International Counseling: A Global Initiative

This is the second time the Journal of Mental Health Counseling has published a special issue on international counseling. The first was in 2005, when Guest Editors Gerstein and Ægisdóttir published both a special issue and a separate special section. With the goal of introducing readers “to a host of unique and innovative counseling models used around the world” (Gerstein & Ægisdóttir, 2005, p. 98), the guest editors selected 11 articles that described the field and process of counseling in Brazil, China, Fiji, Ghana, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and Ukraine (Ægisdóttir & Gerstein, 2005). Together, these articles provided readers with a brief overview of the similarities and differences in counseling history, status, and practices throughout the world. The guest editors also expressed their hope that the special issue and section would encourage continued discussion and collaboration among counseling professionals, with the goal...