Counseling Commons^™

Interpreter-Mediated Psychotherapy With Refugees, Shadin Atiyeh, Mina Attia, Julie Beckmann

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

This article is a content analysis of peer-reviewed journal publications exploring interpreter-mediated counseling over the last ten years. The intention of the analysis was to identify trends in publication regarding this topic and gaps for future research. After an exhaustive search, 70 articles were identified and seven were specifically focused on refugees and asylum seekers. Themes of the publishing trends were identified and recommendations for the counseling field are presented.

An Analysis Of School Counselors Time Spent On Asca Aligned Activities, Jacob Olsen, Sejal Parikh Foxx, Claudia Flowers, Kaeleigh Hayakawa

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine variables that predict how school counselors spend their time on American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model aligned activities were examined using multivariate regression analysis. A sample of 4,598 school counselors participated in an online survey. The number of years licensed/certified, caseload size, school size, socioeconomic status of students, diversity of school, and secondary school level status significantly predicted how school counselors spend their time. Results provide an updated account of how school counselors spend their time and can inform professional development and strategies focused on improving time spent on ASCA aligned activities.

Examining Telemental Health In Mississippi: Brief Report, Mario Sobrino, Monica L. Coleman, Janita Springfield, Sheerah Neal, Amanda Winburn

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The term telemental health has become a staple of the modern counselor’s lexicon since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and has led to a surge of new research and practical information for counselors to engage in effective, socially distanced mental health services. Telemental health (TMH) is identified as the use of telecommunication, videoconferencing, and internet-based technologies to provide mental health services (Holland et al., 2018). Although TMH is regarded as an efficient treatment modality for a myriad of mental health issues, the cardinal purpose of its origination was to reduce or eliminate geographic barriers to receiving mental health treatment …

Emotional Abuse: Strategies For Identifying And Reporting, Jill Bryant

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Abstract

This article discusses various definitions of emotional abuse, statute difficulties that do little to support an effective report, clinical identifiers and possible long-term outcomes of emotional abuse in children and adolescents. The article closes with suggestions for advocacy efforts to improve the current challenges to better serve youth and adolescents who have been affected by this type of child maltreatment. Readers will find suggested methods for better exploring the topic of emotional abuse in sessions with child and teen clients and proposed approaches to support a stronger report when living in a state with weak or ambiguous statutes.

An Ecological Perspective Of Intergenerational Trauma: Clinical Implications, Charmayne R. Adams, Ramona I. Grad, Matthew L. Nice

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

In this paper, the authors present information about both intergenerational trauma and an ecological case conceptualization model to assist counselors as they develop treatment plans and determine appropriate interventions. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological model is introduced as a way to help professional counselors in a variety of settings explore a more holistic understanding of presenting problems. The authors use a case illustration to highlight how to implement an ecological framework with a client with Colombian heritage to better understand and address intergenerational trauma as an important aspect of treatment planning. The paper includes clinical examples, clinical resources, and implications for professional counselors, …

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis: School Counselor Trainees' Experience In Peer Group Supervision, Jill Minor, Neil Duchac

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

An Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to explore school counselor trainees’ lived experiences in peer group supervision while in a field practicum course. Utilizing seven participants, four superordinate themes were discovered including organization of the learning environment, understanding, believing, and skill development. Additionally, several sub-themes were found from their experiences. The findings shed light on how peer group supervision is beneficial to school counselors. Authors make recommendations and suggestions for training and practice of counselor educators.

Dual Enrollment, Peer Relationships, And Internalized Variables: A Comparative Analysis Among Adolescents, Mary Bess W. Pannel, Christine D. Lewis Pugh, Valarie Morgan

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

While the importance of dual enrollment programs has been demonstrated, the potential impact of completing college level courses during high school has on the emotional and mental well-being of adolescents has not been explored. This study used a nonexperimental, comparative, research design to explore the impact of completing college level courses during high school and the relationship to emotional and behavioral well-being of adolescents. Findings indicated self-esteem levels were statistically significant, specifically, dual enrolled students reported lower levels of self-esteem. School counselors are in a unique position to foster a successful, academic environment that also enhances emotional and mental wellness.

Transitions To The Journal Of Counseling Research And Practice, Gloria Dansby-Giles, Jeton Mcclinton

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

This article introduces the 2022 the Journal of Counseling Research and Practice
(JCRP) fall issue. The transition process of JCRP and the editors are explained
through Schlossberg’s Theory of Transition. This theory has been applied to several
types of transitions in the lives of adults such as a person’s situation, self, support
and strategies also known as the 4 S’s. Examples provided by Schlossberg were
starting and finishing college, college graduation, starting to work, becoming a
caregiver, military transitions and retirement. Transition theory has been applied
to lives of adults who took on major life roles.

