Expert Interviews & Perspectives in Counseling

Variations of the word narcissism, which comes from a Greek myth about a handsome youth named Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection, have been around for millennia. But in the early 20th century, Sigmund Freud published a paper on narcissism, generating interest from the psychology community. It has since been seen as a legitimate psychological condition.

Music is an effective tool to bring forth strong emotions from the past. Sometimes clients cannot find the words to express what they feel in a counseling session but can choose, sing, or play a song.

Anticipatory grief is a form of grieving before a death or loss. It can present at the end of life, during a terminal diagnosis, the end of a meaningful relationship, or a significant life shift. For some clients who have experienced trauma, anticipatory grief can appear at any time during the life cycle, being triggered by traumatic stimuli.

Career counselors often work with high school students, college or university students, or veterans. Any adult seeking educational, vocational, or career advice can find career counselors in private practice settings. Career counseling is a process that can begin in high school and continue throughout an individual’s working life.

In the first part of this series, we gave an overview of mental health disability and employment, focusing on resources for creating a mental health-friendly workplace. In this piece, we explore the rights of individuals with mental health conditions in the workplace, common challenges, and advocacy efforts. Aaron Konopasky, senior attorney-advisor for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), offered his expertise as an attorney specializing in disability law, rights, and policy.

The field of psychology is dynamic, it is one in which you can never stop learning from. As theories and therapies continue to evolve, it is essential for counselors to stay abreast of the latest research, continuing practices and learn new ways of thinking.

For those who grew up with a binary definition of men and women, it can be quite confusing to encounter people who don’t fit these categories. Not only are sex and gender different, there’s an entire planet of cultural gender constructs to wrap one’s head around. On top of this, language is polysemic and definitions overlap, meaning that trans and nonbinary people may use gender labels differently.

Many counselors begin their careers working for other people in a mental health clinic, educational system, medical facility, or a government setting. These positions provide counselors with financial stability and valuable professional experience. Over time, counselors may desire more freedom and autonomy.

Transition is the self-actualizing process of aligning one’s external being with their internal sense of gender. This includes social transition like gender expression, legal transition like changing one’s name or pronouns on documentation, and physical transition like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS).

Anyone who aspires to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) will inevitably take the National Counselor Examination (NCE). While each state has different licensure requirements, the NCE is a comprehensive test administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and used throughout the United States.