Counseling Commons^™

Adopting A Heroic Persona To Manage A Traumatic Life Event: "The Face In The Mirror", Peter Bray

Heroism Science

This article applies a critical autoethnographic approach and a positive transformational stance to an experience of a choiceless traumatic loss. It considers how in a crisis of grief individuals may consciously choose to adopt a more agentic ‘heroic’ persona that enables them to survive the psychological disintegration of their assumptive world. Selecting a persona that serves their immediate survival needs, liberates individuals from those sociocultural expectations that dictate the conduct and positioning of the bereaved. In this new persona, the bereaved accesses a higher level of self-consciousness and autonomy, and an internal locus of control more suited to a survivor. …

Trauma-Informed Assessment And Treatment Of Domestic Violence, Lisa M. Brown, Nancy A. Johnston

Psychology Department Faculty Conferences

In the United States, 10 million people per year are physically abused by an intimate partner. This is an average of nearly 20 people per minute. While many counselors work with trauma, few have the training necessary to work with domestic violence (DV) clients. DV-specific trauma work deviates due to such factors as survival behaviors adopted by the client, continual assessment of lethality, preparing safety plans and working with the justice system. Understanding these specific elements are crucial to providing competent care to and safeguarding DV clients. This program will highlight specific factors of DV counseling including how it differs …

Holistic & Socially Just Admissions Procedures In An Artificially Intelligent (Ai) World, Lucinda Bratini, Ali Cunningham Abbott, Tracy N. Baker

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

In our ever-evolving social context, the counseling profession continues to center social justice and decolonial praxis in training programs. Simultaneously, we remain attuned to shifts in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) which require us to adjust and grow. This roundtable discussion shares the development of a holistic admissions review (HAR) pilot process, which incorporates relational, diversity and social justice values alongside AI innovations and current CACREP considerations.

The Social Determinants Of Sexual And Reproductive Health In Integrative Sex And Couples Counseling: A Structural Competence Perspective, Ayla J. Goktan, Melissa C. Henry

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC; Ratts et al., 2015) call for counselors to address equity issues via social justice and advocacy. One equity issue relevant to counseling sexology is sexual and reproductive health inequities. This article applies the social determinants of sexual and reproductive health (SDSRH) to counseling sexology, specifically integrative sex and couples counseling, to address health inequities. A fictional case study incorporates the SDSRH from a cross-theoretical structural competence perspective. Future research should further elaborate SDSRH frameworks and evaluate the efficacy of their clinical applications.

Predictors Of Trauma Symptoms In Adults Living With Hiv: The Role Of Social Connectedness And Sexual Orientation, Melissa Zeligman, Taewon Kim, Jamian Coleman, Moneta Sinclair, Rico Curtis-Davidson

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has claimed over 740,000 lives in the United States since the 1980s, and further brought a host of mental health concerns, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), primarily brought on by the discrimination and stigma felt by people living with HIV (PLWHA). Social connectedness may serve as a buffer to the trauma often felt by PLWHA. However, rejection and discrimination can limit access to this needed support, especially for sexual minorities living with HIV. The present study (N = 396) examined relationships between social connectedness, trauma symptoms, and sexual orientation for PLWHA. Results showed that social …

Association For Counseling Sexology And Sexual Wellness Exemplary Practices For Counseling Sexology And Sexual Wellness, Amber L. Pope, Brean'a M. Parker, Bianca R. Augustine, Clark D. Ausloos, Juliana J. Lytle

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

In this document, we present exemplary practices for counseling sexology and sexual wellness. These professional guidelines advance practice, research, and education in sexuality and sexual health within the counseling profession. The exemplary practices are grounded in critical theories to center the experiences of diverse clients, contextualize the role of culture, environment, and history in shaping our sexualities, and celebrate varied ways of being. We detail 12 exemplary practice areas for sexuality counseling across the following domains: a) attitudes, beliefs, & understanding of historical influences; b) knowledge; c) counseling skills; d) action and advocacy; and e) counselor education and supervision.

Objectification Of Others Scale: Confirmatory And Exploratory Factor Analysis In A Sample Of Emerging Adults, Zachary D. Bloom, Shedeh Tavakoli, Madelaine Romito

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The objectification of others is an important phenomenon in the cycle of objectification. However, few instruments measure the construct of other-objectification. This study examines the psychometric properties of Objectification of Others Scale using a sample of emerging adults (N = 1,584). Two random subsamples (n = 792) of the dataset were used to conduct exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, resulting in a two-factor model that explained 72.37% of the variance. We address limitations of the instrument and make recommendations for future research.

