The purpose of counselling is generally to help people learn to live in happier, more effective ways, which more often than not means helping them learn how to come together better with other people. In these pandemic-permeated times, however, we are told by authorities that the most effective means of being with others is to […]
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Technology & Social Media
The Rise and Rise of the Selfie
Do any of these statements apply to you? How about to anyone you know, including any clients? “I gain enormous attention by sharing my selfies on social media.” “Taking different selfie poses helps increase my social status.” “Taking more selfies improves my mood and makes me feel happy.” “I become a strong member of my […]
- September 17, 2019
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- Addictions, Children & Adolescents, Technology & Social Media
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Digital Self-harm and Adolescent Angst
“U R ugly, fat, and stupid.” “The world is too good a place for U – ur pathetic.” “Why don’t you just kill ur self and make us all happier?” These hurtful, horrible messages and many others like them are well-known to kids and teens who have been cyberbullied. Parents, teachers, counsellors, and school authorities, […]
- March 18, 2019
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- Children & Adolescents, Clinical Mental Health, Self-harming & Suicide, Technology & Social Media
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Recognising Radicalisation Toward Extremism
If you’ve been a professional helper for a while, you have probably sensed that the fields we work in (counselling/psychotherapy, psychology, social work, etc.) have changed in recent years. As the world we live in becomes increasingly polarised, so too do the beliefs and values of people drawn to radicalisation toward extremism; for many of […]
- October 17, 2018
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- Ethics & Legal Issues, Multicultural Issues, Spirituality & Religion, Technology & Social Media
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The Serve and Limit of Social Comparison
Maggie, a counsellor, saw a client in the morning who related how his doctor had just given him a diagnosis of cancer, necessitating cutting out some cancerous tissue. Her client, Arnold, was dismayed about the diagnosis. “But at least,” he confided to Maggie, “I don’t have to have that horrible colostomy bag like some people […]
- August 24, 2018
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- Spirituality & Religion, Stress Management, Technology & Social Media, Wellness
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Getting Your Counselling Practice Going
So, you’ve got your counselling qualification, you’ve hung your shingle out, and now you’re ready and waiting for clients. Are you just twiddling your thumbs, or are clients actually making their way to your rooms? Many of us chose counselling because we wanted to help people and also, we like thinking about the health and […]
- May 3, 2018
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- Career Development, Private Practice, Technology & Social Media
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The Dangers of Teen Sexting (And How to Help Their Parents Help Them)
You may have faced this scenario before: anguished parents turn up in your rooms and plead with you for help: their cherished teenager, they find, is now sending and/or receiving sexually explicit text messages, photos, or videos. Oh, what to do? Unfortunately, this phenomenon is now common and increasing in frequency, even as the average […]
- February 22, 2018
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- Children & Adolescents, Ethics & Legal Issues, Multicultural Issues, Relationship & Families, School Counselling, Technology & Social Media
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Networking for Success (In Counselling, In Life)
When one of our writing team had trouble finding work a number of years ago, she mentioned this to her friend, whose mother was visiting from another country. “Oh,” said the mother, a vivacious business person, “I guess you’ll have to join a few more clubs.” She made this statement before the phenomenon we know […]
- July 25, 2017
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- Career Development, Personal Effectiveness, Technology & Social Media
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Book Review: Cyberbullying: From Theory to Intervention
Völlink, T, Dehue, F & Mc Guckin, C. (2016) Cyberbullying: From theory to intervention (Current Issues in Social Psychology). United Kingdom: Routledge. Information communication technologies (ICT) are becoming a natural and normal part of day to day life for the average child and adolescent (Völlink, Dehue & Mc Guckin 2016). This first line from the […]
- July 29, 2016
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- Book Reviews, Children & Adolescents, Ethics & Legal Issues, Technology & Social Media
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E-therapy: A Look at the Benefits
Most of us would not have pursued a career in mental health helping (broadly including here counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, social work, and psychiatry) if we were not aware of and keen to extend to those in need the many benefits that the face-to-face therapeutic encounter brings. Accustomed to this format, we can easily dismiss online […]
- January 28, 2016
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- Ethics & Legal Issues, Private Practice, Technology & Social Media
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Consider this Before “Friending” a Client
The same questions counsellors use to make wise decisions about dual or multiple relationships in the real world may be employed when considering the ethical consequences of engaging in an online dual relationship with a client: Is entering into a relationship in addition to the professional one necessary, or should I avoid it? Can the […]
- November 30, 2015
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- Ethics & Legal Issues, Technology & Social Media
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Guidelines for Developing an Effective Counselling Service Website
A website or blog is one of the most significant investments a counsellor makes in their efforts to advertise their practice. However, all too commonly, basic rules are not followed and shortcuts are taken. The result is usually an underperforming site that could otherwise be an effective client recruitment tool. By applying a little more […]
- January 21, 2014
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- Private Practice, Technology & Social Media
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3 Advantages of Online Counselling
Online counselling, once termed alternative therapy, is now becoming a common practice preferred by both clients and therapists (Elleven & Allen, 2004). It has been praised for bridging the gap that existed with traditional face to face therapy around issues such accessibility, convenience, affordability and more. Accessibility Web counselling is easily accessible to all those […]
- January 21, 2010
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- Counselling Theory & Process, Technology & Social Media
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New Technologies: Benefit or Prejudice?
From a practical perspective, the Internet and other communication technologies have affected nearly all areas of human life; and the helping professions are not an exception to this rule. In December 2007, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) published an article (“Therapy Today”, Vol 18 No 10) discussing the use of webcams and […]
- November 12, 2008
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- Technology & Social Media
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Blogs and Teenagers: Conclusion, Terminology and Bibliography
Blogs provide an unprecedented opportunity for anyone interested in studying the human condition to learn more about the lives of others. In this regard the blogging community is able to provide mental health professionals with a unique opportunity to learn more about how people think, live and feel. With regard to teenagers, positive aspects of […]
- May 8, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Technology & Social Media
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