Counseling Commons^™

Antiracist School Counseling Pedagogy: A Quasi-Experimental Multiple Regression Analysis, Star L. Zetocha

Dissertations

America’s K-12 schools, which were initially created exclusively for White children, are racialized institutions (Spring, 2019). School counseling ethics now obligate school counselors to engage in antiracist praxis in schools, yet school counselors-in-training (SCITs) are not typically provided with explicit training in antiracism, which allows them to enter the field with colorblind racial attitudes that inhibit them from recognizing and confronting racism in schools (Gibson & Fripp, 2022). The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between colorblind racial attitudes and antiracist behaviors of school counselors in-training who had and had not taken an antiracist school counseling course. …

The Impact Of Eye-Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing On Self-Reported Test Anxiety In College Students, Renee Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Test Anxiety (TA) has become a major concern for college students. Experiencing mental concern about test-taking perpetuated by physiological hyperarousal directly affects students’ ability to be successful in college. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a multi-faceted therapeutic approach that aims to process dysfunctional negative cognitions which originate with negative past experiences to an adaptive state. Developed by Francine Shapiro in 1989, the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model undergirds the 30-second, therapist-initiated, bi-lateral eye-movements. These movements identify and reprocess emotionally disturbing experiences, linked to an individual’s emotional expression, by deliberatively triggering a connected trauma network. This dissertation examined the …

Law Library Blog (December 2023): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Dual Consciousness: What Psychology And Counseling Theories Can Teach And Learn Regarding Identity And The Role-Playing Game Experience, Elektra Diakolambrianou, Sarah Lynne Bowman

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

Many psychologists, therapists, and educators have emphasized the practice of play, especially with enacted roles, as a site for learning and therapeutic growth. This article weaves together a plethora of theories from psychology, Counseling, and role-playing game studies in an effort to understand the nature of enacted roles, their relationship to identity, and their transformative potential. Challenging the notion that identity is a fixed, stable monolith, the article synthesizes four overall approaches to theorizing the nature of identity drawn from various theories: identity as a social construct, narrative identity, identity as psychodynamic, and identities as parts of a whole. The …

A Thematic Analysis Of Teacher Experiences During Active Shooter Lockdown Drills, Stephanie F. Dailey, Beth Hosek, Heather L. Walter

The Qualitative Report

Teachers are tasked with ensuring that those under their care are safe and protected, yet the lack of evidence supporting the specific needs and experiences of teachers during active school shooter lockdown drills is alarming. The current study used live-action, virtual reality (VR) technology to simulate 36 active school shooter scenarios to explore teachers' experiences related to lockdown procedures and response protocols. Using thematic analysis and structured qualitative data, 355 descriptive responses from 11 teachers across 396 scenarios were coded and analyzed for explicit and implicit themes and sub-themes. Three overarching themes—humanistic care, enacted care, and professional duty—describe how teachers …

Multicultural Competence In Counseling Students: Addressing Social Class In Multicultural Counseling Courses, Carly Paro-Tompkins, Jennifer Pereira, Joffrey S. Suprina, Elda Veloso Ph.D, Eric Davis, Renata F. S. Goldhagen, Katarzyna Wojnas, Samantha Both

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

There are consistent findings of clinician bias toward clients of differing social classes, and little research about faculty efforts to address bias within educational programs. Informed by a literature review, quantitative methodology and descriptive exploratory design were used to examine counselor educators’ instructional strategies for teaching multicultural counseling. Additionally, perceptions of faculty effectiveness and comfort level with social class issues were explored.

Multicultural Counseling Course Instructors’ Cultural Background And Diversity Teaching Approaches, Cameka Hazel

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Abstract

The success of any multicultural counseling course hinges upon the cultural competence of the course instructor. Research indicates that cultural competence is developed through personal experiences with diversity; however, little is known about how these experiences are translated into teaching practice. In this qualitative study, the researcher used a phenomenological inquiry to explore how instructors’ experiences with diversity influence how they teach multicultural counseling. The main thematic finding indicates that the cultural diversity background of the counselor educators shapes the way they teach. The two subthemes also reveal that some instructors teach diversity topics from a place of familiarity …

Standing With Asian Clients Affected By Pandemic: Counseling Recommendations Through Msjcc Framework, Hyemi Jang, Jihyeon Choi, Isak Kim

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

As COVID-19 exacerbates racial discrimination against Asian populations in the U.S., mental health concerns among Asians have increased accordingly. Thus, counselors are encouraged to provide culturally competent counseling for Asian clients who experience racial discrimination and its detrimental impacts. This article proposes recommendations for counselors to effectively serve Asian clients based on the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) framework. Counselors can utilize the proposed considerations to alleviate mental health concerns among Asian clients.

