Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of Findings From A Sbirt Training Program In Counselor Education, Tiffany Lee, Andrew Clay, Karis Callaway, Stephen E. Craig, Georgiana Fisher

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The effective implementation of empirically supported interventions is critical for the mitigation of problematic substance use. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) has been identified as an efficacious approach for initial response to individuals who have, or are at risk of developing, a substance use disorder. For SBIRT to be delivered appropriately, helping professionals must be adequately trained in its implementation. As a part of a three-year grant project, counselor educators at a large Midwestern university provided intensive training on SBIRT to students in a counselor education program. The outcomes of this training, specifically related to satisfaction, opinion, …

The Self-Esteem Of African American Women: The Impact Of Black Church Attendance, Deborah M. Wilson, Jessica D. Davis, Carol Parker, Candy Ratliff

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of church involvement on African American women’s self-esteem. Specifically, this study was concerned with church attendance and the variable education on the total self-esteem scores of African American women. An Ex-Post Facto Research Design was used to collect and analyze the data. Two instruments were used to collect data for the study: The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI) and a demographic questionnaire. The CSEI is adjudged to have excellent validity and reliability coefficients (Coopersmith, 1987). The data were tested through the application of the One-Way Analysis of Variance, the t-Test of …

Addressing Public Speaking Anxiety In Multicultural Counselling: The Use Of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy For International Students, Moh. Khoerul Anwar, Muhammad Izzul Haq, Diafi Salma, Zhongjun Wang

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Several studies have highlighted the importance of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in reducing public speaking anxiety. The studies also denote the increase of confidence by strengthening self-efficacy. This study explores previous studies that uncover the use of CBT in dealing with public anxiety to identify its potential as part of multicultural counseling for international students in higher education. International students have different academic and learning cultures, as well as social environments, affecting the development of certain anxiety in dealing with pressures to adapt to new environments. Therefore, it positions the investigation of CBT’s ability to reduce public speaking anxiety for …

Experience Is The Best Teacher: Exploring Clinical Supervisors’ Experiences Who Receive Exclusively Administrative Supervision From Non-Licensed/Non-Clinically Trained Superiors, Monica Pattillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goals of clinical supervision are to ensure that the supervisee is using skills appropriately and properly handling a client caseload, all while being mentored by an experienced professional, known as a clinical supervisor. However, little is known about the support clinical supervisors receive in their roles. If the support is inadequate, there is a potential to impact the welfare of the clients. Additionally, there are very few researchers that have looked at clinical supervisors’ experiences when receiving their own supervision. In order to add to the body of literature on clinical supervision, this study explored clinical supervisors’ experiences when …

Emergency Care For Youth Who Experience Suicidality And Identify As Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning (Lgbtq+): An Interpretive Phenomenology, Theresa Schultz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Suicide is a leading cause of death in children; youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are at an exponentially higher risk of suicide. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of young adults who identify as LGBTQ+ and sought emergency care for suicidality when they were adolescents.

Methods: Heideggerian hermeneutics phenomenology is the research method used in this study. Youth, ages 18-25 years, who identify as LGBTQ+ and sought emergency treatment for suicidality when they were adolescents (13-17 years) were recruited to participate;fifteen youth enrolled. Individuals ranged in age from 20 to 25 years. Participants described …

“I Hear You”: Exploring The Lived Experience Of Counselors’ Empathic Response To Clients When Conducting Telephonic Counseling During Covid-19, Michael Sickels

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissertation supervised by Dr. Debra Hyatt-Burkhart

This study sought to unearth the lived experience of counselors empathically responding to clients via telephonic counseling during COVID-19. The term empathic response refers to as attending to the emotional and mental state of another person in a way that is attuned with the feelings and meanings of the individual’s experience. There are few studies that have assessed the merits of telephonic counseling, and even fewer that have examined counselors’ empathic response to clients through this medium.

To uncover the lived experience of the target population, the participants of the study were purposefully selected …

Experiential Learning Of School Counselors-In-Training To Work With English Learners, Qi Shi, Cielo Cournoyer, Ashlei Randolph, Matthew Scheffenacker, Jasmine Brown

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

While the need for school counselors to support ELs is prominent, school counselors believed they were not well prepared to effectively work with EL students. To inform and strengthen our practice, we engaged in a practitioner inquiry study to understand the lived experiences of school counselors-in-training (SCITs) in an experiential learning activity to work with English Learners. Three themes emerged from the qualitative analysis of classroom observations, SCITs’ reflection journal entries, and transcripts of a focus group: (a) SCITs’ perceived challenges, (b) strategies used to overcome challenges and (c) how this experiential training benefited their future work as a school …

Counseling Supervisors' Experiences Facilitating Supervisees' Cultural Competence, Christopher D. Bozell

Dissertations

A vital attribute of counselors to provide quality client care is cultural competence. Counseling supervisors are tasked to demonstrate cultural competence in supervisory interventions by aiding the supervisees in increasing their knowledge, awareness of attitudes and beliefs, and skills related to culturally sensitive practice. Although many professional organizations require counseling supervisors to provide culturally competent supervision, very few studies have examined how counseling supervisors demonstrate their skills. This qualitative Descriptive Phenomenological study explored the experiences of counseling supervisors when facilitating supervisees’ cultural competence.

