Counseling Commons^™

Counseling Supervisors' Experiences Facilitating Supervisees' Cultural Competence, Christopher D. Bozell

Dissertations

A vital attribute of counselors to provide quality client care is cultural competence. Counseling supervisors are tasked to demonstrate cultural competence in supervisory interventions by aiding the supervisees in increasing their knowledge, awareness of attitudes and beliefs, and skills related to culturally sensitive practice. Although many professional organizations require counseling supervisors to provide culturally competent supervision, very few studies have examined how counseling supervisors demonstrate their skills. This qualitative Descriptive Phenomenological study explored the experiences of counseling supervisors when facilitating supervisees’ cultural competence.

Ten individual semi-structured interviews with counseling internship site supervisors were conducted to collect data about their experiences …

Equitable Counselor Education: Promoting A Sense Of Belonging In Master's Counseling Students, Jessica E. Mastrangelo

Dissertations, 2020-current

The discrepancies in racial and ethnic demographics between counselors, counselor educators, and the clients they seek to serve are prominent (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs [CACREP], 2018). Mental health counseling and the field of psychology have a traditionally Eurocentric value system that has positioned the White population to benefit from services and to become clinicians. As such, the centering of the White experience has perpetuated a lack of diversity in the field. As the demographics of the United States population continues to diversify, counseling needs to produce a greater number of racially and ethnically minoritized counselors …

Broaching Race And Race-Related Issues: Phenomenological Inquiry Of Doctoral Student Supervisors Of Counselor Trainees, Judith Wambui Preston

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Clinical supervision is a central building block in counseling that ensures client welfare, fosters supervisees’ professional development, and facilities the gatekeeping process of those entering the profession (Bernard & Goodyear, 2019). In addition to gatekeeping, the American Counseling Association (ACA; 2014) Code of Ethics mandates clinical supervisors to be aware of and address multiculturalism’s role in the supervisory relationship. Because of this mandate, doctoral student supervisors of counselor trainees in CACREP-accredited programs are responsible for integrating multicultural considerations through broaching to ensure racially and culturally responsive counseling to clients from diverse backgrounds (Bayne & Branco, 2018; Jones et al., 2019). …

Teaching During Covid-19: Relational-Cultural Theory In The Online Classroom, Lucy L. Purgason, Dominique Hammonds, Geri Miller, Jill W. Van Horne, Catherine Clark

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

The sudden conversion from face-to-face to online instruction in Spring semester 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented. During this time instructors in helping professional training programs were engaged in the duality of being impacted in various degrees while simultaneously training students to assist clients in dealing with the resulting stress and emotional impact. Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) is a framework that can be used within online counselor education to consider the impact of the larger socio-cultural context on student learning, prioritizing fostering relational connections. In this article, online teaching approaches aligned with the video conferencing tool, Zoom, are described.

Advocating For Holistic Admissions Review: Implications For Master’S Level Counselor Education Programs, Dominique S. Hammonds, Lucy L. Purgason

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Positioning diversity at the forefront of counselor education has been an ongoing movement for well over the last decade. Attention has been given to considering recruitment and retention practices, with CACREP requiring counselor education programs to show evidence of ways this is enacted. Building on this work, counselor educators have brought needed attention to questioning how structural inequity permeates policies and procedures within counselor education programs. A critical consideration of counselor education admissions practices through an equity lens has been lacking in the literature. In this article, the authors make the case for the use of holistic admissions review as …

Students’ Experiences Of In-Person And Online Clinical Residencies: A Qualitative Study, Kathleen Ruscitto, Macie Stead, Corinne W. Bridges, Casey Baker

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Online counselor education programs have continued to grow in popularity. There is limited current research about residency experiences of counseling students. The coronavirus pandemic has forced counselor educators to move traditionally face to face residencies to the online platform. Our study explores the experiences of counseling students who attended both online and face to face residency using an in-depth phenomenological interviewing. Four major themes emerged including (a) self-care, (b) faculty interactions, (c) student connections, and (d) counselor identity and future practice. One narrative highlights the participant’s experiences.

