Expert Interviews & Perspectives in Counseling

With one in five Americans living with a mental illness, there is a rising demand for various types of counseling professionals. Through in-depth interviews and expert-written perspectives, discover what to expect while addressing specific conditions within populations, as well as the advocacy issues affecting current and aspiring counselors.

Military Family Appreciation Month Expert Interview & Advocacy Guide

Calendar Icon 10/28/21 Kimmy Gustafson

There are over 19 million military veterans currently living in the US, making up nearly 10 percent of the adult population. In November, there are two events that acknowledge both our military and their family members.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Expert Interview & Advocacy Guide

Calendar Icon 09/23/21 Kimmy Gustafson

The statistics for domestic violence in the United States are staggering. Each year, more than 10 million people in this country experience domestic violence. One in four women and one in 10 men experience some form of sexual assault, stalking, or physical violence from an intimate partner. Unfortunately, things seem to be getting worse with a 42 percent increase between 2016 and 2018 alone.

Mental Health Disabilities and Employment: A Guide to Rights & Advocacy

Calendar Icon 09/02/21 Cevia Yellin

In the first part of this series, we gave an overview of mental health disability and employment focusing on resources for creating a mental health-friendly workplace. In this piece, we move into the rights of individuals with mental health conditions at work, common challenges, and advocacy efforts. Aaron Konopasky, senior attorney-advisor for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offered his expertise as an attorney specializing in disability law, rights, and policy.

Who’s Trained in LGBTQ+ Mental Health? Affirmative Counselors, Gender Therapists & More

Calendar Icon 07/27/21 Alex Stitt, LMHC

In the field today, there is an observable stratum of allies, yet their dedication to this goal varies a great deal, as does their level of skill, training, and overall experience. For this reason, it’s worth noting the distinct strengths and potential limitations of allied counselors, affirmative counselors, gender specialists, sex therapists, and LGBTQ+ counselors.

Beyond Cultural Competence: Cultural Humility, Intersectionality, and Decolonizing Mental Health

Calendar Icon 07/08/21 Cevia Yellin

Cultural competence was introduced in the 1980s by social workers and counseling psychologists as an approach to working successfully in multicultural contexts. Primarily concerned with learning about the cultures of those with whom we live and work through the examination of behaviors, attitudes, and policies, cultural competence was embraced by the healthcare community and has been used widely throughout the industry.

What Behaviors Correlate with Happiness? An Expert’s Guide to Being Happy

Calendar Icon 04/28/21 Cevia Yellin

On July 12, 2012, the United Nations established March 20th as the International Day of Happiness.

Occupational Therapy Month: An Expert’s Advocacy Guide for OTs

Calendar Icon 03/30/21 Nina Chamlou

During the month of April, the U.S. medical community celebrates Occupational Therapy (OT) Month to honor the more than 213,000 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students who work to improve the lives of their clients and families.

Mental Health Disabilities and Employment: An Interview with the Social Security Administration

Calendar Icon 03/22/21 Cevia Yellin

Two benefits programs that may be available to individuals with disabilities—including those caused by mental health conditions—are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). While SSDI is based on the amount a person worked/contributed to social security taxes prior to applying for benefits, SSI is determined by financial need.

Advocacy Guide for National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week (2021)

Calendar Icon 03/22/21 Matt Zbrog

Telling kids to ‘just say no’ just doesn’t work. Today’s approach to drug education and substance use disorder programs has to focus, instead, on high doses of compassion and science. The stakes are high: nearly 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, but only 10 percent receive treatment; more than 90 percent of those who do have an addiction started to drink alcohol or use drugs before they were 18 years old.

Sex, Gender, and Personal Identity: What to Know as a Mental Health Practitioner

Calendar Icon 02/25/21 Alex Stitt, LMHC

Sex and gender aren’t synonyms, though they’re often treated as such on medical documents, legal forms, and in casual conversation. Therapists who intend to work with intersex and gender diverse people must understand how independent sex and gender are, in order to comprehend how they intersect.