Ten individual semi-structured interviews with counseling internship site supervisors were conducted to collect data about their experiences …

Proficiency Of Social Workers In Teaching Mindfulness-Based Practices And Techniques, Vanessa Morales

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored the self-rated proficiency of social workers in teaching mindfulness-based practices as part of treatment. It paid special attention to what they feel is the benefit to incorporating mindfulness-based practices (MBPs) into treatment and as their own personal practice. Participant responses of what has helped to develop their perceived expertise are highlighted. The literature on mindfulness reveals that mindfulness-based interventions have been effective at decreasing psychological distress caused by mental illness. MBPs help individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder to gain a sense of control when it comes to their mental health.

The study employed …

Mental Health Counselors’ Perceptions Of Professional Identity As Correctional Counselors In An Integrated Behavioral Health Care Setting, Jeanel L. Franklin

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the professional identity of clinical mental health counselors employed as correctional counselors in an integrated behavioral health (IBH) setting. Previous research has documented the attitudes, perceptions, and experiences of mental health counselors working in IBH as well as their experiences engaging in interprofessional collaboration. However, researchers have yet to explore how clinical mental health counselors in correctional settings perceive their professional identity and what aspects of their professional roles impact their identity development. This study utilized an interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA) to describe, understand, and interpret the meaning of four correctional counselors’ perceptions of their professional identities …

Spouses’ Scriptural Beliefs, The Faithfulness Of Relationship With God, And Marital Satisfaction, Cristina Sanda Emrich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A substantial body of research attests to religion's prominent influence on marital relationship quality. Aspects of religiosity that appear to enhance the quality of marital relationships include couples’ religious homogamy, prayer, religious involvement, spouses’ virtues, and sanctification of marriage. The couples reported studying the Scriptures to be beneficial in coping with life challenges and playing an important role in spouses’ conflict resolution. This study examines the association between marital satisfaction and biblical principles related to constructs such as forgiveness and commitment. It is assumed that relational virtues become relevant for marital quality as scriptural beliefs required by God. Spouses forgive …

A Phenomenological Examination Of Probation Officers' Perception On Black Female Ex-Offenders Transition And Successful Reentry Into Society, Anita Michelle Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of probation officers who provided supervision in a reintegration program for post-release Black female offenders concerning their efforts to reduce recidivism. The feminist theory guided this research study, as it shed light on the barriers encountered by female offenders in the United States and expounded how they were specifically unique from the barriers faced by male offenders. The research questions were: what are probation officers’ perceptions of how reentry programs contribute to Black female ex-offenders’ successful transition back into the community, what are the probation officers’ perceptions of how …

Resilience In Black Mental Health Counselors, Ericka Cables

Dissertations

Though resilience is a commonly studied variable in different disciplines, there is relatively little research on occupational settings. Researchers take various perspectives in defining resilience as a trait, process, and an outcome. Regardless of how it is defined, it is a vital protective factor for Black mental health counselors who may be significantly impacted by similar experiences, such as racism and racial discrimination, as the Black clients they serve. This dissertation study consisted of two studies utilizing the same data set. In the first study, psychometric properties of a new quantitative instrument, the Race-Based Resilience Scale (RBRS), was constructed to …

I Am Awake: A Case For Buddhist Psychology As A Theoretical Orientation For Spiritual But Not Religious Clients, A. H. Brandt

Psychology

No abstract provided.

Addressing Supervisee Anxiety During Covid-19: Applying Models Of Supervision, Deedre N. C. Mitchell, Denise B. Ebersole, Laura E. Martin

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Graduate counseling supervisees are experiencing unprecedented obstacles, compounding stressors, and heightened anxiety amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. If not addressed, excessive anxiety can impede professional growth and limit the competence of future counselors. While theoretical-based models of supervision exist, the application of such models has not been fully explored in relation to addressing supervisee anxiety. Prompt and pointed action is needed from counseling supervisors, who are professionally and ethically responsible for training future counselors and the gatekeeping process. Three supervision models, including the Integrative Developmental Model, Solution-Focused Supervision, and Cognitive-Behavioral Supervision, are utilized to address heightened anxiety among counseling supervisees. …

Students’ Experiences Of In-Person And Online Clinical Residencies: A Qualitative Study, Kathleen Ruscitto, Macie Stead, Corinne W. Bridges, Casey Baker

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Online counselor education programs have continued to grow in popularity. There is limited current research about residency experiences of counseling students. The coronavirus pandemic has forced counselor educators to move traditionally face to face residencies to the online platform. Our study explores the experiences of counseling students who attended both online and face to face residency using an in-depth phenomenological interviewing. Four major themes emerged including (a) self-care, (b) faculty interactions, (c) student connections, and (d) counselor identity and future practice. One narrative highlights the participant’s experiences.

