for a special issue of its journal,Counseling and Values. This specialissue will focus on the relationship be-tween philosophy and counseling, withparticular emphasis on values. Proposalsshould include the following: (a)author(s) and contact information, (b)proposed title, (c) aims of article and (d)a 500-600 word summary. Proposalsshould be attached to an e-mail usingMicrosoft Word format and should besent no later than June 15 to the specialissue editor: James T. Hansen, Ph.D.,Oakland University, Department of

Counseling, 450E Pawley Hall,Rochester, MI 48309. Phone: 248.370.3071; fax: 248.370.4141; e-mail:[email protected]

ADULTSPAN JOURNAL is invitingsubmissions for a special issue on health,nutrition and body image of midlife andolder adults. Please e-mail the editorwith a brief outline of your manuscriptby April 15. For more information onthis special issue, contact Editor Cather-ine B. Roland via e-mail at [email protected].

In addition, ADULTSPAN JOURNALis currently seeking three types of sub-missions for upcoming issues: manu-scripts that can either be conceptual orresearch based, practice articles concern-ing issues of counseling and workingwith adults, and reviews of new booksthat are pertinent to adult development.We are interested in a variety of topicsrelated to life span development andtransition, from young adulthoodthrough older adulthood. Many topicsare sought. Check with the editor if youhave inquiries. Guidelines for authorscan be located in the publications area ofthe ACA website under the journal tab.

Point/Counterpoint writers wanted

Counseling Today is seeking writersfor the Point/Counterpoint column, aforum for two professionals to debate ahot-button issue in the counseling field.Proposed topics include:� Are counselor educators handing out

too many A’s? Is the grading systemtoo lenient?

� Multiculturalism versus diversity:Which should the counseling profes-sion embrace?

� Should the school counseling profes-sion make the move from certificationto licensure?

� Psychology training programs provideclasses on prescribing medications.Should counseling programs followsuit?If you are interested in writing on one

of the suggested topics or would like topropose a topic, contact Angela Kennedyat [email protected]. Please add“Point/Counterpoint” in the subject line.The e-mail must include the topic youwould like to write about and your stanceon the issue.

Bulletin Board submission guidelines

Entries for the Bulletin Board must besubmitted via e-mail to [email protected] with “Bulletin Board” inthe subject line. Paragraphs (in completesentences) should be in a Word docu-ment, single-spaced, justified, Times fontin black. Please provide a contact personwith an e-mail address or number to callfor more information. Do not send sub-missions with tables, tabs, bullet points,logos/letterhead, colors or uncommonfonts. Submissions are subject to editing.The rolling deadline is the 10th of everymonth by close of business, ET. �

Classifieds

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

51

� CCllaassssiiffiieedd AAddss:: Categoriesinclude Calendar; Merchandise &Services; Business Opportunities;Educational Programs; Books; Callfor Programs/Papers; and othersupon request.RRaatteess:: Standard in-column format:$8.50 per line based on 30characters per line. Five-lineminimum ($42.50). Display Classifiedads: $80 per column inch. All ratesinclude listing the ad on CTOnline.We can create your Display Classi-fied ad with a box and a logo for$40. Classified ads are notcommissionable and are billed at anet rate upon publication.

� EEmmppllooyymmeenntt CCllaassssiiffiieedd AAddss:: Cate-gories include Positions Availableand Positions Wanted. Ads are list-ed as: International, National byState, then by Institution.RRaatteess:: Standard in-column format:$9 per line based on 30 charactersper line. Ten-line ($90) minimum.Display Classified Ads: For adssmaller than 1/8 page, a columninch rate of $80 applies. Employ-ment Classified ads are not com-missionable and are billed at a netrate upon publication.

� AACCAA MMeemmbbeerrss:: If you are seekinga position you may place a 45-wordad for $10. This is a one-timeinsertion only. Please see the onlineCareer Center to place your résuméonline at no charge.

� DDeeaaddlliinneess:: Vary per issue. Con-tact Kathy Maguire at 317.873.1800or kkmmaagguuiirree@@ccoouunnsseelliinngg..oorrgg for further details.

