Counseling Commons^™

Empowering Mothers: A Conceptual Model For Promoting Perinatal Mental Wellness Among Women In The United States, Kayla Acklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Globally, there are certain expectations surrounding becoming a mother related to pregnancy and the birth. For many women, the birth of a child represents a natural event filled with joy. Societally, the expectation is that pregnancy, birth, and the transition into motherhood are normal, positive experiences for all women (Davis-Floyd & Cheyney, 2019). However, research shows that some women develop impairments in physical and mental health functioning and wellbeing as a result of the major physical and psychosocial changes that take place during the transition into motherhood (Austin et al., 2010; Ayers & Pickering, 2001; O’Hara et al., 2014).

This …

School Counseling In An Oppressed Society: Examining The Relationships Between Social Justice Advocacy Competence, Empowerment, And Social Justice Self-Efficacy, Michelle Tanner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current nature of oppression that exists in the United States can be seen in the structure and process of American schools, impacting students’ social/emotional, academic, and career development. The defined role of school counselors along with their educational background; strategic position within schools to make meaningful change; access to critical student, teacher, family, and community data; and their professional dispositions and experience make them the most logical choice to help remove systemic barriers and to create equitable opportunities for the marginalized students. School counselors must work as social justice advocates to lead these diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; however, …

Teacher Perception Towards The Use Of Information And Communication Technology (Ict) In Secondary Schools In Ebonyi State, Nigeria, Chinwe Enyi, Mkpoikanke Otu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined the teacher perception towards the use of (ICT) in teaching Biology in secondary schools in Okposi education zone of Ebonyi state. Ten schools and all 15 Biology teachers in the schools were used for the study which adopted descriptive survey design. Two instruments were used. The first one was a checklist on availability of (ICT) facilities in schools while the second was a questionnaire for Biology teachers on their perception on the use of ICT and the problems militating against the integration of ICT in their work. Simple percentages and mean were used in answering the research …

Substance Use Disorders In The Farming Population: Scoping Review, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, Christine Chasek, Aaron M. Yoder, Jesse E. Bell

Counseling Faculty Publications

Purpose

The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize the current knowledge base in order to make recommendations for prevention and treatment of substance use disorders among the farming populations.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published between January 1989 and September 2019. The search yielded 3,426 citations and the final review was conducted on 42 articles. The full review was conducted by 4 authors to extract information about the target population, data collection methods, and main results.

Findings

There were 21 articles on farmers and 21 articles on farmworkers. The majority of the articles were …

Weight And The Therapeutic Relationship: Implications For Counselors, Emily Shank

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Central to the healthcare system in the United States is the belief that weight is an accurate measure of health. This belief, which is the foundation of the Weight Centered Health Paradigm (WCHP), is linked to the proliferation of diets, weight cycling, and weight stigma. However, a growing body of research indicates that higher weight is not necessarily linked to negative health outcomes and that the impact of weight cycling and weight stigma pose far greater risks to health. Counselors and other mental health professionals function within the weight-normative healthcare system in the United States and are faced with the …

Reviewing Counseling Literature Regarding Toxic Masculinity, Jenna Clough

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

With the rates of mental health disorders increasing for men in the United States, counseling research has identified factors attributing to this concern and explore ways in which the counseling field can better serve this population. The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to present seven empirically based research articles and one literature review on toxic masculinity. Including seven qualitative articles and one quantitative article, this annotated bibliography will provide an overview of the counseling research findings on toxic masculinity. A review of literature and research methodology is included. Reflections for future research will also be included.

Canine-Assisted Therapy: Incorporating Canines Into The Therapeutic Experience, Melissa H. Kee

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Canine-Assisted Therapy (CAT) is a therapeutic practice that has been growing in popularity in recent years but unfortunately has little research to show evidence of effectiveness. This article focuses specifically on the use of canines in therapeutic environments. Use of canines in a therapy setting may be a source of confusion due to the many assistance role that canines can provide, including hearing dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and service dogs. This article provides clarity regarding CAT and includes recommendations for counselors considering the use of dogs in their therapeutic practice.

