Counseling Commons^™

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 …

Factors Influencing The College Choice Decisions Of Community College Student-Athletes, Nicole Meulemans, Jon Lim, Bryan Romsa, Katelyn Romsa

Katelyn Romsa

A decision to attend college is based on many academic and athletic factors. Identifying factors most influential in college selection is beneficial to college administrators, recruiters, and coaches, and will ultimately influence recruitment, retention, and short and long-term strategic plans of an institution. This study examined factors influencing the college choice decisions of community college student-athletes in the Midwestern United States. Participants for this study were composed of 107 student-athletes (59 males and 48 females) from 19 community colleges in the Midwest regions of the National Junior College Athletic Conference (NJCAC). This study discovered that the three most significant factors …

Development And Initial Psychometric Properties Of The Integrated Care Competency Scale For Counselors, Bridget Asempapa, Reuben S. Asempapa

Bridget Asempapa

This study provides the development phases and initial psychometric evaluation of the Integrated Care Competency Scale (ICCS) with sample (n = 243). Specifically, quantitative methods with graduate counseling students were used in this study. The ICCS through a three-phase study process was honed to 65 items and broadly assesses graduate counseling students’ perceived competencies in integrated care. Phase 1 reports on item generation and issues related to content validity, Phase 2 describes the results of a pilot study and preliminary psychometric properties, and Phase 3 discusses the exploratory factor analysis, and further psychometric properties conducted to assess the usefulness and …

An Exploratory Investigation About Graduate Counseling Students’ Perceived Competencies In Integrated Care, Bridget Asempapa Ph.D.

Bridget Asempapa

Integrated care is a holistic treatment modality that increases collaborative efforts between primary care and mental health providers. Support for integrated care is evident, but the development of counselors for this level of care is limited. This study examined graduate counseling students’ (N = 243) perceived competencies about integrated care. Additionally, the study shares findings regarding students’ experiences, useful skills, and concerns about their work in integrated care settings. The results from this study suggest that students have encouraging perceived competencies. However, there were indications that specific contextual challenges remain, but exposure to integrated care training will be valuable. Implications …

School Counselors Using Motivational Interviewing.Pdf, Robert Pincus

Robert Pincus

The Lines Between The Checkboxes : The Experiences Of Racially Ambiguous People Of Color, Tyce Nadrich

Tyce Nadrich

The influences of race on people’s lived experiences are vast and enumerable. Despite advancements in multicultural counseling literature, the experiences of racially ambiguous people of color, or persons who do not align with preexisting ideas about race (Brown & Brown, 2004; James &Tucker, 2003; Young, Sanchez, & Wilton, 2013), are relatively unknown. Further, the racially ambiguous experience is often conflated with persons of mixed-race heritage (Young, Sanchez, & Wilton, 2013). The goal of this dissertation study was to understand the lived experiences of racially ambiguous people of color. Participants identifying as racially ambiguous were recruited to discuss their lived experiences. …

First-Year Counselors-In-Training And Perceptions Of The Group Environment, Linwood G. Vereen, Lynn Bohecker, Anna Elliott, Kirsten Lamantia, Hailey Martinez, Nathanial Burrow

Lynn Bohecker

Yoga And The Ability To Counteract Negative Effects Of Stress And Trauma, Allison R. Steinwand, Staci L. Born

Staci Born

Many individuals today struggle with the effects of chronic stress, whether due to social and environmental factors or as a result of trauma embedded in their psychophysiology. Research has demonstrated that once an individual endures a traumatic event, there are undesirable changes that occur in the brain and body It is of the utmost importance that mental health counselors consider the relationship between the body and mind. The purpose of this paper is to describe the negative impact traumatic experiences and chronic stress has on the brain and body. Furthermore, the ways in which yoga practice can mitigate trauma symptoms …

The Fertility Problem Inventory And Infertility-Related Stress: A Case Study, Staci L. Born, Jennifer J. Preston

