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27 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Counseling (positivepsychology.com)

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Anyone who has had the opportunity to work with a skilled counselor can likely state the personal benefits of the experience.

Self-reporting always offers challenges in building empirical evidence. An abundance of meta-analyses has gathered scientific proof that there are similar results across cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and diagnoses.

Come along to read more about the science behind the benefits of counseling.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

10 Empirically Proven Benefits of Mental Health Counseling

Being mentally healthy has many benefits. How those mental health benefits are realized can come through the process of mental health counseling. The efficacy of psychotherapy and other forms of counseling has been debated for years. Meta-analyses have brought empirical proof of the benefits that many experience from mental health counseling (Brown, 1987).

Historically, the misinterpretation of Freudian speculation has tainted the modern understanding of the benefits of psychotherapy (Shedler, 2010). There are many benefits that some may not realize due to the stigma around psychoanalytical methods of counseling.

The following seven features were reliably noted as efficacious:

1. A focus on affect and expression of emotions. Rather than on cognitive factors, psychoanalysis focuses on feelings.

2. Exploration of attempts to avoid distressing thoughts and feelings.

3. Identification of patterns and recurring themes in emotions.

4. Discussion of past experience with a developmental focus.

5. A focus on interpersonal relations.

6. A focus on the therapeutic relationship.

7. Safe exploration of fantasy life.

Knowing that about 18% of the population has presented with some form of mental disorder or disruption (Harvey & Gumport, 2015) is a call to action. While people may receive a diagnosis or psycho-pharmaceutical intervention, a drastic amount of those diagnosed do not receive the counseling that may help them to thrive. Access to and affordability of services in many areas need to be improved (Roy-Byrne, Joesch, Wang, & Kessler, 2009).

New areas of counseling have grown in the last 10 years with the use of technology. Online counseling offers patients instant access, but little empirical data has been gathered as to the benefits of this access (Cohen & Kerr, 1999). Some patients facing anxiety have found value in computer counseling interactions, such as being more aware of internal processes.

To meet the empirical expectations of the American Psychological Association, a task force was established to focus on effective interventions in the 1990s. This led to the movement called the empirically validated treatment (Wampold, Lichtenberg, & Waehler, 2002). When determining scientific validity for interventions, seven principles were provided to aid in the classifications.

1. When evaluating intervention outcomes, a level of specificity must be considered. Gathering evidence of the efficacy of interventions can then be categorized from a broad categorization to a refined and more specific categorization.

2. The level of specificity should not be limited to a diagnosis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This principle enables practitioners to consider the whole person in treatment, rather than providing interventions based solely on the disorder they are treating.

3. Scientific evidence needs to be determined in its entirety, as all studies will face difficulties.

4. Absolute vs. relative efficacy needs to be presented.

5. Causal attributions for specific ingredients should be made only if the evidence is persuasive. This highlights common factors in comparison to particular claims of individual components of an intervention causing the desired outcome.

6. Outcomes should be assessed broadly. One intervention for stress should affect all other aspects of life.

7. Regions will present differences in outcomes and should be assessed along with freedom of choice.

These principles are important in understanding that practitioners should always consider the broader picture of a client.

Having a perspective of science that is interwoven with the personal approach and specific understanding of individual experience is vital for outcomes to be desirable and effective. While an intervention may work well with one client, another may find it completely inappropriate and unhelpful to their circumstances.

Positive psychology studies have empirically proven that specific interventions increase happiness and decrease depressive symptoms (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005).

It was suggested early in this science that in the hands of a skilled clinician or coach, the effects of specific interventions would improve outcomes for clients. Studies utilizing random-controlled placebo assignment have proven with solid science that happiness interventions work.

The following are the interventions utilized in the original study. Counselors, coaches, and other clinicians can use these interventions after a well-formed client relationship has been established. It is important to note that these interventions should be utilized with clients wanting to change their happiness levels.

1. Gratitude visit
Write a letter to someone who was particularly kind but not adequately thanked.

2. Three good things
Every night for a week, write down three things that went well and what caused those good things to occur.

