Structural And Intersectional Factors In Full Retirement: Insights For Black Men,
2026
City College of New York
Structural And Intersectional Factors In Full Retirement: Insights For Black Men, Waleed Sami
Adultspan Journal
This interview centers the full retirement experience of Anthony Crawford. This perspective highlights the complex interplay between social determinants, intersectional identity, the psychology of working, and social class/social mobility, as key factors in his lived experiences. The relationship between structural factors and interpersonal factors continues to be a growth edge in counseling, as counselors frequently report lack of knowledge or comfort in their relationship with counseling. This interview seeks to fill the gap and demonstrate a concrete way to develop clinical insights. The full interview is transcribed and provided, along with practical and research implications for counselors working with populations …
Counseling Professionals' Perspectives On Ai Integration In Education And Supervision: A Concept Mapping Study,
2026
Old Dominion University
Counseling Professionals' Perspectives On Ai Integration In Education And Supervision: A Concept Mapping Study, Hank Crofford, Elif Bor, Gülşah Kemer
Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised important questions about how new technologies will shape professional norms and practices in counseling. The purpose of this study was to understand how counseling professionals expect AI to be integrated into counselor education and supervision (CES). Using a mixed‐methods concept mapping design, 31 participants generated and sorted statements about the potential roles, benefits, and concerns associated with AI in the profession. Participants represented diverse counseling roles, including counselor educators, licensed professional counselors, supervisors, master's‐ and doctoral‐level trainees, and other counseling‐related professionals. Standard concept mapping procedures were conducted using R, resulting in …
Asynchronous Lgbtq+ Affirming Counseling Training With Early Career Counselors: A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation,
2026
William & Mary
Asynchronous Lgbtq+ Affirming Counseling Training With Early Career Counselors: A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation, Amber L. Pope, Kelli Hartzell, Matt B. Siroty, Jeff Moe, Noelle St. Germain-Sehr, Bianca R. Augustine, Amanda St. Germain-Sehr, Tai Lexumé
Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications
A growing body of research shows that training in LGBTQ+ affirming counseling (LGBTQ+ AC) positively impacts counselors’ perceived knowledge and skills in providing mental health services to LGBTQ+ communities. Existing program evaluations of LGBTQ+ AC, however, have primarily used synchronous delivery formats and cultural competency models for the training design. This study is part of an action research agenda to develop an introductory training in LGBTQ+ AC, using asynchronous online delivery and cultural humility as the conceptual framework for the training design. We used a fixed convergent parallel mixed methods quasi-experimental design to examine the impact of our LGBTQ+ AC …
Moving Positively: A Review Of Positive Psychology Interventions In Counseling,
2026
The University of Akron
Moving Positively: A Review Of Positive Psychology Interventions In Counseling, Spencer M. Fleming, Ingrid Weigold Ph. D
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
Positive psychology is a relatively new and developing subfield of psychology which examines the machinations and roles of various character strengths and traits such as growth, well-being, meaning, life satisfaction, character strengths, and more. Positive psychology holds various implications for counseling, therapy, individual growth, and self-determination. However, current literature on positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are scattered, nuanced, and lack overall consensus. Thus, encompassing research is necessary to identify common trends, areas for improvement, and a clear direction moving forward. The present review analyzes positive psychology interventions (PPIs) within psychology and counseling. This review examined forty-eight articles, including fifteen meta-analyses, on …
Examining The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Meditation On Posttraumatic Growth Following Interpersonal Trauma: A Randomized Controlled Trial,
2026
Virginia Commonwealth University
Examining The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Meditation On Posttraumatic Growth Following Interpersonal Trauma: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Margaret Poandl
Theses and Dissertations
