Counselor Education Commons^™

Effective Treatment Modalities, Recommendations, And Desired Outcomes For Adolescents With Co-Occurring Disorders, Madelynn J. Revord

Counselor Education Capstones

This Capstone Project analyzes and assesses recent research of different modalities of treatment for adolescents with co-occurring disorders. While conducting research on this topic, the common goal of effective treatment for adolescents with co-occurring disorders includes eliminating continued substance abuse, resolving conduct concerns, developing appropriate coping skills, correcting negative thoughts and/or behaviors, decreasing delinquency, and addressing reoccurring mental health symptoms. Multidimensional family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, group therapy, and individual therapy are compared to formulate effective clinical approaches for adolescents with co-occurring disorders. Adverse childhood experiences, risk and protective factors, suicidality, community involvement, parental education and early intervention, …

The Effects Of Social Media On Internalizing Disorders In Adolescents, Deziree Wiegmann

Counselor Education Capstones

This platforms capstone project paper is about the effects that social media or advanced technology platforms has on young individuals. Many articles were reviewed, which included research studies on the prevalence of social media usage by adolescents, along with its negative and positive effects on their development. This topic is important for counselors to review in order to treat young clients that struggle with depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, etc. For counselors and other professionals who work with adolescents, it would be important to look at the data, which has helped derive what treatment approaches may be the most effective and …

Adolescent Trauma: The Effects On Development And Interventions To Help, Allison Skrentny

Counselor Education Capstones

Trauma is something that can impact everyone in some way. Experiencing trauma at a young age can be even harder for some as they have not had the chance to develop fully socially, emotionally, mentally, and physically. As counselors and educators, it is extremely important to be trauma informed and be able to ensure that the student has necessary supports and resources in place to ensure that they are having all their needs met and able to work through their trauma. Knowing where a child is at developmentally and the obstacles, they may face through their adolescent years make it …

Mental Health In Rural Communities: Barriers And Solutions To Access, Andrea Ducharme

Counselor Education Capstones

Rural communities encompass a unique culture and a way of life difficult to find anywhere else. Unfortunately, barriers to mental health services exist more frequently in rural than urban and suburban areas. These barriers include stigma, cultural factors, financial concerns, as well as lack of resources and providers. Solutions to these barriers exist in some part, but also present their own challenges. This literature review explores the problem, causes of the problem in the form of barriers, and solutions to accessing mental health resources in rural areas of the United States. A discussion with suggestions for further action and study …

Effects On Youth Experiencing Homelessness In Public Schools, Abby Golish

Counselor Education Capstones

Abstract

An examination of the issues of youth who are experiencing homelessness is crucial in supporting this vulnerable population. Public schools have a responsibility to assist these students in their academic, career, and social-emotional development. With unique, personal needs, students who are homeless must be understood by school counselors and other school personnel to be appropriately supported. Homelessness can be identified through many characteristics and identified needs. It is key for school counselors to recognize these characteristics and consider the impacts that the school and resources can make on the student’s life. Throughout the paper, the causes of homelessness, potential …

The Impact Of Surviving Suicide Loss On Adolescent Psychosocial Development, Sophie Leonard

Counselor Education Capstones

There has been extensive research in the areas of the impact of suicide and human development over the past several decades. Researchers continue to examine the role that experiencing suicide loss plays in terms of the formation of a healthy identity and overall development. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of suicide loss on adolescent development. Specifically, this paper will address the potential impact of surviving a significant suicide loss on adolescent development during the identity versus role confusion stage of Erikson’s theory of development. Based on a thorough review of professional literature, the long-term effects …

Navigating Covert Exploitation: Treatment Considerations For Counseling Human Trafficking Survivors, Lindsey Holper

Counselor Education Capstones

Human trafficking is a pervasive form of modern-day slavery. Despite increased resources being devoted to fighting these atrocities, human trafficking numbers are rising (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2018). Unfortunately, due to the covert, criminal nature of exploitation, research regarding human trafficking and its impact on survivors has been limited. This literature review seeks to aid mental health counselors in their treatment of human trafficking survivors by garnering an understanding of the complex mental health needs of trafficking survivors by exploring biological, genetic, and psychosocial influences that increase their susceptibility to the development of mental health concerns. This …

Mindfulness Effectiveness On Strengthening Functional Coping Skills In College Students, Tea Mirkovic Olsen