� Direct all copy or inquiries toKathy Maguire via e-mail atkkmmaagguuiirree@@ccoouunnsseelliinngg..oorrgg.PPhhoonnee:: 317.873.1800.FFaaxx:: 317.873.1899.

� Ads are subject to CounselingToday approval; however, Counsel-ing Today cannot screen or evaluateall products or services advertisedin the classified section and doesnot guarantee their value or authen-ticity. The publication of an adver-tisement in Counseling Today is inno way an endorsement by ACA ofthe advertiser or theproducts or services advertised.Advertisers may not incorporate insubsequent advertising orpromotion the fact that a product orservice has been advertised in anyACA publication. ACA endorsesequal opportunity practices and willnot knowingly accept ads thatdiscriminate on the basis of race,sex, religion, national origin, sexualorientation, disability or age.

� Counseling Today reserves theright to edit all copy, request addi-tional documentation where indi-cated and to refuse ads that are notin consonance with these practices.ACA is not responsible for anyclaims made neither inadvertisements nor for the specificposition title or working of anyparticular position listed inemployment classified ads.

MERCHANDISE/SERVICES

DESPERATE THERAPISTSFinally, Help's Available! FreeReport -- Call1-800-421-2717 or go towww.yourprivatepracticesuc-cess.com

DVD."Resiliency After ViolentDeath: Lessons For Caregivers"Provides therapists engaged inlong-term support with fami-lies after a violent death, strate-gies to diminish the emotionaldistress. [email protected] 207236-8858

LICENSURE EXAM REVIEWNCE & NCMHCE Exam PrepReview. Multiple choice ques-tions, mnemonics. Exam Tips,online and interactive Checkout our FREE [email protected] www.Coun-selingExam.com

CLINICAL RECORD KEEPER™An efficient, easy to use recordkeeping software program forcounselors. Visithttp://www.clinicalrecord-keeper.com

CRAZED BY CLIENT BILLING? Visit www.ShrinkRapt.comtoday and learn more aboutShrinkRapt™ the top sellingbilling and insurance programfor mental health practitioners.Easy to use! Order today andreceive a FREE Email &FREE Backup Module! Limit-ed time offer! Request a fullyfunctional Demo Package atwww.ShrinkRapt.com or bycalling Saner Software Inc(630) 513-5599

MARKET YOUR PRACTICEWith your own personalizednewsletter. A cost-effectiveway to increase client hours.Produced quarterly by award-winning firm. Sample copy:866-200-6945 or go towww.clairecommunications.com

DISSERTATION COMPLETIONCONSULTING Individualized program assistswith all aspects of dissertationand thesis writing. By phone,by FAX, by e-mail, or in per-son. Call “toll free” 1-(888)463-6999 or go to www.acade-micinfocenter.com

STATISTICALCONSULTING

DISSERTATION HELPIf the stress of designing or

completing your dissertation isoverwhelming, I can help you.After years of teaching statis-tics/research and helping fac-ulty publish, I spent the last sixyears in private consultationworking with students on aone-to-one basis. I designexcellent studies (includinghypotheses, applicable statis-tics, and help in general pro-posal writing) as well as pro-vide data analyses, assist withthe write-ups, and providehand-holding and encourage-ment. I have a proven trackrecord nationwide; all myclients received their degrees.Call toll-free (866) 375-6704or e mail: [email protected]

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSNBCC approved ContinuingEducation provider. Accessour website athttp://www.ccmsinc.net toprint out our full catalog of 112Home-Study/Test-Only Cours-es. CCMS, Inc. P. O. Box 128,Alexander, IA 50420. 641-692-3278.

EASY CONTINUING EDUCATION NBCC approved online andhomestudy provider. Coursesfrom $3.33 per contact hour.Pay when finished. Instant cer-tificates by email.http://www.CeuUniversity.com

UNLIMITED CE COURSES$137/yr. Over 300 courses ofbooks, tapes, and web articles.Immediate scoring & printablecertificate. NBCC &NAADAC provider. www.CE-CREDIT.com/info/aca.

