Counseling Commons^™

Racial Trauma And Posttraumatic Growth: Implications For Counselors, Margaret M. Poandl, Nowoola Awopetu, Paul C. Harris Dr.

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Racial trauma is ubiquitous among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and people who belong to other marginalized groups. It is likely that counselors will work with individuals who have experienced racial trauma. Aligned with the counseling profession’s values, counselors can take a strengths-based approach that incorporates facilitation of a historical trauma posttraumatic growth (HT-PTG) framework. This paper presents evidence-informed practices that can foster growth on individual and collective levels. A case example is provided that integrates individual- and collective-level interventions bidirectionally, along with implications for counselor training pedagogically, through supervision, and continuing education. Counselors can identify, encourage, and …

The Safe Fishbowl Model: Psychological Safety By Design In Counseling Skills Training, Mike Mariska

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Skills training in counselor education can be constrained by performance anxiety, which may reduce participation, limit deliberate practice repetitions, and shift demonstrations to the instructor. This applied-practice manuscript introduces the SAFE (Structured Avatar and Feedback Experience) Fishbowl model, a simulation architecture designed to address performance anxiety while scaling participation. SAFE Fishbowl integrates rotating counselor roles, a real-time coaching loop, structured observation grounded in experiential learning theory, and purposeful debriefing. An implementation example for group counseling leadership skills is provided, along with adaptation guidance across multiple skill domains and delivery modalities. Descriptive course-evaluation feedback illustrates feasibility and perceived usefulness. Implications include …

A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Cacrep Accreditation Standards: Implications For The 2024 Cacrep Academic Quality Standards, David Moran

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This embedded mixed methods study examined the frequency of CACREP standards cited as ‘not met’ by the CACREP Board of Directors and explored counselor educators’ experiences with program evaluation. Frequency analysis revealed that Section 4 standards were disproportionately cited, yet applied consistently across diverse institutional types and delivery formats. Qualitative interviews with 16 counselor educators identified four themes: The Paradox of Agency, Faculty Workload Challenges, Performative Compliance vs. Authentic Improvement, and Faculty Experience with Program Evaluation. Findings suggest that while accreditation decisions are unbiased, the evaluation process imposes substantial strain on faculty resources. These results have …

Integrating Consensual Non-Monogamy In Counselor Education: Practical Guidelines And A Pilot Descriptive Study, Yun-Zhuo (Zoey) Liu, Lena Salpietro

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is a prevalent and diverse relationship structure, yet mononormative assumptions persist in counselor training and practice, contributing to stigma and inadequate care. Research indicates that counselors’ CNM-specific knowledge and attitudes are critical to positive therapeutic outcomes (Schechinger et al., 2018), highlighting the need for clear guidance. In response, this paper presents Guidelines for Incorporating CNM in Counseling Curricula. Three domains are grounded in multicultural and social justice principles: foundational knowledge and terminology, challenging bias and promoting self-reflection, and application informed by attachment theory. Additionally, findings from a survey of counselor educators (N = 54) are presented. Results …

U.S. Service Member To Counseling Student, Nicole Marie Arcuri Sanders, Kellie Forziat-Pytel

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This qualitative descriptive study examines the absence of military career pathways for licensed mental health counselors (MHCs) and the impact of this structural limitation on service members' career transitions. Findings indicate that both combat and non-combat veterans pursued mental health counseling due to personal service-related mental health experiences and dissatisfaction with available care while in service. Despite these challenges, many participants expressed a strong desire to continue serving their country as professional counselors. Over half of the participants reported separating from the military because no occupational role existed for licensed MHCs. At the same time, most indicated they would have …

The Expert Myth: Impostor Phenomenon And Research Identity In Counselor Education, Kristi B. Cannon, Kelly Coker, Trent Hepting, Lidian Ramirez-Fiol, Robyn T. Simmons

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Imposter Phenomenon (IP) affects counselor educators across career stages, yet it is often conceptualized as an individual deficiency rather than a systemically reinforced experience. This article frames IP in counselor education through the lens of the Expert Myth—a systemic pattern within academic culture that reinforces the expectation that faculty must consistently present as fully knowledgeable, productive, and self-assured to be regarded as credible. We examine how institutional cultures, publish-or-perish pressures, and inadequate mentorship structures create and reinforce imposter feelings, particularly among marginalized faculty and those navigating researcher identity development. Drawing on existing literature, we propose that meaningful intervention requires systemic …