Research on interventions designed to increase posttraumatic growth (PTG) among interpersonal trauma survivors is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a six-week trauma-informed mindfulness meditation intervention on PTG. Additionally, I examined outcomes of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and loneliness, as well as analyzed the variables of dispositional mindfulness, hope, spirituality, and self-compassion to understand their potential role as mechanisms of change within the intervention on PTG. To answer these research questions, I conducted a randomized controlled trial study with 113 adults from a community sample who reported experiencing interpersonal trauma. Utilizing linear mixed modeling and …
School-Based Mental And Emotional Support For Urban Students Experiencing Traumatic Loss,
2026
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
School-Based Mental And Emotional Support For Urban Students Experiencing Traumatic Loss, Britney Daniel-Harris
West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects
This study explores the perception of educational staff members on school-based mental and emotional resources for urban students experiencing traumatic loss. With increased levels of research centered on enhancing training protocols to educate teachers on identifying, supporting, and guiding traumatic care through evidence-based resources, there is an opportunity to understand their experiences by hearing their voices through a narrative inquiry qualitative research design. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has six principles of a trauma-informed environment, which were utilized to analyze participant stories. Five teachers, one social worker, and one special education leader participated in one-on-one interviews …
The Amanah Project: A Pilot Educational Intervention Addressing Intimate Partner Violence In Muslim Communities In The United States,
2026
University of Central Florida
The Amanah Project: A Pilot Educational Intervention Addressing Intimate Partner Violence In Muslim Communities In The United States, Tamara Makki
Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026
This study is a two-part manuscript dissertation that addresses the need for culturally and faith-based responsive interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV) within the Muslim community in the United States (U.S). The first manuscript is a conceptual and literature-based paper that examines IPV within the Muslim community in the U.S. and explores the intersection of religion, culture, patriarchy, and systemic barriers influencing survivors’ help-seeking experiences. Particular attention is given to issues of accessibility, including the limited availability of culturally and religiously responsive IPV services for Muslim survivors. This manuscript argues for the development of culturally responsive, faith-integrated approaches that improve …
Toward Evidence-Based Disposition Assessment In Counselor Education: Advocating For Established Measures And Evaluating The Psychometric Properties Of The Pdca-Ra,
2026
University of Central Florida
Toward Evidence-Based Disposition Assessment In Counselor Education: Advocating For Established Measures And Evaluating The Psychometric Properties Of The Pdca-Ra, Laura Rendon Finnell
Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026
Professional dispositions are recognized as an essential component of counselor competence and are now explicitly included within accreditation standards. However, questions remain regarding how these characteristics should assessed in ways that are fair, systematic, and supported by empirical evidence. This two-manuscript dissertation focused on professional disposition assessment in counselor education. The first manuscript provides a conceptual examination of professional dispositions, counselor competence, and gatekeeping responsibilities while reviewing established disposition assessment instruments in counselor education. The manuscript advocates for the use of established disposition measures rather than relying solely on locally developed assessment procedures. The second manuscript presents an empirical evaluation …
Counselors' Lived Experiences Of Moral Injury: A Social Ecological Perspective,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
Counselors' Lived Experiences Of Moral Injury: A Social Ecological Perspective, Lisa M. Belknap
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study explores the lived experiences of counselors who encountered moral injury when sociopolitical, institutional, and organizational conditions constrained their ability to practice in alignment with their personal morals, professional values, and the counseling profession’s code of ethics. Participants (N = 15) included licensed counselors who self-identified as having experienced moral injury in response to directives from legitimate authorities that conflicted with professional ethics, social justice commitments, or client welfare. Grounded in social ecological systems theory, this phenomenological study employed a confidential, cross-sectional online survey. Reflexive thematic analysis identified seven themes: (a) Profit Over People, (b) Structural Forces Contributing to …
Beyond The Diagnosis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Men Living With Hiv,
2026
Antioch University
