The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022–2025) provides stakeholders across the nation with a roadmap to accelerate efforts to end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030. In this episode, Dr. Michael Jones and Dr. Richelle Joe discuss why counselors need a better understanding of the HIV epidemic and the mental health implications for the individuals in this population.

For more on Richelle, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Dr. Kristi Cannon talks about the challenges and strengths of development through the middle childhood and adolescent years. She and Margaret talk about changes in parenting practices, social media, and the impact of COVID on this cohort of children adolescents. They also discuss how community and school counselors can support this group.

For more on Kristi, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Tyler talks with Dr. Sejal Parikh Foxx, a professor and department chair at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, to discuss urban education and counselor beliefs and attitudes about their role in social justice and advocacy. Dr. Foxx discusses how she has used her lived experiences, mentoring, and the ACA and ASCA Code of Ethics to advocate for equitable and accessible education and care for students. This episode is for anyone interested in how they can contribute to a just world for their clients and students.

For more on Sejal, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Dr. Melanie Varney is a counselor educator who started her own private practice by learning about herself and doing her own work. She shares why she is in private practice today and encourages others to find what makes them most happy.

For more on Melanie, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Karen Roller continues her discussion about lifespan through the lens of culture in context. Dr. Roller specifically examines the development that happens in early childhood. She talks about how counselors can use culture as a lens through which to view development, the current challenges she sees for this age group, and how counselors can avoid compassion fatigue when working with children and trauma.

For more on Karen, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Dr. Raissa Miller interviews Richard Hill and Matthew Dahlitz about their recent book, A Practitioner's Guide to the Science of Psychotherapy. Richard and Matthew unpack the meaning of the word 'science' and discuss its real-world application in the counseling room. They share multiple analogies and personal antidotes that emphasize the importance of attunement, curiosity, responsiveness, and intuition as the foundation of science-driven therapeutic encounter.

For more on Richard and Matthew, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Have you ever wondered why youth view sexually explicit material? Curious about how to respond, provide sex education, and address topics related to distress, out of control sexual behaviors, and sexually explicit material within therapeutic counseling settings? Join Braxton Dutson (LCSW) and Dr. Stacey Diane Arañez Litam to learn more about why youth view pornography and how counselors – and parents- can respond with empathy, curiosity, and compassion.

For more on Braxton, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Infant mental health involves promoting emotional and social wellbeing in young children from the prenatal period to 5 years of age through culturally responsive and relationship-based care. In this episode Dr. Humes will discuss why this important specialty area of counseling does not receive the amount of attention it deserves.

For more on Camille, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

Today on The Thoughtful Counselor, Dr. Megan Speciale talks with Drs. Theodore Burnes and Michelle Vaughan about their new book, The Handbook of CNM-Affirming Mental Health Practice. The conversation explores the counseling considerations for working with diverse clients involved in consensually non-monogamous relationships, as well as some of the common misconceptions and biases impacting this community.

For more on Theodore & Michelle, links from the conversation, and APA citation for this episode visit concept.paloaltou.edu

The Thoughtful Counselor is created in partnership with Palo Alto University’s Division of Continuing & Professional Studies. Learn more at concept.paloaltou.edu

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Tyler talks with Sara Ellison, an associate licensed counselor, nationally certified counselor, and doctoral student on perfectionism and overcontrol. They discuss how perfectionism impacts individuals' wellness, along with the parallel process of being a counselor or counselor-in-training who struggles with perfectionistic and overcontrolled tendencies. This episode is for anyone who identifies with the fear of failure, impression management, masking emotions, and overcontrol. Recommendations for infusing openness and flexibility into practice through RO-DBT and other techniques is also discussed.