Effectiveness Of Post-Abortion Bible Studies On Self-Forgiveness And Depression, Karen Haaland Hubbard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pro-choice and pro-life perspectives differ regarding adverse emotional symptoms after abortion. Pro-choice researchers maintain that abortion presents no more risk of emotional distress than carrying an unplanned pregnancy to term. However, pro-life researchers discuss evidence that abortion does increase the risk of adverse emotional symptoms that persist long after the abortion. Since many women seek faith-based interventions, the purpose of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of the post-abortion Bible study, Forgiven and Set Free by Linda Cochrane, in decreasing depression and increasing self-forgiveness. The first research question was, “Does participation in a post-abortion Bible study increase post-abortive …

A Qualitative Study Of Music Therapy's Effectiveness On Treating Ptsd, Shariee Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study in this qualitative research described how music therapy has been beneficial to the treatment of trauma survivors suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The research in this study consisted of six participants and previous research to show how music therapy has been effective in treating PTSD. The six participants were individually interviewed based on their prior experiences with music therapy from Board Certified Music Therapists. For years, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs have used music therapy to treat trauma survivors with complementary and alternative medical treatment. Several studies have been done on music …

The Lived Experiences Of Army Senior Enlisted Leaders 90 Days After Retirement: A Phenomenological Study, Stephanie Francois

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The transition from army to civilian life is complicated for many veterans. Veterans must excel in multiple categories, including work, education, finances, health, and social relationships, for their transitions to be successful. Although many programs and services are designed to assist army veterans in transitioning to civilian life, many still experience transition challenges. This phenomenological study aimed to understand the lived experiences of army senior enlisted leaders through retirement from active-duty service to reintegration into civilian life. The guiding theory of this study was Nancy Schlossberg’s transition theory. Transition theory is a theory of adult development established primarily with counseling …

Promises Made, Promises Kept? A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Experiences Of California Community College Promise Program Students And Their Pursuit Of A Bachelor's Degree, Eric R. Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of students formally enrolled in a California community college promise program at Mountain View Community College, Lakeview Community College, Hillcrest Community College, and Ocean Valley Community College, each located in Southern California. The theoretical framework guiding this study was grounded in Astin’s theory of student involvement which provided a lens to analyze the experiences of promise students and their pursuit of bachelor’s degrees. The central research question under investigation was: What do promise program students previously enrolled at a California community college that have transferred to a four-year …

The Aging Population And Masking Requirements: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Tiffany M. Mioduszewski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study is to understand the lived-experiences of individuals over 60 years old. This study was done to specifically understand psychological effects of adhering to protective measure put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pandemic can be described as a global epidemic that has the ability to spread to other continents. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted thousands of people worldwide. There have been multiple preventative measures put in place for individuals to follow to reduce the spread of the virus. The mandates vary depending on the country and state in which an individual lives …

Are The Housing Staff Alright? A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Examination Of The Experiences Of On-Campus Student Housing Professionals Through The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan J. Chibanga

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

College and university housing professionals served a role they were generally underprepared for as long-term crisis managers during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and shifted higher education operating structures on a grand scale, and housing staff were asked to continue operating on-campus housing facilities throughout the ever-changing response to COVID-19. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of housing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the collective experiences of 21 participants three major threads emerged: comfort in the unknown, a need for connection and community, and relentless resilience. Each of these …

Enhancing Student Learning Outcomes Through Immersive Group Counseling Pedagogy, Lisa M. Brown

Psychology Department Faculty Conferences

Pedagogical approaches to graduate level group counseling courses are varied as some programs stress traditional knowledge-based pedagogy over experiential pedagogy. Additionally, counselor educators have debated the ethics of student-led versus instructor-led role plays. This program will provide an overview of research and current trends in group counseling pedagogy. The presenter will identify the benefits of immersive group counseling pedagogy which provides counselors-in-training with opportunities to lead groups and develop critical leadership skills.

