Counseling Commons^™

Together We Rise: Reaching Inclusivity For Student Excellence, Hiedi A. Larson, Rebekah H. Magee, Molly R. Kollross, Menna A. Hendricks, Danielle A. Loera, Ethan M. Homeyer

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

This presentation outlines the BIONIC (Believe It Or Not I Care) Program at Mattoon High School. For the past 10 years, Dr. Larson and a team of counseling interns have partnered with Mattoon High School to implement BIONIC (Believe It Or Not I Care), a school-wide peer mentoring program.

Redefining Wellness And Self-Care For Students From Diverse Backgrounds, Angela M. Yoder, Amina Feder, Kelsey Boll

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with unprecedented medical and mental health problems which have disproportionately affected those in young adulthood and those from disenfranchised and underrepresented communities (Tai et al., 2021). Creative expression activities have historically assisted individuals in addressing self-care in a way that provides opportunities for externalization and containment of uncontrollable problems (e.g. trauma, violence, consequences of systemic oppression, abuse) (Thomas & Morris, 2017). Although the promotion of self-care now occurs in many universities, few students have well-developed self-care plans (Stalnaker-Shofner et al, 2021). Creative expression self-care activities that incorporate concepts of self-compassion, emotional regulation, mindfulness, boundaries, …

Rising Together Through Freshman Connection, Jessica Meadows

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

This presentation outlines the data-based Freshman Connection program at Eastern Illinois University and its impact on the student leaders who serve as mentors in the program.

Rising Together Through The Bionic Program, Jessica Meadows

Together We RISE (Making Excellence Inclusive)

This presentation outlines the BIONIC (Believe It Or Not I Care) Program at Mattoon High School. For the past 10 years, Dr. Larson and a team of counseling interns have partnered with Mattoon High School to implement BIONIC (Believe It Or Not I Care), a school-wide peer mentoring program.

Analysis Of Zero Balancing Case Studies Through An Occupational Therapy Lens, Deanna Waggy Otr, Msa, Czb, Csla

Journal of Transformative Touch

Does Zero Balancing positively impact occupational performance? This is a question many Occupational Therapists (OTs) ask when discerning if Zero Balancing (ZB) is an evidence-based treatment modality. Case studies from the book Experiencing the Power of Zero Balancing: Case Studies of Journeys to Health and Wholeness (Quarry & King, 2016) were reviewed and compared to the Occupational Therapy domain of practice to show clear evidence that each case study had a positive impact on occupational performance. A comparison chart shows a direct link between the occupational categories and documented evidence of improved occupational performance through practitioner observation and client feedback …

Examining The Relationship Between Acculturative Stress And Religion/Spirituality Among International Students, Ly'jerrick Ward

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturative stress and religion/spirituality of international students. This study utilized Sandhu and Asrabadi’s (1994) Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS) as well as the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF) created by Plante and Boccaccini (1997). Much research exists on how international students adapt and acculturate to a host country. This research will add to the body of literature that exists regarding how international students use their religion/spirituality to deal with acculturative stress. Students in this study were asked a number of questions from the ASSIS …

Master's Level Supervision Training, Heidi Larson

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Counselor preparation is lacking appropriate supervision training for master’s level counselors. Post-graduation, many master’s level counselors assume supervisory positions. Authors propose master’s level supervision training. Five supervisors-in-training participated in this study. Results indicate significant increases in supervision self-efficacy for supervisors-in-training. Benefits of supervision training in master’s level counselor education training programs is illustrated.

Altruism, Commitment, And Leadership In High School Mentors, Rob Mkinney, Heidi A. Larson, J. Adriane Moody, Margaret F. Schwartzkopf, Aaron D. Hale, Steven R. Conn

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study investigated the effects of mentoring on selected attributes among high school mentors. Three attributes were explored: altruism, commitment to school, and student leadership. Seventy-four high school juniors and seniors participated as mentors to high school freshmen students. Mentors participated in a leadership training program prior to beginning their mentoring activities. Pre- and post-test measures of the three attributes were administered. Results showed no significant increase in altruism or commitment scores. Unexpectedly, the mentoring experience produced a significant decrease in the perception of leadership scores. Implications for implementing a mentoring program in a high school setting are discussed.

