Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Shame And Underreporting In The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Ptsd Symptoms In Indo-Caribbean Women, Ashley C. Velez, Casey L. Hinger

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study aims to test a path analysis model that explores the mediating role of shame and symptom underreporting in the relationship between intimate partner violence and PTSD symptoms with a sample of Indo-Caribbean women.

Identifying And Understanding Post-Incarceration Trauma, Leena Ammari, Elaria Hissy, Tresi Ingram-Jolley M.A., Jessica Taylor, Shannon Chavez-Korell Ph.D.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study examines the impact of long-term incarceration (10+ years in prison) on the mental health of Returning Citizens. This is a grant funded pilot study. Research participants included 30 Returning Citizens. This study utilizes a mixed-methods design. All data have been collected. Final data analyses are currently being conducted.

Transgender & Gender-Expansive Therapy Participants: A Roundtable Discussion, Gabriel Delong, Logan Harding

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This roundtable is an open, honest, and affirming space for mental health professionals to discuss the current challenges faced by the transgender and gender-expansive community. Using cultural humility, participants will have the opportunity to ask challenging questions, discover new outlooks, and hopefully feel empowered to advocate for the community.

Critical Consciousness, Community, And Systemic Change: Uplifting The Mental Health And Resilience Factors Of Black Trans Women, Matthew J. Kasopsky Ma, Ncc, Imani S. Linton M.Ed, Sharon L. Bowman Ph.D., Hspp, Abpp, Lmhc

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Black trans women face systemic barriers to mental health care, often ignored by traditional counseling models. This roundtable explores developing critical consciousness in psychology, supporting community resilience, and advocating for systemic change. Discussion centers on affirming, trauma-informed care that depathologizes experiences and fosters joy, strength, and self-determination.

Emotion Regulation, Stress, And Negative And Positive Affect In Minority Populations, Laura Torio, Khadeja Najjar, Ilya Yaroslavsky

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study examines perceived stress (PS), emotion regulation (ER), and emotional outcomes in a diverse sample (N=282). Results show PS correlates with negative (NA) and positive affect (PA), with adaptive emotion regulation (AMR) linked to PA and maladaptive regulation (MMR) linked to NA. Culture predicted MMR, highlighting the importance of cultural considerations in interventions.

Guidelines For Engaging In Social Justice In Clinical Settings, Liza Cohen, Sydney Majka

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

The need for resources regarding social justice in counseling professions is imperative, but clinicians report that they face barriers to engaging in advocacy (Brown et al., 2020). The following narrative review will present recommendations for practitioners that are grounded in intersectional feminist and liberation psychology frameworks (Moane, 2013).

Promoting Student-Led Advocacy Initiatives In Graduate Programs: A Narrative Review Of The Literature, Nawar Albarak

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Student-led advocacy is essential for driving change, minimizing oppression, and fostering leadership and critical-thinking skills that strengthen socially conscious professionals. This narrative review examines institutional support, intersectionality, and inclusive practices, proposing strategies to overcome barriers, empower diverse voices, and reinforce an ongoing commitment to equitable progress in higher education contexts.

The Impact Of Parental Involvement On Therapy Outcomes For Children With Anxiety: A Systematic Review, Jade E. Carriero B.A.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Childhood anxiety impacts 6.5% of children globally, often persisting without intervention. This review examines the role of parental involvement in therapy outcomes for children with anxiety aged 5-18. Key themes include CBT’s prominence, standardized tools, enhanced outcomes, and varied parental approaches. Findings highlight the need for individualized, culturally responsive strategies.

Beyond Diversity Checkboxes: Creating A Culturally Inclusive Learning Environment, Alex Whitman, Andrea Bugariu

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This poster examines how counseling psychology doctoral programs can transcend traditional diversity efforts, promoting liberation through abolitionist practices. Drawing on a narrative literature review, it addresses barriers like financial inaccessibility and the experiences of minority trainees while proposing strategies to create culturally inclusive learning environments grounded in equity and justice.

Lgbtq+ Youth’S Experiences Of Minority Stress: A Survey, Liz Ballinger B.A., Jesse Chen M.A., Caitlin Johnson M.A., Sarah Kiperman Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This poster will cover a proposed study on LGBTQ+ youths' experiences of minority stress in the current day and context. We used the minority stress theory to evaluate the relationship of stressors to outcomes, and how protective factors moderate the relationship.

Understanding The Unique Experiences Contributing To Outcome Disparities For Black Foster Care Alumni: A Systematic Review, Lilian Hicks

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This systematic review explores outcome disparities among Black foster care alumni in the U.S. across five domains: biopsychosocial, education, employment, housing, and justice involvement. Contributing factors include placement instability and resource inequities. Findings highlight the need for culturally informed, equity-focused interventions and further research centered on Black foster alumni’s lived experiences.

