Mental health counselors face an explosion of innovative counseling models in response to the constantly changing nature of counseling problems. Unless counselors stay abreast of the theories, techniques, and attitudes that comprise these counseling models, they risk implementing inappropriate or ineffective therapy to their clients. Information on current trends of counseling theories, techniques, and attitudes, should help provide better direction for counseling provided to clients. This content analysis determined the current trends of counseling theories, techniques, and attitudes addressed by study authors of the American Counseling Association (ACA) journals for three years (1990-1992) of publication. The findings revealed multicultural and eclectic theories were the most prevalently addressed theories; cognitive restructuring and teaching coping skills were the techniques most frequently discussed; and support was the most widely addressed counseling attitude, of the journals reviewed. This study also determined that ACA journals are of high quality and serve to provide current information on the latest counseling implications for counselors to stay abreast of current trends.

This investigation examined the effects of using rap music in group counseling as a counseling adjunct. A multi-group experimental design was used to determine whether statistically significant differences would be evidenced. In addition, a methodology that employed rap music in the counseling process was developed. The subjects included thirty undergraduates from Clark Atlanta University. Although visible means differences were observed, computed t-ratio's indicated that there was no statistically significant differences between groups pre- and posttest scores as measured by Mooney Problem Checklist (1950).

The purpose of this study was fourfold. The first task was to examine selected characteristics of mainstream study journals in counseling. The second task was to examine selected article characteristics for these journals. A third task was to examine selected characteristics of articles addressing African American issues. The final task was to examine selected characteristics of authors addressing African American issues in study journals during the research period. Survey research and content analysis techniques were utilized to examine a total of 1715 articles for the study period. Of these, only 47 (or 2.7%) articles addressing African American issues were published. Measure of Central Tendency, Measures of Variability and Frequency Analysis were employed to analyze the data. Major findings indicate that: (1) policy statements of study journals emphasized research, practice and procedures; (2) authors addressing African American issues were males and affiliated with a majority/white institution; (3) four (4) out of the 47 authors were affiliated with UNCF and HBCU member institutions, and (4) principally addressed in studies were African American adults and issues of Black pathology and education/ miseducation. Implications for African American research, Black scholars and Black counselors are included. Limitations and directions for future research conclude this study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and academic performance among African-American male and female college students enrolled at a predominantly Black institution. Survey method was utilized to collect the data. Data were analyzed using the Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, Multiple Correlation and Student's t=Test. Results suggested that (1) there is no significant relationship between self-efficacy and GPA, (2) for males majoring in science, there was a significant relationship between the two variables, and (3) no difference was found between males' and females' self-efficacy scores. It was concluded that there are variables other than self-efficacy that influence academic performance. Further research is needed before any definitive statements can be made.

Chemical substance misusage among professional athletes resulting in critical incidents in the National Basketball Association continues to gain an increased interest for the counseling profession. Special emphasis is placed on the utilization of effective treatment and after-care programs that are accessible to the professional athlete in crises due to critical incidents of chemical substance misusage by the athlete. A select group of professional athletes were administered the Survey of Chemical Usage for Professional Athletes. The instrument was designed to assess the history of critical incidents of substance usage by professional athletes in the National Basketball Association by charting specific data related to the behaviors and usage of chemical substances by the athletes. Twenty-six professional basketball players responded to the Survey of Chemical Usage for Professional Athletes. Although there is documented evidence of polydrug misusage in the National Basketball Association, only one professional athlete admitted to ingesting a substance other than alcohol. The survey results provided evidence of five cases of critical incidents among the twenty-six survey respondents. The five cases of critical incidents were in the form of warnings by league officials for alcohol and drug use by the professional athletes. From data obtained from the surveys, a decrease or cessation of drug and alcohol use was evidenced as a result of these warnings.

To determine if personality differences existed between African-American graduate counselors who selected a counseling orientation and those who did not, fifty-three African-American graduate students enrolled in a counseling program were administered the Theoretical Orientation Survey (TOS) and the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory (NEO-PI). Frequency analysis, t-test and chi-square were used to interpret survey data. The study found that significant differences existed between personality traits and various counseling models with males and females differing significantly in their selection of a counseling model. The study data suggest that (1) counseling approaches and personality traits seem more related to information processing styles and (2) counseling programs that train African-American counselors may need to be more consistent in integrating counseling philosophy, goals and techniques.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

No description available.