Parents of Third Culture Kids (PTCKs) can experience acculturative stress due to the lack of existing community and unfamiliarity with the social norms in the host country. Counselors need to be equipped and aware of this unique population. However, few researchers have provided therapeutic interventions for this population compared to their children, known as Third Culture Kids. This conceptual paper offers a photovoice-informed group counseling structure as a framework for counselors working with PTCKs. A fictional case study illuminates how this approach can address the unique challenges that PTCKs experience and encourage their autonomy through a cultural humility counseling lens.
Individuals who hold historically marginalized identities (e.g., undocumented communities, LGBTQ+ people, Asian Americans) may experience higher levels of psychological distress, relational strain, traumatic stress, and physiological symptoms from a shifting sociopolitical landscape that invalidates identities and rolls back protections. The present article provides an overview of how political stress may adversely impact historically marginalized communities and contribute to severe mental health issues. To attenuate these mental health outcomes, culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies may be suitable to bolster stress-related growth by resisting the effects. The article concludes with future areas of study to develop evidence-based strategies to support marginalized communities during political turmoil.
Examinations are common phenomena in education all over the world, regarded as an important element in secondary schools as instruments to evaluate academic ability of learners. In Tanzania, examination results are used for recruiting and selecting students to join tertiary institutions. Students experience examination anxiety at different levels before, during and after examinations. Therefore, the present research study explores the causes of examination anxiety among secondary school students and investigates how participants perceive the usefulness of Solution-Focused Brief Counselling (SFBC) strategies in helping students manage examination anxiety. The application of Solution-Focused Brief Counselling (SFBC) can help students to reduce their examination anxiety. The study employed a qualitative research approach. It includes a sample of 61 participants, including one District Education Officer, 50 students, five school counsellors, and five heads of school selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through interviews and focus group discussions and analysed thematically. The findings revealed that examination anxiety among secondary school students is caused by inadequate preparation for examinations, excessive pressure and desire to score high grades and high parental and teacher expectations. Moreover, the findings indicated that the participants perceived SFBC as useful in helping students to manage examination anxiety by encouraging students to develop a positive mindset, motivating them to put more effort into their academic work, helping them set academic goals, improving their time-management skills, identifying their internal strengths, and promoting access to academic resources. The study recommends that secondary schools in Moshi district establish a supportive environment and use Solution-Focused Brief Counselling as an intervention strategy to reduce students’ examination anxiety.
Adolescent mental health and addiction-related recovery require counselling frameworks that address behavioural choices, emotional regulation and spiritual meaning-making without reducing psychological distress to moral weakness. This conceptual-methodological article presents the TR-TAN Islamic counselling framework for Muslim adolescents. TR-TAN integrates reality therapy as a behavioural system and tazkiyah al-nafs as a meaning system, with ihsan-based self-compassion positioned as the core regulatory mechanism linking emotional regulation, reflective evaluation and inner alignment. The framework was initially developed and preliminarily examined through a single-subject study with adolescents experiencing mental health challenges, with early evidence indicating improvement in ihsan-based self-compassion. This article extends the discussion by situating TR-TAN within existing faith-integrated and Islamic psychospiritual interventions, clarifying its theoretical mechanisms, outlining its six-session structure and proposing a methodological framework for implementation and evaluation. Qur’anic meaning-making is addressed through thematic Qur’anic interpretation as a procedure for guiding the contextual and ethically sensitive use of Qur’anic themes within the meaning system. Existing evidence supports the conceptual and preliminary relevance of TR-TAN for adolescent mental health, but does not yet establish it as an empirically validated addiction treatment. Further feasibility testing, fidelity assessment, addiction-specific outcome evaluation and validation of Qur’anic themes are required before broader clinical implementation.
There is a critical need for brief anxiety screening tools supported by local psychometric evidence in low- and middle-income countries such as the Philippines, where mental health resources remain limited. The author evaluated the psychometric performance and screening utility of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Short Form (STAI-SF) scores among 1,670 Filipino students, primarily tertiary-level students with a smaller senior high school subsample. Separate one-factor models for the STAIS-5 and STAIT-5 demonstrated strong fit. Among the 10-item models, the bifactor model showed the strongest fit and indicated a dominant general anxiety factor. STAI-SF scores demonstrated excellent internal consistency and strong evidence for convergence with GAD-7, PHQ-9, and MHI-18 scores. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance were supported across sex, community type, and educational level. ROC analysis of the total score identified an optimal cutoff of 24, with an AUC of 0.900, indicating strong concordance with GAD-7 screening classification. Tertiary-only sensitivity analyses largely reproduced the principal findings. Results support prioritizing the total STAI-SF score for brief anxiety screening, particularly among tertiary-level students, while interpreting the STAIS-5 and STAIT-5 scores cautiously and findings concerning senior high school students as preliminary.
