Counseling Commons^™

Infusing Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Across The Cacrep Core Curriculum, Cara M. Thompson, Alexander M. Fields, Dodie Limberg, Krys Whitty

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Approximately two-thirds of the United States population experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that are associated with increased risk for negative physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes. Research on the effects of ACEs is largely conducted and published outside of counseling fields, yet has direct implications for counselors in the conceptualization, assessment, and interventions for a variety of complaints presented by clients across the lifespan and in any treatment setting. Integrating ACEs research into foundational counseling courses can prepare counselors-in-training (CITs) to recognize the impact of ACEs for clients and identify which interventions will promote client wellness. In this article, we …

Organizational Predictors Of Trauma-Informed Practices In Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, Heather J. Fye, Ryan M. Cook, Michelle Ocampo, Eric Baltrinic

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

In the present study, we examined several variables related to school counselors working with students who experienced traumas. We studied the prevalence of traumas reported by students and by school characteristics, school counselors’ trainings on trauma-informed practices, and the relationships between organizational predictors and school counselors’ perceived trauma-informed practices in their schools. Participants were 278 practicing school counselors. Highlights of the various findings included: school counselors, on average, worked with students who reported 11 types of traumas, several trauma types were more- or less-often reported by students based upon the organizational variables of school district type and grade levels, and …

Unveiling The Multidimensional Impact Of Sex Trafficking: Insights From Survivors, Claudia G. Interiano-Shiverdecker, Devon E. Romero, John J. S. Harrichand, Jessica Martin, David J. Thompson

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

This transcendental phenomenological study delves into the lived experiences of 10 women who experienced sex trafficking. Through in-depth individual interviews, participants unveiled a narrative marked by coercion, manipulation, and multifaceted abuse. Despite variations in the duration and onset of their ordeals, participants uniformly expressed the profound and lasting impact of sex trafficking across numerous facets of their lives. Psychological distress, physical ailments, disrupted vocational trajectories, strained relationships, and spiritual upheaval were recurrent themes, illustrating the pervasive nature of their trauma. This research highlights the urgent necessity for holistic support and intervention strategies tailored to the intricate and multidimensional needs of …

Veiled Pain Through Anonymity: Exploring Emotions About Nonsuicidal Self-Injury On Reddit, Lindsay A. Lundeen, Erin Kern Popejoy, John R. Mccall, David D. Christian, Lizy Humphrey

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Nonsuicidal self-injury conversations can occur under veiled discussions,whether online or in-person, due to stigmatized emotions associated with self-harm. Previous studies addressednonsuicidal self-injury on Reddit, yet do not specifically address emotions expressed within posts. The present study assessed emotional discourse in 996 subreddit posts about self-harm engagement and related circumstances, through an inductive, thematic analysis design. Emotions consisted of four identified themes: (a) lonely and looking for belonging on Reddit, (b) despair and exhaustion trying to stop the behavior, (c) humiliated and scared after disclosure to in-person supports, and (d) thankful for subreddit support. Members discussed Reddit as a space to …

Letter From The Editors, Tara S. Jungersen, Rebecca Cowan, Jean M. Lafauci Schutt, Megan J. Doughty Shaine, Carol M. Smith, Jane M. Webber

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

No abstract provided.

The Mediation Effect Of White Racial Affect On Color-Blind Racial Attitudes And Multicultural Counseling Competence, Noah Schieffer Scanlon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Racial bias is something that can impact many fields, including the field of psychology. There is growing research in examining the relationship between multicultural counseling competence and color-blind racial attitudes as well as other factors like White racial affect Few studies have examined the potential mediating relationship White racial affect may have on color-blind racial attitudes and multicultural counseling competence. To address this gap, this study provides insight into how White racial affect mediates the relationship between color-blind racial attitudes and multicultural counseling competence among white psychology trainees. This study also further examined the extent to which color-blind racial attitudes …

Supporting Lgbtq+ Youth In Disaffirming Legal Climates, Sarah Hibner-Kiperman Phd, Madeleine Reardon Ma, Caitlin Johnson M.A., Nina Michon Ma, Liz Ballinger B.A., Jesse Chen Ma, Sahar Altweej Ma, Gabriel Delong Ma

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Psychologists are ethically charged with providing culture-responsive, affirming care to LGBTQ+ youth clients as legal climate continue infringing on their rights (ACLU, 2025; APA, 2023; NASP, 2020). This roundtable serves to facilitate conversation about how to support our LGBTQ+ community members seeking affirming care, when laws may limit this ability.

