Many industries are focusing these days on cross training, preparing workers for different parts of the job to increase coverage and back-up as well as strengthen the overall workforce. In sports, to cross train develops strength and stamina. How about in counseling? We are not in a race nor do we work in teams usually [...]

I think there is a misunderstanding in the field today on the nature and importance of self-care in a counselor’s career. We pay lip service to the value of counselor self-care; yet it isn’t taught in schools and isn’t accentuated in most major literature. What else are we supposed to infer, but that it isn’t [...]

It was one of those hectic stressful workday mornings. This day found me struggling to leave home on time with a cat reluctant to come inside and a new puppy resistant to a few hours of life in her crate. My frustration levels increased as it seemed I was stopped at each traffic light and [...]

I just returned from a residency offered by my school in Orlando, FL. I absolutely loved the experience, the lectures, networking opportunities, and finally being able to meet everyone. I got quite a role-play “workout” during my time there and can honestly say that I am a lot more confident regarding counseling skills and ethical [...]

I feel I have tried to be acutely aware of negative comments and representations regarding people with mental illness. The words psycho, nut job, head case and wacko are often bandied about with little regard for the damage they do. As a counselor, I have had friends (!) and relatives (!) wonder how I could [...]

When my co-worker first showed me where I’d be living during this deployment (see example photo—not exact area, but same), my heart sank and I just had to laugh. My first thought was that I was not in Infantry Village as it’s called, but more like the slums of the movie, “District 9.” And then [...]

Massachusetts passed new reforms for children’s mental health in 2008 as a result a federal lawsuit known as the Rosie D case. Three families sued the state due to their children not being able to access community based services for their psychiatric disabilities/disorders. The federal judge ruled in their favor and stated that Massachusetts was [...]

At first, we were told that it will be a Category 4 hurricane. Specialists predicted that it will be worst than any storm in Bermuda’s recent history. It was seen as such a threat that Hurricane Igor was nicknamed “Igor The Terrible”. Residents took heed to the warnings. Seven years ago, Hurricane Fabian caused extensive [...]