Counseling Commons^™

The Role Of Military Chaplains And Effective Spiritual Care For Strengthening Military Marriages During Deployments, Carl Michael Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military chaplains provide spiritual support and counseling to the military populations alongside conducting religious services. As a military process, chaplaincy operates as a liaison between military personnel, mental health professionals, and clinical marriage counselors. In this context, the military population is extensive and consists of military personnel, military chaplains, and their civilian families. It must be acknowledged that various service-motivated challenges confront these individuals. For instance, military marriages are threatened by lengthy deployment and family separations. Therefore, it is significant to contextualize military marriages’ coping, survival, and strengthening as most contemporary researchers have focused on this subject. Most studies have …

The Impact Of The Absent Father On African American Women: A Phenomenological Study, Abishag Israel Douglas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on the challenges and hardships African American females have endured through their lived experiences of not having a father present when growing up. The lived experiences of the female participants were analyzed using qualitative phenomenological methodology. The participants were made up of African American women that did not have their fathers present in their lives growing up. Virtual interviews using Facetime and Zoom technology, as well as written interviews were the platforms utilized to collect data. The analyzation process used the six stages of phenomenological methods (Holroyd, 2021). This study provided insight into the lived experiences of …

Early Shame, Self-Esteem, And Christian Women, Teneka Guyrue Miles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences surrounding the self-esteem of evangelical Christian women with early shame experiences. The theory guiding this study was attachment theory as it explains self-esteem being rooted in early childhood through trust building, unconditional love, and security. The theoretical framework further illustrates the impact of self-esteem as life progresses due to a combination of positive and negative self-evaluations. Early shame experiences affect one’s self-esteem adversely. Low self-esteem could breed isolation once people fail to see their self-worthy in establishing meaningful connections, without which individuals lack the …

Relationship Between Treatment Comorbidities And Hiv Viral Suppression Among People Who Live With Aids In Johannesburg., Nwogo Immaculata Ekeji, Tolulope A. Osoba, Hebatullah Tawfik, Mehdi Agha

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

HIV has globally infected over 37.9 million people, of which 28.2 million (73%) are on antiretroviral treatment, and 66% of those on treatment are virally suppressed. In South Africa, however, low rate of viral suppression (47%) among people living with HIV is a major health problem that has continued to fuel HIV prevalence. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was used to investigate the relationship between treatment comorbidities and viral suppression among HIV-infected adults aged 18–49 who were diabetic, had cancer, or tuberculosis in Johannesburg. HIV Care Continuum formed the theoretical framework for this research. An existing HIV-infected patient de-identifiable dataset …

Understanding The Ethical Decision-Making Processes Of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioners, Lisa Krystosek

Dissertations

Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a unique field in which interdisciplinary teams of practitioners provide mental health services to clients. These teams are comprised of at least two practitioners, one licensed mental health specialist and one certified equine specialist. While ethics and ethical decision-making are significant issues in the mental health industry, there exists a significant gap in the literature pertaining to the ethical decision-making processes of interdisciplinary teams of equine-assisted psychotherapy practitioners. This dissertation aimed to address the gap through the development of an understanding of how teams of equine-assisted psychotherapy practitioners engage in ethical decision making. Further, the researcher sought …

Radical Youth Work: A Community Based Approach To Working With Youth, Young Adults And Families, Weston J. Robins

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Eternal Strength Center for Radical Youth Work is a blended community center with customizable mental health therapeutic support for youth, young adults and families. Providing humanistic and person centered psychotherapy and counseling, alongside experiential therapies and community engagement we support families and youth struggling with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self harm, suicidality and other challenges on their developmental growth journey.

Lack Of Counseling Services Among Adults Aged 50 And Greater, Madalyn Olson

Counselor Education Capstones

The geriatric population is increasing every year which may indicate a rising need for retirement and mental health counseling. It is essential for individuals aging out of the workforce to prepare for a life after work and know how to create a new identity. Counselors need to be aware of the different scales and assessments that are available to help determine one’s attitude towards retirement and willingness to seek counseling to prepare for retirement. Additionally, it is important to be aware that although there are counseling services available for mental health disorders and substance use disorders, these services are limited …

An Analysis Of School Counselors Time Spent On Asca Aligned Activities, Jacob Olsen, Sejal Parikh Foxx, Claudia Flowers, Kaeleigh Hayakawa

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine variables that predict how school counselors spend their time on American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model aligned activities were examined using multivariate regression analysis. A sample of 4,598 school counselors participated in an online survey. The number of years licensed/certified, caseload size, school size, socioeconomic status of students, diversity of school, and secondary school level status significantly predicted how school counselors spend their time. Results provide an updated account of how school counselors spend their time and can inform professional development and strategies focused on improving time spent on ASCA aligned activities.