Integrating Psychosocial Oncology Into The Counseling Curriculum, Andrew Wood, Alexandra Mott, Jessica Gonzalez-Voller

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

With nearly two million new cancer diagnoses estimated in 2021 alone, counselors and counselors in training should have some knowledge of the mental health impact that cancer has on individuals and families. The authors of this manuscript present a review of established psychosocial oncology training in other fields and ways to infuse the topic of psychosocial oncology, including how it pertains to working within integrated care teams, into the counseling curriculum via one course or infusion into curriculum to better train counselors to provide their unique contributions to the care of individuals with cancer and their families.

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Counselor-In-Training Resilience: A Case Study, Anthony L. Suarez, Alishia Elliott, Bonni A. Behrend, Chris L. Carver

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Contemporary literature in counseling suggests that resilience is a protective factor in preventing burnout among counselors and counselors-in-training. The strategies that counseling students have historically relied on to learn resilient habits have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the implications for students are still unknown. This qualitative case study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 17 counselors-in-training, their adjustments through a resilience lens, and students’ perspectives on the response of their program in support of pandemic-related challenges. Findings of the current study pinpoint specific causes of counseling students’ psychological distress, as well as the social and academic …

Person-Centered Approach To Introduce Working With Clients Who Sexually Offend, Jessie Huebner

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Individuals who have sexually offended and individuals who are sexually attracted to minors are often met with adversity, even by those in the helping profession. Currently counselor educators have limited guidance on the need, benefits, and potential approaches for introducing counselor trainees to working with this client population. A person-centered approach to teaching, in which the instructor communicates unconditional positive regard, empathetic understanding, and congruence to their students is presented, Potential benefits to trainees and their future clients are identified.

Grief Content Inclusion In Cacrep-Accredited Counselor Education Programs, Laura S. Wheat, Jennifer J. Matthews, Peggy P. Whiting

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study investigated how counselor educators (n = 61) integrated grief content in accredited counselor education programs, characteristics of the course in which grief is taught, and professional background of faculty members. Most participants endorsed general content items (e.g., reactions to loss), grief theories (e.g., stages/phases of grief), and practice considerations (e.g., self-care). Additionally, results indicated grief-focused courses were mostly elective (n = 23; 85.19%), facilitated face-to-face (n = 18; 66.67%) and taught by counselor educators influenced by significant personal loss (n = 18, 78.26%). Results demonstrated a lack of professional affiliation with grief-related organizations, professional …

Motivated But Challenged: Counselor Educators’ Experiences Teaching About Social Determinants Of Health, John M. Waters, Alexandra C. Gantt, Allison Worth, Bisola Duyile, Kaprea Johnson, Davide Mariotti

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

A phenomenological study was conducted to understand eight counselor educators’ experiences teaching about social determinants of health. The analysis yielded three themes: educator identity, motivations, and challenges. Implications for counselor educators preparing future counselors to be leaders in multiculturalism, social justice, and advocacy are provided.

A Qualitative Case Study Of Supervisors Experiences Related To Distance-Based Supervision, Blake Sandusky, Kristine Ramsay-Seaner, Staci Born, Charlotte Heckmann, Ffion Davies

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The COVID-19 pandemic created a rush to provide counseling and supervision services via distance-based technology. This study was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it offers some insight into the process of providing distance-based supervision (DBS) to mental health trainees and professionals. Utilizing a multiple case study design, 10 counseling supervisors who had experience providing DBS were interviewed to understand their experiences. Five themes emerged from the data including reasons for providing DBS, benefits and challenges to DBS, and a desire for change to current training structures. Implications for supervision and suggestions for future research are provided.

Expanding The Role Of Social Class In Multicultural Counselor Education Curricula, Derrick Shepard, Laura S. Wheat, Casey A. Barrio Minton

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Although professional counselors are called to develop Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC; Ratts et al., 2016), and social and cultural diversity are highly researched (e.g., Barrio Minton et al., 2014), social class as a multicultural construct has received less attention and is often reduced to being defined as socioeconomic status (SES). Therefore, this article provides a brief historical context of social class, explores the current state of social class research in counseling and counselor education, and suggests methods for increasing inclusion of social class in counselor educators’ multicultural pedagogy.

