Digital Commons Network^™

A Different Kind Of Black, But The Same Issues: Black Males And Counterstories At A Predominantly White Institution, Don C. Sawyer Iii, Phd, Robert T. Palmer

Robert T. Palmer, PhD

Much has been written about Black men over the years and in different institutional contexts (e.g., community colleges, predominantly White institutions [PWIs], and historically Black colleges and universities). However, very little of this research has emphasized how the intersecting identities of Black men shape their experiences in higher education. To this end, this article draws from intersectionality and counternarratives, both of which has roots in critical race theory (CRT), to discuss how race, class, and gender informs the experiences of two Black males enrolled in a PWI. This article concludes with critical implications to help institutional leaders at PWIs be …

A Personal Journey Of Self-Reflection, Brooke Heil

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

In this analysis, I investigate the different layers that make up who I am, exploring my personal experiences, relationships, academic pursuits, career path, mental and physical health, cultural background, coping mechanisms, strengths, and aspirations. Coming from a family deeply impacted by alcoholism, mental health struggles, and loss, I navigate through life's challenges, drawing insights from various psychological theories to understand my own journey. Through self-reflection and insights from those around me, I explore themes of resilience, independence, and how my past shapes my present. This analysis was constructed with personal stories, reflections, and observations, providing a holistic view of …

Perceived Anxiety Disorder Stigma: A Predictive Analysis, Shawn Nabors, Richard J. Cicchetti, Gary Michael Szirony, Craig R. Blum, Sri Banerjee

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Anxiety remains one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders. Systemic barriers to mental health treatment persist. Research on anxiety is robust, although research on perceived anxiety disorder stigma is limited. The purpose of this quantitative analysis was to determine whether factors including age, gender, level of education, and presence of a diagnosable anxiety disorder condition would predict perceived anxiety stigma in a population of adults from the Midwestern region of the United States who were in treatment for anxiety. Based on Goffman’s framework, we used the Generalized Anxiety Stigma Scale (GASS) to determine the presence and level of …

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Intersecting Inequities For Older Lgbtq+ Adults Of Color In The Advent Of Medicare Access: A Structural Vulnerability Framework, Christian D. Chan

Adultspan Journal

Although advances in Medicare legislation provide access for beneficiaries to professional counselors, older LGBTQ+ adults of Color face a litany of concerns that heighten stigma and inhibit their access to mental health services. The structural vulnerability framework identifies multiple domains that support the interface between Medicare coverage and access to care for older LGBTQ+ adults of Color. In this conceptual article, I outline (a) interdisciplinary scholarship that contextualizes the key issues facing older LGBTQ+ adults of Color; (b) the core tenets of the structural vulnerability framework; (c) implications for practice addressing structural vulnerability for older LGBTQ+ adults of Color with …

Mental Health Distress And Suicide Risk Among Older Adults Who Receive Nutrition Services Programming: Implications For Licensed Professional Counselors., Brittany R. Jones-Cobb, Jihee Hong, Mary Chase Breedlove Mize, Laura Shannonhouse

Adultspan Journal

Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are now eligible to provide mental health counseling to older adults as Medicare providers. Many older adults receive home delivered (HDM) and congregate (CM) meal services through the Aging Services Network, though their mental health impact remains under examined. This study compared the mental health and suicide risk of older adults receiving HDM or CM services. Our cross-sectional study of 221 HDM and 150 CM recipients from 2018-2020 found significant group differences in psychological distress, t(366) = 3.28, p = .001, perceived burdensomeness; t(357.31) = 2.77, p = .006, and thwarted belongingness, t(357.96) …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Introduction To The Special Issue On Medicare Inclusion Of Counselors: Preparing The Counseling Workforce To Serve Older Adults, Matthew C. Fullen, Jordan Westcott

Adultspan Journal

Introduction to the special issue on Medicare Inclusion of Counselors: Preparing the Counseling Workforce to Serve Older Adults.

