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A Qualitative Investigation Of Clinical Mental Health Counselors' Group Practicum Training Experiences, Brittany L. Pollard-Kosidowski, Monica E. Kaule, Heather Uphold, Chad Losinger, Adam F. Stephens

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The authors of this study used inductive content analysis to qualitatively explore the group practicum training experiences of clinical mental health counselors who graduated from one CACREP-accredited program. Fifteen participants shared about their firsthand experiences in a required group practicum course and described the ways in which the experience impacted their competence and self-efficacy as counseling professionals and group workers. Five resulting themes highlight the significance and value of practical training experiences dedicated solely to group facilitation. Implications for counselor educators and program accreditors are provided, along with recommendations for future research.

A Counseling Student’S Experiences With Vision Impairment: A Narrative Inquiry, Jason J. Li, Susan Bray, Jody Fiorini, Philip Mullins

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This article explores a female counseling student’s experience with vision impairment in a counselor education program. By using narrative inquiry, three main themes (perceptions, received supports, and challenges for a visually impaired student) and seven subthemes (perceptions of herself, perceptions of others, daily commute, attitudinal barriers, barriers to access, practicum experiences, and disability services) emerged from the analysis. Recommendations for counselor preparation and research are provided.

Faculty Search Experiences Of Assistant Professors Of Counselor Education, Gregory Hatchett

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Using an online quantitative survey, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the faculty application experiences of assistant professors of counselor education (N = 159). The counselor educators in this sample completed a median of two off-campus interviews and a median of one on-campus interview. They received a median of one offer for any faculty position and a median of one offer for an assistant professor position on the tenure-track. Assistant professors on the tenure-track differed from those not on the tenure track on the following variables: demographic and professional characteristics, application strategies, credentials/qualifications at the time …

A Duoethnographic Investigation Of A Cross-Cultural Dissertation Chairing Relationship, Phillip L. Waalkes, Yuima Mizutani

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Despite the importance of cross-cultural mentorship in supporting doctoral counselor education students with international backgrounds in overcoming barriers, few have researched the specific complexities of these relationships with critical depth. Therefore, in this duoethnographic study rooted in relational cultural theory, we offer a critical and transformative polyvocal dialogue of the cross-cultural dissertation mentoring relationship of [author 1], a White counselor educator, and [author 2], an Asian-Japanese former doctoral student with an international background. We discussed how our cultural backgrounds impacted the relationship, our experiences of imposter phenomenon, and how broaching may have impacted our relationship. We present a series of …

Infusing Shame Resilience Into The Counseling Curriculum To Support Client Conceptualization And Student Wellness, Sarah I. Springer, Kathleen Grant, Lauren Cozzolino

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Shame is a silent epidemic that influences the health of our clients and the counselors who serve them. Using the tenets of phenomenology, researchers explored the experiences of students participating in a counseling course created to infuse shame resilience into the curriculum. Results and implications for future research are included.

The Needs Assessment As Authentic Learning For School Counselors In Training, Dr. Dianne Vargas, Dr. Steven Drouin, Dr. Karen Zandarski

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Although school counselor educators are tasked with preparing effective school counselors, they are continually presented with the challenge of creating authentic learning experiences that enhance the development of counselors in training. This descriptive-interpretive qualitative study describes the knowledge gained by counselors in training while creating, implementing, and analyzing an authentic learning experience within a master’s counselor education course. Data for this study included needs assessments completed by participants, and findings were summarized in four major themes. The themes included participants' awareness of the relevance of needs assessments, sources of knowledge utilized in survey design, school sites as stress and validation, …

Emotional Intelligence And Self-Perceptions Of Counseling Competency In Counselors In Training, Ariel K. Hernandez, Walter Frazier, Rebecca Cowan

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and counseling competency. Results indicated that CIT status was positively correlated with counseling skills and therapeutic conditions. Results further showed that CITs with higher EI had a higher self-perception of all components of counseling competency.

The Proctor Model Of Clinical Supervision: An Introduction For Professional Counselors, Gideon Litherland, Gretchen Schulthes, Charlotte Cowles, Edward Ewe

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counseling supervisors require an increasingly diverse set of tools, theories, and interventions to address the myriad concerns that arise in clinical supervision. The ability to support, provide feedback, and systematically address supervisee issues are critical to effective supervision. Deliberate practice remains a key indicator of clinical effectiveness, with supervision skills requiring the same attention and practice. As consumers of supervision or providers of supervision services, professional counselors require useful models of how to engage in supervision. The Proctor Model is an internationally recognized and implemented model of supervision that has great utility for professional counselors.