Modernizing Career Counseling In Counselor Education: A Conceptual Exploration, Yuhyun Park, Se Hoon Kim, Rasheed Adeyemo, Sarah Ebner, Mallory Redmond, Breeana Donayre, Carly Steves

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Career development is often confined to a single course despite its relevance across counseling practice. This conceptual article reframes it as an integrative foundation for counselor preparation, supervision, and professional identity. It examines connections among work, mental health, education, disability, relationships, and social context across counseling specializations. The article also considers doctoral training and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in career-related practice. Recommendations address curriculum design, supervision, and future research on integrated career preparation.

The Lived Experiences Of Queer And Trans Counselor Educators In Cacrep Programs, Erin Pitts, Kathleen Brown-Rice, Maribeth F. Jorgensen

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Queer and trans professionals historically experience discrimination, persecution, and oppression in the workplace. While counselor education has ethical and accreditation standards requiring multicultural inclusion and competence, there is limited research that explores the experiences of queer and trans counselor educators in the workplace. We used an interpretive phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of queer and trans faculty working in CACREP programs. Four participants completed semi-structured interviews, resulting in four themes: 1) career journey, 2) visibility matters, 3) if not us then who, and 4) work in progress. Implications for counselor education programs are offered related to identifying and addressing …

Developing Grief-Informed Counselors: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of Counselors-In-Training’S Learning Experiences, Katherine Atkins, Sonya Lorelle, Jennifer Slawson

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Grief remains underrepresented in counselor education despite its relevance across the lifespan and its inclusion in the 2024 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards. This qualitative study explored how counselors-in-training (CITs) conceptualized grief and their developing professional role following participation in a structured grief education series. Eleven master’s-level CITs engaged in didactic instruction, experiential grief interventions, and reflective focus groups. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four interrelated themes were constructed that addressed grief conceptualization, counselor role development, integration of the personal self, and educational supports for grief competence. Findings reflected shifts toward relational, culturally responsive, and …

A Narrative-Restorative Framework For Addressing School Bullying, Tristan Patel, Michelle Myers, Daniel Stewart

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Bullying in schools is often addressed through punitive deterrence practices, solution-focused counseling, or restorative conferencing. These approaches often fail to recognize or account for the power imbalance that ultimately sustains bullying. This article discusses a narrative-restorative intervention to address bullying as a relational and communal issue, rather than relying on isolation or deterrence practices. The limitations of the dominant models discussed highlight the role of power in shaping bullying dynamics and connect legal and ethical responsibilities of narrative-restorative practices. Situated within the framework of California education law and professional ethical standards, at its core, undercover anti-bullying teams aim to redistribute …

Becoming A Therapist In A Foreign Land: Narratives Of International Trainee Clinicians Of Color In The U.S., Prathma Sharma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation project is on the community of trainee clinicians of color, who have been consistently overlooked in the literature on mental health. This dissertation employed narrative analysis as a methodological framework to explore the experiences of international trainee clinicians of color as they navigated the complex landscape of mental health training in the United States. In an increasingly globalized world, the voices and perspectives of these individuals offered critical insights into the challenges, triumphs, and unique pathways that shaped their professional development. Much of the literature on diversity and inclusion tends to individualize the challenging experiences, …

Repairing Workplace Trust: A Process-Based Classroom Exercise For Management Education, Luke A. Langlinais Ph.D.

Posters

Trust is essential in every workplace, but conflicts, mistakes, and broken promises are inevitable. This project develops an experiential classroom exercise in which students diagnose workplace trust violations, examine the perspectives and emotions of both parties, and practice selecting and communicating evidence-based reparative actions. The exercise translates organizational behavior research into a practical learning experience that develops not only managerial competence but also the character, empathy, and relational wisdom needed to build healthy organizations and promote human flourishing.

