Counseling Commons^™

The Influence Of Counselor Education Programs On Counselor Wellness, Leila Roach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Counselor education programs strive to promote the personal development and wellness of counselors in addition to cognitive, skill, and professional competencies. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in self-reported levels of wellness of master's level counseling students. The cross-sectional study investigated the influence of time in a counselor education program on the wellness levels of counseling students. Students were surveyed at three points in their counselor education training: the beginning, middle, and end. Participants included 204 master's level counseling students enrolled in three CACREP-accredited counselor education programs located in the southeastern United States. Each participant completed the …

Couple Play As A Predictor Of Couple Bonding, Physical Health And Emotional Health, Linda Vanderbleek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditional couple counseling research focused on why people end relationships, with research only recently addressing what factors contribute to relationship satisfaction and stability. Yet, throughout this research, minimal attention has been paid to the role of play in couple counseling. The research available on play in couple counseling had varied definitions of couple play and was not based on current couple counseling theory. The research and anecdotal data on couple play proposed a strong relationship between couple play and the factors that predict successful, long-term couple relationships, individual physical health and emotional health. This study applied current couple counseling theory …

The Influence Of Past Abuse On Heterosexual Cohabiting Couples' Relationship Types, Page Thanasiu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the influence of past witnessed or experienced abuse on heterosexual cohabiting couples' Premarital Personal and Relationship Evaluation for Cohabiting Couples (PREPARE-CC) couple relationship types. The researcher utilized preexisting data from 5,000 cohabiting couples who had previously participated in the PREPARE marriage preparation program and had completed the PREPARE-CC inventory including a demographic section that elicited information about past abuse. Discriminant analysis was conducted in SPSS to answer the question of whether the presence of past witnessed or experienced abuse could successfully predict relationship type among cohabiting couples. Results of the discriminant analysis yielded no significant ability to …

The Relationship Between Self-Disclosure, Self-Efficacy, And The Supervisory Working Alliance Of Counselor Education Practicum A, David March

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A primary goal of clinical supervision in counselor education programs is to develop trainees who express a level of self-awareness, competence, and self-efficacy from which to further develop as a counselor. A vital component of this process is for supervisees to disclose their thoughts and feelings about their clients, their self as a person, their work as a counselor, and experiences with their supervisor. However, current research suggests that it is common for supervisees to hold back personal and professional information from their supervisor leading to missed learning and growth opportunities. Through self-disclosure, trainees receive positive and negative supervisor feedback. …

The Effects Of Cultural Congruity, University Alienation, And Self-Concept Upon Multiracial Students' Adjustment To College, Derrick Adam Paladino

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine key factors that relate to the self-perception of cultural congruity, university alienation (powerlessness, meaninglessness, and social estrangement), and self-concept (perceived intellectual ability, perceived scholastic competence, perceived social acceptance, appearance, and global self-worth) in multiracial college students. One goal of this study is to discover if there is a relationship between cultural congruity, alienation, and self-concept among multiracial college students. In addition, this study examined what factors predict cultural congruity, university alienation, and self-concept in multiracial college students. Finally, this study explored the relationship of cultural congruity, university alienation, self-concept, and specific demographic …

Spirituality And Self-Efficacy In Counseling And Social Work Trainees, Pam J. Matthews

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships of the counseling/social work trainee spirituality and religion/spirituality awareness to trainee self-efficacy in counseling clients with religious/spiritual issues or backgrounds. In addition, the study explored the influence of demographic variables on spirituality, religion/spirituality awareness, and self-efficacy including: (a) religious/spiritual affiliation (Christian, Non-Christian), (b) ethnicity (Caucasian, Non-Caucasian), (c) training/accreditation program affiliation, (d) gender, and (e) age.

Women Who Gamble, Hannah Rb Heritage

Graduate Research Papers

Understanding the differences between the male compulsive gambler and the female compulsive gambler can play an important role in the healing process of the female compulsive gambler. This manuscript describes these differences and discusses treatment methods and issues specific to the female pathological gambler including the Twelve Step program for gamblers and cognitive treatment methods. The co-occurrence of other addictions and mental health issues are also examined.