NEED CONTINUING EDUCA-TION CONTACT HOURS? C o u n s e l i n g C E U s O n l i n eNBCC Approved and in 24States. Now With ExpressExams [24/7] $36 per course[10 contact hrs] 40+ CoursesEasy, convenient, current,cost-effective. http://counsel-ingceusonline.com

BUSINESS FOR SALE

BUSINESS FOR SALE1-800-THERAPIST is for sale.You can own an internationaltherapist referral service withan established presence on theweb. This is a fully function-ing business with a long estab-lished reputation. The sale notonly includes current con-tracts, but also the web site andthe 800 number. Seriousinquiries only. Dr. KevinGrold 858-481-1515.

EMPLOYMENT CLAS-SIFIEDS, Apri l 2006

NATIONAL

NATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTSConvert your advanced degreeand clinical experience into agratifying and profitable careerdiversification. Find out whyour firm has the most compre-hensive and sophisticatedtraining and developmentprocess, designed solely forprofessionals with your cre-dentials. We’ve written thebook (13 of them, actually) onexecutive coaching, leadershipdevelopment, derailment pre-vention, and the nuts and boltsof what’s required to make thisclinical-to-consulting conver-sion. We look forward to hav-ing the chance to evaluate yourpotential as a consultant. Like-wise, we invite you to conductyour own due diligence on us.Visit our web sites (www.clini-cal-to-consulting.comand-www.tgcpinc.com); requestour Career TransformationWhite Paper; and call ourNational Director of Recruit-ing, Bob Drovdlic (614-771-5732), or e-mail Bob [email protected] questions you might have.

ALABAMA

TROY UNIVERSITY PHENIXCITYAssistant-Associate Profes-sorTroy University, Phenix CityCampus, seeks applicants for atenure track position at the

Assistant-Associate Professorlevel in Counseling and Psy-chology. An earned doctoratein counseling, counseling psy-chology, or related field isrequired. Successful collegeteaching experience, demon-strated abilities, advisement,committee work, strong com-mitment to research are otherrequirements. Alabama licen-sure or licensure eligibility in amental health discipline isrequired. Duties will includeserving as coordinator of aCACREP approved M.S.degree program in ClinicalMental Health Counseling.Position begins in August2006. Review of applicationswill begin immediately andcontinue until the position isfilled. Submit letter of applica-tion, current vita, academictranscripts, and a list of threecurrent references, includingnames, addresses, and tele-phone numbers to HumanResources, Troy University,Troy, AL 36082. Troy Univer-sity is an AA/EEO employerand encourages applicationsfrom individuals with disabili-ties, females, African Ameri-cans and other minorities.Visit our website atwww.troy.edu/humanresources

ARIZONA

SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONABEHAVIORAL HEALTH SER-VICES, INC.Multiple PositionsSEABHS, Inc., offers a varietyof opportunities related to newprogram initiatives, best prac-tices and community capacitybuilding. Bilingual abilityhighly valued, Arizona boardcertification and workingknowledge of family-centeredtherapy preferred. Clinical &administrative positions avail-able throughout southeasternArizona including Nogales,Benson, Sierra Vista, Bisbee,Willcox, Safford, Morenci andDouglas for MA, MSW, &CSAC. Call our job line at(800) 841-6308 or request anapplication at SEABHS, HRDept., 489 N. Arroyo Blvd.,Nogales, AZ 85621; (520)287-4713 or fax (520) 287-4717.

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

52

GEORGIA

ARGOSY UNIVERSITY ATLANTADean - School of Psychology andBehavioral SciencesPosition Summary: Supervises a varietyof program activities by performing thefollowing duties personally or throughsubordinate supervisors. Oversees theacademic Psychology Program andinsures the quality of instruction deliv-ered. Essential Duties And Responsibilities: Oversees the staffand activities of the School of Psycholo-gy and Behavioral Sciences Assists thecampus VP of Academic Affairs inpreparing, implementing, and oversee-ing the Departmental budget. Overseesthe ongoing delivery of courses and pro-poses courses, schedules and offerings.Provides timely information to the cam-pus VP of Academic Affairs and otheradministrative personnel relating to theoperation of the School Psychology.Plans and conducts regular cost/benefitanalyses of Psychology Departmentactivities and recommends budgetimprovement measures where appropri-ate. Hires, trains, assigns and evaluatesfaculty members for delivery of curricu-lar content and support staff as appropri-ate. Coordinates accreditation reviewsof the School of Psychology and Behav-