Years Of Mindfulness Practice And Intervention Impacts, Anderson Boatman, Ellary Darling, Mark St. Martin, Zeljka Vidic

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Does prior mindfulness experience influence outcomes in online interventions? This study examined years of mindfulness practice as a predictor of changes in stress, resilience, mindful attention, and mindfulness among 87 participants. Findings explore the potential importance of tailoring interventions to varying experience levels to promote mental health and well-being.

Lgbtq+ Trauma And Dissociation: An Integrative Review, Laci Johnson M.S.Ed.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

LGBTQ+ individuals have a heightened risk for experiencing trauma and dissociative symptoms. Current research focuses on trauma in LGBTQ+ populations, or dissociation in the general population, but not dissociation and trauma in LGBTQ+ populations. The purpose of this review is to synthesize literature regarding LGBTQ+ trauma and dissociation.

Eating Disorder Etiology In Lgbtq+ Individuals, Nina Michon Ma, Sarah Kiperman Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

LGBTQ+ individuals experience disproportionate rates of eating disorders. This systematic review examines protective and risk factors associated with eating disorders in LGBTQ+ adults. Findings from 29 studies highlight body image concerns as a key predictor, emphasizing the need for culturally specific interventions emphasizing community, self-compassion, and positive relationship quality.

Lunch Hour, Lunch Time

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Lunch Time!

Ce Eligible Workshop: Implicit Bias Training, Janeé M. Steele Phd, Charmeka M. Newton Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Dr. Steele and Newton's talk is one of two pre-conference CE workshops for the Great Lakes Conference. Please note that the CE workshops require a separate registration process that can found by visiting the main conference webpage.

Ce Eligible Workshop: New Thinking In Ethical Decision-Making, Mark Leach Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Dr. Leach's talk is one of two pre-conference CE workshops for the Great Lakes Conference. Please note that the CE workshops require a separate registration process that can found by visiting the main conference webpage.

Artivism For Access: Disrupting The Educational Status Quo, Mercedes Albarran, Rocio Zamora

Journal of College Access

This piece explores the transformative role of art as a platform for historically marginalized populations to challenge educational inequities and catalyze social change. Through the concept of "artivism," art and activism merge to humanize complex social issues, fostering understanding and solidarity. Highlighting historical moments such as the Chicano/a movement and contemporary contributions from students at Hoover High School, the text underscores how creative expression empowers individuals to disrupt the educational status quo. It examines the rich tapestry of student-led artivism that elevates voices from diverse backgrounds, notably BIPOC and first-generation students, in their pursuit of education and societal change. Through …

Comfort With Technology And Its Association With Depression Of Custodial Grandparents During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Pace, Yanfeng Xu, Theresa Harrison

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

During the COVID-19 pandemic, custodial grandparents faced heightened risks of depression due to increased social isolation and caregiving responsibilities. This study examines the association between comfort with technology and depression among custodial grandparents. Cross-sectional data were collected from 287 custodial grandparents across the United States between May 2021 and February 2022. Logistic regression analysis revealed that custodial grandparents’ higher comfort with technology was significantly associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.68, p < .001). Additionally, those who had reliable access to the internet had significantly lower odds of experiencing depression (OR = 0.78, p = .039). Furthermore, the need for telemental health services was associated with increased odds of depression (OR = 3.18, p = .003). These findings highlight …

What Lies Ahead? Future Directions For Grandparent Caregiving Research, Bert Hayslip

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Clearly, as a perusal of the literature will support, interest in the lives of grandparents raising grandchildren among practitioners and researchers has increased dramatically over the last decade. As we approach 50 years since the appearance of Meredith Minkler and her colleagues’ classic work on grandparent caregivers raising their grandchildren amid the crack cocaine epidemic, I take this opportunity at the 10th anniversary of GrandFamilies to reflect on what directions grandfamily research might take in the future.

Health Considerations With Grandfamilies, Susan Kelley

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

With four decades of accumulated evidence, we understand that despite the challenges they face, custodial grandparents (CGPs) demonstrate remarkable resilience. As a population, however, they are at increased risk of diminished health, both physical and psychological. Understanding the complex health-related factors frequently associated with CGP is crucial to devising and implementing effective interventions. CGP health status may be impacted by the demands of caregiving, demographics, trauma-induced stress, other factors, or a combination thereof. Underscoring this is the recognition that CGPs disproportionately experience cumulative demographic risk factors compared to their non-caregiving peers.

Introduction To The 10-Year Anniversary Issue: Reflecting On The Past, Present And Future Of The Grandfamilies Journal As A Catalyst For Quality Innovative Research, Policy And Program Development, Esme Fuller-Thomson

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

This special issue celebrates the 10-year anniversary of GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy. The launch of this journal a decade ago marked a significant milestone in the study of kinship families, sparking a surge of scholarly work in the field. As is evident in the 12 articles included in this special issue, the journal has kept true to its original objective to be an important “forum for quality, evidence-based research with sound scholarship, knowledge, skills and best practices from the field for scholars, clinicians, policymakers, educators, program administrators and family advocates.”