Suicide Risk Assessment And Implications For Counselors, Shannon L. Beelner

Graduate Research Papers

Beginning counselors may not be thoroughly knowledgeable in the art of suicide assessment. It is the purpose of this paper to review the current statistics of suicidality, known risk factors of attempting and completing suicide, crisis intervention techniques, how to carefully conduct a mental status exam, models of suicide assessment, and implications for counselors. The models surveyed in this paper were Leenaar's (1994) five step model which is considered the most common model in crisis intervention, the second model comes from Frierson, Melikian, and Wadman (2002), and the third model is the Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events (CASE approach) by …

Spiritual Calling, Work, And Family : A Review Of The Literature, Jaymee Glenn-Burns

Graduate Research Papers

Literature on spiritual calling, work, and family was reviewed. This literature included definitions of calling, historical roots of calling in the Christian tradition, possible relationships of calling to career and counseling theories, and writings that address the various combinations of work, family, and calling or vocation. The author concluded that the limited literature encompassing the influences of calling on both family and work suggests a need for further research on this topic.

Working With Children Suffering From Abuse And Neglect : The Elementary School Counselor As An Advocate, Bernice A. Fischels

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the history of advocacy for the rights and safety of children suffering from abuse and neglect in the United States, and more specifically the state of Iowa. It looks at statistical data concerning the incidence of child abuse and its correlation to age and ability level. It specifically addresses the developmental, psychological, emotional, and physical effects of child abuse. The remainder of the paper outlines the role of the elementary school counselor as an advocate in helping children who are suffering from abuse and neglect. The paper addresses individual, group, and classroom interventions that may be used …

Psycho-Spiritual Aspects Of Mental Health Counseling, Sahibou Oumarou

Graduate Research Papers

With the growing demand for holistic therapy, interest in the psycho-spiritual dimension as it relates to clients' concerns has increased within the last decades. Many crises that lead people to counseling could hopefully be avoided if more attention were giving to prevention. In this paper, the necessity of seeking harmony between body, mind and soul with certain practices such as yoga, relaxation, deep breathing, prayer, and meditation will be explored. These spiritual tools are supported by clinical practice and empirical research on holistic approaches to counseling.

The School Counselor's Role In Empowering Adolescent Girls, Laurie A. Kirkpatrick

Graduate Research Papers

Although many books and articles have been written on the topic of adolescence and the challenges having to do with this developmental stage, there is an increasing need for school counselors to provide programming to empower today's adolescent girls. Research has long shown that a decline in self-esteem accompanies puberty (Dee, 1997). In fact, one study found significant gender differences which indicate that girls are at a much higher risk for not only developing, but also for maintaining low levels of self-esteem (Simmons & Blyth, 1987).

With all of the problems facing contemporary adolescents, empowering girls with a positive self-image …

Attachment Theory : How To Treat Attachment Disorders In Adults, Kristy L. Hrdlicka

Graduate Research Papers

Attachment is a bond formed between two individuals over a period of time, dealing with how they relate to one another through their interactions (Sable, 2000). In this paper, a review of the literature is discussed regarding how the attachments between individuals are formed and the four different patterns of attachment: Secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized. Following the review, practical interventions are also provided for counseling professionals to use when working with clients who have attachment disorders.

Improving Psychological Well-Being And Adjustment To Enhance Positive Aging, Monica J. Padilla

Graduate Research Papers

The elderly are the fastest growing population in the United States. With this increase in population comes the need for help in improving psychological well-being and enhancine adjustment. This paper explores three factors that may benefit the adjustment process for the elderly population. These factors are religion, social support, and intergenerational programs. The need for mental health counselors in this field will continue to increase as the population continues to grow older. In combination with counseling and the three factors of religion, social support and intergenerational programs, adjustment for the elderly can be optimistic.

Bullying In Elementary School, Jennifer P. Dixon

Graduate Research Papers

The prevalence of bullying is very high among elementary students, and students are affected by bullying, whether or not they are the bully, victim, or bystander. When working with bullies and victims, it is important to be aware of the different types of bullying, as well as the various forms and characteristics of bullies and victims. The school staff and community can help prevent bullying by gaining knowledge about various aspects of bullying and making the school a safe environment.

