Counseling Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Factors That Facilitate Sexual Trauma Disclosure In Black Women In The United States, Davne' R. Mccleary

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe Black women’s lived experiences with disclosure after experiencing sexual trauma in the United States. The theory that guides this study is Black feminist thought (Hill Collins, 1986), as it provides the historical and societal backdrop against which it is necessary to understand sexual violence against Black women and seeks to empower Black women to resist oppression. Utilizing semi-structured interviews, cognitive representations, and journal entries, data was collected from 13 Black women survivors of sexual trauma to answer the following research questions: How do Black women who have experienced sexual trauma …

Disability Competencies In A Cacrep Graduate Program: A Grounded Theory And Case Study, Debbye Lopez-Ramos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is growing evidence supporting multicultural competencies as a key component of the CACREP standards and ethical responsibilities for faculty counselor educators and supervisors (FCESs). However, literature supporting multicultural competencies has significant gaps as it relates to the conceptualization and practice of disability competencies in CACREP counselor education. Furthermore, the lack of disability competencies and the stigma surrounding disabilities has led to frustration, academic remediation, and the withdrawal of students with disabilities. Despite the CACREP standards, FCESs have failed to infuse disability competencies when working with students with disabilities. This qualitative research used grounded theory and case study to examine …

A Phenomenology Of The Importance Of Protection As It Relates To The Father And Daughter Relationship, Jared B. Reid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to better understand the lived experience of a father’s relationship with his daughter(s) and how the central theme of protection impacts that relationship. Protection will be generally defined as a father’s ability to provide boundaries physically, spiritually, and emotionally around his family, created by safety and trust, in developing stability for healthy development. General research questions include but are not limited to, what necessitates a family to need protection. What is the impact on a daughter when the father does not protect her? The purpose of this phenomenological study is to investigate the …

Determining The Mental Health Climate Of The Ministers Of Christian Churches In Metro Vancouver After The Reopening Of The Churches Since Covid-19 Closure, Lap Cho Chan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The burnout of ministers is real. Ministers are human, just like everyone else in the world. Too many people (such as church officials and leaders) underestimate the adverse effects of burned-out ministers in their churches. The pandemic had a huge impact on all the churches in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Ministers experienced exceptionally high stress and anxiety after the reopening of churches after the COVID-19 closure. Thus, the purpose of this DMIN action research project is to use the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), surveys, questionnaires, and interviews to research, qualify, and quantify the mental health climate of ministers in Metro Vancouver. …

The Perceived Impact Of Covid-19 On The Grief Process Of African American Adults, Tondra Crumpler Mclaurin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected African Americans in the areas of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Research studies have historically focused primarily on the grief experiences of European Americans. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the bereavement experience of African American adults. The theoretical frameworks used to guide this study were attachment theory, individual differences model, and meaning reconstruction model. Three research questions were the focus of the qualitative study: what are the lived grief experiences of African American adults who experienced the death of a loved one during the …

“Mommy And Me”: A Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of African American Parents In Their Child’S Teletherapy Session, Cleveland E. Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of African American parents involved in their child’s teletherapy session. The study seeks to describe how these experiences occurred in the context of transitional change as these parents and children transitioned from in person therapy to telehealth due to COVID-19 or other major life circumstance. The theory guiding this study is Schlossberg’s transitional theory which highlights how change impacts the lives of people through unique individual experiences. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews that were administered to 10 participants. From these interviews four themes were created. These themes …

Childhood Sexual Abuse And Posttraumatic Growth Among African American Women, Joyce B. Mckinley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how African American women describe their lived experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), the resulting changes in their relationships with others, and how survivors describe experiences of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Childhood sexual abuse is a significant public health issue in the United States, with African American youth disproportionately impacted. Research has shown that racism-related stressors are related, and African Americans often draw on cultural and familial strengths. This study aims to describe factors contributing to PTG among African American women survivors of CSA. Based on the review of the …

The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In The Clinical Supervision Of Counselors In Training: A Comparative Quantitative Study, Debra Ann Millman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To address the need to improve the effectiveness of clinical supervision, this study compared the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate the counseling skills of counselors in training with evaluations completed by counseling professors. Counseling session transcripts obtained from the public domain were evaluated using AI by asking the chatbot to act as if it were a licensed mental health clinical supervisor and evaluate the transcript using the Counseling Competencies Scale Revised rubric. Counseling professors were asked to manually evaluate the sessions using the same rubric. Finally, doctoral students enrolled in a counselor education and supervision program were asked …

