Issues facing today’s students

Issues facing today's students

Also inside:

? How counseling changed after 9/11 ? Balancing work and family as a counselor ? Falling in love with San Francisco

CounselingToday September 2011

Contents

Cover Story

26

Beyond the books

By Lynne Shallcross

Beginning in elementary school and continuing through college, today's students are faced with an ever-expanding list of pressures and worries, many of which are not directly related to academic performance.

Features

36 A day that changed a nation and a profession

By Lynne Shallcross

Counselors who stepped in and tried to help support a grieving nation in the aftermath of 9/11 believe lessons that emerged from that tragic day have gone a long way toward shaping the counseling profession's direction over the past decade.

42

Playgroup as peer group

By Stacy Notaras Murphy

Counselors who are also parents often find themselves struggling to navigate the many challenges of balancing family life and work life, particularly when trying to start or maintain a private practice.

46

Opinion Three paradoxes of the counseling social justice movement

By Jason H. King

An LPC and clinical supervisor looks at what he believes to be the practical limitations of social justice advocacy, while asserting that such advocacy reinforces institutional privilege and distorts counselors' professional identity.

48 Guard your heart in San Francisco

Compiled by Jonathan Rollins

ACA members who live and work in the City by the Bay share a few of their favorite things about the host city of the 2012 ACA Annual Conference & Exposition.

26 36 42

September 2011 | Counseling Today|3

CounselingToday

Columns

10 Washington Update 11 Two-Minute Advocate 12 Counselor Career Stories 14 New Perspectives 16 Private Practice Strategies 18 Resource Reviews 22 Spotlight on Journals 24 Inside the DSM-5

Need to Know

5 From the President 7 Executive Director's Message 8 Letters 35 CT Learning Exam 53 ACA Institute for

by the

September 2011

NuNmubmerbsers

Counseling on campus

Each year, the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors aims to track and reflect the trends facing the nation's college and university counseling centers. According to the most recent study, students are juggling a growing host of mental health issues and problems.

Over the past five years of the study, the following percentage of counseling center directors have noted increases in these student problems: n 70.6 percent: crisis issues requiring immediate response n 68 percent: psychiatric medication issues n 60 percent: learning disabilities n 45.7 percent: alcohol abuse n 45.1 percent: illicit drug use (other than alcohol) n 39.4 percent: self-injury issues (e.g., cutting to relieve

anxiety) n 25.2 percent: on-campus sexual assault n 24.3 percent: eating disorders n 23.2 percent: career planning issues n 23.1 percent: problems related to earlier sexual abuse

For additional insight into the challenges faced by today's students at the elementary school, middle school, high school and college levels, read this month's cover story, "Beyond the books," beginning on page 26.

Leadership Training

54 NBCC Perspective

56 Division, Region & Branch News 58 News & Notes 59 Bulletin Board 60 Classifieds

4 | Counseling Today | September 2011

From The President

Rookies and veterans

Iam writing this column as I return from the annual ACA Institute for Leadership Training. My experiences during the week instilled in me an added enthusiasm and confidence that our professional association is alive and well. There were folks in attendance from 45 states and 16 ACA divisions. There were past leaders, current and future elected leaders, those designated as "emerging leaders" and folks who were simply trying to determine if they had leadership potential. As I spent time with approximately 140 fellow professional counselors, it was apparent to me that we had a shared passion for trying to make things happen for our individual states, our clients, our causes and our collective future. There were challenges at every turn resulting in multiple stories illustrating a variety of needs, but the desire to participate and enter into dialogue and collaboration with one another was contagious. I would like to share with you some of the experiences that stand out to me as I reflect on the week. Most good teams have a blend of members ranging from the rookie to the experienced veteran. It was obvious to me that, when viewed as a team, ACA should have a winning combination if the institute participants are indicators of the balance our team possesses. Past leaders such as Sam Gladding and Courtland Lee are veterans and viable mentors, and they came to the institute to share their insights. Sam referred to existential theorist Viktor Frankl and talked about playing to strengths, staying calm during change and making the most of serendipity. Sam also suggested that the group lead by example, stay on task

Don W. Locke

and build relationships. Courtland gave a compelling presentation on the nature of leadership in a culturally diverse society and organization. He shared how past ACA leaders had used specific competencies related to the myriad of cultures that ACA members and leaders encounter daily.

Current elected leaders were present and focused on the immediate issues facing them in the positions they hold. Region chairs Holly Branthoover, Paul Fornell, Tammy Romines and Chris Roseman gathered branch leaders to focus on the current and specific needs for supporting members in each state. I was impressed with the variety of issues and the accompanying passion that each branch brought to the discussions. Strong branches were ready to support development in other states by sharing successful activities with fellow branches seeking solutions to different types of needs. Sixteen ACA divisions had leaders present to discuss plans for collaboration and partnering with each other. Listening to leaders such as Carrie Wilde from the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association and Trevor Buser from the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors talk about missions and connecting with other divisions for joint endeavors seemed to represent the very core of why we have joined together as professional counselors in ACA.

One of the most surprising and empowering experiences that I participated in personally revolved around conversations with those whom I am calling the "rookies." Several students who were in attendance are already rising to the top in their states and showing strong potential for leadership, including James Drake from Idaho and Earl Lewis from New Jersey. These two emerging leaders were set on go and were like sponges when it came to taking in everything they could learn. If I had any doubts about the future of ACA, they were dispelled by listening to these emerging leaders' questions and ideas. The summer leadership institute offered evidence of ACA's strong history (the veterans), a solid current plan (the elected leaders) and a vision for the future (the rookies) -- each a necessary component for a strong professional organization. u

CounselingToday

Counseling Today Staff

Publisher Richard Yep

Associate Publisher Carol Neiman

Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Rollins 800.347.6647 ext. 339 jrollins@

Senior Writer Lynne Shallcross 800.347.6647 ext. 320 lshallcross@

Staff Writer Heather Rudow 800.347.6647 ext. 307 hrudow@

Advertising Representative Kathy Maguire 607.662.4451

kmaguire@

Graphic Designer Carlos J. Soto II

800.347.6647 ext. 377 csoto@

CT Column Editors

Washington Update Scott Barstow

800.347.6647 ext. 234 sbarstow@

Counselor Career Stories Rebecca Daniel-Burke 800.347.6647 ext. 230

RDanielBurke@

Resource Reviews Kelly Duncan

Kelly.Duncan@usd.edu

Private Practice Strategies Anthony Centore

anthony@

Spotlight on Journals Sheri Bauman

sherib@u.arizona.edu

New Perspectives Donjanea L. Fletcher dfletche@westga.edu

The Digital Psyway Marty Jencius

mjencius@kent.edu

Inside the DSM-5 K. Dayle Jones

daylejones@ucf.edu

Learning Curve: Notes From a Novice Suze Hirsh

ct@

September 2011 | Counseling Today|5

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