Counseling Commons^™

The Influences Of Acculturative Stress And Gender Roles On Sexual Subjectivity In European, Asian, And Latinx Immigrant Women In The U.S., Silvia Re

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In the process of acculturation, cisgender immigrant women are at greater risk of experiencing acculturative stress, often entailing a reconsideration of their self-concepts and identities as members of new sociocultural contexts. Gender roles and sexual subjectivity are two identity features they can revise given their ties to culture and socialization. Results from previous studies suggest that cisgender immigrant women’s sociocultural contexts, related values, and attitudes may contribute to their levels of stress, sense of self-efficacy, self-esteem, and sexual subjectivity. This study aimed to fill gaps in the existing literature and raised awareness of the relationship between acculturative stress, gender role …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Leadership Development And Burnout Among Korean Immigrant Church Leaders In The United States: A Phenomenological Study, Jinwon Seo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The global outbreak and pandemic of COVID-19 is an unprecedented event that causes many people to experience psychological, spiritual, and social health crises as well as physical crisis. There is limited empirical research existed on the influence of COVID-19 on church leaders, particularly within the Korean immigrant community. A phenomenological approach was adopted, utilizing semi-structured individual interviews with Korean immigrant church leaders to explore their lived experiences during the pandemic. The findings revealed three primary themes: change, support, and burnout. Korean immigrant church leaders demonstrated balanced leadership development in guiding, providing, and protecting roles, but also experienced exhaustion due to …

A Phenomenological Study Of Central Texas Caregivers’ Experiences In Relation To Stress And Coping Mechanisms, Becky D'Ann Olson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Long-term, publicly funded caregiver services in Texas have always focused on institution-based care, although informal caregiving makes up 8% of the country’s long-term care. Informal caregivers provide care to their loved ones who demand support due to illness, disability, or frailty. Taking care of one’s loved ones or family members is rewarding and demanding. Consequently, informal caregivers are known to encounter negative and positive psychological health effects and, therefore, should be provided with appropriate support. This is contributed by the fact many times, informal caregiving is unpaid, mentally and physically demanding, and often performed by individuals who are balancing their …

The Relationships Among Number Of Service Member Deployments And Spousal Depression And Parental Attachment, Julia A. Priftis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research examined the relationship between the number of deployments and depression in military spouses, focusing on the correlations among service members' deployments, spousal mental health, and parenting attachment. A quantitative correlational study was conducted using 78 participants, of whom only 19 were veterans and 59 were spouses with no military background. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Protective Factors Survey (PFS) were used. It was found that military deployments do not negatively associate with parental attachment and spousal depression. It was found that military spouses who experience multiple deployments have less chance of experiencing depression and that deployment …

Flipping The Script On Pastoral Care: A Quantitative Study On The Effects Of Social Support And Self-Care And How It Influences The Presence Of Burnout In The Lives Of Pastors Serving In The Southern Baptist Conservatives Of Virginia, Mark W. Mccormick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Burnout is a phenomenon that impacts many clergy across the world, regardless of denomination. There are many causal factors that lead to burnout, as well as a number of suggested measures for prevention and treatment. With education on burnout increasing, more awareness can and should be given to the subject. As pastors continue to serve their communities and congregations, it is likely that they will have to combat the onset of burnout at some point during their tenure. It is important for both the pastor and the congregation they serve to be aware of burnout and its symptoms, as well …

The Role Of Father Involvement In The Perceived Psychological Well-Being Of Young Adult Daughters With A Focus On Women Of Color, Diamond Sciequan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study of father involvement from the perspective of the daughter is a field rarely explored, especially from the perspective of young adult women of color. Fathers being more present in the lives of their children has changed the culture of society as more mothers are working outside of the home full-time. With fathers more involved in the rearing of children the questions of what impact do fathers if any have on their children compared to mothers. More importantly what do these children believe regarding their father’s impact on their lives as they reach adulthood The research field is saturated …

Agents Of Redemptive Hope: Churches And Communities Addressing The Problem Of Anger And The African American Adolescent Male, Reginald M. Robbins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many African American adolescent males struggle with controlling their anger leading to abusive and addictive behaviors. The question is, should the Churches respond, and if so, how can they help? This paper argues that the Church must reach out with the compassion and healing message of the gospel to the at-risk young Black males who are having difficulty dealing with anger issues to ensure a positive future for the next generation of strong and stable Black men.