Safe To Fight: Lessons From Counseling For Grappling Coaches, Rachel Wilson

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

The following is a series of articles designed to help coaches respond empathically and effectively to the emotional needs of their athletes and to safety concerns in their club. The three articles discuss students who shut down when they train; students who become overly aggressive; and students or coaches who groom and prey on others. A review of the counseling literature is offered to explain the behaviors each type of student is likely to engage in. Counseling principles and technique are offered to provide a framework for coaches to use as they teach these kinds of students and address safety …

Death Anxiety, Artmaking And The Facilitation Of Death Discourse, Heather Conley

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

Discussion about death, known as death discourse, has been historically limited to the confines of the palliative care, elderly and hospice arenas (Bradshaw, 1996; Granek, 2013; Safrai, 2013; Zimmerman, 2012). This study examined the impact of artmaking on facilitating death discourse in college-aged students from a midwestern United States campus. A mixed methods design was implemented in which participants completed the Communication Apprehension about Death Scale (CADS; Carmack & DeGroot, 2016), an artmaking directive addressing feelings about death, followed by a Post-Artmaking Reflection about their artwork. Following a 10-day time period after the artmaking session, participants were re-administered the CADS …

Informing Consent: A Grounded Theory Study Of Parents Of Transgender And Gender Diverse Youth Seeking Gender Confirming Endocrinological Interventions, Charles F. Shepard

Dissertations, 2020-current

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) identity during the Twenty-first Century in the United States has been associated with pervasive patterns of mistreatment and discrimination across social, educational, occupational, legal, and healthcare experiences (Drescher, 2010; James et al., 2016; Stryker, 2008). Despite these trends, affirming stances toward TGD identity has been developing almost simultaneously tracing its roots to Christine Jorgensen’s transition in the 1950s. About a decade later, endocrinological interventions were pioneered that aimed to medically support TGD patients who wished to feminize or masculinize their bodies to be more congruent with their gender identity without surgery. These gender-confirming endocrinological interventions (GCEI) …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being For Well-Functioning Young Adults: The Case Of Burundian College Students, Peace N. Ningabire

Dissertations, 2020-current

As the body of research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has grown over the last few decades, a gap between how individuals and families experience and cope with such adversities in Western societies versus in non-Western communities has also widened. Moreover, many studies conducted in low/middle-income countries on ACEs have looked at marginalized populations, such as children-soldiers, homeless children, refugee camps, etc. The present study, on the other hand, sought to explore childhood adversities, as well as current emotional well-being and coping strategies for Burundian well-educated, high-functioning young adults. A survey of 100 Burundian college students documented many adverse childhood …

Technology And Pleasure: A Qualitative Study On Using Mobile Applications For Online And Offline Sexual Purposes, Gabriella Locke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The internet has long been considered an accessible, anonymous, and affordable platform for sexuality and the emergence of smartphone applications has made facilitating online and offline sexual behaviors even easier for young adults. Despite the increase, there continues to be a lack of detailed research on the experiences of young adults who use these types of applications. This qualitative study explored how young adults use mobile applications to engage in online and offline sexual behaviors and the motivations and perceived benefits and risks of such behavior. This study, analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, completed eight semi-structed interviews with individuals between …

Equipping Preservice Teachers With Trauma Informed Care For The Classroom, Tamarine Foreman, Perianne Bates

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

In an effort to prepare preservice teachers to enter the classroom where students may have experienced or been exposed to trauma, the authors designed and facilitated instruction around trauma’s influence on the learning process. The intent of the instruction was to improve the preservice teacher’s ability to realize, recognize, and respond to students without re-traumatizing the students. The authors compared pre and post scores on the ARTIC-35 Education version (Baker et al., 2016) and found the instruction significantly improved the preservice teachers’ knowledge, awareness, and self-efficacy in working with students who have experienced or been exposed to trauma.