Despite growing diversity across many professions, Latine individuals remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce. School counselors are uniquely positioned to help eliminate these disparities by empowering Latine students to pursue STEM career pathways. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how school counselors capitalize on Latine students’ community cultural wealth to support them in pursuing postsecondary STEM opportunities. We conducted 50-90-minute interviews with eight school counselors from South Texas to explore their lived experiences supporting Latine students with STEM aspirations. Interview transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The following themes emerged: (a) linguistically responsive practices, (b) honoring cultural and familial significance, and (c) empowering students to engage in self-advocacy and navigate post-secondary spaces. The data analysis identified the following forms of Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth: (a) linguistic capital, (b) familial capital, and (c) navigational capital. Findings highlight how school counselors support Latine students’ pursuit of STEM education by empowering them to navigate barriers and challenges in the post-secondary education system and by fostering their cultural strengths, such as their bilingualism and family networks. We provide implications for school counselors to further empower Latine students to pursue STEM aspirations by cultivating additional forms of community cultural wealth, including aspirational, social, and resistant capital.
The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) perceive and experience the process of counseling with a focus on exploring the lived experiences of survivors of intimate partner violence and their perceptions of counselors as well as the process of counseling, with specific emphasis on sociocultural contexts. Through a qualitative design using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), we explored the experiences of six women survivors. Six women who experienced IPV completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews and follow-up interviews, sharing their perceptions of working with professional counselors and the process of counseling. Four major themes emerged: (a) counseling as a healing process which saves lives; (b) facilitative counselor dispositions with subthemes of safety, affirmation, and expressing vulnerability; (c) boundary issues impeding client progress with subthemes of self-disclosure, premature broaching, and early termination; and (d) facilitative counseling processes with subthemes of building capacity, accurate assessment, and timely interventions. Gaining insight into survivors’ experiences working with counselors can be a valuable resource for counseling professionals working with or interested in working with survivors of IPV.
Immigration is a significant life transition with both individual and relational implications. With many foreign-born Latines being married, relational indicators of health reflect dynamics of race, ethnicity, and immigration status. To better understand the influence of the immigration process on intimate relationships, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived relational experiences of migration among Latine immigrant couples living in the United States. Using Relational Cultural Theory and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, we facilitated 16 semi-structured interviews with 8 Latine immigrant couples and analyzed over 20 hours of recorded data. Findings indicate the presence of numerous immigration-related stressors with relational repercussions, while highlighting couples’ successful use of coping resources and strategies. Findings from this study can guide advocacy and clinical efforts to better support Latine immigrants, their spouses, and their families.
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has emerged as a significant public health concern due to its strong association with subsequent suicidal behaviour. In Malaysia, empirical evidence on NSSI remains fragmented. This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence on the prevalence of NSSI, associated risk and protective factors, and psychosocial interventions among the Malaysian population. A scoping review was conducted, guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar was undertaken for studies published in English or Malay from 2010 to 2025. Data from 23 eligible studies were charted and synthesised narratively. The review highlights substantial heterogeneity across studies and reveals notable gaps in the current literature, particularly regarding protective factors and intervention research. These findings underscore the need for more rigorous, culturally responsive studies to inform effective prevention and early intervention strategies for NSSI in Malaysia.
The authors examined the relationships among social cohesion, time perspective, and psychological well-being among Syrian migrant women residing in Türkiye using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected between August 2024 and June 2025. In the quantitative phase, data from 514 Syrian migrant women were analyzed using standardized measures of social cohesion, time perspective, and psychological well-being. In the qualitative phase, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants to contextualize these findings. The quantitative results showed that age, length of residence, and intention to return were not significantly associated with the main study variables, whereas social cohesion differed significantly by marital status and psychological well-being differed by educational level. The mediation analysis was consistent with a partial mediation model in which social cohesion was associated with an indirect relationship between time perspective and psychological well-being. However, because of the cross-sectional design, causal or temporal mediation cannot be established. Qualitative findings showed that family support, faith, education, language-mediated interaction, social acceptance, and personal resilience functioned as key protective resources that shaped both cohesion and well-being. Participants emphasized “belonging to people, not to a country,” highlighting the relational and emotional dimensions of social cohesion. This study contributes to migration, gender, and counselling scholarship by suggesting that social cohesion may provide an important relational context for understanding the association between temporal orientation and psychological well-being. These findings underscore the need for culturally responsive, trauma-informed, community-based counselling and psychosocial support for migrant women.
