Counseling Commons^™

What Are The Barriers And Conduits To College Success For Academically Vulnerable Students?, Marisol Zacarias

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

What are the barriers and conduits to college success for academically vulnerable students? Employing two theoretical frameworks—ecological systems theory and intersectionality—this thesis interrogates two concepts: grit/persistence and support. To do this, data were collected from a group of academically vulnerable students of color from low-income backgrounds via two methodologically different venues: a focus group in 2012 and follow-up one-on-one interviews two years later, in 2014. From the focus group, two themes emerged: discouraging messages and hope. Two years later the follow-up one-on-one interviews produced two additional themes: balancing act and support. Building positive peer relationships was identified as a key …

Boys Ii Men: A Culturally-Responsive School Counseling Group For Urban High School Boys Of Color, Leyla Pérez-Gualdrón, Christine J. Yeh, Lyryan Russell

School of Education Faculty Research

Using a participatory and collaborative approach, we developed, implemented, and evaluated a culturally responsive school counseling group, Boys II Men, for 11 low-income diverse male students of color at an urban public school. The content of the group focused on five areas: social connections and support, exploring gender roles, navigating identities, school engagement, and future planning. We worked closely with teachers, school staff, and counselors to foster a supportive and positive school climate (Beesley, 2004). Each student was interviewed about his experience in the group to assess the impact of the strategies and techniques used. We also analyzed the specific …

Career Counseling For Gifted Students: Understanding Student Needs And Strategies For Success, Layla J. Kurt

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

Meeting the needs of gifted students’ career selection process can pose some unique considerations such as gifted asynchronous development, multipotentiality, and demographic differences such as gender, culture, and socio-economic status (SES) within the gifted population. To address the career counseling needs of gifted students, counselors need to understand the characteristics and needs of gifted students and the relationship this has in the career planning process. This article provides guidance for school counselors to understand gifted students and how to apply career counseling theories, such as the strengths-based approach, Social Cognitive Career Theory, and constructivist theory to this student population.

Evaluation Of A Brief, School-Based Bullying Bystander Intervention For Elementary School Students, Aida Midgett, Diana Doumas, Rhiannon Trull

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study evaluated a brief, bystander bullying intervention for elementary school students. Students in the intervention group reported an increase in knowledge and confidence to act as “defenders.” Students in the intervention group also reported an increase in self-esteem relative to the control group, although this finding was limited to sixth-grade students. The study found no group differences in sense of school belonging. This article discusses implications for school counselors.

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: A Contemporary Phenomenological Approach, Raissa M. Miller, Casey A. Barrio Minton

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is a contemporary qualitative research method grounded in phenomenology, hermeneutics, and idiography. The philosophical principles and rigorous methodology make this approach well suited for research in counselor education and supervision. This primer introduces counselor educators to IPA theory and methodology and discusses considerations for implementation.

Counselor Educators Lean-In To Walk The Talk: A Team Approach To Strengthening Faculty Multicultural Sensitivity, Lorraine Dekruyf, Steve Bearden, Anna A. Berardi Phd., Chris Cleaver, Keith Dempsey, Michelle Englbom-Deglmann, Jennifer Lichtenberg, Rand Michael, Beronica M. Salazar, Richard Shaw, Robert Simpson, Daniel Sweeney

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

This session offers an innovative approach for engaging faculty in the development and deepening of their own multicultural sensitivity, for improving pedagogy, and in turn promoting second-order change within students as they engage with multicultural competencies. Broader systemic issues are also addressed given the university's contextual setting as a faith-based, primarily Caucasian institution.

Integrating Narrative Family Therapy In An Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Program: A Case Study, Steven M. Demille, Marilyn J. Montgomery

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

Adolescent mental health is a significant societal concern in the United States. Diagnosable mental health disorders have been reported at rates of 10–20 % among children and adolescents and this does not include adolescents experiencing personal and interpersonal distress not meeting diagnostic criteria. Adolescents who do not respond to traditional mental health services are often placed in residential treatment centers or other out-of-home treatment programs. Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) is growing as a viable treatment option for adolescents who struggle with emotional, behavioral or substance related problems; however, questions have been raised about how to integrate the family into an …

Psychological Distress And Revictimization Risk In Youth Victims Of Sexual Abuse, Samantha L. Pittenger, Alayna Schreier, Katie Meidlinger, Jessica K. Pogue, Kate Theimer, Mary Fran Flood, David J. Hansen

