The 2008 Leona Tyler Award Address

Abstract

The empirical literature and the author's professional experience over four decades have convinced him that concerning practice patterns and work settings there is little to distinguish counseling psychology from other psychological practice specialties. What is distinctive are certain core values that undergird and distinguish this specialty. First, a definition of "values" is presented, followed by a brief review of a limited number of studies that address the topic of values and counseling psychology. Next, the author describes a qualitative study of the perceptions and beliefs of 18 experienced counseling psychology educators and trainers about core values that distinguish the specialty and set it apart from other psychology specialty practice areas. The final section presents nine proposed core values, most of which are distinctive to counseling psychology, derived logically from the themes of the literature and the interviews with the counseling psychology educators as filtered through the author's biases and assumptions.

Transformational Leadership and Asian Indian Values: Duty, Selfless Service, and Nonviolence

“…Although selfless action without concern for rewards might be counter to pursuing self-interest, wealth, and power, this aspect of karma–yoga is relevant to the profession of psychology. Karma–yoga is consistent with the description of counseling psychologists as “attuned to the affective side of human behavior and [who] strive to ensure the comfort of colleagues, friends, and client” (Packard, 2009, p. 611) and who “advocate an altruistic rather than entrepreneurial approach to their work” (Howard, 1992, as cited in Packard, 2009, p. 614). Altruism refers to engaging in selfless acts for the benefit of others, but deeper study shows that altruists also benefit themselves in their reputation and relationships (Fehr & Fischbacher, 2003).…”

“…As counseling psychologists will continue to occupy leadership in business, consultation, and administration, it is important that they stay true to the ethical principles and values that define the field. In his Leona Tyler Award address to the Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP), Packard (2009) quoted a colleague as saying, "Counseling psychologists are the heart and conscience of the profession" (p. 611).…”

Expressive Writing Intervention With Cuban-American and Puerto Rican Parents of LGBTQ Individuals

“…Counseling psychology training programs value cultural and individual diversity, social justice, and the strengths of marginalized and oppressed communities (Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs, 2009; Packard, 2009). Training counseling psychologists to help clients draw on their cultural strengths, even as they navigate tensions between intrapersonal, familial, and cultural community values and norms, is important and complex work.…”

How Are Personal Values Linked to Help-Seeking Stigma?

“…Specifically, self-transcendence values may be linked to less help-seeking stigma, and thus should theoretically result in higher levels of help-seeking behavior. Not surprisingly, self-transcendence values, such as social justice and diversity, are core values of counseling psychology (Howard, 1992; Packard, 2009; Scheel et al, 2018). One consequence of counseling psychology’s promotion of self-transcendence values may be that the field helps students to be less stigmatizing toward help-seekers and their own help-seeking.…”