How Do Expert Forensic Evaluators Do It? A Qualitative Study Exploring Forensic Evaluators’ Lived Experiences Conducting Psychosexual Evaluations Of Sex Offenders With Suspected Autism,
2024
Duquesne University
How Do Expert Forensic Evaluators Do It? A Qualitative Study Exploring Forensic Evaluators’ Lived Experiences Conducting Psychosexual Evaluations Of Sex Offenders With Suspected Autism, Jessica K. Gazzola
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This qualitative inquiry utilized semi-structured interviews with eight expert forensic evaluators to explore their lived experiences engaging in psychosexual evaluations of sex offenders with a suspected diagnosis of autism. The purpose of this study was to identify current best practices, principles, and challenges faced by forensic evaluators when assessing sex offenders with a suspected diagnosis of autism. The results provide a variety of autism-specific screening tools and assessments used by forensic evaluators in their psychosexual evaluation process. Four emergent themes were developed using a descriptive phenomenological approach and social constructivist framework. These themes encompass forensic evaluators’ role in conducting psychosexual …
Wounded And Healing: Licensed Counselors’ Experience With Personal Suicide Loss And The Impact On Clinical Practice, Supervision, And Self-Disclosure,
2024
Duquesne University
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 …
Learning To Be An Autistic Therapist: Personal Steps Towards An Autism-Affirming Psychotherapy,
2024
Queer Confluence
Learning To Be An Autistic Therapist: Personal Steps Towards An Autism-Affirming Psychotherapy, Sasha D. Strong
Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture
How can Autistic therapists understand and support themselves, and how can this help them support their clients? In this paper, I recount my personal journey of healing and growth as an Autistic psychotherapist, 16 months after self-identification. Here is an overview of conceptual frameworks from #actuallyautistic authors, critical theory, queer theory, and social justice that I have found helpful. I also share some of the therapeutic and wellness approaches that have been important to me, including mindfulness and bodyfulness. Organic knowing has been pivotal for me in discerning between masking and aliveness, and regaining a choice around masking behaviors. This …
Reaching College Readiness: Barriers And Effective Interventions For Parents And Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status,
2024
Winona State University
Reaching College Readiness: Barriers And Effective Interventions For Parents And Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Kailee Johnson
Counselor Education Capstones
Navigating the college application process can be a stressful time for students and their parents. The college application process can become an even more difficult time for students and parents from low-socioeconomic status (SES), as many colleges and universities often reflect the norms of middle to high incomes. This literature reviews research study findings that many parents and students from low SES experience in regard to their child’s future college education. Common barriers that are experienced by families from low SES regarding college are negative parental attitudes, a student’s lack of knowledge about the college process, and the financial burden …
The Importance Of Adopting A Neurodiversity Affirming Approach: A Training For School Counselors,
2024
Minnesota State University Moorhead
The Importance Of Adopting A Neurodiversity Affirming Approach: A Training For School Counselors, Emily Bauer
Dissertations, Theses, and Projects
Consisting of a literature review and a training presentation, this project investigates the concerning mental health crisis affecting the autistic community and educates school counselors on how to shift to a neurodiversity-affirming approach to better support student needs. Research shows that autistic individuals subjected to applied behavioral analysis (ABA), social skills training (SST), and other behaviorist treatments experience significantly poorer mental and physical health outcomes as well as lower quality of life, indicating a critical need for change (Aral et al, 2023; Cassidy et al, 2020; Stewart et al, 2023). Supported by modern research, a neurodiversity-affirming approach is a better …
Investigating Effective Treatments Of Ocd And Related Disorders In Women,
2024
Winona State University
Investigating Effective Treatments Of Ocd And Related Disorders In Women, Madeline L. Mccarthy
Counselor Education Capstones
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an under-researched mental health disorder, and many studies predominantly include male participants. Therefore, many existing treatments are based on the symptoms and results of male participants. Of the studies targeting women with OCD, much of the reliable research regards pregnancy, hormones, or phases of the menstrual cycle. While these studies have shown connections between OCD symptoms and hormones, particularly regarding pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, there is a lack of general research on effective OCD treatments for women. Additionally, many of the treatment options and medications included in these studies are those discovered through studies with …
Exploring The Complexities Of Suicide Loss: Evaluating Bereavement Experiences, Survivor Needs, And Implications For Counselors,
2024
Winona State University
Exploring The Complexities Of Suicide Loss: Evaluating Bereavement Experiences, Survivor Needs, And Implications For Counselors, Kristen O. Piringer, Kristen O. Piringer
Counselor Education Capstones
Suicide exposure is common and affects a plethora of people including family members, friends, and coworkers. Suicide bereavement is intricate and involves a variety of symptoms that are not common with all types of grief including: shame, guilt, isolation, rejection, trauma, and suicidal ideation. The complexities of suicide bereavement may lead to the development or exacerbation of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The grieving period is often extended for years. Suicide bereavement is frequently complicated by stigma and changes in relationships due to insensitivity or avoidance. Suicide survivors express the need for recognition …
