Counseling Commons^™

Cultural Humility As A Mechanism For Building Working Alliance With International Counseling Supervisees, Alexandra Ioakeimidou

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The counseling field constitutes a choice of study for many international students pursuing graduate studies in the United States. A critical training aspect of the counseling field is clinical supervision. It is documented in the literature that international counseling supervisees encounter many challenges in the context of supervision. The field of mental health and, in particular, the counseling field often emphasize the concept of cultural competence as a critical component in providing effective cross-cultural supervision. However, scholars have pointed out some negative aspects of cultural competence. The present study stipulated that the emphasis of supervisors on cultural competence could be …

From Adverse Childhood Experiences To Adulthoodjob Satisfaction: Mediating Roles Of Posttraumaticbeliefs And Self-Evaluation, Jaeyoung Kim, Isak Kim, Kaiqi Zhou, Wongeun Ji

Counseling Faculty Publications

This study investigates the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and job satisfaction in adulthood, mediated by posttraumatic beliefs and core self-evaluation (CSE). Based on the literature, we hypothesized that posttraumatic beliefs, potentially developed following ACEs, would have negative effects on individuals’ CSE and job satisfaction. Structural equation modeling of survey data from 384 employees with at least one ACE revealed that posttraumatic beliefs fully mediated the effect of ACEs on both job satisfaction and CSE. Furthermore, CSE was a partial mediator between posttraumatic beliefs and job satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of adopting trauma-informed approaches in employment counseling.

Everything And Nothing: Exploring The Connection Between Gender Microaggressions In The Family Of Origin And Intimate Adult Relationships, Stephanie Dizenzo-Priestley

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Experiences with gender microaggressions have been shown to negatively impact mental health and self-esteem in women. Cisgender women are faced with pervasive gender microaggressions throughout life, including within their homes and families. This study sought to explore cisgender women’s experiences with gender microaggressions within two critical family systems, the family of origin and intimate adult relationships. Utilizing Postmodern Feminist Theory and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, three overarching themes were identified related to how cisgender women experience and make meaning of gender microaggressions: 1) Rigid Roles and Expectations for Women; 2) Impact of Power Dynamics; and 3) Identifying Pathways to Lasting Change. …

The Effects Of The Living Compass Group On Lpc Associates' Wellness And Self-Care, Jennifer Yarbrough

Dissertations

Counselors can only be effective if they engage in a healthy level of self-care. Counselors recognize the importance of self-care, but they often ignore the early warning signs when it is lacking (e.g., emotional shifts, changes in well-being, or altered behaviors). Self-care has been studied for many years and is emphasized in the ACA Code of Ethics 2014. However, counselors still need to work on establishing a self-care practice, especially considering that 50% of licensed professional counselor associates (LPC associates) do not make it through the licensure process. Researchers found that novice counselors experience a higher level of burnout. In …

Play Therapists Attitudes, Knowledge, And Skills In Identifying Disordered Eating In Children And Adolescents., Hailey Thomas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of disordered eating among children and adolescents has been steadily increasing, posing an increase in the need for treatment. Recognizing and addressing disordered eating in childhood and adolescence is critical to fostering a healthy relationship with food and body image and ensuring the overall well-being of youth. Play has long been considered an important factor in understanding children's lives and experiences and is the recommended counseling approach for children and adolescents (Landreth, 2012). Play therapy is grounded in the fundamental understanding that play is children's and adolescents' natural mode of expression, where toys are their words, and play …

Psy 300 Abnormal Psychology, Stephanie Weigel, Jorden A. Cummings, Bill Pelz

All Open Educational Resources

This book is a compilation of Open Education Resources for the use in an undergraduate level abnormal psychology course at Fort Hays State University.

Examining Ethnic-Racial Socialization As A Predictor Of Resilience And Ethnic-Racial Stress In Hispanic/Latine Young Adults, Adrian Josue Hernandez

Dissertations

Multiple scholars have emphasized the importance of elucidating how Hispanic/Latine individuals are socialized to navigate issues pertaining to ethnic-racial identity, such as ethnicracial stress from racism and discrimination (Ayón et al., 2020; Umaña-Taylor & Rivas-Drake, 2021). Ethnic-racial stress has been linked to numerous adverse physical and mental health outcomes among Hispanic/Latine people, including poor health-related quality of life and increased depressive symptoms (Alamilla et al., 2010; Andrade et al., 2021).