The Guidance Counselor's Role In Helping Children And Adolescents Deal With Grief And Loss, Brandie Erickson

Graduate Research Papers

Death is a natural part of life. This is a difficult lesson to learn and can be especially confusing for children and adolescents. It is natural for adults to want to protect children for negative emotions and shelter them from the loss. Also, many adults feel uncomfortable or incapable of talking with children and adolescents about death. It is the guidance counselor's role to educate teachers regarding the grief and loss process and to provide support to the student, and well as information and resources to the parents or guardians of the student.

The purpose of this paper is to …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Racial Identity Developme, Franklyn Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between racial identity development and career thoughts for Black seniors at an urban high school. The available population was 557 Black senior students at a high school in Orange County, Florida. With respect to this population, socioeconomic status, influences on career interest, parental level of education, parental occupations, post-secondary intentions, and plans to take the SAT or ACT were some of the specific demographic variables that were analyzed. Results from a variety of simple regression analyses revealed significant positive relationships between Black seniors' perceptions of their racial identity development and …

Web-Based Digital Portfolios And Counselor Supervision, Paul E. Barnes, Paul A. Clark, Bryce Thull

Counseling Faculty Publications

Web-based digital portfolios provide a promising tool for counselor supervisors looking for effective ways to evaluate counselor candidates while maximizing the associated learning process. This paper describes a project involving the use of web-based portfolios that were created by counselor candidates. The project illustrates the benefits of the web-based portfolio for both the counselor supervisor and for the counselors in training.

Moving In, Moving Through, And Moving Out : Applying Schlossberg's Transition Theory And The Influence Of Culture Shock In Study Abroad Experiences, Sara Lyness

Graduate Research Papers

The experience of studying abroad is a period of transition for a college student. The impact of this transition on a student's life can be explored through the application of Schlossberg's transition theory to the experience, and more specifically, how the resources available affect the student while in a new culture. The application of Schlossberg's transition theory to the study abroad experience of college students can have implications for those working with students going to and returning from study abroad experiences, and it can also provide a framework for advisors preparing orientation and reentry sessions.

Single Custodial Fathers : Effects On Families And Implications For School Counselors, Nicole M. Gebel

Graduate Research Papers

This paper uses current published literature to determine characteristics of single father headed households in comparison to the characteristics of single mother headed households, as well as the effects of being raised by a single custodial father. The general characteristics of single father headed households that are examined include: family resources, role strain, parenting style, and support from others. Behavior, academic performance, and relationships and social development of children of single custodial fathers are briefly examined to explore the effects of being raised by a single custodial father. Implications for school counselors working with single custodial fathers and their children …

Grief Counseling With Children And Adolescents, Megan Funke

Graduate Research Papers

There are many causes for the grief children and adolescents suffer in their lives. No matter what the cause, they will need someone to help them deal with their grief and develop the necessary coping skills to live a normal live. This paper discusses how school counselors can help children and adolescents learn to deal with their grief in a healthy manner and develop strong and lasting coping skills.

Building Effective School-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Stephanie M. Juhl

Graduate Research Papers

Substance abuse among children and adolescents has become an epidemic in our society. Therefore, it is important to be cognizant of the reasons for child and adolescent substance abuse as well as to recognize risk factors for use. Many prevention programs have not been research-based and are not appropriate for all populations. Several programs and approaches are reviewed as to whether they will reduce the use of substances. School counselors can improve efforts by combining approaches to create comprehensive and multifaceted programs, which will improve the probability of prevention. Creating school counseling programs will be fundamental in preventing early substance …

Borderline Personality Disorder : A Comparison Of Linehan And Kernberg's Treatment Modalities, Janet M. Riley

Graduate Research Papers

About 30% of clients worldwide are diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (Bohus et al., 2000). BPD is a complex disorder and difficult to treat. Therefore, it is necessary for counselors to gain as much knowledge about treatment modalities and their effectiveness as possible. This paper attempts to define BPD by looking closely at its history.and describing the criteria for diagnosis. Linehan's Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Kernberg's Object Relational Theory (ORT) are compared as to their effectiveness in working with clients who exhibit symptoms of BPD.