Integrating Psychosocial Oncology Into The Counseling Curriculum, Andrew Wood, Alexandra Mott, Jessica Gonzalez-Voller

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

With nearly two million new cancer diagnoses estimated in 2021 alone, counselors and counselors in training should have some knowledge of the mental health impact that cancer has on individuals and families. The authors of this manuscript present a review of established psychosocial oncology training in other fields and ways to infuse the topic of psychosocial oncology, including how it pertains to working within integrated care teams, into the counseling curriculum via one course or infusion into curriculum to better train counselors to provide their unique contributions to the care of individuals with cancer and their families.

Engaged Trauma Training Through Role-Play Observations During Covid-19, Emily Horton, Claudia G. Interiano-Shiverdecker, Crystal L. Hughes, Mica Stumpf

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This phenomenological investigation explored counselors'-in-training experiences while observing role-plays of trauma-specific cases. Three themes emerged: (a) learning to be a trauma counselor, (b) growth as counselors-in-training, and (c) connection and engagement through multiple delivery methods. The findings from this study showed that observing role-plays can be an efficacious teaching approach in trauma counseling courses. Findings also suggest that integrating role-plays into trauma curricula helped students understand the complexity of trauma, increase self-competency, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence, and engage with the content in face-to-face and online formats. The authors provide a further discussion on implications for counselor education and …

The Experiences Of Collegiality By Early-Career Counselor Educators, Jessica M. Tyler, Malti Tuttle, Marina Naviaux, Sara Ellison

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

It is essential to develop a work culture that supports faculty needs, be it professional for promotion and tenure, or personal. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of collegiality by early-career counselor educator faculty members (CES) working in a CACREP institution. Relational support, expectations, administration, and doctoral experiences emerged as themes from these narratives. Implications for the field are discussed to address these experiences and provide recommendations to counselor education faculty and departments.

Exploring Key Group Counseling Processes: Implications For Group Counselor Training, Rostyslaw W. Robak, Poonam V. Doshi, Michael M. Tursi

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

We studied several processes in a standardized counselor training group. Participants were masters-level counselor trainees (n=100) who took part in eight sessions in an experiential group. Our purpose was to examine the patterns of therapeutic processes and the therapeutic factors that predicted cohesiveness and commitment of the group tasks. Results underscore the interlocking nature of the therapeutic process factors of cohesiveness, altruism, and universality. Analyses reveal the central role of cohesiveness as a process factor in a short-term group. Altruism and engagement consistently predicted cohesiveness. Cohesiveness predicted commitment to the group tasks. The processes in these training groups …

Motivated But Challenged: Counselor Educators’ Experiences Teaching About Social Determinants Of Health, John M. Waters, Alexandra C. Gantt, Allison Worth, Bisola Duyile, Kaprea Johnson, Davide Mariotti

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

A phenomenological study was conducted to understand eight counselor educators’ experiences teaching about social determinants of health. The analysis yielded three themes: educator identity, motivations, and challenges. Implications for counselor educators preparing future counselors to be leaders in multiculturalism, social justice, and advocacy are provided.

How And Why School Counselors Use Twitter: A Phenomenological Study, Danielle R. Schultz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School counselors are often isolated in their role because of the unique nature of their job. Lack of connection, lack of relevant professional development, role ambiguity, high stress, high student-to-school counselor ratios, and lack of professional connections are all contributors to school counselor burnout. School counselors use Twitter, a social media tool, for a variety of purposes. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of school counselors who use Twitter to illuminate how and why school counselors use Twitter. This study found that school counselors see the purpose of their Twitter use as professional advocacy, professional connection, and validation. …