Counselor Education Capstones

Stress in college students can transpire from academic struggles, social dilemmas, responsibility increases, financial struggles, health concerns, and other personal struggles. Unmanaged stress is a well-documented issue among college students that can lead to numerous mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual problems. Discrimination and racism are additional struggles faced by cultural minority college students that are accompanied with negative coping styles. College students use a variety of coping strategies to resolve stress, often applying dysfunctional coping styles that do not resolve the issue long term. Mindfulness is an emotion-focusing coping style with evidence for effective anxiety and stress reduction through mindfulness-based …

Where Is The Light? Fighting The Darkness Of Substance Abuse And Suicide., Jessica Wacholz

Counselor Education Capstones

Suicide is a universal health crisis. However, it is also a topic that is infrequently discussed. There is significant research regarding risk factors for suicide, gender, or population comparisons on the likelihood of suicidal ideation, attempts, and completions; but there is a lack of comprehensive research regarding the connection between suicidality and substance abuse. In addition, limited research is provided on the topic of initial suicide screening requirements at intake and during a residential stay in Treatment Centers, Hospitals, and Primary Care Clinics. This review of literature intends to answer the following questions: 1) How prevalent is suicidal ideation, attempts, …

Rethinking Recidivism: Considerations For Counselors Working With Adult Clients In Sex Offender Treatment, Claire Richards

Counselor Education Capstones

Sex offender treatment is often court ordered and part of conditional release for individuals who have been convicted of harmful sexual acts. Counselors working with this population have an important role in terms of supporting and addressing the needs of their clients, but also in terms of public safety. A cursory exploration of this treatment includes an overview of the role that risk/protective factors documented through assessments have on outcomes, the impact of restrictions regarding conditional release, and how the counselors are both impacted by and integral to this field. Counselors who work with this demographic are presented with informed …

Incarcerated People With Co-Occurring Disorders, Nikki Ketzeback

Counselor Education Capstones

People with mental illnesses are at a significantly greater risk of police arrest than the general population. This pattern of arrests has been associated with a phenomenon referred to as the criminalization of mental illness. The influence of mental health and the criminal justice system will be discussed throughout this paper. The research discussed within this paper serves as a framework for the development of a co-occurring curriculum. The curriculum developed includes components related to the overall goal of criminal justice (reducing recidivism) while addressing mental health components within a therapeutic group setting. The focus of the curriculum attached is …

Commonalities Between Urban Mental Health And Rural Mental Health, Casey Bohlman

Counselor Education Capstones

During research into mental health, a common theme is the needs of urban and rural communities. There are entire journals dedicated to the mental health needs of these groups. Some common problems faced in both areas are access to mental health services as well as value systems that create barriers to accepting mental health services. The struggle to accept the help from very limited and often underfunded mental health services provides a perfect storm for rampant mental health and drug abuse problems. This is a review the current literature regarding the mental health services and barriers in these communities to …

Mental Health Concerns In Graduate Students: Implications And Effective Interventions, Brody Fanshaw

Counselor Education Capstones

Graduate school can be a stressful time for students. In addition to academic tasks, individuals in graduate programs frequently experience stress due to personal and professional obligations. The distressing nature of managing these priorities allows for an increase in mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality. The reviewed literature finds that programs that have positive factors within their department, such as a positive environment and supportive advisement, allow for an opportunity to curb these concerns. The literature also notes the importance of universities preparing their students for these stressors during their time in their graduate program, in addition …

Therapeutic Potential Of Psychedelic Drugs, Specifically Magic Mushrooms, Marijuana, And Mdma With Veterans Who Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Misty Schutterle

Counselor Education Capstones

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a stress-based condition that a person develops after being exposed to an overwhelmingly traumatic event. Military troops frequently experience stress and trauma, making them highly susceptible to psychopathology. This paper evaluates nine clinical trials that used either magic mushrooms, marijuana, or MDMA as an adjunct to traditional psychotherapy to treat veterans who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicidality, and other psychopathologies. Multiple scholarly journals and articles were read and analyzed, which show support for the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs in treating veterans with PTSD. After receiving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the research showed participants experienced a …

Multicultural Considerations For Latinx And Latinx-American Children In Play Therapy, Andrea Carolina Guerrero León

