Research has shown an increase in the study and discussion of international counseling throughout the past decade in the mental health domain. The counseling profession continues to take steps to address the lack of access to and the quality of counseling support throughout the world. A Q-sort methodology was utilized in order to capture an understanding of what might be identified as the most important traits for counselors to consider when counseling in international settings. A uniquely constructed Q-sort model developed from a careful review of the literature resulted in 35 items that were evaluated by 43 participants in two phases of analysis. The results from the Q-sort led to fuller consideration of the 12 counseling traits ranked highest. Three core themes that emerged from the data included: valuing people, personal character, and multicultural intentionality. Discussion about the highest ranked traits and core themes provides consideration of research implications and future studies in international counseling as a whole.
Parenting is a challenge that faces every culture, creed, and nation. It carries a variety of assumptions, values, and perspectives that indicate how proper parenting should look. Much has been written with the hope of supporting positive parenting within the counseling and psychology literature, but putting these concepts into practice can prove challenging from the counseling office. This article explores common counseling concepts that promote healthy parenting through a careful review of the counseling literature regarding current practices and perspectives that exist internationally across countries, cultures, and families. Key findings in the literature highlight the significance of parenting styles, balanced agendas, autonomy, awareness, and cultural values. Understanding these concepts remains important for counselors to remain competent in supporting families, parents, and children on an international level. Out of these findings, counselors are presented with a simple, practical format for parents to enhance parenting experiences: the four Cs. Further detail about the four Cs outlines the significance of how parents can support children with a foundation of care, consistency, choices, and consequences and how they can be practiced in the counseling office. Suggestions for ongoing studies also provide future pathways for evaluating the four Cs in future practice.
People may assume that the counseling profession functions with a shared set of values that promote well-being and mental health to individuals, families, and communities across the globe. Common values, such as described in training programs, ethical codes, and other areas, reflect the approach and direction for providing professional counseling services among counseling professionals throughout the world. The researchers designed this qualitative study using a phenomenological approach to explore how counseling values are experienced and implemented across various cultures. The 16 participants of the study include counseling professionals from different countries to increase representation from eight regions of the world. The researchers recognize valued approaches commonly identified among the participants implementing counseling services, including marital and family counseling, child and school counseling, faith integration, indigenous practices, and person-centered safe spaces. While each of these valued approaches is described in detail, final applications of the data offer proposed steps to improve the advancement of counseling on a global scale, including strategies for transcultural counseling training, resource adaptability, and bilateral development in the profession.
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