Perceived Levels Of Teaching Self-Efficacy Among Advanced Ces Doctoral Students Engaging In External Pedagogical Experiences, Erika Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined factors of internal preparation practices (i.e., coursework in college teaching, fieldwork in college teaching, and frequency of supervision) and external pedagogical experiences (i.e., holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree in teaching and adjunct faculty experiences in higher education) and their potential effects on teaching self-efficacy among counselor education and supervision doctoral students. This study identified both significant and non-significant relationships between the stated variables. Contrary to previous research (Suddeath et al., 2020), internal preparation practices did not significantly predict scores of teaching self-efficacy among this population. However, the findings suggest that participants holding a bachelor’s or …

Developing Professional Behaviors During Residency: The Shared Experiences Of Resident In Counseling Supervisors, Jennifer D. Gobble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The development of the counselor does not end with graduation from a counselor education program. As a part of the licensure process, counselors must complete their post-graduate state residency requirements. As a result, supervisors play an essential role in the training and licensure of residents in counseling. Prior research has mainly focused on professional development and dispositions of counselors, but little research has been conducted in the role supervisors play in developing professional behavior outside of the counseling room. With the counselor’s professionalism and behavior being crucial to client welfare, therapeutic alliance, and overall trust in the profession, there is …

Integrated Model For Teaching Multicultural Competence: Incorporating Broaching As A Basic Skill For Counseling Students, Katie Askren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is the critical first step in evaluating the Integrated Model for Teaching Multicultural Competence (IMT-MCC), which has the potential to completely revamp the way counselors are trained in multicultural competence (MCC) to be far more effective. By adding the domain of clinical interventions to the well-established MCC domains of awareness, knowledge, and skills, the model lays out a plan for countering current education deficits. Beginning with the Counseling Techniques and Helping Relationship course, this study adds MCC components to each course activity without adding additional work for students. Specific broaching prompts were provided, and each culture reference was …

The Role Of Emotional Overcontrol In Acceptance Of Counselor Training Feedback, R. Erin W. Berzins, Andrew Wood, Colin C. Ward, Ned Farley

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Effective feedback is a critical component of counselor training. The degree to which a recipient is able or willing to accept feedback can impact learning and skill development significantly. Recognizing individual trait differences can help the field of counseling understand feedback receptivity in counseling students. This study examined the possible relationship between feedback receptivity and the individual trait of emotional overcontrol. Results indicate that overcontrol accounted for variance in scores on a measure of feedback receptivity in a sample of counseling students, suggesting that individual trait differences meaningfully affect feedback receptivity.

Promoting Well-Being From The Start: Implementation Of A Wellness Curriculum, Nayoung Kim, Jayna Mumbauer-Pisano

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The 2016 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs standards (F.1.k.) and the 2014 American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics (C.2.g.) stipulate that counselor wellness and self-care be prioritized throughout counselor education programs. However, there is little evidence to suggest counselors’-in-training (CIT) wellness increases during a counseling program. The Introduction to Counseling Wellness Curriculum (ICWC) was developed to assist in meeting these standards and promote wellness from the onset of a counseling program. This eight-week long curriculum presents content to cover different dimensions of wellness and specific activities to implement self-care practices. The skills obtained through the …

Race Matters: Managing Racial Tension When Teaching Multicultural Competence, Tiffany P. Brooks, Korinne H. Babel

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

In this article, the authors suggest using the Mindful Inquiry (Lee, 2009, 2014) to navigate cultural conversations in the counselor education classroom in tandem with the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC; Ratts et al., 2015). The authors highlight the literature about racial tension in and outside the classroom, multicultural counseling and social justice, mindfulness and multiculturalism, and teaching multicultural competence. This article concludes with a case example highlighting how to use the Mindful Inquiry (Lee, 2009, 2014) in the classroom while demonstrating how counselors-in-training develop across the MSJCC (Ratts et al., 2015).

