Jennifer R. Curry

Shifting to a Wellness Paradigm in Teacher Education: A Promising Practice for Fostering Teacher Stress Reduction, Burnout Resilience, and Promoting Retention

Teacher attrition is a growing concern for the U.S. educational system. One promising practice in teacher education to combat this trend is a wellness paradigm focus. This article includes information concerning current teacher stress, burnout, and attrition. In addition, the historical and theoretical underpinnings of wellness will be introduced as well as case illustrations of wellness in teaching practice. Implications for teacher educators will be discussed.

Starving for Support: How Women with Anorexia Receive ‘Thinspiration’ on the Internet

This article provides the definition of anorexia, prevalence of the disorder, and treatment prognosis. Further, although the Internet provides many helpful resources for identifying problematic eating behavior and resources for persons suffering with eating disorders, Web sites exist that are meant to encourage, promote, and sustain anorexic behavior. This article elucidates the harmful practices fostered by “thinspiration” Web sites and provides practical treatment implications inclusive of a relational-cultural framework for mental health professionals working with clients suffering from anorexia who use these sites.

Examining Client Spiritual History and the Construction of Meaning: The Use of Spiritual Timelines in Counseling

The imperative to integrate spirituality in counseling has been well documented in the counseling literature. Developing spiritual timelines is one creative technique that may help clients with spiritual concerns. The purpose of this manuscript is to briefly review spirituality in counseling, describe the use of spiritual timelines as a creative technique, and provide a case illustration using spiritual timelines in counseling. Considerations for counselors include ethical concerns, scope of competence, and professional development.

My Solar System: A Developmentally Adapted Eco-Mapping Technique for Children

ABSTRACT Counseling children requires specific skills and techniques, such as play therapy and expressive arts, to address developmental manifestations and to facilitate the understanding of presenting problems. This article outlines an adapted eco-mapping activity that can be used as a creative counseling technique with children in order to promote counselor understanding of the clients perceived support system. A case illustration is provided to demonstrate how this technique may be used in conceptualizing, planning, and evaluating client treatment.

Finding the Spirit Within: Spirituality Issues in the LGBT Community

When it comes to discussing the topic of spirituality within the LGBT counseling community, it sometimes illicits a variety of emotions and experiences. Although some counselors working with LGBT individuals may find the subject of spirituality a regular and necessary part of conversations within the therapeutic relationship, for other professionals, the topic may be seen as inappropriate; something that should not be broached in the counseling relationship. Moreover, even when practitioners do want to integrate spirituality in counseling LGBT clients, they may be unsure of how to do so or where to begin due to the multiple complexities of religious or spiritual concerns. This special issue is a continuation of Michael Kocet’s presidential theme during his tenure as Association for LGBT Issues in Counseling president. Jennifer Curry, immediate past president of Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling has also been committed to exploring the intersections of personal spirituality and LGBT identity. We recognize and honor the diversity of views that exist when addressing spirituality and religion in the context of the LGBT community. For some LGBT individuals, spirituality and religion represent a history of shame, stigma, and alienation by religious leaders, interpretation of scriptures, religious teachings, and the multitude of religious paradigms and spiritual/secular worldviews. Some LGBT individuals may have spent significant time with counselors grieving over the loss of their religious tradition because of the experience of being ostracized by their faith community due to their sexual orientation or gender expression. Consequently, the loss of spiritual fellowship may lead

The Induction of School Counselors: Meeting Personal and Professional Needs.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain participants’ perceptions of elements of the induction process that met novice school counselors’ personal and professional needs. Interviews of seven novice counselors and their principals over one school year were the primary data sources. Employing an abductive analysis process based on a developed typology of induction elements from the teacher induction literature, the researchers’ analysis of the data indicated that although various induction elements were discussed by participants (i.e. informal mentors, orientation, professional development, collaboration, reduced workloads, and interaction with principals), few were planned specifically for the novice counselor. Most supports for the novices were viewed with mixed results in meeting their personal and professional needs.