Maintaining Well-Being: Coping Strategies For Prolonged Traumatic Experiences From The Stories Of Ukrainian Educators During The Wartime, Natalya Rakevich

Educational Studies Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological study aimed to better understand how and whether educators can maintain well-being during prolonged trauma. This study examines the experiences of Ukrainian educators living in non-occupied territories during wartime. The following research questions guided the study: What coping strategies do educators use to take care of themselves? What coping strategies do educators use with their students? How do educators perceive mindfulness and storytelling? A conceptual framework was created to better understand the topics of stress, trauma, being, well-being, surviving, suffering, and coping mechanisms through a literature review. Data collection occurred in February and March 2024, two years …

Examining Self-Compassion And Self-Care Practices Among African American Mental Health Practitioners: An Ethical Imperative For Wellness And Self-Care, Shiela E. Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of African American mental health clinicians, specifically focusing on self-compassion, as well as personal and professional self-care, emphasizing wellness and clinical competency. Despite the crucial role of self-care, limited research has explored the experiences of African American clinicians, who often confront stress, burnout, and systemic challenges, including racism. The study aims to address this gap by investigating self-care practices, defining, and implementing self-compassion, and tackling challenges such as compassion fatigue, burnout, stress, racism, and microaggressions. Guided by Gilbert's theoretical model of compassion, emphasizing the development of a compassionate self, the research seeks to …

A Phenomenological Study Of Women’S Discovery Of Infidelity In Long-Term Relationships, Sinay Butler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of women in long-term marriages in the Spokane, Washington area when they discovered their husbands’ infidelity. All of the women in this study developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the discovery of their husbands’ infidelity, however, infidelity is not recognized as a criterion A event for a formal diagnosis. Attachment theory provided the theoretical framework from which to understand the trauma responses of these women better. During the semi-structured interviews, the women described the discovery of infidelity as a traumatic and life-changing event. The research questions …

Improving The Mq For Pastoral Counseling At Hesed Counseling Ministries To Benefit Pro-Life Victims Of Pro-Abortionist Violence, Sean Michael Patrick Ferreiro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Biblical Christianity has ubiquitously denounced abortion. Unfortunately, an unprecedented number of physical attacks on the pro-ministry’s volunteers and properties have resulted in traumatic experiences. Counseling services are the natural recommendation for these volunteers thereafter. However, secular counselors are often incongruent with the values of the pro-life ministry. Hesed Counseling Ministries offers counseling services for pro-life volunteers. As a group of solution-focused practitioners, they utilize the miracle-question (MQ). To create a counseling milieu congruent to the unique subculture of the pro-life ministry, they created their own MQ. It was bereft of the voices and verbiage of the pro-life ministry. Therefore, the …

Exploring The Experiences Of School Nurses Identifying And Initiating Migraine Treatment In School-Age Children, Stephanie E. Axley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Migraines affect about one child in twenty worldwide and have important implications for attainment and quality of life. Whereas migraines among adolescents are common, little is known about school nurses’ experience caring for this population within the school setting. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of school nurses in managing and treating students with migraines. Using Imogene King’s goal attainment theory as the theoretical framework, interviews with eight school nurses were conducted to understand the emotional, communicative, and practical challenges they face in providing care (Gonzalo, 2023). Key themes identified include the emotional toll of care communication barriers with …

The Lived Experiences Of Mothers Leaving The Fundamentalist Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints: A Phenomenological Approach, Natasha Tebbs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to provide a holistic understanding of the lived experiences of mothers who leave the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). This study answered questions related to familial relationships, career and financial experiences, and overall mental health and well-being associated with leaving the FLDS Church. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, as it related to understanding the complexities of leaving a high-demand religious group. There was a lack of academic literature available on this population, specifically FLDS mothers’ experiences leaving the cultural and religious group. …

The Impact Of A Biblically Based Marriage Boot Camp Program: Effective Or Not, Wanda Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The goal of this Doctor of Ministry thesis project, entitled The Impact of a Biblical Marriage Boot Camp: Effective or Not, was to explore the effectiveness of the biblically based Marriage Boot Camp program offered by Victorious Praise Fellowship Church which aims to strengthen African American marriages. The project addressed a significant concern about marriage relationship within a church congregation and the broader community and the need for practical, faith-centered tools and teachings to support marital satisfaction and longevity in the African American community. Through interviews, observations, and analysis, the project discussed specific areas in the Marriage Boot Camp program …

Supervision Success: Experience Of Supervisee's Successful Navigation Of A Faith-Based Value Conflict, Veronica R. Conley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to the counseling field’s recommendations for best practice, counselors should not refer a client solely based on a value conflict (American Counseling Association [ACA], 2014; Kaplan et al., 2017; Remley & Herlihy, 2020). Yet many feel unprepared or unsupported to navigate faith-based value conflicts (Blair, 2015; Hunt, 2019; Sells & Hagedorn, 2016). This study explored the strengths side of this issue, interviewing counselors or counselors in training (CIT) and exploring how a supervisor who did not align with them spiritually aided them in successfully navigating a faith-based value conflict. Seven participants were interviewed utilizing semi-structured interviews. These interviews were …