I gratefully acknowledge peer review feedback on this project, and I am accountable for writing of this product without generative AI and …

A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study Of A 10-Week Wellness Program For Resident Assistants, Emily L. Lee-Chong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods pilot study used semi-structured interviews with 15 resident assistants (RAs), complemented by descriptive pre- and post-test data from the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (FFWEL), to explore their lived experiences of participating in a 10-week wellness program grounded in the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (IS-WEL). The purpose of this study was to examine the program's perceived influence on wellness practices and to explore the feasibility of implementing wellness-focused programming. Using a hermeneutic inquiry approach, the study identified four themes reflecting participants’ experiences throughout the program. Themes highlighted the importance of self-awareness through the IS-WEL model, the value of …

Integrating Matrescence Into Birth Worker Practice: A Practice Improvement Project, Kelsey B. Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect 20–25% of mothers worldwide and are a leading cause of maternal complications. Stigma, fragmented care, and limited provider training leave families vulnerable, while birth workers offer trusted, continuous support.

Problem: Birth workers' maternal mental health (MMH) training is minimal and often excludes matrescence, the developmental transition to motherhood, limiting their ability to distinguish normal adjustment from clinical PMADs and delaying intervention.

Methods: A single-group, pre-/post-test design evaluated a matrescence-informed workshop at Roots Community Health's 2nd Annual Symposium. Anonymous surveys measured knowledge, attitudes, and confidence, analyzed with Mann–Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and …

#Narctalk: Analysis Of Perceptions Of Personality Disorders In Tiktok Content, Amanda C. Dediego, Auna Nelson, Feven Seifu, Amanda D. Tracy, Madeline Grubb, R.J. Schoen

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Integrating Death Education Into Asynchronous Online Counselor Training, Kara E. Wolff

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Online counselor education has grown exponentially, with a greater number of courses being offered in an asynchronous format. This presents challenges and opportunities for counseling training in death education, a subset of grief counseling. Death anxiety and death avoidance can result in counselors-in-training's disengagement with strictly didactic materials in this area. Instead, death education must offer opportunities for experiential processing and personal reflection to be effective. Specific teaching strategies that foster the development of death acceptance and death competence within asynchronous online counselor education courses are offered.

Clinicians’ Reflections On Explainable Ai (Xai) In Counselor Education And Diagnostic Training: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Kuo Deng, Xiaomeng Ye, Yi Li-Brown, Cara Miles, Angelina F. Pennino

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Current approaches to teaching clinical diagnosis in counselor education and supervision often

rely on self-reports, brief vignettes, and supervisors’ recollections—methods that can be resource- intensive and prone to bias, contributing to diagnostic inaccuracy among trainees. While artificial

intelligence (AI) has gained traction in healthcare, many machine learning (ML) models function as “black boxes,” limiting transparency and educator trust. Explainable AI (XAI), which focuses on making AI processes interpretable, offers a potential solution for counselor training. This exploratory qualitative study examined eight licensed psychologists’ reflections after viewing a live demonstration of an original XAI model trained to predict depression. Using Reflexive …

Toward A Triadic Therapeutic Alliance: Understanding Client, Therapist, And Ai Relational Processes In Counseling, Jennifer Young

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into counseling through chatbots, digital companions, and clinical decision-support tools. This integration challenges traditional models of the therapeutic alliance, which have historically centered on the dyadic relationship between client and therapist. To address this gap, the Triadic Therapeutic Alliance (TTA) Model of Client-Therapist-AI Relational Dynamics offers a new framework for understanding how relational processes unfold when AI becomes an active participant in therapy. The model extends alliance theory into a triadic structure that includes the client-AI and therapist-AI relationships alongside the traditional human alliance. Drawing on research in human-computer interaction and ethical frameworks of trust …

Exploring Chatgpt As A Simulated Client: A Feasibility Study In Undergraduate Counselor Training, Kayla E. Hayes, Rebecca L. Wilson, Joshua Wilson

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers new possibilities for simulation-based counselor training by enabling scalable, text-based interactions that mimic human dialogue. This exploratory feasibility study examined whether ChatGPT can serve as a simulated counseling client and feedback provider for undergraduate students learning counseling skills. Five upperclassmen completed a 45–60-minute text-based session with ChatGPT portraying “Sarah,” a college student experiencing depression and loneliness, followed by AI feedback and a semi-structured interview. Trained raters judged ChatGPT’s client portrayal and feedback as generally accurate, particularly for tone, empathy, and identification of students’ strengths. Accuracy was lower for rapport, summarizing, and pacing characteristic of an …

