Psychology Commons^™

Transformative Supervision: Advancing Social Justice And Critical Consciousness In Clinical Training, Khadeja Najjar, Seongwon Lee, Ananya Sharma, Maleyah Zataray

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This roundtable will explore clinical supervision as a space for growth and social justice advocacy. Facilitated by four women of color doctoral interns, we will discuss personal experiences in diverse supervisory relationships. Attendees will reflect on how supervisors can create environments that foster critical consciousness and challenge systemic oppression.

Dbg Detroit’S Approach To Meaningful Youth Assessment, Amanda Case, Keenan Cain, Garrett Simmons Jr, Messiah Bethel, Jamarion Berry, Skylar Burkhardt, Mikaela Westrick

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

In this four-paper symposium, high school youth researchers from DBG Detroit, a comprehensive youth enrichment program in Detroit, will share the organization’s culturally- and contextually- relevant evaluation processes and outcomes with particular attention to how DBG designed and continues to refine their assessment efforts to support youth outcomes.

Understanding The Social Emotional Needs Of Returning Citizens: Mixed Methods Study Informing Group Therapy Intervention, Tresi Ingram- Jolley, Shannon Chavez-Korell, Jessica Taylor

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

The purpose of this study was to identify and understand the social-emotional needs of Returning Citizens as they transition back into community post-incarceration. This research will be used to inform a group therapy design and intervention tailored to the unique needs of Returning Citizens.

Expanding And Revising The Lesbian Gay And Bisexual Identity Scale For Lgbtq+ Youth, Jesse Chen Ma, Sarah Hibner-Kiperman

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This poster proposes to expand and revise the lesbian, gay, and bisexual identity scale (LGBIS), a 27-item scale designed to assess sexual identity, by developing a scale normed on LGBTQ+ youth (LGBTQIS). It will present the exploratory and confirmatory analyses and explore how to incorporate this scale for future research.

Expanding Realities: Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy For Trauma And Beyond, Mackenzie Jenuwine M.A., Madeleine Reardon M.A.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This symposium explores Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy (ARET) for the treatment of trauma and stressor-related disorders. We define ARET and discuss the unique ability to target the social deficits of trauma, providing an example of a population in which social isolation can increase the risk of suicide.

The Role Of Shame And Underreporting In The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Ptsd Symptoms In Indo-Caribbean Women, Ashley C. Velez, Casey L. Hinger

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study aims to test a path analysis model that explores the mediating role of shame and symptom underreporting in the relationship between intimate partner violence and PTSD symptoms with a sample of Indo-Caribbean women.

Identifying And Understanding Post-Incarceration Trauma, Leena Ammari, Elaria Hissy, Tresi Ingram-Jolley M.A., Jessica Taylor, Shannon Chavez-Korell Ph.D.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study examines the impact of long-term incarceration (10+ years in prison) on the mental health of Returning Citizens. This is a grant funded pilot study. Research participants included 30 Returning Citizens. This study utilizes a mixed-methods design. All data have been collected. Final data analyses are currently being conducted.

Transgender & Gender-Expansive Therapy Participants: A Roundtable Discussion, Gabriel Delong, Logan Harding

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This roundtable is an open, honest, and affirming space for mental health professionals to discuss the current challenges faced by the transgender and gender-expansive community. Using cultural humility, participants will have the opportunity to ask challenging questions, discover new outlooks, and hopefully feel empowered to advocate for the community.

Critical Consciousness, Community, And Systemic Change: Uplifting The Mental Health And Resilience Factors Of Black Trans Women, Matthew J. Kasopsky Ma, Ncc, Imani S. Linton M.Ed, Sharon L. Bowman Ph.D., Hspp, Abpp, Lmhc

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Black trans women face systemic barriers to mental health care, often ignored by traditional counseling models. This roundtable explores developing critical consciousness in psychology, supporting community resilience, and advocating for systemic change. Discussion centers on affirming, trauma-informed care that depathologizes experiences and fosters joy, strength, and self-determination.

Emotion Regulation, Stress, And Negative And Positive Affect In Minority Populations, Laura Torio, Khadeja Najjar, Ilya Yaroslavsky

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This study examines perceived stress (PS), emotion regulation (ER), and emotional outcomes in a diverse sample (N=282). Results show PS correlates with negative (NA) and positive affect (PA), with adaptive emotion regulation (AMR) linked to PA and maladaptive regulation (MMR) linked to NA. Culture predicted MMR, highlighting the importance of cultural considerations in interventions.

Guidelines For Engaging In Social Justice In Clinical Settings, Liza Cohen, Sydney Majka

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

The need for resources regarding social justice in counseling professions is imperative, but clinicians report that they face barriers to engaging in advocacy (Brown et al., 2020). The following narrative review will present recommendations for practitioners that are grounded in intersectional feminist and liberation psychology frameworks (Moane, 2013).

