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This paper reports the findings on motivational factors influencing teaching as a career choice from a qualitative study carried out in Scotland. Ten students undertaking a PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) programme at one Scottish university were interviewed. The results indicate that the choice of a teaching career derived from the students' internal needs for personal achievement and from an altruistic dimension pertaining to helping and influencing young people. For some students, negative educational experiences played an important part in shaping their altruistic sense of offering the next generation an enjoyable school experience. Perceived intrinsic rewards of teaching appeared to deter and counteract negative thoughts or remarks about teachers' workload, salary and status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing cultural diversity remains a challenge in secondary schools in Spain. In this paper, we approach cultural diversity from the standpoint of school counsellors, who are key professionals attending to immigrant pupils. Through the use of qualitative research techniques (semi-structured interviews and discussion groups), the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are identified by counsellors. The findings show the need to implement pupil-focused responses sensitive to their cultural identity and based on the collaboration of all agents involved. Likewise, the school is defined as a privileged setting in which to celebrate cultural diversity and the pivotal role that counsellors play in this process is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that occupational prototypes have an impact on career decisions yet literature provides only a limited understanding of the nature of these prototypes. This paper presents a small-scale grounded theory study to explore the prototypes of four occupations. Data were collected from 24 psychology undergraduates through four focus groups. Participants were asked to evoke a typical member of each of four occupational groups and describe their prototype in detail. A classic grounded theory analysis identified the characteristics which were symbolised by the features of the prototypes and resulted in eight dimensions: warm, energetic, fun, intelligent, conventional, highbrow, successful and cool. The discussion explores the dimensions in the light of existing literature and suggestions are offered for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the characteristics of students who withdrew from a university counselling service in northern Italy. Differences found in the socio-demographic characteristics of counselling completers and dropouts and in the scores obtained in questionnaires administered at the outset were analysed. Furthermore, in order to identify reasons for dropping out, a qualitative approach was also used. The results suggest that premature termination is not a unitary phenomenon and that dropouts are a heterogeneous group. It is important not to always consider dropouts as a negative outcome of university counselling services. Additional research on dropouts is needed to help university counselling services to serve students more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports new evidence on students’ evaluation of a first-year induction experience programme and examines the relationship between gender and perceptions. The programme was provided to 610 business studies students at the University of Granada (Spain). The programme includes individual and group sessions providing psychosocial and instrumental support. Gender differences were investigated using nonparametric techniques. Structural equation models were used to test relationships between variables of overall satisfaction with the programme and its activities and the moderating effects of gender. The results obtained show that gender significantly influences enrolment and satisfaction with the programme and with the individual sessions. Satisfaction with group and individual activities is directly related to overall satisfaction with the programme. Gender has a moderating effect on the relation of overall satisfaction with individual sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many adolescents have hopes of college graduation, independent living, and satisfying careers. Career preparation is an important component that can facilitate these desires. However, many adolescents do not achieve these hopes in their desired timeframes due to interruptions, such as unplanned pregnancies. As illustrated by the Theory of Adolescent Sexual Decision-Making Influencing Teen Pregnancy (Weiss, 2012. Who will listen? Rural teen pregnancy reflections. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 8, 804-809. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2012.02.028), desiring future success can promote low-risk decision-making. Based on this theory, a Getting Plans Started (GPS) Timeline Tool (GPS Timeline©) was developed to help adolescents plan for future success by using a time perspective and, thereby, avoid interruptions. The purpose of this paper is to describe the GPS Tool©, how it might be used, and a study to determine the feasibility of using the GPS Tool©. Thirty adolescents found the tool easy to use and effective in helping them plan for the future. Their responses indicated almost unanimous desires for college graduation and independence with strong confidence in achieving their plans, but their responses also indicated a need for more effective planning to achieve their desired goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the major therapeutic paradigms, observational instruments have been developed to assess orientation-specific interventions or processes. However, to date, no such instrument exists to assess existential practices. Recent research indicates the key practices of existential therapists, and forms an empirical basis on which to develop an observatory grid. This paper describes the development of such a grid, and its exploratory testing with eight clients of four Portuguese existential psychotherapists. A total of 32 sessions were observed and both speaking turn and whole-session analysis showed that it was feasible to assess existential therapy using the instrument, although psychometric findings recommend further refinement of the tool. Session-rating data suggest that the chief practices applied by existential therapists were relational, followed