One feature that distinguishes professional counseling ß-om other mental health and illness disciplines is its developmental, strength-based, contextually-focused. and Wellness perspective. Given the multicultural paradigm that the counseling field emphasizes, it is increasingly important to identify models ¡ike relational-cultural theory (RCT) that support these principles. This article includes an overview of the basic tenets of RCT and applications to mental health counseling.
Current literature indicates that in addition to academic ability, counselor educators must also assess students' personal characteristics and clinical skills. Given the increased awareness of the possible damage caused by counselors who do not possess the personal qualities and requisite skills, faculty may be expected to serve as gatekeepers for the profession. This article reviews the ethical and legal mandates relevant to developing and implementing a gatekeeping model. It presents a model endorsed, in principle, by the Texas Association of Counselor Educators that uses a behaviorally specific student evaluation instrument developed in accordance with competencies outlined in the American Counseling Association (1995) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
In this qualitative study, the authors outline the experiences of 5 research participants who engaged in online chat-based counseling sessions. Participants discussed their experiences related to technological barriers, connecting with their counselor, interacting without visual or verbal feedback, receiving counseling in a personal space, and the flow and pace of the online sessions. The authors provide recommendations for the implementation of online counseling, including discussion of the limitations and benefits of this type of therapeutic conversation.
As technology advances and the use of online counseling becomes more routine, attention must be paid to instruction regarding online counseling skills. The authors present considerations for teaching basic online counseling skills to master's-level counseling students. Recommendations are made for helping students to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships online. Suggestions specific to counselor preparation and future research are provided.
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