Sexual Attitudes And Characteristics Of Onlyfans Users, Stacey Diane Arañez Litam, Megan Speciale, Richard S. Balkin

Faculty and Student Publications

As new forms of sexually explicit material (SEM) platforms emerge, sex research and sexuality-based studies must also evolve. Although the subscription-based platform OnlyFans has become an increasingly popular way for content creators to share and access SEM, the demographic information and sexual attitudes of users across sex have not yet been reported. The present study contributes to the existing body of SEM literature by providing a demographic analysis of OnlyFans users and an assessment of sexual attitudes between users and nonusers across sex. In this study, participants from a US-based sample (n = 718, Mage = 29.46, male [n = …

Exploring The Impact Of A Brief Counseling Intervention For Improving Mental Health Factors And Learning Strategies Among College Students At An Hsi, James Ikonomopoulos, Kristopher Garza, Javier Cavazos Vela

Journal of Academic Underperformance

Abstract

This study evaluated a counseling intervention called the University Turn Around Program (U-Turn) for college students experiencing mental health issues and low academic performance. Social Anxiety, Hostility, and Alcohol Use were measured on the CCAPS-34, and Attitude, Information Processing, Selecting Main Ideas, Test Strategies, and Using Academic Resources were measured on the LASSI-3. Paired samples t-tests revealed improvement for each measure (d = 0.45 to 1.09) supporting the U-Turn program’s inclusion in university counseling centers.

Keywords: College Students, Quasi-Experimental, University Counseling Center

The Factor Structure Of The Positive And Negative Affect Schedule In Multiethnic Adults, Allison Crowe, Patrick R. Mullen, Rachelle Redmond Barnes

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The following research used factor analyses to test the PANAS with a diverse sample. Results revealed a 10-item, two-factor model that was verified using internal replication analysis. Positive and negative affect according to ethnic group revealed significant differences between groups. Findings from this study offer counseling researchers and practitioners a modified version of the PANAS for diverse clients.

Mental Health Professionals Serving The Military: Who Has Access?, Nicole Marie Arcuri Sanders, Kellie Forziat-Pytel

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Licensed counselors are underrepresented as mental health professionals (MHPs) servicing military-connected clients (service member/Veterans and their families). Mixed-methods research, conducted by the authors, highlights key viewpoints of MHPs (counselor, psychologist, and social worker) interested in working with the military and on their level of confidence in working with this population. MHPs’ experiences, perspectives of their profession’s responsibilities to military clients, and their role in comparison to other MHPs is explored. Findings aid in advocacy efforts for the military population to receive counseling from qualified providers and support counseling program development to increase counselor employability among this group.

Professional Development Needs In A Predominantly Rural State, Amanda C. Dediego, Kara Hurt-Avila, Andrea Mcgrath

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Mental health professionals working in rural states experience significant challenges in supporting the mental health needs of their community members. Thus, it is imperative for the professional organizations that serve these practitioners to understand their professional development needs. Members of professional organizations seek to ensure a competent and healthy workforce. In the present study, the researchers focused on identifying the training needs, interests, and preferences of mental health professionals, including professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers in Wyoming. A statewide needs assessment completed by 258 participants indicated a strong need for ethics, trauma, and addictions training using …

Media And Technology In Counseling: Emerging Practices And Ethical Considerations In Response To Covid-19, Vikram Surya Chiruvolu, Justin Jacques

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

COVID-19 has ushered in a new chapter of counseling in the United States and throughout the world. Counselors’ responses to the pandemic have been fundamentally reshaped by universal elements of the information age, including high-speed internet, smartphones, and computerbased technologies such as synchronous meeting software and collaboration tools. Now, clinicians can use technology to ally with clients, deliver psychoeducational media, and open new categories of intervention and engagement that alter the size, shape, and availability of the “counseling room” by extending it into a virtual space. The immediate investment in information technology demanded by the pandemic highlights an increasing need …

Women In Online Science Fiction Fandoms: Psychological Well-Being, Chrisha Anderson, Kathryn Watkins Van Asselt, Bradley Willis

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

A qualitative research design was used to listen to the experiences of women who engaged in science fiction fandom activities through online social media and how these experiences impacted their psychological well-being. The study targeted a specific population of science fiction fandom users who engaged in social media activities for at least one hour per week and had done so for at least one year. The sample consisted of 12 participants. Thematic analysis was used with the qualitative software program ATLAS.ti to analyze, code, and categorize data obtained via the transcripts. Five themes appeared from the data: nonjudgmental fandom culture, …

Does Adherence To The Asca National Model Predict Job Satisfaction Among School Counselors?, Annette C. Riddle, Mary Bess W. Pannel

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the services regularly offered by school counselors and their level of job satisfaction. The School Activity Rating Scale, the Job in General Scale, and a demographic questionnaire were implemented. Descriptive statistics described participant's demographic data and determine how school counselors rate their level of job satisfaction. Results indicated that school counselors reported an overall high level of career satisfaction. Inferential statistics determined whether adherence to the ASCA National Model predicts job satisfaction. Results showed a statistically significant difference existed between school counseling activities and job satisfaction.

