In this introductory article of the Major Contribution, we explore the construct of multicultural counseling competence, particularly its inception and the early social movements from which it evolved. We posit that although the intentions of early pioneers and professional organizations were admirable and the subsequent body of work impressive, progress has stalled. A conceptual and operational impasse

The work of many great scholars has proliferated a sizable body of knowledge on the construct of multicultural counseling competence. However, the construct’s operationalization remains obscured, perplexing, and frustrating to practitioners who attempt to translate the scholarship into practice. We identify ten definitional problems that prevent the construct from evolving into a cohesive form that

This article presents a hypothetical counseling case that demonstrates the use of the process model of multicultural counseling competence. The counselor is an African American woman at a university counseling service, and the client is a young Chinese American woman and a sophomore at the university. First, we present an introduction to the case, giving a profile description of the client and counselor

In this rejoinder, the authors respond to the feedback and suggestions offered by Vandiver et al. (2021). We clarify that the intent of our Major Contribution is to rejuvenate the conversation regarding multicultural counseling competence, continue the quest to operationalize the construct, and propose the process model of multicultural counseling competence. In response to our colleagues’ reaction

This paper provides a response to Ridley et al.’s Major Contribution on the state of multicultural counseling competence (MCC) and their proposed refinement and extension of this construct. They pose the following multiprong question: “Is multicultural counseling competence becoming outdated and supplanted, or is it underdeveloped and in need of refinement?” We use this question to examine the MCC

The mental health professions need to reconceptualize multicultural counseling competence and innovate their models in order to provide better guidance to their professionals. To this end, we first redefine multicultural counseling competence with the goal of overcoming its pervasive definitional problems. We then propose the process model of multicultural counseling competence, which aims to rectify

Our study focused on childhood emotional neglect and several forms of abuse (i.e., physical, sexual, and emotional) and the diagnosis and clinical courses of disease in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), including MDD with anxiety, with suicidality, and with other presentations. MDD and other clinical presentations were determined with the American Psychiatric Association’s (2000)

Four studies were conducted to develop and validate the South Korean Attitudes Toward Multicultural Minorities Scale (SKAMMS). Exploratory factor analysis (n = 336) identified three factors: Unawareness of South Korean Privilege and Discrimination against Multicultural Minorities, Attitudes Against Multiculturalism, and Attitudes Against Advocacy and Policy for Multicultural Minorities. Confirmatory

This mixed-method study advances knowledge regarding the practice of grief counseling in a sample of 171 university counseling center therapists. First, several components of therapists’ self-reported work with grieving clients was assessed (e.g., training level, initial responses to a grieving client, principles applied in counseling, therapist comfort, and potential therapist issues related to counseling

Children’s racial (e.g., Black, White, Indigenous) and ethnic (e.g., Mexican) identity can influence psychological, social, and academic outcomes. Despite evidence that awareness of racial–ethnic marginalization begins during preadolescence, there is minimal research examining how children talk about identity at this age. The purpose of this study was to examine how preadolescent Mexican American youth

According to 2019 data, there are 26 million refugees and 3.5 million asylum seekers around the globe, representing a major humanitarian crisis. This Major Contribution provides information on the experiences of refugees resettled in the United States via the presentation of five manuscripts. In this introductory article, we address the current refugee crisis, refugee policies, and resettlement processes

More than 100,000 Somali refugees have resettled in the United States, creating a need for additional research about mental health needs and premigration experiences that precede resettlement. The purpose of this study was to learn more about premigration traumatic experiences, the process of acculturation following resettlement, and the relationship between premigration trauma, acculturation, and

Syrian refugees comprise the largest population of internally displaced people in the world, with about 18,000 Syrian refugees resettled in the United States from 2011 to 2016. Although many of these individuals experience trauma that can lead to different mental health problems, most are quite resilient. This qualitative study explores themes of resilience in Syrian refugees, and how these themes

The goal of this qualitative study was to examine the strengths and posttraumatic growth experiences of a community of female refugees from Burma resettled in a Midwestern city of the United States. Based on data gathered from eleven participants, consensual qualitative research analysis yielded a thematic overview of two domains: (a) coping and resilience, and (b) experiences of posttraumatic growth

The vast number of worldwide refugees has caused a global refugee crisis, political turmoil, and heightened anxiety in resettlement countries, stimulating xenophobia and religious tensions. We provide an overview of the four articles in this Major Contribution as a foundation for describing contemporary issues, challenges, and present an effective culturally responsive model of intervention to work