Counselor Education Capstones

This paper is predominately focused on the exploration of the research available on play therapy and its efficacy with Latinx children. Play therapy is a counseling approach used to process behaviors and emotions in children through interactive play. There are several modalities to play, which all stem from Sigmund Freud’s landmark work with “Little Hans”; these modalities are applied to help children process issues in their lives. However, multicultural considerations have not always been traditionally present in the broader counseling community in the United States. Since the Latinx population is the fastest growing minority in the U.S. with rich, diverse …

Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes Problematic, Courtney R. Retzlaff

Counselor Education Capstones

Counselors must help clients differentiate between healthy eating and disordered eating. Thus, this review of the literature examines when healthy eating becomes dangerous, and in some cases, life threatening by comparing a condition known as orthorexia to identified mental health disorders. Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is defined as, “a pathological obsession with proper nutrition that is characterized by a restrictive diet, ritualized patterns of eating, and rigid avoidance of foods believed to be unhealthy or impure” (Koven & Abry, 2015, p.385). Orthorexia is not included in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a disorder. Even so, …

The Results Of Child Sexual Abuse And How They Can Be Mitigated, Joy Buchman

Counselor Education Capstones

This review of literature sought to compile a list, albeit not exhaustive, of short and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and several types of play therapy used to effectively mitigate these effects. CSA has a long reaching impact affecting a child’s well-being, a nation’s societal health in addition to having a massive financial impact worldwide. Some children who are sexually abused do not struggle with negative effects and others are impacted for a lifetime. Some effects of CSA are developmental, cognitive, physical and psychological. These effects can impact the way a child views themselves, adults and the world. …

Meaning Making In Grief Counseling, Lindsey Stuhr

Counselor Education Capstones

Loss is experienced in every life. How individuals work through loss is a very personal experience for each individual. To date, many experts in the field of grief counseling are continuing to try and understand the most adequate way to help individuals to work through grief while moving forward in life. This review of the concept of meaning making in grief counseling intends to answer the following questions: 1). How do we define meaning making as it relates to grief2)? What are the key components that experts in the field have learned about grieving and the concept of meaning making? …

Poverty In Schools: The Impact Of Poverty On School Readiness For Kindergarteners, Emily Inglett

Counselor Education Capstones

Experiencing poverty in childhood has lasting impacts on a child. Poverty can have a negative impact on a child’s development academically, cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. The present literature review aims to explore research that has looked into what it means to live in poverty, what lasting impacts living in poverty have on children, and what that means for a child’s school readiness when entering kindergarten. It will also discuss some interventions that a school counselor could implement in schools to support a child who lives in poverty and their family.

Facing A New Normal: Uncovering The Psychological Effects Of Loneliness On Student Mental Health, Courtney Thoreson

Counselor Education Capstones

In anticipation of the burden loneliness will have in combination with distressing psychological and emotional burdens carried over from the COVID-19 prevention strategies i.e., social distancing, quarantine measures, and lockdowns, colleges and universities are facing a broad spectrum of challenges as they shift to adapt to a new normal. Besides the physical health impact of COVID-19, this global pandemic has unleashed a psychological toll on society that has yet to be fully realized for its potential long-lasting effects. As campuses navigate the broader impacts of COVID-19, understanding the psychological effects of loneliness will be a primary focus in understanding it’s …

Acculturative Stress Counseling With Immigrant High School Students, Identity Development, And School Belonging, Tony Yang

Counselor Education Capstones

The literature review investigates how acculturative stress relates to the ethnic identity development and feelings of school belonging of immigrant high school students and how school counselors can use this information to facilitate acculturative stress focused counseling to support student needs and development. The literature review first synthesizes information on acculturative stress, experiences of immigrant high school students, and suggestions for acculturative stress focused counseling to explore how school counselors can approach the topic of acculturative stress with their immigrant high school population. Specifically, the literature review explores the ethnic identity development of immigrant high school students and the role …

Strategies For Increasing Attendance For Identified Student Populations Via Online Engagement Methods During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Catherine Douglas

Counselor Education Capstones

This Capstone literature review discusses a school counselor’s role in increasing attendance in schools. The review discusses the common risk factors of absenteeism and the new risk factors that arose after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic changed the strategies that school professionals should use to increase engagement in learning, increase school attendance, and check on the well-being of identified student populations. The review brings light to several strategies that may help counselors increase school attendance with online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies include: incorporation of gameplay into lessons, keeping consistency with the …

Parental Influences On Their Child’S Education And Their Success In School, Rachel Crosby