The Digital Tightrope: Navigating Social Media Ethics In Counseling, Kaitlynn Cornell-Mullane

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Social media has become deeply integrated into both personal and professional lives, yet the use by counseling professionals remains underexplored. This study investigated how various roles within the counseling field experience and utilize social media in their professional development, identity formation, and ethical practice. A qualitative online survey was utilized to collect data from counseling professionals (N = 20). Findings revealed six themes: (1) Conflicting Perspectives on Client Social Media Use and Engagement, (2) Personal Discomfort and Ethical Ambiguity, (3) Counselors’ Varied Approaches of Social Media Use, (4) Social Media Use for Professional Development, (5) Mixed Perspectives on Social Media …

Generative Artificial Intelligence In Counselor Development: Examining Systemic Influences On Training, Lauren Dollarhide, Leo Gonzalez Jr., Rachel M. Smith

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

The use of large language models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, AI-assisted supervision platforms, and AI-powered role-play simulations) in counselor education is changing the way counselors-in-training (CITs) are trained and has both risks and benefits for the field. This conceptual article applied Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to evaluate the impact of these technologies at multiple levels within the counseling training environment. The microsystem is described as the interactions between CITs and the AI they use to support their training experiences (e.g., AI-based learning tools, role-playing simulations). The mesosystem refers to the movement of AI across different …

Simulation-Based Education In A Counseling Skills Course: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study, Alexandra Gantt-Howrey, Hana Shewamoltot Meshesha, Renyi Huang, Elizabeth A. Doughty Horn, Renee Howells, Adenike Ololade Adedapo

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Simulation-based education (SBE) is a technique that introduces students to real-world experiences (Gaba, 2004) in a safe way (Holmes et al., 2023). Scholars have suggested that SBE may be a promising means of enhancing counselor education (e.g., Pope & Hilliard, 2024). We recruited a sample of N = 12 counseling skills students who completed up to 12 simulation-based education (SBE) activities using Simucase (2025) across one semester. We conducted an embedded, qualitatively-driven mixed methods pilot study (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2017) to understand participants’ perspectives on and impacts of the SBE activities on their perceived counseling self-efficacy and multicultural competence. …

Examining Six Domains Of Resilience With Latinx College Students From Migrant Farmworker Backgrounds: A Quasi-Experimental Single Case Design Study, Rebecca Dickinson, Raissa Miller, Cian L. Brown, G Michael Russo, Emma Knowles

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Resilience-building interventions show promise in higher education, yet few studies focus on Latinx college students from migrant farmworker backgrounds (LMFWs), a group facing significant challenges such as acculturative stress, mixed familial immigration status, and educational discontinuity. This quasi-experimental single-case design study examined resilience domains among LMFW students participating in a group-based intervention informed by the predictive 6-factor resilience model. Resilience was measured across six domains: collaboration, vision, tenacity, reasoning, health, and composure, using standardized assessments adapted from Rossouw and Rossouw (2018). Pre- and post-intervention scores were visually analyzed to assess change at the individual level. Results indicated a evidence of …

The Roles Of Adverse And Benevolent Childhood Experiences In Posttraumatic Growth And Social Connectedness Following Interpersonal Trauma, Margaret Poandl, Emily Kitching, Daniel Gutierrez, Yuqi Zhang

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Interpersonal trauma, such as childhood abuse, neglect, and intimate partner violence, is a prevalent and harmful form of trauma associated with deleterious psychosocial outcomes. Despite its negative impacts, individuals exposed to interpersonal trauma may also experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). While adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known risk factors and benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) are potential protective factors for adult outcomes, little is known about how combinations of ACEs and BCEs influence PTG. This study examined how combinations of ACEs and BCEs relate to PTG and social connectedness among individuals who have experienced interpersonal trauma. Using cross-sectional survey data from 615 …

Padres Ayudando A Padres: Co-Constructing A Family-Centered Mental Health Intervention Of, By, And For Central American Immigrant Parents, Rachael Goodman, Colleen K. Vesely, Maribel Tohara Nakamatsu, Victoria Stone, Valeria Quintana, Bethany Letiecq, Amigas De La Comunidad