Effects Of Maternal Depression On Youth Adjustment, Jennifer Alexander

Graduate Research Papers

Depressive disorders are chronic illnesses affecting women and their families for extended periods of time. This paper summarizes research related to the effects of maternal depression on children's short and long term adjustment. Children of depressed mothers are at risk for internalizing and externalizing disorders. Genetics account for a small portion of these problems. Since depressed mothers tend to withdraw or show intrusive, hostile behaviors with their children, parent-child interaction problems account for the majority of youth adjustment problems, particularly when mothers' depression is severe, occurs during infancy, is chronic, and is paired with high family conflict or separation. Individual …

The Process And Perspective Of The Therapist In The Treatment Of Self-Mutilation, Megan M. Parketon

Graduate Research Papers

Research for the past 35 years has involved inpatient mentally ill persons who have been institutionalized. Treatment for self-mutilation has also focused primarily on mentally ill and mentally retarded patients. There has been little research done on the specific topic of adolescent female self-mutilation. Self-mutilation has become increasingly prevalent among female adolescents.

In this paper the therapist's perspective of treatment and the therapist's process of treatment were researched. Treatment should be tailored to the specific needs of the adolescent and often involved multiple treatments. Eleven styles of treatment were addressed and the qualities that a therapist needs to possess were …

Self-Esteem : Cognitive Therapy And Creative Interventions, Barbara J. Fay

Graduate Research Papers

Maladaptive mechanisms due to an impoverished self-esteem have often been seen as part of dual-diagnosis as well as an underlying component in most presenting problems. Since Cognitive Therapy has had excellent results in addressing and elevating most self-esteem issues, a variety of cognitive interventions were explored. However, the Cognitive Therapy framework does not always accommodate specific client needs such as an inability to verbalize due to trauma, intellectual or immaturity levels of cognition as well as cultural or language barriers. Therefore, a multi-modal approach was implemented to provide a framework to integrate Cognitive Therapy and creative interventions. Strengths and weaknesses …

Effects Of Divorce On Adolescents : Interventions, Abigail C. Buchan

Graduate Research Papers

The family environment is a major contributor to the development and well-being of children and adolescents. The traditional definition for family is ever changing, and diversity in families is becoming more acknowledged and accepted. It is well known that currently more than half of all marriages end in divorce. It is necessary to understand the significant challenges and issues that young people of divorced families are faced with in order to facilitate positive change and resiliency in the counseling process. The author provides a historical overview of the divorce epidemic, the effects of divorce on youth, as well as implications …

Are College Students Prepared For Conflict? : A Review On Conflict Resolution Among College Students, Marc J. Dalmasso

Graduate Research Papers

The following is a review of the research on the topic of conflict resolution in college age students. All of the research involved used college students as their participants. The purpose of this review was to find out if college students constructively resolve conflicts in their individual and professional lives. The research reveals that there are various factors that play a key role in how this age group comes to their resolution strategies. Nevertheless, students appear to use some nonconstructive techniques. However, constructive methods to be aware of are discovered as well as skills that may offer insight further into …

A Review Of Separation Anxiety Disorder With A Focus On Research Based Intervention Strategies, Lauryn C. Kittleson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to discuss what Separation Anxiety Disorder is, what causes SAD symptoms in some children, successful assessment methods, and finally treatment and intervention options available and the efficacy of each one. The focus of this paper is on research based interventions with the intention of finding the most successful and empirically based intervention available. The most widely used and empirically based intervention available at this time is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Alternative methods of treatment include psycho-education for mild cases and CBT plus medication for severe cases.

Many areas need further research and future studies …

Family-Centered Early Intervention : Principles And Process, Jody Albertson

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review begins by discussing the background and history of family-centered early intervention. State monitoring reports from the Office of Special Education Programs are discussed as evidence that there is a need for education and clarification regarding family-centered early intervention. Various viewpoints are reviewed regarding the definition and principles of family-centered services. The process of family-centered services is then discussed with a focus on assessment service delivery, and evaluation of services. In the discussion of family-centered assessment, the concept of family-centered assessment is discussed and various tools used in completing family-centered assessment are described. In the discussion of service …