Counseling Commons^™

Accessing Campus Mental Health Services In A Nigerian Southwestern University: Barriers To Academic Success, Caroline Dada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a significant health concern among higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. A substantial treatment gap exists in the Nigerian healthcare system, and this gap is further worsened by cultural and religious barriers, which reinforce stigma that discourages students from seeking professional help. This qualitative narrative inquiry explored the barriers students encountered when accessing mental health services at a university in Southwestern Nigeria, to increase service access. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with seven professional mental health providers at a university counseling center between March and April 2025. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify …

Beyond The Diagnosis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Men Living With Hiv, David R. Romanelli

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of men (18+ years old) living with HIV to better understand how they navigate identity, mental health, relationships, and healthcare systems after diagnosis. The method included a qualitative thematic analysis with 10 participants. Eight themes emerged from the data: (1) reactions, reflections, and meaning-making after diagnosis; (2) managing medication, treatment, and co-occurring conditions; (3) stigma, disclosure, and negotiation of identity; (4) substance use, housing instability, and socioeconomic stressors; (5) navigating the changing HIV landscape; (6) experiences with family and intimate relationships; (7) implications for mental health counseling; and (8) the role of community …

Mapping Research Trends On Mental Health Literacy Among University Students: A Bibliometric Systematic Review, Eko Pramudya Laksana, Muslihati Muslihati, Arbin Janu Setiyowati, Salsabila Kholifahtun Nisa, Muhammad Nur Hudha, Margaret Kehinde Soetan

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Mental health is a global issue that has received increasing attention, particularly among university students. Mental health literacy (MHL) is an important factor in promoting students' psychological well-being through knowledge, attitudes, and the ability to recognize and address mental health problems. This study aims to map the developmental trends of MHL research among university students in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the direction and focus of studies in this field. This research employed a bibliometric literature review approach by analyzing 48 journal articles indexed in the Scopus database and published between 2021 and 2025. The findings indicate that …

Mind The Gap: Intergenerational Perspectives On Mental Illness Within Ghanaian American Communities, Ama Danso-Ayesu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explores attitudes toward mental illness among Ghanaian immigrants and

first-generation Ghanaian Americans, with particular focus on factors that influence

stigma. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model, the study utilized the

Community Attitudes Toward Mental Illness (CAMI) Scale to measure four dimensions

of stigma, including authoritarianism, benevolence, social restrictiveness, and community

mental health ideology. A comparative, cross-sectional design was employed to examine

differences between immigrant and American-born participants. The findings revealed

generational differences where Ghanaian immigrants reported higher levels of

authoritarian and socially restrictive beliefs, while first-generation Ghanaian Americans

demonstrated more benevolent and inclusive attitudes. Interpreted through the ecological

systems …

Lay-Led Crisis Intervention Strategies In The Adult 3 Ministry Of First Baptist Dallas, Jeffrey Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMIN action research project focused on the care, counsel, and advocacy lay leaders can provide to church members who experience a crisis. Due to the growing member-to-minister ratio at First Baptist Dallas, lay leaders can supplement the work of the ministers by providing frontline support. The problem is that most lay leaders within the church have limited training in crisis management outside their own life experiences. If lay leaders are equipped in biblical crisis management and intervention responses, then they will be able to provide guidance to church members in crisis. The qualitative research for this project was completed …

Where's Waldo?: Finding The Missing Voice Of The College Counselor, Krystyn K. Dupree

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

College counseling has been integral to higher education for more than a century; however, the role of college counselors has become increasingly complex amid rising student mental health needs, growing symptom severity, and constrained institutional resources. Despite extensive research on college student mental health, little contemporary scholarship has examined the lived experiences of the professionals providing these services. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how college counselors who provide mental health services perceive their professional role within the context of higher education.

Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this study conceptualized college counselors as embedded within interconnected …

Black Men’S Experiences Of Intergenerational Trauma And Identity Development: A Phenomenological Study, Richard N. Tabb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how Black men exposed to intergenerational trauma describe their experiences of identity development. Grounded in Vivian Rakoff’s Intergenerational Trauma Theory and William Cross’s Nigrescence Theory, the study employed a transcendental phenomenological design to examine how trauma is transmitted across generations and its implications for Black male identity. This research addresses a critical gap in the mental health field, particularly regarding the historical roots of trauma and their impact on contemporary counseling practices. Findings revealed that the enduring legacy of historical trauma rooted in slavery, systemic racism, and ongoing forms of oppression continues to profoundly shape …