Examining Telemental Health In Mississippi: Brief Report, Mario Sobrino, Monica L. Coleman, Janita Springfield, Sheerah Neal, Amanda Winburn

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

The term telemental health has become a staple of the modern counselor’s lexicon since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and has led to a surge of new research and practical information for counselors to engage in effective, socially distanced mental health services. Telemental health (TMH) is identified as the use of telecommunication, videoconferencing, and internet-based technologies to provide mental health services (Holland et al., 2018). Although TMH is regarded as an efficient treatment modality for a myriad of mental health issues, the cardinal purpose of its origination was to reduce or eliminate geographic barriers to receiving mental health treatment …

Emotional Abuse: Strategies For Identifying And Reporting, Jill Bryant

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

Abstract

This article discusses various definitions of emotional abuse, statute difficulties that do little to support an effective report, clinical identifiers and possible long-term outcomes of emotional abuse in children and adolescents. The article closes with suggestions for advocacy efforts to improve the current challenges to better serve youth and adolescents who have been affected by this type of child maltreatment. Readers will find suggested methods for better exploring the topic of emotional abuse in sessions with child and teen clients and proposed approaches to support a stronger report when living in a state with weak or ambiguous statutes.

An Ecological Perspective Of Intergenerational Trauma: Clinical Implications, Charmayne R. Adams, Ramona I. Grad, Matthew L. Nice

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

In this paper, the authors present information about both intergenerational trauma and an ecological case conceptualization model to assist counselors as they develop treatment plans and determine appropriate interventions. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological model is introduced as a way to help professional counselors in a variety of settings explore a more holistic understanding of presenting problems. The authors use a case illustration to highlight how to implement an ecological framework with a client with Colombian heritage to better understand and address intergenerational trauma as an important aspect of treatment planning. The paper includes clinical examples, clinical resources, and implications for professional counselors, …

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis: School Counselor Trainees' Experience In Peer Group Supervision, Jill Minor, Neil Duchac

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

An Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to explore school counselor trainees’ lived experiences in peer group supervision while in a field practicum course. Utilizing seven participants, four superordinate themes were discovered including organization of the learning environment, understanding, believing, and skill development. Additionally, several sub-themes were found from their experiences. The findings shed light on how peer group supervision is beneficial to school counselors. Authors make recommendations and suggestions for training and practice of counselor educators.

Dual Enrollment, Peer Relationships, And Internalized Variables: A Comparative Analysis Among Adolescents, Mary Bess W. Pannel, Christine D. Lewis Pugh, Valarie Morgan

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

While the importance of dual enrollment programs has been demonstrated, the potential impact of completing college level courses during high school has on the emotional and mental well-being of adolescents has not been explored. This study used a nonexperimental, comparative, research design to explore the impact of completing college level courses during high school and the relationship to emotional and behavioral well-being of adolescents. Findings indicated self-esteem levels were statistically significant, specifically, dual enrolled students reported lower levels of self-esteem. School counselors are in a unique position to foster a successful, academic environment that also enhances emotional and mental wellness.

Transitions To The Journal Of Counseling Research And Practice, Gloria Dansby-Giles, Jeton Mcclinton

Journal of Counseling Research and Practice

This article introduces the 2022 the Journal of Counseling Research and Practice
(JCRP) fall issue. The transition process of JCRP and the editors are explained
through Schlossberg’s Theory of Transition. This theory has been applied to several
types of transitions in the lives of adults such as a person’s situation, self, support
and strategies also known as the 4 S’s. Examples provided by Schlossberg were
starting and finishing college, college graduation, starting to work, becoming a
caregiver, military transitions and retirement. Transition theory has been applied
to lives of adults who took on major life roles.

What Do I Do After A Student's Mental Health Crisis, Francie Livingston

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Most educators have been trained in prevention of mental health emergencies, but what do we following a crisis. Participants will learn strategies for assisting students to return to school, meeting their emotional needs, providing support for classmates, and involving the families in this process.