The Impact Of Church Members On Single Parents In Residential Family Care Systems, Vanessa M. Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This paper discusses the value of grace and its significance for making positive, lasting change. The researcher initially hypothesized that accountability alone was the sole catalyst for transformation (van Manen, 1990; Williams, 2008). The researcher conducted 30-minute interviews of seven single mothers with a minimum of 2 years residence in one or more Residential Family Care (RFC) programs, identifying them with pseudonyms for the purpose of protecting their identities. Each interview transcript was then evaluated for key repeated themes and phrases. While accountability did indeed play a significant role in the women’s change processes, the researcher found that grace, facilitated …

Lgb Sexual Minorities And Parental Disclosure, Robyn D. Brian

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, collective case study is to explore how sexual minorities are making parental disclosure decisions in the United States. The theories guiding this study are Minority Stress Theory with theorist Illan Meyer, as well as Family Systems Theory with Murray Bowen, as they explain the relationship between sexual minority stress experienced by sexual minorities while looking at how that impacts the entire family unit during the disclosure process. Data was collected with semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results found that one’s future plans and next steps in life were the motivating factor for sexual …

Ecclesiological Support For Veterans Suffering From Moral Injury: A Phenomenological Study, Douglas Guy Wood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For many military service members, the cost of their service is through the psychological, physiological, emotional, sociological, and spiritual scars from the trauma of conflict. This trauma is most associated with the diagnoses of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Moral Injury (MI). Existing literature primarily focuses on a humanistic underlying philosophy to symptoms and patient care or uses a non-specific definition/categorization of religion/spirituality (e.g., Ames et al., 2019; Hill et al., 2000; Sharma et al., 2017). Studies have addressed psychological, physiological, emotional, and sociological healing (e.g., Åkerblom et al., 2020; Drescher et al., 2011; Gray et al., 2012; Nash & …

Revealing Roots: Examining The Intersection Of Trauma, Mental Health, And Bioecological Impact On Pentecostal Black Male Pastors, Dreama Delicia Cole

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe Pentecostal Black male pastors in their understanding of (or experiences with) trauma and mental health in the context of the inclusion of bioecological effects and any thoughts about the potential impact on their congregations in California. The chosen theories complement the lived experiences of these pastors. Based on the research questions, interview questions, and data analysis, the following themes and one subtheme emerged: Their Roots Tell a Story: Lived Experiences of Identity Formation and Early Trauma with subtheme Rejection: Lived Experience of Exclusion and Emotional Wounding, Revelation: Lived Experiences of …

Analysis Of The Relationship Of Spirituality And Spiritual Bypass On The Resilience Of Survivors Of Homicide In The U.S., Katie Ann Wiggins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The quantitative study examined the influence of spirituality and spiritual bypass on the resilience of homicide survivors, an area with limited research. This correlational design used multiple regression analysis to investigate how spirituality and case solution status moderated the effects of spiritual bypass on the resilience of homicide survivors. While substantial studies address grief from natural and sudden loss, there have been few that explore the experiences of homicide survivors grieving loss due to murder. It was the researcher’s anticipation that there would be a positive effect between spirituality and resilience in addition to the negative effect on resilience from …

Experiences Of Forgiveness With People Who Have A Problematic Use Of Pornography: A Phenomenological Study, Clarence E. Chapman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of participants in early recovery from self-perceived problematic porn use (PPU). The theory guiding this research study was attachment theory, which was developed by John Bowlby, a physiatrist who focused on the overall development of a child’s emotional development. The study aimed at trying to discover if there are barriers to a person for receiving forgiveness from God when in early recovery. Research indicated there are guilt and shame that can be reasons to these barriers for those who struggle with self-perceived pornography use as Christians. Methods used …

A Phenomenological Study Of Forgiveness Following Infidelity Focusing On Robert Enright's Forgiveness Model, Delondria R. Hines

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of women who chose to forgive their partner’s infidelity using Robert Enright’s Forgiveness Model. The study explores the motivations for forgiveness after infidelity, focusing on women aged 25–70 in heterosexual relationships from various racial and ethnic origins who have decided to remain with their partners. Extending Robert Enright's Forgiveness Model, this study examines the benefits of forgiveness. The study uses thematic analysis to identify common themes in the participants’ stories, enhancing understanding of their motivations for forgiveness. Semi-structured interviews served as the main method for data collection, offering a …