Trauma-Informed Care Within Neurodivergent Populations,
2024
Winona State University
Trauma-Informed Care Within Neurodivergent Populations, Adrianna Black
Counselor Education Capstones
The recognition and understanding of what is commonly viewed as neurodivergent diagnoses have broadened significantly in recent years. However, the process of diagnosing individuals who may be considered both neurodivergent and have experienced a traumatic event has presented issues for people in the neurodivergent community. Applying trauma-informed care approaches in counseling will highlight the importance of considering how traumas influence clients’ past and current behaviors and their impact on access to services and meeting milestones within developmental stages. This paper will explore the minimal research on and the need for more research to be done on trauma-informed interventions used with …
Horticulture Interventions Impact On Eating Disorder Symptoms,
2024
Winona State University
Horticulture Interventions Impact On Eating Disorder Symptoms, Taylor Kline
Counselor Education Capstones
Nature-based counseling offers a wide variety of options that counselors could incorporate into their session as a complementary form of counseling paired with another theory. Specifically, horticulture interventions have been found to increase clients’ self-efficacy and self-esteem, as well as reduce anxiety, which are all common symptoms of eating disorders. With the lack of research on horticulture interventions and the idea of utilizing them within the treatment of eating disorders, the contents of this paper aim to point out the variety of benefits of said interventions on common symptoms that are often related to eating disorders. Future research should focus …
Space And Context: Exploration Of Information Experience And Document Experience,
2024
Emporia State University
Space And Context: Exploration Of Information Experience And Document Experience, Carrie A. Boettcher
Proceedings from the Document Academy
This paper explores documents that are recorded and cataloged, but the original is a one-of-a-kind phenomenon that only exists once. It ponders where information ends, and document begins and the concepts of space and context that contribute to the shape or structure of the document. Specifically, the confidential counseling session, only experienced by the individuals present during the session, repeated but not duplicated, and how information and documents contribute to understanding of the counseling session.
Adolescent Dieting And Eating Disorders: Considerations For Counselors,
2024
Winona State University
Adolescent Dieting And Eating Disorders: Considerations For Counselors, Josephine Sticha
Counselor Education Capstones
A crucial time for an individual’s development is during adolescence. During this developmental stage, the media, social influences, and cultural pressures contribute to a teenager’s body dissatisfaction and disordered eating habits. Nearly 22% of adolescents engage in unhealthy weight-loss behaviors such as skipping meals, fad diets, excessive exercise, and dangerous purging practices due to experiencing weight and body dissatisfaction (Whyte & Findlay, 2004). Other factors such as low self-esteem, peer pressure, and the desire for increased social status have been known to exacerbate these behaviors. Dieting practices intensify these risks and increase the likelihood of developing nutritional deficiencies and eating …
Supporting Lgbtq+ Students In Rural Schools: Strategies For School Counselors To Enhance Protective Factors,
2024
Winona State University
Supporting Lgbtq+ Students In Rural Schools: Strategies For School Counselors To Enhance Protective Factors, Madison J. Nelson
Counselor Education Capstones
This capstone project explores the research-supported protective measures for LGBTQ+ students in schools, such as Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), LGBTQ+-specific anti-bullying policies, and proactive teacher intervention. It also addresses the unique challenges LGBTQ+ students face in rural schools, where social stigma, discrimination, and resistance to LGBTQ+ initiatives are more prevalent (Dahl et al., 2015). The project examines how these rural environments can reduce the effectiveness of protective factors commonly used in other settings. It further presents strategies specifically for school counselors to enhance the implementation and success of these protective factors in rural schools. Through a focus on counselor advocacy, policy …
Barriers To Help-Seeking Behaviors And Interventions For Adolescents With Co-Occurring Disorders,
2024
Winona State University
Barriers To Help-Seeking Behaviors And Interventions For Adolescents With Co-Occurring Disorders, Hannah A. Fisher
Counselor Education Capstones
Adolescent mental health problems have become an extremely prevalent topic for discussion since the coronavirus pandemic. Adolescents experience five major barriers to obtaining mental health professional services including stigma, access to services, mental health professional mistrust, adolescent lack of mental health knowledge, and lack of support. These barriers create obstacles for adolescents seeking proper, affordable, high-quality, and culturally specific mental health care for their mental health needs. There are many different approaches to take to combat the identified barriers. Four different types of approaches are important to consider including what youth can do, what the family of the youth can …
The Use Of Art Therapy On Children With Life-Limiting Conditions,
2024
Winona State University
The Use Of Art Therapy On Children With Life-Limiting Conditions, Karissa K. Schillinger
Counselor Education Capstones
Art therapy is a growing therapeutic technique that is noninvasive. The present literature review sets out to determine what effect art therapy has on children with life-limiting conditions. This author completed a literature review that involved analyzing ten research studies on a variety of youth populations. Studies were found about children with cancer, a child with cerebral palsy and a child with a severe neurological disorder. Zero incidences of harm were found when using art therapy. However, the literature was complicated by the type of art therapy provided, small sample sizes, varying duration of treatment, lack of control groups, lack …