Counseling Iowan Farmers: A Phenomenological Study Of Clinical Perspectives, Kathleen Ruscitto, Corinne W. Bridges

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Rural communities present unique challenges for counselors. Farmers experience high rates of suicidality, depression, and substance abuse and are less likely to seek mental health help due to associated stigma, financial strain, time constraints, and lack of specialized training among clinicians. This study sought to understand the lived experiences of counselors in rural Iowa who counsel male farmers. Participants completed a 60-minute semi-structured interview and demographics questionnaire. Hermeneutic phenomenology and the ecological perspective were used to identify and interpret these experiences, illuminating the need for culturally competent, contextually responsive counseling practices in rural settings. Essential themes were categorized within the …

Unraveling The Impact Of Cognitive Test Anxiety On Academic Performance Among Adolescents: The Case Of Minority And Majority Communities, Zulfiqar Ullah Siddiqui, Wael M. F. Abuhassan

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Background: Within the Indian society and its many communities, adolescents exhibit a wide range of individual differences, including cognitive abilities, learning styles, and personality traits. These differences can influence how students perceive and cope with test anxiety and related stress. Objective: The primary goal of this research study was to investigate the influence of cognitive test anxiety on academic performance in adolescents from both minority (Muslims) and majority (Hindus) communities in India. Method: Based on descriptive-inferential research design, a sample of 450 students was selected, with 223 students representing the majority community and the remaining 227 students representing the minority …

Inaugural Message From The Editorial Board Of The Journal Of Faith Integration In Counseling, Lynn Bohecker, Vasti Holstun, Robyn Trippany Simmons, Ann Shillingford, Yulanda Tyre, Robin Switzer, Nivischi N. Edwards, Teshaunda L. Hannor-Walker, Kevin Boyd Hull, Lacey A. Ricks, Amy C. Rice

Journal of Faith Integration Counseling (JFIC)

The inaugural issue of the Journal of Faith Integration in Counseling introduces a platform dedicated to integrating faith, religion, and spirituality into mental health practices. Highlighted articles include the ACPE Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (SIP) Training Program, a Buddhist approach to self-concept obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a model for recovery from infidelity in evangelical marriages. These contributions emphasize the importance of spiritual dimensions in counseling to improve client outcomes. The editorial board is committed to mentoring authors and fostering scholarly excellence, addressing a critical gap in existing publication options by offering practical approaches for faith integration in counseling.

Acpe’S Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (Sip) Training Program: Clinical Competencies For Integrating Religion And Spirituality In Counseling, Carol Za Mcginnis, Maya Georgieva, Mary Elizabeth Toler

Journal of Faith Integration Counseling (JFIC)

Clients frequently seek psychotherapy that will incorporate their unique religious or spiritual values into the therapeutic process, yet they are discouraged by practitioners who are not equipped to provide those services. Licensed mental health practitioners can receive this training and certification from the ACPE Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy Training Program. Spiritual competencies exclusive to this integrative process have been designed to guide and support SIP-certified practitioners in alignment with other professional ethical codes. It is our hope that students, educators, and licensed practitioners from all mental health fields will find this information helpful in understanding the ethical integration of spirituality into …

Law Library Blog (November 2024): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

No-Self, No Problem: A Buddhist Approach To Self-Concept Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Adam Brandt, Laura Smestad

Journal of Faith Integration Counseling (JFIC)

While exposure and response prevention is an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, it may not fully address the psycho-spiritual concerns of clients whose obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms threaten and leave them in distress about their self-concept. This article addresses this problem by introducing the term self-concept obsessive-compulsive disorder and offering Buddhist psychology, a theoretical orientation based on the Buddhist principles of nonjudgment, mindfulness, and no-self as a useful framework to couple with traditional obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment.

Conceptions Of Latinos And Latinas About The Grieving Process And Associate Concepts Of Dying, Death, Bereavement, And Loss: A Covid-19-Post-Pandemic Case Study, Rosario Garcia Ortiz

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to recognize the grieving process and the related concepts of Latinos who lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic. Death and dying have been studied in the United States, with limited studies focusing on the Latino culture. The COVID-19 pandemic was a devastating experience for the world and continues to be studied for understanding and lessons in the aftermath. This research included four participants from the Latino culture who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. An inductive approach and data analysis were used to form theoretical constructs. Three main categories were …

Application Of The Principles Of Anti-Oppression To Address Marginalized Students And Faculty’S Experiences In Counselor Education, Afroze N. Shaikh, Sravya Gummaluri, Jyotsna Dhar, Hannah Carter, Daun Kwag, Javier E. Ponce, Erin C. M. Mason, Harvey C. Peters