A Pilot Study On Counselor Trainees’ Social Justice Identity Development And Effective Pedagogy In A Multicultural Counseling Course, Shelby Messerschmitt-Coen, Gayle Garcia, Colette T. Dollarhide, Damon Drew

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Abstract: This pilot study examined social justice identity development for first- and second-year clinical and school counseling master’s students enrolled in a one-semester multicultural and social justice counseling (MCSJC) course. Counselor educators can incorporate social justice pedagogy in their courses to better equip counselors-in-training with the knowledge and skills necessary to act (Odegard & Vereen, 2010), which can foster the development of their social justice identities (Miller et al., 2009). Students enrolled in the MCSJC course reported their social justice identity at the beginning and end of the semester to determine identity development over time. In addition, pedagogical strategies were …

Determining Cross-Cultural Mentorship Readiness In Counselor Education And Supervision Programs, Jody Vernam, Brian Paulson, Bridger D. Falkenstien, Lynn Bohecker, Nivischi Edwards

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Abstract: Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) faculty are challenged to include cross-cultural mentorship within CES programs. Successfully implementing cross-cultural mentoring in CES programs requires assessing institutional and CES program readiness and identifying successful strategies. This article outlines a proposed framework to evaluate requisites for cross-cultural mentorship across levels of institutions of higher education and provides strategies to help CES faculty successfully engage and sustain cross-cultural mentorship. What is the public significance of this article? Society and educational programs continue to grow in cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity. As a result, counselor education programs and the systems within which they function …

Motivated But Challenged: Counselor Educators' Experiences Teaching About Social Determinants Of Health, John M. Waters, Alexandra C. Gantt, Allison Worth, Bisola Duyile, Kaprea Johnson, Davide Mariotti

Department of Counseling Scholarship and Creative Works

A phenomenological study was conducted to understand eight counselor educators' experiences teaching about social determinants of health. The analysis yielded three themes: educator identity, motivations, and challenges. Implications for counselor educators preparing future counselors to be leaders in multiculturalism, social justice, and advocacy are provided.

Antiracism Internship: Applying The Ecological Social Justice School Counseling Theory, Kaprea F. Johnson, Dana L. Brookover, Alexandra Gantt-Howrey, Krystal L. Clemons, Lauren B. Robins

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

This manuscript describes an empirically designed internship course that utilized the Ecological Social Justice School Counseling theory to teach internship students how to engage in antiracist practice to address social determinants of health in schools. The research reports on the eight school counseling internship students' experiences, through five themes and 12 subthemes, highlighting the ways they increased awareness of SDOH, antiracist practice, and related constructs at their schools and with students including their action toward addressing SDOH, advocacy, barriers, and growth. Implications for counselor educators and site supervisors conclude.

Examining Face-To-Face And Online Supervisee Disclosure Within The Supervisory Alliance, Letitia D'Aria Unger Johnson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this research was to examine face-to-face and online supervisee disclosure within the supervisory alliance. Just as client care pivoted to online platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so did clinical supervision, which was uncharted territory for many, including those familiar with online counseling. The methodology used was consensual qualitative research (CSR). Eight participants were recruited as a sample of convenience, and semistructured interviews were conducted via Zoom. Results indicated domains such as important characteristics of the supervisory relationship, importance of communication, supervisor characteristics related to self-disclosure, positive aspects and negative aspects of online supervision, and …

Imposter Phenomenon And Ces Doctoral Students, Michael Drane

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The aim of the study was to explore the lived experience of counselor education and supervision students who reported experiencing symptoms of imposter phenomenon (IP). The population included counselor education and supervision students in their first year of their program, with a sample of convenience (N = 4). The method used in this study was an interoperative phenomenological analysis. Data analysis revealed four major themes: (a) counselor education students express self-doubt, lack of confidence and concern about competence, (b) students rate different levels of competence in counselor education and supervision roles, (c) instructor feedback impacts student perceptions of competence, and …

Multiracial Experiences Within Counselor Education: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Cleopatra Bertelsen