Beyond The Diagnosis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Men Living With Hiv, David R. Romanelli
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of men (18+ years old) living with HIV to better understand how they navigate identity, mental health, relationships, and healthcare systems after diagnosis. The method included a qualitative thematic analysis with 10 participants. Eight themes emerged from the data: (1) reactions, reflections, and meaning-making after diagnosis; (2) managing medication, treatment, and co-occurring conditions; (3) stigma, disclosure, and negotiation of identity; (4) substance use, housing instability, and socioeconomic stressors; (5) navigating the changing HIV landscape; (6) experiences with family and intimate relationships; (7) implications for mental health counseling; and (8) the role of community …
Editorial For Issue 20(3): Special Issue: Developmental Trajectories In Lgbtqiqa+ Lifeways,
2026
Old Dominion University
Editorial For Issue 20(3): Special Issue: Developmental Trajectories In Lgbtqiqa+ Lifeways, Jeff Moe, Aaron Albright
Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications
[Introduction] Hello and welcome to the community of counselors, advocates, and scholars who read the Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. Over the course of the past 20 years, affirmative counseling with and on behalf of LGBTQIQA+ people has developed into a profession-wide expectation as opposed to a specialty area. The synergy of consistent and prolonged social and professional activism with research and practice led the leaders of organizations like the American School Counselors’ Association (ASCA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA) to adopt LGBTQ+ affirmation as the ethical and professional perspective of the counseling field. The leaders of the …
The Caregiving Experience: Comparing Stress And Quality Of Life Among Caregivers Of Children With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
The Caregiving Experience: Comparing Stress And Quality Of Life Among Caregivers Of Children With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mona Khayal
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This comparative cross-sectional study investigated caregiving burden, quality of life, and anxiety among primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder compared to caregivers of typically developing children. Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, 66 caregivers (31 autism, 35 comparison) of children aged 6-18 completed the Zarit Burden Interview-12, WHO Quality of Life-BREF, and GAD-7. According to the results, autism caregivers reported substantially higher burden (M = 31.26 vs. 13.23, d = 2.42) and anxiety (M = 9.13 vs. 4.63, d = 1.04), with 90% exceeding clinical burden thresholds compared to 26% of comparison caregivers. Quality of life was lower across …
Exploring Relational Leadership And Psychological Safety During Ai Integration In The Workplace,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
Exploring Relational Leadership And Psychological Safety During Ai Integration In The Workplace, Solmaz Kaynama
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study explores employee psychological safety, or its lack, during artificial intelligence (AI) integration in the workplace through a relational leadership lens. The population included employees of for-profit business corporations currently integrating or adopting AI technologies (N = 14). Participants completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results showed eight themes: relational leadership creates a psychologically safe workplace climate; unsupportive and dysfunctional leadership erodes trust and psychological safety; psychological safety determines whether employees speak up openly or hold back; employees’ experience daily work through workplace culture, pace, and remote or hybrid conditions; AI may delivers immediate productivity benefits while introducing new psychological and …
The Effects Of Meditation On Compassion And Cultural Humility In Mental Health Professionals,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
The Effects Of Meditation On Compassion And Cultural Humility In Mental Health Professionals, Jamie Kostek
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a brief, secular, Buddhist-inspired meditation program on self-compassion, compassion for others, and cultural humility on mental health professionals. Using a single-group pretest-posttest design, licensed clinicians (N = 13) participated in a five-week Anytime Anywhere Meditation (Tergar International, 2024) program. Results indicated statistically significant increases in mindfulness, self-compassion, and cultural humility. Additionally, strong positive correlations were found between mindfulness and self-compassion, and between self-compassion and compassion for others. Findings suggest that brief, secular meditation programs rooted in traditional Buddhist practices may support both clinician well-being and culturally responsive practice.