3. Your peak self
Imagine a time when you were at your best. Reflect on the personal strengths that were in use at that time. For one week, reflect on this story of your peak self and focus on determining what personal strengths were in use.

4. Character strengths
Identify your VIA strengths and commit to utilizing them in a new way each day for one week. (See these character strength examples.)

The benefits determined to be enjoyed from these interventions were improved states of happiness and decreases in depressive symptoms. Adhering to the previously listed principles is important in understanding the usage of these interventions, as clinicians know that it is not a "one size fits all" type of work.

All clients will have various outcomes from alternative interventions. However, the work done within the therapeutic relationship with positive psychology interventions potentially have compelling value in improving wellbeing.

Reduction in chronic pain has been a proven benefit of interventions in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT; Ehde, Dillworth, & Turner, 2014). Variations in the delivery of interventions concerning chronic pain have shown improvement in the adaptation to that pain in various populations. Skilled CBT practitioners can improve underserved populations with improved knowledge in the field.

Knowing that the American Psychological Association has teams in place to determine how evidence is collected ensures that people in the field are getting information that is applicable. Here are a few benefits that have been collected as benefits of counseling, across modality:

1. Increased skills in interpersonal communication.

2. Improved interpersonal relationships.

3. Decreased depressive symptoms.

4. Decreased anxiety symptoms.

5. Reduction in pharmaceutical interventions.

6. Improved quality of life.

7. Clarity of behavioral contribution to wellbeing.

8. Reduction of suicidal ideation.

9. Improvement in emotional self-regulation.

10. Reduction in substance misuse.

The Benefits of Counseling in Schools

Children are expected to maintain excellent academic standing, interact well with peers, and become involved with extracurricular activities.

Currently, kids are under more pressure than previous generations. They are facing new challenges and interactions that include technological advancements, whose effects are undergoing rigorous scientific study.

When parents send their children off to school, it can be unnerving knowing that their child is facing this pressure without the parental helping hand in their backpack. Counseling in schools offers a tremendous resource to combat the pressures of being a kid in the world today.

School counselors are given a wide variety of challenges and, in some cases, heartbreaking environments where children's ability to thrive is extremely limited.

Counseling in schools offers the following benefits:

Improvements in communication

Peer group facilitation

Supported emotional exploration

Advocacy for suspected neglect or abuse

Improvements in attention and academic achievement

Reduction in anger and behavioral outbursts

School counselors face many challenges. A meta-analysis has shown that the ratio of counselors to students makes a big difference in academic achievement (Goodman-Scott, Sink, Cholewa, & Burgess, 2018). This ratio directly impacts the ability to serve students. In an impoverished area, the ratio should differ from more affluent populations, as counselors with too many students are limited in the ability to serve them well.

Improving communication between the school and parents is another benefit of school counseling. Some counselors may even offer assistance in bringing coping skills home for children experiencing symptoms of anxiety. Accommodations within the school setting are also developed so that a child can find support from a counselor when their environment becomes too overwhelming.

Advantages of Marriage and Couples Counseling

With divorce rates soaring and incidents of domestic violence wreaking havoc on society, the benefits of marriage and couples counseling could not be more needed. Too many people enter their unions with a naïve mentality of "happily ever after." What they come to realize is that life can be stressful, and if a couple does not handle that stress well together, it can end badly.

Perspective shifting in marriage counseling is a vital benefit. Skilled, evidence-based providers will attempt to shift a perspective from blame to a broader cooperative and co-created view. Patterns of dysfunctional reactivity in couples create ill feelings and block intimacy from occurring.

Behavior and the choice of how a couple interacts is a shift that can be very beneficial in couples counseling. Dysfunctional interaction can sometimes lead to violence and other potentially dangerous behavior. Counselors can help relationships improve by reducing the occurrence of these behaviors.

Another benefit of marriage counseling is in the area of emotional avoidance. Through a good counselor, marriages can improve by decreasing this avoidance. Couples who can effectively speak about what they're feeling with each other allow intimacy to flourish.

