Lamerial Jacobson

Religious Abuse: Implications for Counseling Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals

Religion is often the place a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) individual may turn to understand and navigate their sexual orientation identity development. However, religious abuse may occur when a religious group or leader, whether intentionally or unintentionally, uses coercion, threats, rejection, condemnation, or manipulation to force the individual into submission of the religious views about sexuality. The abuse may result in great harm to the victim by causing low self-esteem, guilt, shame, spirituality loss, substance abuse, or thoughts of suicide. Counselors need to be aware of religious abuse to help clients navigate any spiritual divide between religious beliefs and sexuality. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to (a) describe the differences between religion and spirituality,(b) define religious abuse, (c) describe the effects of religious abuse on LGBT individuals and society, and (d) delineate the counseling implications of religious abuse in working with LGBT individuals.

Enhancing Self-Awareness Through Creative Experiential-Learning Play-Based Activities

This column is designed to underscore relationally-based creative teaching practices used by counselor educators in the classroom. Our intention is to provide examples of novel, innovative ways for counselor educators and students to deepen their learning while colloborating toward a spirit of connection and cooperation. If you have implemented a creative teaching method, or if you have adapted an existing method that you would like to share with readers, please follow submission guidelines in the author information packet available at http://www.creativecounselor.org/Journal.html. Self-awareness is a critical component of developing counselors-in-training, as greater self-awareness increases empathy, congruence, and understanding of the client experience (Rogers, 1957). Creative activities used within counseling courses, such as a play therapy course, provide a medium for increasing students’ self-awareness (Bar-On, 2007; Lennie, 2007; Luke & Kiweewa, 2010). The purpose of this article is to provide examples of experiential play-based activities used in a play therapy course to enhance counselor self-awareness through reflective practice. Additionally, the activities discussed may also support increased self-awareness in supervision, individual counseling, and group counseling. Finally, the article provides descriptive support (i.e., journal quotations) for these activities.

An Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Protocol Readiness Model

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread, pervasive issue that affects heterosexual and same-sex relationships. However, IPV is largely underreported, and many counselors do not formally assess for relationship violence. Additionally, counselors typically do not have a plan to manage disclosures of violence when they occur. We present an IPV Protocol Readiness Model that helps counselors determine their readiness to assess for IPV as well as manage disclosures. Additionally, we present a questionnaire intended to provide guidance for counselors regarding organizational and community factors important to the success of an IPV protocol. Finally, we discuss practical applications and suggestions for further research.

Gender Expression Differences in Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence Victimization, Perpetration, and Attitudes among LGBTQ College Students

Intimate partnerviolence (IPV) occurs in same-sex relationships at greater rates compared to heterosexual relationships. Despite these elevated same-sex IPV, limited research exists on risk and protective factors (e.g., gender expression) related to victimization, perpetration, and attitudes about violence. Due to scarce research on characteristics of same-sex IPV, the study measured differences between feminine and masculine lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) college students (N = 266) in their self-reported victimization, perpetration, and acceptance of IPV. Results identified that masculine LGBTQ-identifying students reported higher levels of victimization, perpetration, and acceptance of violence, providing implications when assessing for risk and protective factors of same-sex IPV.

Grief Counseling and Crisis Intervention in Hospital Trauma Units Counseling Families Affected by Traumatic Brain Injury

The demand for family counselors implementing crisis intervention and grief counseling in hospital trauma units continues to increase. Thus, this article provides a review of the nature of family counselors working with individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and medical trauma in hospitals. Specifically, the article presents (a) unique aspects of crisis intervention and grief services provided in hospital trauma units, (b) effective rapport building strategies for family counselors working with families in crisis from TBI, (c) multidisciplinary collaboration in hospitals, (d) diagnostic approaches and common mental health disorders following TBI, (e) ethical issues working in hospitals, (f) family-focused grief therapy and stages of grief interventions, and (g) implications with a case example of a family counselor working with a family affected by TBI.