Counseling Commons^™

Spirituality Transformative Psychotherapy: Repairing Spiritual Damage And Facilitating Extreme Well-Being (Review), Susan Stuntzner

Counseling Faculty Publications

Spirituality is personal and is an individualized journey. For some, it is connected to religious beliefs and practices (i.e., Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism). For others, spirituality is not and may be about personal learning, insight, and transformation. Still others may view spirituality as a part one’s cultural heritage and ethnic background. While some people believe in God or a Higher Being, others do not. When hurt and trauma occur, the situation often becomes more complex because peoples’ beliefs and values are challenged and brought into question. Some may “fall away” from their beliefs or “upbringing” and feel that they have …

How Home And School Factors Influenced College Freshmen And Sophomores To Become First-Generation College Students, Karen L. Sherwood

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

A formal college education allows graduates to greatly increase their earning potential. Research has shown that first generation students make up 50% of the college population. This research investigated home and school factors that led to the decision of the selected first-generation college students in one rural northern-lower Michigan intermediate school district (ISD) to attend a two-year community college or a four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institution. A qualitative case study research design was employed to understand the social phenomena of school and family influence upon first-generation college students and to explore students’ financial concerns about college attendance and their recognition of …

The Effect Of Parenting Styles On Academic Self-Efficacy, Resilience, And Help Seeking, Ana Gonzalez

All Master's Theses

Parenting is a balance of behaviors that can influence a child’s outcome. Twenty-eight undergraduate college students completed ratings of parenting styles, resilience, and help-seeking behaviors, as well as academic self-efficacy. None of these variables were significant predictors of academic self-efficacy, although significant positive correlations were found between an authoritative parenting style and the variables of help-seeking and resilience. Help-seeking and academic self-efficacy were negatively correlated, suggesting that students with lower academic self-efficacy reported a higher willingness to seek help. Implications of these findings for both mental health counselors and university student support staff are discussed.

Urine Cotinine In Children And Parental Behavior Modification: A Pilot Study, Teresa Lachance

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

“Urine Cotinine in Children and Parental Behavior Modification” was designed by Dr. Deirdre Burns, a pediatrician at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH). It was implemented as a pilot study to determine whether urine cotinine testing in children who are admitted to the hospital for respiratory illness and tracking parental smoking behaviors over time was feasible. Parents were given a brief survey to assess their current smoking behaviors and to understand their readiness to quit smoking. They received smoking cessation materials provided by the Breathe Easy Coalition of Maine. These materials outline information about second-hand and third-hand smoke, and encourage …

Compassion And Self-Compassion: Conceptualization Of And Application To Adjustment To Disability, Susan Stuntzner

Counseling Faculty Publications

For many, disability may ignite feelings of grief, sadness, loss, and/or emotional pain. Others discover they harbor negative or self-critical thoughts and beliefs (i.e., blame) which compounds and complicates the personal coping process. Adjustment to disability models exist to help persons with disabilities and professionals understand or explain their negative thoughts, feelings, and experiences; yet, they do not overtly discuss or address emerging skills and approaches such as compassion and selfcompassion as a part of the disability adjustment process. In an effort to change this trend, an eclectic theoretical model which infuses self-compassion and compassion-based techniques has been developed. Rehabilitation …

The Effect Of A College-Going Intervention On The College-Going Self-Efficacy Beliefs Of Middle School Students, Kaley D. Mitchell

Education Dissertations

The need for students of all backgrounds to access and persist in postsecondary education informs a need for additional support related to postsecondary attainment for all people. Social cognitive theory (SCT; Bandura, 1987) and social cognitive career theory (SCCT; Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994) both support the design, implementation, and measurement of college-going interventions that work to enhance self-efficacy, a mediator in college interest, choice, and attendance. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a college-going intervention on the college-going self-efficacy beliefs of a group of diverse middle school students. Specifically, this study examined the …

Taking Charge 2017: Satisfaction Of Residents Of Lincoln, Nebraska, Lisa M. Pytlikzillig, Janell C. Walther, Jake Kawamoto

Lisa PytlikZillig Publications

Between June and August of 2017, a satisfaction survey was completed by more than 1,200 randomly-selected Lincolnites (a random sample, yielding confidence intervals ranging from +/- 1-3% for the full sample, and +/- 2-8% at the district level, at the 95% confidence level1). Listed below are the main findings from that survey, including those obtained from examining the overall sample, and from comparisons among Lincoln’s four City Council Districts.

