Counseling Commons^™

Relationships Between Professional Development And Attitudes, Knowledge, And Skills In Play Therapy Among Counselors, Cynthia Ann Anderson

Dissertations

Most counselors receive inadequate training in play therapy, through university counselor education programs, to counsel children using the method, which leaves novice counselors searching for workshops, institutes, conferences, or self-training to effectively meet the mental health needs of children with play therapy. In this first-of-its-kind study, the researcher investigated relationships between professional development and play therapy among working counselors and measured attitudes, knowledge and skills, and types of training in play therapy. A nonrandom sample of counselors were recruited from relevant online sources in this quantitative study. Attitudes, knowledge, and skills were measured by the self-reported Revised Play Therapy Attitude-Knowledge-Skills …

Donor Families’ Experiences From Initial Loss Forward: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Linda Sue Meeker

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the lives of those who have consented to organ donation at the time of an unexpected death of a loved one. The qualitative data illuminated participants’ experiences as members of donor families as they shared their observations and experiences from the initial loss forward. The participants in this study included eight women and one man who were the primary next-of-kin and the individual who provided consent to donate the organs. The results indicated that there are steps in the care of these families that could be improved, allowing for better care of …

First-Time Practicum Students' Lived Experiences Of Case Presentations In Group Supervision: A Phenomenological Study, Jason Blakely Fischer

Dissertations

Although best practices of group supervision advise that supervisory methods match the developmental level of supervisees, research has shown that novices typically receive group supervision in the same manner as more experienced trainees. The prevalent use of case presentations in group supervision regardless of learners' level of clinical experience suggests contemporary practicum courses may be overlooking beginning students' unique, developmental characteristics and needs. Fifteen counseling students enrolled in CACREP-accredited master's degree programs across the United States were interviewed for a phenomenological study exploring their experiences of case presentations in practicum. Synchronous interviews conducted over video conferencing examined participants' emotional experiences …

The Evaluation Of The Jostens Renaissance Incentive Program And The Impact It Has On Students At A Southwest Florida High School, Saneik Buchanan

Dissertations

As state requirements for academic achievement continue to become more rigorous, school administrators and counselors strive to create positive school environments. Therefore, administrators and counselors must find creative incentive programs tailored to meet the needs of respective school settings, such as the Jostens Renaissance incentive program. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the Jostens Renaissance education incentive program at one Title I high school in Southwest Florida by studying the relationship among students’ GPAs, attendance, and disciplinary issues before participation in the program. The evaluation was a quantitative, quasi-experimental design that utilized pre-existing data of …

Fostering Resilience: A Pilot Study For Mindful Yoga As An Intervention For Adolescents Exposed To Chronic Adversity, Michele Pinellas

Dissertations

The effects of ongoing stress can cause chronic affect dysregulation, destructive behavior against self and others, learning disabilities, dissociative problems, somatization, and distortions in concepts about self and others (Bessel van der Kolk, 1994, p. 259). There may be particular benefits for youth who live in urban, underserved populations as they have experienced social challenges such as poverty, violence, drugs, racism, and immigration. Given the historical tendency of youth to express their emotions externally as a coping strategy, there is rationale to support a physically based treatment, like yoga, as an intervention for this population (Beltran et al., 2016). This …

Emotional Regulation And Treatment Progress Of Male Child And Adolescent Therapeutic Campers, Stephen Edward Talley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For the past 75, years Therapeutic Camping (ThC) has been utilized as a therapeutic modality, although it has been largely unknown or unrecognized by the traditional treatment community. ThC bears similarities to wilderness therapy and was initially developed for children and youth suffering from behavioral and emotional problems. Mental and behavioral health issues are frequent in youth which can cause personal, familial, social, and economic problems. Another core underlying issues emotion dysregulation, which involves the inability to regulate emotion across multiple domains. Mental health providers have recognized the need to reduce the effects associated with emotion dysregulation and limited treatment …

Teenagers’ Wellness In Divorced Families: A Phenomenological Study, Sarada Devi R.Subramaniam