by the use of hermeneutic interventions and reformulations. Interventions based on phenomenological and existential assumptions were observable in practice but limited in frequency. Further refinements and developments of the observational grid, together with additional research - using a range of therapists from different schools of existential therapy - are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure close adherence to the contents of a family-based cognitive-behavioural programme, and maintain a high standard of quality in its implementation, it is important that practitioners’ attitudes and beliefs regarding family skills coincide with those of the programme. This paper describes and analyses (observed) potential changes in these beliefs, after training courses held prior to the application of a prevention programme for families: the Family Competence Programme. A questionnaire was devised to examine practitioners’ beliefs regarding family skills; and completed both before and after the training course. The results point to significant changes in family dynamics, realistic expectations and active listening. Thus, it can be demonstrated that preliminary training courses promote practitioner attitudes and beliefs which are more coherent with a subsequent programme’s approach. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A number of current developments in the field potentially provide opportunities for preventative relationship and family interventions to be integrated into primary care. In this context, it is important to understand what family counselling is and how it might differ from family therapy. Thus, this paper investigates how the service of one low-intensity family counselling provider, Relate, is conceptualised and practised by counsellors on the ground. Questions about practice were posed to five focus groups of family counsellors and these were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that Relate family counselling is seen as ‘family therapy lite’, with a flexible, eclectic and integrative use of concepts and techniques within a systemic framework. Implications of this conceptualisation of family counselling for training, practice and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper presents an introduction of a newly developed, avatar-based virtual reality therapy, as an addition to the therapeutic programme, within a therapeutic community prison in the UK. The participants had six group sessions facilitated by a counsellor. The aim of the project was to investigate whether this approach would improve mental health outcomes for the prisoners, interpersonal relationships within the prison and facilitate the achievement of personal goals for the prisoners. The sample size (n = 4) was insufficient to make firm conclusions about the mental health outcomes. However, the qualitative analysis showed a strong engagement with the programme in addressing personal issues, the development of insight and empathy, and improvements in relationships within the participants and with the counsellor. Further research with a larger sample is needed to establish efficacy of this type of therapy with the prison population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Offering counselling to students is increasingly considered as a key academic service. However, the reduction of resources allocated to Italian universities emphasises the need to assess the quality of interventions. This paper presents data reporting the effectiveness of a university counselling service. A sample of 45 undergraduate students completed a cognitive-relational intervention at a counselling service in a University in the North of Italy. The project focused on the development of reappraisal skills and problem-solving strategies to manage difficult situations. The results showed a significant pre and post-intervention reduction in self-reported psychopathological symptoms (measured with Symptoms Check List 90-Revised) as well as in general levels of distress (measured with Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure). A significant increase in reappraisal levels, measured with the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, was observed, which is a focal element of the counselling intervention. There were no detectable changes in the level of suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the implications for training and practice of counsellors’ responses to the notion of challenging clients’ prejudices. It explores tensions in counselling discourse between social responsibility, responsibility to the client and responsibility for one's self as counsellor. Three focus groups of counsellors were asked whether a counsellor should challenge clients’ prejudices. Responses were categorised as challenge, not-challenge or exit responses. Discursive themes identified in the responses are: managing congruence and being non-judgemental; self-care and self-respect; and social responsibility. Strategies for managing the discursive conflicts identified in responding to counsellor-identified client prejudices are summarised. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The COVID-19 has had an impact on almost every aspect of life throughout the world. The quarantine, limited social life, and fear of contamination have triggered psychological symptoms in societies. The need for mental health services has increased, and online psychological counselling, which provides psychological help with no risk of infection, has become more popular. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 on psychological counselling services and compare the general situation of publications on online psychological counselling before and during the pandemic. For this purpose, 463 publications related to online psychological counselling in the Web of Science (WoS) database were examined. The results were discussed in the context of trends and differences before and during COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationships among life satisfaction, meaning in life and basic psychological need satisfaction. Participants were 384 college students. Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale and demographic information form were utilised for data collection. Data were analysed using mixture structural equation modelling approach. Results of the study indicated that fulfilling competence and autonomy need is indirectly related to life satisfaction through meaning in life. Additionally, need for relatedness and autonomy satisfaction and meaning in life is directly associated with life satisfaction. Findings suggest two latent profiles: (a) a high satisfied and meaningful group and (b) a low satisfied and low meaningful group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This online randomised controlled study evaluates benefits associated with structured topic-focussed narrative writing tasks versus unstructured narrative writing tasks, monitoring to what extent tasks impact well-being, psychopathology and satisfaction. Participants were randomised to structured topic-focussed or unstructured narrative writing conditions. Structured condition consisted of Conflict Analysis (CA), a self-guided narrative-based therapeutic assessment. Unstructured conditions consisted of narrative disclosure tasks about traumatic experiences. Both conditions consisted of ten 20-minute tasks completed within one week. One hundred and three participants completed baseline measures. Eighty-two participants completed two-week follow-up measures. Repeated measure ANOVA and t-tests were used to evaluate differences over time. Follow-up data suggest that CA participants had significantly improved outcomes when compared to narrative disclosure participants. Evidence supports continued structured narrative writing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worry is a phenomenon that is present in multiple psychopathologies. Given the widely accepted transdiagnostic role that worry plays in psychopathology, reliable measures for this construct are pivotal for clinical practice. The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) is one of the most widely used and established measures of worry in both clinical and non-clinical populations and it is accepted as a highly reliable measure. The present study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the PSWQ for the Portuguese population. The total sample consisted of 428 participants, 256 from the community, and 172 from the clinical population. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a model of one factor with a method factor containing the negatively worded items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There remain barriers to securing robust and complete datasets from counselling embedded in Higher Education (HE). This study aimed to provide the first step towards developing a national dataset of student counselling outcomes drawn from differing outcome measures, platforms and reporting on all clients. Data from four counselling services using two clinical outcome measures and two platforms were pooled and analysed. Students presented to counselling with low levels of wellbeing and functioning, and high levels of depression, anxiety, academic distress and trauma. Counselling was particularly effective for improving depression, anxiety, wellbeing, hostility, social anxiety and academic distress. Results demonstrate value in pooling complete data from HE counselling services and we argue for developing a national dataset of university counselling data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between proactive personality and job search outcomes through network size, job search clarity, and networking behavior by surveying a sample of 773 university graduates. The results revealed that proactive personality has direct and indirect effects on job seeker's job search networking behaviour and number of job interviews and job offers. Additionally, the results also indicated that people displaying high proactivity traits tend to expand their social network size and having a clear job search goal, which results in increasing their networking behaviour and job search outcomes. Our findings are discussed in terms of the understanding mechanism linking a distal variable, proactive personality, to job search results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increased belief in the benefits of information and communication technologies (ICT) in healthcare, but the perceived benefits of ICT in family caregiver support need to be explored. This qualitative interview study aimed to describe how family caregivers and healthcare staff in COPD care experience ICT. The results showed that both family caregivers and staff had limited interest in ICT and stated that it might be better for a new generation but not for themselves. Both groups preferred face-to-face meetings instead of contact via ICT. Meeting the needs of an ageing population will require that health services adopt new technologies. Still, the importance of eye contact must not be underestimated, particularly when encountering fragile patients and their spouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School counsellors in Hong Kong constitute an underutilised resource in supporting the wellbeing of young people. We investigated how counsellors working in local and international schools perceived their roles and professional status. Counsellors were both surveyed and interviewed. Findings indicate that local school counsellors have a low professional status and an unclear identity compared to their international counterparts. As a group, they are marginalised and disempowered within their own school settings, reducing their effectiveness, and limiting the benefits they can provide to students. Policy innovation at school level is needed to better utilise school counsellors. Professional organisations have an important role to play in educating the community about school counselling and advocating for policy change at school and government levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employer attractiveness models need to include student-centric attributes related to the education-to-work transition. A four-factor Aspire model consisting of benefits, nature of work, employer value, and employer visibility was tested using structural equation modelling, with data collected from 2048 full-time college students from India over a period of five years. Behavioural insights were extracted using multivariate analysis of variance of Aspire factors across gender, programmes, course and graduating year. Prominent student-centric and employer-centric attributes that students find more attractive were identified. Institutional and recruiter strategies to enhance employer attractiveness among job aspirants are proposed. The limitations and scope for further work are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of attachment styles and academic procrastination on subjective well-being