We Set The Climate: Implications For Rural School Counselors In Creating Lgbtqia-Affirming Schools, Valerie Couture, Erin O. Shaw, Bonni Behrend

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

This phenomenological qualitative study examined a Southern regional sample (N=9) of rural school counselors’ perspectives of the procedures and processes that contributed to their ability to create safe zones in an effort to make their schools more LGBTQIA-affirming. The researchers identified five key themes and twelve subthemes. The key themes were: (a) organized support system, (b) collaborations with school leadership, (c) addressing challenges, (d) utilization of professional development resources, and (e) adherence to professional ethics.

Experiences Of School Counselor Trainees In Group Supervision During Practicum: A Phenomenological Study, Jill Minor, Neil Duchac

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

In this phenomenological study, we explored experience of students (N=6) in group supervision within a practicum field experience course. Using a narrative-focused approach for data analysis and interpretation of journal entries, were created a thematic structure of the participants’ lived experiences using the Critical Incident Questionnaire (CIQ). Discussion and implications of this journal writing activity are offered to help reveal and understand the instructional effectiveness of a field practicum counseling course.

An Analysis Of School Counselors Time Spent On Asca Aligned Activities, Jacob Olsen, Sejal Parikh Foxx, Claudia Flowers, Kaeleigh Hayakawa

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The high prevalence of youth aging out of the foster care system and the numerous poor outcomes they experience during the transition to emerging adulthood has been well documented. Although addressing the complex needs and concerns of this distinct population can be difficult, mental health counselors maintain the philosophical tenants and training strengths necessary to successfully serve youth aging out of foster care. This article aims to provide counselors with the historical context, developmental framework, and specific challenges needed to better understand this population, as well as suggested counseling implications to address their unique needs by reviewing relevant literature.

Dual-Enrollment, Peer Relationships, And Internalized. Variables: A Comparative Analysis Among Adolescents, Mary Bess W. Pannel, Christine D. Lewis Pugh, Valarie A. Morgan

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

While the importance of dual enrollment programs has been demonstrated, the potential impact of completing college level courses during high school has on the emotional and mental wellbeing of adolescents has not been explored. This study used a nonexperimental, comparative, research design to explore the impact of completing college level courses during high school and the relationship to emotional and behavioral well-being of adolescents. Findings indicated self-esteem levels were statistically significant, specifically, dual enrolled students reported lower levels of self-esteem. School counselors are in a unique position to foster a successful, academic environment that also enhances emotional and mental wellness.

Refugees In Counseling Journals: A 20-Year Content Analysis, Mina Attia, Hanyun Li, Yuquing Qiu, Shiyu Tang

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

This article is a 20-year content analysis of counseling journals exploring refugees and refugee issues from 1998-2018. The investigation intended to identify publication trends in counseling journals and the field’s responsiveness to the refugee crisis and global climate. An exhaustive analysis of American Counseling Association (ACA) and ACA division journals was conducted. Themes of the publishing trends, gaps in the literature, and recommendations for future research are presented for the counseling field.

Assessing Bayesian Racism Scale: Measuring Endorsement Of Racial Stereotypes, Stacey Diane Arañez Litam, Richard S. Balkin

Faculty and Student Publications

Bayesian racism is the belief that it is rational to discriminate against people based on existing racial stereotypes. The presence of Bayesian racism is strongly associated with negative feelings about minoritized groups and the desire to maintain racially inequitable social hierarchies. A confirmatory factor analysis on the Bayesian Racism Scale (BRS) yielded a unidimensional measure for assessing prejudicial attitudes that endorse stereotypes based on racial and ethnic groups. Findings from the study have important implications for multicultural and social justice research.

The Use Of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (Dbt) Techniques Creatively In The Treatment Of Perinatal Mood And Anxiety Disorders, Rosanne Nunnery, Missy Fauser, Elizabeth Hatchuel, Mary Jones

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) is a serious condition impacting up to 21 percent of woman after the birth of a child (Byrnes, 2018). Jane, a 32-year-old female presented for treatment for anxiety, depression and mood disturbance (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and in need of feeling more connected to her baby and her life. The use of creative techniques including mindfulness, distress tolerance activity, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills (Linehan, 2015, 2016) were implemented. The use of these skills can be added to the repertoire of practice of a mental health counselor working with clients with …

Counseling Adolescents Aging Out Of Foster Care: A Neglected And Underserved Population, Taylor Tertocha-Ubelhor, Bryan R. Russ

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The high prevalence of youth aging out of the foster care system and the numerous poor outcomes they experience during the transition to emerging adulthood has been well documented. Although addressing the complex needs and concerns of this distinct population can be difficult, mental health counselors maintain the philosophical tenants and training strengths necessary to successfully serve youth aging out of foster care. This article aims to provide counselors with the historical context, developmental framework, and specific challenges needed to better understand this population, as well as suggested counseling implications to address their unique needs by reviewing relevant literature.

