Informed By Trauma Summary

The first article I read was entitled, “Informed by Trauma,” by Laurie Meyers. A very interesting article regarding working with clients who have experienced some type of trauma. Over the course of two years, researchers did a study with 17,000 patients. Participants were asked about childhood experiences of abuse, neglect and family dysfunction, such as emotional and physical neglect, sexual and physical abuse, exposure to violence in the household and household members who had substance abuse problems or had been in prison.

Researchers discovered that these negative experiences in childhood was predictive of lifelong problems with health and well-being. The more negative experiences a participant had, the more likely these problems became.

Another disheartening finding was that adverse childhood experiences were extremely common. Almost two-thirds of participants had endured at least one negative childhood experience, and more than 1 in 5 respondents had endured three or more such experiences. The article goes on to describe in detail different techniques used in therapy with trauma clients such as how to get them to talk about the experience. It was suggested that for some clients, especially those younger, who do not want to voice the incident, that they can answer questions via text during the session. The article states that sometimes clients are more open to texting about things that they might struggle to express verbally. Deep breathing exercises were discussed as well as clients feeling that they have some control over the counseling process. Counselor’s need clients to feel that they are safe and in control of what happens in the consulting room. Let them choose where to sit. Ask if they are comfortable. The article suggests that Counselors should give the client permission to decline to answer any question they are uncomfortable with and to take breaks at any time during the intake if they start to feel uncomfortable,” Attention to body language, voice tone and other cues of emotional distress, and respond to them. Grounding techniques were discussed and the importance of self- care of the therapist. This was a very informative article.
The second article I selected was an article entitled: “Making the counseling profession more diverse.” Compiled by Laurie Meyers.

Counseling Today asked a number of ACA members who study diversity to share their thoughts on a complex issue: What needs to happen to make the counseling profession more diverse? Thelma Daley, the first African American president of both the American Counseling Association and the American School Counselor Association stated in the article that, “We have come a long way, but the door has only been cracked.” Institutional prejudice still exists. Daley states the profession is needed more than ever and that all racial/ethnic groups should have access to high-level counseling professionals with whom they can relate freely. Daley states a need to examine the hiring practices, the working conditions and the pay, which might be repelling forces for those who might want to consider the profession.

Selma de Leon-Yznaga, past president of Counselors for Social Justice, states in the article, “Until we can make counseling meaningful and practical for clients of all demographics,

the marketability of counselors will be low, and we will continue to attract students who represent the dominant cultural group ( male, white, heterosexual, cisgender, nondisabled)

who in turn will attract clients from the dominant cultural group.” Yznaga believes we will continue to struggle to attract and graduate diverse students unless we can make counseling a service that is

accessible to and valuable for culturally diverse communities.
Manivong Ratts, past president of Counselors for Social Justice, believes that to understand the lack of diversity in the counseling profession, one must examine the root of the problem. “Higher education, and counselor education by extension, has largely been a predominately white institution. As such, institutions and programs continue to use admission criteria that advantage applicants from privileged groups over applicants from marginalized groups.”
Ratts gives the example of graduate programs that continue to look favorably at applicants who have volunteer experience. However, applicants who live in poverty do not have the privilege to volunteer. These applicants many times work multiple jobs and, therefore, may not have extra time to volunteer. Another example Ratts gives is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) that many schools use as admission criteria. Yet, research has shown the cultural bias inherent in GRE scores. Most in the professoriate in counseling are also white. There is a tendency for people to admit applicants who look like them because such applicants make them feel comfortable.
Other issues mentioned in the article is that counseling does not pay as much as other career paths. Many students of color have access to financially lucrative careers.
Lance Smith, associate professor of counseling at the University of Vermont states that Counselors can reach out to counselor education programs and request that they be an internship site for counseling students and specifically request that they would like to recruit and draw and mentor counseling interns who are from traditionally underrepresented groups. Practicing counselors can reach out to school counselors to offer to come to career fairs — specifically schools with diverse student bodies — and speak to students about the counseling profession and the need for a more diverse population of counselors.
Practicing counselors can also reach out to campus groups and clubs — African American Student Unions, LGBTQ groups, disability rights groups, etc., and offer to talk to undergraduates about the counseling profession and the need for counselors with more diverse stories
and backgrounds.
What articles did you select? What did you learn from these resources?
Technology

Technology Tutor: “Thinking about discussing clients online? Think twice”
By Rob Reinhardt. This articles explores the nature of discussing client issues on the internet while maintaining privacy and confidentiality of the client. ACA Code of Ethics state the following: “Counselors protect the confidential information of prospective and current clients.” (Standard B.1.c.)
• “Counselors discuss confidential information only in settings in which they can reasonably ensure client privacy.” (Standard B.3.c.)
• “Counselors take precautions to ensure the confidentiality of all information transmitted through the use of any medium.” (Standard B.3.e.)
• “When consulting with colleagues, counselors do not disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client … unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person …” (Standard B.7.b.)
Careful thought should be given what is posted on the internet even when identity is disguised.

Will someone reading have the ability to identify that person? Will the person themselves be able to identify themselves? Will general public think positively or negatively about what one is posting?

My second article is, Technology Tutor:” Bring your idea to life through crowdfunding.” by Rob Reinhardt. Crowdfunding is the process of raising money for a project from a large number of people usually through the internet. In some instances crowdfunding is a form of presale, giving people the opportunity to order the product before it actually exists. The person or company with the idea can pay for the manufacture of the product with the funds being raised while also making a profit, thus raising capital for continued production. There are currently more than 500 crowdfunding websites in existence. I learned that in order to have a successful campaign you need a large number of people,

a story they can identify or connect with, feel purchasing something of value, a good project video, and finally strategic planning.

The two websites I chose that may be of interest to me are: The Association of Addiction Professional (NAADAC) I was not impressed with this website. Finding educational resources are not easily accessible in fact I cannot find any free literature. Magazine articles are in the form of a quiz that must be purchased. Members only have access to it. Books shown are text books that must be purchased.
The second website I investigated was the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors. This is a simple website with information pertaining to license renewal, member information, forms, basic requirements, contact information and board meeting information. My opinion of this website is that it was very limited as to information provided and learned where to go if I needed any of the information mentioned above.