Staci Born

More than seven million people of childbearing age in the United States experience infertility. Oftentimes, for women, the experience of infertility is stressful. The Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) has been used to quantitatively measure women’s experience of infertility-related stress. However, the construct of infertility-related stress is poorly described in existing literature. The purpose of this case study was to understand how women experience the FPI as a measure of infertility-related stress. To address this issue, women who were undergoing infertility treatment completed the FPI and participated in unstructured interviews. Archival documents were also retrieved to corroborate findings and satisfy saturation. …

A Multicase Study Exploring Women’S Narratives Of Infertility: Implications For Counselors, Staci L. Born, Christin L. Carotta, Kristine Ramsay-Seaner

Staci Born

Infertility affects 6.7 million women in the United States (Chandra, Copen, & Stephen, 2013). Women’s experiences with infertility are not only influenced by biological health factors, but also by social, cultural, and personal variables. Given the prevalence and complexity of infertility, additional research is needed to further examine the nuances of women’s experiences. The purpose of this multicase study, as informed by four individual cases, was to explore how women construct their infertility narratives. Review of reflective journals found five common elements: (1) Emotional Rollercoaster, (2) Mind-Body (Dis)Connection, (3) Secret Identity, (4) Supportive vs. Constrained Communication Patterns, and (5) Fatalistic- …

The Intersection Of Marital Problems, Unhealthy Lifestyles, And Adhd Challenges.Pdf, Ron J. Hammond, Christopher Anderson Ph.D., Devin Gilbert, Justin Wilbert, Michelle Chatterly

Ron J. Hammond

Pedagogical Perspectives On Counselor Education: An Autoethnographic Experience Of Doctoral Student Development, Anna Elliott, Beronica Salazar, Brittany L. Dennis, Lynn Bohecker, Tiffany Nielson, Kirsten Lamantia, David M. Kleist

Lynn Bohecker

Mindset Matters: Practitioner Resilience In The Helping Professions, Bethany Novotny

Bethany Novotny

No abstract provided.

The Most Overlooked Spiritual Discipline - Part 1, Daniel Reynaud, Paul Bogacs

Paul Bogacs

Listening, while frequently mentioned in the Bible, is virtually never listed as a spiritual discipline. However, the Bible has much to say about practicing it, enumerating the many benefits to be had by listening and hearing. It is a distinguishing skill of both God and Jesus. As humans, listening is a skill to be practiced toward God, toward each other and toward our own self. This article explores the biblical foundation of listening and some of its benefits and implications.

The Practice Of Listening - Part 2, Paul Bogacs, Daniel Reynaud

Paul Bogacs

Listening is not just a recommended discipline in the Bible, it is a skill that can be learned and practiced. This article seeks to apply some of the skills and benefits of listening to the role of the pastor.

Promoting Identity Development In The Classroom: A New Role For Academic Faculty, Scott Hall, Susan J. Sears

Scott E. Hall, Ph.D., LPCC-S

This study examined the influence of a structured curricular intervention on the personal and social identity development of college students. The authors implemented a pretest/posttest design using the revised version of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2 (EOMEIS-2). Significant posttest results supported faculty’s role in developing students’ capabilities beyond the intellectual domain. Finally, the authors discuss collaboration between academic faculty and student affairs practitioners in contributing toward students’ identity development.

Innovative School Counseling Approaches To Improving College And Career Readiness, Nick R. Abel, Brandie Oliver

Nick R. Abel

School counselors are at the forefront of efforts to improve the college readiness of K-12 students. It is clear that many roadblocks exist with regard to college readiness and adequate access to college counseling. Many public schools serving minority, first-generation, low-income students have school counselors with large caseloads and numerous non-counseling duties leaving them with little time to spend on college counseling (Clinedinst, Koranteng, & Nicola, 2015). This exploratory study aimed to review promising practices that target college and career readiness for students. A deeper investigation was conducted at an urban school serving underrepresented students which revealed an innovative five-year, …

Beyond Powerpoint: Innovative Ways To Engage Counselors-In-Training, Nick R. Abel, Rick Auger

Nick R. Abel

No abstract provided.