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, has been associated with increased risk for sexual revictimization in youth who have experienced child sexual abuse. The present study utilized assessment information from treatment seeking youth with histories of sexual abuse to explore specific risk indicators for revictimization—risk taking, social problems, maladaptive cognitions, and posttraumatic stress—that may be indicated by self-reported distress. The relationship between initial levels of distress and change in symptoms over a 12-week course of treatment was also explored. Participants were 101 youth referred to a child-focused therapeutic group for victims of sexual abuse, 65 youth referred to an adolescent-focused …

An Examination Of Educational And Training Requirements In Addition Counseling, Christine Chasek, Ryan Kawata

Counseling Faculty Publications

Addiction is a serious and growing problem in the United States and the demand for adequately trained addictions professionals has never been greater. The growing need for addiction counselors and the mandate that counselor training is rigorous, competency based, and inclusive of clinical training experiences in the field has implications for training programs. The purpose of this study was to begin to understand the training requirements for addiction counselors across the United States to begin to lay the groundwork needed to move the field forward in the pursuit of uniform licensure laws. A total of 78 programs were reviewed, examining …

Ce 622 Syllabus: Family Systems Counseling, Masa Sato

Counselor Education Syllabi

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the theory, assessment techniques and intervention strategies used in the practice of family systems counseling. The focus of the course will be on building a theoretical base for understanding and applying family systems counseling strategies and techniques. Didactic and experiential learning will provide students with the opportunity to apply and integrate knowledge and skills gained through reading, lectures and videos.

Ce 625 Syllabus: Career Development & Appraisal, Heather J. Fye

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course provides students with the basic theories, counseling techniques, and assessment tools used in career counseling. Through applied learning experiences students will be able to complete a comprehensive career assessment and plan.

Counselor Education And Counseling Psychology 2016 News, College Of Education And Human Development

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology News

• Vandiver is the Incoming Editor of the Journal of Black Psychology
• Adkison-Johnson Conducts Psychoeducational Parenting Group Project
• Two CECP Professors Deliver Culturally Responsive Education Training to KPS
• Dr. Jennifer Foster Works to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
• Assistant Professor Publishes Journal Article
• Professor Joins Local Musicians for Performance at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• Four WMU grad programs among nation's top 50 in U.S. News ranking
• Counseling Psychology Student has Article Accepted for Publication
• Dr. Phillip Johnson Publishes Article in Journal of Counseling & Development
• Professor receives Lambda Leadership Award
• Professor of counseling psychology presents paper in Brazil
• 2016 CECP Awards Reception …

Law Enforcement Officers' Experiences Of Exposure To Trauma, Michelle B. Nirenberg, Robyn Trippany-Simmons, Tiffany C. Rush-Wilson

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Violent, traumatic, and stressful work situations are common for law enforcement officers (LEOs). LEOs are susceptible to stressful situations that impact their emotions and have the ability to affect job performance. This phenomenological study focused on identification of how traumatic incidents affected 10 LEOs from 2 rural law enforcement agencies from a rural community in the southeastern United States. Participants were interviewed regarding the experience of how encountering or witnessing traumatic events impacted their emotions during and after the incident, coping mechanisms they implemented, views on seeking mental health treatment, and importance of peer support. Findings indicated that LEOs expressed …

Effects Of Perceived Stigma From College Friends On Students Utilizing Mental Health Services, Shammah N. Okai

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

This paper explores the relationship between perceived stigma from friends and the use of mental health services. By reviewing six peer-reviewed articles it was hypothesized that there would be a negative correlation between the number of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Psychology 317 students who perceive that their friends had negative thoughts towards mental health services and the likelihood that those individuals would partake in mental health services. A convenience sample (N= 96) was taken from Dr. Cobb’s Psychology 317 class. A correlation was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 22. The results showed that there was a significant and weak positive correlation …

A Comparison Of The Use Of The Antisocial And Borderline Personality Disorder Scales In The Mcmi-Iii And Personality Assessment Inventory With A Criminal Justice Population, Christine Chasek, Thomas Maxson, Brittany Schmidt, Julie A. Dinsmore, Douglas R. Tillman, David D. Hof

