This chapter will discuss cognitive behavioral therapy for anger and aggression in youth, focusing on the Coping Power Program. The contextual social-cognitive model of anger and aggression, as well as a variety of risk factors, will be discussed, which present a conceptual framework for the Coping Power Program. An overview of other CBT programs for anger and aggression in youth will be presented, followed by a detailed description of the Coping Power intervention, including sample dialogue and handouts. The Coping Power Program includes both a child and a parent component and was originally developed for late elementary to early middle school children. Coping Power addresses topics including children’s emotion awareness, ability to cope with anger and frustration, and social problem-solving skills, as well as parenting skills related to building positive family relationships and managing children’s behavior. A number of adaptations have examined the Coping Power Program with individuals instead of groups, upwardly and downwardly extended age groups, altered intervention length, and different settings, all collectively indicating that the intervention can be flexibly applied. Research on Coping Power’s efficacy and effectiveness will be discussed, followed by implications for dissemination and optimization of the intervention. Information about intervention manuals, workbooks, and training is available at www.copingpower.com .

In this interpretive phenomenological analysis, we interviewed 10 women to make meaning of their lived experiences of sex trafficking and mental health challenges and how relational dynamics influenced their healing and sense of self. Our analysis revealed four themes: (a) central relational paradox, which described internalized shame and mistrust due to relational ruptures as a result of trauma and inadequate trauma-informed care; (b) disconnection and disempowerment, attending to survivor protective withdrawal mechanisms and how counselor misattunement created cycles of disconnection and invalidation; (c) fluid expertise, where survivors emphasized that healing occurred when counselors embraced a collaborative, respectful stance, honoring client expertise and sharing power; and (d) growth-fostering relationship, where survivors described how growth-fostering relationships with counselors were built through strategies of connection, such as authenticity, trust, and safety that ultimately promoted healing, empowerment, and transformation. We discuss these findings in more detail and identify implications for counselor training and practice.

This study utilized expert consensus to develop counseling competencies for rural practicing counselors, acknowledging the unique challenges of rural counseling. Employing the Delphi method, the study engaged 15 expert panelists across three rounds to identify and refine essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes and beliefs necessary for effective practice in rural settings. The initial round gathered qualitative input on necessary competencies, which informed the development of 96 competency statements evaluated for their essentialness in subsequent rounds. The consensus reached on these statements highlights key competencies crucial for rural counseling practice. The findings offer valuable insights for counselor educators, clinicians, and supervisors, providing a foundation for improving counselor preparation and practice in rural areas. The article concludes with discussions on limitations and recommendations for future research to further enhance rural counseling practices.

This transcendental phenomenological study delves into the lived experiences of 10 women who experienced sex trafficking. Through in-depth individual interviews, participants unveiled a narrative marked by coercion, manipulation, and multifaceted abuse. Despite variations in the duration and onset of their ordeals, participants uniformly expressed the profound and lasting impact of sex trafficking across numerous facets of their lives. Psychological distress, physical ailments, disrupted vocational trajectories, strained relationships, and spiritual upheaval were recurrent themes, illustrating the pervasive nature of their trauma. This research highlights the urgent necessity for holistic support and intervention strategies tailored to the intricate and multidimensional needs of sex trafficking survivors as they embark on the arduous journey toward recovery and healing. The findings underscore the imperative for counselor training programs to incorporate a nuanced understanding of sex trafficking trauma and its far-reaching implications, thereby fostering more effective therapeutic approaches. This study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the challenges faced by survivors and advocates for systemic changes to enhance the support framework available to them.

Sex trafficking (ST) is a form of modern-day slavery, and the service needs of individuals impacted by ST are both unique and complex. Despite the complexities and comprehensiveness of these needs, there is a lack of understanding regarding the effective components of theoretical frameworks and models for serving clients affected by ST. Such understanding is instrumental in developing training programs for mental health providers. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review of sex trafficking studies related to mental health, focusing on the modalities and frameworks referenced for client services and analyzing the methodologies and core components within these models. We completed a comprehensive search of databases to identify relevant studies, screening a total of 2,818 records, with 21 studies included for data extraction. Our findings highlighted the significance of incorporating a comprehensive, multidimensional, and multidisciplinary approach to providing services to clients affected by ST. We offer considerations for practice, research, and policy.

Professional school counselors in Texas responded to a questionnaire about training received and their needs concerning preparedness to identify and work with youth exposed to child sex trafficking (CST). The study utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods design. Quantitative results indicated many participants did not find that their graduate degree program prepared them to work with CST and less than half felt their school and/or district provided adequate training opportunities. In addition thematic analysis revealed two themes characterizing Texas school counselors' needs to identify and work with CST: (a) concerning preparedness: "so much going on" and (b) "specific training": a comprehensive review of CST. This article concludes with implications and recommendations for practice and future research

Research labs promote students' engagement with research and can serve as a creative and relational pathway for increasing research competence and identity. In this conceptual article, we present an example of our research lab initiative for master's students, including the components, processes, and considerations in developing a research lab in counselor education. Based on existing literature, our research experience, and student feedback, we provide a replicable framework for the establishment and management of a research lab. In addition, we describe our efforts for facilitating student research engagement by creating opportunities for students to engage with elements of the research process, receive deliberate mentorship, and curate a culture that promotes research identity. We offer considerations for counselor educators based on feedback and lessons learned.