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study aimed to explore an in-depth understanding on the wellness of teenagers in divorced families. This qualitative study used the phenomenological approach to explore the experience of ten teenagers living with single mothers after the divorce of their parents. Participants in this research are 10 teenagers age between 16 to 18 years’ old who lived with their mothers after their parents' divorce. The duration of their parents' divorce during the data collection was in the range of one to ten years.Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and document analysis by social media. Data were analysed using NVIVO12 software. Nine …

Experiential And Transformative Learning For School Counselors: Impacts Of Counseling First-Generation, Low-Income, College-Bound Students, Alyson M. Pompeo-Fargnoli, Nicole Pulliam, Amanda Lapa, Jennifer Dutil

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Through the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study examined the impacts of counseling first-generation, low-income college-bound students by way of a school counselor experiential learning program at one small, private university in the eastern United States. This study explored experiential learning, including from a transformative learning perspective, as well as its overall impact on school counseling student preparation. Themes that emerged indicated that school counseling graduate student interns, when placed in a culturally diverse experiential learning setting, have the potential to increase their counselor competencies including multicultural competencies, and to have a transformative learning experience. These impacts were …

In The Gap: Peer Support Group Experiences For Post-Graduate, Pre-Licensed Counseling Candidates, Elizabeth A. Keller-Dupree, Christine N. Scott, Janet Leane Shannon, Robert L. Durham, Ashley Woltjer

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counselor development evolves throughout one’s professional tenure. One unique phase is the developmental gap post-graduation and pre-licensure in which counseling candidates develop an autonomous sense of self beyond the institution in which they were trained. This study sought to explore those “in the gap” experiences for eight CACREP graduates who participated in a five-session peer support group. A content-driven thematic analysis revealed (a) a feeling of disconnection and (b) a sense of disillusionment brought participants to the group, and (c) a need for homecoming, (d) a call for continued growth, and (e) a practice of empowerment were received by participants …

Aligning Cognitive Complexity Models: Bridging Development Across Educational And Supervisory Contexts, J. Scott Branson, Ashley N. Branson

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Cognitive complexity is a requisite skill for mental health professionals, as they routinely face complex, ambiguous tasks such as working within an evidence based practice framework in ways that bridge clients’ subjective experiences with relevant psychotherapeutic outcome research. Multiple models for conceptualizing and promoting cognitive complexity development in educational and supervisory settings have been articulated, and the similarities across these models is striking. The purpose of this article is to: 1) introduce readers to King and Kitchener’s (1994) Reflective Judgement model of educational development and 2) demonstrate the striking alignment between the Reflective Judgement model and prominent developmental models of …

Experiential Learning In School Counselor Preparation: Supporting Professional Skill Development, Jennifer S. Barna

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Professional standards require school counselor educators to prepare students to competently perform the many necessary skills of a school counselor. Integration of experiential learning activities into existing pre-fieldwork school counseling courses supports both skill development and standard compliance. A framework for planning, implementing, and evaluating this classroom pedagogy is detailed.

Counselor Educators’ Integration Of Wellness With Doctoral Students Within Cacrep-Accredited Programs, Jeremiah T. Stokes, Quentin Hunter

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore seven counselor educators’ experiences integrating wellness during the teaching and training of doctoral students in CACREP accredited counselor education programs. Themes associated with specific teaching modalities, wellness needs of doctoral students, and counselor educators’ own wellness practices are discussed.

Rural Community Dynamics: Implications For School Counselors, David J. Bright

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Research shows that rural students face increasing challenges to academic, social-emotional, and career success. An understanding of student culture, background, and needs is required for a school counselor to advocate for all students. Research into the needs of rural students is lacking when compared to other populations. Research suggests that poverty, geographic isolation, cultural isolation, lack of school and community resources, and barriers to educational success as factors influencing the development and success of rural students. This article reviews the available literature and provides implications for rural school counseling practice and future research.