Communication in relationships is critical. Without the proper ability to speak to each other, couples can develop poor habits in communication that create more conflict, further deteriorating the marriage bond. Counseling gives couples a framework for the "how" of communication.

Counseling in couples also allows focusing on a relationship's strengths. Within every relationship, some things work well. Couples who can highlight what works well and focus on building other areas that are lacking build true resilience.

Relationship counseling can improve wellbeing in the couple themselves, but also the people around them, including children. The Gottman Institute has helped couples save their marriages from divorce. Dr. Gottman has said that most marriages fail because the couple does not receive counseling early enough for the benefits to be realized.

The statistics on the benefits of couples and marriage counseling have been studied and reported by Dr. Gottman and Dr. Levenson for over 20 years. Their pioneering work has influenced practitioners across the globe. It has been reported that Dr. Gottman can predict the longevity of a couples' relationship within minutes of meeting them.

6 Benefits of Group Counseling

Over 50 clinical studies have determined the efficacy of group counseling. Participants find benefits that, in some ways, surpass the benefits of individual counseling. Group therapy far exceeds the standards of efficacy for many psychological disorders (Burlingame, Fuhriman, & Mosier, 2003).

Within the meta-analysis listed above, a particular improvement in participants experiencing depressive symptoms were more significant than others. Knowing that belonging and interactive support are significant in improving overall wellbeing suggests that group therapy can offer this kind of benefit.

Here are some other benefits reportedly gained through group therapy:

1. Improved communication and social skills

2. Support network and social encouragement

3. Relatability and improvements in healthy behaviors

4. Increases in perspective due to diversity in group dynamics

5. Affordability of care (Thimm & Antonsen, 2014)

6. Safe space to develop assertiveness and appropriate boundaries through self-insight

Family Counseling Advantages

Families are unique units of emotions. Parents and children have their wellbeing interwoven.

They support each other when things are going well and struggle to support each other when conflicts inevitably arise. These precious units are the greatest incubator of positive psychology that exists in the world, according to Lea Waters, PhD, author of The Strength Switch (2017).

When any family member struggles, the entire unit struggles. Proper communication leads to improvements in familial interactions. Building family resilience can be facilitated and nurtured in a counseling modality.

Emotions in families requiring counseling are often raw and deeply felt. Counseling sessions can assist families in processing ill feelings in an effort to create new pathways for family connection. Family counseling offers safe spaces for all family members to have their feelings heard and their needs met.

Increasing healthcare costs have given new glimpses into the efficiency of treatment for mental health (Fals-Stewart, Yates, & Klostermann, 2005). In one analysis, family therapy was found to be a highly effective and efficient way to treat mental health difficulties.

Delivering counseling in a group setting is usually more cost effective, and knowing that it also offers increased family cohesion makes it an empirically backed approach to treatment for many mental health struggles.

Increased empathy helps relationships in the family to flourish fully. Each family member's ability to accept the emotional presentation of other family members allows for deeper understanding and connection. During the teen years, empathy does not always come easily. Stressing this in family counseling can be helpful.

Reduced conflict and improved management of anger can be a benefit of family counseling. Family counseling is utilized to combat a wide range of psychological disruption. With guidance, families can effectively navigate diagnoses and receive evidence-based approaches toward one another in a safe environment.

Improvement in perceived familial support is an additional benefit of family counseling. Family members may believe that they are supporting each other from their perspectives, but when the messages are misperceived, dysfunction can arise. A supported environment where each party can outline specific and well-laid boundaries leads to deeper understanding and interconnection.

How About Work Counseling?

A greater focus on wellbeing at work has taken hold since the introduction of positive psychology. With wellbeing comes the free expression of negative emotions, which can prove to be a problematic area for working people to navigate. The benefits of counseling at work are plentiful.

Self-improvement is very profitable and is a growth industry, especially in corporations. There are countless businesses improving work environments through mindfulness and wellbeing awareness. Human resources departments offer support for employees as well.

