Counseling@Northwestern

Inspiring Addiction Recovery Through Community Change

The day he was arrested felt like the end of the world. But looking back years later, Eric Beeson, Counseling@Northwestern faculty member and researcher, considers it to be one of the best days of his life. It was the moment that everything changed.

In the Aftermath of Conversion Therapy, Counselors Offer Healing Support

Although conversion therapy has been denounced by leading mental health organizations, the harmful practice is still legal in the majority of the United States. Counselors can help LGBTQ clients heal from the harm caused by conversion therapy. Rebuilding trust between clients and the counseling profession is often an important first step. 

Companies Discover Benefits of Caring for Employees’ Mental Health

In 2015, the American Psychological Association chose American Express as the inaugural winner of the Organizational Excellence Award, recognizing successful efforts to integrate psychology and prioritize behavioral health and emotional well-being in the workplace. American Express had an employee assistance program (EAP) for workers dealing with depression and other mental health challenges. The EAP was a telephone-consultation system and only about 4 percent of employees utilized it. After the firm added on-site counselors to meet with employees for free—and rebranded the EAP as part of its “Healthy Living” —the usage rate more than doubled. At EY, the multinational professional services firm formerly […]

Boom in Aging Adults Could Overwhelm Mental Health Care Field

As Americans live longer and the overall population ages, the mental health care field will need to be better equipped to treat a population that is more likely to experience mental illness in their lifetimes and more likely to be newly diagnosed as an older adult.

 

The Importance of Self-Care for Caregivers

Caregiving can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. It is important for those looking after a loved one to recognize their own needs and seek assistance from counselors and support groups when necessary.