Overall Satisfaction Ratings

• On average, Lincoln residents reported greater satisfaction than dissatisfaction with most City services in 2017. The average levels of satisfaction were significantly above 3.0 (neutral) for 20 …

Investigating The Receptivity Of Counseling Students Toward Receiving Counseling, Oluwatoyin Adeyemi

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the perceptions of graduate students in counseling toward seeking counseling as part of the efforts to promote the personal and professional development. The main research question is: what are the perceptions of graduate counseling students toward receiving counseling? The secondary questions are: What are the reasons graduate students in counseling would be willing or reluctant to receive counseling? What are the perceived benefits of counseling? And, finally, what are the perceived drawbacks of counseling? The study is qualitative in nature applying a phenomenological design. The participants were purposefully selected from the Ed.S. program in Counselor Education. Six …

The Decision-Making Process For Individuals At Risk For Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Alexa Prose

Theses and Dissertations

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is caused by mutations in the CDH1 gene. Individuals who carry mutations in the CDH1 gene have as high as an 80% lifetime risk for gastric cancer. To reduce the high lifetime risk of gastric cancer, CDH1 mutation carriers are recommended to undergo a prophylactic total gastrectomy (TG). Individuals within this at-risk population face a difficult task of deciding whether to have genetic testing for the CDH1 mutation and to have a prophylactic TG. Currently, there is little research that examines the factors influencing decision-making for this population and their specific informational and support needs. …

Reliability And Stability Of The Six Question Disability Measure In The Current Population Survey: What The Data Can And Cannot Tell Us About Disability And Labor Force Participation, Jeffrey Joy Dr.

Theses and Dissertations

The Current Population Survey (CPS) has been a major source of disability data for public policy and research. The aim of this study was two-fold. First, the study examined the six disability measures added to the CPS in 2008 to determine if they are both a reliable and stable method of describing disability over a period of two survey administrations in a 12-month period. Second, this study then assessed the impact of disability upon labor force participation. This research used a subset of the respondents to the longitudinal CPS Annual Social and Economic Supplement; it included (N=11,721) respondents …

The Lived Experiences Of Academic Advisors With Counseling Degrees In Addressing Wellness With College Student-Athletes, Jennifer M. Gerlach

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of academic advisors who have master’s degrees in counseling in addressing wellness with college student-athletes. Of particular note was to explore if they addressed wellness and, if so, how they addressed wellness. Extant literature is replete with evidence documenting the numerous challenges and stressors student-athletes experience due to their athlete status. Prior to this study, the role of the academic advisor in addressing wellness has not been represented in the literature. This study examined the lived experiences of 10 academic advisors with counseling degrees, or currently enrolled …

Exploring The Professional Identity Of Examplar Novice High School Counselors, Kimberly A. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study investigated how exemplar novice high school counselors described the development of their professional identities. Through interviewing high school counselors who have been practicing between 1 to 5 years, experiences and themes emerged to understand the process of how exemplar novice high school counselors developed a professional identity. Through the themes, researchers will analyze whether novice high school counselors benefited from certain courses as trainees, current job experiences and professional involvement in developing their professional identities.

Predicting Undergraduate Retention In Stem Majors Based On Demographics, Math Ability, And Career Development Factors, Christopher Belser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields are currently facing a crisis with respect to filling jobs with qualified workers (NSF, 2013; NAS, 2011). While advancements in these industries have translated into job growth, post-secondary declaration and retention rates within STEM majors lag behind industry needs (Carnevale et al., 2011; Chen, 2013; Koenig et al., 2012). Although researchers previously investigated demographic variables and math-related variables in the context of STEM retention (Beasley & Fischer, 2012; CollegeBoard, 2012; Cundiff et al., 2013; Gayles & Ampaw, 2014; Le et al., 2014; Nosek & Smyth, 2011; Riegle-Crumb & King, 2010), the need exists …

An Investigation Of The Effects Of Neurofeedback Training On Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, And Academic Self-Efficacy In College Students., Shaywanna Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College students diagnosed with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and lower academic self-efficacy as compared to college students not diagnosed with ADHD. Additionally, college students with ADHD diagnoses struggle to obtain effective treatment options for their ADHD symptoms. Specifically, pharmacological interventions are effective in mitigating ADHD symptoms; however, adverse effects of stimulant medications (i.e., increased/decreased appetite, headache) impact medication adherence in college students with ADHD. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, drug-free intervention that uses the theories of biofeedback and cybernetics to increase self-regulation of brain functions. The purpose of this dissertation study was to …

Hispanic Teacher's Experiences With Stressors While Working In Title I Schools: A Phenomenological Investigation Using A Self-Compassion Framework, Coralis Solomon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory phenomenology investigation was to understand what were Hispanic teachers' experiences with their occupational stressors while working in Title I elementary schools. Specifically, this investigation used a self-compassion theoretical framework to explore the emotional stressors of the participants (N = 19) and how they cope to mitigate their feelings of burnout. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit Hispanic teachers from three Title I elementary schools within the same school district in Central Florida. The data were collected through individual interviews with the Hispanic teachers who volunteered to participate in the study. All data were recorded, transcribed, …