Facing A New Normal: Uncovering The Psychological Effects Of Loneliness On Student Mental Health, Courtney Thoreson

Counselor Education Capstones

In anticipation of the burden loneliness will have in combination with distressing psychological and emotional burdens carried over from the COVID-19 prevention strategies i.e., social distancing, quarantine measures, and lockdowns, colleges and universities are facing a broad spectrum of challenges as they shift to adapt to a new normal. Besides the physical health impact of COVID-19, this global pandemic has unleashed a psychological toll on society that has yet to be fully realized for its potential long-lasting effects. As campuses navigate the broader impacts of COVID-19, understanding the psychological effects of loneliness will be a primary focus in understanding it’s …

Ce 555 Syllabus: Addictions Counseling - Psychopharmacology, Mitch Moore

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course introduces students to the pharmacology of substance abuse disorders and the dynamics of addiction, including medication-assisted therapy. Students will learn about the effects of licit and illicit drugs on the brain and body, basic drug classifications, and indications and contraindications of drugs to make appropriate referrals for medical intervention and medication evaluations and to provide basic client education.

Ce 432 Syllabus: Stress Management, Anquinetta V. Calhoun

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course will provide an introduction to important concepts, issues, skills, and interventions related to the identification and management of personal stress.

Ce 565 Syllabus: Addictions Counseling - Theory And Practice, Mitch Moore

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course provides students with an overview of various theoretical orientations, models, and methods for delivering client education and treatment from both and individual and group perspectives. Students will be introduced to evidenced-based treatment approaches, including motivational interviewing/ enhancement therapy, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and 12-Step facilitation, and others. Working with clients in crisis and with co-occurring disorders will be emphasized.

Ce 611 Syllabus: Development Over The Lifespan, Anquinetta V. Calhoun

Counselor Education Syllabi

The purpose of this course is to promote students’ thinking and learning about human growth, adaptation, and change throughout the lifespan. Major theories, issues, eras, and trends in human development will be addressed.

Ce 590 Syllabus: Addictions Counseling - Practicum, Mitch Moore

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course provides a practical, field-based experience of 880 hours in an addiction counseling setting as required by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (MBBHT) Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor [LADC], and the Minnesota Certification Board’s (MCB) Board Certified Counselor (BCC) requirements (IC&RC). This experience may be arranged with supervision coordinated through the practicum course instructor and an on-site supervisor. A total of six (6) credits—two sections—of practicum work must be completed.

Ce 633 Syllabus: Ethical Practice And Social Change, Rieko Miyakuni

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course introduces students to the legal, professional and ethical issues that affect the practice of counseling and psychotherapy and the methods and ethical basis for counselors to be agents of social change. Students will become familiar with law and ethical codes related to the counseling profession. A model for ethical decision-making will be presented. Also, students will be presented with models for social change in their function as leaders, change agents, collaborators, and risk takers. Providing outreach and advocacy services in the school and community settings, students will expand their role as counselors to include the social contexts of …

Ce 690 Syllabus: Internship, Dawnette Cigrand

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course provides a practical, field-based experience in a school or community setting. This experience may be arranged with supervision coordinated through the CE Internship Coordinator and an onsite supervisor. A total of six (6) credits of internship work must be completed.

Examining The Role Of Self-Compassion In Resilience Among African American Women: A Qualitative Perspective, Vivian W. France

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to fill an important gap in the literature by exploring the role of self-compassion in resilience among African American women. This study was an investigation of some of the challenges African American women face in their lived experiences that impact their self-compassion and to provide an understanding of the role self-compassion plays in their pursuit of higher education. A qualitative design with a phenomenological approach and thematic analysis for gathering and extrapolating primary themes and subthemes from the participant data sets was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five African American women ages 27–58 years who had …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Impact Of Client Suicide On Mental Health Professionals: Personal And Professional, Hernel Lois Selman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the impact that client's suicide has on mental health professionals' lives, both personally and professionally. The study's central question was: What is the influence that spirituality/religions have on the impact experienced by mental health professionals after the death of their client by suicide? The theories that guided this study are Joiner’s interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide and Bowlby's attachment theory as it relates to grief and loss and the challenge to obtain support with an insecure attachment style; Sanders, Jacobson, and Ting's theory of the five phases of guilt experienced after …