Special Issue Editors:

Matthew Fullen, Virginia Tech

Jordan Westcott, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Using The Gerontological Imagination To Explore Suicide Among Older Adults: An Interdisciplinary Perspective For Professional Counselors, Mary Chase Mize, Afroze Shaikh

Adultspan Journal

Gerontology, the study of aging and older adulthood, is a vast field consisting of many intersecting disciplines, such as medicine, nutrition, public policy, psychology, social work, and professional counseling. As the older adult population rapidly increases, so too will the prevalence of mental health concerns among this population, including risk for suicide. Older adults presently comprise 16.5% of the U.S. population, yet account for 19.3% of all deaths by suicide (Drapeau & McIntosh, 2020). Professional counselors are newly eligible Medicare providers and can close gaps in healthcare access for older adults who rely on Medicare to receive mental health services, …

Pastoral Care For Intimate Partner Violence: An Examination Of Attitudes And Behaviors, Francine P. Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) is willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and other abusive behaviors. They are utilized as a part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. Domestic violence can affect anyone, regardless of social status, how they identify themselves, or how others identify them. Religious affiliation is no exception to these abusive exploits; however, your spiritual practices may aid in the recovery and escaping IPV. This dissertation addressed the ministerial process of counseling congregants victimized by intimate partner violence. At the same time, examining the attitudes …

The Effects Of Race-Related Stress, Racial Socialization And Burnout In African American Teachers Who Attended Hbcus Vs. Pwis, Catava M. Burton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Prior research has indicated racial socialization (RS) safeguards against race-related stress (RRS). Despite previous investigations, there has been a dearth of scholarship exclusively examining how RRS, RS, and burnout effect African American teachers with divergent collegiate experiences. To illuminate this research gap, this quantitative study used an online survey to examine the predictive role of RRS and RS on burnout in African American teachers (N = 20) who attended HBCUs or PWIs. This study also measured the potential moderating role of collegiate experience on RRS and RS. The respondents were administered the Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale (TSDS), Cultural and …

Transition Readiness Toolkit: Filling A Gap In Assessing Pre-Employment Transition Services, Brian Nelson Phillips

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Pastoral Counseling In African American Churches, Allen Tyrone Smith Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African Americans, as a people group, are generally reluctant to pursue clinical support related to emotional or mental health issues. Black people underutilize professional services that address emotional and mental health-related problems (Hankerson & Weissman, 2012). According to Neighbors et al. (1998), regardless of problem type or severity, individuals less likely to secure assistance from professionals are those who contact pastors first. Avent et al. (2015) noted that African American Christians who seek religious support tied to a variety of circumstances choose to access their pastor in order to be supported in opposition to a professional counselor. A perception exists …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences And Psychological Well-Being Among African-American Christian Evangelicals: The Role And Impact Of Prayer, Mikenley Lundy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This descriptive phenomenological study explored the lived experiences and psychological well-being of African-American Christian evangelicals, with a particular focus on how prayer influenced their psychological well-being. Building on the African-American community's longstanding tradition of religious participation and interaction, the study predominantly took place within urban African-American Christian evangelical communities in northwest Roanoke, Virginia. Cognitive theory, religious coping theory, and social support theory provided the theoretical framework for understanding the role and impact of prayer among African-American Christian evangelicals. Data collection involved surveys and interviews with 10 participants. Inductive coding techniques were used to identify themes, patterns, and categories within the …

Biblical Counseling Curriculum: Building A Counseling Curriculum To Train Ministry Students To Counsel Advanced Topics, Nicholas A. Piervicenti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project was dedicated to the creation of a higher education curriculum that would support the needs of ministry students who study at West Coast Baptist College. Counseling is at the heart of what Christ committed himself to during His earthly ministry. (Mark 2:16–17, King James Version). The skills to counsel advanced topics in the local church arena should be an essential element of instruction that takes place in colleges that train ministry leaders. In order to effectively transfer these truths to students, a qualitative research project was implemented which utilized thirty-six interviews of alumni in order to assess areas …

Leading The Families Of First Baptist Church Of Long Beach, Ca, To Support The Foster Care And Adoption Community, David B. Delaney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The PLACED project is a faith-driven initiative to equip First Baptist Church to support the foster care community through practical care, education, and community engagement.