This Is Just A Test: Overcoming High-Stakes Test Anxiety Through Relaxation And Gum Chewing When Preparing For The Act, Heidi A. Larson, Sharon Y. Kim, Rob Mckinney, Alyssa Swan, Adriane Moody, Keri L. Offenstein, Deb German, Sarah Puchalski

Heidi A. Larson

This study was a replication of a previous study (in which) participants were given relaxation and deep breathing training to help manage test anxiety. The study examined the correlations between relaxation strategies, gum chewing and variables including socioeconomic status, class rank, GPA, and importance of going to college. Participants included 96 high school students (36 males, 60 females), preparing for the ACT (American College Testing). Results indicated that the relaxation intervention had a significant effect in reducing test anxiety.

Altruism, Commitment, And Leadership In High School Mentors, Rob Mkinney, Heidi A. Larson, J. Adriane Moody, Margaret F. Schwartzkopf, Aaron D. Hale, Steven R. Conn

Heidi A. Larson

This study investigated the effects of mentoring on selected attributes among high school mentors. Three attributes were explored: altruism, commitment to school, and student leadership. Seventy-four high school juniors and seniors participated as mentors to high school freshmen students. Mentors participated in a leadership training program prior to beginning their mentoring activities. Pre- and post-test measures of the three attributes were administered. Results showed no significant increase in altruism or commitment scores. Unexpectedly, the mentoring experience produced a significant decrease in the perception of leadership scores. Implications for implementing a mentoring program in a high school setting are discussed.

Altruism, Commitment, And Leadership In High School Mentors, Rob Mkinney, Heidi Larson, J. Adriane Moody, Margaret Schwartzkopf, Aaron Hale, Steven Conn

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study investigated the effects of mentoring on selected attributes among high school mentors. Three attributes were explored: altruism, commitment to school, and student leadership. Seventy-four high school juniors and seniors participated as mentors to high school freshmen students. Mentors participated in a leadership training program prior to beginning their mentoring activities. Pre- and post-test measures of the three attributes were administered. Results showed no significant increase in altruism or commitment scores. Unexpectedly, the mentoring experience produced a significant decrease in the perception of leadership scores. Implications for implementing a mentoring program in a high school setting are discussed.

This Is Just A Test: Overcoming High-Stakes Test Anxiety Through Relaxation And Gum Chewing When Preparing For The Act, Heidi Larson, Sharon Kim, Rob Mckinney, Alyssa Swan, Adriane Moody, Keri Offenstein, Deb German, Sarah Puchalski

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study was a replication of a previous study (in which) participants were given relaxation and deep breathing training to help manage test anxiety. The study examined the correlations between relaxation strategies, gum chewing and variables including socioeconomic status, class rank, GPA, and importance of going to college. Participants included 96 high school students (36 males, 60 females), preparing for the ACT (American College Testing). Results indicated that the relaxation intervention had a significant effect in reducing test anxiety.

This Is Just A Test: Overcoming High-Stakes Test Anxiety Through Relaxation And Gum Chewing When Preparing For The Act, Heidi A. Larson, Sharon Y. Kim, Rob Mckinney, Alyssa Swan, Adriane Moody, Keri L. Offenstein, Deb German, Sarah Puchalski

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This study was a replication of a previous study (in which) participants were given relaxation and deep breathing training to help manage test anxiety. The study examined the correlations between relaxation strategies, gum chewing and variables including socioeconomic status, class rank, GPA, and importance of going to college. Participants included 96 high school students (36 males, 60 females), preparing for the ACT (American College Testing). Results indicated that the relaxation intervention had a significant effect in reducing test anxiety.