Reap What You Sow: Planting The Seeds Of Supervision In Your Master's Students, Nick R. Abel, Tom Keller, Brandie Oliver

Nick R. Abel

Nick Abel's handout from the NCACES 2016 conference.

Student Success Skills: An Evidenced-Based Program To Impact Student Outcomes, Nick R. Abel

Nick R. Abel

No abstract provided.

Spotlighting Stigma And Barriers: Examining Secondary Students' Attitudes Toward School Counseling, Nick R. Abel, Rick Auger, Brandie Oliver

Nick R. Abel

No abstract provided.

School Psychologists’ Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Working With Students With Tbi, Ann E. Glang, Melissa Mccart, Christabelle Moore, Susan C. Davies

Susan C. Davies

Approximately 145,000 U.S. children experience lasting effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that manifest in social, behavioural, physical, and cognitive challenges in the school setting. School psychologists have an essential role in identifying students who need support and in determining eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and perception of abilities related to TBI in a sample of school psychologists currently working in public schools. We surveyed school psychologists and found persistently low levels of knowledge and of perceived preparedness to work with these students. School psychologists with more …

Setting The Stage For Selfattunement: Drama Therapy As A Guide For Neural Integration In The Treatment Of Eating Disorders, Laura L. Wood Ph.D., Lmhc, Rdt_Bct

Laura L. Wood

No abstract provided.

Circles Presentation.Pdf, Brandie M. Oliver

Brandie M. Oliver

United We Stand: Lessons Learned From Other Professions., Sunhee Eissenstat, Lynn Bohecker

Lynn Bohecker

Godspeed: Counselor Education Doctoral Student Experiences From Diverse Religious And Spiritual Backgrounds, Alyse M. Anekstein, Lynn Bohecker, Tiffany Nielson, Hailey Martinez

Lynn Bohecker

Asl: A Visual Language, Laura L. Wood Ph.D., Lmhc, Rdt_Bct, Miako Villanueva, Deanna Twain

Laura L. Wood

This chapter outlines the main concepts in the linguistic study of American Sign Language (ASL), a language used by deaf people in the United States and a large part of Canada. While the study of languages has been around for centuries, the vast majority of research has focused on spoken languages; approaching the signs used by deaf people as full-fledged, natural languages in their own right and therefore equally worthy of linguistic study is a relatively new concept. The first documented linguistic studies of signed language in the United States were carried out in the late 1950s and early 1960s …

What To Do For Anxious Kids? Applications Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt) In Schools, Elana R. Bernstein

Elana R. Bernstein

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems in children and adolescents (Ollendick & Pincus, 2008). Epidemiological studies since 1986 have reported that, as a group, anxiety disorders are present in approximately 10% of the population of children ages 6-17 (McLoone, Hudson, & Rapee, 2006). Anxiety disorders have a high prevalence rate, an early onset, significant long-term consequences (Le., school drop-out, psychopathology in adulthood, difficulties with social relationships, lower self-esteem, etc.), and a chronic course if left untreated (Ramirez, Feeney-Kettler, Flores-Torres, Kratochwill, & Morris, 2006). However, youth suffering from anxiety disorders are not always adequately identified and provided …

Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy, Elana R. Bernstein, Ray W. Christner

Elana R. Bernstein

This handbook describes in detail different contemporary approaches to group work with children and adolescents. Further, this volume illustrates the application of these models to work with the youth of today, whether victims of trauma, adolescents struggling with LGBT issues, or youth with varying common diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorders, depression, and anxiety.

Graduate Preparation Of School Psychologists In Serving English Language Learners, Morgan J. Aldridge, Elana Bernstein, Susan C. Davies

Elana R. Bernstein

The purpose of this study was to examine the training practices of NASP accredited graduate programs in school psychology with regard to best practices in working with English Language Learners (ELLs). Training directors of school psychology programs were surveyed regarding the amount of time and the extent of instruction they provided their school psychology graduate students on the topic of ELLs. School psychology interns were also surveyed regarding both their current knowledge about serving ELLs and their perceived preparedness to serve ELLs. Results indicated that school psychology programs are not adequately preparing graduate students to serve the growing population of …