Law enforcement officers, especially those in Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, encounter significant trauma throughout their careers. Despite the recognized need for psychological services in law enforcement, stigma, and fear of repercussions prevent officers from seeking assistance. Rigorous training that emphasizes autonomy may lead officers to resist vulnerability, additionally hindering mental health outreach. Addressing this challenge requires the development of treatment options that officers feel comfortable securing. Neuro-imaging technologies, such as quantitative electroencephalograms (qEEG), offer valuable insights into mental health diagnoses like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. This pilot study is aimed at identifying potential group mental health biomarkers among active SWAT operators through qEEG analysis. Findings include the above-average alpha-peak frequencies and low-voltage electroencephalogram endophenotype, with clinical implications for anxiety-related symptoms and potential risk factors for substance use and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. Understanding such biomarkers can guide mental health professionals in tailoring effective therapeutic practices for law enforcement personnel, bridging the gap between stigma and care. We include clinical implications and suggestions for future research considerations.

A three-round Delphi method surveyed 17 experts, identifying 108 essential neurofeedback competencies for counselors-in-training. This research addresses concerns about the impact of neuro-informed practices on counselor identity and scope of practice, providing a foundation for incorporating neurofeedback training into counselor education.

Occupational and organizational stressors impact workplace performance and contribute to mental health concerns among law enforcement officers. Although literature focuses on identifying the degree of relationship that these two factors have within this specific profession, studies offer limited solutions for decreasing associated symptoms relating to stressors. Implementing an intervention that acknowledges law enforcement factors such as psychological and physiological concerns, workplace culture, and mental health stereotypes could significantly impact both those that serve within this career as well as the community. In this article, we explore the use of trauma-informed neurofeedback a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of occupational and organizational stressors commonly experienced by law enforcement officers. We also present recommendations for clinical practice and research.

Mindful Coping Power (MCP) was developed to enhance the effects of the Coping Power (CP) preventive intervention on children’s reactive aggression by integrating mindfulness training into CP. In prior pre–post analyses in a randomized trial of 102 children, MCP improved children’s self-reported anger modulation, self-regulation, and embodied awareness relative to CP but had fewer comparative effects on parent- and teacher-reported observable behavioral outcomes, including reactive aggression. It was hypothesized that MCP-produced improvements in children’s internal awareness and self-regulation, if maintained or strengthened over time with ongoing mindfulness practice, would yield improvements in children’s observable prosocial and reactive aggressive behavior at later time points. To appraise this hypothesis, the current study examined teacher-reported child behavioral outcomes at a one-year follow-up. In the current subsample of 80 children with one-year follow-up data, MCP produced a significant improvement in children’s social skills and a statistical trend for a reduction in reactive aggression compared with CP. Further, MCP produced improvements in children’s autonomic nervous system functioning compared with CP from pre- to post-intervention, with a significant effect on children’s skin conductance reactivity during an arousal task. Mediation analyses found that MCP-produced improvements in inhibitory control at post-intervention mediated program effects on reactive aggression at the one-year follow-up. Within-person analyses with the full sample (MCP and CP) found that improvements in respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity were associated with improvements in reactive aggression at the one-year follow-up. Together, these findings indicate that MCP is an important new preventive tool to improve embodied awareness, self-regulation, stress physiology, and observable long-term behavioral outcomes in at-risk youth. Further, children’s inhibitory control and autonomic nervous system functioning emerged as key targets for preventive intervention.

Individuals’ experiences of anxiety differ in manifestation, development, and severity. Using retrospective neurofeedback session data which included quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG)-based anxiety protocols, we examined four participants’ data. We employed a single-case research design (SCRD) methodology to highlight the individual variations or change across participants’ neurofeedback session data. We assessed effect size using visual analysis, nonoverlap of all pairs, and simulation modeling analysis. Considering the novel concept of applying SCRD to physiological data, we compare and contrast our findings while also suggesting limitations and future areas for research.

Child sex trafficking (CST), the unlawful recruitment of any minor to engage in commercial sexual exploitation through force, fraud, or coercion, is a growing epidemic worldwide. Sex trafficking can have devastating consequences for children, including long-lasting physical and psychological trauma. Counselors working in clinical and school settings have first-hand access to a number of at-risk populations due to the nature of their work. Yet, counselors in the United States report lack of training on CST as a limitation to their ability to identify and effectively work with CST victims. Limited training derives from the absence of competency standards to guide counselors working with CST victims. To address this critical gap, this research study utilized expert consensus to develop an initial list of CST competencies for counselors working in the United States. A heterogeneous sample of 19-CST experts participated in a four-round Delphi process. The expert panel reached a consensus on 128 CST competency statements organized into five domains: (a) intervention strategies and the helping relationship, (b) trauma and sex trafficking, (c) assessment of risk factors and indicators, (d) ethical practice, and (e) cultural diversity and human growth and development. This article assists in identifying standards of practice necessary for counselors to detect, prevent, and assist sex-trafficked youth. Creating an initial list of competency standards can serve as guiding points for clinical practice training curricula, and quality control assessments for counselors, and possibly other mental health professionals, working with CST.

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a global public health issue. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the highest risk factor and predictor of IPH. The emotional and psychological distress from IPV often leads clients to seek counseling services. As a result, counselors interact with individuals experiencing IPV who are at risk of IPH. The counseling literature is replete with IPV counseling interventions and discussion, but scant attention has been paid to IPH in counseling journals. Increasing discussion of IPH in the counseling literature helps counselors gain insight into preventative measures and interventions, such as assessing risk, expanding resource accessibility, and developing a safety plan to better ensure client safety. This article examines IPH literature, IPH vulnerabilities and risk factors, prevention efforts, and recommendations for counselors, such as assessing IPH risk, providing referrals to community resources, and developing safety plans.