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Despite efforts to decolonize and diversify the counseling profession, individuals with marginalized identities continue to encounter harmful experiences, requiring urgent and intentional action by counselor education programs to respond to these challenges. Recent legislative efforts have had a detrimental impact on marginalized communities, including those who identify on the spectrum of womanhood, immigrants, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and/or two-spirit (LGBTQIA2S+), emphasizing pre-existing forces of power, privilege, and oppression embedded in academia. In search of a liberatory framework to address these forces, the authors apply Peters and Luke's (2022) Principles of Anti-Oppression to …

Wellness And Discrimination In Counselor Education, Brett K. Gleason, Madeline Clark, Lena Salpietro, Rachel Jacoby

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Wellness and diversity are cornerstones of professional counseling; however, both have received little attention in terms of counselor educators and their students. The results of a quantitative study (N = 301) explored the relationship between wellness and experiences of discrimination for counselor educators, doctoral students, and master’s counseling students. Researchers utilized the Five Factor Wellness Inventory, Everyday Discrimination Scale, and a demographic questionnaire to conduct both a hierarchical linear regression and a factorial ANOVA to answer research questions. Results of the study indicated that both perceived discrimination and identity factors significantly impact wellness levels for individuals within counselor education. Implications …

Multicultural Competencies: A 30-Year Content Analysis Of American Counseling Association Journals, Vanessa Placeres, Don Davis, Sarah Gazaway, Nic Williams, Erin Mason, Wendy Hsu, Lina Alsaegh, Tania Quintero Rico, Brittany Glover

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

We conducted a 30-year content analysis (1987-2017) on quantitative literature about multicultural counseling competencies in American Counseling Association journals. Fifty-five articles were coded for leading contributors, specialty, intrapersonal counselor characteristics, training/education curriculum, study design, multicultural perception, and counseling outcomes. We discuss gaps in the literature and make recommendations for counselor education, teaching, and future research.

Beyond The Standards: A Qualitative Analysis Of Perfectionism Among Master’S-Level Counseling Students, Sara E. Ellison, Jessica M. Tyler, Malti Tuttle

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

This study investigates how perfectionism in counselor training impacts the relationships between students and clients/supervisors and contributes to imposter syndrome, burnout, and social disconnection. Using a transcendental phenomenological approach, we explored the experiences of perfectionism among 13 master’s counseling students during their graduate training. Four key themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) striving for enoughness, (b) masking inadequacy, (c) embracing vulnerability, and (d) connecting with authenticity. The implications of these findings for graduate training programs are discussed, emphasizing the specific needs of students grappling with perfectionism.

“Showing Up”: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Black Women’S Teaching Mentorship Narrative In Counselor Education, Brean'a M. Parker, Shawntell Pace, Collette Chapman-Hilliard, Raven Cokley

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

While Black women are entering academe at increasing rates, they still remain underrepresented in the counselor education academic workforce. Empirical literature suggests that lack of educational infrastructure, challenging sociocultural climates and fewer possibility models within academe are factors for low matriculation of Black women doctoral students into academic positions in counselor education. Utilizing collaborative autoethnography (CAE), we explore teaching mentorship relationships among Black women (N = 4) counseling faculty and doctoral students. We also examine how mentoring relationships shape Black women’s professionalization within academe in a manner that fosters the embodiment and practice of social justice andragogy. CAE narratives revealed …

A Target Model For Social Justice Supervision, Sara E. Ellison, Paul Tierney, Margaret Taylor

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Addressing social justice in supervision is essential to dismantling systemic oppression and infusing social justice practices into the profession of counseling. Despite the importance of social justice to the training and development of novice counselors, few models exist in the professional literature to guide supervisors wishing to integrate these essential competencies. This article proposes a simple, structured Target Model for Social Justice Supervision utilizing the roles of Bernard’s Discrimination Model to focus on self-awareness, client and supervisee worldview, the counseling and supervision relationship, social justice interventions, and evaluation procedures. Specific goals, strategies, interventions, and the application of the model are …

Enhancing Cultural Competence In Counselor Education Through Sociolinguistic Awareness, Jessica Haas, Diane D. Walsh, Marisa Marroquin

Counseling Faculty Publications

Abstract

Language plays a central role in building a therapeutic working alliance. Language is essential in building trust, conveying empathy, and creating shared meaning between counselors and clients. Nevertheless, language can equally harm the working alliance if used insensitively or without awareness of cultural and social differences. Sociolinguistic awareness emphasizes the interpretational nature of language and how it can unintentionally perpetuate discrimination against marginalized identities. Counselor educators can utilize sociolinguistic principles to model and teach the significance of language in counseling and its relationship to multicultural competency and cultural humility. The article highlights how clients' language may connect to their …