Combat-Related Moral Injury And Religiosity, James A. Capobianco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between combat-related moral injury and religiosity. This quantitative study relied on a convenience sample recruited from a 6,000-person database of veterans in upstate South Carolina. The participants were recruited via email invitation and screened for combat exposure and the presence of moral injury. Instrumentation consisted of the 45-item Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Miliary version (MISS-M) and the 15-item Centrality of Religiosity Scale. All participants were anonymous, and responses were given through self-report. Multiple linear regression was conducted on a sample of 119 combat veterans exploring the relationship between the MISS-M’s 10 …

A Phenomenological Study Of Pentecostal Pastors: Reducing The Stigma Of Mental Health In African Americans, Tonnya Lorraine Mcclure

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Pentecostal pastors can reduce the stigma of mental health in African Americans in the Church of God in Christ churches in Northwest Georgia. The theory guiding this study is phenomenology based on Edmund Husserl’s theory as it explains the lived experiences of African American Pentecostal pastors and stigma within the African American community. The research questions for this study were: How do the perceived beliefs of African American pastors affect the way stigma and mental health illness are treated within the church?, How do Pentecostal beliefs affect help-seeking behavior for …

Preparing Church Counselors For Obsessive Morbid Jealousy, David M. Reinhardt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research addressed the problem of the lack of training in pastoral counselors in the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Iquique, Chile, to help wives and their families suffering suspicious jealousy due to childhood traumas. This DMIN action research project trained pastoral counselors to connect childhood trauma to wives suffering suspicious jealousy. There are two stages of this action research; the first is to establish the connection of obsessive morbid jealousy (OMJ) to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The second is to prepare pastors and counselors to recognize the symptoms and causes of obsessive morbid jealousy and to have a clear strategy …

Improving The Biblical And Spiritual Skills And Knowledge Of Christian Mental Health Counselors At Grace House Counseling Center In Fleming Island, Fl, Larry M. Nichols

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian licensed mental health counseling at Grace House Counseling Center is a multi-faceted spiritual undertaking that is largely in the purview of lay persons who often work and minister to Christians and non-Christians who live and work in a pluralistic environment. Grace House’s mental health counselors are formally trained through their master’s degree program to provide mental health care, not spiritual or soul care, to clients. While some Grace House counselors have some spiritual training, either from an undergraduate Bible college or through years of self-study, most do not have formal training that links Scripture and spiritual disciplines to various …

Ink Therapy: The Use Of Tattoos By Male Survivors Of Sexual Trauma, Lisa M. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the advancement of the feminist movement, our society typically views the experience of sexual trauma as a female issue. The male perpetrator–female victim dyad is the most academically researched and socially recognized experience of sexual trauma. The continued focus on that dyad leaves the male experience of sexual trauma underrepresented in scholarly literature and socially misunderstood. When seeking post-trauma clinical treatment & social support, the shame and stigma associated with male rape myths may represent significant barriers. These barriers leave male survivors to exercise autonomy in finding effective means of identity reformation and coping. The purpose of this phenomenological …

Influence Of Athletic Participation On At-Risk Students: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathan Michael Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic, phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of secondary athletic coaches concerning the influence of sports participation as part of an intervention strategy for at-risk students in a suburban school district in the southwest United States. The central research question was, what is the perceived influence participation in secondary sports programs has on at-risk students? The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development theory, which explain changes in individuals resulting from environmental and mentor influences. This study used a questionnaire, individual interview, and a letter-writing prompt …

Somatic Experience Treatment Techniques For Trauma Symptoms: A Qualitative Case Study, Ashley Marie Schlief

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to provide insight into somatic Experience techniques used while treating clients who suffer from trauma symptoms. Somatic therapeutic techniques improve trauma victims’ negative body and mind symptoms. The use of somatic theory to treat psychological and physical trauma is a relatively new concept within the field of clinical mental health counseling. Somatic therapies are a body-oriented approach that releases restricted trauma emotions by addressing the response communication that continually runs between the mind and the body. For example, bodily therapists use mind-body techniques to release the suppressed tension that negatively influences an …

The Perceived Availability And Usefulness Of Academic Accommodations, Academic Supports, And Academic Self-Efficacy In Graduate Counseling Students With Invisible Disabilities: A Preliminary Study, Lisa Marie Ansell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Academic accommodations exist through Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amended Act of 2008. Graduate counseling students with invisible disabilities may be unaware of all available accommodations or find incomplete information on disability support services websites. Such lack of awareness creates academic and emotional barriers for students with an invisible disability. While these issues are not isolated to one university, this quantitative study analyzed responses to an anonymous survey that invited current graduate counseling students enrolled in a CACREP counseling program who identified as having …

Lack Of Multicultural Representation In Children’S Literature And Societal Attitudes On Youths’ Self-Perception, Ellen Knutson

Counselor Education Capstones

This Capstone Project addresses the use of multicultural representation in children’s literature, with particular relevance to educational resources and curriculum. Likewise, there is consideration of the impact of societal attitudes towards multicultural education and acts of inclusivity on the implementation of such ideas. Societal attitudes mentioned include state legislature and literature censorship. The implementation of multicultural education would inherently represent larger numbers of underrepresented communities and individuals, which would then be included in the classroom. This Capstone looks to understand the potential impact of thorough implementation of multicultural education and inclusive, representative literature for youth.