The Role Of Clinical Supervision In Treating Clients With Antisocial Personality Disorder, Edward T. Dunbar Jr., Rebecca L. Koltz, Anna Elliott, Kara M. Hurt-Avila

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Clinicians often have negative attitudes toward clients diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), which can sabotage treatment and lead to clinician burnout and job dissatisfaction. Researchers recommend clinicians receive regular clinical supervision; however, clinical supervision strategies and models related to working with ASPD are lacking. We identify supervisors’ primary task as exploring and improving clinicians’ attitudes toward clients having ASPD and examine this task within the discrimination model of clinical supervision. A case study is offered as an illustration for how to approach working with ASPD in supervision.

Place Based Education As A Tool For Rural Career Development, David J. Bright

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Rural career development is rarely studied despite a large portion of American students attending school in a rural area. Rural career development is affected by factors such as student attachment to place, access to professional role models, local economic development, school funding, and geographic proximity to professional industries and higher education. A Critical Pedagogy of Place (Gruenewald, 2003) empowers students to critical explore the spacial and social constructs of their local area.Given that school counselors are in a unique position as career development and social justice advocates, this article explores the use of a Critical Pedagogy of Place as an …

Aspects Contributing To Dissertation Chair Success: Consensus Among Counselor Educators, Maribeth F. Jorgensen, Kelly L. Wester

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Students frequently attribute completion of their dissertation to having a successful dissertation chair. Yet, a successful dissertation chair has primarily been defined from the student viewpoint. Through the process of a Delphi study, a panel of dissertation chair experts in counselor education conceded on 37 items that contributed to their success. These items included a combination of instrumental and relational aspects of working with doctoral students on their dissertation. Implications for dissertation chairs to navigate self, others, and the structure are explored.

School Support Personnel’S Perspectives On School-Based Grief Support, Eliza Van

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

First Responder Mental Health, Kira Swensen, Timothy Keady, Maren Wright Voss

All Current Publications

Communities spend thousands of dollars on first responders to protect them physically: body armor for law enforcement officers, heat resistant gear for firefighters, gloves and reflective clothing for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. Supporting and investing in programs related to first responders’ mental health is equally important in keeping their minds safe. First responders train long hours each year to stay prepared for almost any situation. In the past, training has centered around physical safety and job efficiency. In recent years, efforts have been made to include mental health training and reduce the stigma associated with mental health for first …

School Counselors’ Response To School Shootings: Framework Of Recommendations, Carleton H. Brown

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Despite the many expectations of school counselors in responding effectively to crisis situations, there is a lack of research and comprehensive standards that address best practices for school counselors in terms of preparing for and responding to a school shooting. Using federal guidelines and crisis literature, including studies focused on school counselors’ lived experiences of a school shooting, the author offers a research-informed theoretical framework of recommendations at different phases of a school shooting. The framework of recommendations points out probable hindrances to school counselors’ decision making. School counselors’ awareness of these impediments before experiencing each phase of such a …

Traumatic Shame Memories And Development Of Paranoid Ideations, Anwesha Maitra

Psychology and Counseling Theses

Paranoia and persecutory delusions constitute the symptoms of established disorders such as schizophrenia in clinical population. Paranoia is believed to exist as a continuum within the general population. A ‘threat anticipation model’ was established by Freeman and his colleagues suggested that paranoid delusions arise from the interaction of vulnerability, emotional processes, and reasoning basis. Paranoia in the subclinical population can be caused due to high levels of emotional variants such as depression, anxiety, fear and a concept of self-awareness in a psychological individual (Carvalho et al., 2019; Lincoln et al.2009).

Recent studies have focused on the associations between these emotional …

2020-08-22 Pca Board Meeting Cumulative Report, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

2020-08-22 Pca Board Meeting Agenda, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

2020-08-22 Pca Executive Council Meeting Minutes, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

Obesity In Thurston County Washington, Sheaunna Guary

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Thurston County Washington is experiencing a steady increase in the rates of adult obesity within our community. Obesity can have a negative impact on the mental, physical, and financial health of individuals and the county at large (Pul & Suh, 2015). As such, the author proposes addressing this community issue through a social change project that contains both preventative measures as well as postvention efforts to address and decrease rates of obesity in Thurston County Washington.

