Victoria E. Kress

Nonsuicidal Self-injury in a College Population: General Trends and Sex Differences

Abstract Objective: To describe basic nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) characteristics and to explore sex differences. Methods: A random sample from 8 universities were invited to participate in a Web-based survey in 2006–2007; 38.9% (n = 14,372) participated. Analysis assessed sex differences in NSSI prevalence, practices, severity, perceived dependency, and help-seeking; adjusted odds ratios for NSSI characteristics were calculated by sex status. Results: Lifetime NSSI prevalence rates averaged 15.3%. Females were more likely than males to self-injure because they were upset (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3–2.1) or in hopes that someone would notice them (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1–2.7). Males were 1.6 times (95% CI = 1.2–2.2) more likely to report anger and 4.0 times (95% CI = 2.3–6.8) more likely to report intoxication as an initiating factor. Sexual orientation predicted NSSI, particularly for women (Wald F = 8.81, p ≤ .000). Only 8.9% of the NSSI sample reported disclosing NSSI to a mental health professional. Conclusions: NSSI is common in college populations but varies significantly by sex and sexual orientation. NSSI disclosure is low among both sexes.

Resolving Child and Adolescent Traumatic Grief: Creative Techniques and Interventions

This article presents a review of creative interventions that can be helpful in facilitating the resolution of traumatic grief in children and adolescents. Traumatic grief is conceptualized as a condition in which a person loses a close loved one (e.g., a parent or a sibling) in a traumatic manner, and ensuing trauma-related symptoms disrupt the normal grieving process. The presented creative interventions will be conceptually linked to an evidence-based, cognitive behavioral treatment model that can be used in addressing traumatic grief. The creative interventions presented will include the use of writing, storytelling, drawing, commemorating, and ritualizing in relation to traumatic grief.

Letters From the Future: The Use of Therapeutic Letter Writing in Counseling Sexual Abuse Survivors

ABSTRACT In the context of counseling sexual abuse survivors, the creative counseling technique of having clients write letters—to themselves or others—from a future context is described. A theoretical framework for writing letters to oneself from the future is presented. Specific types of letters from the future are explained, and case examples and applications are provided.

The Use of Safety Plans With Children and Adolescents Living in Violent Families

Counselors are regularly confronted with children and adolescents who reside in violent or potentially violent living environments. In this article, safety plans are presented as a tool that counselors can use to promote the safety of children living in unsafe family situations. Ethics-related counseling issues that should be considered when counseling children living in violent living homes are also discussed. A case example is provided to illuminate the presented concepts.

Client Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior: Considerations for Clinical Supervisors

ABSTRACT Supervisees who encounter clients who engage in self-injurious behaviors may have strong personal reactions and struggle with how to proceed so as to minimize client risk and best help the client. Thoughtful, well-informed clinical supervision is of paramount importance when supervisees are charged with providing direct service to clients who self-injure. The purpose of this article is to address pertinent supervision considerations that may emerge when clinical supervisors supervise trainees who are counseling clients who engage in non-suicidal self-injury.

The Use of Therapeutic Stories in Counseling Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse Survivors.

Counselors will regularly counsel children and adolescents with histories of sexual abuse and be challenged with providing supportive and empowering interventions that serve to move the client from victim to survivor status. Therapeutic stories are a creative counseling technique that can be used when counseling child and adolescent sexual abuse survivors. Theoretical support and guidelines for using therapeutic stories when counseling sexual abuse survivors are presented. In this article, case examples, sample therapeutic stories, and applications of therapeutic stories are provided.

Teaching Diagnosis in Context: Guided Imagery as a Contextually Sensitive Pedagogical Technique

In this article, the authors present guided imagery as a technique for use in teaching counselor trainees how to use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) in a way that is sensitive to contextual issues and counselors’ personal biases. Specific guided imagery activities and scripts that can be used in teaching DSM-5-related concepts are provided. Guided imagery can facilitate the development of counseling students’ skills in the areas of case conceptualization, cultural empathy, self-awareness, and objective diagnostic decision making. Guided imagery scripts can enhance counselor trainees’ multicultural competencies as related to the diagnostic process. Practical considerations related to using the technique are provided. 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.

Student Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Protocol for School Counselors.

Schools have a demonstrated need for student non-suicidal self-injury protocols and school counselors play an important role in the development and implementation of such procedures. This article presents an overview of school counselor considerations related to developing and implementing a self-injury protocol. It provides an example of a comprehensive school counseling protocol for addressing student self-injury, including a sample safety plan. The authors present a case study application and discuss implementation considerations.

A Qualitative Study of Supervisors' Reflections on Providing Sanctioned Supervision

Sanctioned supervision, sometimes referred to as mandated supervision or professional monitoring, is intended to protect the public, reduce further counselor ethical/legal violations, and improve the professional practice of the counselor adjudicated for unprofessional behavior. Sanctioned supervision is a common remediation intervention required by state regulatory boards. However, there is a lack of research on the practice of sanctioned supervision and the perceptions of sanctioned supervisors. A qualitative research approach was used to better understand the experiences of four supervisors who provided sanctioned supervision within the past year as part of a state regulatory board remediation process. The main themes from the qualitative study included the following: supervisors finding the supervision process to be unique from traditional supervision, and supervisors experiencing ambivalence about the sanctioned supervision process. Practice considerations for supervisors providing sanctioned supervision are discussed.