Counseling Commons^™

School Counseling District Leaders' Experiences With Anti-Dei Laws And Policies: A Phenomenological Investigation, Emily Goodman-Scott, Darrell J. Sampson, Kaprea F. Johnson, Dehaven Sawyer-Mays

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

School counseling district leaders (SCDLs) are instrumental in shaping district policy, supporting school counselors, and interfacing with both internal and external constituents; as such, their systemic lens is of particular importance, given the K-12 pushback on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) occurring at the state- and district-levels. As a result, we conducted a critical application of Husserl’s phenomenology to understand the collective experience of a sample of SCDLs (N = 10) working in locations with anti-DEI laws and/or policies, specifically those restricting Black, indigenous, and people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning rights and topics. Through the …

The Nohs 2024 Code Of Ethics Update, Kevin C. Snow, Christian Williams, Ed Neukrug, Kristin Barker, Kristin Ballard, Braxton A. Morrison, Leslie C.M. Mcclane, Meghan N. Morgan, Stephanie Collins

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The NOHS Ethics committee engaged in a revision of the Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals (2024). This update focused on significant changes in the field of human services as they relate to a broad group of human services professionals. The article explores interviews with key members of the revision committee sharing their thoughts on the necessity for the current revision and the ever-present importance for human service professionals to understand and engage with the NOHS ethics code as an essential living document for the benefit of client well-being, to promote the integrity of the human services profession, and to …

Doctoral Student Supervisors' Experiences With Broaching Race And Race-Related Issues, Judith Wambui Preston, Gülşah Kemer

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

In this descriptive phenomenological study, we explored 13 doctoral student supervisors’ experiences with broaching race and race-related issues in supervision with counselors-in-training. Three themes emerged: the function of broaching; self-perceived attributes affecting broaching; and experiences of programmatic support and challenges. We discussed practical and research implications with study limitations.

19.3 Ceus, Albright Aaron, Peighton Corley, Yusuf Barburoglu, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Navigating the Complexities in Gender-Diverse Counseling: Understanding the Interplay of Gender Identity, Racial Inequities, Economic Marginalization, and Aging

1. Which counseling approach discussed in the article explicitly weaves systemic oppression into cognitive restructuring for transgender clients?

A. Narrative Therapy

B. Gestalt Therapy

C. Intersectional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

D. Dialectical Behavior Therapy

2. According to the article, identity-integrated support networks are valuable because they:

A. Provide financial assistance for medical transition only

B. Affirm multiple intersecting identities, offering validation and belonging

C. Limit social interaction to reduce microaggressions

D. Operate exclusively in online spaces

From The Editor, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Welcome to issue 19(4) of the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. The mission and purpose of this journal is to illuminate the lived experiences of people who are sexual, affectional, intersex, and gender-expansive diverse and how these experiences relate to counseling, counselor education, mental health, and social justice. Throughout the nearly 20-year history of the journal research on affirming care best practice, scholarship that centers the stories of LGBTGEQIAP + individuals, groups and communities, and innovative research on multiple-minority communities have all been regular features. In addition to the focus of the published scholarship, which includes over …

Multidisciplinary Lethal Means Safety Counseling Design And Implementation: Training And Identifying Barriers In A Children's Hospital, Cassandra L. Stegall, Brendon Carnell, Jaime M. Golden, Rupa Kapoor, John H. Fanton, Paul C. Mullan, Alexandra P. Leader

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background

Access to lethal means contributes significantly to suicide completion. Lethal means safety counseling (LMSC) is an injury prevention strategy to limit access to firearms, medications, and other means of injury. Not previously evaluated in the trauma setting, this study aims to design and implement a standardized LMSC protocol for pediatric patient discharge education in emergency (ED), trauma, and inpatient psychiatry settings.