A Qualitative Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study With Parents Of A Child With Adhd And Their Lived Experiences With Their Child’S Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Mariah Elizabeth Couser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of parents with a child who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive/Impulsive Disorder (ADHD) with their child’s clinical mental health counselor. There are over 6.5 million children diagnosed with ADHD within the United States, and it continues to grow every day. Within the current literature, there is a lack of understanding of what parents of children with ADHD need from their child’s clinical mental health counselor to help reduce their parental stress levels. The theoretical framework guided the hermeneutic phenomenology study, aimed to discover themes …

When Grief Comes To Court: Supporting Bereaved Court Involved Youth, Lane Pease, Erin Richter

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Youth who are court involved have higher rates of bereavement than the general population. Learn how grief impacts youth involved in the Juvenile Court. This session will focus on how bringing together court stakeholders and partnering with outside experts to provide grief support can decrease further court involvement and lead to positive outcomes.

Importance Of Principal-School Counselor Relationship, Moya A. Pope Ed.S, Monica Y. Pace Ed.S

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Principals and School Counselors - y'all alright?!? What's your relationship like: Good? Bad? Ugly? The relationship between the school counselor and principal can affect the school as a whole - and when they have a strong relationship, the school community is stronger. This presentation will give you tips on how to strengthen your relationship, become better leaders and positively affect student achievement and school climate.

Adult Sexual Grooming: A Systematic Review, Christin Aletky, Bonita Sharma, Jose Carbajal, Tia Eubank

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Grooming is the manipulation and intimidation of people into acts that may appear consensual but are in fact exploitative and harmful, activities they would not have chosen otherwise. Different legal definitions and shifting social perspectives on consent complicate efforts to determine whether a given behavior is a result of informed consent or a response to grooming behaviors. Most studies on grooming and sexual assault focus on adults grooming and abusing children—research on adults grooming other adults is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to conduct a systematic review of current research on the grooming of adults. We used …

Developing Humanistic Clinicians: A Review Of Literature, Andrew Taylor, Willie Capers

The Journal of the Research Association of Minority Professors

Humanistic clinicians possess scientific and technical competence and demonstrate essential virtues like empathy, compassion, patience, love, and courage. Humanistic clinicians are trained with an emphasis on the sciences and the humanities. The humanistic clinician is therefore better equipped to care for patients, the patient’s family members, other clinicians, and themselves. Defining empathy can be problematic due to a lack of consistent definition. Relevant literature regarding empathy was reviewed before settling on a working definition. Several pedagogical approaches encourage the moral development of clinicians. The methods and purpose of those approaches are explained. Illness narratives or pathography is a particular type …

The Combined Treatment Of Chinese Herbal Medicines Is Correlated With A Lower Risk Of Rheumatoid Arthritis In Patients With Depression: Evidence From A Population-Based Patient–Control Study, Chieh-Tsung Yen, Hanoch Livneh, Hui-Ju Huang, Ming-Chi Lu, Ming-Chi Lu, Wei-Jen Chen, Tzung-Yi Tsai

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Major depression places psychological strain on the individual that may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Though the use of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) is widespread in clinical practice, its effect on the prevention of RA incidents is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between CHMs use by patients with depression and their subsequent risk of being diagnosed with RA.

Creative Arts Therapies Week, Raquel Estrada, William Flores

Library Display Posters

Creative Arts Therapies Week is observed during the third week of March. It is a collection of posters that has been designed to highlight library resources in celebration of Creative Arts Therapies Week. Poster topics include: General Books, Streaming Films, and Research Resources. Book and video covers are hyperlinked.

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Counselor's Experience Of Breathwork And Its Impact On Their Therapeutic Practice, Jennifer Zúñiga Agüero

Dissertations

Breathwork, a transpersonal and experiential approach to psychotherapy, has been used for healing and transformation throughout the years. When applied in clinical practice, breathwork can serve as a conduit to access nonordinary states of consciousness for self-exploration and transformation. Traditional psychotherapy does not engage with nonordinary states of consciousness as part of the therapeutic process; thus, research in relation to counselors’ experiences of breathwork and their impact on therapeutic practice has yet to be explored.