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of the study was the examine the experiences of Multiracial individuals who, while attending CACREP accredited counseling programs. The participants were self- identified Multiracial Counselors who graduated from between 2012–2022.Data collection included an anonymous qualitative survey examining the Multiracial experiences with race, racism, and antiracism while attending counseling programs. Data was analyzed by a team of Multiracial and Multiethnic People of Color. Results identified four themes. The first theme highlighted outdated aspects of the counseling curriculum regarding race, racism, and antiracism. The second theme recognized some ways universities are moving forward in addressing race, racism, and antiracism. The …

Nature And Its Place In Professional Counseling: A Qualitative Study Of Expert Views, Experiences, And Future Plans, Matthew V. Bukowski

Dissertations, 2020-current

Recent publications and initiatives within professional counseling indicate a growing interest in the connections between human wellness and the natural world. Despite consistent growth of this trend between the years 2000 and 2021, there has been little dialogue within the profession about the ethical, ideological, and social justice implications of integrating nature therapy with professional counseling and counselor education. This study investigated the views, experiences, and future plans of 10 counselor educators who integrate nature therapy into their professional roles and developed two major themes and 12 subthemes that encapsulate their responses. Participants in the study overall shared a desire …

Integrating Vicarious Resilience Into Counselor Education Programs, Olivia T. Ngadjui

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

To support the retention of counselors in the field, suggestions influenced by a deficit lens caution and affirm the importance of preventative wellness to counselors while highlighting the impact related to the lack of attentiveness towards counselors’ well-being such as impairment, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout. The construct of vicarious resilience is a transformative lens of care (Hernandez-Wolfe, 2018). For counselors, this lens includes substantial benefits towards the counselor’s wellbeing when collaborating with empathy and care to reframe initial thinking surrounding the therapeutic relationship. This article consists of a conceptual framework for integrating vicarious resilience into counselor education as …

Will To Meaning: A Pilot Study On Teaching Existential Theory Through Creative Techniques, Laura L. Wood, Lori Mcandrew, Jason S. Frydman

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Early career clinicians have reported limited experience utilizing existential concepts in their clinical practice. This deficit may be attributed to a gap in training. Further, utilizing creative techniques to elucidate conceptual understanding has a demonstrated history of effectiveness in the classroom. This study explored whether the use of creative instructional techniques supports student learning of existential counseling theory, and, if so, which specific tools do students prefer. Through pairing existential concepts with creative instructional techniques, the researchers hypothesized that understanding would increase. Students reported a significant increase in their knowledge of existential concepts following the use of creative instructional techniques …

Enhancing Clinical Competencies In Counselor Education: The Deliberate Practice Coaching Framework, Taylor Irvine, Chelsea Fullilove, Arielle Osman, Lilia Farmanara, Kelly Emelianchik-Key

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

In the counselor education (CE) literature, there remains a paucity of available research on systematic methods to enhance counselors-in-training (CIT) clinical competencies. Currently, CIT report feeling not only ill-equipped in essential counseling competencies upon graduating, but they also indicate diminished self-efficacy before engaging in clinical work. Therefore, we propose the Deliberate Practice Coaching Framework (DPCF) to address these issues. This systematic framework integrates deliberate practice components and coaching, with a peer mentoring relationship, to help enhance CIT clinical competencies and skill development, as well as promote overall self-efficacy. We provide a case illustrating the application of the DPCF. We also …

Tenure Standards, Scholarly Productivity, And Workloads Of Counselor Educators At Doctoral And Master's-Only Counseling Programs, Gregory Hatchett

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This article describes the results of a survey that inquired about the tenure standards, scholarly productivity, and workloads of counselor educators (N = 119) at doctoral-level counselor education programs. These survey results were then compared to the results attained in an earlier study of counselor educators (N = 168) at master’s-only programs at comprehensive universities (Hatchett, 2020). These two groups of counselor educators differed on the following variables: proportion of counselor educators with Ph.D.’s, binary gender, perceptions of tenure criteria, scholarly productivity on an annual basis and at the time of tenure applications, teaching schedules, distribution of work …