Exploring School Counselors’ Perceptions Of How Poverty Impacts Elementary School Students’ Capacity For Academic And Emotional Success: A Phenomenological Study, Latesha Dixon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate school counselors’ viewpoints regarding poverty’s influence on elementary school students’ executive functioning, self-regulation abilities, and academic performance. The impact of poverty on children’s academic achievement is widely acknowledged, and school counselors’ assistance to students from low-income families is considered paramount. The study provided a unique viewpoint regarding alleviating poverty by highlighting the crucial significance of education and skills. The guiding theory in the research study was the social cognitive theory that offers a conceptual structure for comprehending how school counselors’ observations and experiences within the educational setting influence their perspectives regarding …

Gsep Research Symposium Proceedings - 2024

GSEP Research Symposium

The 8th Annual GSEP Research Symposium, was themed "Dismantling Barriers between Research and Practice: Shining a Light on Global Interdisciplinary Solutions," took place on July 18-19, 2024, at the picturesque Château d'Hauteville in Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Switzerland.

The annual symposium is hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). The symposium served as a dynamic platform for students, faculty, alums, and staff to come together and explore innovative ideas across multiple disciplines. Featuring 69 selected presentations under five distinct tracks, the proceedings showcase groundbreaking research, foster meaningful discussions, and promote professional development.

The symposium aimed to bridge …

No Crises In The Curriculum: A Hybrid Course Design In Counselor Education, Jill Minor, Neil Duchac

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Abstract

School counselors are in a unique position to provide crisis prevention and intervention support within their school community. Yet, many school counselors feel ill-prepared to perform such a role when they leave their graduate training program. As such, this article discusses the development of a practical hybrid instructional design for teaching school counselors in a graduate program pertaining to crisis work. An overview of what influenced the design of the course, teaching methods, and general information about the course structure is provided. Recommendations for enhancing assignments with individual, peer, and instructor feedback along with online course management resources will …

Assessing Impacts Of A Hybrid Orientation On Counseling Students’ Self-Efficacy, Candice R. Clark, Arien K. Muzacz, April Lague

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

This manuscript presents results from a quantitative exploratory study of how a faculty-led hybrid orientation impacted the self-efficacy and readiness to engage in hybrid learning of incoming master’s students in a nationally-accredited counseling program in the U.S. Median difference analyses did not indicate that participants’ post-orientation scores differed significantly on the measures used to assess self-efficacy (i.e., CSES, PEU, LMSE). While participants’ self-efficacy ratings did not change significantly as a result of orientation activities, scores for 89% of participants increased or stayed the same. Implications for future research and for the preparation of graduate students in pre-professional programs with a …

Counseling In Virtual Spaces And Into The Metaverse: A Framework For Reflection, Conversation, And Future Scholarship, Staci Hayes, Yahyahan Aras, Kathy Caputo, James Hoag, Lindsay Ibos, Sania Khan, Kelly Smith

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Given the success of Virtual Reality (VR) in the gaming community and strides in mental health, both VR and the Metaverse provide limitless opportunities and possibilities in the field of counseling. This article aims to provide important definitions, an overview of the use of VR in clinical counseling, clinical supervision, counselor education and its potential emergence into the Metaverse. Implications are presented in hopes of prompting conversation on how we may accept technological and cultural shifts and remain true to our counseling roots. Specifically, how to maximize the potential benefits with counseling specific rationale and address the limitations and potential …

Building A Virtual Residency: One Program’S Journey, Susan F. Branco, Nathaniel Mason, Rebecca G. Scherer, Heidi L. Henry, Regina Moro

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

The majority of CACREP accredited online counselor education programs are limited residency distance learning programs. Including a residency experience in online programs can help foster community, increase student engagement, and teach important skills needed to be an effective counselor, including counseling and advocacy skills. In this article, the authors describe one program’s approach to developing a two-day virtual residency program in combination with a concurrent course utilizing the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competency framework. Roleplays, guest presenters, and counseling skills instruction and practice were utilized in the residency program. Student feedback, implications, limitations, and future directions are also discussed.