On Seeking Help: Social Reactions Experienced By Sexual Violence Survivors In The Indian Diaspora, Bagmi Das

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Sexual violence trauma counseling should be informed by the intersections of a survivor’s identity. This research focused on the social reactions experienced by survivors of sexual violence from the Indian diaspora. This study used quantitative survey research methods and correlational analysis as well as descriptive statistics to understand the social reactions that survivors received from informal supports and formal supports. Significant results, implications for counselors, and future research recommendations are discussed.

Full Issue, Mississippi Counseling Association

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Covid-19 On Students At The University Of Mississippi: Family, Careers, Mental Health, Hannah Newbold

Honors Theses

This study analyzes the effects of COVID-19 on students at the University of Mississippi. For students, COVID-19 changed the landscape of education, with classes and jobs going online. Students who graduated in May 2020 entered a poor job market and many ended up going to graduate school instead of finding a job. Access to medical and professional help was limited at the very beginning, with offices not taking patients or moving appointments to virtual only. This would require that each student needing help had to have access to quality internet service, which wasn’t always guaranteed, thus producing additional challenges.

These …

Opinions, Attitudes, And Self-Efficacy Of Secondary School Counselors In Ramp And Non-Ramp Designated Schools And Their Work With Students With Disabilities, Christine Denise Lewis Pugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) implemented standards that aid the professional school counselor via a comprehensive program to serve all students (ASCA, 2019). This study examines secondary school counselors working in RAMP and non-RAMP designated schools. The designation of recognized ASCA model programs (RAMP), which awards schools when they successfully implement comprehensive programs, leads one to believe that RAMP programs exhibit effectiveness, while understanding that lacking RAMP certification does not mean a comprehensive school counseling program does not exist. The current study surveyed secondary school counselors’ attitude, self-efficacy, and opinions toward work with students with disabilities. An independent samples …

Elementary School Counselors' Experiences Working With Children Who Self-Harm, Maegan Tatum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elementary-aged children struggle with low self-esteem, are often impulsive, and struggle to develop appropriate coping skills. As such, many children have begun to experiment with self-harm. Because children spend a great deal of time in school, school counselors are often the first to know that a student has self-harmed. Although school counselors have extensive experience working with students who self-harm, most school counselors indicate a need for more training and implementation of school district policies regarding self-harm. Additionally, current literature focuses on the experiences of middle and high school counselors because self-harm and NSSI are primarily noted in adolescents. In …

Mediating Effects Of Mental Health Literacy And Stigma On The Relationship Between Mental Health Status And Psychological Help Seeking Behavior Among Collegiate Student Athletes, Brent Wade Powell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student athletes experience unique demands that create specific mental health challenges, yet they tend to utilize mental health services at lower rates when compared to the general student population. Participants were 282 (174 males, 108 females) current NCAA student athletes. A mediated regression was used to determine the mediating effects of Mental Health Stigma (MHS) and Mental Health Literacy (MHL) on the relationship between Mental Health Status and Psychological Help Seeking Behavior (PHS). Results indicated a statistically significant relationship between mental health status and psychological help seeking behavior, R2 = .05, F(1, 280) = 13.74, p < .001. Mental health status predicted PHS (? = -.22, 95% CI [-.11, -.04]). A multiple regression analysis was conducted on PHS based on MHS and MHL, F(2,279) = 9.49, p < .001. MHS was a statistically significant predictor of PHS uniquely accounting for approximately 4.2% of the variance. MHL was not significant and uniquely accounted for .1% of the variance. Analysis of a supported mediation model was conducted using MHS as the single mediator. Controlling for the mediator, the direct effect indicated by the relationship between mental health status and PHS, (? = -.046, 95% CI [-.094, .007], z = -2.04, p = .04), denoting a partial mediation and small effect. The total indirect effects with the mediator was statistically significant, (? = -.028, 95% CI ([-06, -.003]), z = -2.327, p = .02, indicating a moderate effect and accounting for 61% of the model effect. Results from this study can be used to inform program development, institutional supports, and inform further research into reduction of MHS and increasing MHL. Keywords: student athletes, mental health status, mental health stigma, mental health literacy, psychological help seeking behavior