Counseling Faculty Publications

The present study compared outcome measurements on the Antisocial and Borderline scales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) with those on the Milion Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) when both were used with a criminal justice population. Significant positive correlations were found between the Antisocial scales on the PAI and MCMI-III, as well as between the Borderline scales of both assessments, indicating that in an evaluation process it would be sufficient to use only one assessment. It is suggested that the MCMI-III is the better option to save costs and time while preserving the clinical accuracy of the testing protocol for …

An Integrated Relational Model Of Substance Abuse Counseling In An Outpatient Setting, Christine Chasek

Counseling Faculty Publications

Historically, there has been a lack of formalized substance abuse counseling models in outpatient counseling settings beyond the 12-step model of treatment that honor the therapeutic relationship. An Integrated Relational Model of Substance Abuse Outpatient Counseling is proposed based on the therapeutic relationship and counseling for solutions. Person-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy are integrated into a proposed phased model to use in outpatient counseling. The structure and application of the model is described, including goals, objectives, and intervention tools for each phase of counseling that honors the power of the therapeutic relationship.

Culturally Competant Pedagogy: Inclusiveness That Extends Beyond Diversity, Shuntay Z. Mccoy, Narketta M. Sparkman-Key

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Institutional practices that go beyond merely securing the presence of diverse students are vital to enhancing the university experience of underrepresented populations. Consequently, this workshop will draw from empirical findings that emphasize cultural inclusivity as a method of cultural competence that extends beyond traditional institutional diversity. Presenters will provide various strategies for engaging in culturally competent pedagogy that will enhance the university experience of all students, including diverse populations.

Ce 534 Syllabus: Multiculturalism And Diversity, Robin Alcala Saner

Counselor Education Syllabi

The purpose of this course is to: (1) promote student growth and development through the learning and practice of basic communication and helping skills; (2) study cultural diversity as it relates to human relations and communication; (3) examine gender and sexual orientation in terms of human relations and communication; and (4) address human relations and communication as they relate to special populations (persons with disabilities, older adults, economically disadvantaged individuals, children, etc.) Grade only. This course will also cover substance abuse issues as relates to diverse cultures, specifically as addressed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) …

Ce 560 Syllabus: Addiction Counseling Assessments & Treatment Of Addictions & Co-Occurring, Mitch Moore

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course addresses the principles of screening, assessment, diagnosis of substance use, induced, and co-occurring disorders in adults and adolescents, and treatment planning. Students will become familiar with an array of screening and assessment instruments, and diagnostic and treatment planning tools, including the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), Rule 25 Assessment, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s Patient Placement Criteria of Substance-Related Disorders (ASAM PPC), as well writing required reports and record-keeping functions. The treatment of co-occurring disorders, including the Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment model, process addictions (e.g., gambling), ethical considerations, and multicultural issues will …

Ce 653 Syllabus: Theory And Practice Of Sexual, Substance Abuse And Crisis Counseling, Mary Fawcett

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course exposes students to the theory and practice of working with clients who present with sexual concerns, substance abuse and/or addiction, and crisis issues. This course facilitates knowledge, awareness and skill development as it relates to student growth and development in preparation to work with client concerns in these sensitive topic areas. Students practice application of counseling theories in a laboratory setting with simulated situations. A strong emphasis is placed on the ethical standards of the counseling profession and on multicultural issues. Prerequisites: CE 601 - Foundations of Counseling, completion of or concurrent registration in CE 658 – Microskills, …

Ce 695 Syllabus: Capstone Project, Masa Sato

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course structures the completion of a major capstone paper in collaboration with the student’s assigned project supervisor and serves as a transition from the role of student to that of professional.

Ce 615 Syllabus: Group Theory And Practice, Masa Sato

Counselor Education Syllabi

In this course students are introduced to the theory and practice of group counseling. The course will provide students with an academic/theoretical overview of groups and group work as well as the opportunity to develop group leadership skills through experiential learning activities.

