Counseling Commons^™

The Influence Of Prayer On Anxiety In Black Males: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Robin Houston Stitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Prayer is a primary indicator that Christians use to infuse meaning into their lives and navigate life's difficulties. Acquiring the capacity to cope with anxious feelings through spiritual disciplines, practices, and rituals can assist in anxiety relief. The literature indicates that the church has always served as a refuge when life-altering events occur. According to I Corinthians 12:13, the church is one body of believers, unified for a common purpose. Anxiety is defined as a state of distress caused by a perceived social threat. The purpose of this study in Pastoral Care and Counseling was to ascertain why studies have …

The Impact Of Disability Support Services On The Success Of Student Veterans: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Chante Kimberly Burnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to explore the lived experiences of student veterans using disability support services at postsecondary institutions. Disability support services for student veterans was generally defined as any resource or service providing accessibility and support to aid academic success. Therefore, the central research question focused on the experiences of student veterans when utilizing disability support services. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was Vacchi’s (2017) Model of Student Veteran Support, as it establishes veteran-friendly propositions and suggests cornerstones needed to support the successful degree completion of student veterans. Data triangulation was used to …

The Daily Lived Experiences Of Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: An Examination Of The Emotional, Cognitive, And Spiritual Repercussions, Nanette Stewart Haney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of traumatic brain injury survivors, seeking to understand their lived experiences by examining the emotional, cognitive and spiritual daily experiences. The study participants were adult male and female survivors of a life altering moderate to severe traumatic brain injury who live within the United States of America. The theories guiding this study are Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) Constructivism Theory and John Watson’s (1878-1958) Behavioral Approach Systems Theory. Jean Piaget believes that all cognitive development progresses towards complex levels of organization. When an individual acquires new knowledge, it is received, …

Identifying The Impact Of Specific Parenting Routines On Self-Reported Parenting Satisfaction, Chris Kretschman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parents face many challenges when raising a child, and how a parent handles these situations and their outcomes influence that parent’s perception of their success. This current research determined that there were not specific routines a parent engages in when interacting one-on-one with their child each day which positively correlate with reported parental satisfaction (Ha1). However, there are specific routines that a parent engages in when a family participates in activities together as a family unit that have a positive correlation with reported parental satisfaction (Ha2). A quantitative descriptive, variable-centered correlation design was utilized to understand the linear relationship between …

The Bible And Mental Health: Towards A Biblical Theology Of Mental Health, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

The Soul Of Desire: Discovering The Neuroscience Of Beauty, Longing, And Community, Rebekah Bled

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Faithful Integration: The Importance Of Worldview, Hermeneutics, And Theology For Christian Counseling, Nicole C. Biller

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

Efforts to integrate faith with psychological science and counseling have been present within Christian graduate programs for decades; however, questions remain about how to do this effectively. A brief review of integration efforts and a survey of the experience of graduate students within these programs reveal a desire to further model this practical integration within the classroom. Possible solutions emphasize a biblically informed worldview, intentionally crafted hermeneutics, and well developed theology, which can lead to faith-informed counseling practices.

Pentecostal Hope In The Age Of Covid-19, Peter Althouse, Audrey E. Mccormick

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

This research sought to identify how Pentecostals and charismatics responded to the Coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, what role did eschatology play in provoking hope, and how did theologies on healing influence responses? Data revealed that Pentecostals were generally not casting their responses to the pandemic as a millennial expectation of a better future but were grieving their losses and seeking to provoke hope amidst suffering. While minimal miraculous healings were reported, healing was cast primarily as the ongoing presence of defiant hope amidst trauma, grief and suffering. We propose that grief and grieving is an eschatological response to loss and death.

Exploring How Pentecostals Preach About Depression, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

A qualitative analysis was completed on twelve sermons into how Pentecostal preachers talk about depression from the pulpit using the Assemblies of God (AG) as a purposive sample. Findings illustrate that preachers talked about faulty thinking as the source of depression and interpreted depression as a transformative journey occurring within the context of a God encounter where the believer fixed their faulty thinking. While the way the preachers interpreted depression is not without critique, the article suggests that preaching about depression as a journey of encounter may help listeners frame their depression experiences within a narrative framework that helps them …

The Role Of Spirituality In The Lives Of Counselors: Reframing The Focus, Greg A. Meyer

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

The term spirituality is often hard to hear without prior, preconceived ideas and bias attached to it, and is often used interchangeably with other words, depending on one’s past and culture. The field of counselor education and supervision has also used the term in ambiguous ways, which has led to apprehension and a lack of clarity with which the term is taught and understood. This paper explains the historical focus of spirituality within the counselor education field, then redefines the focus towards the lives of counselors, but more specifically the lives of counseling students and the impact counselor educators might …

Building Bridges: A Student-Professor Dialogue About Spiritual Assumptions And Perspectives On Whiteness, Kyle N. Stueber, Andrea C. Walker

