Counseling Commons^™

Integrating Spirituality Into The Counseling Session : Facilitating Positive Changes, Bruce A. Gregory

Graduate Research Papers

Spirituality and religion can be very important and influential aspects of an individual's life, however the counseling process seems to lack a framework that addresses these two important areas. Although the literature continues to grow, this topic seems to lack a sense of congruence between therapeutic approaches and integrating spirituality and religion into this approach.

This paper briefly examines some of the existing literature on this integration and also incorporates some personal view points. It is hoped that the reader will, at the very least, begin to get a sense of importance in regards to his/her own spirituality and religion …

Providing Effective Counseling To Substance Abusers Through The Use Of Biopsychosocialspiritual Strategies, Rachel Phillips

Graduate Research Papers

The field of substance abuse has had a history of relapse. Both In-Patient and Out-Patient Treatment facilities have experienced the "revolving door" effect (Walton, Blow, and Booth, 2001). D.R. Laws found in research he conducted that 80% of the patients treated, relapsed 12 months after treatment and two-thirds of the relapses were within 90 days of treatment (Laws, 1999). The federal government has begun questioning the validity of these programs in light of skyrocketing costs for substance abuse treatment (Craig, 2004). Clinicians have begun to examine the cost effectiveness of their current treatment modalities. This paper will provide an overview …

Reducing Suicide Risk Among Adolescents : Treatment And Intervention, Angie Kippe

Graduate Research Papers

Adolescent suicide is very disturbing. Formulating effective prevention and treatment can be elusive. Counselors must become aware of many factors when assessing and treating adolescent suicide ideation and attempts. Facts about suicide and how suicide interfaces with other mental disorders will be examined.

Adolescent Eating Disorders : Causes, Implications, And Treatment, Margaret P. Messenger

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research is to better understand eating disorders. Possible causes such. as social and cultural factors, family environment, and personal characteristics are stressed. Health complications for both adolescent males and females are discussed. Therapy approaches such as treatment and prevention for adolescents are also described.

Understanding The Plight Of The Terminally Ill Population, Richelle C. Bouska

Graduate Research Papers

The emotional, physical, social, and relational experiences of the terminally ill population were investigated. The literature strongly stated that the dying process, though physically and psychologically taxing, need not be devoid of meaning. It was also discovered that though patient disease trajectories and emotional experiences are highly individualized many helpful generalizations can be made. The research findings support the belief that mental health practitioners have much to offer the dying person as he or she wrestles with impending death.

Grief And Loss Associated With Divorce : A Counseling Perspective, Lisa A. Lydon

Graduate Research Papers

Based on grief and loss literature, as well as literature on divorce, this paper examines divorce as a loss that evokes grief in various individuals. A brief definition of grief and loss is first articulated. An emphasis is,placed on the classifications of loss, such as major, physical, psychological, primary, and secondary loss. Divorce is discussed as a major and primary loss with multiple secondary losses associated with it. The perspectives of various professionals as they relate to divorce as a loss are examined. This paper also considers implications to counselors when divorce is viewed as a grief and loss issue.

Cutting And Self-Mutilating Behaviors Among Adolescent Girls : A Counselor's Role In Understanding And Treatment, Carla C. Hughes

Graduate Research Papers

With the reported incidence of cutting and self-mutilating behaviors in adolescent girls on the rise, counselors need to take a look at the changing role they can play in helping these young girls understand the reasons underlying their self-destructive behaviors. The counselor can also help them find new ways to cope with the deep emotional trauma that precipitates the behavior. Understanding the causes and dynamics of this disorder will lead to better opportunities for effective treatment. This paper is intended to focus on the nature of the disorder and the role of counseling in bringing these young women back from …

The Impact Of Sexual Abuse On Student Performance, Denelle M. Mcwherter

Graduate Research Papers

Child sexual abuse is a prevalent societal problem. Up to twenty five percent of children have been abused by the age of eighteen. Victims are significantly impacted academically, socially, and behaviorally. School counselors assume counseling, consulting, and coordinating roles as they assist victims, present prevention curriculum, and act as a referral source.

This paper addresses how sexual abuse affects victims and how counselors can assist victims in developing coping skills and increasing self esteem. In addition, how counselors can help foster a sense of belonging and safety for victims in the school setting will be described, with emphasis on how …

The Effects Of Divorce On Children And Adolescents, Rachelle A. Haker

Graduate Research Papers

This research paper focuses on the effects of divorce on children and adolescents. Based on a review of literature, there are many short-term and long-term effects including emotional, behavioral, and physical issues. Children and adolescents vary in adjustment to divorce depending on multiple factors such as communication, conflict, and parental adjustment. The stages that children and adolescents of divorce go through depend on one's developmental stage and gender. Counselors can greatly influence how children and adolescents adjust to divorce.

Children Of Incarcerated Parents And The Role Of The Elementary School Counselor, Megan A. Petersen

Graduate Research Papers

Of the 72 million minor children in the United States, 2 million of those have a parent who is currently incarcerated. The dynamics of a child's life are greatly altered when a parent is incarcerated, and many children struggle as a result. Without some form of support or intervention, they are five times more likely than other children to become incarcerated themselves. Elementary school counselors must be aware of the characteristics of children of incarcerated parents, while working to address their needs across numerous levels and contexts.

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 …

Chronic Medical Illness : The Counselor's Role, Diana J. Cira

Graduate Research Papers

In the next few decades, the number of chronically medically ill individuals in the United States will increase dramatically. To implement necessary interventions to improve their care, the United States health care system must make changes in the approaches used for these individuals. Counselors can play a critical role in these changes. By incorporating counselors in the care of individuals with chronic medical illnesses, the health care system will be better able to provide interventions that aid in effectively coping with the illnesses and the many psychosocial ramifications of the illnesses.

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 …

Supporting Grieving Students In Schools, Erin E. Bartholomew

Graduate Research Papers

It is estimated that one out of six children will lose a parent by eighteen (Dutton, 1999). Ninety percent of junior and seniors in high school have experienced loss associated with death, forty percent the death of a friend, and twenty percent have witnessed a death (Dutton, 1999). Children and adolescents are exposed to grief, but they are not equipped to handle the grief process. This paper discusses the many experiences children and adolescents go through when dealing with a loss. It discusses how these experiences are different than that of adults and why it is so important to acknowledge …