Counselors’ experiences of breathwork and the influence they have in clinical practice is the phenomena explored in this research study. Exploring counselor experience with a …

Women Residential Substance Use Treatment Program: A Quantitative Study Measuring Treatment Perceptions And Spiritual Experience Across Multiple Demographics., Michelle Davidson

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

WOMEN RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY MEASURING TREATMENT PERCEPTIONS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE DEMOGRAPHICS

Michelle Davidson, LCSW

March 24, 2025

Substance use disorders (SUD) present complex challenges that necessitate comprehensive and personalized treatment approaches, particularly for women. Historically, SUD treatments have been predominantly driven by male treatment approaches, often neglecting the unique needs and experiences of women. This cross-sectional quantitative survey study explores the relationship between the variables of client treatment perceptions and spiritual experiences among women in residential treatment for their SUDs. This study utilizes the Treatment Perception Survey and Spiritual Experience Index-Revised to …

A Phenomenological Study Of Syrian Refugees’ Experiences Seeking Mental Health Care In Lebanon, Mark Christopher Todd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of Syrian refugees living in Tyre, Lebanon as it related to seeking mental health care. The theory guiding this study is the phenomenological approach of Moustakas (1994) as informed by the transcendental phenomenology of Husserl (Moustakas, 1994) in that it seeks to describe the essence of the phenomenon by putting aside all preconceptions and looking anew at the phenomenon through the lens of human experience. This study was also strongly influenced by transformative frameworks (Creswell & Poth, 2019) and decolonization theory (Smith, 2021) as it looked for answers …

The Perception Of Mindfulness Practices Of Middle-Aged Black Christian Women Who Self-Diagnosed With Depression And Have Experiences With Racism, Latoya Angela Delmadge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black Christians rely heavily on their spiritual leaders for guidance and support when dealing with emotional and psychological issues. Consequently, counseling interventions such as mindfulness are often met with much resistance. The origin of mindfulness from the Buddhist culture may present a barrier to Christians incorporating such practices as meditation into their lifestyle. Lack of understanding still poses a limitation for middle-aged Christian women of color to engage in mindfulness practices. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study explored the perceptions of mindfulness-based practices among Black middle-aged Christian women self-diagnosed with depression and how this intervention can be used to cope with …

The Ties That Bind: A Comprehensive Pastoral Counseling Approach To Bridge The Gap Between Christians Struggling With Same-Sex Attraction And Cornerstone Church, Barbara Pringle Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation project explores the need for a faith-based counseling program that aligns with biblical principles while fostering inclusivity and support for Christians experiencing same-sex attraction (SSA). The study addresses the challenges faced by individuals in the church community who often encounter isolation, shame, and rejection. It proposes a comprehensive pastoral counseling program to train church leaders in providing compassionate, transformative care. This project employs qualitative research methods, including focus groups and individual interviews, to gather insights from church leaders and members. It analyzes theological, psychological, and pastoral perspectives to build a robust spiritual and emotional support framework. The research …

Ethnic Identity And Acculturation: Mental Health Perceptions And Help-Seeking Behaviors Of College-Age Students With Sikh Punjabi Immigrant Parents, Manreet Kaur

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of college-age children of Sikh Punjabi immigrant parents who were considering mental health treatment in Pennsylvania. The theory guiding this study was ethnic identity theory, which was developed by Jean Phinney. There were four research questions addressed: (a) How do college-age children of Sikh Punjabi immigrant parents describe their experiences when considering mental health treatment in Pennsylvania? (b) How do participants describe the impact of their parents’ perceptions regarding mental health when contemplating seeking mental health treatment? (c) How do participants describe their experiences discussing mental health–related topics with …

A Quantitative Study: The Association Between College Selection Methodology And Sense Of Belongingness Among First-Year, Full-Time Residential College Students, Tamara Reese

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

College selection methodology can be traced back to the 1920s when colleges had to rely on their to travel through word of mouth, catalogs, pictures, and brochures. Although virtual tours can be dated back to 1994, COVID-19 catapulted the popularity of traveling through virtual reality. While many studies have sought to measure the impact of visitation on student enrollment propensities, none have made a noteworthy effort to account for a potential endogenous link between the student's college choice methodology and a student's sense of belongingness at their college or university campus. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study is to …

Centering Black Resource-Poor Adolescent Voices: A Critical Phenomenological Study Of Lived Mental Health Struggles While Enduring The Covid-19 Pandemic, Paulette Dispagna

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

There is a dearth of research in general and qualitative research specifically about the mental health experience of resource-poor Black adolescents living in Boston. This has implications for the field in terms of how adolescents experiencing mental health issues can be supported and how professionals can create more useful mental health treatment. Drawing from the theoretical lens of critical race theory and more specifically, intersectionality, this hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry examined the ways in which experiencing multiple levels of inequality, especially from racism and poverty, affected a Black adolescent’s mental health. Eleven adolescents were interviewed via Zoom. Six major findings included: …