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

One day in May during a recent year, a conversation began that launched several years of ongoing dialogue. A graduate student, Kyle, reached out to a graduate counseling professor, Andrea, to discuss some concerns and anxieties he felt in some of his class discussions. What began as a conversation about racial diversity in the counseling setting evolved into an exploration of different ways of looking at the sociocultural context of race in the United States, a topic discovered to have political and theological underpinnings. As a result of the dialogue, we realized that specific preconceived labels identifying political, theological, denominational, …

Weaving A Tapestry, Haley R. French

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Front Matter Salubritas 3 (2024), Editors Salubritas

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Full Issue Salubritas 3 (2024), Editors Salubritas

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Self: A Personal And Professional Journey, Lara Overbeck

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

To satisfy graduation requirements, an Analysis of Self paper was completed. The purpose of the analysis of self is to take an in-depth look at how my background and time in the counseling program has shaped and impacted my professional identity. In this paper, I discuss how my time in the counseling program has impacted me, both personally and professionally. I also explore future career goals and identify plans for continued development.

Keywords: Analysis of self, professional identity, growth

Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: An Emerging Best Practice For Trauma Care?, Amelie Neubert '24

Social Work Student Scholarship

Amelie Neubert ’24, Social Work major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Katherine Kranz, Social Work

A Phenomenological Study Of The Cross-Cultural Transitions Of University-Level Missionary Kids, Naomi Walter

Senior Honors Theses

The cultural identity and transitions of a Third Culture Kid (TCK) is often a matter of discussion and debate. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the factors that influence the identity and the cross-cultural transitions of university-level TCKs, with a specific focus on Missionary Kids (MKs). The study involved semi-structured interviews of seven undergraduate university students, over the age of 18 and currently involved in the university's Missionary Kid Scholarship program. Results revealed several key themes including identity, community, and friendship expectations that influenced the transition process. Participants generally displayed a positive transition, and the findings provide …

Counseling And Mental Health Stigma Among College Students: An Examination Of Gender, Mattie Albright

Senior Honors Theses

Male perceptions of masculinity are commonly studied in the psychological world as inhibitors to seeking mental health help or counseling. This research proposal addresses the roles of gender-role conflict and self-stigma of help-seeking in how they predict the male tendency to seek help at lower rates than females. The sample being analyzed in this study will consist of male and female students in the psychology department at Liberty University. Participants will complete the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale (SSOH), the Gender-Role Conflict Scale I (GRCS-I), and the Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS). Results will explore which factor …

Fieldwork Learning Opportunities For Trainees In Behavior Analysis: A Survey Of Current Practices, Madison Crandall, Clare Liddon, Regan Weston

Thomas C. Hunt Building a Research Community Day

Individuals seeking certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®™) by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®™) must meet certain eligibility requirements. In addition to passing the BCBA examination, students are required to complete supervised practical fieldwork. In accruing fieldwork hours, trainees must be provided with the opportunity to complete unrestricted activities. The BACB defines unrestricted activities as “…those that are most likely to be performed by a BCBA,” and requires that 60% of fieldwork hours are comprised of these activities (BACB, 2022a). Fieldwork hours may be accrued across a number of different host sites (e.g., hospital units, schools, community locations, …

Relations Between Prior Racial Microaggressions, Expat Motivation, And Life Satisfaction Among African American Expat Women In Mexico, Patricia Keller

Dissertations

Microaggressions refer to subtle forms of racism that occur in everyday interactions, often conveying hostile or demeaning messages. These experiences can have a negative impact on the psychological well-being and life satisfaction of African Americans. However, there is a lack of research that explores the relationship between microaggressions and the life satisfaction of African American women who have relocated abroad. Additionally, little is known of the contemporary motivations for expatriation of African American women. A review of African American historical migration, study abroad participation, and tourism lays the framework for examining recent expatriation. The purpose of this study was to …

Analysis Of Self, Janna Gilbertson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Self-analysis is an opportunity to reflect, consult with others, research how the threads of our lives are woven into collective experiences, and to challenge our own patterns of thinking and behavior. My intention for this project is to illustrate how both my personal and professional life have evolved using self-reflection, tools such as the Myer Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory, and interviews with my friends and family. I discuss the impact that existential theory, feminist theory, and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of cognitive development have had on my past and why I desire to incorporate the principes of …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study: Identifying The Unmet Needs Of Homeless Veterans With Or Without Mental Disorders From A Healthcare Provider Perspective, Thomas L. Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the experiences of healthcare providers in addressing the unmet needs of homeless veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness in San Antonio, Texas. Data analysis revealed three overarching themes: access to resources, lack of desire for housing, and job satisfaction/discharge status. Under the access to resources theme, barriers limiting access to needed assistance for homeless Veterans and other people experiencing homelessness were identified, including limited support, agency challenges, lack of self-care, and moving forward. Theme two highlighted challenges addressing the lack of desire for housing among some homeless individuals and subthemes such as limited services, holistic approaches, community involvement, …