A New Normal: The Importance Of Synchronous Professor Engagement, In-Person Supervision, Telehealth Education, And Multicultural Competence Training In Online Counselor Education Programs In A Covid World, James L. Zapf, Ronnie L. Pace, Timothy J. Evans

Journal of Counseling and Psychology

Counselor education must adapt quickly to societal changes, including the significant effects of Covid-19 and the simultaneous racial discord in the U.S. to ensure new counselors are adequately prepared for the challenges they face. Covid-19 increased the use of technology-based counseling exponentially. The authors wished to better understand their students’ experiences and confidence regarding their training/preparation during the pandemic. One hundred nineteen students from three online university master’s-level counselor education programs participated in this study regarding their experiences of professor engagement, in-person clinical supervision, telehealth education, multicultural competence, and their own Covid-anxiety during the ongoing pandemic. Students strongly endorsed the …

A Qualitative Study On Nurse Facilitators Of Mind-Body Skills Groups, Paula D. Blake-Beckford

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), founded by Dr. James Gordon, provides communities with evidence-based Mind-Body Skills Groups (MBSGs) that foster self-care, self-awareness, and self-expression. MBSGs range from 8 to 12-week series on various mind-body practices wherein group members meet, practice, and reflect on the impact of mind-body skills in their lives. Research has demonstrated that participants in MBSGs have positive outcomes. Healthcare professionals (HCPs), especially nurses, gain resiliency from MBSGs. As facilitators of MBSGs, nurses develop essential skills transferable to clinical and educational settings. MBSGs are therapeutic for adult participants with chronic stress. Prior to this thesis, only one …

Moving With The Lgbtq+ Community In Grief And Elderhood: A Literature Review, Marea Newell

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is a therapeutic approach that incorporates the physical, emotional, and cognitive processes as a method for healing. Within the field of DMT, there has been limited research working with the elderly LGBTQ+ bereaved community. This research inquiry aims to expose this gap in the literature and offer approaches for future research based on the current literature in DMT and psychology. Through a review of literature conducted on google scholar and Lesley University’s library, relevant articles examining the experience of grief among elderly LGBTQ+ individuals, DMT among elderly and bereaved populations, and working with individuals who have experienced …

Toward Holistic Mental Wellness: A Literature Review Of Mindfulness-Based And Focusing-Oriented Art Therapies, Lesley Vernon

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Modern day living, for all its benefits, is synonymous with record levels of stress. The mental health clinician’s role is to assist clients in accessing the skills and tools necessary to reduce and alleviate the symptoms of stress-induced anxiety. Mindfulness is emerging as a potent and effective tool to restore one’s state of well-being. Likewise, engaging in art therapy has been shown to reduce stress and foster resilience. Grounded in humanistic and existential theories, this literature review aimed to assess the impact and effectiveness of two intermodal holistic therapies, specifically mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) and focusing-oriented art therapy (FOAT). A …

Defining Best Practices For The Development And Implementation Of Music Therapist Verbal Processing Skills In Clinical Spaces, Rachel Quirbach

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Though verbal processing is a key component within many music therapy sessions, the current body of music therapy literature does not provide substantial guidelines outlining how music therapists are to cultivate verbal counseling skills and integrate verbal processing with their practices. This thesis critically reviews existing music therapy literature to uncover and integrate ideas from the field regarding the positioning, clinical relevance, and training of music therapist verbal processing skills in clinical practice. Information concerning the uses of verbal processing in music therapy practice, the relationship between the modalities of music therapy and verbal counseling, and the interplay of theoretical …

Preparing For An Unpredictable Future: A Community Engagement Project, Rebecca Coates-Finke

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The COVID-19 Pandemic has upended lives across the world for the past two years, and it is hard for anyone to say if or when life will return to what we may have called “normal.” Communities must learn how to support and protect one another in rapidly changing circumstances, while holding space for the collective trauma and grief of this pandemic. In this thesis, there is a review of literature regarding trauma, collective healing within communities and families, and COVID’s impact on Jewish communities, with a particular focus on drama therapy. This is followed by a description of a workshop …

Building Character By Building Characters: A Literature Review Examining The Efficacy Of Tabletop Roleplay As A Creative Intervention For Developing Social Skills In Adolescents, Kathleen Angela L. Bautista

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In the realm of tabletop roleplay games, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) earned a reputation as the most prolific franchise within the genre and has since prevailed as a popular bonding activity for peer groups of all ages and backgrounds. Among the player base in the D&D community are those that gleaned its potential to offer a conducive space for personal growth, particularly in the realm of psychosocial development, given that D&D sessions facilitated dynamic social interactions among the members. The emphasis on imagination in D&D nurtures the tenets of intermodal expression, as players are encouraged to explore their creativity through …