Methods

A single-center quality improvement study at an academic pediatric urban tertiary Level-one trauma center was performed from July 2023 to February 2024. Protocol was implemented for pediatric patients discharged from three departments: ED, surgery trauma service, and …

Navigating The Complexities In Gender-Diverse Counseling: Understanding The Interplay Of Gender Identity, Racial Inequities, Economic Marginalization, And Aging, C. Gerwe

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Gender-diverse individuals continue to face unique challenges in daily life, with intersecting identities related to race, socioeconomic status (SES), and age further compounding these barriers. These overlapping factors profoundly impact mental health and wellbeing, especially within environments that may lack inclusive or responsive frameworks. Despite increasing awareness, limited guidance exists for counselors on implementing practices that validate intersecting identities while addressing the cumulative effects of marginalization (Canvin et al., 2022). This article synthesizes current research and case examples to illuminate these challenges and offers insights for fostering more inclusive and supportive counseling approaches.

Use Of The Integrated Practice Assessment Tool (Ipat) To Evaluate The Clinical Learning Environment For Counselors-In-Training, Jessica Lloyd-Hazlett, Stacy Ogbeide, Heather Trepal, Mercedes Ingram, Swathi Weaver

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

The need for behavioral health integration (BHI) in primary care continues to grow to address the behavioral health needs of patients and families. Developing a competent interprofessional workforce to operate in primary care behavioral health settings necessitates BHI-literate clinical learning environments, as well as tools to evaluate and assist in the integration of services appropriate for BHI training and supervision. The Integrated Practice Assessment Tool (IPAT; Waxmonsky et al., 2014) is an instrument that assesses the level of BHI at a primary care clinic. This paper discusses an example of an implementation approach to examine BHI levels with the IPAT …

The Hidden Impact Of Sociocultural Determinants In Adolescence, Lauren B. Robins, Nicholas Schmoyer, Atiya Smith, Krystal L. Clemons, Jill Kivikoski

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

This study, guided by the Social Determinants of Health framework and Social Ecological Model, examined how SDOH impact the presence of anxiety during adolescence. This study set out to understand what sociocultural determinants predict anxiety, using the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health dataset. The analysis included a logistic regression to determine the predictability of SDOH on anxiety in adolescence. The results indicated that various SDOH are significant predictors of anxiety, while also indicating that the absence of adverse SDOH predicts the lack of anxiety. Further, unique findings related to race/ethnicity, age, and gender set the stage for additional research …

Exploring The Experiences Of School Counselors Advocating For Social Justice Within Urban Pk-12 Charter Schools, Betsy Marina Perez

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

School counselors serve students’ academic, career, and social/emotional needs through a comprehensive school counseling program, and center their work on concepts of equity, advocacy, social justice, and systemic change, to remove barriers and increase opportunities for all PK-12 students. Charter schools are also unique public school settings as they offer flexibility, innovation, and autonomy to staff to create individualized experiences for their students. Held in common by these two educational services is the commitment to serving the needs of historically marginalized populations (Black, Indigenous, People of Color [BIPOC] and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds) and the opportunity to advocate for …

Supervision Needs Of Novice Behavioral Health Providers In Integrated Primary Care Settings: A Delphi Study, Nicholas D. Schmoyer

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The integration of behavioral health providers (BHPs, i.e., clinical mental health counselors, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists) into primary care settings has developed as a healthcare practice associated with enhanced patient clinical outcomes, enhanced patient satisfaction, reduced healthcare expenditures, and enhanced provider wellness and satisfaction, known together as the Quadruple Aim. For BHPs practicing in integrated primary care (IPC) settings, researchers have highlighted a variety of challenges they experience when integrating in these settings, with a consistent challenge being a lack of satisfactory training and supervision. Clinical supervision has been hailed as the “signature pedagogy” for …

Consensus On Best Practices In Neuroscience-Informed Treatment Of Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress In Military Veterans: A Delphi Study Of Experts In The Field Of Mental Health, Danielle Lauren Winters

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to capture consensus among mental health professionals who work with combat trauma-afflicted veterans and/or utilize a neuroscience-informed counseling approach, about a set of best practices for uniting neuroscience-informed treatment modalities with the treatment of veterans who present with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). A multi-round Delphi study was used to elicit information from mental health professionals, which led to the proposition of ways in which mental health professionals may more efficiently work with combat veterans while utilizing neuroscience-informed treatments such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) neuro-informed Cognitive Behavioral therapy (nCBT), …