ioral Sciences. Oversees compliancewith federal and state employment lawsin the School of Psychology and Behav-ioral Sciences. Oversees Departmental compliance withcorporate guidelines/procedures andaccreditation guidelines. Reviews stu-dent course completions and assures thatdegrees are properly awarded. Greetsand meets with students, communityrepresentatives, and other parties inter-ested in the School of Psychology andBehavioral Sciences. Other dutiesmaybe assigned. NO PHONE CALLSPLEASE. Contact: Director of HumanResources 980 Hammond Drive, Bldg 2 Ste 100,Atlanta , GA 30328, Fax: 770.671-1096Email: [email protected]

ARGOSY UNIVERSITY ATLANTAProgram Chair—Professional Coun-seling Program. The ProfessionalCounseling Program offers an MA inProfessional Counseling and a Certifi-cate in Marriage and Family Therapy. Adoctoral program is also in developmentfor this department. We are seeking aleader who has earned a doctorate inCounseling, Counselor Education andSupervision, or a related mental healthfield from a regionally accredited uni-versity, and who can hold the rank ofAssociate Faculty or Professor. Candi-

dates for this position should be licensed(or license-eligible) as a professionalcounselor or should be a licensed mentalhealth professional whose backgrounddemonstrates a strong counselor identi-ty. Work experience in a graduate train-ing program and prior involvement withthe CACREP accreditation process arestrongly preferred. Responsibilitiesinclude curriculum oversight, facultyhiring and review, strategic planning,budget development and monitoring,program development and evaluation,interfacing with other university depart-ments, and overseeing student recruit-ment, admissions and retention. We areseeking a person who enjoys administra-tion in higher education, mentoring full-time and adjunct faculty, and teachinggraduate adult learners. Our administra-tion and faculty are dedicated to sup-porting effective teaching and learning,as well as fostering a culturally richenvironment that values diversity.Review of applications will begin onFebruary 15th. Applicants should submita letter of interest, curriculum vitae, andthree letters of recommendation to: Jef-frey Binder, Ph.D., Dean of Psychologyat Argosy University/Atlanta, 980 Ham-mond Drive, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA30328. or Faith Glaspie-Ellis, Directorof Human Resources. [email protected] AU/Atlanta is an

equal-opportunity employer. To learnmore about Argosy University, visit ourwebsite at www.argosyu.edu. NOPHONE CALLS PLEASE

BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGECareer CounselorSmall Christian college seeking CareerCounselor to provide career, individual,and group counseling, to present work-shops in classrooms and dorms, and towork with businesses to provide intern-ship and job opportunities for students.Master’s degree in counseling or relatedfield and licensed or license-eligible inGeorgia required.Must have a positiveattitude,a sense of humor, and a love forbuilding relationships with students.Start date is July 1. Please send resume,statement of faith, and statement of inte-gration of faith and counseling to: Shar-la Williamson, Human Resources, P.O. Box 197, Mt. Vernon, GA30445, (912)583-3287; [email protected] is an equal opportunity employer.

ILLINOIS

A&S PSYCH CONSULTINGLicensed PsychotherapistGroup practice seeks licensed psy-

chotherapist (LCPC, LCSW or Psychol-ogist). F/T or P/T. Work in two offices:Oak Park and SW-Side Chicago. Mustbe experienced with adults. Additionalpreferred skills, bilingual, experiencewith teens/families, psychodynamic ori-entation. Send resume to: A&S PsychConsulting, Attn: Applications, 1101Lake St., Ste 404, Oak Park, IL 60301.