Trauma-Informed Supervision: The Supervisory Needs Of Mental Health Therapists Engaged In Trauma-Related Work, Erynne H. Shatto, James Stefurak Ph.D., Amy E. Rinner, Lacy M. Kantra

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

We present the need for therapists who engage in trauma-specific work to receive trauma-informed supervision or consultation. This is based on the findings that the emotional labor required of trauma-specific work is high and increases a therapist’s risk for experiencing negative impacts from their work such as vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, unhelpful transference/countertransference, reminders of their own trauma, and burnout. Further, clients incur risks of receiving iatrogenic care when therapists engaged in trauma-related work are not given appropriate job related resources and/or receive ineffective supervision. We discuss a model for trauma-informed supervision, including supporting theory and initial guidelines for supervisors’ …

Incorporating Trauma-Informed Educational Practices In The Counselor Education Classroom, Yoon Suh Moh, Katharine Rose Sperandio, Glory Munthali, Amy Dugan

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This conceptual article provides a description of trauma-informed educational practices informed by a model of trauma-informed educational practice (TIEP) that was created for social work education. We subsequently will call for an integration of this model to counselor education. To demonstrate an application of the model into counselor education, we will provide a case study influenced by both the TIEP model and our experiences in working in a CACREP-accredited counselor education program that infuses trauma content throughout its program curriculum.

Teaching Trauma Theory And Practice In Counselor Education: A Multiple Case Study, Charmayne R. Adams, Casey A. Barrio Minton, Jennifer Hightower

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Teaching about trauma theory and practice is an integral part of counselor preparation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand how counselor educators (CEs) designed and facilitated significant learning experiences regarding trauma theory and practice. The researchers aimed to answer two research questions (1.) how do CEs choose which content to address in trauma courses and (2.) which teaching methods do CEs use to facilitate significant learning experiences in trauma courses? The study participants were three CEs teaching trauma courses in multiple formats (face-to-face, online, and hybrid) in CACREP programs. The results indicated that instructors faced unique …

Practical Interventions For Groupwork Leader Training In Master’S Counseling Programs, Madeleine Stevens, Shannon Strohl, Pat Mcgowan

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Groupwork in counseling has been utilized to promote client wellness, but little attention has been paid to the development and standardization of group leadership skills training in counselor education. This paper highlights this gap and offers practical, evidence-based solutions to help counselor educators train effective group leaders at the master’s level. The authors developed skill-building solutions using the core competencies for group leadership training in the Professional Standards for the Training of Group Workers (2000) by the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW).

Aspiring Counselors’ Mental Health: Recognizing Students’ Wellbeing As An Impactor On Development, Christopher R. Lafever, Melinda M. Gibbons

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Aspiring Counselors (AC) are learning to navigate professional knowledge and skills while engaging in developmentally necessary self-reflection. Wellness, as a professional cornerstone, has been an emphasis in the instruction and development of AC. AC’s development can have barriers of professional and personal disposition, such as un-met or underattended mental health concerns which may require remediation. AC may also have higher prevalence of adverse childhood and trauma experiences. Exploring the current literature on AC’s development, wellness, and adverse childhood experiences and trauma provides insights in how counselor educators can structure programs in a more proactive rather than responsive way. The purpose …

Mindfulness Misconceptions In Counselor Education And Supervision: Mitigating Vicarious Trauma Among Counselors-In-Training, Elise Angelos, Adrienne Baggs

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

As counselors-in-training (CITs) continue to address a larger client base with pandemic induced mental health stressors, they may experience increased levels of vicarious trauma (VT) that can jeopardize the quality of treatment, as well as their own well-being. Thus, VT among CITs should be recognized as a priority problem among counselor educators. Despite well-documented personal and professional benefits of mindfulness, most CITs will not receive mindfulness education or training. Recognizing the relatively low rate of integration of mindfulness within CES, it is necessary to address several misconceptions about mindfulness that may be hindering the effective inclusion of mindfulness resources and …

Attitudes Of Counselors Toward Collaboration With Healthcare Professionals, Rashunda Miller Reed, Theodore P. Remley Jr., Lillian M. Range

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counselors are experts in handling mental health issues, however many mental health issues are reported to primary care providers. Collaboration between counselors and healthcare providers is increasing yet little is known about counselors’ attitudes toward this challenging practice. In this study 165 counselors completed surveys related to their attitudes and social anxiety levels toward interacting with healthcare professionals. Counselors in this study reported having slightly negative attitudes toward healthcare professionals. There was no significant relationship between attitudes and social anxiety. Social anxiety was inversely related to frequency of collaboration, however, only a few counselors reported social anxiety. More importantly, most …

Words Matter: The 7th Edition Apa Publication Manual And Bias-Free Language Use In Counselor Education, Gregory S. Phipps, Sarah N. Baquet, Jehan Hill, Juan Pantoja-Patiño, Yoon Suh Moh, Kalesha Jenkins

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The use of culturally sensitive, bias-free language is a key aspect of research and practice for counselor educators. This article discusses the recent changes to the 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual regarding bias-free language and its impact on counselor education and supervision. In addition, we provide several case study scenarios to assist counselor educators in their work with specific student groups impacted by the 7th edition changes.

