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Role‐play is often used as a pedagogical technique by counsellor educators to help counsellors‐in‐training (CITs) learn and practise counselling skills. This study used qualitative content analysis to assess the effectiveness of Chat Generative Pre‐Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, in simulating client role‐play to facilitate practising counselling skills. The author used 10 case vignettes to conduct a simulated role‐play where ChatGPT was asked to simulate the client and author as counsellor. The results indicated that ChatGPT demonstrated authenticity, consistency, appropriate emotional expression, cultural sensitivity, empathy and self‐awareness while portraying the client. However, at times, ChatGPT's responses to the counsellor's questions appeared overly idealised, lacking the authenticity typically observed in real clients. Furthermore, ChatGPT, as a simulated client, lacked non‐verbal cues, limiting the overall experience of counselling skill practice. Recommendations for CITs and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Method Findings Conclusion Psychoeducation is an important part of mental health services offered by counsellors. This study used qualitative content analysis to explore ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, as a resource for psychoeducation in the context of mental health.Researchers created carefully crafted prompts based on common psychoeducational themes provided to clients, covering seven critical areas: depression, anxiety, general health, substance abuse, religious/spiritual issues, lifestyle, routine health habits and interpersonal matters. A coding manual was developed encompassing six criteria to assess the quality of psychoeducational responses of ChatGPT: accuracy, clarity, relevance, empathy, engagement and ethical considerations.The reviewers assessed ChatGPT's responses to 21 psychoeducational prompts as accurate, clear and relevant, with an empathic tone in responses to emotionally challenging queries. ChatGPT engages users by offering actionable steps and suggestions. The tool consistently demonstrated ethical considerations by advising users to consult qualified professionals when necessary. The findings suggested ChatGPT's potential as a reliable source of psychoeducation, particularly for individuals with very limited access to mental health resources.This research underscores ChatGPT's potential as a valuable psychoeducational resource for mental health concerns while emphasising the need for ongoing assessment and user feedback to address its limitations and ensure responsible practice in the dynamic field of AI‐powered mental health support. Future studies should explore user experiences and incorporate diverse perspectives to further enhance our understanding of ChatGPT's utility in real‐world mental health contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a correlational research design to explore the relationship between secondary traumatic stress, counsellor professional identity and career factors, including work setting and amount of counselling experience, among counsellor practitioners. A sample of 1,218 counsellors completed an online survey including the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), Professional Identity Scale in Counseling and career factors. Career factors included context of work environments including years of experience, licence status, type of practice and work setting. Multiple regression analysis with forward selection demonstrated that, out of all the variables, professional identity emerged as the best predictor of secondary traumatic stress. One‐way ANOVA showed significant group differences in the level of counsellors' secondary traumatic stress based on work setting, level of experience, type of practice and gender. Discussion explores how career and personal factors impact counsellor experiences of professional identity and secondary trauma in mental health settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study used a constructivist grounded theory (CGT) approach to explore, examine and develop a grounded theory (GT) of spiritual awakening conceptualisation and process. The authors used the interview data of 34 eminent spiritual teachers who have written books on spirituality, led spiritual retreats and conducted lectures and trainings on spiritual quest. These participants come from diverse backgrounds (e.g., American, Asian, European and Mexican), trainings (e.g., Buddhism, Yoga, Hinduism, Taoism, Christianity and other mindfulness traditions) and professional experiences. The data analysis of the interviews led to the development of the spiritual awakening evolution (SAE) model, explaining the process and evolution of spiritual awakening. According to this model, spiritual awakening evolves through four phases: an initial transient shift in perception, further practice to support spiritual development, surrendering and a continuous journey of spiritual development. As spiritual awakening experiences are transcultural, the SAE model can inform counsellors' understanding of clients' spiritual needs and the meanings of those experiences. Implications for counsellor practitioners, counsellor preparation programmes and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) integration in counsellor education and supervision, presenting a roadmap for future research inquiries. The article underscores the need for future research to critically examine the ethical and beneficial integration of AI in counsellor education, focusing on training programmes and guidelines. Additionally, it calls for the development of comprehensive frameworks for AI chatbot integration, supervision models for counsellors‐in‐training and further exploration of AI's potential in the counselling profession. In conclusion, while advanced conversational AI shows promise in counselling, more research is needed to ensure responsible and effective integration. This article provides valuable insights and directions for future investigations, aiming to shape the ethical use of AI technologies in the counselling field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empathy and compassion are critical elements in counselling presence and practice. The present interpretive phenomenological study explored counsellor lived experiences of empathy and compassion. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, findings highlighted how counsellors experience compassion and empathy, how boundaries shape wellness and practice with clients, and the impact of empathy and compassion over a career. The findings suggest that self‐other differentiation is key while using empathy to develop a strong therapeutic alliance and counsellor self‐care. Implications inform how counsellors can maintain wellness and learn to foster empathy and compassion in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]