Exploring Relationship Quality As A Dyadic Mediator Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Health For Economically Disadvantaged Couples, Naomi Wheeler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the directional relationships between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE; Felitti et al., 1998), relationship quality (as measured by the Relationship Assessment Scale [Hendrick, 1988] and the Behavioral Self-Regulation for Effective Relationships Scale [Wilson, Charker, Lizzio, Halford, & Kimlin, 2005]), and health (as measured by the OQ 45.2 [Lambert et al., 2004] and a Brief Medical History Questionnaire [Daire, Wheeler, & Liekweg, 2014]) among economically disadvantaged couples. The theorized model included a dyadic structure and mediation of ACE and health by relationship quality using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). The researcher employed …

The Contribution Of Educators' Levels Of Inspiration And Compassion For Others To Their Degree Of Burnout, Samuel Bierbrauer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the directional relationship between educators' levels of inspiration and compassion for others to their degree of burnout. Specifically, the investigation tested the hypothesized directional relationship that educators' who report higher levels of inspiration (as measured by the Educator Inspire Scale, EIS; Lambie, Barden, & Bierbrauer, 2016) and compassion for others (as measured by the Compassion for Others Scale; COS; Pommier, 2010) would score at lower levels of burnout (as measured by the three components of burnout [emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment] on the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Educator Survey; MBI-ES; Maslach, et al., 1996). In addition, the …

The Coping Assessment For Bereavement And Loss Experiences (Cable): Development And Validation, Anne Crunk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The loss of a loved one through death is a virtually inescapable part of the human experience and one that can elicit marked psychological and physical distress on the part of the survivor. However, not all individuals who lose a loved one cope with their grief in the same way. Variation in the duration and intensity of grief reactions among mourners is well supported, with 10-15% of the bereaved population experiencing a protracted, debilitating, and sometimes life-threatening grief response known as complicated grief (CG). However, most grievers respond to loss with relative resilience, demonstrating an ability to sustain reasonably stable …

Counseling And Creativity: An Analog Study, Sarah J. Graham

All Master's Theses

Researchers recognize that creativity can play a significant role in counseling, both on the part of the counselor and the client. Additionally, creativity is a potentially important and overlooked area when it comes to counselor education. However, the full nature and impact of creativity in counseling is not fully understood. To examine the relationship between creativity and counseling in further detail, this study exposed participants to an analog counseling video of either a low or high creativity level displayed by the counselor. Participants were then asked to take a survey rating dimensions of the counselor's efficacy (i.e., expertness, attractiveness, trustworthiness) …

Bridging The Gap: Pop Media As A Narrative Tool For Working With Millennials, Kristina M. Kays, David Kays, Adrian Egger

Faculty Publications - Psychology Department

This seminar explores the use of popular media as a means to explore emotions issues resulting from trauma and abuse. The movie Inside Out will be explored as a practical and live example for use in integrating narrative therapy interventions with challenging clients resistant to exploring emotional concerns in therapy.

The Process Of Resolving Spiritual Struggle Following Adulthood Trauma, Aimee L. Keith

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Spiritual struggle has been described as a disruption in religious practice and spirituality resulting in questioning beliefs, experiencing discord within religious communities, decreasing spiritual practices, and experiencing painful cognitions such as the belief that one is being punished by God. This study used constructivist grounded theory to explore how women identifying as Protestant Christians at the time of the traumatic event resolve their spiritual struggles. Eleven conceptual categories, which are presented in a stage model, emerged from the data. The stages were Experiencing an Event Discordant with Beliefs, Emotional Reaction (following the traumatic event), Questioning (of beliefs, suffering and identity), …

Is Knowing Half The Battle? The Effects Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Compared To Psychoeducation On Stigma Towards Mental Illness, Rebecca L. Fountain

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Psychoeducation have been shown to reduce stigmatizing thoughts towards individuals with mental illness. The present study compared the effects of a 50 minute ACT and 50 minute psychoeducation workshop on levels of stigma in college students (N = 76). Psychological flexibility and knowledge about mental illness were examined as potential mechanisms by which the workshops generated stigma reduction. Participants were randomly assigned to either workshop with pre and post scores on the Community Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill scale used as the primary dependent variable. Both workshops were effective in reducing levels …

Spirituality In Supervision, Laurie A. Bloomquist

Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling

Spirituality and religion are emerging in the literature as important areas of counselor competency. Not enough is known about the personal experiences of clinical supervisors with this topic. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relationship between the personal spiritual and religious practices of counselor supervisors and their professional quality of life and ability to demonstrate the spiritual competencies described by the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC). A demographic questionnaire about spiritual and religious practices was created and two existing assessment tools were used to complete a cross sectional survey design to explore …