in university students. In line with the causal research design, the sample consisted of 733 university students, 513 female and 220 male. The Subjective Well-Being Scale, the Academic Procrastination Scale, the Relationship Scales Questionnaire and a Personal Information Form were used for data collection. Data were subjected to path analysis. The findings from the study show that a preoccupied attachment style has a direct, positive effect on academic procrastination, while academic procrastination has a direct, negative effect on subjective well-being. We concluded that a preoccupied attachment style has an indirect effect on subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the utility and validity of the Social Emotional Health Survey-Higher Education (SEHS-HE) among Turkish students (N = 345) in higher education. Confirmatory factor analysis found acceptable data-model fit statistics for a priori SEHS-HE latent measurement models and its second-order covitality latent construct. The covitality latent construct was associated with higher levels of mental wellbeing, higher academic achievement, and lower levels of psychological symptoms. Findings provided preliminary evidence supporting the use of the SEHS-HE to measure Turkish university students' social-emotional strengths. Research is needed to further evaluate how the SEHS-HE can be used to inform prevention and intervention services on university campuses that aim to improve students' social, emotional, and mental health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is vital to foster children's ability to cooperate with others, communicate effectively, and exercise self-control. These competencies represent a set of transferrable skills required in many aspects of daily life and along any career path. In Hong Kong, a play-based training programme was launched to support parents to target these areas of social competence. The programme taught 414 parents to use group games that foster social skills development in children aged 4–5 years. Parents completed culturally-appropriate questionnaires before the programme started, one week after the programme ended, and three months after the programme ended. Paired sample t-test analyses revealed significant improvements in children's social skills. Implications for using play-based social learning experiences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-compassion has been identified as a protective factor against body image concerns, but the relationship has not been explored in women in the menopausal transition, when body image perceptions may be particularly vulnerable. Women in the UK (N = 248) self-reported on levels of body appreciation, body preoccupation, self-compassion and mental distress. Correlation and mediation analyses were used. Results indicated that self-compassion was positively associated with body appreciation and negatively associated with body preoccupation. Mental distress mediated the relationships between self-compassion and body appreciation, and self-compassion and body preoccupation. Findings suggest that self-compassion is important to body image in women in the menopausal transition, and having good mental health can enhance these pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of parent-child relationships during adolescence has the potential to impact adolescents' mental health. This study explored how seven dyads (parent-child) might experience a two-component intervention (Method of Levels therapy-MOL and a parent-child activity) over four months. Following this, six dyads were interviewed and a thematic analysis was conducted. The most helpful aspect of the intervention for participants was the opportunity to talk. The intervention facilitated helpful conversations that increased participants' awareness and broadened their perspective on the topics discussed. This process helped participants find solutions to their problems. Young people and parents reported that the Shared Goals activity helped them improve their communication and relationships. Young people stated that MOL allowed them to figure things out for themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As mental health awareness increases, more students enrol to therapeutic subjects, aspiring to help others' mental wellbeing. While mental health of other caring students has been explored, therapeutic students' mental health has not been investigated thoroughly. This study aimed to explore relationships between mental health, mental health attitudes, self-criticism/self-reassurance, self-compassion, and caregiver identity of counselling and occupational therapy students. One hundred forty-five students, recruited through opportunity sampling, completed measures about those constructs. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that their mental health was associated with attitudes, self-criticism/self-reassurance and self-compassion. Self-criticism and internal shame were independent predictors of mental health. Findings will inform the mental health status of therapeutic students and help identify better solutions for their challenging mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological difficulties among young people are common. Various initiatives are being proposed in schools, yet no evidence-based data is available on how to address family difficulties (the most prevalent issues in school-based counselling). The current study examined the use of a two-component intervention based on the principles of Perceptual Control Theory (PCT). One is Method of Levels therapy (MOL) and the other is a parent–child activity (Shared Goals). Young people were invited to choose how often to engage in both MOL and the Shared Goals activity as well as the topics discussed during sessions for four months. Seven dyads were recruited and six were retained. At the end of the intervention, five young people were considered recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Cyberbullying Inventory (CBI) for University Students. There were 635 Turkish university students (57.48% females) in the pilot data set. The results showed that the pilot data set confirmed the proposed factor structure for CBI for University Students with some modifications. The final form of CBI for University Students was cross-validated with a second data set, composed of 1281 Turkish university students (52.54% females). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed adequate fit to the data, the internal consistency coefficients showed good internal consistencies, and evidence for convergent validity was obtained. Therefore, CBI for University Students with 11 items is a valid and reliable assessment instrument that can be used by researchers, counsellors and other mental health practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how client expectations about psychological therapy compare with subjective experiences of undertaking therapy. We interviewed 10 clients who had recently completed therapy about their expectations and experiences, and thematically analysed data in the template style. Three themes are presented ([1]"I didn't know what I was capable of"; [2] "It's 50% me, 50% her"; [3] "You take your stabilisers off and off you go") which describe the experience of psychological therapy from the client perspective, and highlight how expectations compared to experiences of therapy, and changed over time. Findings could inform the development of materials to ensure those referred to therapy are well informed and prepared for therapy, potentially promoting improved client experiences and therapy engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The job demands-resource model of work engagement describes how engagement is influenced by various work demands, and the work-related and personal resources of employees. We studied the role of organisational climate, organisational justice and psychological capital of employees in explaining work engagement. At the outset, 212 full-time adults employed at an organisation in Mumbai, India, for at least a year completed a questionnaire which included relevant scales. Organisations from which the sample was drawn represented three types of work sectors. Multiple regression was used with a reduced sample of 195 employees after removing 17 outliers. Results indicated that all three predictor variables explained work engagement significantly with psychological capital as the strongest predictor of work engagement, followed by organisational justice and organisational climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The associations between sons' challenging behaviour and mothers' anxiety and depression were investigated in four age-subgroups of boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their mothers (n = 49). Significant correlations were found only for the 6-yr-old boys' irritability and their mothers' anxiety (r =.808) and depression (r =.762), and for the 7-yr-old boys' stereotypy and their mothers' depression (r =.745). MANOVA and ANOVA found no significant differences between the irritability of the 6-yr-old boys and that of the remaining boys, nor between the 7-yr-olds' stereotypy and the remaining boys, plus no significant difference in the mothers' anxiety and depression scores across age groups. Implications are drawn for counselling and psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop the Chinese version of Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) and examine its psychometric properties, we investigated a sample of 689 non-clinical and 309 clinical participants and found this measurement had good acceptability, internal reliability, test-retest reliability and convergent validity; it had moderate correlations with the Schwartz Outcome Scale and Symptom Check List-90, which showed an acceptable concurrent validity. Specifically, we explored the cut-off line of clinical criterion and found a g factor plus three-factor solution better than original four-domain model in Chinese context. The CORE-OM is a valid tool with referenced cut-offs to measure clinical outcomes, which can bridge the gap in routine clinical evaluation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worry is an important mediator in the relation between stressors and health. This pilot study examined whether a smartphone-based in time worry-reduction training was feasible and improved physiological health (i.e. increased heart rate variability [HRV]). A total of 26 high-worriers were randomised to an experimental or active-control condition (EC and CC respectively). Participants in both conditions registered emotions 5 times daily for a month. The EC additionally received worry-reduction training with mindfulness exercises. Primary outcomes were feasibility and HRV measured at baseline, after 2 weeks (halfway), and at 4 weeks (post-intervention). Both training conditions were feasible and well received. HRV increased in the EC and CC, but this increase did not differ between conditions. Preliminary findings suggest that both training conditions are feasible and might improve HRV, which is an important predictor of cardiovascular disease. This pilot study only provided preliminary evidence, but it laid the groundwork for future randomised controlled trials that ought to include more participants and a waitlist control group in order to get more definitive evidence of the effectiveness of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turnover is a significant problem in the school system, but little is known about turnover and turnover intention among school counsellors. Previous studies point to several aspects of school counsellors' roles which may relate to turnover intention, and given the important role school counsellors play for students, parents, and other teachers, it is important to understand what factors contribute to turnover intention in this population. In this study we examined workplace stress, employee self-esteem, organisational identification, and organisational commitment as possible predictors of turnover intention among 98 school counsellors in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Tenure as a school counsellor, work-stress effort, and in-group ties predicted turnover intention. Implications and future research priorities are discussed with a focus on school counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we report the outcomes of a study on career choices of rural veterinary students during the educational process. In accordance with social representations theory, we studied how the representational project that students build during their curriculum is influenced by the socio-spatial elements of their biography (including childhood and work locations). To do this we designed a quantitative survey (N = 1508) using an approach incorporating multiple methodologies. Our results highlight a network organisation of rural veterinarian job representation with a socio-spatial dimension of rural areas. We recommend that career guidance