Mindfulness In Helping Professions: A Systematic Review Of Interventions And Research Gaps,
2024
Portland State University
Mindfulness In Helping Professions: A Systematic Review Of Interventions And Research Gaps, Yi-Wen Su, Ye Luo
Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations
Mindfulness interventions yield significant benefits such as stress reduction, increased empathy and compassion, and enhanced self-efficacy among counselors. These outcomes are particularly valuable for helping professionals. This systematic review examines mindfulness interventions within mental health professional development programs, evaluating their effectiveness, assessing outcomes, and analyzing the mindfulness measures used. A comprehensive search across three databases identified 19 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings demonstrate that diverse formats of mindfulness interventions effectively enhance mindfulness levels, reduce stress, foster self-compassion, and improve mental health outcomes among counselors and trainees. The review underscores the necessity for future studies to report practical significance to …
Preventing Burnout In Mental Health Counseling Students: A Shared Responsibility,
2024
The Family Institute at Northwestern University
Preventing Burnout In Mental Health Counseling Students: A Shared Responsibility, Andrea Devooght, Anita A. Neuer Colburn
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Burnout is an ongoing concern for counseling professionals across the career span. Master’s students studying to enter the field are vulnerable to burnout due to multiple factors, including the numerous challenges associated with graduate school and the dearth of experience coping with the pressures of clinical work. The onus of self-care is often placed solely on students, yet the training process allows opportunity for shared responsibility among leaders who encounter counselors in training. Considering the roles of counselor educators, faculty, and administrators; counselor supervisors and workplace leaders; and master’s-level students themselves, the authors apply the 5 P Communitarian Model for …
The Relationship Between International Counseling Students' Needs And Acculturative Stress,
2024
The University of Texas at San Antonio
The Relationship Between International Counseling Students' Needs And Acculturative Stress, Malvika Behl, John Laux
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
The number of international students enrolled in the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited programs has increased by 214 percent since 2015. This study focused on understanding the relationship between acculturative stress and needs among international students enrolled in CACREP-accredited programs. The students in this sample reported low acculturative stress, low financial and cultural needs, average Language and Social needs, and moderate Academic needs. Students' academic, social, cultural, and language needs were positively correlated with their acculturative stress. Acculturative stress and needs did not differ across the length of time students lived in the United …
Is Warmer Better? Examining Counseling Student Responses To Syllabus Tone,
2024
Montclair State University
Is Warmer Better? Examining Counseling Student Responses To Syllabus Tone, Angela I. Sheely-Moore, Leeann Cardaciotto, Krista Malott, Megan Krell, Carlos A. Flores
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Researchers in this quantitative study explored the impact of syllabus tone on master-level counseling students (N = 124). Findings indicate statistically significant differences between students’ reactions to syllabi language, with greater student retention of the content within the warm syllabus condition and more favorable perceptions of the instructor and their grading practices. Implications for counselor educators are included.
Use Of A Relational Cultural Framework Of Supervision And Its Influence On Practicum Student Self-Efficacy,
2024
University of Central Florida
Use Of A Relational Cultural Framework Of Supervision And Its Influence On Practicum Student Self-Efficacy, Sabrina Butler, Jessica Yanson, Vicki Kelchner
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Supervision is one of the foundations of counselor development within counselor training programs and post-education licensure and certification processes. While educators have created many theories to address the supervision needs of counselors in training (CITs), relatively few address relational development and its impact on CITs’ self-efficacy. The researchers sought to address this gap by exploring Relational Cultural Supervision with practicum-level CITs. The researchers conducted a qualitative investigation utilizing a case study to examine the impact of Relational Cultural Supervision on practicum-level CIT reports of self-efficacy in a large CACREP-accredited university in the Southeastern United States. Results indicate that Relational Cultural …
Across The Curriculum: Teaching Lgbtq+ Competencies In Counselor Education,
2024
Ohio University
Across The Curriculum: Teaching Lgbtq+ Competencies In Counselor Education, Adriana Euser, Kristin R. Chamberlain
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
In the U.S., the number of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual/gender minority identity (LGBTQ+) is increasing. LGBTQ+ individuals utilize counseling services twice as much as individuals in the general population. They are at a higher risk of experiencing depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and relationship issues. This population also faces discrimination and marginalization due to the stigma of their gender identity and sexual orientation. Thus, there is a high likelihood that counselors will provide counseling services to LGBTQ+ clients during their careers. Unfortunately, many masters-level counselor education programs do not provide sufficient …