Effect Of A School Counselor Training On Self-Efficacy In Crisis Handling, Carleton H. Brown, Eunae Han

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

We presented a 4-hour training program designed to enhance school counselors’ self-efficacy in handling school crises, with a specific focus on school shootings. Employing a pretest-posttest research design using the School Counselor Response to Violent Crisis Questionnaire, we found that the training was effective in improving the self-efficacy of participants (n = 35) in crisis handling. We discovered, in our pilot study, that crisis training specifically tailored to school counselors can be effective in enhancing their self-efficacy in crisis handling. We discuss our study’s implications for school counselors, workshop leaders, school leaders, and researchers.

2023-11-3 Meeting Minutes, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Equine Therapy Into Treatment Programming For Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders, Gabrielle Rayfield

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Substance use disorders affect all populations. Adolescents are at greater risk of a substance use disorder when abuse begins at a young age. Over 50% of individuals with mental health diagnoses developed a substance use disorder before the age of 14 (Nebhinani et. al., 2022). [BJA1] Due to the tremendous growth that takes place during adolescence, and the profound impact substance use can have on development, it is imperative to provide early intervention. There are several evidenced-based approaches available in the treatment of adolescent substance use. Equine therapy has growing empirical support and will be the focus of this project. …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Women’S Lived Experiences During Their Pregnancy Lifecycle, Ashley J. Blount, Charmayne R. Adams, Kara M. Schneider, Gurudutt Pendyala, Ann L. Anderson-Berry, Corrine Hanson

Office of Health Promotion Scholarship

When considering peri-and-post natal health, there are several biopsychosocial risk factors at play. Biological, psychological, and social health factors are significant in contributing to maternal wellbeing and influencing maternal morbidity/mortality [1]. The Covid-19 pandemic had significant impacts on general populations and on vulnerable groups such as pre-peri-and-post natal women [2]. In previous epidemics, pregnant women were reluctant to attend hospitals and doctors’ appointments due to fear of infection [3]. Covid-19 has shown similar effects [2] and as such, risks associated with the pregnancy lifecycle have increased. A phenomenological investigation found themes of women experiencing negative healthcare, struggles with self-advocacy, heightened …

Students’ Perceptions Of Grades And Grade Inflation In Counselor Training, Daniel A. Decino, Phillip L. Waalkes, Steven Chesnut

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Previous scholars have suggested grade inflation has been in higher education for decades, may devalue high grade point averages, and blur important differences between qualified and unqualified job candidates. In counselor training programs, grade inflation may cause students to overestimate their abilities to handle challenging real-world situations, impede faculty evaluation practices, and promote unfavorable student learning environments. In this exploratory study, we surveyed 240 counseling students on their perceptions of their grades and their peers’ grades before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results suggest that students perceived their peers succeeded academically despite inappropriate and unethical behaviors, especially during the …

Mentorship In Counselor Education: A Scoping Review, Gideon Litherland, Gretchen Schulthes, Edward Ewe, Kaj Kayij-Wint, Kok-Mun Ng

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Mentorship has been widely lauded as meaningful for trainees in their professional development. To better understand the gaps in the scholarship of mentorship in counselor education, a scoping review was conducted to examine peer-reviewed research from 2005-2020. Results found eligible articles (n = 18) met the eligibility criteria. Implications from this study include improving conceptual rigor of mentorship outcomes in counselor education research, further investigating how underrepresented identities may benefit from mentorship, and tailoring mentorship interventions for the learning context and graduate level for counselor education students.

Teaching Trauma Theory And Practice In Counselor Education: A Multiple Case Study, Charmayne R. Adams, Casey A. Barrio Minton, Jennifer Hightower

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Teaching about trauma theory and practice is an integral part of counselor preparation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand how counselor educators (CEs) designed and facilitated significant learning experiences regarding trauma theory and practice. The researchers aimed to answer two research questions (1.) how do CEs choose which content to address in trauma courses and (2.) which teaching methods do CEs use to facilitate significant learning experiences in trauma courses? The study participants were three CEs teaching trauma courses in multiple formats (face-to-face, online, and hybrid) in CACREP programs. The results indicated that instructors faced unique …

Infusing Anarchist Pedagogy Into Counselor Education, Andrew Wood

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Anarchist pedagogy has existed for well over 100 years, but little has been written on the subject within the counseling profession and the counselor education literature specifically. Anarchist pedagogy offers a direct relationship between education and social justice praxis that many counseling programs espouse, and thus the consideration of an explicitly political pedagogy may benefit the counselor education profession. This manuscript aims to provide a brief overview of anarchist pedagogy, how it fits into the work of counselor education, and how counselor educators can utilize anarchist pedagogy. Limitations for the infusion of anarchist pedagogy into counselor education and future areas …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Supervisory Alliance And The Development Of Reflexive Self-Awareness: A Mixed Methods Approach, Alexandre Brien, Réginald Savard, Cynthia Bilodeau, Patricia Dionne