African American Women Employed In The Education Sector Who Have Biological Children With Mental Health Or Behavioral Problems: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Cynthia Henderson Porter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study is purposed to identify and describe the lived experiences of African American mothers employed in a pre-K-12 public school district in Virginia who have biological children with mental health or behavioral problems. The study was qualitative, as this method allowed challenges to be explored personally and humanistically. The theory guiding this study is social constructivism, as it relates to African American mothers’ views of their experiences in the work setting; the assumed perception of colleagues, administrators, and others; and challenges at work pertaining to limitations in functioning, performance, and interpersonal stressors that mothers may encounter. The central …

Advancing Children's Mental Health In Nevada, Kelliann Beavers, Christopher Kearney

Lincy Institute Events

Nevada ranks 51st nationally in youth mental health access and services, underscoring persistent shortages and disparities across the state. Nearly one in four youths aged 12–17 (23.5%) experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, and 73% did not receive treatment. Approximately 34,000 Nevada youths have reported suicidal thoughts—an urgent call for prevention and coordinated support.

During the 2024–2025 school year, 31.3% of Clark County School District students were chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), a challenge closely linked to mental health struggles and socioeconomic barriers.

This community forum provided an opportunity to generate dialogue and …

Experiences With Social Media Social Comparison In Women Ages 18-28: A Qualitative Study, Olivia Oakley Dr.

Dissertations

This qualitative study aimed to understand young women’s experience using social media and their reported mental health connections, such as self-esteem and comparison. As inferred in recent research, a wide range of social media content is being produced and consumed, from promoting the “thin ideal” to newer campaigns advocating for body positivity (Cohen et al., 2019, Grabe et al., 2008; Groesz et al., 2002). In a time where there is so much online content to consume, it is important to continue to evaluate the lived experiences of those using social media. This phenomenological qualitative research captured the lived experiences of …

Self-Talk Speaks Loud: A Bibliometric Dissection Of Its Rise In Counseling Practices, Sri Purwanti, Wahyu Nanda Eka Saputra

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study aims to map global trends in self-talk using a bibliometric approach. The data source was entirely drawn from the Scopus database, focusing on publications containing keywords related to self-talk, such as self-talk, talk, and relationship. The analysis was conducted on 960 selected documents published between 1975 and 2025. The results show a significant increase in publications since 2020, reflecting a growing need for self-talk approaches that support mental health and psychological well-being. Authors from various countries contributed differently, with the United States dominating in terms of both publication volume and citations, while developing countries such as Indonesia have …

At Stake In Each Other’S Company: A Systems View Of Compassion Fatigue In Mental Health Work, Susan S. Standen

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Traditional research on the phenomenon of compassion fatigue (CF) in mental health work tends to include recommendations for workers to build skills in psychological detachment and self-care. This puts the burden of coping with vicarious trauma on the individual caregiver, not on the systems they operate within. Alternatively, a transformative systemic perspective suggests that Western cultural assumptions about care-giving and individual resilience need to be reassessed. By broadening the exploration of CF and comparing it with human reactions to overwhelming crises across fields and disciplines, new questions can be asked, and new solutions can be proposed. This essay details how …

An Examination Of How The Ethno-Racial Socialization Process Influences Women Of Color’S Engagement With Mental Health Treatment, Kairys M. Grasty

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Women of Color (WOC) are uniquely deterred from engaging with traditional mental healthcare services due to the generational harm that has been wrought to Communities of Color when accessing support in generations’ past and present (Godoy-Ruiz et al., 2015). Thus, to protect WOC from further marginalization, parents and caregivers disseminate messages to WOC about their gender and racial identity during the ethno-racial socialization (ERS) process. While this process is intended to be protective, an unintended consequence is that it can socialize WOC to be distrustful of others and reluctant to engage with mental health services to support their mental health. …

The Perception Of Neurofeedback Therapy In Improving Sleep Quality And Reducing Nightmares In Women With Ptsd, Amber Nicole Garcia Roper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative research investigation sought to examine the lived experiences of women diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) undergoing neurofeedback therapy with a concentrated emphasis on sleep quality and nightmares. Sleep disturbances are very common in individuals affected by PTSD and sleep disturbances make a remarkable impact on the broader mental health dimensions. Neurofeedback therapy, an emerging type of brainwave therapy, claims to play a promising role in dealing with these issues. Following this approach to phenomenology, putting greater emphasis on the subjective experiences of participants, this study establishes an understanding of how neurofeedback therapy influences sleep quality and the …

Integrating Mental Health And Pastoral Counseling At Calvary Baptist Church, Jacqueline Y. Ghee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a critical need to provide mental health support to the congregation in the Black church, especially at Calvary Baptist Church. During the research study, the participants have made it clear that they need more support when it comes to emotional help for those who are facing mental health challenges. To address this, initiatives such as mental health training for clergy, establishing support groups, or partnering with mental health professionals can be implemented. Based on the outcome of the one-on-one interviews, the focus group participants from Calvary shared their disappointment with the pastor and leaders for not being able …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Indirect Impact Of Killings Of Unarmed African Americans By Police On African American Women, Deantonie E. Price