An Exploration Of Home-Based Therapists’ Supervisory Experiences: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Cherre Camper

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

In-home family therapy has become one of the most common options of treatment for providing services to families who do not typically utilize a private clinic (Lawson, 2005; Reiter, 2000; Yorgason, McWey, & Felts, 2005). Researchers have given some attention to the topic of home-based therapy and to general supervision, but little attention has focused on the actual supervision experiences of home-based therapy providers. This phenomenological study explored the supervision experiences of seven past and current in-home therapists: marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and social workers (MSWs). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants, and data was analyzed to develop …

Sexual Attraction In The Therapy Room: An Exploration Of Licensed Marriage And Family Therapists’ Experiences And Training, Rafiah Prince

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

The client-therapist relationship is an essential part of therapy and is central in helping clients achieve therapeutic goals as the joining process facilitates the change process. However, in an effort to create a space for change, there is a possibility that professional boundaries may become blurred wherein a client may express a sexual attraction toward their therapist. To explore this phenomenon, the researcher employed convergent parallel mixed method design to explore the experiences of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) who have experienced sexual attraction from their clients. The study was conducted online through a secure forum. Implications for clients, …

The Art Of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Experiential Training For Novice Therapists In Creative Collaborative Language, Lori Ann Pantaleao

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

Novice solution-focused brief therapists often have difficulty delivering scaling questions within the languaging of their clients. To help beginning Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) trainees, this researcher has created the metaphorically enhanced scaling question (MESQ) training program. By incorporating a meaning making system such as the metaphor, the scaling question becomes expressive and symbolic to the client and his or her own story. The MESQ objective is to assist novice therapists in facilitating the SFBT scaling question creatively through the use of metaphor. A metaphor is a created meaning isomorphic to its original meaning or experience. The metaphor will be co-constructed …

Enhancing The Couple Alliance And Developing A Dyadic Orientation In Discursive Couples Therapy: A Conversation Analysis Of Therapists', Samira Y. Garcia

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

The purpose of this study is to develop an interpretative understanding of how discursive therapists’ linguistic actions enhance the couple alliance. Additionally, this study includes an exploration of whether these models hold up to a common factors conversation in the practice of couples therapy. The couple alliance is the central relationship in couples therapy. Previous research suggests that therapists’ actions might have an effect on enhancing this alliance by creating a dyadic orientation. In postmodern/discursive models of practice, therapists’ actions have gone mostly unexplored, leaving therapists with little understanding of what is done in the process of couples therapy that …

Data-Based Decision Making In School Counseling: Utilizing Multiple Single-Case Indicators To Evaluate Interventions, Ryan J. Mcgill, Kelly S. Kennedy, Randy T. Busse

Education Faculty Articles and Research

As the field of professional school counseling continues to move toward a data-based decision making model of service delivery, there is a need for dissemination of best practice methods for evaluating whether school-based counseling interventions are effective. In that vein, the purpose of this article is to review several methods of data-based decision making within a single-case outcome evaluation model, as well as their potential applications for school counseling interventions. To aid practitioners, the potential use of these methods is demonstrated in a case example and accompanying graphic displays.

Minority Student Perceptions Of Mental Health, Emily Camacho

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

The current study explored the use of mental health services by minority students at South Dakota State University (SDSU) using thematic analysis. There are numerous reasons that college students choose not to utilize counseling services even though they may be needed. For example, students may avoid counseling out of fear of cultural stigma associated with help-seeking (Ægisdottír et al., 2011). Further, minority students may be more likely to use non-counseling help services such as religious organizations or friends and family in place of formal counseling because they believe that counselors are racially biased, or that there is a lack of …

Beyond Mindfulness: Expanding Integration Of Spirituality And Religion Into Psychotherapy, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Since the publication of Bergin’s classic 1980 paper “Psychotherapy and Religious Values” in the Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, an enormous amount of quality research has been conducted on the integration of religious and spiritual values and perspectives into the psychotherapy endeavor. Numerous empirical studies, chapters, books, blogs, and specialty organizations have emerged in the past 35 years that have helped researchers and clinicians alike come to appreciate the value of religion and spirituality in the psychotherapeutic process. While so much has been accomplished in this area of integration, so much more needs to occur in order for the …

Body Satisfaction And Ability To Identify Weight Status Of Preschool-Aged Children By Their Caregivers, Andrea Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rates of childhood obesity have been rising consistently across the nation and internationally. As a result, interventionists have been working to develop ways to combat this and have focused on interventions involving caregivers. Previous research indicates caregivers experience challenges in identifying obesity among their own children, which leads to barriers in addressing and reducing rates of obesity as caregivers remain unaware of any problems. The current study explored caregivers’ ability to correctly assign their child to the appropriate weight category and whether their ability was impacted by caregivers’ own weight status. Further, it also explored caregivers’ level of body satisfaction …