Promoting Student-Led Advocacy Initiatives In Graduate Programs: A Narrative Review Of The Literature, Nawar Albarak

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Student-led advocacy is essential for driving change, minimizing oppression, and fostering leadership and critical-thinking skills that strengthen socially conscious professionals. This narrative review examines institutional support, intersectionality, and inclusive practices, proposing strategies to overcome barriers, empower diverse voices, and reinforce an ongoing commitment to equitable progress in higher education contexts.

The Impact Of Parental Involvement On Therapy Outcomes For Children With Anxiety: A Systematic Review, Jade E. Carriero B.A.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Childhood anxiety impacts 6.5% of children globally, often persisting without intervention. This review examines the role of parental involvement in therapy outcomes for children with anxiety aged 5-18. Key themes include CBT’s prominence, standardized tools, enhanced outcomes, and varied parental approaches. Findings highlight the need for individualized, culturally responsive strategies.

Beyond Diversity Checkboxes: Creating A Culturally Inclusive Learning Environment, Alex Whitman, Andrea Bugariu

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This poster examines how counseling psychology doctoral programs can transcend traditional diversity efforts, promoting liberation through abolitionist practices. Drawing on a narrative literature review, it addresses barriers like financial inaccessibility and the experiences of minority trainees while proposing strategies to create culturally inclusive learning environments grounded in equity and justice.

Lgbtq+ Youth’S Experiences Of Minority Stress: A Survey, Liz Ballinger B.A., Jesse Chen M.A., Caitlin Johnson M.A., Sarah Kiperman Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This poster will cover a proposed study on LGBTQ+ youths' experiences of minority stress in the current day and context. We used the minority stress theory to evaluate the relationship of stressors to outcomes, and how protective factors moderate the relationship.

Understanding The Unique Experiences Contributing To Outcome Disparities For Black Foster Care Alumni: A Systematic Review, Lilian Hicks

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

This systematic review explores outcome disparities among Black foster care alumni in the U.S. across five domains: biopsychosocial, education, employment, housing, and justice involvement. Contributing factors include placement instability and resource inequities. Findings highlight the need for culturally informed, equity-focused interventions and further research centered on Black foster alumni’s lived experiences.

Years Of Mindfulness Practice And Intervention Impacts, Anderson Boatman, Ellary Darling, Mark St. Martin, Zeljka Vidic

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Does prior mindfulness experience influence outcomes in online interventions? This study examined years of mindfulness practice as a predictor of changes in stress, resilience, mindful attention, and mindfulness among 87 participants. Findings explore the potential importance of tailoring interventions to varying experience levels to promote mental health and well-being.

Lgbtq+ Trauma And Dissociation: An Integrative Review, Laci Johnson M.S.Ed.

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

LGBTQ+ individuals have a heightened risk for experiencing trauma and dissociative symptoms. Current research focuses on trauma in LGBTQ+ populations, or dissociation in the general population, but not dissociation and trauma in LGBTQ+ populations. The purpose of this review is to synthesize literature regarding LGBTQ+ trauma and dissociation.

Eating Disorder Etiology In Lgbtq+ Individuals, Nina Michon Ma, Sarah Kiperman Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

LGBTQ+ individuals experience disproportionate rates of eating disorders. This systematic review examines protective and risk factors associated with eating disorders in LGBTQ+ adults. Findings from 29 studies highlight body image concerns as a key predictor, emphasizing the need for culturally specific interventions emphasizing community, self-compassion, and positive relationship quality.

Lunch Hour, Lunch Time

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Lunch Time!

Ce Eligible Workshop: Implicit Bias Training, Janeé M. Steele Phd, Charmeka M. Newton Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Dr. Steele and Newton's talk is one of two pre-conference CE workshops for the Great Lakes Conference. Please note that the CE workshops require a separate registration process that can found by visiting the main conference webpage.

Ce Eligible Workshop: New Thinking In Ethical Decision-Making, Mark Leach Phd

Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference

Dr. Leach's talk is one of two pre-conference CE workshops for the Great Lakes Conference. Please note that the CE workshops require a separate registration process that can found by visiting the main conference webpage.

The Immune System Under Pressure: Understanding The Impact Of Stress On Immune Function And Health, Kaeshwinie Murugan

Honors Theses

Stress has a profound impact on the immune health of college students, exacerbated by challenges such as academic pressures, sleep deprivation, and inadequate coping strategies. This study investigates the relationship between stress and immune function among students at Western Michigan University, utilizing survey data and existing literature to explore mechanisms of stress-induced immune suppression and identify effective interventions. The survey, conducted with 100 participants, revealed that over 70% experienced stress that adversely affected their immune systems, with 60% reporting insufficient sleep and 20% sleeping less than five hours per night.