Pathway Out Of Homelessness, Budwa (Bud) Sous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological case study aims to understand the homeless individuals' relational Transformational Experience (TE) and their choice to complete the transitional pathway journey from homelessness at a faith-based shelter. Developed in 1938 by John Dewy, TE has become a comprehensive and complex framework that describes how learners interpret, confirm, and give meaning to their experiences. As a result, this study's framework uses a hermeneutic and relational approach to explore and highlight relational barriers the homeless faced following their transition out of a Midwest homeless shelter. However, research has not adequately recognized how a restored relationship contributes to cognitive and behavioral …

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself: Examining The Lived Experience Of Christians Of Color Engaged In Advocacy, Monique Victoria Barber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of Christians of Color (COC) engaged in advocacy work within the counseling profession. The study was guided by the allies integrative model, which asserts that God is the author of all truth, and that theology and psychology offer ways to understand His truth within human limitations. This framework provided a lens to examine how COC navigate their faith and racialized identity in advocacy. Seven licensed counselors participated in semistructured interviews, and their corresponding narratives were analyzed using thematic coding. Findings highlight the ways in which COC counselors …

Psychological Treatment Behind The Walls:Insights From The Inside, Rogelio Serrano

Psychology Division Scholarship

Repeated eras of mass incarceration, criminalization of marginalized communities, and substance use policies have created a revolving door of justice involved populations. The ever-increasing prison population has repeatedly become the largest contingency of mental health clientele for an overburdened mental health system. Those who work with formerly incarcerated individuals in the community often don’t know the unique set of challenges faced by practitioners within the system. Increased understanding and coordination of care can offer opportunities for sustained recovery and reduced levels of recidivism. In this presentation participants will learn about the unique insights on mental health treatment that can be …

The Impact Of An Iron-Rich Diet On Fatigue In Menstruating Women With Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency, Meagan Seraydar, Lauren Latimer, Sam Miragliatto

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Fatigue without diagnosed anemia is prevalent in menstruating women, with iron deficiency being a potential contributor. While iron supplementation is a standard intervention, dietary sources of iron may offer a sustainable alternative. This study aims to assess the impact of an iron-rich diet on fatigue levels in menstruating women. A 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, assigning participants to either an iron-rich diet group or a control group following their usual diet without specific iron recommendations. Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) at baseline, six weeks, and twelve weeks, alongside iron status biomarkers, including …

Lasting Impact Of Friendship: A Group Manual For Meaningful Connections In Adolescence, Kristen M. Hull

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Adolescence brings profound changes in physical growth, emotions, and social interactions. The friendships formed during this time of life play a crucial role in shaping a young person’s sense of self, emotional health, and ability to navigate social relationships well into the future. This group manual examines the importance of friendships in adolescence, offering a research-based approach to understanding how these relationships influence mental well-being, academic success, and personal development. Designed for school counselors and other trained professionals, it provides practical strategies to help students build and maintain meaningful, supportive friendships during this pivotal stage of life.

Keywords: adolescence, friendship, …

Direct And Mediating Relationships Between Divine Grace, Legalism, And Mental Health, Branwyn H. Mccormick

Senior Honors Theses

Positive psychology has popularized the integration of religious ideas into psychological treatment. According to the literature, the experience of divine grace is correlated with favorable mental health outcomes, whereas legalistic attitudes are correlated with adverse mental health outcomes. It has also been found that the experience of divine grace is a mediator between legalism and mental health. However, the constructs of divine grace and legalism have both been relatively unexplored aside from a few studies using Latter-day Saints (LDS) populations. The current study seeks to analyze relationships between divine grace, legalism, and mental health using a conservative evangelical Christian population. …

Harnessing Faith For Relational Harmony: A Black Christian Couple’S Journey Through Relational Spiritual Knowing, Kevin L. Jones, Victoria L. Jones

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

This scholarship centers on the experiences of Black married Christian couples, exploring how spirituality profoundly enriches and transforms their relationships. Building on Martin Buber's philosophy of the “I-Thou” relationship, which emphasizes genuine spiritual engagement, the research highlights how this Black married couple draw on their faith to navigate marital challenges. For Black married Christian couples, spirituality often forms the foundation of their relationships, guiding them through life’s complexities. This work seeks to move beyond traditional teachings, embracing a more expansive view of spirituality that honors the rich, multifaceted nature of Black Christian marriages. Through the Relational Spiritual Knowing framework, this …

Faith In The Therapy Room: A Qualitative Study Of Canadian Immigrant Clients' Untold Stories, Sandra Dixon, Juliane Bell