A Girl Named Sue: A Child's Journey From Complex Trauma To Hope, Healing & Recovery, Jamie S. Like Ms.

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Audience would include any school staff, counselors, social workers, parents and community members. Many children who experience complex trauma struggle emotionally, physically, and behaviorally. In this session, participants will earn to never underestimate the impact they can make on the life of a child, that damage from childhood trauma can be mitigated and that relationships, relationships, relationships are the key to everything!

Understanding Lived Experiences Of Stigma For People Living With Hiv: A Community Based Participatory Research Study, Brent Oliver Dr., Catherine Pearl, Egbert S. Felix – John, Deborah Norris, Folasade J. Elizabeth Olaniyan, Kim Samson, Aniela Dela Cruz, Gabriel Aseselin, Kate Berezowski, Celeste Hayward, Becky Vam Tassel, Floyd Visser

The Qualitative Report

The goal of this project was to better understand the experiences and impacts of HIV stigma and discrimination on people living with HIV and to co-create knowledge that has the potential to challenge existing stigma within the healthcare, social services, and public policy sectors in the province of Alberta, Canada. We employed community-based participatory research and a mixed methods design (survey methods and qualitative interviews) to address these questions. An online survey was completed by 148 people living with HIV and semi-structured interviews were conducted with an additional 20 participants. The research findings have been conceptualized within a social ecological …

A Phenomenological Study Of Experienced Social Justice Disparities Described By African American Public Policymakers, Lawrence L. Crenshaw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe African American public policymaker's experiences with social justice disparities in the United States of America. Currently, social justice disparities are understood as inequities that exist as the result of policies and practices that create an unequal distribution of money, power, and resources among communities based on race, class, gender, and geographical location. A theme central to this investigation is to understand the impact of societal beliefs concerning mental and physical health concerns such as anxiety and hypertension among African Americans. This insight will aid in the development of positive societal-level psychological …

Grief After Perinatal Loss: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Marlena Jalise Baxter-Dunn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of grief, coping, and spiritual crisis in the lives of women who faced perinatal loss. The theory guiding this study was Pargament’s Theory of Religious Coping, as it explains the role of religious coping in the potential development of complicated grief and complicated spiritual grief. One central research question guided this study: how do women with religious/spiritual beliefs describe their lived experience of grief from perinatal loss? The sample size for the study was eight women with religious/spiritual beliefs who experienced perinatal loss. Data were collected using an …

School Connectedness In American Style Comprehensive And European Style Tracking Secondary Schools, Diana Csaki

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Schools are often considered a community nested within a community. A caring school environment contributes to community and belongingness among students. School connectedness, the belief held by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning and about them as individuals, is viewed as a construct comprising affective, behavioral and cognitive dimensions. School connectedness among students in the United States has been shown as a predictor of adolescent health and academic outcomes with positive feelings of school connectedness linked to positive outcomes. School connectedness research often centers on children and early adolescents and less over the high …

United States Female Veterans’ Reintegration: Perceived Needs Of Social And Psychological Support, Lisa Marie Grazioso

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States military service members dedicate a period of their lives, some their entire life, to protecting and upholding the United States Constitution. While the United States military service members go through many transitions throughout their military career, all but their transition to civilian life include mentors and have a step-by-step action plan or checklist to prepare them for their next position or move. Often, female Veterans and their needs during reintegration into civilian life are overlooked. The purpose of this research study aimed to examine the relationships between perceived stress, satisfaction with life, and reintegration into civilian life …

Finding The Missing Pieces: A Phenomenological Study Of Elementary Teachers' Experiences With Student Suicidality, Dionna Lashawn Doneghy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore elementary school teachers’ experiences with student suicidality in North Georgia. The first theory guiding this study was the Interpersonal theory of suicide, developed by Thomas Joiner to explain how risk factors of suicide interact to better understand who is most likely to make suicide attempts. Specifically, it proposes that when a sense of social alienation and perceived burdensomeness occur simultaneously, an individual begins to desire death. The second theory guiding this research was the three-step theory of suicide developed by E. David Klonsky and Alexis May. This theory posits that …