Attention to the role of ethnic-racial stress in exacerbating health disparities within Hispanic/Latine communities has also stimulated increased interest in understanding Hispanic/Latine resilience (Arce et al., 2020; Bosma et al., …

Understanding The Barriers And Contributions To Success Among African American Graduate Students Pursuing Doctorate Degrees In Clinical Or Counseling Psychology: A Comparative Analysis Of Predominantly White Institutions And Historically Black Colleges And Universities In The U.S., Chelle' Thomas

Dissertations

This study investigated the barriers encountered by African American students in earning doctorate degrees in clinical or counseling psychology at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) compared to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This study aims to elucidate the challenges encountered by African American graduate students in their pursuit of doctoral degrees in clinical or counseling psychology. The study focused on analyzing the obstacles and positive impacts experienced by African American graduate students as they strive to obtain doctorates in clinical or counseling psychology. Multiple challenges and contributions have been identified in this a phenomenological qualitative study. The qualitative results indicate …

Msw Portfolio: A Growth Mindset Approach, Katherine D. Bettcher

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

A growth mindset approach to Advanced Integrated Practice in Social Work.

A Mixed Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of Embedded Trauma-Informed Practices On Academic-Related Behaviors Of Students Who Have Experienced Trauma And The Relationship Between Trauma-Informed Practices And Student Benchmark Growth Data, Sarah Isaac

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study examined the relationship between school-based embedded trauma-informed practices and academic-related outcomes for students. While there is minimal empirical evidence supporting the impact of trauma-informed practices on the academic success of students who have experienced trauma, there is some qualitative, quantitative, and anecdotal data supporting outcomes stemming from trauma-informed practices in the research. The research questions guiding this study were (1) What impact does the implementation of embedded trauma-informed practices have on the academic-related behaviors of students who have experienced trauma? and (2) What is the relationship between benchmark growth scores for students with an ACE score …

Adult Coping As A Function Of Perceived Parental Support, Brenda Manning

Journal of Counseling and Psychology

The present study examined the function of perceived parental support in childhood on adult coping strategies. A convenient sample taken from social media collected data from fifty-three participants aged 20-68 who completed the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaires (PARQ) and Screening Tool for Adult Children of Alcoholic Traits (STACAT). Participants indicated moderate levels of parental (maternal and paternal) rejection (M=130.61, SD=37.67). Additionally, participants reported moderate levels of adult children of alcoholic traits related to perceived parental rejection (M=99.86, SD=22.82). Results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship (r = .534; p =.001) between perceived parental acceptance-rejection and adult children of alcoholic traits, suggesting …

From Steps To Strides: My Evolving Journey Into Social Work, Lacresha N. Ffrench

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This paper reflects on my journey, shaped by my heritage as a first-generation Jamaican-American and my experiences in education. The narrative begins with the story of my parents, Desmond and Pauline Ffrench, who immigrated from Jamaica with the hope of providing me with greater opportunities. Their sacrifices and unwavering support have been instrumental in my success. My career in education began in 2019, where I transitioned through various roles, from an educational assistant to the restorative practices coordinator. These experiences, coupled with my deepening commitment to advocating for students, led me to pursue a master's in social work. Encouraged by …

The College Campus, A Place Of Learning, And A Place Of Healing, Huma Bashir, Joshua Francis

Human Services Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have precipitated a marked increase in mental health needs among college students. Lockdowns, the sudden shift to remote learning, and social distancing mandates have compounded existing challenges, highlighting a trend that has evolved over the past two decades. Despite heightened demand for mental health support, colleges struggle to meet these needs amid the emotional aftermath of COVID-19 effectively. Recognizing the pivotal role of higher education institutions in shaping future leaders and addressing and enhancing the mental well-being of the college community is imperative to foster an environment conducive to learning and healing. This paper …

A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Psi-4-Sf In Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Paige Weir

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The factor structure of the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form (PSI-4-SF) was evaluated among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Two hypotheses were tested: (1) the original PSI-4-SF model would yield an unsatisfactory fit, and (2) a three-factor alternative model would improve fit compared to the original and other models. A sample of 205 parent-child dyads was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with the lavaan package in R Studio. Preliminary analyses included descriptive statistics, normality checks, and assessments of skewness and kurtosis. Results supported the first hypothesis, showing poor fit indices for the original PSI-4-SF model. …

Differences In Students' Self-Esteem, Prosocial Behaviors, Classroom Climate, And Participation In Read To Dogs Programs: A Quantitative Comparative Study, Kimberley Anna Brush

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This anonymous quantitative quasi-experimental pre-post-test study was designed to determine differences in students' self-esteem, the performance of prosocial behaviors, and teachers' perceptions of the overall classroom climate after participating in Read to Dogs (RTD) programs in elementary and middle schools in East Central, New Jersey. Students with reading difficulties have higher incidences of low self-esteem and self-concept, depression, and anxiety that result in internalizing and externalizing behaviors that impact the classroom climate for all students socially and academically. Student participants completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and teacher participants completed the grade-appropriate version of the …