Counselor Education Capstones

The purpose for this literature review is to investigate the connection of parental involvement and their children’s academic success and attitudes towards education. Based on previous research, all indicate there are numerous benefits for parents, schools, students, and the community if the parents become and remain involved in the educational process of their child. This literature review also explores the roles that schools influence on how parents become involved in the schools. Levels of parental involvement include little to no involvement, standard involvement, and extreme involvement will all be discussed. Extreme parental involvement in their children’s education has been talked …

Relationship Between Servant Leadership Style And Teacher Job Satisfaction And Retention, Morgan Stamschror

Counselor Education Capstones

Effective school leaders are vital to the success of a school. The leadership style of a school leader, specifically principals, affects teacher satisfaction and retention. Servant leadership is a well-known leadership style in the business and organizational psychology field but has applications in the education setting as well. This report discusses how principals can be servant-leaders by putting others first and themselves second. As a result, teacher job satisfaction and retention are affected. Therefore, it is important for educators to learn how principals can most effectively lead teachers and other support staff. Training and professional development opportunities are essential for …

Effectiveness Of An Online Intervention Combating Mental Health Stigma On Adolescent Help-Seeking Behaviors, Chelsea Krayecki

Counselor Education Capstones

Mental health stigma has been shown to be a barrier to seeking help for mental health concerns. This is especially true for adolescents due to important developmental characteristics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2021), depression is one of the major causes of mental health concerns and disability among adolescents. In addition, the WHO (2021) also states that mental health conditions account for 16% of global burden of illness in people ages 10-19-years-old. The current pandemic has only increased these concerns, as social, emotional, and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, …

Mindfulness Based Therapy Used In Treatment For Secondary And College Students Who Identify As Lgbtq, Ross Beattie

Counselor Education Capstones

High schools, colleges and universities across the United States have thousands of students enrolling in a range of programs. These students vary in the following ways: different cultural affiliations, religions, racial identity, and sexual orientation. This paper will specifically look at students who identify as LGBTQ and the issues they face on college campuses. The author will describe different forms of mindfulness-based therapies, and the effectiveness in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) student populations. Finally, the discussion will include the outcomes of using these therapeutic techniques and interventions as well as the next steps to consider for clinical mental …

Relapse Prevention Planning With Clients, Grace E. Larsen

Counselor Education Capstones

Addiction is a common disease; about 21 million Americans have at least one addiction (Addiction Statistics, 2021). However, only about ten percent of Americans with an addiction receive treatment. Treatment comes in many forms including medication, therapy, coping skills, support systems, and other interventions. This paper emphasizes the importance of relapse prevention and the benefits it can provide in addition to treatment. Relapse prevention is based on a cognitive-behavioral approach to therapy and while it is considered to be a form of tertiary prevention, this paper argues that relapse prevention should be seen as a method of primary prevention. Several …

Adolescent Substance Use Identification And Early Interventions: A Guide For School Counseling Professionals, Olivia Gullickson

Counselor Education Capstones

The purpose for this proposed literature review is to assess a variety of different substance use intervention programs and their effectiveness within a school setting. Based on current research provided by the Monitoring the Future Survey (2019), adolescent substance use continues to be on the rise and school-based substance use programs that are currently being utilized are ineffective to students exhibiting substance use and meeting their needs. This literature review also explores the use of parental monitoring interventions to support adolescent substance use in conjunction to school-based prevention programs. Findings from the proposed literature is intended to assist K-12 school …

Racial Inequity And The Achievement Gap, Ari Mwatela

Counselor Education Capstones

Disparities in the achievement between African American students, and their white peers are perspicuous through the exploration of the American educational paradigm; as it has remained unchanged through the decades, despite existing evidence of its need to evolve due to the dynamic American social zeitgeist. Current scholarly research seeks to illuminate the intersection of societal and systemic factors, as causes of the academic underachievement of African American students. It is worthwhile for stakeholders to consider this approach, as it is deemed to provide a more comprehensive statement, on how to intervene or accommodate students who fall within multiple marginalized groups. …

Intergenerational Trauma, Ruqia Abdirahman

Counselor Education Capstones

The following literature review will explore cumulative research on intergenerational trauma. Although, many communities have encountered massive traumas the research has mainly focused on Canadians First Nations people and Holocaust survivors. The effects of trauma can be multifaceted, impacting an individual’s psychological and emotional well-being across generations. Furthermore, this paper will discuss the impact of intergenerational trauma among various communities, ways trauma transmission occurs, and review of the Intergenerational Trauma Treatment Model.