Importance of peer counselor post-training supervision on Motivational Interviewing microskills and post-intervention drinking outcomes were evaluated in a sample of heavy drinking undergraduate students completing BASICS (Dimeff et al., 1999). Two peer counselor groups were trained using identical protocols. Post-training, one group was randomized to receive supervision, while the other received no supervision. Groups were subsequently compared on MI microskills. College students (N=122) were randomly assigned to either assessment-only control, supervision, or no supervision groups and completed a BASICS intervention. Post-intervention drinking outcomes were examined. Results suggested supervision aided peer counselors in reducing use of closed-ended questions. Both treatment groups reduced total drinks per week and heavy drinking behaviors compared to control. No differences on peak BAC or alcohol related consequences were observed. Differences in supervision did not influence drinking outcomes; however post-training supervision for peer counselors deficient in MI microskills may be needed to improve BASICS fidelity.

Connections between exposure to bullying and trauma were explored with 91 sixth-grade adolescents who experienced exposure to bullying in a school environment. Levels of trauma were rated as high with greater exposure to bullying. Significant predictors were frequency of exposure to bullying and participant sex. Implications for school counselors working with students who experience bullying-related trauma are discussed.

The Impact of Event Scale—Revised (D. S. Weiss &C. R. Marmar, 1997) was used to obtain self‐reported trauma levels from 587 young adults recalling childhood or adolescence experiences as witnesses to common forms of repetitive abuse defined as bullying. Mean participant scores were in a range suggesting potential need for clinical assessment at the time these events occurred. Multiple regression analysis identified significant predictors of distress levels, with intensity of abuse being the strongest. Additional results and implications of findings are discussed.

This study investigated attitudes of mental health counselors toward rational suicide. Over 80% of respondents were moderately supportive of the idea that people can make well‐reasoned decisions that death is their best option, and further, they identified a consistent set of criteria to evaluate such decisions. Additionally, analyses revealed that as the scenario moved from client, to friend, to self, rational suicide seemed to gain in acceptability for these professionals. Implications for training and practice in light of the apparent responsibilities with suicidal clients defined in the 1995 American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice are discussed.

Characteristics of school bullies and victims identified in the professional literature vary widely. This study turned these characteristics into a survey that included 70 potential characteristics. A world-wide group of 14 experts were asked to rate the importance of each characteristic in identifying either bullies or victims. The results demonstrated strong agreement on 19 characteristics for bullies and 19 for victims. Results of the study are discussed as well as the potential value of this data for increasing understanding of these groups, early identification of potential problem students, and the relationship of the results to prevention and intervention models.