Humanism, Equity, Authenticity, and Liberation
- Amanda Evans, President

The world needs humanistic counselors now more than ever! Our communities are in need as we are trying to manage a pandemic with emerging variants, barriers with accessing to behavioral treatment, and persistent health disparities. Although the author is unknown, the phrase we are the one's we have been waiting for seems appropriate and timely. 

Despite the hardships experienced these past two years, I am continually reminded of the strength and commitment of our AHC membership. Throughout the pandemic, AHC leadership has pivoted to provide support and solidarity to our members and one another. This included the creation of an AHC Graduate Student Committee, hosting the first-ever virtual AHC Conference, and the implementation of a new platform to communicate with members more efficiently
The Role of Kindness and Power in the Classroom

A colleague once told me a story that epitomizes the effects of misuse of power in the classroom. My colleague was asked to proctor an exam for a professor. That professor had a reputation for being rude, condescending, and controlling; some referred to her as a “bully” and, on multiple occasions, she left students in tears. When my colleague entered the room and tried to gain the students’ attention to begin proctoring the exam, the students would not pay attention to my colleague. They kept talking amongst themselves, refused to put away their books, and basically ignored my colleague. Finally, drawing upon her assertive personality, my colleague was able to garner their attention and administer the exam, but not without much difficulty. When recounting this experience, my colleague talked about how it was terribly evident that their professor had shown them no respect and so, in return, they offered no respect. Surely, that explanation was too narrow. So, I began to ponder the reasons why I had not experienced something similar. 
Meaning, Identity and Social Connection: An Adlerian Approach to Protecting Mental Health in Youth During Covid
 
I watched my teenage son in the rear-view mirror of our family van as he struggled to drag heavy bins he had packaged at home to donate at the foodbank. I remained seated and let him figure it out, hoping the bins would not topple and spill. Eventually, he managed to reach the door, where he rang the bell and spoke confidently into the intercom to let the foodbank volunteers know he was there. He has been following this routine for several weeks now, with help from his sisters, who are also doing their own community outreach projects. The service projects have supplied both confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Both are a much-needed balance to the turbulence of the past year. 
Trauma-Informed Adlerian Play Therapy
 
by Mason Greenwood & Kristen E. Eldredge

Counselors who work from a trauma-informed philosophy strive to incorporate principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, empowerment, collaboration, and awareness of cultural, historical, and gender influences into their work (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association [SAMHSA], 2014). These core principles align with humanistic counseling philosophies that seek to honor the client's individuality, experience, choices, and the power of the relationship between client and counselor (Scholl et al., 2014). For counselors who work with children who have experienced trauma, adopting a play therapy modality can integrate the elements of humanism and trauma-informed care in a manner that corresponds with the child's language, play. 
Emerging Leader: Ajitha

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination. Today we have abundant opportunities to utilize our strengths and passions, do things we enjoy, and connect with people we love. Tomorrow might bring a world of exciting new possibilities, but today, wherever we stand on our journey, can be an adventure in itself.” ― Carl R Rogers
 
I am from India. My passion for the Humanistic counseling approach began as a new doctoral student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christy. Wherein I was introduced to Texas Association for Humanistic Education and Development (TAHEAD), a humanistic division established in Texas Counseling Association (TCA). My personal and professional values intertwined with the mission of TAHEAD. I was involved and was able to meet like-minded people and develop leadership skills. I am a counselor education practices a relational pedagogical approach; I view my students from a holistic lens and facilitate open communication. I wanted to be part of the Association of Humanistic Counseling (AHC) to be connected with passionate humanistic counselors and counselor educators from different parts of the states.  
Metaphors in Counselor Education and Supervision 

By: Lindsey M. Bass, LPC-C, NCC, CAATP

When reading a book, an individual may expect to use a certain level of imagination, interpretation, and analysis to take components of the text and apply the newfound knowledge to one's life. Comparably, the book, Metaphors in Counselor Education and Supervision teaches the reader the absolute value of metaphors and simultaneously anchors the concepts with visual, auditory, and even kinesthetic cues. Similar to metaphorical usage, this work actively stimulates the imagination and brings personal interpretive elements while refreshing memories from reading the text. Theorists such as Freud, Jung, Erikson, Virginia Satir, and others have used metaphors in creative ways as therapeutic tools. However, the specific use of metaphors in an educational setting is still novel – this book fills that gap with a section on practical application at the forefront of its writing. 
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