Career counseling not only offers personal development, but also improves group dynamics and teamwork. A cohesive team environment is more profitable and, overall, a more pleasant environment for employees. It can also create a space for purpose to flourish, which results in better work engagement.

Improving self-efficacy and a sense of agency is an important side effect of career counseling, creating a safe, supportive environment where constructive goal setting and achievement are possible. Improving employee connection in a workplace improves overall wellbeing as well.

Resolving interpersonal conflicts at the workplace is one significant benefit to career counseling (Robertson, 2013). Many people working together will inevitably experience interpersonal conflict. Having career counselors available to intervene and support these conflicts helps office spaces become more functional.

5 Benefits of Counseling for Depression and Anxiety

First, counseling can improve communication of negative emotions, which can help to elevate mood.

Enabling someone to explore their negative emotions and release them in a safe environment allows them to express things that may not be well received by someone who is not a licensed practitioner.

Many patients find that once they begin the exploration, more is uncovered about the presenting depression or anxiety.

With a space safe to begin expressing and exploring negative emotions, counselors can then start teaching their clients strategies and techniques to manage their emotions in day-to-day life, helping to further alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

To achieve this, many counselors will assign take-home exercises and psychoeducational interventions that clients can engage with between counseling sessions.

For instance, using an e-therapy platform such as Quenza (pictured here), clients can be reminded to tune into their current emotional states, self-soothe with audio meditations, or reflect on recent events, all via an app on their smartphone.

Next, studies have shown that decreased depressive and anxiety symptoms are evident in effective counseling. The overarching decrease in symptoms is the main reason clients initially venture into a counseling environment. The correlation between the reduction of symptoms and improvement in other areas is important to note.

Third, coping skills are a long-term benefit of entering into counseling for depression and anxiety. Developing a plan to combat the overwhelming negative emotions that accompany these disorders offers many patients a way to continue symptom decreases. Some patients have reported that they can decrease medication with the improvement of coping skills.

Fourth, improvement in interpersonal relationships is correlated with a reduction of symptoms of depression and anxiety through counseling. Effective counselors can help their clients improve boundary setting and other forms of self-expression. These improvements lead to more growth in other areas of personal development.

Finally, when offered interventions in positive psychology, improved wellbeing can also be a benefit of counseling for depression and anxiety. By adding gratitude and celebrations of what is working well, clients can increase naturally occurring levels of dopamine and serotonin. Again, clients can be reminded to practice gratitude regularly with the aid of take-home exercises and modern blended care apps.

There are many different treatment modalities in counseling for depression and anxiety. As treatment will differ for each person, some have benefitted by reducing symptoms enough to no longer require counseling. Sometimes, elimination of symptoms is even possible.

A Look at the Benefits of HIV and Health Counseling

A distressing diagnosis can easily lead to the development of psychological difficulties. Patients facing HIV and other life-threatening diagnoses can benefit from a counselor guiding them through the trials of what they're facing. Health counseling is a gateway to effective treatment.

Through counseling, a patient may find it easier to navigate the medical care needs that follow a diagnosis. A problematic diagnosis will present new medical needs that may be unfamiliar and frightening. A counselor familiar with the medical needs a patient is facing can offer comfort and guidance in a painful situation.

Difficult conversations about sexual behavior can take place more readily with a skilled HIV counselor. The community will also benefit from a patient notifying previous sexual partners so that they may receive treatment as well. There are also legal ramifications facing someone newly diagnosed.

Improvements in overall health and wellbeing can be a benefit of counseling as well. Health counselors are well versed in healthy habits and nutrition that can assist in improving the wellness of patients. They can also lead patients through medication instruction and interaction.

A Take-Home Message

Debates around the empirical evidence and benefits of counseling have been prevalent for years. Many meta-analyses have proven that benefits in counseling are abundant and weave into the wellbeing of recipients. Most people enjoying these benefits also see improvement in many areas of their lives.