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the indirect impact of police killings of unarmed African Americans on the mental and emotional well-being of African American women. This research aimed to fill a significant gap in the literature, which has been largely overlooked by focusing on the specific experiences of African American women. The central research question explored how these women articulated and experienced the emotional and psychological effects of police killings within their communities. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to explore the complexities of individuals' perceptions, emotions, and lived experiences. Data collection included in-depth interviews, a …

Implications And Recommendations For Counselors And Counselor Educators Dealing With Personal Mental Health Concerns And Suicidality, Julie C. Hill

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this article is to review the available literature on mental health among counselors and other helping professionals, as well as help-seeking behaviors. One counselor educator/counselor’s experience seeking treatment for mental health concerns in an inpatient setting will be shared. Implications for counselor educators and counselors to better recognize warning signs for themselves and encourage help-seeking behaviors will be discussed.

"Chatgpt Told Me To Say It": Ai Chatbots And Class Participation Apprehension In University Students, Daisuke Akiba

Publications and Research

The growing prevalence of AI chatbots in everyday life has prompted educators to explore their potential applications in promoting student success, including support for classroom engagement and communication. This exploratory study emerged from semester-long observations of class participation apprehensions in an introductory educational psychology course, examining how chatbots might scaffold students toward active and independent classroom contribution. Four students experiencing situational participation anxiety voluntarily participated in a pilot intervention using AI chatbots as virtual peer partners. Following comprehensive training in AI use and prompt design given to the entire class, participants employed systematic consultation frameworks for managing classroom discourse trepidations. …

A Mixed Methods Examination Of Interdisciplinary Strategies For Addressing Trauma And Chronic Pain In Group Therapy, Kara Marceil Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain and trauma are distinct yet interconnected public health concerns, each significantly affecting physical, psychological, and social well-being. The comorbidity of these conditions highlights a critical need for integrated treatment approaches. This dissertation explores interdisciplinary strategies that merge group counseling and physical therapy to address trauma symptomology and chronic pain within a group therapy setting. Grounded in the biopsychosocial model, somatic therapy principles, and the gate control theory of pain, this multi-manuscript dissertation employs a mixed methods design to examine counselor experiences, intervention feasibility, and participant outcomes.

The Intersection Of Rurality And Wellness: A Multi-Manuscript Investigation Into Rural Well-Being, Lucas Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Rural communities face unique mental health and wellness challenges, including geographic isolation, provider shortages, and stigma surrounding help-seeking. This dissertation explores rural wellness through three interrelated studies, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine disparities, perceptions of rurality, and demographic influences on well-being. The first study utilized the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL) to compare wellness scores between rural and non-rural individuals. The second study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore rural definitions of wellness, as well as barriers and strengths related to mental health. The third study examined how perceptions of rurality and demographic factors predict wellness …

Help-Seeking, Motivation, And Partner Interactions In Couples Affected By Tramatic Brain Injury, Violet Hodge

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects individuals and their romantic relationships, creating barriers to help-seeking and impacting relational health. Despite evidence supporting the benefits of couples counseling and relationship education, stigma and motivational factors influence engagement in these services. This dissertation examines the interdependent processes of help-seeking, motivation, and relationship satisfaction in couples where one partner has experienced a TBI. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), two studies explore (1) the role of self-stigma in help-seeking and motivation for completing a relationship education program, and (2) the influence of self-stigma for help-seeking on motivation in couples services, particularly in the context …

Pastoring The Pastor: Self-Care Among African American Clergy, Alexander Jamerison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When self-care is effectively implemented, it can help individuals avoid or reduce mental health challenges throughout their lives (Luis et al., 2021). Unfortunately, research indicates numerous mental health challenges faced by clergy (Chan & Chen, 2019; Jackson, 2013; Gallagher, 2019; Edward, 2020). To assist ministers in cultivating a healthier life and a more effective ministry, this study will specifically explore the relationship between self-care and mental health challenges among African American clergy. The literature on this subject will identify historical, cultural, and spiritual influences. It will also examine specific mental health concerns, effective self-care practices, and relevant outcomes. Although research …

Exploring The Stigma Of Mental Health In Oneness Pentecostal Churches From A Pastoral Perspective, Jannett Liburd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the stigma of mental health in Oneness Pentecostal churches in the Northeast from a pastoral perspective. The theory guiding this study is Sigmund Freud’s object relational theory (ORT), as it focuses on the past experiences an individual has with an object, person, or event, and how the experience, whether negative or positive, shapes the person’s attitude and behavior in the future. Mental health stigma is a phenomenon with which individuals may have had a harmful experience. In the study, the central research question was: What are the lived experiences of Oneness …