A Decade Of Advancing Knowledge: Celebrating 10 Years Of Grandfamilies: The Contemporary Journal Of Research, Practice, And Policy, Angel L. Gullón-Rivera, Andrea B. Smith, Deborah M. Whitley, Deborah Langosch

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

In response to a 2012 needs assessment involving 243 professionals in the kinship care field, the journal GrandFamilies was established to serve as a vital resource, enhancing knowledge and skills among researchers and practitioners. Since its launch in 2014, GrandFamilies has reached a global audience, with articles downloaded in over 166 countries. To date, the journal has achieved 79,239 total views, including 22,952 views of abstracts and 56,287 full-text downloads. While the majority of downloads (30,374) originate from the United States, there is a steadily increasing international readership. The journal's diverse audience underscores its broad impact and relevance across academic, …

Complete Issue Vol. 8, Issue 1

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Complete Issue Vol. 8, Issue 1 (10th Anniversary)

Art, Nature, And Occupational Therapy In The Arctic Circle, Erin Barrus

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Even Edvardsen, a Norwegian occupational therapist and artist, provided the cover art for the Winter 2025 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Loppa 1” is a 60 x 80 oil on canvas that shares a glimpse into living in the Arctic Circle. It is the first in a series of 10 variations of the island of Loppa, a small island off the coast of Norway, further north of Tromsø. Even’s paintings are what he calls meditations on nature and everyday moments; he invites viewers to slow down and reconnect with the world around them. In today’s fast-paced …

Addressing The Needs Of Jewish Clients And Students Through A Trauma-Informed Approach, Amiya Waldman-Levi, Robin Akselrud, Zahava L. Friedman, Lola Halperin, Shifra K. Leiser, Rivka Molinsky

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The worldwide Jewish community is notoriously nomadic because of persecution and displacement through several millennia. The diasporic experience of global Jewish communities led to traumatic events such as historical expulsion and genocide. These experiences embody all five components of occupational injustice. The recent rise in antisemitism has triggered intergenerational trauma among individuals, families, and communities. This paper, grounded in trauma-based research, aims to guide occupational therapists treating Jewish clients and/or teaching Jewish students. The paper outlines trauma-informed implications for therapist-client collaboration in the context of supporting occupational justice for diverse populations. The distinct role of occupational therapists in effectively serving …

Establishing Reliability And Validity For A Professional Development Tool For Graduate Health Care Programs, Lisa Handler, Amiya Waldman-Levi

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Professional development ensures practitioners develop the necessary skills to succeed in multifaceted clinical roles. To provide evidence-based best practices, health practitioners need to possess critical thinking, executive functioning, and emotional intelligence skills. Study aimed to establish psychometric properties to the Inventory of Professional and Academic Reasoning (IPAR). Two cross-sectional studies of reliability and validity were used. The participants included 139 health profession students, of which 93 students participated in the first study and 46 occupational therapy students participated in the second study. Data were collected online and at fieldwork sites using a background questionnaire, IPAR, Executive Function Index, and the …

An Academic Self-Regulation Program For First-Generation Students In Occupational Therapy: A Preexperimental Study, Pola Ham

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

First-generation students at U.S. universities have lower academic performance than their continuing-generation counterparts. They also have a lower level of academic self-regulation and academic self-efficacy. Bandura’s social cognition theory and Zimmerman’s self-regulation theory were used as theoretical frameworks to guide an intervention program relating to self-efficacy and self-regulation. A pretest and posttest survey measured changes in the participants’ use of the academic self-regulatory strategies and level of confidence in using those strategies. An open-ended questionnaire provided a detailed account of the participants’ lived experiences of the program. The researcher-facilitator designed an academic self-regulation program using Zimmerman’s (1998) self-regulated learning framework …

Comprehensive Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Management Programs Addressing Both Psychosocial And Physical Needs: A Scoping Review, Amanda Wheeler, Claudine Campbell, Chenchen Cui

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of female cancer worldwide, which can lead to many negative sequelae, with up to a third of women developing breast cancer-related lymphedema. Breast cancer-related lymphedema requires chronic maintenance and is associated with worse physical and mental health outcomes compared to women without lymphedema. Occupational therapists are well-positioned to address the complex needs of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema. This review aimed to identify existing research that reports outcomes of lymphedema management programs addressing both physical and mental health needs of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Method: A scoping review was conducted …

The Lived Experience Of Therapists During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study Using Photovoice Methodology, Alison De La Montaigne, Catana Brown, Sarah A. Anderson, Tamara Turner

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: A qualitative phenomenological design using photovoice methodology for collecting data was used (Wang & Burris, 1997). The study participants included twelve therapists. Using photovoice methodology, the participants used a picture to represent their experience and wrote an accompanying narrative to address the question, “How has COVID-19 impacted your life?” Thematic analysis was used to code and develop themes for the participant photovoices and the virtual focus group transcripts (Braun & Clark, 2006). Zoom was used as the virtual platform for the virtual …