Counselor Education Commons^™

Supervising School Counselors Through Student Suicide, Alexander T. Becnel, Joseph W. Pistorius

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of 11 school counselor supervisors whose supervisees were exposed to student suicide. We found five themes: prioritizing emotional support, suicide self-efficacy, supervisors’ reaction to suicide, identifying systemic issues in schools, and school counseling professional identity issues. Implications for counselor educators and supervisors are discussed.

Our Teens Are Not Okay, But They Can Be: An Application Of The Family Firo Method To Improve Parent-Adolescent Communication About Suicide, Janene Pack Lpc, Cmhc, Peder Schillemat

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

This article explores the critical role of parent-teen communication in the mental well-being of teenagers, with a particular focus on its connection to suicide risk. A particular focus is on teens who live in Utah as the suicide rate for Utah teens and young adults is almost twice the national average. Despite the focus on families and religion in Utah, a significant number of teens continue to struggle with loneliness, hopelessness, and even thoughts of suicide. One key contributing factor to this struggle is the lack of open, supportive communication between Utah teens and their parents. The absence of effective …

Burnout And Self-Efficacy: Exploring The Rewards And Challenges Faced By Crisis Counselors Working In Emergency Department Settings, Ellen Dotas

Dissertations, 2020-current

This dissertation explores burnout and self-efficacy in counselors who work with clients in crisis in emergency department settings. Mental health and emergency departments are two areas that tend to report higher levels of burnout than are reported in other occupational fields. While much research has been done on the topics of burnout and self-efficacy, limited information is available about counselors who work in these crisis roles. This dissertation follows a three-manuscript format and includes a conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative manuscript. The conceptual manuscript explores the nature of the crisis assessment itself, focusing on the area of risk assessment. The qualitative …

Inclusion Of Suicide Education And Prevention In Counselor Education, Karlesia T. Montague, Susan Furr

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Suicide is a frequent crisis that counselors encounter in the field. Despite this concern, several studies over the last two decades indicate inadequate preparation in training programs. This article includes a discussion on possible ways to integrate suicide education throughout the curriculum using the CACREP core areas.

Wounded And Healing: Licensed Counselors’ Experience With Personal Suicide Loss And The Impact On Clinical Practice, Supervision, And Self-Disclosure, Shannon Strohl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to explore the lived experiences of licensed counselors who experienced personal suicide loss and the impact of their loss on their professional lives. Of particular interest was the impact of the loss on countertransference, professional direction and choices, and self-disclosure with clients and other professionals in the field (e.g., supervisors, professors, and colleagues). The concept of the wounded healer, as described by Zerubavel and Wright (2012), served as the theoretical framework used to understand the participants’ stories. Previous studies have examined the wounded healer among psychologists; however, few studies explored the experience of licensed counselors as wounded …

Understanding The Supervision Of Counselors In A Grief Process Who Have Experienced A Client’S Death By Suicide., Sean Abaray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the grief experiences of counselors in supervision who have experienced a client's death by suicide. Given that this phenomenological study aimed to explore a new phenomenon of study, the researcher utilized van Manen’s lived existentials as a process for data analysis. The first chapter of the dissertation introduces the problem and includes the research question. The question is: “How do counselors who have experienced a client's death by suicide experience supervision as they work to deal with the loss?" Following this chapter, the researcher reviews relevant literature selections. During the methodology chapter, the researcher describes …

Preparing School Counselors For Culturally Informed Suicide Response, Emily C. Brown, Mary Edwin, Lucy Purgason

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

The purpose of this article is to provide school counselor educators with strategies to effectively prepare school counselors to implement culturally responsive suicide intervention in their roles as educator-counselors. Informed by two theoretical models, The Attitudinal Components of Professional Development (Evans, 2002) and the Cultural Model of Suicide (Chu et al., 2010), the authors share strategies for building self-awareness, teaching about culturally responsive practices, using case studies, and delivering course-specific instruction in multiple classes: ethics, assessment, lifespan development, foundations of school counseling, and clinical courses. The provided strategies help school counselor educators promote reflection, increase knowledge, and enhance skill development …

Building Competence: Trainee Counselors’ Supervision Journey With Self-Injury And Suicidality, Rachel Jacoby, Karen M. Roller, Latoya Smith, Shreya Vaishnav, Tasmeer Ali

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This grounded theory study examines the supervision needs of counselors-in-training (CITs) addressing clients with non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideations. The qualitative research question focused on counselor-in-training perception of their counseling program and practicum supervision preparation. Four key themes emerge: Supervision Facilitation, Secure Base Provision, Clinical Identity Development, and Sufficient Preparation. CITs express readiness concerns and a need for enhanced support in supervision for NSSI and SI. CITs also clarify logistical and emotional support that addresses their needs to serve NSSI and SI clients effectively.