MAINE

NORTHEAST OCCUPATIONALEXCHANGEMultiple PositionsNortheast Occupational Exchange, Inc.(NOE) is a non-profit licensed compre-hensive mental health and substanceabuse facility. We provide a range ofservices to adults and children includingoutpatient, day treatment, dual diagno-sis, community support, case manage-ment, after-school, vocational, and par-enting programs. Our offices are locat-ed across Maine between the AtlanticCoast, White Mountains, and the MaineNorth Woods allowing for an abundanceof recreational and cultural opportuni-ties. NOE has received the Lela Row-land Prevention Award from the Nation-al Mental Health Association for bring-ing evidence-based programs to prac-tice. CLINICAL OR COUNSELING PSY-CHOLOGISTS - BANGOR, NEW-PORT, LINCOLN To provide individualand group services to children/adoles-cents or adults emphasizing cognitivebehavioral and skill-building interven-tions. Licensed Psychologist preferred.License eligible in Maine. Ample train-ing opportunities and supervision areprovided. Salary negotiable. MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS(Child and Adult) - NEWPORTTo provide individual and group thera-py, evaluation, assessment and diagnosisservices to children/adolescents oradults emphasizing cognitive behavioraland skill-building interventions. LCSWor LCPC preferred. LMSW or LCPCconditional will be considered. Licenseeligible in Maine. NOE offers a com-petitive salary and generous fringe pack-age including employee paid health,dental, and disability insurance; paidholidays and PEP time. Applicantsshould forward resume and 3 letters ofreferences to:Dr. Charles O. Tingley, Jr., Ph.D., ABPP,Executive Director, Northeast Occupa-tional Exchange, 29 Franklin Street,Bangor, ME 04401.

MARYLAND

NOVA RESEARCH COMPANYCounselorImmediate vacancy for an entry-level clinician to work on a contract providingresearch support services toIntramural Research Program (IRP) ofthe National Institute on Drug Abuse(NIDA) located in Balto., MD. NIDA isan institute of the National Institutes ofHealth, which is a component of the

Department of Health and Human Ser-vices. Responsibilities incl. performingintake evaluations and assessments, andhandling inpatient and outpatient case-loads. Master's degree in clinical psy-chology, or sociology/social work req;must have or be in the process of obtain-ing state licensure; exper. in clinical interviewing, and exper. with a drug abusing population preferred. E-mail resume/salary history [email protected]; FAX 301-951-7249. EOE

TRICO CORPORATIONLicensed Counselors Children, Adolescents & Families,Some DD. Provide services for out-patient mental health clinic in Charlesand/or St. Mary's County locations. Fullor Part Time.e-mail [email protected] or fax301-862-5554

MISSISSIPPI

GRACE CHRISTIAN COUNSELING CENTERNew PositionThe Grace Christian Counseling Centerin Vicksburg has received funding toopen a new position. This is an oppor-tunity for someone to begin developinga client load in a non-profit setting. Thefunding helps pay for partial salary andrequires the counselor provide servicesdirected toward Katrina evacuees. Italso will involve providing public ser-vices for GCCC. Of course, this activi-ty will coincide with providing regularcounseling services for our various pro-grams. The pay for this position is acombination of base salary (partiallyfunded by this grant) plus a percentageof fees collected. I am looking for a per-son with a license with therapy experi-ence although I would be interested intalking to someone that is working tocomplete hours toward their license.The position may be part-time or full-time. I may be contacted by email, tele-phone, or mail. Walter L. Frazier, GraceChristian Counseling Center, 1414 Cherry Street, Vicksburg, MS39180, 601-636-5703 [email protected].