Implications Of Personal Recovery History For Training And Development Of Addiction Treatment Workers, Bruce K. Barnard

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to identify and compare competencies perceived as most important by addiction treatment workers with, and without, a personal history of recovery. A survey was developed and administered to 94 workers in three community-based addiction treatment agencies. The study found broad support for the competencies published by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center, National Curriculum Committee (1998). There were no significant differences in perceptions of competencies by workers with a personal recovery history and those without such history. Results indicate that factors such as workplace culture may be more powerful than recovery history in influencing worker …

Sorrow Into Joy: A Phenomenological Study Of Adult Women Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse, Eldine M. Webster

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to learn how six mid-life women who had been sexually abused as children perceived the way in which that early experience had impacted their life to date. Using a phenomenological qualitative life-history approach, each participant was interviewed for a period of from one to three hours. Content analysis of the interviews and member-checking with participants who volunteered to do so resulted in eight major themes emerging from the data: memories, family, career, addictions, depression, boundaries and embodiment, counseling, and synchronicity. The last theme, synchronicity, very closely related to the concept of spirituality and a …

Effectiveness Of A Video Recorded Ocean Scene Technique As A Relaxation Therapy, David M. Ford

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a video recorded ocean scene as a relaxation technique by comparing it with an established method, progressive relaxation training (Jacobson, 1938) on their ability to affect the following physiological measurements: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.

Thirty female elementary school teachers participated in this study and were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Video Recorded Ocean Scene Group, Progressive Relaxation Training Group, and Self Directed Relaxation Group (used as control). The general protocol for each treatment group consisted of a forty minute session with …

A Multimodal Approach For Counseling Rural Women: Models And Case Studies, Mary Vick Roth

Masters Theses

THE PROBLEM

The purpose of this study was to develop a counseling model which would provide time-efficient and effective counseling services to meet the needs of rural women. Criteria were established for selected of a model and for evaluation of outcomes.

PROCEDURES

Research on previously-tested methods of counseling women as well as that on other counseling models was examined. Models were evaluated on the basis of established criteria. Discussion of use of the model selected was presented with three case studies illustrating its application. Evaluation of outcomes at the conclusion of therapy and on a follow-up basis concludes each case. …

A Cross-Cultural Study Of Client's Expectations And Preferences Of Directive Vs. Nondirective Counseling Approaches, Ching-Chuen Chan

Masters Theses

Theoretical and data based research has suggested that clients' expectation of counselor and counseling approaches are important variables affecting the counseling procedures. Clients' preferences for different theoretically derived approach were also found to be important determinants of counseling outcome. However, little research has been done on the cross-cultural aspect of client's expectation and preferences regarding counseling. The present study examined and compared the differences of expectations and preferences of directive vs. nondirective approach between Chinese and American college students. It was hypothesized that the authoritarian upbringing of Chinese students would influence their preference and expectations of counseling in favor of …

Hour House And The Practicum Student: Suggested Guidelines, Stan G. Harris

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study In Lowering Counselor-Trainee Anxiety Related To Selected Controversial Issues, Sharon L. Butts

Masters Theses

An effective counselor has cognitive mastery of theory, appropriate interpersonal and communication skills, and a degree of self-knowledge sufficient to allow open, honest, non-judgmental interactions with clients. It is the last criterion, implying the importance of self-awareness, which many counselors have to struggle with in the course of their training.

Self-knowledge, in fact, may be the most energizing force in effective counseling. (Rogers, 1961) To function fully and freely in counselor-client relationships requires that the counselor is willing to explore and learn about matters that frigation, inhibit and stifle himself. Growing awareness of self involves a counselor-trainee's coming to terms …

Development Of A Pupil Personnel Specialist Model For Illinois Public Schools, R. Steven Allen

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Effectiveness Of The Glasser Classroom Meeting Technique, Michaelene Suzanne Baugher

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Teaching Experience As A Prerequisite For Counselor Certification, Lynn Edward Wilson

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Study Of The 1962-63 Dropouts At Mattoon High School, Dorothy A. Greathouse

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Problems Involved In Counseling Adolescents, Millie M. Angle

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Case Study, Robert Winkleblack

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.