counsellors take into account the socio-spatial dimension of the life course in order to help students with their professional choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a qualitative study of the experiences of 1.5 generation Korean New Zealanders as parents, a notable finding was the significant part the participants' identity-related experiences as migrants played in shaping their parenting practices. Interviews were conducted with 18 Korean "Kiwis" (New Zealanders), colloquially referred to as "Kowis," who had arrived in New Zealand before 2002 as children or adolescents with their parents and were now married with children. Reflecting on the challenges of their migration and identity journeys enabled them to recognise their vulnerabilities and their advantages, and the multiple ways in which identity-related cultural conflicts and confusion influenced their parenting of their children. The implications are identified for further research and for counselling practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of a university counselling service in Northern Italy, to assess the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of students who used counselling service, and to assess the psychological conditions of the students who ended the counselling after a 4 month follow-up period. The study involved 100 students, who filled out the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Brief COPE Inventory, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The results showed that who received counselling were positively affected by this experience. The areas of benefit were psychological well-being, coping behaviours, ability to positively reframe problems and less sense of guilt. Additional studies are needed to identify which factors influence the outcomes of university counselling services in Italy. These studies would be important to evaluate the services rendered, upgrade the skills of counsellors and visualise priority areas of need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study recruited 4799 university students to complete a Spanish language version of Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure and an ad hoc questionnaire to determine the presence and severity of psychological problems and identify potential explanatory factors. The percentage of participants who exceeded the cut-off point for consideration as a clinical population ranged from 4.3% on the Risk scale to 63.3% on the Well-being scale. Differences by gender and academic subject area were observed for all the scales, but associated effect sizes were very low. The five variables that showed the most predictive power were having a poor relationship with living companions, psychological problems that required medical attention, poor self-perception of academic performance, taking tranquilisers without a prescription and believing that recreational use of new technologies had negatively affected academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed and validated a new Interpersonal Communication Competence Inventory (ICCI) for college students. Study 1 describes the development of the ICCI and results of an exploratory factor analysis of data from 1336 Chinese students, which identified a four-factor model with reasonable internal consistency. Study 2 describes results of a confirmatory factor analysis of data from 593 Chinese students, which cross-validated the four-factor model as well as supporting the validity of the overall scale. Taken together, these results suggest that the ICCI is a psychometrically valid measure of interpersonal communication competence of college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine the personal and social worries of samples of tertiary-level students in the U.S.A. and Northern Ireland (UK) using the Things I Worry About Scale (TIWAS). An online questionnaire, which included the TIWAS, was completed by two samples (U.S.A. = 71 and Northern Ireland = 187). Results indicate that students, in both locations, report worrying frequently about a similar broad range of issues, particularly the challenges of academic study and achievement, financial matters and future career possibilities. The needs of individual students who express frequent worrying about experiences ‘sometimes’ worried about by the majority are noted. The overall findings support perceptions that a majority of students are rather anxious, are under considerable pressure and worry very frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore how therapists believe they may relationally disconnect from other people and their clients, with an overall objective of developing methods for enhancing relational depth in counselling and psychotherapy. Participants were 168 trainee and practicing therapists, who listed their chronic strategies of disconnections (CSoDs) in everyday relationships, and then rated the presence of these CSoDs in their therapeutic work. Thirty-nine categories of self-reported everyday CSoDs emerged, organised into seven domains. Most prevalent were behavioural, passive and intrapsychic strategies. Over half of the CSoDs were rated as being present in therapy to a minimal extent, most commonly passive CSoDs, disingenuous CSoDs and humour. Male therapists, and trainee therapists, were most likely to identify their CSoDs as present in therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to investigate the nature of metatherapeutic communication (MTC), defined as dialogue between therapists and clients on the nature of the therapeutic work and the means by which it can be of greatest help to clients. Twelve counselling psychologists, working pluralistically with 35 clients experiencing depression, described on post-session forms moments of negotiation and collaboration around the therapeutic work. Two main dimensions of MTC were identified: the subject matter of the MTC and the temporal focus of the MTC. In addition, MTC varied by the time at which it took place. These findings provide a framework for understanding the nature of MTC in counselling and psychotherapy, and the opportunities for implementing it in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine autoethnographic data from three critical incidents as experienced by the first author demonstrating the importance of context in understanding medically unexplained symptoms, their incidence and underlying patterns. We make the case for ethnographies as a crucial research strand in discerning the finer aspects of the patient