Mental health should receive the same amount of effort as physical health. Reducing the stigma around mental health is an area where improvement in the field can be made. All humans have feelings; therefore, all humans should have someone to help them process those emotions skillfully.

Accessibility to mental health services is severely lacking in many challenged socio-economic areas. Drastic improvement needs to be forged in these areas so that more people can realize the benefits of counseling.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don't forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free.

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27 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Counseling

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Anyone who has had the opportunity to work with a skilled counselor can likely state the personal benefits of the experience. Self-reporting always offers challenges in building empirical evidence. An abundance of meta-analyses has gathered scientific proof that there are similar results across cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and diagnoses.

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www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/mood-disorders/depressive-disorder/hig…

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Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Prevalence

About 1 in 44 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. [Read article]

ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. [Read article]

ASD is more than 4 times more common among boys than among girls. [Read article]

About 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3-17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009-2017. These included autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others. [Read summary]

Identified Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

ADDM Network 2000-2018 Combining Data from All Sites

Surveillance Year

Birth Year

Number of ADDM Sites Reporting

Combined Prevalence per 1,000 Children (Range Across ADDM Sites)

This is about 1 in X children...

Autism Prevalence Studies Data Table
A collection of information from peer-reviewed autism prevalence studies
Learn more about the ADDM Network "

Glossary

Prevalence is the number of people in a population that have a condition relative to all of the people in the population. Prevalence is typically shown as a percent (e.g. 1%) or a proportion (e.g. 1 in 100).

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Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC

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Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. CDC is working to find out how many children have ASDs, discover the risk factors, and raise awareness of the signs.

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Depression in Mothers | The National Center for Healthy Safe Children

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Women have a one in five chance of experiencing depression at some point during their lifetime. Stressful situations, such as being a mother to young children, increase a woman's likelihood of experiencing depression. Mothers may be particularly susceptible to depression while experiencing familial stress, such as isolation from family and friends, having a child with a chronic health condition, being in an abusive relationship, or caring for an elderly parent. In the year following childbirth, women experience depression at a rate of 13%. ¹ The risk of developing perinatal depression is higher for a woman who has a history of depression. Rates of maternal depression are also high among mothers living in poverty. Among low-income mothers with infants, 11% experience severe depression and 41% have some form of depression. ²

Depression affects people in different ways. Signs of depression may include prolonged sadness, low energy, crying easily, feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, trouble sleeping, and changes in appetite.

Maternal depression may affect a mother's ability to connect with her baby or child, which can have a negative impact on his or her social, emotional, and cognitive development. It is important for a mother experiencing depression to receive treatment for both her and her children's wellbeing. Treatment may include a combination of talk therapy, medication, or social support.

Some ways to help a mother who may be depressed include having a conversation with her about how she is feeling, helping her identify things that she can do that may improve her mood, and screening and referring her to mental health services as needed.

Additional resources on maternal depression for parents and service providers are provided below.

Depression in Mothers: More than the Blues. A Toolkit for Family Service Providers
SAMHSA
https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4878.pdf
Presents an overview of depression in mothers, including common symptoms and factors that may increase a woman's risk for depression. This tool describes strategies that service providers can use to help mothers who are experiencing depression. It also includes handouts for women with young children and links to helpful programs.

Addressing Maternal Mental Health in the Pediatric Medical Home
Child Health and Development Office
http://www.chdi.org/files/5314/1685/8955/Maternal_MH_IMPACT_11-24-14_FIN...
Discusses maternal mental health disorders, how they impact parenting and child development, and how child health care professionals can help identify mental health concerns and connect mothers to needed services.
Supporting Infants, Toddlers, and Families Impacted by Caregiver Mental Health Problems, Substance Abuse, and Trauma: Community Action Guide
Supporting Infants, Toddlers, and Families Impacted by Caregiver Mental Health Problems, Substance Abuse, and Trauma: Community Action Guide

SAMHSA
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA12-4726/SMA12-4726.pdf
Describes research on toxic stress and brain development, strategies for building resiliency in children, and approaches that service providers, advocates, and practitioners can use to help children and families affected by mental illness, substance use, or trauma.
The Mothers and Babies Course

University of California, San Francisco
http://medschool2.ucsf.edu/latino/Englishmanuals.aspx
An online, interactive course designed to reduce the risk of postpartum depression in women who are pregnant.