Many refugees experience a wide range of mental health problems, but typically use mental health services less often than settled residents. Practical constraints like limited access to mental health care and language barriers largely account for this discrepancy. However, little is known about the psychological aspects explaining this difference in mental health service usage, like attitudes toward

The purpose of this study is to develop the American Meritocracy Myth Stress Scale (AMMSS), capable of assessing college students’ psychological stress within the context of the pervasive myth of meritocracy. This psychological stress stems from the association between their perceptions of their own hard work and social class mobility. Underpinned by the social class worldview model-revised, American

Feminist and critical consciousness theories, that shaped the practice of feminist therapy, are unique in considering the impact of power and privilege on women’s well-being. We investigated tenets of these conceptualizations cross-sectionally by examining relations of critical consciousness, feminist collective action, personal empowerment, and subjective well-being among 247 women recruited via MTurk

The University of Missouri–Columbia was selected to host the Student Affiliates of Seventeen (SAS) Executive Board from 2019–2022 and began their term in August 2019, following a successful three-year tenure by Ball State University. The new executive board has anchored its term in four pillars—Growth and Sustainability, Justice and Equity, Excellence and Innovation, and Wellness and Positive Development—which

Puncky Paul Heppner is one of the most productive counseling psychologists; he is also a social justice advocate, loving partner, and artist. Dr. Heppner has influenced counseling psychology in immeasurable ways. He is internationally recognized for his research on applied problem-solving and research methods, widely acknowledged for his visionary and collaborative leadership style, and highly respected

Women regularly endure sexist microaggressions, which are often associated with anger, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and trauma. The cumulative effects of sexist microaggressions may result in internalized sexism and undermine self-compassion. Notably, prolonged exposure to sexism is associated with trauma symptoms; however, the traumatic effects of sexist microaggressions have remained largely

In this 2020 SCP Presidential Address amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and global uprisings against anti-Black racism, Anneliese Singh reflects on the potentialities of liberation for all counseling psychologists in every setting in which they labor. In doing so, she invites the embodiment and practices of liberation as a key value of counseling psychology.

Adjustment to the interpersonal and environmental contexts of a host country is critical for sojourners. Founded in social cognitive career theory, the Self-Efficacy for Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (SESCAS) is a multidimensional scale that assesses self-efficacy for three types of tasks (affective, behavioral, cognitive) in two cultural contexts (environmental, interpersonal). We conducted item-total

Middle-aged South Korean women are at greater risk of developing hwa-byung (South Korean anger syndrome) as compared to men and women of other age groups. In this study, we developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a group counseling program informed by Adlerian individual psychology. Outcome measures included hwa-byung symptoms, depression, and anxiety. We used a cohort-controlled design that compared

Perfectionism can be understood as a personality trait that establishes excessively high standards for the performance of individuals and ostensibly critical self-evaluations. It is associated with a range of variables, such as anxiety, suicidal tendencies, depression, and low satisfaction with life. The Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS) overcame some limitations of previous measures (e.g., ambiguity

Increased scientific understanding explains why transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth report more mental health concerns than their cisgender peers. However, the emotional processes of TGNC youth have not been assessed beyond mental health diagnoses. Our aim in this study was to investigate how TGNC youth understand, experience, and label their emotional experiences. We conduced a two-tiered

In the current study we sought to find support for a culturally modified application of objectification theory to Asian and Asian American women. The positive association between socialization experiences (i.e., racial teasing and appearance-focused social pressure) and the outcome variable (i.e., consideration of cosmetic surgery) was hypothesized to be mediated by self-objectification processes (i

Peters, H. C., Luke, M., Bernard, J., & Trepal, H. (2020). Socially Just and Culturally Responsive Within Counseling/Counseling Psychology Leadership: A Grounded Theory. The Counseling Psychologist. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000020937431

This study examined a conceptual model depicting the direct and indirect relationships between attachment insecurity, state hope, belongingness, meaning in life (MIL), and three wellness indicators (i.e., life satisfaction, physical health, and depression) of first-generation Latinx immigrants in the United States. Results of structural equation modeling analysis showed adequate model fit with the

This cross-cultural study investigated a moderated indirect effect model in which country membership and familismo were hypothesized to moderate the direct and indirect effects of attachment insecurity on well-being variables. A total of 360 Mexican university students from Mexico and 235 Mexican American university students from the United States completed research questionnaires. Results indicated