The Lived Experiences Of Counselors-In-Training Completing Practicum And Internship During Covid-19, Shelby Lauren Dillingham

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

COVID-19’s classification as a pandemic in March 2020 changed numerous professions as they adjusted to social distancing expectations. Mental health providers particularly encountered transitions that included higher acuity caseloads, working different hours, and increased exposure to COVID-19. Counselors-in-training (CIT) faced the dilemma of earning their clinical hours in a safe manner, especially CITs working within integrated healthcare settings, such as hospitals or clinics. Despite some research with licensed professional counselors, limited research exists examining CITs' experiences working during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to understand the lived experiences of CITs who completed their clinical hours in an integrated behavioral …

Addressing Weight In Primary Care: Perspectives Of African American Young Adults With Serious Mental Illness, Sang Qin, Lindsay Sheehan, Janis Sayer, Kristin S. Williams, Julius Mercer, Ashley Scott, Tevin Anderson

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) experience disproportionate rates of physical illness. Morbidity and mortality are even worse for young African Americans with SMI, especially those who are overweight. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have an important role in addressing weight management. Current research explored these young patient’s perceptions of weight management and how PCPs can best address their weight concerns. Using community-based participatory research, we interviewed 25 African American aged 18-30 who were overweight and had a SMI. Results revealed 1) patient perceptions around weight and 2) patient preferences. Participants identified both positive and negative aspects of being overweight, …

Acculturation And Immigrant Parental Perceptions Concerning Sexual Communication, Kwame Owura Frimpong

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Abstract:

Acculturation presents challenges to many immigrant parents that are adjusting to new lives in the United States. The rationale for conducting this study stemmed from the effects that acculturation can have on the wellbeing of immigrants, adversely affecting their health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of Sub-Saharan African immigrant parents concerning having a conversation with their pre-adolescent children about sexuality and sexual practices. Findings revealed communication barriers due to cultural beliefs, cultural taboos, and shame. The findings from this study are beneficial to behavioral healthcare providers that work with immigrant families, parents, and …

Unlocking Adolescent Mental Health: Exploring Social Determinants And Depression With The Social Ecological Model, Lauren B. Robins, Danielle Rodgers, Yusuf Barburoglu, Jasmine Griffith, Cearra L. Arnold

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Employing the robust framework of the Social Ecological Model (SEM) and drawing insights from the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), this research sought to uncover the interplay between SDOH and mental health among adolescents. With a focus on depression, the study unraveled how various social determinants, both individually and collectively, shape the mental well-being of adolescents, leveraging the rich dataset provided by the National Survey of Children’s Health 2018. Utilizing advanced statistical techniques, the study revealed the predictive power of SDOH in understanding adolescent mental health. Results illuminate the significant influence of social determinants on depression, underscoring the imperative for …

Testing The Psychometric Properties Of The Turkish Vesion Of The Lgbt Community Connectedness Scale, Yusuf Barburoğlu, S. Burcu Özgülük Üçok, Eda Çürükvelioğlu Köksal, Yuvamathi Gandhi, Pamela J. Lannutti

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The feeling of belonging to a community that adopts a protective stance for the well-being of its members is an essential human need. It is well known that LGBTQ+ people experience more stress than other social groups because of discrimination, stigmatization, and self-stigmatization. Therefore, their connectedness to the LGBTQ+ community functions crucially in receiving social support. However, no study in Türkiye has yet comprehensively investigated the community connectedness of people identifying as LGBTQ+. Thus, the current study adapted Frost and Meyer’s (2012) LGBT Community Connectedness Scale to Turkish. This scale was designed to measure the connectedness of LGBT individuals to …

Career Counselors Addressing Social Determinants Of Mental Health In Rural Communities, Kaprea F. Johnson, Alexandra Gant-Howrey, Bisola E. Duyile, Lauren B. Robins, Natese Dockery

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Career counselors practicing in rural communities must understand and address social determinants of mental health (SDOMH). This conceptual article details the relationships between SDOMH domains and employment and provides evidence-based recommendations for integrating SDOMH into practice through a rural community health and well-being framework. Description of the adaptation of the framework for career counselors in rural communities, SDOMH assessment strategies and tools, and workflow adjustments are included. Conclusions suggest next steps for practice and research.