Social Media Perceptions Of Academic Performance And Self-Esteem As Defined By Female Adolescents, Michele T. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The essential need for developing social interaction and relationships through participation on social media has begun to have an influence on academic performance and self-esteem in adolescents. This study examined the perceptions of adolescent females on the effect social media has had on both academic success and self-esteem. The literature reviewed the effects social media has on this population as it relates to these two areas. This was a qualitative study with 10 participants ages 11-15. A convenience group of participants were interviewed through in-person discussion whenever possible or through Google Meet/Zoom meetings. Questions were posed from an interview guide …

Internet Pornography Use, Loneliness, And Adult Attachment Patterns Among Asian Indian Young Adults: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design, Anish Baby

Dissertations

Internet pornography consumption among Asian Indian Americans, an ethnic minority group, is largely underrepresented in current scholarly literature despite their growing population in the United States. The purpose of this research was threefold: (a) to measure the prevalence of internet pornography use among Asian Indian American young adults and adults; (b) to explore the relationship between internet pornography use, loneliness, and attachment patterns; and (c) to describe the lived experience of problematic porn consumers. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, I conducted this study in two distinct phases: quantitative followed by qualitative. In the quantitative phase, I employed an …

Attitudes Toward Participation In Organized Religion: Its Impact On Mental Health And Life Satisfaction, Kayla M. Riley, Jonathan Riley

Journal of Graduate Education Research

This is a non-experimental study which is designed to discover potential relationships between an individual’s attitude towards participation in organized religion and their mental health, as well as their life satisfaction. The study contained 203 young adults taken from a convenience sample using social media, e-mail, and SMS messages. The research was conducted using a survey form composed of three instruments intended to measure attitude towards religion, general well-being, and life satisfaction. The results from the study indicated that there is a weak positive relationship between one’s attitude towards organized religion and mental health. Additionally, the results also indicated that …

American First-Generation College Students’ Narratives Of Positive Relationships With Their School Counsellors, Phillip L. Waalkes, Jaimie Stickl Haugen, Yuima Mizutani, Jiaying J. Meyer, Dave Salvatierra, Carrie Odle, Tiffany Somerville

Education Sciences and Professional Programs Faculty Works

Trusting and supportive relationships with school counsellors can help first-generation college students access college despite barriers. In this narrative inquiry, 11 first-generation college students in the United States shared stories of their positive relationships with their former high school counsellors. After an iterative and consensus-based data analysis process, we summarised our participants’ grand narrative with five themes: family context, school counselling delivery, relationships with school counsellors, impact of relationships with school counsellors, and suggested improvements. Participants valued how school counsellors helped them advocate for themselves, build their confidence, and feel encouraged and accountable through individual meetings, career counselling, and college …

Crime Leads To Time And Time Back To Crime: The Effect Of Employment On Recidivism, Connor Weiss

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

This paper opens with a general history of prison systems and the recurring issue of overpopulation in prisons, which leads to the main topic of recidivism rates amongst former offender populations who find themselves with work opportunities. A summary of this issue as a whole is brought up with possible solutions to address the issues, as well as the problems that can and would arise with the proposed implementation of a streamlined prison-based career exploration and job training program. Continuing through the paper, the focus shifts to the ethics of the topic. Ethics play a significant role when looking at …

Special Issue 2022 Full Issue, Journal Of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research Education, And Practice Jcssw

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

No abstract provided.

Transgender College Athletes: A Special Commentary, Sonja Lund, Tiffany M. Bordonada

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Recently, multiple bills from various states have attempted to ban transgender athletes from participating in sports. Guided by misinformation, these bills and policies set a dangerous precedent that is overall harmful to the well-being of trans athletes. This article discusses clinical, research, training, and advocacy priorities that should be addressed to protect the rights of trans athletes.

Sex-Positive Clinical Supervision: A Special Commentary, Beda A. Bjorn

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This commentary focuses on clinical competencies, research frameworks, training implications that elevate the meta-competence awareness for the clinical supervisor. There is an identified need to expand sex-positive clinical supervision guidelines. The supervisory setting is created for the safety and personal-professional growth of the supervisee, where it is an opportunity to conceptualize the thematic development of our clinical evolution. In this space, we set a foundation for clinical frameworks to guide the applicability of specific intervention methods and strategies that allow for the critical formulation of a healthy therapeutic outcome. Without established and robust sex-positive frameworks in supervision, the clinical supervisor …