The purpose of this study was to develop an abstracted theory concerning how counseling and counseling psychology leaders and educators engage in and enact socially just and culturally responsive leadership in professional association and higher education contexts. This grounded theory study included 18 participants with a range of social locations and professional leadership experiences in counseling

Although a large body of literature addresses sexual and gender identity development, little research has focused on definitions, conceptualization, and identification with LGBTQ+ culture. Fourteen LGBTQ+ emerging adults (age 20–25 years) with a diverse array of intersecting identities participated in semi-structured individual interviews aimed at exploring the construct of LGBTQ+ culture. Five of

Our society continues to be plagued with rampant acts of racism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and hate crimes. More so than ever before, engaging in difficult dialogues across differences is imperative. Counseling psychologists are equipped with a multitude of skills that make them uniquely suited to be leaders in effective dialogue engagement. This article provides an overview of a time-limited

This study evaluated a positive body image program, Free To Be, for adolescent girls and boys. Participants were Canadian and primarily South Asian and were part of either the intervention (n = 76) or comparison groups (n = 43). Participants completed pretest and posttest questionnaires. The Group x Gender x Time interactions examining the study’s outcomes were not significant; however, post hoc analyses

Negative experiences in healthcare settings have been linked to decreased treatment satisfaction and reduction of future help-seeking behaviors among transgender individuals. The present study used gender-identity based microaggressions as a model for understanding the client–therapist relationship. Using a qualitative approach, we investigated instances of microaggressions from mental health providers

The Black church in the United States has historically functioned as a bastion for civil rights; however, it may also be a source of pain and suffering for sexual minorities. To examine the influence of individual and congregational variables on attitudes toward same-sex sexuality in the Black church, we collected a sample of 219 participants from 15 randomly selected congregations. Results of three

Women face more negative health outcomes than men due to relationship distress, but little is understood about why heterosexual women do or do not seek couple therapy. The present study addressed this gap by using the theory of planned behavior within an alternative structural equation modeling framework to examine the links between relational schemas and intention to seek couple therapy in a sample

This article depicts the unique integration of science and practice found in Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) programs. To dispel myths and provide accurate information about the counseling psychology PsyD degree, survey and interview data from all nine American Psychological Association (APA)–accredited counseling psychology PsyD programs are presented. We argue that embracing PsyD programs within a unified

The present study utilized the Delphi method to develop a list of competency areas for counseling professionals practicing with residents of the English-Speaking Caribbean. Thirty-seven counseling experts, predominately those working in school settings in the Bahamas, completed one to three rounds of an interactive survey in which they provided an initial 272 competency suggestions and ranked the importance

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a significant and growing problem in all walks of life in Canada and the United States. Counselors are increasingly likely to have clients with SUDs regardless of their area of expertise. There is limited research on counselors’ attitudes towards working with such clients, or the factors that contribute to these attitudes. In an online survey of 263 Canadian counselors

Social norms that shape people’s emotional expression are called cultural display rules (CDRs). Training in counseling psychology emphasizes cultural context in understanding clients, but it is unclear the degree of training specifically focused on students acquiring skills in emotional expression systems connected to diverse cultures. This qualitative study investigated 99 counseling psychology trainees’

Our purpose in this research was to develop a measure that reflected cross-cultural and cultural-specific expectations of “good mothering.” We based our measure on samples of South Korean mothers (n = 626) and White mothers in the United States (n = 612). We developed an initial pool of 74 items that described good mothering in both cultures. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses

In 2016, Tennessee became the first state to allow counselors and therapists in private practice to deny services to any client based on the therapist’s sincerely held principles. The law’s proponents framed mental health care ethics as infringing on counselors’ religious liberties; its critics denounced the bill because it apparently targeted LGBT+ individuals. This exploratory study is the first

We carried out a constructivist grounded theory-based qualitative exploration on the relations between intersectional minority stress and drinking among a community sample of 20 Latinx and African American sexual minority, gender expansive women. Our overarching goal was to illuminate the nuanced ways in which participants’ lived experiences; in relation to race and ethnicity, gender identity, and

Hope is a critical component of therapeutic change. However, hope does not singularly emanate from clients. Therapists’ hope for their clients represents a specific therapeutic factor that may impact clinical outcomes. Currently no measure exists to assess the uniqueness of therapist’s hope in therapy with specific clients. Our purpose in this study was to develop and initially validate the Therapist