The survey further highlighted students' reliance on specific coping mechanisms, …

Bridging The Gap: Examining The Discrepancies In Communication Skills Between University Education And Employer Expectations, Valerie Chan

Honors Theses

Effective communication is a critical skill in the workplace, yet a persistent gap exists between the communication abilities of university graduates and the expectations of employers. This study explores the alignment between the communication skills taught in the Western Essential Studies (WES) general education curriculum at Western Michigan University (WMU) and the communication needs identified by employers. By examining four communication types—oral, written, interpersonal, and digital—this research investigates the similarities and differences in how faculty and employers define and emphasize communication skills.

Findings reveal a misalignment between the skills emphasized in university curricula and those prioritized in the workplace. Faculty …

A Single Session Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In A Group Format To Promote Health-Related Behavior Change In Nutrition And Sleep: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Thi Anh Tran

Dissertations

Nutrition and sleep are important health-related behaviors for which only a small percentage of the population meet recommended guidelines. To impact population-health it is important to develop focused, flexible, efficient, and efficacious interventions. This study examined the efficacy of a 60-minute Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in a group presentation format to initiate change in nutrition and sleep related behaviors in college students. Thirty-two collegians (M age = 18.55 [.85], 66% female, 34% Hispanic, 25% white) were randomized to receive ACT focusing on nutrition (n = 18 participants across 4 groups) or sleep (n = 14 participants across 3 …

Counselor Education Doctoral Student Supervisors’ Preparedness To Address Indirect Trauma: Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, And Vicarious Trauma, Dynetta Clark

Dissertations

Hearing the painful stories of clients (indirect trauma) has been described as an occupational hazard for professionals working with trauma survivors and is becoming more common among mental health professionals. This might include counselors struggling with intrusive thoughts and having flashbacks of victimization, counselors viewing the world as an unsafe and unpredictable place, and/or counselors experiencing a loss of ability to empathize with clients. Clinical supervision is documented as an effective strategy to reduce the adverse effects of indirect trauma symptomology. A signature component of most counselor education and supervision doctoral programs is the training and preparation of students to …

Black Women’S Instagram Usage And Body Dissatisfaction, Shirlee Buchanan Moore Jr.

Dissertations

Within U.S. culture, girls and women of all ages are subject to experiencing body dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction often results from direct comparison of one’s body to others, often via media depictions. Viewing these images prompts women of all cultures to engage in social comparison and learn to view themselves through an observer’s perspective. The advent of contemporary social media has increased the accessibility of images of others and, subsequently, social comparison of one’s body to others. Research has noted that women of all racial backgrounds utilize social media and experience varying degrees of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with their bodies. Despite …

Relationship Enhancement With New College Dating Couples: An Examination Of Self-Report And Observational Data, Kyra Katte

Dissertations

The present dissertation project investigated relationship enhancement following a brief self-disclosure task (i.e., the Fast Friends Procedure; FFP) via self-report and observational data. Thirty-three undergraduate couples dating for less than six months asked and answered questions that required increasingly higher levels of self-disclosure for 45 minutes. Interactions were recorded and coded for fondness/admiration, experiential avoidance, interdependence, reciprocity, and relationship satisfaction. Relationship outcomes were assessed pre-FFP, post- FFP, and at a six-month follow-up timepoint. Variables measured via observation demonstrated correlations with and predicted relationship outcomes, though most findings were nonsignificant. Nonsignificant findings may be attributed to the virtual administration of the …

A Comparison Of Training Approaches On Skill Acquisition Among Direct Care Staff At An Adult Day Program, Sandra Wagner

Dissertations

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are often dependent on direct care staff to engage in daily activities, such as personal care, eating, and engaging in leisure activities. One way direct care staff can support adults with IDD to become more independent is by using prompting strategies. Often times, however, direct care staff have not been trained on how to use prompts to encourage independence. Current studies have demonstrated success in teaching direct care staff prompting strategies in personal care tasks (e.g., Engelman et al., 2002; Parsons et al., 1993) through behavioral skills training. Although the trainings produced an …

White Counseling Psychology Doctoral Trainees’ Experiences Broaching Whiteness With White Clients: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study, Zari Koelbel Carpenter

Dissertations

This research builds upon scholarship of critical theorists and critical whiteness studies. The “invisibility” of whiteness has been increasingly acknowledged and attended to in counseling psychology. Further, prominent scholars have continuously urged the field of counseling psychology to acknowledge race as a psychological characteristic of white people (Helms, 2017; Helms & Carter, 1990a). Attention to whiteness is needed, as the majority of the counseling workforce, including doctoral students (55%), identifies as white (American Psychological Association, 2020). As racial identity development can advance the personal and professional development of white counseling psychologists and benefit clients, increased attention is merited for the …