Experiences Of Engaging In Contemplative-Reflexive Practices During Practicum, Erin Sappio, Terrilyn Battle Phd, Brielle Delano, Destiny Foster, Marie Hayden, Franki Berliner

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study used a community based participatory research (CBPR) model to explore the impact contemplative practice has on Master’s level counseling students while engaging in their practicum course. Four counseling students and two faculty researchers created process questions to be contemplated through a 10 week period. Results indicated that students gained self-awareness of their calm, relaxed states during contemplative practice, which contrasted to their worried and tense states when engaging in client contact hours. Over time, students were able to be reflexive in direct client contact by drawing upon the self-awareness gained through regular contemplative practice. Unintended benefits of engagement …

A Grounded Theory Of Counselors’ Post-Graduation Development Of Disability Counseling Effectiveness, Michele Rivas, Nicole R. Hill

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Many persons with disabilities engage in counseling services in a variety of settings. However, the development trajectories of counselors who seek to compensate for the lack of training and advance their post-graduation skillset to work effectively with clients with disabilities has not been explored. This grounded theory study illuminated several dimensions involved in twenty-one Licensed Professional Counselors’ post-graduation development of disability counseling effectiveness. In this study, counseling effectiveness refers to self-perceived improved skillset rather than a benchmark (i.e., competence). The core category, Evolving Commitments, was common to all participants’ trajectories when developing disability counseling effectiveness. The other categories (causal conditions, …

Recommendations For Counselor Education And Supervision Programs To Improve Gatekeeping Processes Developed From Doctoral Student Experiences, Evan C. Smarinsky, Cian L. Brown, Erin Popejoy

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of eleven doctoral students at three CACREP accredited programs to address issues in counselor education and supervision programs and faculty face regarding gatekeeping. The information was used to develop and provide recommendations for gatekeeping procedures that can be implemented at the departmental and classroom levels. Ways programs can improve the training of doctoral students for gatekeeping roles and responsibilities, steps faculty can take to create an environment which supports gatekeeping at their institution, as well as support doctoral students as they grow into future gatekeepers of the profession are …

School Counseling Site Supervision: Training Recommendations To Benefit School Counselor Interns And Site Supervisors, Chris R. Wilder, Atiya R. Smith, Jennifer Money-Brady, Denise B. Ebersole, Abraham Cazares-Cervantes, Teshaunda L. Hannor-Walker, Judith Justice

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The importance of supervision is supported in the research literature. Site supervision in school counseling does not require formal training. The absence of formal training has potential implications for the novice school counselor, the P-12 students they serve, and future school counseling supervisees. The authors compare current training models and explore best practices to improve site supervision for school counseling interns. accreditation, ethics, and current needs in school counseling for the school counselor intern and the site supervisor. Finally, the authors review supervision training and models, accreditation, ethics, and current needs for the school counselor intern and the site supervisor, …

Supervision In Schools: A Developmental Approach, Jessica Miserentino, Michael D. Hannon

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

School counselor supervision has been identified as both integral to effective school counseling practice and significantly underrepresented in counseling research. We provide a critical review of school counseling supervision literature and provide a rationale for using the Integrated Developmental Model for supervising school counselors through a case study. We conclude with recommendations for counselor preparation programs to integrate sustainable practices to help advocate for more frequent supervision support for school counselors.

Counseling Children And Adolescents: A Call To Action, Rebekah Byrd, Chad Luke, Sonya Lorelle, Emily Donald, Jillian Blueford, Charmayne Adams, Edward (Franc) Hudspeth

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The ACA 2014 Code of Ethics clearly states the mandate for counselor competence in C.2.a. It is noted that “Counselor practice only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, state and national credentials, and appropriate professional experience” (p. 8). Given the importance of competencies, ethical standards, and the emphasis on best practice, the paucity of these factors in regard to training and supervision for counselors working with child and adolescent populations is concerning. This article offers a conceptualization of the culture of childhood leading to the need for cultural competency. It outlines information specific …

Using Student Roles During Group Supervision To Assess Counselor Dispositions, Anna M. Johnson, Joan Lawrence

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The purpose of this article is to present the use of student roles during group supervision in an online master's program to assess counselor dispositions and CACREP Standards. Counselor dispositions are considered an aspect of counselor competence and will be explored through a model of dispositional values and the application of student roles in group supervision. The possibility of future qualitative and quantitative studies regarding student roles in group supervision will provide a wealth of information for consideration in group supervision.