The extent to which individuals prioritize different personal values may be conceptually linked to the perceptions of societal stigma associated with seeking psychological help (public stigma), as well as the extent to which they apply that stigma to themselves (self-stigma). We examined how personal values predicted public stigma and self-stigma of seeking psychological help. Undergraduates (N = 342)

Telepsychology is having a profound influence on professional practice. Currently, however, many psychologists lack the requisite knowledge and skill to provide ethical and competent telepractice services. Moreover, the field has lagged in developing the educational and supervised experiences required to achieve competency. Yet, there is great opportunity as well. The purpose of this article is to

Lawrence Martin Brammer, President of the Society of Counseling Psychology from 1986– 1987 as well as Society Fellow, died in Seattle, WA, on November 4, 2018. He was 96 years old. After receiving his PhD in counseling psychology from Stanford University in 1950, he began his first professoriate at Sacramento State University. In his 36 years of academic service, he also worked at the University of

Ball State University’s tenure as host institution for Student Affiliates of Division Seventeen (SAS) has come to an end as of August 2019. While maintaining the purpose of increasing student membership and involvement in the Society of Counseling Psychology, Ball State’s executive board has pursued unique initiatives aimed at strengthening the organization and providing opportunities to its members

This study examined potential mediators, a moderator, and a moderated mediation of the link between sexual objectification experiences and depression among 489 young adult college women. Findings from the mediation analyses revealed that sexual objectification was directly and indirectly related to depression via greater body surveillance and self-blame. Shame moderated the direct effect of sexual

The construct White guilt is typically motivated by the recognition of unearned and unfair racial privileges, the acknowledgement of personal racist attitudes or behavior, and/or the sense of responsibility for others’ racist attitudes or behavior. Empirical and conceptual work suggests mixed consequences of White guilt: it may correspond with antiracist attitudes and behavior, but it may also motivate

The Spending as Social and Affective Coping (SSAC) scale measures the degree to which people spend money to cope with negative affect and their social environment. An exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor model explaining 60.34% of the item variance: Affective Coping, Social Coping, and Spending Impulsivity. A confirmatory factor analysis in a new sample found that a hierarchical model

Effective training in integrated behavioral health requires systematic, interprofessional education that is anchored in competencies. We describe core learning objectives, competencies, and strategies for assessing counseling psychology trainees in integrated health care settings. Two programs that have transformed their training to emphasize interprofessional and primary care competencies of psychological

Counseling psychology has a documented ability to adapt to the winds of societal, market, and professional change. Adjusting our sails to the winds of integrated care will require realizing that (a) the value systems and approaches that define our field compel us to become more involved in the movement and (b) we have the requisite expertise to do so. This article echoes the others in this Major Contribution

Psychologists are increasingly represented among interprofessional health care teams, yet little is known about counseling psychologists who fulfill these roles. We interviewed 13 early career counseling psychologists in different settings across the country about their roles and functions, the nature of their relationships with other health professionals, and counseling psychology identity and values

Integrated health care is playing an increasingly important role in the U.S. health care system by improving coordination of care and reducing health disparities and cost. Despite its promise, the field of counseling psychology has been slow in responding to this trend and in preparing its future workforce for this health care modality. In a series of articles, in this Major Contribution we highlight

On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of The Counseling Psychologist, we reflect on the many contributions that counseling psychologists have made and are poised to make in the areas of behavioral health and behavioral health care. We note that psychologists’ engagement in health promotion and prevention of behavioral, mental, and emotional disorders is consistent with counseling psychology values

As the new editor of The Counseling Psychologist, I describe my vision for the journal. I have five overarching goals designed to improve the journal’s impact on the field of counseling psychology and three initiatives, two of which are targeted to improve the relevance of TCP to practitioners, advocates, and educators/trainers, and to international readers. The third initiative is to have TCP indexed

In the new millennium, counseling psychologists have answered the call to address oppression related to intersectional identities. We have played a major role in the development of practice guidelines and policies, as well as in the application of ethical principles in cultural contexts. The Counseling Psychologist has served to disseminate information addressing needs and interventions for diverse

In this article, a diverse group of early, mid, and advanced career scholars call for counseling psychology to continue to evolve in our integration of social justice action in our field. In doing so, we first consider our history as proponents and enactors of social justice, highlighting the ways in which counseling psychologists have served as social justice leaders in psychology. We then discuss