Seen And Heard: A Visual Testimony Of Purity Culture Using Qualitative Photovoice Methodology, Amanda Brown

Dissertations

Purity culture, rooted in Christian teachings, has profoundly shaped individuals’ identities, relationships, and perceptions of sexuality, gender, and faith. While popular culture is talking about the effects of purity culture, scholarly literature is lacking. This study employed photovoice methodology to center the voices of those who grew up in purity culture, using photography and personal narratives to explore its long-term effects. The study focused on how individuals who have experienced purity culture articulate and visualize their stories, revealing nuanced insights across seven thematic domains: gender expectations, romantic relationships, faith, mental health, identity formation, sex and sexuality, and healing and …

Living In Action: A Critical Phenomenological Study Of School-Based Mental Health Counselors’ Engagement In Social Justice Practices, Kerry Whiterell

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This study argues that a problem facing school-based mental health counselors is that neither traditional counseling psychology practices nor the public educational system in the United States were designed to meet the needs of students experiencing intersectional oppression. This study therefore described and compared traditional counseling psychology theory and practices with that of liberation psychology, and outlined social justice frameworks that are applicable to school-based mental health counselors. The overarching research question for this study then asked, “What are the experiences of social justice-oriented mental health counselors who work within public schools in Massachusetts?” To answer this question, a critical …

Connection Matters: Exploring The Effects Of Attachment On Human Flourishing Within Ncaa Division 1 College Athletes, Zachary T. A. Clinton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the continued growth and development of college athletics has also come increased awareness and concerns around the surging rates of mental health challenges and issues facing today’s student-athletes. This study was conducted to better understand some of the factors, specifically relationships, that might affect the overall well-being and human flourishing of NCAA Division 1 student-athletes. Rooted in the flourishing and attachment theories, this study investigated relationship interactions between parental attachment (X) and human flourishing (Y) through best friend attachment (M1), God-attachment (M2), and coach-athlete attachment (M3) conditioned at the level of playing time satisfaction (W). Following the distribution of …

A Study To Understand The Experiences Of Black American Christian Women In Leadership Positions Who Serve Within The Black Church, Keyona N. Harper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study contributes to the gap in academic literature through the identification of themes within the participants' experiences of being a Black American female leader within the Black church. This study uses a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative design to understand the experiences of Black American Christian women in leadership positions who serve within the Black church. The findings offer insight into the role of race, gender, religion, and environmental factors in the human experience. Through this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological research approach, data were analyzed to find universal themes of commitment to calling, pastor idolization, exclusion, navigating church culture, balancing personal and …

Walking In Promise, Living In Reality: Exploring The Mental Health Implications Of The Pentecostal Discourse Of Divine Calling, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

Pentecostalism places a strong emphasis on the discourse of divine calling, where individuals believe they are purposefully created, guided, and empowered by God to fulfill a specific mission. This sense of calling profoundly shapes Pentecostals’ sense of identity and purpose. Using Grounded Theory, this study analyzes open, in-depth interviews with Pentecostals in the U.S. to explore the impact of the Pentecostal discourse of divine calling on their mental health. The metaphor of ‘walking in’ one’s calling emerges as the central theme used by participants to explain the interaction between their perception of divine calling, their lived realities, and their mental …

Burnout And Self-Efficacy: Exploring The Rewards And Challenges Faced By Crisis Counselors Working In Emergency Department Settings, Ellen Dotas

Dissertations, 2020-current

This dissertation explores burnout and self-efficacy in counselors who work with clients in crisis in emergency department settings. Mental health and emergency departments are two areas that tend to report higher levels of burnout than are reported in other occupational fields. While much research has been done on the topics of burnout and self-efficacy, limited information is available about counselors who work in these crisis roles. This dissertation follows a three-manuscript format and includes a conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative manuscript. The conceptual manuscript explores the nature of the crisis assessment itself, focusing on the area of risk assessment. The qualitative …

Lgbtq+ Client Experiences And Opinions On Therapist Cultural Humility, Elliot Dulyk, Dasean L. Young

Honors College Theses

LGBTQ+ people (i.e., individuals from gender or sexual minorities) are at a heightened risk for mental health issues and often face barriers in receiving quality mental healthcare. The use of cultural humility practices by therapists has been correlated with improved therapeutic relationships and therapy outcomes. Practicing cultural humility involves engaging in critical self-evaluation, lifelong learning, and having an other-oriented stance. The present study examined 54 LGBTQ+ people’s perceptions of their therapists’ cultural humility and their positive and negative identity-related experiences in therapy. We conducted an online survey of LGBTQ+-identifying individuals who were ages 18 or older and currently attend or …