The Forgotten American Heroes: A Phenomenological Study, Lynda Burke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of service providers who work first-hand with homeless veterans in Tennessee. Americans seem to view homeless people as inferior to others without considering the factors that have led these individuals to become homeless. They fail to acknowledge the hardships they face, the daily challenges to their mental health, and the invisible wounds that go unnoticed and are often overlooked. As more men and women have returned to the United States following their service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other global locations, a significant number of combat veterans are struggling with untreated or unmanaged mental health …

Recovering Christian Women Self-Care And Mentorship: A Qualitative Study, Clara Graves Hopkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe Christian women in recovery's experiences serving as a mentor to other addicts in Florida. This heuristic phenomenological qualitative research study aimed to understand the phenomenon of recovering Christian women how they function in their various roles as ministers, leaders, and mentors, and what they do for psychological and physical self-care when faced with challenges and barriers in society, why they are employed as ministers, counselors, and therapists who promote positive wellbeing and provide support in the success of recovery from addiction, trauma, and psychological issues, and how they maintain mental, emotional, …

Challenges Faced By Adult Gifted Students Who Have Experienced Traumatic Brain Injury: A Phenomenological Study, Dawn M. Nessler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the educational experiences of gifted adult students who have experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI). The theory guiding this phenomenological study was Kazimierz Dabrowski's theory of positive disintegration, with a focus on how the tragedy of various natures impacts the development of an individual's identity. This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the shared educational experiences of gifted undergraduate students who have experienced a TBI. 12 participants from Strong Minds, Kind Hearts, a Christian counseling and educational office located in Northwest Florida engaged in the study. Stratified sampling was used within the …

Bridging The Gap: Psychopharmacologic Education And Side Effect Screening For Non-Prescribing Mental Health Professionals, Elaine Fitzgerald

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: The United States is experiencing a growing demand for pediatric mental health support. Surges in mental health diagnoses and psychotropic medication prescriptions have occurred, compounded by a shortage of psychiatric providers. Non-prescribing mental health professionals are well-positioned to recognize psychotropic medication side effects. However, psychologists and counselors lack formal pharmacology education.

Methods: The quality improvement (QI) initiative was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model. The evidence-based psychopharmacologic education for non-prescribers utilized a quasi-experimental pre- and post- test design. Data collected from clinicians included knowledge, confidence, and skill concerning psychotropic medications. The Psychotropic Medication Monitoring Checklist (PMMC) screen clients …

Developing Expertise And Multiculturally Informed Supervision Practices, Mary Martha Abernathy

Dissertations

The American Counseling Association (Media Kit, 2023) records state that 62% of their membership is made up of master’s level clinicians, with 18.92% holding a doctorate and another 5.07% enrolled in a doctoral program. Membership is largely skewed toward master’s level professionals and only 7.44% of ACA members report working in a counselor education setting (Media Kit, 2023). However, most research regarding supervision is based on supervisors practicing in an academic setting (Cook et al., 2018; Jones et al., 2019; Kemer et al., 2014; Kemer et al., 2017; Kemer, 2020). The objective of these studies is to understand how master’s …

Sing Sing, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Sing Sing (2023), directed by Greg Kwedar.

Twice-Exceptional Black Girls: A Case Study In Early Childhood, Krystal L. Clemons, Renae D. Mayes

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

Twice-exceptional (2e) refers to children who are gifted or talented in one or more areas and also have a disability or learning difference. Despite the increasing awareness of 2e learners in recent years, many still lack recognition and support, particularly those from marginalized communities. Black girls are among the groups that are least likely to receive accurate identification and appropriate services for their 2e needs. This case study aims to shed light on the experiences of a 2E Black girl in early childhood and offer recommendations for school counselors to better support them.

Utilization Of Mental Health Services At Domestic Violence Agencies In Pennsylvania, Kealsey Mcneil

Social Work Student Research

In this research, I examined the use of mental health services at domestic violence (DV) programs in rural and urban Pennsylvania and agency size. I examined the needs, characteristics, and availability of mental health services for DV survivors across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I looked at DV service use from a variety of sources to provide a well-rounded understanding of the factors that contributed to mental health service use. I used three secondary data sources: the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP), Adequacies of Network of Services Provided to the Survivors of Domestic Violence in Pennsylvania–Phase II study, and data obtained from …

Online Self-Presentation And Its Relationship To The Level Of Exposure To Cyber-Harassment Among A Sample Of The University Of Jordan Students, Randah Odeh Barakat, Islam F. Alzu'bi