or client experience; aspects that might be missed where people are directed along protocolised pathways of care. The article describes care as fragmented and depersonalising, leading to disembodied exchanges, as reflected in other autoethnographic studies, particularly those that highlight the complex relationship and controversies surrounding diagnostic uncertainty. We observe that psychological therapists, given the quality of the therapeutic relationship and sustained attention to the person’s experience, are well placed to assist in the necessary processes of re-contextualisation and re-embodiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psychotherapy experiences of a sample of Iraqi refugee men, in later stages of exile, were explored with the aim of shedding some light on how this client group can experience therapy. Ten adult male Iraqi refugees – who had lived in Sweden for at least five years and had been psychotherapy clients at some point during that time – were recruited for this study. Using individual semi-structured interviews (in Arabic), three main areas were explored with each participant: (1) reasons for seeking psychotherapy; (2) perceptions of the psychotherapy professional; and (3) experiences of the psychotherapy process and outcome. The interviews were then translated into English, transcribed, and then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Most participants/clients described exile-related stressors as their main reason for seeking psychotherapy, but some described distress due to a combination of pre-migration trauma and post-migration stress. They also found some aspects of therapy to be positive (mainly verbalising ones thoughts and feelings, and feeling less marginalised) and some negative (mainly experiencing racist or culturally insensitive treatment by therapists, and experiencing a lack of competence and transparency in therapists). The findings were explored in terms of clinical implications and a pluralistic model was proposed to address the identified needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to determine the correlation between emotional intelligence (EI) and counselling skills of Turkish prospective psychological counsellors and to investigate differences in both EI and counselling skills in terms of sex, previous experience of group studies, and class levels. Within a correlational pattern, the sample of the study comprised a total of 349 prospective psychological counsellors; 266 females (76.2%) and 83 (23.8%) males. The data were collected via a Personal Information Form, Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory ‌ and Microcounseling Skill Discrimination Scale‌. The results indicated a significant negative correlation between EI and emotional reflection and general counselling skills; no significant correlation between EI and content reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen increasing awareness of the wide range of mental health problems faced by students. Gatekeeper training has been shown to have a positive impact on knowledge and attitudes about suicide prevention, although the evidence for skills acquisition is limited. We utilised the STORM® training package in an exploratory study to determine explore whether skills training could be successfully implemented in an educational establishment in the United Kingdom. In a pilot study assessing competence before and after the intervention there was evidence of acquisition of skills, improved attitudes and increased confidence. Further research should include a randomised controlled trial of such training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical evidence attests the impact that career image has on objective career success, yet little is known of how career practitioners conceptualise and operationalise this information. This article presents the quantitative findings of an online survey of career practitioners (n = 399, 74% female, 89% white and 75% from the U.K.) exploring their attitudes and practices towards issues of appearance and attractiveness. Career practitioners who participated in this survey acknowledged that beauty, self-presentation and interpersonal skills influence career success, and 96% of them considered conversations about career image as part of their professional remit. The career practitioners felt relatively comfortable and well informed in their discussions in this arena, but would welcome further guidance and training to inform their practice. Ethical and practical implications for the profession are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

School-based studies identify that while 1 in 10 young people engages in self-harm, only a small minority seek professional help. School counsellors and teachers are potentially the only professionals who may be aware of a young person’s self-harm; however, little is known about how this impacts on them and how they might be best supported to respond to distressed students. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design to explore post-primary school teachers’ and guidance counsellors’ (n = 6) experiences of and responses to self-harm in Ireland. Findings indicated that participants react to self-harm in a highly emotional way with less experienced staff expressing more anxiety. Guidance counsellors and teachers identified the need for additional time, training, and professional support to help them respond to what is a commonly occurring phenomenon. Implications for the provision of support to students who self-harm are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study evaluated the impact of counsellor training on emotional intelligence (EI) in 45 undergraduates and 58 postgraduates. Significant improvements were recorded by students on completion of both programmes, suggesting that these were attributable to training which enhanced intra- and interpersonal aspects of emotional functioning. As a group, postgraduates were older than undergraduates, and at the outset of the study, EISAQ scores were comparable; however, at follow-up, undergraduates recorded significantly higher EISAQ scores. Students’ EI was not significantly related to their age, and these findings indicate the potential for effective EI-skills training which is unrelated to quantity of life experiences. It is hoped that this study contributes to a growing quantitative evidence base from which the counselling profession can evaluate its training profile. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]