Depression in Parents, Parenting, and Children: Opportunities to Improve Identification, Treatment, and Prevention
National Academy of Sciences
http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2009/Depression-in-Parents-...
Describes steps that can be taken at the federal and state levels and among behavioral health care providers to improve the detection, treatment, and prevention of depression in families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Linking Depressed Mothers to Effective Services and Supports: A Policy and Systems Agenda to Enhance Children's Development and Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
Urban Institute
http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/41293...
Highlights findings about depression in low-income mothers, and identifies how improvement within and across systems can help increase access to and improve service delivery.

Mom's Mental Health Matters
National Institutes of Health
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/...
Provides information for pregnant and postpartum mothers, their families, and health care providers about depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after the baby is born.
Additional Resources
Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Informational Bulletin: Maternal Depression Screening and Treatment: A Critical Role for Medicaid in the Care of Mothers and Children
htts://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib051116.pdf
Advocates for early screening for maternal depression and describes Medicaid's coverage of early detection screening and treatment.

Seizing New Policy Opportunities to Help Low-Income Mothers with Depression: Current Landscape, Innovations, and Next Steps
http://www.clasp.org/resources-and-publications/publication-1/Opportunities-to-Help-Low-Income-Mothers-with-Depression-2.pdf
Offers practical, timely ideas for state and federal action to seize new policy opportunities to help low-income mothers with depression. The brief contends that federal and state decision-makers and advocates in the early childhood, anti-poverty, health, and mental health worlds, along with the world of philanthropy, have a distinct opportunity to help young children and their families.

Moving Beyond Depression
http://www.movingbeyonddepression.org/?page_id=2363
Provides an overview of an evidence-based approach to integrating depression treatment into home visitation programs.

The Parenting Well Project
http://www.parentingwell.org/
Provides resources for parents experiencing mental illness, including tips and tools such as interactive checklists and brainstorming exercises, and personal stories.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/practicing-safety/Documents/Postnatal%20Depression%20Scale.pdf
Offers screenings for service providers to assess postpartum depression in women.

Updated: January 9, 2017
1 http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/lit_review_postpartu...
2http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/41293...

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Women have a one in five chance of experiencing depression at some point during their lifetime. Stressful situations, such as being a mother to young children, increase a woman's likelihood of experiencing depression.

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High Risk for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Observed Among Single Mothers - Psychiatry Advisor

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Single mothers reported higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms compared with partnered mothers, according to study data published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Investigators abstracted data from the 2015 German National Psychosocial Burdens Prevalence Study in Early Childhood. The German study was a large, cross-sectional study of nationally representative data on various psychosocial risks among families with children aged 0 to 3 years. Per the study protocol, participating pediatricians (n=271) each recruited and administered questionnaires to up to 35 parents at their practices. The questionnaire captured depressive and anxiety symptoms per the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire. General stress and parenting-related stress were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Parenting Stress Index, respectively.

A total of 6925 mothers with children younger than 3 years were identified, among whom 7.5% (n=517) were single mothers and 92.5% (n=6408) were partnered mothers. The mean age of participating mothers was 31.6 (standard deviation, 5.1) years. Approximately 30% of single mothers reported symptoms of depression or anxiety compared with just 14% of partnered mothers ( P <.0001). In addition, a greater proportion of single mothers reported high general stress (37%) and high parenting stress (26%) compared with partnered mothers (18% and 16%, respectively; P <.0001). The adjusted model confirmed an increased risk for depression and anxiety among single mothers (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.5). In the adjusted model, single mothers were also at an increased risk for general life stress (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.6-2.8) and parenting stress (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1). Many psychosocial factors had a strong influence on these risks, including welfare receipt, lack of perceived social support, and a history of childhood maltreatment or physical domestic violence. Single mothers were much more likely to report these factors (all P <.001) compared with partnered mothers.