Black women in Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) programs encounter intersecting racialized and gendered stressors that heighten emotional exhaustion and contribute to attrition. This mixed-methods study examined how supportive networks relate to exhaustion and persistence among Black women doctoral students in CES. Quantitative data from an online survey (N = 51; M age = 35.78) assessed perceived social support and emotional exhaustion across enrollment statuses. Because the assumption of equal variances was not met, group differences were tested using Welch’s ANOVA with Games-Howell post hoc comparisons. Results revealed significant differences across enrollment statuses, with large effects for both emotional exhaustion and perceived social support. Withdrawn students reported the highest exhaustion and the lowest support, while graduated students reported the most support. Qualitative data from individual interviews and a focus group (n = 10) were analyzed using a modified Straussian Grounded Theory approach. Open, axial, and selective coding identified core categories linking peer mentorship, counter-spaces, and culturally responsive environments to reduced exhaustion and stronger commitment to degree completion, while the Strong Black Woman schema and experiences of marginalization amplified strain and hindered help seeking. Member checking at two points, after individual interviews and following the focus group, and triangulation across data sources, enhanced credibility. Findings support the need for CES programs to implement formal mentorship, culturally affirming peer networks, and faculty practices that address microaggressions and support well-being within the program curriculum. These steps may mitigate emotional exhaustion and improve retention for Black women in CES.
Middle-Eastern and North-African (MENA) populations are heterogeneous, yet are often perceived as a cultural monolith. Historical and contemporary trends have politicized the populations from this region, challenging counselors to extend their broaching skills to encompass socio-political factors. This represents another layer of complexity, intertwined with traditional broaching around issues related to race, gender, and religion. We expand the Multidimensional Model of Broaching Behavior (MMBB) to include broaching socio-political topics within clinical practice. Socio-political broaching fills vital existential needs for clients who identify with the MENA identity. We discuss how introducing a socio-political component layers the MMBB model, by allowing the space for political and social ruptures between client and counselor to be acknowledged and potentially repaired. We provide a case study from clinical practice to concretize this practice.
Considering the prevalence and consequences of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), identifying factors associated with GAD is of critical importance. While recent studies have highlighted the role of positive childhood experiences in individuals’ mental health, earlier literature has predominantly focused on adverse childhood experiences and their outcomes. To address this limitation and support current research, the present study aims to examine the serial mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) and anxiety sensitivity in the relationship between positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and GAD. Data were collected from 445 adults aged 18 to 60 years (Mage = 31.23, SD = 8.90; 73.93
This article provides a critical examination of the history and trajectory of counselling and psychotherapy research, with a specific focus on the Australian context. We situate the recent history of Australian research, which lags behind international benchmarks, within the global evolution of the discipline. This evolution is characterised by a progression from foundational case studies to sophisticated methodologies, with a contemporary focus on therapeutic change mechanisms over simple treatment efficacy. To further contextualise the Australian situation, a comparative analysis is conducted with Canada, representing a mature professional landscape, and Singapore and South Africa, which represent nations with rapidly developing fields. This review of their historical developments, thematic foci, and methodological trends reveals both shared challenges and unique national trajectories. The analysis reveals that in Australia, the imperative for professionalisation since the late 1990s has historically overshadowed the cultivation of a robust research culture. However, a pivotal development is the recent commitment by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care to mandate research literacy as a core competency within forthcoming national standards, signalling an emergent recognition of research’s centrality to the profession. Addressing the historical deficit in formal research training pathways, this article aims to inform the effective operationalisation of this new competency by Australian higher education providers. Finally, we propose a forward-looking agenda for counselling research in Australia. Key recommendations include establishing clearer academic pathways, integrating neuroscience and technology, advancing personalised therapeutic models, enhancing research literacy across the profession, and expanding the use of qualitative and mixed-methods designs. Practitioners should prioritise ongoing professional development to enhance their research literacy skills for evidence-based practice. Given the need to account for diverse factors, practice should increasingly focus on personalised and contextualised therapy. To gain a more holistic understanding of therapeutic effectiveness, practitioners can benefit from a greater integration of diverse research methodologies and findings, including qualitative approaches. Policy should focus on the collaborative development of clearer academic pathways, such as research-focused Honours programs, to build research capacity within the counselling profession.