An Exploration Of Adult Children’S Attachment To Their Parents Across Two Cultural Groups: Indians In India And Indians Who Immigrated To The United States, Vilasini Meenakshi Arun

Doctoral Dissertations

Typically, attachment theory has been studied and explored with western populations. Individuals seeking mental health treatment within the United States include western and nonwestern cultural groups and research, theories and interventions that apply to diverse populations are necessary. Attachment relationships are often a part of, or reasons for clients to seek therapy either overtly or covertly, thus allowing research on attachment to better inform treatment plans and practice. An attachment relationship between a parent and child can be influenced by several factors and may change over the course of development, but little is known about this process among Indians …

Revictimization Of Sexual Assault Survivors: Correlations Between Shame, Dissociation, Rape Myth Culture, And Revictimization, Jessica Lynn Wiggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sexual assault (SA) remains a pervasive issue with profound psychological and social implications. This study investigated the relationships between shame, rape myth culture (RMC), dissociation, and revictimization among college students utilizing southern university health center counseling services. Using a quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional research design, the study addressed a gap in the existing literature by examining how these factors act together and affect SA survivors' mental health. The research questions focused on the decrease in shame following SA, the impact of revictimization on shame levels, and whether acceptance of rape myths and dissociation mediate this relationship. The study also explored whether …

School Counselor’S Perceptions Of The Influence Of Sudden Traumatic Loss On Secondary Urban Adolescents, Tiffany L. Hillian-Sullivan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When an adolescent has a traumatic experience, the impact of the incident may be manifested within the confines of the educational setting. Educators are then required to support the student as they attempt to handle the trauma. When a student experiences a sudden and traumatic loss (death) of a parent, family member, or close friend, they are not prepared to handle the trials that come with grief. Often, teachers are not equipped with best practices of trauma-informed teaching methodology in order to best meet the needs of traumatized adolescents. When students are unable to handle their challenges, they are typically …

She Is Not Damaged Goods: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Marital Experience For African American Female Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Fabyonne Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a traumatic violation which leaves invisible scars on the soul of a child. Despite the prevalence of CSA, African American (AA) females make up an underrepresented population as far as CSA research is concerned. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how married AA female survivors of CSA experience the marital relationship, and the processes they go through to build resiliency for relational intimacy. Attachment theory guided the study as it describes the internal working models developed in childhood and potentially driving adult relational interactions. The data were collected by the researcher …

Parent Attitudes Towards Predictive Testing For Autism In The First Year Of Life, Aurora M. Washington, Amanda H. Mercer, Catherine A. Burrows, Stephen R. Dager, Jed T. Elison, Annette M. Estes, Rebecca Grzadzinski, Chimei Lee, Joseph Piven, John R. Pruett, Multiple Additional Authors

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract Background Emerging biomarker technologies (e.g., MRI, EEG, digital phenotyping, eye-tracking) have potential to move the identification of autism into the first year of life. We investigated the perspectives of parents about the anticipated utility and impact of predicting later autism diagnosis from a biomarker-based test in infancy. Methods Parents of infants were interviewed to ascertain receptiveness and perspectives on early (6-12 months) prediction of autism using emerging biomarker technologies. One group had experience parenting an older autistic child (n=30), and the other had no prior autism parenting experience (n=25). Parent responses were analyzed using inductive qualitative coding methods. Results …

Msw Portfolio, Briar Gaither

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

A look at my personal journey through the MSW program, what I experienced and learned, and what I gained. Features my many papers and projects from the program

Professional Portfolio: A Social Work Journey Through The 10 Competencies, Tessa Rae Nelson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The Professional Portfolio demonstrates Tessa Nelson's work through the 10 competencies of social work. This portfolio emphasizes what the student has learned and how it has impacted their social work practice.

Archetypal Energies And Global Mental Health, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

As a keynote speaker at the Global Mental Health Conference 2024, held at Sophia University, Costa Mesa, CA, in-person and virtually, August 16-18, 2024, my topic was "Archetypal Energies As A Framework for Self-Empowerment and Well Being". The theme of this 2024 global conference was: Enlightened Minds, Compassionate Hearts, and Embodied Wisdom. To supplement my keynote address, I wrote this blog article titled "Archetypal Energies and Global Mental Health".