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our partners in a Central American immigrant enclave reported an increasing need to support parents and children whose mental health was negatively impacted by the confluence of underlying systemic stressors and traumatic experiences. Using our existing family-centered participatory action research (FCPAR; Letiecq, Vesely, et al., 2022) approach and guided by the transcreation model (Nápoles & Stewart, 2018), we co-constructed a mental health intervention in partnership with community members, via our community advisory board (CAB). Essential to this process was building the intervention with the community, ensuring that it was culturally and contextually grounded …

Collective Trauma And Systemic Negligence: Exploring South Korean Disasters Through Media And Cultural Narratives, Jung H. Hyun, Eunae Han

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Disaster trauma often occurs at multiple levels, with the systemic level highlighting its collective impact on survivors. Betrayal trauma, inflicted by trusted individuals or institutions including the government, further compounds this experience. Drawing on historical and contemporary challenges in modern Korean history and recognizing their collective impact on the Korean population, this paper examines Korean betrayal trauma stemming from disasters, introduces a new concept of political betrayal trauma, and explores how media can serve as a tool for healing. Through a fictional case study, this paper illustrates how collective cultural narratives support both survivors and the broader society in validating …

Trends And Disparities In Cardiometabolic Disease Prevalence By Physical Activity Among Us Adults: Nhanes 2007–2018, Zhijing Xu, Jinyu Hu Hu, Jackie Finik, Xiang Qi, Ruotong Liu, Yaguang Zheng, Bei Wu

Department of Family Science and Human Development Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) significantly contribute to U.S. morbidity. Physical activity (PA) is associated with lower CMD prevalence, yet trends in CMD prevalence by PA level and associated disparities remain underexplored.

Methods: We analyzed 2007–2018 NHANES data from 26,380 adults aged ≥20 years. CMDs included diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and chronic kidney disease (CKD; eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² or ACR ≥30 mg/g). PA was categorized as no activity, some/irregular activity, or regular activity. Age-standardized prevalence and survey-weighted logistic regression estimated trends (reference: 2007–2008) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs).

Results: Diabetes prevalence increased, with higher odds in 2013–2014 (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01–1.60), 2015–2016 (OR = 1.41; 1.08–1.84), and 2017–2018 (OR = 1.45; 1.16–1.80) and an absolute increase of 2.49% (0.85 to 4.13). No significant trends were observed for CKD (absolute change: 0.11%; …

A Poetic Call For And A Reflection And Commentary On Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, And Compassion, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Finding a published poem I had written as a teenager, titled “The Heavens Weep.” this article uses that poem as the basis for a commentary that reflects on the state of the world today (2026),  As a commentary, the article uses the poetic and metaphoric words in the poem as a relevant "reality check" for what is still going on today.  In essence, the commentary is about a call for Clarity, Understanding, Hope, Courage, and Compassion, or what I call Archetypal Energies, Higher Vibrational Energies that operate deep within our individual and collective psyches to creatively urge us to "see" …

Searching Together: “Research Resisters” And Creating Pathways For Narrative Practice Research, David Denborough

The Qualitative Report

This paper conveys eleven research innovations that have recently emerged from the field of narrative therapy and community work. These include multi-storied surveys, testimonies and counter documents; insider researchers navigating pathologising literatures; creative ethical processes and accountabilities; re-imagining research interviews; conceptualising research as resonance; linking insider research and practice; collective narrative documents in research; exchanges of collective documents/letters as methodology; reading back: oral retellings; the development of Indigenist story-journey methodology; and forms of research that are accessible, resonant and useful to the most marginalised. These innovations are linked to histories and ethical commitments that are also described.

Supporting Every Student: Optimizing School-Based Mental Health Services For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Sarah K. Eggleston

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Youth with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at considerably greater risk of developing mental health problems compared with the general population; however, their needs are less likely to be identified, and they often face barriers to accessing quality mental health care. School-based mental health professionals (SBMHPs) are uniquely positioned to support students within their natural learning environments, where many common barriers to service provision have been removed. The present study examined the current state of practice among SBMHPs in Virginia in identifying and supporting the needs of students with ID, as well as SBMHPs’ training experiences. An online cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey …