How does a person make sense of their life when things begin to go bad? Editors George Howard and Edward Delgado-Romero posed this question to several psychologists, counselors, and therapists, to have them talk about a time in their lives when things began to go bad. When Things Begin to Go Bad presents thirteen personal narratives focused on hope-rather than despair and darkness-and deals with issues including health problems, racism, homophobia, disability, dysfunction, and death. The hope generated by these stories provides a realistic and mature trust that there is something to be learned when dealing with difficult issues. These inspiring stories provide fresh insight into how people can make sense of difficulties through the writing of personal narratives. The stories included in this volume have an application for psychological treatment and research, and represent a chance for people to relate their stories to those of others.

Counseling psychologists often focus on clients' inner conflicts and avoid getting involved in the clients' environment. This handbook encourages counseling psychologists to become active participants in changing systems that constrain clients' ability to function. . . . Besides actual programs, the contributors cover research, training, and ethical issues. The case examples showing how professionals have implemented social action programs are particularly valuable. . . . [T]his book provides an outline for action, not only for psychologists, but also for social workers, politicians, and others interested in improving the lot of disadvantaged populations. Summing up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, professionals. -- W. P. Anderson, emeritus, University of Missouri-Columbia, CHOICE The Handbook for Social Justice in Counseling Psychology: Leadership, Vision, and Action provides counseling psychology students, educators, researchers, and practitioners with a conceptual road map of social justice and social action that they can integrate into their professional identity, role, and function. It presents historical, theoretical, and ethical foundations followed by exemplary models of social justice and action work performed by counseling psychologists from interdisciplinary collaborations. The examples in this Handbook explore a wide range of settings with diverse issues and reflect a variety of actions. The book concludes with a chapter reflecting on future directions for the field of counseling psychology beyond individual and traditional practice to macro-level conceptual models. It also explores policy development and implementation, systemic strategies of structural and human change, cultural empowerment and respect, advocacy, technological innovation, and third and fourth generations of human rights activities. Key Features: Integrates research and ethical implications as well as guidelines for developing and evaluating specific types of social justice activities Addresses a comprehensive arena of issues examined from historical, theoretical, systemic, and practical perspectives Clarifies social justice in counseling psychology to distinguish it from other helping professions Provides readers with specific examples and guidelines for integrating social justice into their work supported by a solid theoretical framework and acknowledgement of interdisciplinary influences Includes contributions from prominent authors in counseling psychology to provide expert examples from the field The Handbook for Social Justice in Counseling Psychology is an excellent resource for counseling psychology students, educators, researchers, and practitioners. It will be a welcome addition to any academic library or research institution.