Counseling Commons^™

Perceived School Fairness And Willingness To Report Bias-Based Bullying Among Youth During Covid-19 Pandemic, Isak Kim, Deanna L. Burgess, Seriashia J. Chatters

Counseling Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND

As COVID-19 has let many students into remote learning environments and exacerbated inequality among marginalized individuals, there is a growing concern about Bias-Based Bullying (BBB) in online spaces among school-aged youths. Learning modality and perceived school fairness may affect youth's likelihood of reporting BBB.

METHODS

Data were collected as part of “No Place For Hate” (NPFH) project, which was conducted by an equity office of a school district. A sample of middle and high school students (N = 1117) in the school district was used as an analytic sample. We conducted a series of independent samples t tests and …

Sensation Seeking And Adolescent Drinking: Do Protective Behavioral Strategies Lower Risk?, Diana M. Doumas, G. Michael Russo, Raissa Miller, Susan Esp, Nadine R. Mastroleo, Rob Turrisi

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Using a cross-sectional design, we examined protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as a moderator of the relationship between sensation seeking and hazardous drinking and alcohol-related consequences among high school seniors (N = 212). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated sensation seeking was a significant predictor of binge drinking (β = 0.65, p < 0.001), prepartying (β = 0.71, p < 0.001), gaming (β = 0.75, p < 0.001), and alcohol-related consequences (β = 0.69, p < 0.001). Further, PBS moderated these relationships such that among high sensation seeking adolescents, PBS use was associated with better outcomes, including lower levels of binge drinking (β = −0.37, p < 0.01), prepartying (β = −0.44, p < 0.01), gaming (β = −0.31, p < 0.05), and alcohol-related consequences (β = −0.53, p < 0.001). We discuss counseling implications, including assessment and harm reduction strategies focusing on PBS to reduce hazardous drinking among high sensation seeking adolescents.

Emergency Care For Youth Who Experience Suicidality And Identify As Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning (Lgbtq+): An Interpretive Phenomenology, Theresa Schultz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Suicide is a leading cause of death in children; youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are at an exponentially higher risk of suicide. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of young adults who identify as LGBTQ+ and sought emergency care for suicidality when they were adolescents.

Methods: Heideggerian hermeneutics phenomenology is the research method used in this study. Youth, ages 18-25 years, who identify as LGBTQ+ and sought emergency treatment for suicidality when they were adolescents (13-17 years) were recruited to participate;fifteen youth enrolled. Individuals ranged in age from 20 to 25 years. Participants described …

Examining Consent Education As A Preventative Measure For Sexual Violence, Harassment, And Bullying In Adolescents, Alexis Olson

Counselor Education Capstones

This paper is an examination of consent education in K-12 schools in the United States. Each state determines its own consent education policies. Most states do not require consent education despite high rates of adolescent sexual activity and increasing rates of sexual violence in adolescents. This paper examines the integration of adolescent sexual violence, harassment, and bullying. Considerations of current research shows an increase in adolescent experiences of sexual violence and connections to sexual harassment and bullying. Additionally, this paper explores consent education through classroom guidance lessons and cross-curricular implementation. Examination of consent education as a preventative measure for sexual …

Children Of Divorce Parents Group Manual, Sheyenne Hokit

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Divorce is something that is, unfortunately, becoming a commonality for a lot of children, and due to the complexity of divorce, many children struggle when trying to understand divorce and how it affects them. Some effects of divorce are various emotional and behavioral issues such as increased anger and decreased emotion regulation. Social, health, and academic concerns were also found. Counseling interventions like narrative therapy, emotion-focused family therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and play therapy were found to be effective with this population (Hirschfeld & Wittenborn, 2016, Thomas & Gibbons, 2009). The identified interventions provide peer-based social support, education on the misconceptions …

The Impact Of Surviving Suicide Loss On Adolescent Psychosocial Development, Sophie Leonard

Counselor Education Capstones

There has been extensive research in the areas of the impact of suicide and human development over the past several decades. Researchers continue to examine the role that experiencing suicide loss plays in terms of the formation of a healthy identity and overall development. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of suicide loss on adolescent development. Specifically, this paper will address the potential impact of surviving a significant suicide loss on adolescent development during the identity versus role confusion stage of Erikson’s theory of development. Based on a thorough review of professional literature, the long-term effects …

Minority Adolescents And School Referral: The Importance Of School Counselors And The Referral System, Samantha Jo Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate a school-based referral system in northwest Missouri that is effectively able to identify students with mental health concerns, help students find treatment options, and provide any follow-up needed. The main focus in this qualitative case study was on what makes one school district in northwest Missouri have an effective and successful mental health referral system. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. This motivational theory is a five-tier model of human needs, including physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Without having all these needs met, an …