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

The study used embedded design to explore the relationship between alliance and perceived change in reflexive self-awareness in graduate trainees following counseling and psychotherapy programs (n = 48). Linear regression analyses were used to measure the predictive value of alliance on the development of supervisees' reflexive awareness. Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis was also conducted on critical incident reports of supervisees who perceived low vs strong alliances to gain greater in-depth understanding of the quantitative data. Results showed that the alliance does not directly predict observed changes in reflexive awareness. While alliance was found to create favorable conditions to support the …

Experiences Of School Counseling Trainees In A Primary Care Integrated Behavioral Health Care Practicum, Kaprea Johnson, Krystal Clemons, Lauren Robins, Alexandra Gantt-Howrey, Afroze Shaikh, Heather A. Jones

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Youth integrated behavioral healthcare (IBH) is a preferred method of service delivery, and school system expertise on these teams is imperative. In this descriptive phenomenological study, we sought to understand the experiences of five school counseling practicum students (SCITs) engaged in IBH in an urban children's hospital. Phenomenological analysis resulted in five themes: (a) contributing school system knowledge, (b) expansion of professional identity through practical application, (c) collaborative interventions and techniques, (d) interprofessional supervision, and (e) program and setting challenges. Implications for counselor education and supervision, including IBH-specific training for SCITs, conclude.

Using The Five Ps: Conceptualizing Covid-19-Related Mental Health Concerns, Christine D. Gonzales-Wong, Scott Peters

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in rising mental health concerns. As individuals experience loneliness, anxiety, and depression related to the pandemic, counselors-in-training navigate their treatment of clients while also living through the pandemic and its polarization. The authors present the Five Ps, a case conceptualization model that supervisors can use to help beginning counselors consider the history and context of the presenting concerns of clients, in addition to utilizing clients’ strengths in treatment. The authors provide a case illustration using the Five Ps in a supervision setting and discuss implications for supervision and future research.

The Influence Of Attachment Styles And Mental Health Symptoms On Marital Satisfaction Among Deployed Us Army Soldiers, Leo Mora

Dissertations

Since 2002, changes in the frequency, duration, and nature of military campaigns overseas have piqued efforts to understand the effects of deployment on the mental health of DoD service members, especially married Army soldiers. However, few studies have examined the influence of attachment styles on the emotional health of combat veterans and the wartime impact they have also imparted to their spouses. Thus, in the context of military deployments, this study examines how secure/insecure attachment styles, posttraumatic stress (PTS), and depressive symptoms significantly influence married soldiers and their perceptions of marital satisfaction. In addition, this study also examines pre-existent, internalized, …

Concepts Of Chemical Dependency, Amy Evans

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Concepts of Chemical Dependency's 11th edition continues the work of the original author, Harold Doweiko. Dr. Amelia (Amy) Evans revised the 10th and 11th editions, when Doweiko was no longer able to continue his work on this textbook. Used in a variety of undergraduate and graduate departments, the text provides a solid understanding of substance use disorders and covers a variety of relevant topics related to addictions. After introducing the reader to reasons we should all be concerned about substance misuse in society, there is an overview of why individuals may choose to turn to substances and how these substances …

Relational Virtues And Alliance Correspondence In Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Peter Jankowski

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Objective: We responded to the need to establish psychodynamic psychotherapy as evidence-based by utilizing a practice-based research design involving non-manualized outpatient treatment. (This poster is non-peer reviewed or non-refereed.)

History Untold: A Historical Review Of Psychological Harm Of Racialized Minorities, Coralann M. Garcia, Kyana D. Hamilton

Psychology from the Margins

The legacy of social sciences is riddled with examples of harm toward racial minorities. Since its inception, the field of psychology has enforced power imbalances between researchers and research participants (APA, 2021a). Due to this imbalance, there have been violations of human dignity by psychological researchers from disciplines including social, clinical, cognitive, and counseling psychology (Winston, 2020). As the field of psychology continues to expand, it is necessary to redress the harmful legacies of psychological practices hindering help-seeking behaviors for many minoritized groups. As future practitioners and researchers, we recognize the instrumental role of past and current psychologists in shaping …