Counseling Commons^™

Examining The Relationship Between Cultural Humility And The Working Therapeutic Alliance With African American Clients In Counseling, Najah Dail

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African Americans are one of the most least likely ethnic groups to engage in counseling. Despite African Americans struggling with mental health at the same rate and sometimes more as their white counterparts, African Americans continue to be hesitant to receive mental health services. Minimal research has been conducted to assess how to engage African Americans in counseling and what the barriers are to their engagement. When working with African Americans, cultural humility seeks to address barriers in understanding the cultural experiences of clients in counseling. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the role …

Exploring Clergy's Use Of Suicide Risk Factor Knowledge: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Matilda Swanson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy in relations to suicide risk factors and the interventions they used to prevent suicidality among congregants in Central Florida. Guided by Anthony Jorm’s mental health literacy theory, the study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy related to their knowledge of suicide risk factors and interventions they use to address suicide risk among church congregants. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. A total of 14 clergy members participated in the study. The findings were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, leading …

Factors Associated With Clinician Confidence With Gender Identity Issues In Children, Elizabeth D. Hickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explored mental health clinicians’ experience and self-confidence in their ability to identify and treat children with gender dysphoria. Gender issues are highly prevalent in the United States with an estimated 1.9 million individuals (about twice the population of South Dakota) considering themselves in the LGBT community. The American Psychological Association estimated that there were currently 106,500 licensed psychologists in the United States in a 2014 census. The United States Census population clock has the number of citizens to nearly 335 million people. Meaning that for every psychologist there are 3,146 potential clients. This is an overwhelming ratio of …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 Lived Experiences Of African American Males With Absent Fathers: A Phenomenological Study, Justin Danta Gravely-Strayhorn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of African American males who grew up with absent fathers and how this affected them in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods in the rural and urban areas of Chesapeake, Virginia. The theories guiding this study are Bandura's Social Learning Theory, Vygotsky's social learning theory and Bowlby’s attachment theory. These theories explain cognitive development and the influence of social interaction on children’s attitudes and emotional reactions. The theories also explain the role of observation in social interaction and cognitive development, as both explain how cognitive development is influenced by …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

Volume 2 (April 2025), The Bear Counseling Collective

The Bear Counseling Collective

A journal of student counselors' reflections on culturally attentive mental health care and advocacy.

Volume 40, Issue 1

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness And Implications Of Telehealth For Mental Health Treatment, Mia Crosby

Senior Honors Theses

As technology has evolved, many mental health professionals have begun to adopt the option of a telehealth format for treatment delivery. Particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the remote form of counseling emerged as an alternative to traditional in-person therapy. This thesis will examine existing studies to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth counseling, potential implications to consider, and the limitations of this treatment modality. Five themes based on the current research will be discussed: (1) the acceptability and efficacy of telehealth services, (2) the transition and adoption of telehealth, (3) the equivalence of treatment modalities, (4) client and provider …

Hubungan Dukungan Sosial Rekan Kerja Dengan Stres Kerja (Studi Pada Pekerja Di Pt X), Aisyah Permatasari

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Workers are vulnerable to work-related stress due to job demands, time constraints, and limited leisure time, leading to psychological issues such as anxiety related to their work. In the context of social welfare studies, job stress affects overall workers’ well-being and disrupts their social functioning in the workplace. Social support from coworkers is potentially reduce stress in workplace, which is crucial for creating organizational well-being. It also helps workers improve job engagement, cope with fatigue, and manage stress. This study examined the relationship between social support from coworkers and job stress among 90 employees …

Caring Across Borders: Demographic Shifts And Migrant Care In Asean-Korea Dynamics, Saqib Fardan Ahmada, Wahid Nur Kartiko

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

This article aims to examine the migration policies and migrant care in the context of relations between ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Korea. As Korea is dealing with an aging population, an increase in female labour force participation, and an ultra low fertility rate, caregiving, especially for the elderly, has become a pivotal issue. Besides, the traditional nuclear family structure, which has historically served as the primary caregiver for the elderly, is also losing its prominence. In such demographic shift, migrant care workers from AMS are filling the demand for caregiving in Korea, leading to a cross-border international migration from …

Inked Insight: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study Exploring The Perspectives Of Visibly Tattooed Counselors, Megan Ashley Lalonde-Pittman

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of visibly tattooed mental health counselors (VTMHC) through consensual qualitative research (CQR), examining how visible tattoos were perceived to have impacted the participants (N=14) professional experiences, development, and relationships within the counseling field. Seven domains arose from the data: Prejudices experienced by VTMHC, VTMHC Interactions with others, Culture experienced by VTMHC, Appearances of the VTMHC, Professional therapeutic work of the VTMHC, Workplace environment of the VTMHC, Processing the experience of being a VTMHC The implications for multicultural education and future research are explored.

Acculturation Experiences Of International Students In The U.S. Cacrep-Accredited Counselor Education Programs: Challenges, Support Systems, And Systemic Barriers, Nargiza Amirova

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

International students significantly enrich U.S. counselor education and supervision programs by contributing diverse cultural perspectives that inspire teaching, research, and professional growth. Yet, these students often face complex challenges including cultural adjustment, language barriers, social isolation, and the academic demands of counseling academic programs that impact their educational outcome s and psychological well-being. Systemic barriers, such as visa restrictions and institutional unawareness, further complicate their experiences. This study explored acculturation experiences of international students enrolled in CACREP-accredited counselor education programs in the United States.

Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in-depth interviews were conducted with seven international students on J1/F1 visas, …

Counseling In The Space Between: Counselor Perceptions Of Empathy And Therapeutic Alliance During Videoconferencing-Based Teleplay Therapy Sessions, Robert M. Lima Jr

Dissertations

Children and adolescents experienced a significant increase in mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic (Czeisler et al., 2020; Hertz et al., 2022; Mpofu, 2023; Oberg et al., 2022; Wilkins et al., 2023). With health facilities closed for non-emergent patients, telemental health therapy offered the possibility of support for those experiencing mental health challenges (Chiauzzi et al., 2020; Cooke et al., 2020; Karimi et al., 2022; E. C. Lee et al., 2023; Racine et al., 2020). While numerous past studies conducted over several years confirmed the efficacy of telemental health counseling (e.g., Feijt et al., 2020; Gloff et al., 2015; …

Evaluating Asthma Education: A Comparison Of Whatsapp-Based Digital Interventions And Traditional Techniques, Rama Parthasarathy, Jayakumar Rajagopal, Sona Primuha Sugumaran, Sharon Angelin Johnson, Sai Shyam Kumar Nappa Selvam, Karthikeyan Ramaraju

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background and Aims: Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting people of all age group, which is characterized by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airway. Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are the symptoms. The main complication faced by asthma patient is poor medication adherence; to overcome this patient counseling was performed. In this patient education was given through both digital and direct approaches. It is important to find out whether the above-mentioned approaches improve medication adherence. This research specifically investigates whether digital approaches through WhatsApp can directly improve asthma control compared to traditional methods. Methods: A prospective …