Counseling Students’ Cognitive Complexity In A Group Dynamics Course: A Thematic Analysis, John Davison, Joel F. Diambra, Marianne Woodside, William Daniel Shirley, Rebecca Gaylor

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counselor education researchers maintain that cognitive complexity is an important ability for counselors-in-training (CIT) and professional counselors providing individual and group counseling (Duys & Hedstom, 2000; Granello, 2010; Welfare & Borders, 2010 Wilkinson, 2011). Cognitive complexity, simply defined as it relates to counseling, represents how CIT or professional counselors assemble multiple facets of a client’s situation for use in counseling (Granello, 2010). Research has linked the ability to construct a more or less complete picture from a client’s present circumstances to counseling effectiveness (Welfare & Borders, 2010). According to Bernard and Goodyear (2019) and Granello and Underfer-Babalis (2004), cognitive complexity …

Gatekeeping And Psychological Safety: Qualitative Analysis Of Early-Career Counselor Educators, John J. S. Harrichand, Patricia L. Kimball, Krista E. Kirk, Lucy C. Phillips, Mike S. Takacs

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Using transcendental phenomenology, researchers investigated the gatekeeping experiences of 17 early-career counselor educators working in CACREP programs. Guided by the research question: How do early-career counselor education faculty members perceive their role as a gatekeeper and balance this role, while creating a supportive learning environment for their graduate students? Three primary themes emerged: gatekeeping is challenging, psychological safety is created through intentionality, and gatekeeping and psychological safety interact

Addressing Anti-Fat Bias: A Crash Course For Counselors And Counselors-In-Training, Stella B. Kerl-Mcclain, Cort M. Dorn-Medeiros, Kelsey Mcmurray

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

People with larger body sizes are often the target of harmful stereotypes such as being lazy, unattractive, and unintelligent. Such stereotypes are part of an extensive system of oppression often intersecting with racism, classism, and ableism. When counselors and counselors-in-training are unaware of their own biases related to body size, larger bodied clients are at risk for further harm within the very place they are seeking support. This article provides professional counselors and counselors-in-training with the historical knowledge needed to examine their own biases and prejudices around body size and fatness to become better counselors and advocates for all clients. …

Using An Experiential Group To Promote Engagement In A Career Counseling Course, Chad Luke, Zach Budesa, Joel Diambra

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Abstract

Career development and graduate counseling courses provide an opportunity to engage counselors-in-training in their own career development in order to evoke a parallel experience in their future clients. One approach to engaging students in these courses is through experiential education. The authors describe a pilot project using an experiential group technique embedded in a graduate-level career development and counseling course. The first author implemented a six-session group experience using peer facilitators to explore students’ own career-related attitudes and behaviors and then transfer that experience to work with future clients. The inclusion of an experiential group in a career development …

How An Rct Lens Can Enhance Skovholt's Cycle Of Caring For Counselor Educator Self-Care, Ann Friesema, Nicole Bradley

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counselor educators engage in a variety of professional roles which prioritize supporting counselors-in-training's personal and professional development. In addition to their responsibilities to student development, counselor educators balance numerous responsibilities and roles as faculty members. These responsibilities can lead to stress and burnout amongst counselor educators if not prevented by using self-care. A model to support counselor educator self-care and their unique roles and responsibilities is needed. In order to center relationships in self-care and educational practice, the authors apply Relational Cultural theory to Skovholt’s Cycle of Caring as a framework for traditional, in-person counselor education programs. The authors propose …

Educating Counselors About Offenders With Mental Illness: An Exploratory Study, Frances I. Ellmo, Leigh F. Holman, Richard James, Lacy Kemker

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Racially and economically disenfranchised offenders with mental illness (OMI) are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates but experience less access to and utilization of mental healthcare. There is a need for trained counselors to work in forensic environments who are competent to provide multiculturally sensitive social justice-oriented interventions. However, there is little research exploring the extent counseling students are offered didactic or experiential training for working with OMI. Utilizing concurrent embedded mixed methods to explore relationships between opportunities and obstacles to counseling programs offering this training, this study finds interest in training exists but potential concerns about bias, safety, and other …

Dissertation Completion Experience In Online Cacrep-Accredited Counselor Education Programs: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Lisa A. Splinter, Anita M. Pool, Laura M. Schmuldt, Jason S. Bluemlein

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

In this qualitative phenomenological study, the purpose was to explore the experiences of recent online Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited counselor education and supervision (CES) graduates concerning their dissertation completion process. Past research had shown a dissertation noncompletion rate 10%–20% higher in distance education programs compared to traditional institutions. Participant recruitment was facilitated by criterion sampling and snowball sampling and included seven recent graduates of online CACREP-accredited CES programs. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data analysis conducted using Smith et al.’s six-step data analysis process yielded three significant themes: dissertation task engagement, …