Utilizing Action Research To Improve Counseling Education Course Work For Culturally Diverse Students, Sabina De Vries, Deirdre Mcdonald, Mary Mayorga

Counseling and Guidance Faculty Publications (Archived)

This article informs counselor educators and psychologists on how to utilize action research to evaluate diverse students, course work, and to improve classroom instruction. A paucity exists in research investigating educational needs of diverse counseling students. The present action research study examined educational experiences of diverse counseling students enrolled in a research course. The sample consisted of 70% Hispanic/Latino students, and a little less than half were older adults; 80% of the participants were female. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected and analyzed. Findings, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Military-Related Ptsd And Working With Couples In Private Practice: Emotion-Focused Therapy, Psychoeducation, And Evolutionary Perspective, Sabina De Vries

Counseling and Guidance Faculty Publications (Archived)

The aim of this article is to provide information and treatment suggestions to mental health services providers who work with couples with trauma-related problems. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment dropout rates, evolutionary perspective of PTSD, emotion-focused therapy (EFT), emotionally focused couples therapy, and psychoeducational strategies are discussed. A hypothetical case example is provided to illustrate how psychoeducation and information pertaining to trauma responses and evolution can be integrated with emotion-focused therapy to work with traumatized persons/couples in a private practice setting.

Changes In J-Soap-Ii And Savry Scores Over The Course Of Residential, Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment For Adolescent Sexual Offending, Jodi L. Viljoen, Andrew L. Gray, Catherine Shaffer, Natasha E. Latzman, Mario Scalora, Daniel Ullman

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Although the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol–II (J-SOAP-II) and the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) include an emphasis on dynamic, or modifiable factors, there has been little research on dynamic changes on these tools. To help address this gap, we compared admission and discharge scores of 163 adolescents who attended a residential, cognitive-behavioral treatment program for sexual offending. Based on reliable change indices, one half of youth showed a reliable decrease on the J-SOAP-II Dynamic Risk Total Score and one third of youth showed a reliable decrease on the SAVRY Dynamic Risk Total Score. Contrary to expectations, …

Integrating Forgiveness Therapy And The Treatment Of Anger: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Michael Schaefer Ballard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the costs of uncontrolled anger are well-known, interventions for anger are less frequently studied and less effective than interventions for either depression or anxiety (NAMA, 2012). One hundred eighty-seven patients requesting anger management treatment at an outpatient counseling center in Denver participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: an experimental treatment integrating forgiveness therapy and anger management, or anger treatment as usual. Treatment consisted of twelve 90-minute sessions held once a week in small groups led by group facilitators. Participants in both treatment conditions reported clinically significant decreases in state anger and increases …

An Exploration Of The Relationships Between Self Compassion And Burnout : Secondary Traumatic Stress And Compassion Satisfaction Among Providers Who Work With Children And Families Who Have Experienced Trauma, Binlin Xia

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The field of social work education has witnessed a soaring need to help providers cope with the negative emotional impact of working with clients who have experienced trauma. This study explored the association between self compassion and the experience of burn out (BO), secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion satisfaction (CS) among mental health providers who specifically work with children and youth who have experienced trauma. This quantitative study employed a survey in addition to two open-ended questions in a sample of 60 participants using a convenience sampling process.

The findings suggest that self compassion serves as a strongly correlated …

Psychedelic Psychotherapy : Existential And Neuroscience Perspectives On The Therapeutic Journey, Arthur W. Seelig

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Psychotherapy with the use of high-dose psychedelic drugs shows immense promise in treating a myriad of debilitating psychiatric conditions. After a three-decade long suspension, regulators have allowed for new studies and re-awakened interest in the potential of psychedelics. However, while research on the topic has quickly progressed, little has been done to reinvigorate our clinical understanding of the psychedelic healing process. This thesis interprets the psychedelic state through the twin perspectives of existentialism and neuroscience with the goal of starting to develop a theoretical language.

The subjective experience of high-dose psychedelics under therapeutic conditions often results in a loss-of-self referred …

The Meaning Of Sexual And Gender Identities In Transgender Men, William B. Baker

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the complexity of the lived experiences of trans men, how sexual orientation and gender identity play out in the lives of trans men, and how that lived experience changed during transitioning. The research was aimed at finding how sexual orientation and gender identity, usually treated as separate and independent constructs, interconnect with each other. Eight transgender men were interviewed in-depth over a period of several months. Their perspectives gave insight into how sexual and gender identities are related and how one informs the other.

The present study showed that …