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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]

The article details how Ubuntu was incorporated into each step of the research project, shares the authors' experiences and key learnings, and provides recommendations for researchers utilizing Ubuntu as a research paradigm. Ubuntu is an ancient African philosophy emphasizing a way of life grounded in interdependence, collaboration, harmony, and community. In recent years, researchers have incorporated Ubuntu as a research paradigm to decolonize research in a sub-Saharan African context. The present article used international collaborative qualitative research conducted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate the application of Ubuntu as a research paradigm for conducting research in the African context. Some of the key takeaways include technological factors to consider, establishing connections during the planning stage, and ultimately nurturing productive collaboration within virtual groups. [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]

Conversation AI such as ChatGPT is a disruptive technology that has the potential to influence the field of counseling. The present article examines how AI based chatbot ChatGPT can be used by counselor educators in helping counselors-in-training practice counseling skills through role play. The author developed a model, ChatGPT Client Simulation (CCS), to support counselors-in-training learn and practice counseling skills. The CCS model can be used both in synchronous online as well as in-person counseling courses. [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]

The present study of 1,218 counselors used a correlational research design to explore the relationship between components of professional identity for counselors. The study explored relationships between factors of practice setting, years of experience, compassion, demographics, and overall professional identity. The study included provisionally and Billy licensed counselors. Counselors in full-time practice reported a significantly higher sense of professional identity as compared with counselors in part-time practice. Further, highly experienced counselors reported significantly higher strength of profession at identity as compared with novice counselors. However, no significant group differences were found based on counselor work setting, licensure type, and gender identity. Type of practice, years of experience, and compassion emerged as the best predictors of counselor professional identity. Implications for clinical supervision and burnout prevention to support strong professional identity for counselors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of COVID-19, health care providers experienced an immense expansion of telehealth usage across fields. Despite the growth of telemental health offerings, issues of licensing portability continue to create barriers to broader access to mental health care. To address portability issues, the Counseling Compact creates an opportunity for counselors to have privileges to practice in states that have passed compact legislation. Considerations of ethical and legal aspects of counseling in multiple states are critical as counselors begin to apply for privileges to practice through the Counseling Compact. This article explores ethical and legal regulations relevant to telemental health practice in multiple states under the proposed compact system. An illustrative case example and flowcharts offer guidance for counselors planning to apply for Counseling Compact privileges and provide telemental health across multiple states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telehealth services rapidly expanded with the COVID-19 national public health emergency. Following the end of the public health emergency telehealth practice may once again be limited by prior policy. The current content analysis assessed 299 legislative bills related to telehealth at the state-level in 2021 and 2022 to determine trends in telehealth laws in the United States. Analysis explored correlative relationships between metrics representing mental health needs on the state level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic brought disruption to teaching and other aspects of workload in higher education. The current study sampled 126 counselor educators about workload, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and job satisfaction. Results indicated that faculty workload and administrative responsibilities increased for counselor educators during the pandemic without adequate compensation or support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined how personal and career factors impact professional quality of life for mental health professionals who are immigrants in the United States (n = 108). Professional quality of life was measured with constructs of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Researchers explored which personal and career factors best predicted compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue related to work environments in mental health using correlational analysis. Demands of immigration and frequent experiences of discrimination significantly predicted high compassion fatigue and low compassion satisfaction. Findings and implications explore career wellness and longevity for mental health professionals who are immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health professionals who identify as immigrants encounter personal and professional barriers that can impact overall wellbeing. The current study conducted a survey of 108 licensed mental health professionals who identify as immigrants practicing in the United States. The survey included demographics as well as assessments of burnout, social support, and migratory grief and loss. The results of this study highlighted that a combination of higher migratory grief and lower perceived social support significantly predicted higher levels of burnout in mental health professionals. Implications for mental health programs, supervisors, and mentors and suggestions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]