NEW JERSEY

SETON HALL UNIVERSITYAnticipated Associate Professor orAssistant Professor Position at theGraduate LevelCollege of Education & Human Ser-vices (NCATE Accredited)Department of Professional Psychologyand Family TherapySchool Counseling, Mental HealthCounseling ProgramsSeton Hall University , an archdiocesanCatholic institution, is actively develop-ing a required, undergraduate Core Cur-riculum reflecting the University's mis-sion and identity. The Core Curriculum,which will be interdisciplinary and pro-ficiencies-based, is anticipated to be

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

53

offered initially in Fall 2007. The School Counseling and MentalHealth Counseling graduate programs inthe Department of Professional Psychol-ogy and Family Therapy seek a candi-date who will provide leadership in cur-riculum development, program develop-ment, and teach graduate courses inschool and mental health counseling intraditional, weekend, and/or on-line for-mats. This appointment may involve anadditional administrative appointmentas Program Director of the MentalHealth and School Counseling graduateprograms. Additionally, it is anticipatedthat the candidate will have successfulexperience with the application andmanagement of the CACREP accredita-tion process. This position requires adoctorate and a record of scholarlyactivity in counselor education or aclosely related area. In addition to fos-tering research, advising and providingsupervision for graduate students, facul-ty members are expected to teach acrossour various programs. Applicants must demonstrate a commit-ment to and experience with multicul-tural counseling and diversity. Preferredqualifications include: degree from aCACREP approved doctoral program,recent teaching experience at the gradu-ate level, ability to meet requirementsfor state counselor or school counselorlicensure, experience in public schools,and scholarship interest in one or moreof the following areas: chemical depen-dency, career counseling, counselingchildren and/or adolescents, and devel-opment of pre K-12 school counselingprograms. Summer teaching is also pos-sible. Preferred candidates will haveexperience working with accreditingbodies such as CACREP, NCATE, andAPA and incorporating technology ininstructional practices. The Departmentof Professional Psychology and FamilyTherapy is a graduate department thatoffers PhD, Ed.S. and M.A. programs incounseling psychology, school counsel-ing, mental health counseling, marriageand family therapy, psychological stud-ies and school psychology. Our locationprovides numerous opportunities forrecreation, entertainment, education andculture as we are 14 miles southwest ofNew York City.

Please send nominations or letters ofinterest explaining how minimum andpreferred qualifications are met anddescribing relevant experiences andinterests, along with a CV, sample publi-cations, and three current letters of rec-ommendation, specifying the positionand level for which you are applying, to:School Counseling and Mental HealthCounseling Search Committee, c/oLaura Palmer, Ph.D., Chair, Departmentof Professional Psychology and FamilyTherapy. Review of applications willbegin immediately and continue untilposition is filled. Position is contingentupon final budgetary approval. The Uni-versity is an AA/EEO employer activelyseeking minority and women candi-dates.

LIFESPANLPCLifeSpan/Neuropsychological Rehabili-tation Services is a large private practicewith over 28 years experience located inNeptune, N.J. near all major highways.We are seeking an LPC to join our teamwho desires a long-term relationship(minimum 3 yrs), doing a variety of ser-vices, eg., counseling, biofeedback, cog-nitive therapy and psychological testing.This is a full-time position. Clinicalareas of training and experience neededinclude, but not limited to, the full rangeof clinical psychology conditions.Treatment age range is from children tothe elderly. Package includes traditionalholidays, sick days, medical insurance,and 401K. Clerically, you will be pro-vided with a full staff responsible foryour professional needs. Salary is nego-tiable dependent upon experience andneeds. For e.g., is supervision required?This will automatically lead to your per-manent staff position.Please fax CV to 732-988-7123

OHIO

TIFFIN UNIVERSITYPsychology and CounselingThe School of Criminal Justice andSocial Sciences at Tiffin University hasa faculty opening at the Assistant orAssociate Professor level dependingupon the qualifications of the successful

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

54

applicant. The new facultymember will be responsible forteaching in the school’s newaddictions counseling certifi-cate program as well as coursesin one or more of the followingmajors: psychology, forensicpsychology, rehabilitation andcorrections, and human ser-vices. The appointed facultymember will teach at both theundergraduate and graduatelevels. Applicants should pos-sess a Ph.D. in Clinical Psy-chology and/or a Ph.D. inCounseling for a CACREP pro-gram. Applicants should send aletter of application indicatingteaching interests, curriculumvitae and names and contact

information of three referencesto: John J. Millar, Ph.D., VicePresident for Academic Affairs,Tiffin University155 MiamiStreet, Tiffin, Ohio 44883.Applications may also be sentby e-mail [email protected] Tiffin Uni-versity is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

PENNSYLVANIA

INNOVATIVE COUNSELINGASSOCIATESLicensed PsychotherapistInnovative Counseling Associ-ates, a 20-year-old small, con-genial private

practice is looking for alicensed psychotherapist for afee-for-service position. Flexible hours - 10 to30 per week. Send resume to:600 Creekside Drive Suite601, Pottstown, PA 19464 orfax to: 610-326-2750.