An Investigation Of Change Mechanisms Using Psychophysiological Data: Child-Centered Play Therapy With Children Exposed To Adverse Childhood Experiences, Caitlin Frawley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Children who endure complex trauma and multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) suffer with various physical, social, and mental health-related consequences, such as increased rates of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cardiometabolic disorders, substance abuse disorders, ischemic heart disease, and suicidality. Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a promising evidence-based child mental health intervention, and researchers have demonstrated the efficacy of CCPT for improving empathy, social competence, behavior problems, and self-regulation among children with multiple ACE exposures. In the current study, the researcher examined the co-regulatory process and relational mechanisms of CCPT with children with histories of complex …

Investigating The Role Of Loss In Refugee Mental Health: Exploration Through The Lens Of Ambiguous Loss Theory, Dania Fakhro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This investigation examined the relationship between multiple losses and mental health in refugees. More specifically, the researcher examined the hypothesized directional relationship between adult refugees' loss distress and their identity distress, trauma symptoms, and family functioning. The investigation was cross-sectional, and the researcher used questionnaires for data collection. The researcher conducted descriptive analyses and used Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) to assess the investigation's hypotheses. The final sample size for this investigation was 330 participants (men, n = 189; women, n = 136; other genders, n = 4). Participants' ages ranged from 19 to 72 years old (M = 34.3, SD …

The African American Dream Deferred: Exploring The Relationship Between The “American Dream” And The Black American Millennial Reality, Simonleigh P. Miller

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this qualitative study is to highlight and bring understanding to the lived experiences of Black American millennials. This study was conducted from the constructivist and critical research paradigms and utilized Reflexive Thematic Analysis methods to analyze qualitative data. The study places specific focus on Black or African American millennials’ associated thoughts and feelings regarding their current reality and positionality within the American context, and its relation to the idealized reality of the American Dream. The influence of the American Dream on the African American millennial reality was explored to gain a better understanding of how, or if …

The Impact Of Beliefs About Emotions On Emotion Regulation & Psychological Health, Sarah Brock

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examined the effects of different beliefs about emotions (controllability vs. control value) on emotion regulation strategies and psychological health, specifically depression. Little research has examined how different types of beliefs about emotions may interact to impact the emotion regulation strategies they implement, whether that be cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, or acceptance. Online questionnaires measuring beliefs about emotion controllability, emotion control values (i.e., whether emotions should be controlled), emotion regulation, psychological health, and coping strategies were completed by 164 participants (117 females; 42 males; 4 non-binary). The participants ranged from 18 to 33 years old. The study found evidence …

Counselors’ Spirituality, Attitudes Toward Suicide, And Self-Efficacy In Conducting Suicide Risk Assessment, Tayler Hendrix

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived spiritual support and counselor self-efficacy in conducting suicide risk assessment, and the moderating effects of attitudes about suicide on this relationship. Based on existing theory and empirical evidence, perceived spiritual support was hypothesized to have a positive predictive relationship with counselor self-efficacy in performing suicide risk assessment; further, four different constructs pertaining to attitudes toward suicide were also hypothesized to moderate the strength and direction of this relationship. A sample of Master’s level clinicians and advanced standing Master’s graduate students (N=132) completed on online survey containing instruments measuring perceived spiritual …

A Call To Action For Disability And Rehabilitation Research Using A Discrit And Disability Justice Framework, Toni Saia, Rana Yaghmaian, Rachel Cuesta, Carlyn Mueller, Roxanna N. Pebdani

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: Disability and ableism exist within a societal context that does not ignore the many facets of a person’s identity, however often our disability research does not recognize how experiences vary based on the intersecting identities individuals hold. This article utilizes Intersectionality, Dis/ability Critical Race Studies (DisCrit), and Disability Justice to identify ways for rehabilitation researchers to adapt their research practices for maximum inclusivity and representation.

Materials and Methods: Using these three frameworks, we have developed a call to action including recommendations for rehabilitation researchers to consider as they design and implement research projects.