The Efficacy Of The G.R.A.C.E Matrix® In Ptsd Treatment”, Maria Grace G. Wolk, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy of the G.R.A.C.E Matrix®, a step-by-step technique of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study uses case studies that serve as portrayals of adults who struggle with PTSD. The three cases, referred to as "Jamal," "Isabel," and "Joel," are based on disguised aspects of real psychotherapy patients from a psychotherapy clinic. By detailing the treatment courses of these patients, the study highlights critical clinical issues in engaging patients with evidence-based therapy. The cases illustrate how the G.R.A.C.E Matrix® treatment, beginning with written assessments and culminating in trauma-informed interventions, has …

2024-10-25 Meeting Minutes, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between The Mindfulness And Suicidal Thoughts Among A Sample Of Damascus University Students العلاقة بين اليقظة العقلية والأفكار الانتحارية لدى عينة من طلبة جامعة دمشق, Mazen Fawaz Alshammat

Association of Arab Universities Journal for Education and Psychology

The purpose of the research is to study the relationship between the mindfulness and suicidal thoughts among a sample of Damascus University students and to know the differences between the sample in the level of the mindfulness and suicidal thoughts according to the gender variable and the variable of the type of college and the level of the mindfulness and suicidal thoughts. The sample consisted of (110) students from the University of Damascus. The researcher used the measure of suicidal thoughts and the five-faceted the mindfulness scale-the short version. The results of the study were as follows: Average levels of …

Building Hope In Outreach Ministry, Preston W. Boerner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Churches and faith-based organizations may discover their role in fulfilling the Great Commission seems to be overshadowed by their efforts to provide other forms of relief and support. Central Florida, like many different regions in the United States, is facing an epidemic of homelessness and addiction. Natural and manmade disasters also present urgent and existential threats. The researcher believes that building true and lasting hope in Jesus is key to facing these challenges in the long term. He hypothesized that intractable barriers may create hopelessness and shift the focus of ministry away from inspiring hope. He conducted purposive interviews and …

From Perspective To Practice: Investigating Elementary Educators' Insights Into Secondary Traumatic Stress In The Classroom, Cassie Bailey Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the central phenomenon of elementary educators recognizing their lived experiences of secondary traumatic stress and investigate their self-care techniques. The theories guiding this study were secondary traumatic stress theory and the constructivist self-development theory. Research questions investigated in this study included how elementary educators make meaning of secondary traumatic stress (STS) caused by interactions involving students with traumatic lived experiences. How do educators experiencing secondary traumatic stress perceive the training available to them to mitigate the effects of STS? How do educators experience and interpret their use of self-care in managing …

A Phenomenological Study Of Challenges Faced By Pastors’ Kids; Effects On The Children And The Pastor, Comfort Kanco-Ackep

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The goal of this phenomenological study is to identify the challenges faced by pastors' children and understand their repercussions. The phenomenon of pastor's children deviating from the faith and straying from religious beliefs is a prevalent issue. The Bible shows that priests like Eli and Samuel had children who disobeyed the Lord, in the Old Testament. God's children have had their children wander from moral or religious ways many times. This is due to the many obstacles they face. The pastor's children have numerous expectations and challenges. This study examines how these problems affect pastors' children and pastors. Felitti and …

Identifying The Benefits Of Black Owned Barbershops In The African American Community, Tanya Elizabeth Greene

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate why African American men are less likely to seek mental health support in conventional settings. Black-owned barbershops are a substantial presence in the Black community as they offer a dual purpose. Barbershops not only create a sense of male confidence internally and externally but offer an unorthodox way of healing. Insight into the perceptions, attitudes, and insights were gathered to acquire helpful information to contribute to more positive outcomes for African American men in mental health. Semi-structured interviews provided data to find common themes among 10 African American male participants to …

Moral Injury In Military Corrections, Jeremy Ryder Meyers

Masters Theses

Over the past thirty years moral injury has been a topic of concern regarding the behavioral and spiritual health of military members. Part of that work has given a voice to Vietnam veterans and the events they faced while in combat. Some of these events were acts of betrayal at the hands of another military member or their own. This act led to an injury to their moral code. Military chaplains may have morally injured soldiers in need of pastoral care as they serve. This includes soldiers working the military prisons like the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth. …

Conforming To The Image Of Christ: Addressing Spiritual Immaturity Utilizing Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling In A Rural Church Context, Leonard Carpenter Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Strong and healthy churches are made up of strong and healthy disciples. The ministry context for this qualitative action research project was the Saint Mark Missionary Baptist Church, a predominately Black congregation located in the Pea Ridge community of Brewton, Alabama. The problem was some members at Saint Mark engaged in spiritually immature actions that evoked immature reactions which yielded unhealthy relationships. To address the problem, the researcher developed and implemented the “Strategic Bible-Based Pastoral Counseling Program” (SBPCP), a strategic Christian ministry that provided participants one-on-one pastoral counseling opportunities for the purpose of building up spiritually healthier Christians. SBPCP consisted …