These data highlight a significant burden for mental illness among single mothers. Adjusted analyses suggest a substantial mediating effect of financial hardship, lack of perceived social support, and any history of maltreatment. Such data promote the use of more rigorous screening efforts for mental illness among single mothers, particularly those in high-risk demographics.

Reference

Liang LA, Berger U, Brand C. Psychosocial factors associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress among single mothers with young children: a population-based study [published online August 8, 2018]. J Affect Disord. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.013

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High Risk for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Observed Among Single Mothers

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Single mothers reported higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms compared with partnered mothers, according to study data published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Investigators abstracted data from the 2015 German National Psychosocial Burdens Prevalence Study in Early Childhood.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Kathy Hardie-Williams M.Ed MS NCC LPC LMFT

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Professional advocacy: A call to the profession - Counseling Today

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Counselors typically embrace the idea of advocating for clients and social issues, but the same passion and dedication must be extended to advocating for the profession itself.

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Harvard Implicit Bias Self-Assessments which I completed. These assessments are done by linking words in order to determine outcomes which I do not there accurate more like memory but at the end you are given an output and summary of your results. The first sections of the test are using an E or an I to determine the answer of the two categories (Harvard,2022). The space bar is used to move on  (Harvard,2022). The final sections are the paring of opposite words and similar words by which you are scored with a x if the wrong selection is made (Harvard,2022).

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Experiment (harvard.edu)

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Your study has timed out. Please make sure that you allow cookies from our site. Alternatively, this could occur if you spend more than 15 minutes on one page of the study, such as the IAT. Please complete the study without interruption or the results will not be valid.

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The article I chose for this assignment is, Empirical Research Studies Supporting the Value of School Counseling”, by American School Counseling Association. The article presents several articles within each category  to demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of school counseling. The article has multiple sections, each with an article which demonstrates the impact.

The first section talks about the growth as it relates to academic achievement. It presents each article with not only listing but the article itself. The articles are easy to read. They present  the information to find the article, the abstract, and the takeaway from it. As it relates to the impact to academics it was found in each of the articles when a counselor was involved with students the outcome was favorable. There was an improvement in success of the students.

The next sections Multiple Impacts, College and Career Readiness, College and Career Readiness which have the same layout. They present the names of the articles and the authors. The outcomes presented explain the results of the study which in every case there was improvement.

My reaction to the article, I will start by saying that anything done with the attempt to improve, change, or add to an issue doesn’t surprise me. When it does surprise is when the effort gives no results. Any impact cause something to change hopefully for the better when it doesn’t the effort then should be evaluated. I think the number of resources where surprising. All the articles showed in each one of the areas evaluated there was improvement.

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End (harvard.edu)

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Your study has timed out. Please make sure that you allow cookies from our site. Alternatively, this could occur if you spend more than 15 minutes on one page of the study, such as the IAT. Please complete the study without interruption or the results will not be valid.

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Take a Test (harvard.edu)

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Preliminary Information

On the next page you'll be asked to select an Implicit Association Test (IAT) from a list of possible topics . We will also ask you (optionally) to report your attitudes or beliefs about these topics and provide some information about yourself.

We ask these questions because the IAT can be more valuable if you also describe your own self-understanding of the attitude or stereotype that the IAT measures. We would also like to compare differences between people and groups.

On the IAT, you may find it easier to pair certain attributes with one group of people compared to another. Your IAT results may depart from your personal beliefs.

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I am aware of the possibility of encountering interpretations of my IAT test performance with which I may not agree. Knowing this, I wish to proceed I am aware of the possibility of encountering interpretations of my IAT test performance with which I may not agree. Knowing this, I wish to proceed using a touchscreen OR using a keyboard.