TEXAS

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICELicensed Mental Health ProfessionalSeeking Texas licensed mentalhealth professional to jointhriving private practice as anindependent contractor. Parttime, may increase to full time.Must provide proof of malprac-tice insurance. Must beprovider contracted with TexasInsurance Companies includingMedicaid or be eligible to doso. Pleasant working environ-ment. Must be able to workafternoons, evenings and Satur-days. Interested professionalsplease call Patricia Schoen-hofer @ 915-449-5111 or faxresume to 915-533-0304.

MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITYCounseling, Assistant/Associ-ate Professor, tenure track,Spring 2007. Teach counselingin a collaborative environmentat the undergraduate and gradu-ate levels (Master’s in Counsel-ing). Required: doctorate,counseling experience, stronginterest in teaching, scholarlyresearch and distance educa-tion. Submit letter, CV, unoffi-cial transcripts and contactinformation for three refer-

ences to: Dr. Michaelle L.Kitchen, West College of Edu-cation, Midwestern State Uni-versity, 3410 Taft Blvd, Wichi-ta Falls, TX 76308-2099.Screening begins immediatelyand continues until the positionis filled. www.mwsu.eduEEO/ADA

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY –SAN MARCOSTenure Track Faculty PositionThe Professional CounselingProgram at Texas State Univer-sity-San Marcos is currentlyseeking a qualified candidate tofill a tenure-track faculty posi-tion. The position involvesteaching, research, service andprogram support in aCACREP-approved, master’s-level Professional CounselingProgram in Central Texas. Spe-cific responsibilities includeteaching courses leading to cer-tification/licensure in profes-sional and school counseling,an active, productive programof research, student advise-ment, and service to the pro-gram, department, and univer-sity. The successful candidatemay teach a variety of courseswithin the professional coun-seling curriculum, includingresearch and assessment, bothat the main university campusin San Marcos, as well as theRound Rock Higher EducationCenter in Williamson County.The successful candidate forthis position will have the fol-lowing: an earned doctorate inCounselor Education or relatedfield by employment date offall 2006, evidence of scholar-

ship or potential for scholar-ship, experience providing clin-ical supervision, and a license(or be eligible for licensure) asa professional counselor in thestate of Texas. Preferred candi-dates will have a doctoratefrom a CACREP accreditedprogram and clinical experi-ence with diverse populations.Review of applications willbegin on May 1, 2006 and con-tinue until the position is filled.To apply, send a letter of appli-cation, curriculum vita, namesand contact information of fivereferences, and reprints ofrecent publications to Eric A.Schmidt, Ph.D., Search Com-mittee Chair, TxState-EAPS,601 University Drive, San Mar-cos, TX.

VIRGINIA

CITY OF ALEXANDRIATHERAPIST III/SPANISHSPEAKING-$50,709-83,907plus benes. Provide crisis inter-vention to adult inmates w/psy-chiatric, behavioral or sub-stance abuse issues. Req:Bilingual (Eng/Span) skills, VALCSW, LPC, LSAP or licenseeligible (has completed allreq'd education and supervi-sion), 1 yr in clinical setting,computer skills, successfulcompl. of Fed Crim Rec ck.Prefer exp: 2 yrs post grad clin-ical, 1 yr w/confined pop./lawenforcement agency. Apply atwww.alexandriava.gov by3/21/06 5pm. Ref.#MNH-6-1523. Jobline 703-838-4422EOE/AA

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

55

Co

un

seli

ng

To

da

y �

Ap

ril

20

06

56

Nation caught in meth's grip - American Counseling Association

Documents

Transcript of Nation caught in meth's grip - American Counseling Association