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

Immigration to Canada brings cultural diversity, but also stressors and challenges that impact mental well-being. Spirituality recognizes the profound significance of relational knowing, manifesting in external appreciation for meaningful experiences with others that provide purpose. Despite the importance of faith in many immigrants' lives, mental health professionals often overlook spiritual and religious convictions. This descriptive qualitative study addressed this gap by conducting semi-structured interviews with 10 immigrant clients of faith in a diverse Canadian province. Purposive and snowball sampling were used for participant recruitment. NVivo 12 software facilitated efficient data management and analysis, and Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-phase framework …

Decolonizing Relational Spiritual Knowing In The Context Of Human Connections, Diana Wandix-White, Vicki Mokuria

The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community

Decolonizing spiritual engagement in human connections involves reimagining how we challenge relational epistemology, overcome relational dissonance, and discover relational value. By transcending individual religious frameworks, we access a deeper, collective spirituality that bridges divides. Relational spiritual knowing taps into the core of our humanity, fostering connections even to those with whom we seem to disagree at every turn and with whom we share no obvious bond. This editorial serves to introduce relational spiritual knowing as a tool to dismantle barriers that cause isolation and inequity, discrimination and disconnection, and misconceptions and misunderstandings in relationships. The articles in this special issue …

Digging Deep With Daisy Murillo, Daisy V. Murillo

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

In this section, relevant background information about the writer is provided, highlighting key aspects that contributed to development. This includes exploring key relationships including those with family, peers, and significant others. Other background information was explored in order to provide a foundation for the project and identify key elements that have impacted both personal and professional development. Assessments were administered and results were analyzed in order to deepen the analysis of self. Theory was utilized to develop a theoretical conceptualization that included both personal and professional components. Interviews were conducted with loved ones in order to add depth and …

Trauma-Informed Gatekeeping In Counselor Education And Supervision: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Leslie E. Davis

Dissertations

Gatekeeping is a challenging ethical and legal obligation for counselor educators and supervisors. Many counseling students demonstrate some sort of problem of professional competence in their counseling programs, and it is critical that counselor educators utilize gatekeeping practices to prevent gateslipping (Brown-Rice & Furr, 2016a; Gaubatz & Vera, 2002; Kimball et al, 2019). According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2023), there is an increasing need to address trauma as a critical element of providing effective mental health services. Trauma-informed care and trauma-informed principles began to appear in the mental health literature in 2001, and the …

Analysis Of Self: My Journey To Healing And Helping, Chelsea C. Schultz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The Analysis of Self led me to take an inventory of who I am as a person and a professional, and what led me to where I am today as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. This project satisfies the requirements of the graduate program. Besides taking an in-depth overview of my personal history, I also included assessments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong’s Interest Inventory (SII) to uncover various aspects of my personality, strengths and qualities. Interventions that align with my counseling style are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy because of …

The Fear Of Yahweh: Introducing Scripture’S Wisdom Literature For Biblical Counseling, Alexander Lee

Senior Honors Theses

Biblical wisdom literature is one of the most neglected areas of Scripture related to biblical counseling. Biblical counseling is formulated on the sufficiency of Scripture, so a deeper examination of any area of Scripture is sure to enlighten the biblical counselor. Wisdom in biblical counseling was introduced through an examination of the fear of Yahweh. A proper fear of Yahweh connects the counselee with the revelation of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, leading to a transformation of the client’s character toward a flourishing life. An existing case study was examined, highlighting how these findings can be implemented in the …

Crisis Text Line: "An Empathic World Where Nobody Feels Alone", Amy Stoermer

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Through this internship, I’ve learned so much about how to be an empathetic and non-judgmental listener. I’ve also learned about how to respond to individuals that are in crisis situations. Thanks to the help of the Platform Supervisors, I’ve also gained valuable knowledge about how to collaborate with team members so I can best assist clients in need. The safety plan training I’ve received has been so helpful, too.

Introducing Online Dreamwork During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Method, Training, And Impact, Gregory Scott Sparrow, Yih-Jiun Shen, Marilu Pintor

Counseling Faculty Publications

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Counseling and Training Clinics of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to shut down. Consequently, our graduate counseling program students needed help accruing the direct counseling hours required by their degree programs. Without an established telehealth option, the UTRGV Counseling Department supported the creation of DreamStar Free Online Counseling (DFOC), an online counseling program initiative facilitated through Zoom video. In response to our students’ urgent need for clients, we added individual and group dreamwork to DFOC’s array of services, increasing the referral level. This article describes the creation of DFOC, …