The Underlying Implications Of Chronic Poverty: Investigating The Exponential Increase In Suicides From 2001-2017 Among African American Female Teenagers, Kevin Adarell Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to investigate and ascribe meaning to the lived experiences of African American females and examine plausible circumstances that could cause an exponential increase in suicides among teenagers from 2001-2017. The theories that guided this study were Albert Bandura’s (2018) social cognitive theory (SCT) and Icek Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB). TPB is a model used to predict and explain behaviors based on an individual’s attitude and intentions toward the behavior. When TPB is interwoven with SCT, the theories helped interpret influences that explained the participants’ perspectives, thoughts, and behavior that could …

Preliminary Examination Of School Counselors' Perception Of Their Ability To Provide Direct And Indirect Student Services, Angela K. Waggoner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) national model, over 80% of school counselors’ time should be spent providing direct and indirect student services, which represents a major shift in the roles and responsibilities of school counselors. Additionally, after the Santa Fe mass shootings, Texas school counselors are now required to provide these services to students experiencing trauma and/or crisis. However, little research has been found regarding school counselors’ perceptions of their ability to provide direct and indirect student services, including trauma and crisis-related counseling, as outlined by the ASCA. This study addressed this gap by collecting survey data …

Moral Disapproval, Perceived Addiction, God-Image And Externalization: A Moderation Analysis, Christopher L. Ostrander

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has indicated a positive correlation among religious individuals who view pornography and report experiencing increased moral incongruence and perceived addiction as a result of their use. Research also shows how one views God (loving, distant, and cruel), known as God-image, can attenuate or exacerbate psychological distress associated with pornography use and or religious/spiritual struggles. Recently a small number of studies have shown externalization, the tendency to blame others, as an effective coping mechanism in the reduction of sexual shame. Based on Grubbs, Perry, et al., (2019) theoretical model, pornography problems due to moral incongruence (PPMI), this study aimed to …

The Lived Experiences Of African American Counselors: An Exploration Of Their Reactions To Trauma Survivors, Zanovia P. Tucker

Dissertations

Nearly 83% of Americans are exposed to a traumatic event (Benjet et al., 2016). Given this, every counselor will more than likely work with trauma survivors (Trippany et al., 2004). Because of the high percentage of exposure to trauma, mental health professions who service individuals who experience trauma are at risk for secondary trauma (Ivicic & Motta, 2016), vicarious traumatization (Culver et al., 2011), and shared trauma (Hope & Edward, 2013). African American counselors have not been recognized in the counseling literature; thus their work with trauma survivors and their training experiences remain relatively unknown. Most of the research pertaining …

Building Better Relationships With College Aged Students, Morgan Kennedy

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many college students lack the education and skill in and maintain healthy romantic relationships. College students can greatly benefit from learning what makes a fulfilling relationship and the signs of what an abusive relationship consists of. They benefit by having a higher self-esteem within themselves and relationships, along with happiness and satisfaction in their lives. College students who do not develop healthy relationships may fall victim to abusive relationships and may experience anxiety, depression, and self esteem issues. In order to better educate college students on healthy relationships, I have created a two-day interactive lesson explaining the importance of healthy …

Improving Healthy Relationship Skills In College Students, Madison Newton

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many college students, because of their inexperience, may lack skills to develop healthy relationship behaviors and may not recognize signs of unhealthy or violent relationships. Using Albert Bandura's social learning theory with college students and increasing their knowledge of healthy relationship skills and skills to help friends in danger. This study shared that this method of instruction was successful and the college students were able to complete the learning outcomes of identify examples of healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors and ways to help a friend in a violent relationship.

Genetic Counselors’ Attitudes Towards Telegenetics: The Good, The Bad, The In-Between, Madison Badje

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Given that the global coronavirus pandemic has necessitated a quick and vast transition to telehealth, the purpose of this study is to explore these changes in the field of genetic counseling. To examine the perceived effectiveness of telegenetics from the perspective of genetic counselors, I conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with two genetic counselors in which each participant was asked six questions. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed using standard thematic analysis techniques for qualitative data analysis. The analysis revealed two main themes: benefits and drawbacks of telegenetics, with two sub-themes under each. The major benefits are increased patient …