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

The study aimed to identify the level of online self-presentation and its relationship to the level of exposure to cyber-harassment among a sample of the University of Jordan students consisting of (385) male and female bachelor's students from the Faculty of Arts. The questionnaires that are built for the level of online self-presentation and level of exposure to cyber-harassment were constructed and evaluated for their validity and reliability. The results indicated that the level of online self-presentation and the level of exposure to cyber-harassment among students were moderate, the level of online self-presentation was positively correlated with the level of …

The Hidden Impact Of Sociocultural Determinants In Adolescence, Lauren B. Robins, Nicholas Schmoyer, Atiya Smith, Krystal L. Clemons, Jill Kivikoski

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

This study, guided by the Social Determinants of Health framework and Social Ecological Model, examined how SDOH impact the presence of anxiety during adolescence. This study set out to understand what sociocultural determinants predict anxiety, using the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health dataset. The analysis included a logistic regression to determine the predictability of SDOH on anxiety in adolescence. The results indicated that various SDOH are significant predictors of anxiety, while also indicating that the absence of adverse SDOH predicts the lack of anxiety. Further, unique findings related to race/ethnicity, age, and gender set the stage for additional research …

The Role Of Social Values In The Student’S Choice Of University Specialization, Abedalkarim Moubarak, Oussama Diab

Al Jinan الجنان

This study aims to identify the role of social factors in the student’s choice of university specialization in Lebanese universities, to determine whether there are statistically significant differences at the level of significance (0.05) between the averages of the responses of the study sample individuals about the role of social determinants in the student’s choice of university specialization Attributed to the gender variable.

In order to achieve the goal, the descriptive analytical method was used, by preparing a questionnaire that was applied to (623) male and female students after ensuring their honesty and consistency.

The results of the study showed …

A Phenomenological Study Of Federally Funded School Counselor Educators’ Non-Dual Educator-Counselor And Antiracist School Counselor Identity, Yung-Yu Lee, Matthew Lemberger-Truelove

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

School counselor educators train future professionals who will adopt a non-dual educator-counselor identity and deliver direct services to culturally diverse students and other education stakeholders. To capture select school counselor educators’ values and practices, the authors of the current study performed a descriptive phenomenological study using semi-structured interview questions to elicit the experiences of six school counselor educators who received federal funding to increase the diversity and quality of mental health services in public schools. Findings included the following five themes: 1) perspectives of professional identity; 2) equity, social justice, and inclusion; 3) pedagogical strategies in training program; 4) collaboration …

Preparing School Counselors For Culturally Informed Suicide Response, Emily C. Brown, Mary Edwin, Lucy Purgason

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

The purpose of this article is to provide school counselor educators with strategies to effectively prepare school counselors to implement culturally responsive suicide intervention in their roles as educator-counselors. Informed by two theoretical models, The Attitudinal Components of Professional Development (Evans, 2002) and the Cultural Model of Suicide (Chu et al., 2010), the authors share strategies for building self-awareness, teaching about culturally responsive practices, using case studies, and delivering course-specific instruction in multiple classes: ethics, assessment, lifespan development, foundations of school counseling, and clinical courses. The provided strategies help school counselor educators promote reflection, increase knowledge, and enhance skill development …

Training In Trauma-Responsive And Anti-Racist Telehealth: A Model For Behavioral Health Clinicians And Providers, Ritchie Rubio

Psychology Division Scholarship

Telehealth's uptake in behavioral health services has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many clinicians continue to lack focused training in providing trauma-informed and culturally-responsive telehealth care. This article outlines a model curriculum that was created to instruct and coach behavioral health providers in California on how to integrate anti-racist and trauma-responsive techniques into telehealth. Topics like evidence-based trauma therapies, racial/ ethnic trauma, marginalized communities, digital divide, and provider selfcare were all covered in the nine-part curriculum. Every three-hour session included evidence-informed didactic content, telehealth skills practice, and concrete planning for implementation. Trauma-responsive frameworks such as the tri-phasic model …

The Phenomenological Experiences Of Licensed Professional Counselors Working With Athletes, Tanya M. White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Phenomenological study will be to discover the comparative clinical experiences of licensed professional counselors (LPC) providing psychotherapy for athletes. The data will identify the barriers between understanding the professional identity and the lack of exposure to licensed professional counselors (LPCs), understanding the role of the licensed professional counselor, and developing therapeutic alliances with athletes throughout their athletic careers and post-career. This research seeks to address the identity and clinical qualifications of licensed professional counselor’s equivalency to other mental health professionals currently employed in the field of sports. It will uncover barriers that have been experienced and …