Results: Incorporating these frameworks provides an …

Understanding The Induction Experience Of Licensed Mental Health Counselors Working In New York City School Based Mental Health Clinics, Raymond Allen Blanchard Iii

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The mental health symptoms and diagnosis rates of children and adolescents is rising in the United States (Oliver & Abel, 2018). To support the growing mental health rates and offset the work being provided by school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists, schools are contracting with community mental health agencies to provide mental health counseling services in the school setting (Weist et al., 2017b). For some community mental health agencies, they are opening school based mental health clinics (SBMHCs) to provide more comprehensive mental health counseling services to reduce families having to seek services in their community (Weist et …

An Examination Of Faith And Faith-Based Practices On Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Afro-Caribbean Immigrants In The United States, Shanta K. Pamphile

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation presents the findings of a qualitative study exploring the negotiation of faith among Afro-Caribbean immigrants regarding their decision to seek support with the stress of adjusting to the United States. The analysis revealed that Afro-Caribbean immigrants experience high-stress levels as they pursue economic, professional and social advancement in the United States. The persistence of these stressors, with long-lasting residual effects, warrants psychological support. Migrants, although relying heavily on their faith for support with this stress, are willing to seek support. However, they must work through worries of caution and trust and need to discern whether seeking support may …

A Qualitative Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of At-Risk College Students Who Become Honors Students, Billie June Bailey

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of at-risk college students who become honors students. There is much quantitative research on the factors that influence or predict the path of at-risk students becoming honors students. What is less well established in literature is what personal transformation occurs in the lives of students placed at-risk who go on to become honors students. While many pre-freshman programs have the strategies to provide individual opportunity and increase economic prosperity by producing college graduates, it is less obvious what individual students do in their journey moving from underprepared to becoming an honors student. In …

Elucidating College Students’ Stressors: Photovoice As A Pedagogical Tool And Qualitative Methodology, Deanne Priddis, Heather L. Hundley

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Traditional research examining student stress relies on surveys using pre-determined categories. This study diverts from that approach by adopting a Communication in Conflict class assignment over seven classes (N = 115) using photovoice to determine if results fluctuate by using a different methodology. Additionally, we sought to understand if the sources of stress vary by gender and semester. The data revealed seven categories as the main stressors of student conflict: 1) time management, 2) mental health, 3) finding oneself, 4) future uncertainty, 5) other, 6) financial, and 7) past mistakes. Regardless of participants’ sex/gender or semester in which the data …

Women Baby Boomers’ Experiences Of Personal Growth Through Later-Life Divorce After A Long-Term Marriage, Lisa Silva Mchale

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Later-Life divorce, occurring at age 50 or older, also referred to as gray divorce, has become increasingly common as the population ages (Brown & Lin, 2012; 2022). With gray divorce comes experiences that may differ from those faced by younger divorcees. The research demonstrates that divorce in laterlife brings unique challenges, especially for those who divorce after a long-term marriage (20 or more years, Sommerville, 2017). Few researchers have examined divorce in later life after a long-term marriage, and fewer yet when combined with a particular generational cohort. Additionally, there has been a lack of research exploring positive experiences and …

Exploring The Dimensions Of Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Affirmative Clinical Supervision, Lindsey N. Dollar

Dissertations

Graduate programs have continued to improve over time regarding incorporating training on LGB issues into coursework and practicum experiences with less emphasis on supervision. Since supervision is a major training area where therapists learn about clients and themselves, it becomes an important area for also teaching supervisees how to work with minority populations. However, relatively absent from discussions of cultural influences in supervision is a focus on LGB concerns, and missing is the ‘how to’ within the supervisory relationship. This quantitative investigation sought to learn how clinical supervisors with knowledge of LGB issues and people implement LGB-affirmative supervision, and to …

The Lived Experience Of Counseling Students In Natural Disaster, Amy M. Sirocky-Meck

Dissertations, 2020-current

After natural disaster, survivors may experience moderate to severe signs and symptoms of emotional distress which may subside or worsen as time passes (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2022). Adults pursuing higher education when natural disaster strikes experience an additional array of unique issues which may exacerbate symptoms of emotional distress (Wilkinson et al.,2013). To create and improve curricular and co-curricular structures that meet the needs of their students, educators in many health and mental health disciplines can draw from a variety of quantitative and qualitative studies, particularly those focused on how their disciplines’ students navigate the experience …

Her Story Told Her Way: A Narrative Inquiry Into Black Women’S Perception Of The Strong Black Woman., Chulyndria Chanee Laye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The narrative surrounding the meaning of being a Black woman has historically been dominated by stereotypes such as the mammy, jezebel, sapphire, and angry Black woman. Black women have attempted to control their own narrative through the internalization of these stereotypes, leading to the creation of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) construct. While the SBW is comprised of a sense of caretaker, independence, and emotional restraint, Black women’s attempts at embodying this construct in the face of societal oppression and familial responsibilities can and often does have negative effects on their mental health. Although the behaviors associated with the SBW …