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On the next page you'll be asked to select an Implicit Association Test (IAT) from a list of possible topics . We will also ask you (optionally) to report your attitudes or beliefs about these topics and provide some information about yourself.

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ASCA National Model - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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ASCA National Model - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes. “The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs” outlines the components of a school counseling program that is integral to the school’s academic mission and is created to have a signi…

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Xiomara Rivera

RE: Discussion - Week 3

Great post. Working in groups can be challenging, it involves so many variables which can have anything go wrong. I think when there are clear expectations for the group and its participants, groups tend to function better. It is essential to be able to not only have the communication but also the division of duties. It helps people to know what is expected of them as to relate to the group. Like you, I wrote about not having a lot of experience in school with having to work in groups. Also, like you, I have worked with teams to meet certain goals and expectations. In my post for this week’s assignment, I chose as it relates to group work d,g, and j. I only choose only the three as they seem to be the ones which closely can be applied to a classroom setting l

I agree with you when you mentioned engagement, relationships, communication, and accountability. I had mentioned in my post about ownership. It is important for participant’s become responsible for their participation in a group. I believe identifying roles for everyone in the group is important early on to be successful.

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Templates & Tools - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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Templates & Tools - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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Ready to get started? Review the ASCA National Model® phased implementation plan.

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ASCANationalModelDiamond.pdf (schoolcounselor.org)

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I believe children are able to become and overcome anything which hinders their growth. My beliefs about children are children have the ability to become and change any outcome. They have a need for guidance with the freedom to make their own choices in the things they choose.

I would treat children with ASD like neurotypically developing children. I set high goals for them and then later if needed scaffold them to meet goals based on their abilities. As people we do not all learn the same there for our goals are not the same. Every role within our society is equally as important as the form of how we function. Not every role we are functioning in will be the role we will always function in. Some of us will have many roles throughout our lifetime some will only have one both are equally important.

I believe a child regardless of their abilities or disability should be given the opportunity to function within their capabilities as future counselors the goals we set should be based on the individual with the idea in mind that they can achieve goals based on the person and not the disability.

My vision for my future role as a counselor may change by the time I finish my program but for now, I would like to have a private practice. I would like to create a space that allows for both creative solutions and a safe space. I would like to create an environment of non-judgment. I would like to work with either children or people with disabilities or both as they are both populations that I feel need the services but sometimes do not have access to them.  I think helping them change should first come naturally and second guide them to find solutions rather than leading them to them.

I will serve as an agent of social change by promoting cultural awareness when addressing the people I will be working with. I will do this by getting to know their cultural importance when addressing their needs but also making sure to not allow my cultural bias to guide me in helping to find solutions.

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This week the assignment was completing the School Counselor Competency Assessment.

I think there is always room for improvement even with a 5.

It is important to not only achieve a high standard but sustain it. The assessment showed me things that I knew I should be working on but have difficulty with. In most of the responses, I gave myself a 4 or 5. The area which needs improvement is Behavior Learning Strategies(ASCA,2019). This area had the lowest scores. The Mindset was the highest(ASCA,2019).

Need to improve - I need to improve in time management (1), self-motivation (3), and collaborative skills(3).

Time management for me is bad when paired with anxiety. I become really anxious with deadlines to the point where I end up becoming so overwhelmed I ended up not completing tasks for fear of not getting them done in time. I have been trying to break apart large tasks into smaller ones to be able to meet deadlines. I continuously work on this.

Self-motivation, I am trying to make sure I set clear goals and work through things even when I don’t feel like I can do them. I don’t have trouble participating with groups of people. My trouble is wanting to work in groups. I prefer to carry the weight of the work rather than depend on others.  At work, I am looking for more opportunities to work with others instead of taking on large tasks by myself.

Identify what surprised you.
I wasn't surprised by the results but the category in which my lower or weaker area scored was the behavior.

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Define: Standards Guiding the School Counseling Profession and the 4 Components of the ASCA Model

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(283) School Counseling Effectiveness Data - YouTube

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Effectiveness.pdf (schoolcounselor.org)