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Adaptations For Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders: Training For Mental Health Counselors, Zackary Hajjali

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a versatile therapeutic approach that can be utilized to treat various emotional disorders. Therefore, the effectiveness of CBT is conceptualized through a thorough examination of present literature and its use in treating various emotional disorders in adolescents. Literature reviewed includes meta-analyses, journals and articles. CBT proved to be a commonly used therapeutic approach, and demonstrated adaptability when necessary. A wide array of benefits from using CBT to treat emotional disorders were displayed across multiple sources. The training presented in this project will address the use of CBT adaptations for adolescent clients with autism spectrum disorder …

Effectiveness Of An Online Intervention Combating Mental Health Stigma On Adolescent Help-Seeking Behaviors, Chelsea Krayecki

Counselor Education Capstones

Mental health stigma has been shown to be a barrier to seeking help for mental health concerns. This is especially true for adolescents due to important developmental characteristics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2021), depression is one of the major causes of mental health concerns and disability among adolescents. In addition, the WHO (2021) also states that mental health conditions account for 16% of global burden of illness in people ages 10-19-years-old. The current pandemic has only increased these concerns, as social, emotional, and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, …

Borderline Personality Disorder: Interventions For Adolescents And Caregivers, Addison Odum

Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Guide Series

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) encompasses a wide range of symptoms characterized by emotional dysregulation, including challenging interpersonal relationships, impulsivity, disturbances in cognition and identity, and is often accompanied by intentional self-injury and suicidal behaviors. In this guide, emphasis is placed on three aspects of intervention: (1) clinical interventions for adolescents who meet the criteria for BPD; (2) interventions clinicians can teach to parents/caretakers so they can better work with their child’s diagnosis; and (3) due to the negative impact this can have on adolescents, clinical interventions for parents/caregivers diagnosed with or exhibiting common symptoms of BPD is also provided.

Parental Perceived Need For Counseling For Adolescents’ Anxiety And Depression Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study, Isak Kim, Nayoung Kim

Counseling Faculty Publications

Objective

This study examined the association between parental perceived need for counseling or mental health care services and adolescents’ subgroups of anxiety and depression symptoms (Anxiety-only, Depression-only, Anxiety-Depression, and None).

Method

Adolescent sample (N = 20,486, M = 14.69  years old, SD = 1.69) was drawn from the National Survey of Children’s Health 2017–2018 (NSCH 2017–2018). A chi-square test was used to analyze the association between two categorical variables.

Results

The Chi-square test was statistically significant, Χ2(6) = 7,914.33, p < .01, V = .44. Adolescents from the Anxiety-Depression group received counseling or mental health care the most (80.94%), while 69.03% of those in the depression-only group and 44.86% in the Anxiety-only group received mental health services.

Conclusions

Caregivers of adolescents with Anxiety-only tended to perceive the least need for counseling or mental health care, …

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

Dissertations

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

Investigating The Impact Of The Fava Well-Being Protocol On Perceived Stress And Psychological Well-Being With At-Promise High School Students, Renee L. Fensom

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

An elevation in stress levels can be caused by many contributing factors, which can ultimately interfere with the learning of young people. Fortunately, an increase in well being can help promote resilience, creating a buffer to stress. Therefore, the current study investigated the influence of a positive psychology intervention aimed at lowering perceived stress and increasing well-being among at-promise students. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Ryff’s Model of Psychological Well-Being (PWB). The specific intervention used was the Well-being Therapy School Protocol developed by Fava and associates, based off of Carol Ryff’s Model of PWB (Fava, 2016). …

Changing The Narrative For Lgbtq Adolescents: A Literature Review And Call For Research Into Narrative Therapy To Improve Family Acceptance Of Lgbtq Teens, Felicia Jordan

Counseling and Family Therapy Scholarship Review

A large body of existing research has demonstrated the importance of family acceptance as a protective factor for LGBTQ youth facing increased risks of low self-esteem, depression, suicidal ideation, and other mental-health problems. However, little research has been done on therapeutic interventions for families specifically to address stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ adolescents. In particular, narrative therapy, with its focus on deconstructing and re-storying oppressive cultural narratives, seems a natural fit, but little to no quantitative research has been done on family-based narrative therapy for LGBTQ adolescents, and only a handful of qualitative studies have been published. Therefore, the paper …

Student Wellbeing And Open Studio Process In The School Curriculum, Maria Kim

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study aimed to explore whether Open Studio Process (OSP) increased wellbeing of middle and high school students when facilitated by teachers as a part of the regular art curriculum. It was hypothesized that OSP might increase the sense of wellbeing among middle and high school students as well as facilitating teachers. The research was conducted as a mixed methods study in South Korea where students need preventative interventions for their wellbeing. The researcher trained eight teachers to facilitate OSP and five of them implemented it with their classes for seven sessions. Quantitative data (K-YSR; pre- and posttest) were collected …