Barriers To Help-Seeking Behavior For Individuals With Suicidal Ideations & Previous Suicide Attempts, Rachael M. Vlasak

Counselor Education Capstones

Suicide is a mental health crisis around the world with many individuals struggling with suicidal ideations and a history of previous attempts. Sometimes these individuals struggle with seeking help for their suicidal ideations and previous attempts in the form of seeking out support from family and friends or seeking out outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment. Research has uncovered that some of the major barriers that can impact help-seeking behavior among these individuals were internal personal stigma, external public stigma, socioeconomic factors, lack of resources, cultural factors, negative attitudes, and suicide literacy. These barriers have greatly impacted whether individuals have …

Human Service Student's Preparedness For Assessing Suicidality: Recommendations For Human Services Education, Narketta Sparkman-Key, Jeffrey Moe, Bianca Augustine, T'Airra Belcher

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Suicide continues to be a public health concern, with suicide rates increasing. Human service professionals are among the helping professions tasked with assessing and addressing suicidality. Despite the well-documented benefits of suicide assessment and training for those within the helping professions, there remains a dearth of literature specific to suicide prevention in the preparation of human services students. To address this gap, the current study used the SIRI-2 to assess the preparedness of human services students (n = 98) to assess and address client suicidality. Findings indicated that participants’ responses were less competent than area experts. Furthermore, student participants’ responses …

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 …

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, …

Counseling Students’ Experiences Learning How To Assess Youth Suicide Risk, Laura L. Gallo, Raissa Miller, Diana M. Doumas, Aida Midgett, Sherise Porchia

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Suicide rates continue to rise in the United States, especially within our youth population. Preparing counselors to confidently address suicide risk with their clients is crucial in suicide prevention. The authors conducted a phenomenological investigation of a youth suicide prevention course with 10 counseling students. The course included both a didactic component and an experiential component. We extracted four themes suggesting students believe a) suicide assessment is integral to the counselor role b) suicide is a complex phenomenon; c) the course enhanced self-efficacy; and d) interactive activities supported learning. Implications focusing on the importance of building self-efficacy in risk assessments, …

Readiness Of Counselor Education And Supervision For Suicide Training: A Cqr Study, Jenny L. Cureton, Elysia V. Clemens, Janessa Henninger, Connie Couch

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The Counselor Education and Supervision professional community is responsible for providing training on suicide to Master’s students in counseling. Elevated suicide rates and historically insufficient training along with updated practice, ethical, and accreditation standards necessitate changes to counselor preparation on suicide. Readiness assessment can support the CES community’s aims to meet such standards. A Consensual Qualitative Research team utilized a community readiness framework to analyze interviews with fifteen educators, administrators, and supervisors in diverse CACREP-accredited programs. Readiness findings inform counselor preparation and policy at the course, program, state, and national level.

Best Practices In Suicide Pedagogy: A Quantitative Content Analysis, Erin Binkley, Gregory Elliott

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

The authors used a quantitative content analysis methodology to explore the available literature on pedagogical practices for teaching counselors how to work with suicidal clients. From an initial pool of 71 potentially applicable articles found in Counseling, Psychiatry, general mental health, Psychology, and Social Work journals, 26 articles were found to meet inclusion criteria by specifically exploring the impact or efficacy of different pedagogical practices relevant to suicide response in counselor training. These 26 articles were coded using quantitative content analysis procedures. Results indicated that more research is necessary to determine best practices for teaching suicide response to counselors in …

Counseling Needs Of First Responders, Donna V. Garber

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Abstract

This paper examines the counseling and psychological needs of first responders, as a special population with special needs. It also proposes how counselors can address these needs. Included is a review of relevant literature and concludes with strategies counselors could implement to respond effectively to direct and vicarious trauma experienced by first responders. There is also information related to pre-incident and post-incident care and addresses issues that impact this population’s response to care, ability to seek care, and the overall understanding of what mental health care really means to this group.