A Phenomenological Study Detailing Psychotherapeutic Perspectives Of Psychotherapists Who Treat Individuals Living With Pathological Dissociative Practices, Ebony M. Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present phenomenological study endeavors to offer a comprehensive and profound insight into the phenomenon of pathological dissociation and the working experiences of psychotherapists who specialize in treating individuals with this condition. The primary objective of this study is to shed light on the intricate nature of pathological dissociation and provide a better understanding of the challenges that psychotherapists encounter during the therapeutic process. Nine licensed psychotherapists agreed to share their expertise and experiences in working with pathological dissociation. The trauma model was used as the theoretical framework to interpret reported pathological dissociative experiences. Based on participant reports, this theory …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Saudi Married Women’S Experience Of Emotional/Psychological Intimate Partner Violence, Kholoud Ahmed Helmi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the meaning of experiencing emotional/psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) for Saudi married women in Riyadh before and after Vision 2030. Nine Saudi women who married before 2015 were selected based on the Composite Abuse Scale results. The study's central question was: How do Saudi Arabian married women who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) interpret their emotional/psychological IPV experience before and after Vision 2030? The guiding two questions were: 1) How do Saudi Arabian married women who have experienced intimate partner violence cope or react to their emotional/psychological violence? 2) How do national, social, and relational …

Co-Creando Rituales / Co-Creating Rituals To Hold Our Work As Anti-Oppressive Counselors And Researchers, Ana G. Reyes, Alexandria E. Capraro, Mónica Rodríguez Delgado

The Qualitative Report

Counselors and qualitative researchers have the honor of hearing peoples’ stories and thus have a great responsibility to explore and use clinical and research methodologies that are anti-oppressive, liberatory, and healing. Therefore, in 2019 we began a photovoice project alongside seven queer womxn of color (QWoC) that collaboratively explored their experiences of microaggressions in counseling. Through this journey, we recognized that to be fully present with the “co-researchers’” (participants’) narratives and experiences, we needed to remain attuned and grounded. We engaged in what we now call “rituals” before research team meetings to support our work as counselors and anti-oppressive researchers …

A Phenomenology Of Naturally Embedded Trauma-Informed Practices Within Public Montessori Classroom Environments, Misty Autry Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of 12 classroom teachers in different public Montessori schools in four different geographical regions of the United States. The interview was designed to allow the teachers to describe their Montessorian approach regarding areas of safety, social interaction, and respectful classroom environments to support students who may be experiencing the consequences of childhood trauma. The theories that guided this study were Albert Bandura’s (1977) social cognitive theory and the humanistic or person-centered theory of Carl Rogers (Rogers & Kramer, 1995). These theories facilitated the development of an understanding of …

A Phenomenological Study Of Implementing Social-Emotional Learning Skills Virtually And Its Influence On The Teacher-Student Relationship, Felicia S. Spratt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological research design seeks to investigate the experience of teachers in Illinois urban school districts who have virtually implemented Social-Emotional Learning skill sets and describe any impact virtual implementation has had on the teacher-student relationship. This data was viewed through teachers who implemented the social and emotional learning skill sets in an urban middle school. Social-emotional learning is often implemented in a classroom while teaching students regular academic requirements. The theory used to guide this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, with self-actualization being the ultimate achievement goal on the pyramid. The theory explained the connection between the …

Finer Women Don’T Haze: Hazing Disclosure Variations Based On External Environmental Factors, Kim Drayton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this novel quantitative comparative study was to determine if there were any variations in hazing disclosure among educational institutions based on the geographical region and educational setting of affiliated Zeta Phi Beta Sorority undergraduate chapters within the United States. The structural requirement that undergraduate chapters belong to a host institution creates a connection in which both can contribute to the persistence of hazing if not recognized and effectively addressed. This study included 353 colleges and universities across seven regions and four educational settings. The Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact Test, employing Monte Carlo approximations, revealed highly significant associations between the …

A Phenomenology Study- Vicarious Trauma Among School Counselors And Teachers Working With Students From The Northern Triangle In Elementary Title I Schools, Janeth B. Santiesteban

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of school counselors and teachers working at elementary Title I schools in Maryland with students from the Northern Triangle (a region of Central America comprising El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras). The assumption was that these education professionals may undergo struggles and demands that may put them at risk of vicarious trauma due to the trauma those students and their families have endured. The theory guiding this study was the transactional theory of stress and coping (Lazarus,1966; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) and the stress theory (Cohen et al., 1997), which converge …

Diverse Gamers: Resistance Through Video Gameplay, Breon Rose

Dissertations

With most of the global population engaging with video games, it is crucial to understand the relationship between gaming and the holistic health of players. However, counseling scholarship exploring the relationship between gaming technology and mental health is nascent. Moreover, ethical guidelines in counseling require professionals to further their awareness and competence while working with underrepresented populations (American Counseling Association; ACA, 2014). To address the preceding statements, this two-study dissertation focused on expanding awareness and clinical understanding of video game technology and human experience. The first study used quantitative methods to examine the relationship between race-related stress, motivations to play …