This qualitative phenomenological study examined the experiences of U.S.-trained doctoral student supervisors providing transnational supervision to master’s-level counseling trainees in Egypt. The purpose was to explore how supervisors navigate ethical dilemmas within a context characterized by cultural, religious, and regulatory differences from Western frameworks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine supervisors enrolled in a U.S.-based Counseling Education and Supervision program. Data were analyzed using transcendental phenomenological reduction. Findings revealed three overarching themes: (a) strategies for addressing ethical dilemmas, (b) tensions between American ethical codes and Egyptian cultural and regulatory realities, and (c) the influence of religion and culture on ethical practice. Results highlight the need for context-sensitive ethical decision-making, cultural humility, and collaborative consultation in transnational supervision. Implications are discussed for counselor training, supervision models, and the development of culturally responsive ethical practices in international contexts.
The application of Liberation Psychology in career counseling with immigrant, bicultural youth of colorz was explored, emphasizing the framework’s potential to empower marginalized youth within the school counseling context. Liberation Psychology, developed to address issues of systemic oppression and cultural identity in mental health, provides a powerful lens for understanding the unique challenges faced by immigrant youth who navigate multiple cultural expectations. Key concepts of Liberation Psychology, such as critical consciousness (CC), problematization, de-ideologization, recovery of historical memory, and praxis are introduced to emphasize the approach’s relevance in addressing the socio-political and identity-related struggles of bicultural youth. A case study, offers practical recommendations for school and career counselors, advocating for interventions that respect and integrate students’ cultural backgrounds, promote critical awareness, and support agency. This approach not only aligns with the ethical mandates for culturally responsive practice but also fosters resilience, belonging, and self-efficacy among immigrant youth, positioning them to succeed in their personal and professional journeys.
Qualitative research is uniquely positioned to contribute to counseling scholarship by capturing lived experiences, contextual nuance, and the co-construction of meaning between researchers and participants. Despite its alignment with the counseling profession, qualitative work remains underrepresented in leading counseling journals. This article provides a step-by-step guide for writing and publishing rigorous qualitative manuscripts. Core topics include journal selection, crafting introductions, developing literature reviews, and presenting methods with clarity, reflexivity, and transparency. Guidance is offered on establishing trustworthiness through credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. The article further details strategies for data collection, analysis, and findings presentation, emphasizing authentic participant voices and interpretive insights. Finally, the article highlights the need to address implications, ethical authorship, and AI use. Suggestions for responding to peer review are included. By following the best practices outlined in this article, qualitative researchers can increase publication acceptance as well as enhance the accessibility, impact, and ethical integrity of their work. Qualitative research publication helps ensure that diverse counseling research methods inform practice, advance theory, and serve diverse communities.
Professional counseling is an emerging practice in African nations, including Uganda. While there is need for mental health services, social stigma related to seeking professional counseling services represents a barrier to accessing mental health resources. Stigma is especially present for men due to gender roles and strong pressure to display strength and resilience. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry explored men’s counseling experiences in Uganda. The primary purpose of the study was to explore and understand how men experience receiving counseling in a Ugandan context where counseling is a new profession. Eight Ugandan men were interviewed about their experiences in professional counseling. Analysis was completed through the hermeneutic circle, whole-parts-whole, reflexive journal, and thematic analysis. The themes of “Talking to Strangers,” “Building Castles,” and “I Was Heard” contribute to the existing literature and give voice to Ugandan men’s unique experiences of utilizing professional counseling in the Ugandan context. Implications and practical recommendations for counselors and counselor educators were provided for consideration for future professional development.
The widespread implementation of telebehavioral health (TBH) services, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, created an urgent need for standardized competencies in counselor education. Many practitioners report minimal formal training, leading to significant variability in competence and a concerning gap between their confidence and actual preparedness. This article issues a call to action for counseling programs to adopt the interprofessional TBH competency framework from the Coalition for Technology in Behavioral Science (CTiBS). This structured, evidence-based roadmap outlines knowledge and skills for competent, ethical TBH practice across seven domains and three progressive levels: novice, proficient, and authority. Adopting this framework will enhance counselor development, align training with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards and reimbursement policies, and ensure practitioners are prepared for modern service delivery. This approach fosters ethical, culturally responsive care and prepares counselors to meet future demands in an era of rapidly evolving technology.
Global service-learning in counselor education has evolved across specialty areas and populations served within the global community. Although pedagogy has evolved with the inclusion of different types of courses and research designs (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods), no study has examined how, and to what extent this evolution has taken place during the 21st century. To address prior limitations and recommendations for further research, a 20-year systematic review was completed.