Art Therapy, Mass Media And Self-Acceptance With Adolescents: A Literature Review, Samantha Leary

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature reviews provides a synopsis of art therapy its potential benefits in combating negative effects associated with social media and adolescents’ sense of self-acceptance. Using art therapy as a mode of self-expression is found to help negate negative effects of social media and provide adolescents with healthy tools to help them develop and grow. Social media provides a wealth of information that can be detrimental to the emotional growth of young adults. In this literature review lack of face to face connection, idealized beauty standards, instant gratification and social comparisons are correlated to depressive symptoms in adolescents. Through the …

Art Therapy’S Supportive Role In Self-Esteem For Youth And Correlating External Factors, Jennifer Schott

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The development of self-esteem in children and adolescents has been greatly influenced by the environment in which they have been exposed and nurtured. The external factors that have been present in an individual’s experiences shape the format and understanding in their perception of self, especially self-esteem. Correlations have been recognized between external factors and levels of self-esteem. With these external factors growing and evolving, research and various therapeutic interactions can support the positive growth of self-esteem. Art therapy has played an altering role in children and adolescents’ perceptions of self through exploration in empowerment and creative therapeutic skills. Art mediums …

Emotional Regulation & Therapeutic Rapport With Adolescents: Exploring The Effectiveness Of The Expressive Therapies Continuum, Kasey Larsen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Art therapy is a beneficial service for adolescents who face obstacles connecting emotionally, behaviorally, and academically. Creative techniques and therapeutic rapport can facilitate connection with the self, focus, and emotional regulation. Teens, especially struggling with mental health, often have difficulty functioning in the average public-school setting. Research supports a positive correlation to art therapy services and effectiveness in a school setting. The intention of this capstone was to test the effectiveness of the expressive therapies continuum (ETC) in supporting emotional regulation with two high school girls in a therapeutic day school. The method of research includes a pre-, post-, and …

Text Messaging Between School Counselors And Students: An Exploratory Study, Nicholas R. Gilly

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

This exploratory case study examines the impact of text messaging on mentoring relationships when used as an outreach between school counselors and high school students, where established relationships are lacking. An SMS gateway was used to mediate communication between school counselors (N=2) and students (N=5) over a three-month timeframe. The SMS gateway converted email, sent from counselors, to text messages, which were received on mobile devices of students and allowed students to respond back to counselors. Findings indicate that the use of text messaging may ease scheduling of face-to-face meetings between counselors and students, but evidence does not support any …

[Introduction To] Treating Black Women With Eating Disorders : A Clinician’S Guide, Charlynn Small, Mazella Fuller

Bookshelf

The first of its kind, this edited volume provides in-depth, culturally sensitive material intended for addressing the unique concerns of Black women with eating disorders in addition to comprehensive discussions and treatment guidelines for this population.

The contributing authors—all of whom are Black professionals providing direct care to Black women—offer a range of perspectives to help readers understand the whole experience of their Black female clients. This includes not only discussion of their clients’ physical health but also of their emotional lives and the ways in which the stresses of racism, discrimination, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences can contribute to …

Influence Of Competitive Sports On Disordered Eating Behaviors In Young Female Athletes, Jill Bernstorf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The field of treating and learning about eating disorders in athletes is a growing field that continues to flourish as more knowledge is acquired. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence that length of time in the sport, age at which an individual starts a competitive sport, level of competitiveness, and type of sport (leanness vs. non-leanness focused) has on disordered eating behaviors. The participants were college students who were involved in at least one competitive sport in their life. They completed the EAT-26 questionnaire as well as a basic questionnaire. There was not enough data collected …

Evaluation Of A Youth Suicide Prevention Course: Increasing Counseling Students’ Knowledge, Skills, And Self-Efficacy, Laura L. Gallo, Diana M. Doumas, Regina Moro, Aida Midgett, Sherise Porchia

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Adolescent suicide rates continue to rise within the United States. This study evaluated a Youth Suicide Prevention course in a Master’s in Counseling Program. Participants reported increases in knowledge and perceived ability to help suicidal clients post-training and in suicide prevention skills and suicide assessment and intervention self-efficacy at the 3-month follow-up. Implications for counselor education programs, such as using both experiential and didactic teaching methods, as well as timing suicide training before practicum, are discussed.

