Counseling the Contemporary Woman

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.

• Table of ContentsContributorsAcknowledgementPart I: Foundational Perspectives and Theory1 Re-envisioning the Feminine Ideal: Women are the Sum of Many Diverse Parts Adrienne N. Erby2 Integrating Feminist Theory into Counseling PracticeSuzanne Degges-White3 Integrating Relational Cultural Therapy into Counseling PracticeKatherine Hermann-TurnerPart II: Development from Adolescence through Older Adulthood4 Counseling Adolescent GirlsMarcela Kepic5 Counseling Emerging Adult WomenMarcela Kepic 6 Counseling Midlife WomenSuzanne Degges-White7 Counseling Older WomenMarcela KepicPart III: Career Counseling8 Career Counseling over the CareerspanWendy KillamPart IV: Counseling Concerns of Relational Focus9 Counseling Women facing Family-of-Origin IssuesLucy Parker and Dana Isawi10 Counseling Contemporary CouplesRebecca Meeks, Jessica Shull, Ana Ulloa Estrada, and Bonnie Cardillo11 Counseling Women facing Contemporary Family ChallengesElizabeth O’Brien12 Counseling Women Survivors of Physical and Emotional AbuseAnne Shragal13 Counseling Strategies to Help Women Build Healthy Support NetworksSuzanne Degges-WhitePart V: Individual Concerns14 Counseling Women with Body Image ConcernsRachel Brandoff and Marcela Kepic15 Counseling Women with Low Self-EsteemLucy Parker16 Counseling Women with DepressionMarcela Kepic and Wendy Killam17 Counseling Women with AnxietyLucy Parker and Nina Mendez18 Counseling Women with AddictionsSuzanne Degges-WhitePart VI: Caring for Self and Caring for Others19 Counseling with Chronic Illness and DisabilityYuleinys A. Castillo20 Counseling Women who CaregiveMarcela Kepic and Kim TassinariPart VII: Coping with Grief and Loss over the Lifespan21 Counseling Women who have Lost their MothersSuzy Wise and Elisa Woodruff22 Counseling Women who have Lost a PartnerMarcela Kepic23 Counseling Women suffering from Fetal or Perinatal LossDonna Gibson24 Counseling Women who have Lost a ChildSuzanne Degges-White

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 women’s grief and loss issues over the lifespan.