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My name is Raymond Schultz and I am a student in the MA Professional Counseling program. I am currently studying with the intention of eventually becoming a licensed professional counselor.

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Topic #1: What factors influence cross-cultural competence within the counseling profession?

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Topic #1: What factors influence cross-cultural competence within the counseling profession?

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Article 1

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374441803_Exploring_The_Experiences_of_Counselors_Working_with_Clients_from_Diverse_Cultural_Backgrounds

In this study, researchers utilize a qualitative approach to determine the most important factors in a successful cross-cultural therapeutic relationship. Through thematic analysis, researchers were able to use the data they collected from interviews with counselors to highlight several important contributing factors to effective cross-cultural relationships, including a focus on building individual trust, continuing personal education on the part of the counselor, and diversity in agency staffing (Masri Abdul Lasi et al., 2023).

Article 2

https://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/the-effect-of-bilingualism-on-self-perceived-multicultural-counseling-competence/

This study examines the way that being bilingual impacts counseling students’ perception of their own multicultural counseling competence. Researchers used a demographic survey to identify and recruit 178 bilingual students within the counseling program. Students were then presented with the Multicultural Counseling Competence and Training Survey-Revised, a quantitative assessment tool used to gauge their understanding of multiple different facets of multicultural competence. Consistent with the research hypothesis, bilingual students showed higher rates of multicultural awareness and knowledge than those who only spoke a single language (Ivers & Villalba, 2015).

Article 3

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4286210/

This research considers several factors related to multicultural competence (MC) between counselors of different ethnic backgrounds. In this study, researchers recruited 221 therapists of varying ethnicities and cultures and utilized several different quantitative survey methods to evaluate their level of cultural competence and effectiveness at providing counseling to minority clients on both personal and agency levels. The results showed that therapists who were ethnic minorities were more likely to be involved with diverse communities outside of work, had higher rates of employment within culturally sensitive agencies, greater measured multicultural competency, and a greater likelihood of applying culturally sensitive frameworks to their practice (Berger et al., 2014)

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Topic #2: How can professionals within the counseling field effectively continue their professional development and what is the impact of doing so?

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Topic #2: How can professionals within the counseling field effectively continue their professional development and what is the impact of doing so?

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Article 1

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38357990/

This study tests the effectiveness of strategies related to self-reflection and evaluation as methods of continued professional development within a therapeutic context. For this study, researchers used twenty participants with between one and twenty years of clinical experience and conducted a qualitative investigation via interviews to gauge participants' level of self-awareness and perceived professional performance before and after listening to a recorded version of therapy sessions they had conducted. The results of this study showed that the process of reviewing their own sessions was linked to greater levels of self-awareness and increased awareness of certain skills (Pereira et al., 2024).

Article 2

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/chp.21120

This research looks at the impact of ongoing professional development on mental health professionals. 418 participants were surveyed about the types of ongoing professional development they engaged with and their perceptions of their own professional competence, value, and support. Quantitative analysis of the data indicated positive correlations between engagement with various forms of professional development and all three of the previously listed self-perceptions (Bradley et al., 2012).

Article 3

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264733810_Continuing_Education_Needs_in_Supervision

The purpose of this study is to provide information that will allow for a more accurate understanding of the needs and preferences of counselors in relation to continued professional development. Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 254 LPCs in the state of Texas via surveys containing open ended questions and ranked survey scales. Clinical decision making, ethics, and crisis intervention were ranked as the most desired areas of focus for continued professional development. Respondents also indicated preferences for workshops, conferences, and research articles as methods of continued professional development (Stark et al., 2014).

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Topic #3: What factors impact the effectiveness of remotely delivered counseling sessions?

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Topic #3: What factors impact the effectiveness of remotely delivered counseling sessions?

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Article 1

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/capr.12666

This research explores the potential link between therapist’s non-verbal communication skills and perception of their own competency at conducting distance counseling sessions. Using a sample of 323 mental health professionals, researchers collected data regarding their perceived effectiveness at delivering therapy in-person and via telehealth, as well as data related to their typical degree of non-verbal expressiveness and ability to accurately identify various non-verbal responses in others. Analysis of this data indicated that strong nonverbal communication skills were correlated with perceived effectiveness for both in-person and telehealth sessions. Additionally, poor nonverbal communication skills were associated with decreased perceived effectiveness in telehealth, regardless of other factors, such as years of experience or type of treatment (Lin & Anderson, 2023).

Article 2

https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.23.00006

The intended purpose of this study is to provide additional information about racial disparities related to telehealth access. To do this, researchers collected administrative data spanning a six-month period related to demographics and rates of telehealth vs. in-person engagement. This was followed by a survey with questions covering measures related to telehealth availability. Quantitative analysis of this data demonstrated that Black individuals were both less likely to utilize telehealth services and more likely to indicate barriers to accessing digital care (Iasiello et al., 2023).

Article 3

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10371164/

This study aims to better understand therapists’ perspectives on the benefits, drawbacks, and barriers to delivering therapy via telehealth. Qualitative data was conducted in the form of video interviews, then analyzed for recurring themes. The results of the study indicated that, overall, therapists felt that telehealth had removed some barriers to access, allowed for various practical improvements, and provided additional context and perspective of their clients’ behaviors in a less clinical setting. However, there were also some commonly cited issues with telehealth, including technological malfunctions, inability to guarantee a private, distraction-free setting on the client end, and limitations in the ability of the therapist to interpret and deliver nonverbal cues effectively (Ong et al., 2023).