Exploration Of A Resilience Intervention Among Women With Disabilities: An Examination Of Two Case Studies, Susan Stuntzner, Angela Macdonald, Jacquelyn A. Dalton

Counseling Faculty Publications

People who live with a disability are faced with the prospect of adjusting to the disability and its associated life experiences. Many people encounter negative and hurtful situations such as unemployment, lack of adequate resources, changes in relationships and social support, negative societal attitudes, bias, and discrimination, and so forth. Women with disabilities are subject to these same negative encounters, but they often experience several others based on their gender (i.e., higher rates of abuse, poverty, and financial independence). Given the likelihood that women may experience additional stressors with fewer supports in place, professionals must focus on the needs of …

Experiences Of Latinx's Adult Transition To The U.S. And The Clinical Implications That Arise In Acclimating Into The Dominant Culture: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Gabriela Olavarrieta

Doctoral Dissertations

There has been a significant gap in the literature regarding the lived experience of the Latinx adult transition to the United States and the clinical implications that arise in acclimating to the dominant culture, particularly under the Trump Administration. The approach for the current research examined Latinxs’ adulthood transitions to the United States, experiences of acculturative stress, including instances of discrimination as well as their experiences acclimating or assimilating into the dominant culture. This study also examined what seeking, or being unable to seek, mental health services looked like in the current sociopolitical climate. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was utilized to …

First-Gen Mental Health: The Experiences Of First-Generation Graduate Students At The University Of San Diego, Edith Mendez

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

Higher education professionals can better support struggling students by having more of an awareness of their experiences and how their mental health is related to the identities they hold. As a first-generation Latina college student, I am reminded of my own experiences and struggles, which impacted my sense of belonging and academic success. My action research responds to the question: "What are the mental health concerns that first-generation students studying at the University of San Diego (USD) encounter?" After making changes to my research because of unforeseen circumstances, I designed a study focusing on graduate students with cycles consisting of …

Training Through Naming: A Process Of Psychotherapist Skill Development Utilizing Recursive Frame Analysis, Michael D. Reiter, Wonbin Faith Jung, Jessica Popham, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Emily Garcia, Mariana Guzman De Perez, Tiffany Lockhart, Noelle Villanueva

The Qualitative Report

Recursive frame analysis (RFA) is both an advanced qualitative research method and a therapeutic tool that is used to map psychotherapy discourse. RFA tracks the therapeutic conversation to show how the therapy talk moves from one act to another. This paper describes the implementation of a training process for family therapy students in a family therapy clinic and the student therapists’ experiences of learning through this process, called Naming the Session. We present the organic development of the training process, its roots in RFA, and the student therapists’ perceptions of how Naming the Session impacted them as trainees. We further …

Staying Serene In A World Of Uncertainty, Christine Chasek

Counseling Faculty Publications

American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote a very powerful prayer in 1932; you may recognize it. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference."

The nation was in turmoil when it was written. The Great Depression had a hold on our country, people were out of work, the land turned to dust, and families were starving. Niebuhr was looking for a way to comfort people and give them a sense of direction in a dark time. The Serenity Prayer became that source of …

The Role Of Boredom, Loneliness, And Technology Use As Predictors Of Sexual Responsibility Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Natalie Drozda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of sexual responsibilities (i.e., sex positivity and sexual health as well as sexual risk responsibility) for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The predictors examined included boredom, loneliness, online risk behavior, intent to use dating apps/websites for casual sex, and intent to use dating apps/websites for romance. Gender differences in sexual responsibility subscales were also explored. ANOVAS yielded women with autism exhibited more sexual responsibility on both subscales than men. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine significant predictors of Sex Positivity and Sexual Health as well as Sexual Risk Responsibility …