Midlife Suicide: Examination Through An Ecological And Interpersonal Lens, Jayna Bonfini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide has increased over the past decade among midlife adults in the United States. It is the fourth leading cause of death among persons aged 35–54 years and the eighth leading cause of death among persons aged 55–64 years. The primary purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to examine, describe, and understand the lived experiences of midlife adults who have contemplated suicide and who have sought assistance and support from their peers via an online forum for those with an interest in and/or history of suicidality. Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) bioecological model, Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal theory of suicide, and van Manen’s …

They Don't Know I Want To Die: Can Parents Predict Child Suicidality?, Jamie Matson

Counselor Education Capstones

No abstract provided.

Suicide, Associated Factors, And Treatment Recommendations For Youth Who Identify As Lgtbq, Natalie Jech

Counselor Education Capstones

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of A Youth Suicide Prevention Course: Increasing Counseling Students’ Knowledge, Skills, And Self-Efficacy, Laura L. Gallo, Diana M. Doumas, Regina Moro, Aida Midgett, Sherise Porchia

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Adolescent suicide rates continue to rise within the United States. This study evaluated a Youth Suicide Prevention course in a Master’s in Counseling Program. Participants reported increases in knowledge and perceived ability to help suicidal clients post-training and in suicide prevention skills and suicide assessment and intervention self-efficacy at the 3-month follow-up. Implications for counselor education programs, such as using both experiential and didactic teaching methods, as well as timing suicide training before practicum, are discussed.

The Development Of Self-Efficacy To Work With Suicidal Clients, Gregory M. Elliott, Richard W. Audsley, Lisa Runck, Ashley A. Pechek, Adriana De Raet, Angelica Valdez, Brandon J. Wilde

The Qualitative Report

Suicide is a public health crisis which counselors must be prepared to address. In this grounded theory study, the researchers advance a model to show how counselors develop self-efficacy to work with suicidal clients. Counselor educators may use this model to improve programmatic training and supervision of students.

Qualitative Analogue Study On Student Therapist’S Reactions To Client Suicidality, Cynthia A. Beevers

Dissertations

Suicidal clients are a reality for both professional and student therapists providing counseling (Chemtob et al., 1988; Dexter-Mazza & Freeman, 2003; Goodman, 1995; Howard, 2000; Jacobson, Ting, Sanders, & Harrington, 2004; Kleespies, Penk, & Forsyth, 1993; Kleespies, Smith, & Becker, 1990; Mackelprang, Karle, & Cash, 2014; McAdams & Foster, 2000). Previous research has investigated the experiences of professional therapists working with suicidal clients, but little is known about student therapists’ experiences with suicidal clients. Only two studies were found investigating the experiences of student therapists working with suicidal clients (Kleespies et al., 1993; Kleespies et al., 1990). However, in the …

Social Work Trauma Interventions: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Kassie Baumann

Senior Honors Theses

According to Lynne Weilart (2013), in her article on the reasons why people seek out therapy, trauma is the number one reason people attend counseling. Many different trauma-informed approaches are designed specifically to address the consequences of trauma and to facilitate healing. Some of these approaches are as follows: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT);Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT); Trauma Systems Therapy (TST); Trauma Assessment Pathway (TAP); and Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) (de Arellano, Danielson, Ko, & Sprauge, 2008). The effectiveness of each trauma intervention will be examined. DBT is one of these trauma interventions that is growing …

Teaching Msw Students Suicide Assessment, Intervention, And Postvention In Rural Areas, Aisling Del Quest, Randall Nedegaard

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This teaching note argues the need for enhanced suicide assessment and intervention training for MSW students preparing for rural social work practice. A detailed outline of a suicide elective course is presented, addressing rural specific challenges. After course completion, students (N = 49) reported feeling better prepared to work with suicidal clients and better able to conduct an accurate assessment and suggest appropriate interventions.