Counseling the Contemporary Woman: Strategies and Interventions Across the Lifespan

(Paperback)

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This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the challenges women may face as they navigate the multiple roles that they carry. Attention is given to the unique cultural identities that women embody and suggestions are provided to help counselors acknowledge the various aspects of each clients intersectional identity. In addition to theory, we provide suggestions for practical application of relevant interventions and strategies for helping women achieve their goals. A foundation is provided that explore the multiple layers of development that occur during adolescence, adulthood, midlife, and older adulthood.

Women face numerous challenges related to identity development and relationships. These challenges can generate psychological and emotional distress that lead women to seek professional assistance in finding solutions to their issues. With more choices than in generations past, women can face unexpected and unanticipated challenges and barriers to their individual and relational development. This book is organized around contemporary developmental and relational rites of passage women experience in adulthood.

Traditional rites of passage include birth, menarche, marriage, and death. These events still hold significance but womens lives today follow expanded and complex trajectories. Numerous transitions, such as attending college, navigating employment opportunities and the relational challenges that women face in various areas of life, are presented and addressed in this book from a clinicians perspective providing practitioners with insight and practical knowledge.

In this book, we cover choices related to such topics as career, relationships, parenthood, and support networks. We also explore the struggles that women face including abuse, depression, anxiety, feelings of low self-worth, loss, and addictions.

Best practices in counseling women are highlighted and utilized in case study examples. The relationships created by women impact their lives and this book helps the reader to gain insight into how women can take ownership for their relationships and choices.

Reviews

Counseling the Contemporary Women lives up to its title effectively through its emphasis on a wide range of present-day lifespan issues and lenses that highlight intersectionality, social justice, cultural considerations, and advocacy. Case studies bring intersectionality to life, and the chapters offer comprehensive, highly readable, thought-provoking, and practical insights for working with complex issues. The book focuses on the strengths as well as the vulnerabilities of those who seek counseling and cover a variety of topics that are rarely addressed in depth in counseling texts, such as womens grief and loss issues over the lifespan. -- Carolyn Zerbe Enns, Cornell College
Counseling the Contemporary Woman is an exciting book that will be an excellent addition for courses on gender issues, diversity and inclusion, and womens issues in counseling. -- Catherine B. Roland, past-president, American Counseling Association, Ed.D., LPC, NCC
It's difficult to find a book that doesn't pathologize womens experiences and instead focuses on how counselors can effectively support women who are navigating normal developmental transitions, but this book does just that. The practical, applied focus is refreshing and brings to life the ways counselors can support and empower women as they navigate the many hurdles life presents. It is obvious the authors have a deep respect and appreciation for women's lived experiences, and their compassionate, culturally and contextually-sensitive focus makes this text a valuable resources for all counselors who counsel women. -- Victoria Kress, Youngstown State University

Author Bio

Suzanne Degges-White, PhD, is professor and chair of the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University. She is a licensed counselor with expertise in working with adults over the lifespan, especially women experiencing life transitions. She has written multiple peer-reviewed articles and books on relationships including friendships and family connections and is an invited blogger for Psychology Today and a nationally consulted expert.

Marcela Kepic, PhD, is associate professor of practice of the Department of Disability and Psychological Studies at the University of Arizona. She is also a licensed professional counselor with expertise in counseling couples and adults over the lifespan. As an approved clinical supervisor, she mentors and supervises students, counselors, and future professionals. Dr. Kepic contributes to peer-reviewed publications and books, and presents at international, national, regional, and state conferences.

Wendy Killam, PhD, is a professor and coordinator of the counseling programs and student affairs in higher education program in the Department of Human Services at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She is also a licensed counselor with experience in counseling assisting adults across the lifespan. She is as well as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and she enjoys working with college students. Dr. Killam has written peer -reviewed publications and books in the field of counseling and student affairs.