The New Adolescent: How Social Media Has Changed The Landscape And How Counselors Can Respond, Jonna Byars, Brad Imhoff, Daria Borislavova White

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Adolescents today occupy a different social space than any previous generation. Technology and social media have changed behavior and relationships, and there are many psychological consequences including rising levels of loneliness, depression, and suicide. As counselors we must recognize the changed world our children inhabit, and develop new strategies for helping teens and those who relate to them. How counselors can best respond to this new social space and original research on the impact of social media in several cultures will be covered.

Digital Music Making: Developing A Method For Using Technology In Music Psychotherapy, Sangeetha Kavety

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The use of technology, specifically digital songwriting and music making, in the context of psychotherapy is a subject that is not yet as well researched or practiced in the field of music therapy. The majority of the existing literature acknowledges the assistive function that technology such as tablets, smartphones, and computers can play in treatment of populations with cognitive and motor difficulties. However, there is little regarding the use of technology as the main means of creating music, and even less in the context of treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in family settings. For this capstone project, …

Integrating Digital App Technologies Within Traditional Expressive Arts Therapy For Children And Adolescents, Sarah Storjohann

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In recent years, technology in the form of digital applications (apps) has emerged as a fundamental aspect of everyday life as well as a practical, convenient, and inexpensive tool for artistic self-expression, most notably amongst children and adolescents. Ninety-eight percent of U.S. households currently possess some form of mobile device (Rideout, 2017), with an estimated 95% of U.S. teenagers ages 13 to 17 owning a Smartphone (Anderson & Jiang, 2018). As digital natives, children and adolescents are more likely to identify with and connect to these arts-based methods. Clinician perspective concerning digital integration varies across a wide spectrum. Through a …

The Effect Of Expressive Therapies On Refugee Children And Adolescents: Meta-Analytic Findings, Brian Kristopher Cambra

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Millions of displaced families are seeking refuge in countries that are not their own due to war, violence, persecution, political unrest, and natural disasters. This global crisis is forcing researchers and practitioners to consider how refugees are coping with trauma associated with their migration process. Effective therapeutic approaches are needed in a global effort to address the traumatic impact of forced migration. This meta-analytical study investigates the effectiveness of expressive therapeutic modalities, including play, art, music, sandplay, theatre, and writing therapies, in helping children and adolescents cope with refugee trauma. A theoretical understanding of the neurobiological and human ecosystemic frameworks …

School Counselor Experiences Or Perspectives In An Age Of Increasing Pornography Use And Sexual Behaviors Of Students, Natalie Atwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored school counselor interactions or perspectives concerning the impact of pornography use and sexual behaviors among students in K-12 education. Participants, comprised of 51 school counselors in a suburban district in North Carolina, were given a qualitative survey in this case study for the purpose of exploring interactions such as challenging incidents and training needs. Results suggested that school counselors are involved with students impacted by pornography use and sexual behaviors through indirect and direct services, however, school counselors do not report feeling adequately trained to effectively help students in these areas. This study provides implications for further …

The Impact Of Cyber-Bullying On Adolescents' Georgia Milestones Scores, Sy Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This correlational study investigated the relationship of adolescent cyber-victimization to performance on the Georgia Milestone Assessment System (GMAS) competency test. Technology today allows students to learn how to operate various forms of digital equipment very early, but proper cyber etiquette training is not always included. This study addressed the potential that cyber-victims’ may have low performance scores on high stakes tests. A closer look at the predictive relationship between the two is an important step in the process for developing plans to resolve this issue. The participants included 100 randomly-selected Georgia middle school students. After collecting the Cyberbullying and Online …

Qualitative Evaluation Of High School Implementation Strategies For Youth Sports Concussion Laws, Susan C. Davies, Kathryn Coxe, Hosea Harvey, Bhavna Singichetti, Jinhong Guo, Jingzhen Yang

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

Context: All 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws governing concussion management and education. These concussion laws, featuring common tenets regarding removal from play, return to play, and concussion education, have shaped school and district policies.

Objective: To evaluate the strategies commonly used to implement concussion laws at the school and district levels, as reported by certified athletic trainers (ATs).

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: High schools.

Patients or Other Participants: We interviewed 64 ATs from high schools (1 per school) participating in High School Reporting Information Online.

Data Collection and Analysis: Interviews were conducted with participants between …

The Impact Of Mental Health Issues On Academic Achievement In High School Students, Patricia Lea Sutherland

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

An adolescent’s time in school is not merely academic; they are developing socially, physically, and emotionally. Prior research has demonstrated a correlation between a student’s poor academic performance and his/her need for emotional and mental health support. This research project sought to answer the following research questions: 1) Do mental health services in a high school setting help facilitate students’ academic achievement? and 2) Does a focus on mental health issues improve overall health and well-being in high school students? Participants for this study are 10 staff members (including teachers, administrators, counselors, and others) of a high school in San …