Developing An Asynchronous Lgbtq+ Affirmative Counseling Training: A Mixed-Methods Study, Amber L. Pope, Noelle St. Germain-Sehr, Bianca R. Augustine, Amanda St. Germain-Sehr, Tai Lexumé, Jeff Moe, Senttra Snowden-Gregg, Tamika N. Jackson

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Master's level counseling students completed a 5-week online asynchronous LGBTQ+ affirmative counseling training. Using a mixed-methods and quasi-experimental design, results indicated that participants' LGBTQ+ knowledge, clinical skills, and advocacy increased post-training. Content analysis revealed four themes of how students experienced the training. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Measuring Positive Lgbtq+ Identity: Psychometric Properties Of The Turkish Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Positive Identity Measure, Yusuf Barburoğlu, Eda Çürükvelioğlu-Köksal, S. Burcu Özgülük Üçok, Yuvamathi Gandhi, Pamela J. Lannutti, Ashley K. Randall

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Previous research with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and various sexually and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) people has largely highlighted how experiences of discrimination and marginalization, and mental health outcomes are related. However, it is important that researchers operate from a strength-based approach to identify how aspects of one's identity may foster resilience. It is crucial that people working with LGBTQ+ individuals have empirically supported and culturally verified measures to assess such constructs. In this regard, the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Positive Identity Measure (LGB-PIM) developed by Riggle et al. (2014) was aimed to be translated into Turkish, examining its psychometric …

Adverse Childhood Experiences Of Professional School Counselors As Predictors Of Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, And Secondary Traumatic Stress, Eric M. Brown, Melanie Burgess, Kristy L. Carlisle, Desmond Franklin Davenport, Michelle W. Brasfield

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

School counselors work closely with students and are often the first point of contact regarding traumatic experiences. It is generally understood that exposure to other individuals’ trauma may lead to a reduction in compassion satisfaction and an increase in secondary traumatic stress, while long-term exposure may result in professional burnout. This study examined the role of school counselors’ (N = 240) own adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as related to compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Results indicated that 50% of the professional school counselors in this convenience sample had personal histories of four or more ACEs, which is significantly …

Self-Efficacy Of Undergraduate Human Services Students With Integrated Behavioral Health, Kristy Carlisle, Nic Schmoyer, Danielle Rodgers, Katherina Nako, Richie Kubilus, Zubede Akpakir

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Human services professionals (HSPs) are poised to contribute to interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) settings as care enhancers. Interprofessional Education (IPE) effective for training HSPs requires changes or addition to curriculum. The purpose of the current study was to present workshops adjunct to curriculum to HSPs targeting their engagement in IBH settings. The study explored their self-efficacy with IPC after such training using a pre- and post-test design. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy from before and after the workshop. Discussion includes implications for human services educators in using workshops to augment the IPE their …

Switching The Narrative: Pastors’ Beliefs And Reasonings, Dejaune K. Thompson, Sheriyse M. Williams, Shuntay Tarver, Portia C. Stokes

Psychology Faculty Publications

Although many African Americans experience mental health/addiction (MH/A), only 39% of the population seek professional treatment. Several significant barriers contribute to their ability to seek treatment, and as such, many African Americans feel more comfortable relying on the Black Church and pastors for support. However, many pastors are not prepared to support the MH/A needs of their parishioners thus leaving those who seek help without the proper MH/A care they need. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions held by African American pastors on preparedness based on experience and theological beliefs to address MH/A issues within …

Best Practices For Counselors Working With Victims And Survivors Of Human Trafficking, Kyra Watkins

College of Education & Professional Studies (Darden) Posters

The purpose of this study was to explore current understanding of the complexity of human trafficking and how that contributes to a gap in effective and adequate care for victims and survivors. This study also proposes therapeutic application of this knowledge.

The Influence Of Internalized Heterosexism On Life Satisfaction: Comparing Sexual Minority Women In Belgium And Turkey, Esra Ummak, Ezgi Toplu-Demirtaş, Amber L. Pope, Jeffry Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

To date, the majority of research studying lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) health has been conducted in Westernized, predominantly individualistic countries. Building on minority stress theory and models of LGBTQ health, we explored how sexual orientation and nationality moderated the association between internalized heterosexism and life satisfaction for lesbian and bisexual (LB) women living in two countries (Turkey and Belgium) with contrasting social contexts. The results of two-way MANOVA, in a sample of 339 Turkish and 220 Belgian LB women, revealed main effects but no interaction effects. LB women in Belgium reported less internalized heterosexism and more life …

Counselors' Perceptions Of Their Preparedness For Telemental Health Services: A Phenomenological Examination, Daniel C. Holland, Jeffry L. Moe, Alan M. "Woody" Schwitzer, Shana Pribesh, Jeanel Franklin

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Background: To examine counselors' perceptions of their formal preparation for engaging in telemental health (TMH) counseling with the intent of gaining an understanding of their lived experiences.

Materials and Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with seven seasoned counselors who regularly engage in technology-mediated distance counseling.

Results: The results highlighted themes within two emerging categories: the counselor and training/education. Themes related to motivation and specific counselor attributes emerged from the first category and themes of availability, inadequacy, and modality emerged from the second category.

Discussion: The implications from this study suggest a lack of availability and standardization of effective training on …

Human Service Student's Preparedness For Assessing Suicidality: Recommendations For Human Services Education, Narketta Sparkman-Key, Jeffrey Moe, Bianca Augustine, T'Airra Belcher

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Suicide continues to be a public health concern, with suicide rates increasing. Human service professionals are among the helping professions tasked with assessing and addressing suicidality. Despite the well-documented benefits of suicide assessment and training for those within the helping professions, there remains a dearth of literature specific to suicide prevention in the preparation of human services students. To address this gap, the current study used the SIRI-2 to assess the preparedness of human services students (n = 98) to assess and address client suicidality. Findings indicated that participants’ responses were less competent than area experts. Furthermore, student participants’ responses …

An Investigation Of Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives On The Tasks Of Mental Health Counselors In Hospital Settings, Suelle Micallef Marmara, Gülşah Kemer

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

In this study, we attempted to understand what other healthcare professionals considered mental health counselors’ (MHCs) tasks in their hospital setting to facilitate medical and mental health services and enhance patients’ well-being. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design (concept mapping), we obtained 3 regions of MHCs’ tasks (i.e., Overarching Roles and Responsibilities of MHCs in the Hospital Setting, MHCs’ Specific Roles in the Hospital Setting, and MHCs’ Roles and Responsibilities as a Multidisciplinary Team Member) represented in 11 clusters. We discussed the results with implications for MHCs, healthcare professionals, counselor educators, and researchers, along with the current study's limitations.

Didactic Recommendations For Teaching About Integrated Care In Human Services Addiction Education, Kristy Carlisle, Mary Mccloskey

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

This article presents didactic activities and recommendations to implement in human services addiction education that uses Transformative Learning Theory to teach about integrated care approaches that are associated with improved client outcomes. Authors discuss learners’ attitudes and beliefs towards addiction and evidence-based treatment exploring traditional, evidence-based, and holistic treatment practices and experiential learning and reflection. The innovative goal of this article is to advocate for addiction education that expands learners’ belief systems so that they are more open to integrated care options that cater to each individual they treat.

"Teamwork Makes The Dream Work": Infusing Interprofessional Education Into Human Services Curriculum And Training, Nicholas Schmoyer, Kristy Carlisle

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Given the provision of health and wellness services is shifting towards an interdisciplinary framework, human services professionals may be in a unique position to collaborate with various professionals in the pursuit of client welfare. To competently engage in interprofessional care, interprofessional education (IPE) in human services training programs is necessary. This paper points to the alignment between human services organizations, values, and practice with the Interprofessional Education Collaborative’s competencies and makes recommendations for the didactic infusion of IPE into human services programs, curricula, coursework, and experiences.