The American Counseling Association Practice Research Network (ACA-PRN): A New Research Tool

Abstract

In an era of increasing accountability, there is a need to provide data on counseling outcomes. That is, there is a need to substantiate the claim that counseling works. This article describes the American Counseling Association Practice Research Network (ACA‐PRN), which is designed to provide data on evidence‐based counseling.

Single-Session Consultations for Parents: A Preliminary Investigation

“…The measures employed were designed to be a brief and unobtrusive component of the parents' consultation experience. This approach to capturing data is consistent with the emphasis, in recent YGars, on evidence~based practice (Bradley et al, 2005;Sexton & Liddle, 2001).…”

Writing for Publication: A Guide for Counseling Practice Articles

“…Practice articles are not written to present research findings, so confusion may exist for authors regarding how to present the outcomes of practice scholarship. Counselor efficacy is defined as the effectiveness of the counselor in bringing about counselor‐ or client‐desired outcomes relating to the client (Walz & Bleuer, ), and counselors are now strongly encouraged to use interventions that have been shown to promote client welfare through rigorous research (Bradley, Sexton, & Smith, ). The current focus on counselor efficacy and the need to address the gap between research and practice (Murray, ) necessitate the inclusion of a mechanism to evaluate the outcomes of suggested interventions in a practice manuscript.…”

Diffusion of Innovation Theory: A Bridge for the Research‐Practice Gap in Counseling

“…Evidence-based counseling practices are necessary to establish the credibility and effectiveness of counseling interventions (Bradley et al, 2005), and many external funding agencies have begun to mandate an increased use of evidence-based practices (Rawson et al, 2002). Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness and efficacy of many counseling-related practices (Proctor, 2004).…”

“…These include the following: (a) Training programs should enhance counseling graduate students' training in research and statistics (Bangert & Baumberger, 2005;Heppner et al, 1992); (b) educators should provide students with training in strategies for translating research findings into practice (Anderson & Heppner, 1986;L. M. Williams, Patterson, & Miller, 2005); (c) training programs should provide opportunities for students to receive hands-on experience with integrating research and clinical practice (Heppner et al, 1992;Hoshmand, 1994); (d) professional organizations should develop increased opportunities for professional dialogue between researchers and practitioners (Heppner et al, 1992; Murray Practice Research Network, which was established to create an association of clinicians to work with researchers to enhance the feasibility of research on the counseling process (Bradley et al, 2005); (f) researchers should provide clear, understandable descriptions of their research methodologies and statistical analyses (Bangert & Baumberger, 2005); (g) researchers should demonstrate an increased use of "practitionerfriendly" research methodologies, particularly single-case research designs (Bangert & Baumberger, 2005;Lundervold & Belwood, 2000); and (h) scholarly journals should publish articles that are relevant to practice (Anderson & Heppner, 1986;Heppner et al, 1992).…”

“…Given that counseling is an applied behavioral science, it is especially imperative for knowledge to be developed not just for its own sake but also for the benefit of practicing counselors and the clients they serve. Thus, scholars have struggled with the issue of how to make counseling research become more relevant to practice (Anderson & Heppner, 1986;Bradley, Sexton, & Smith, 2005;Heppner et al, 1992;Hoshmand, 1994;Howard, 1985;Lundervold & Belwood, 2000).…”