Bridging Worlds Of Care: A Qualitative Exploration Of Integrating Non-Western Healing Modalities With Mental Health Counseling,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
Bridging Worlds Of Care: A Qualitative Exploration Of Integrating Non-Western Healing Modalities With Mental Health Counseling, Douglas Valdez
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The aim of the study is to explore the experiences of practitioners who treat individuals presenting with depression and anxiety using culturally integrative non-Western healing modalities. Participants included 15 experienced practitioners (minimum five years of practice) who identified as Traditional Chinese Medicine providers (e.g., acupuncturists, herbalists) and/or Curandero/x/as. The approach was qualitative, utilizing open-ended survey responses collected electronically and analyzed with thematic analysis. Results indicated six primary themes: (a) Philosophies in Healing, highlighting culturally grounded conceptualizations of depression and anxiety; (b) Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions, including acupuncture, botanical, nutritional, manual, and movement-based practices; (c) Curanderismo Pláticas and Integrative Western Healing …
A Qualitative Exploration Of Counselor Traits And Wellness Practices,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
A Qualitative Exploration Of Counselor Traits And Wellness Practices, Emily Velidow
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study is a qualitative thematic analysis of counselor wellness practices as well as how selfidentified personal traits are part of how a counselor practices and prioritizes wellness. Theoretical underpinnings of the study integrate trait activation theory (Tett & Burnett, 2003), Martin Seligman’s wellbeing theory (Seligman, 2011), and Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1977). Participants included nineteen licensed counselors (N=19). Analyzed responses lead to four main themes, each with two to four subthemes. Resulting themes included (1) intentional caseload and workday structure, (2) deliberately emphasizing physical wellness, (3) setting boundaries attending to mental and emotional energy, and (4) the …
Interpersonal Reckoning: The Liminal Space Between Rupture And Repair In Counselor Education,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
Interpersonal Reckoning: The Liminal Space Between Rupture And Repair In Counselor Education, Phoenix E. Rosewood
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The purpose of this study is to understand and explore the phenomenon of the rupture, reckoning, and when possible, the repair process with racial, ethnic, and cultural (REC) microaggressions in counselor education. Participants (n = 14) included counselor educators who had either enacted a REC microaggression and attempted repair, or had been the recipient of an REC rupture and a meaningful attempt at repair. This study utilized a thematic analysis as a methodological framework in interpreting the data with the perspective of borderlands theory, critical embodied phenomenology, relational cultural theory and relational neuroscience analytical frameworks to account for and explain …
Navigating Family, Culture, And Well-Being: A Qualitative Study Of First-Generation Adult Children Of Middle Eastern Immigrants In The United States,
2026
Antioch University
Navigating Family, Culture, And Well-Being: A Qualitative Study Of First-Generation Adult Children Of Middle Eastern Immigrants In The United States, Ramona Amely
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of first-generation adult children of Middle Eastern immigrant parents/caregivers living in the United States. This was a phenomenological study with reflexive thematic analysis. Participants (N=10) were interviewed via Zoom, and transcripts were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). The results included four themes: (1) Migration Contact and Cultural Formation, (2) Bicultural Identity Development, (3) Family System Adaptation, and (4) Emotional Socialization and Psychological Impact. This study highlights how first-generation adult children of Middle Eastern immigrants navigate complex, interwoven processes of bicultural identity development, family adaptation, and emotional socialization shaped …
The Lived Experience Of Survivors Of Narcissistic Abuse,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
The Lived Experience Of Survivors Of Narcissistic Abuse, Jessica Williams
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of narcissistic abuse survivors through a grounded theory approach to generate a model that can assist people in recognizing patterns and traits of narcissistically abusive relationships. Guided by relational-cultural theory, this study further seeks to examine the ways narcissistic abuse damages relational connections and to highlight elements of healthy, growth-fostering relationships. The population of focus included self-selected narcissistic abuse survivors who are adults over the age of 18 (N = 8). The results indicated three themes, each with additional subthemes, which include: (a) early behavior – performative displays and …
A Qualitative Study Of Existential Paralysis As A Pathway To Meaning And Purpose Among Generation Z,
2026
Antioch University Seattle
A Qualitative Study Of Existential Paralysis As A Pathway To Meaning And Purpose Among Generation Z, Oksana V. Panchenko
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study examines the lived experiences of emerging adults from Generation Z (N = 26) with a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis. Data was collected with an online survey and open ended prompts. Twelve themes were identified as part of data analysis: (1) Feeling Lost, Immobilized, Isolated and Overthinking, (2) Feeling Depressed and Experiencing Identity Erosion and Functional Disruption, (3) Anxiety, the Struggle for Authentic Connection, and Fear About the Future, (4) Social Media, Comparison, and Fear of Missing Out, (5) Cultural and Sociopolitical Pressures on Self-Expression, (6) Ambiguous Loss and Disconnection in Social Presence, (7) Social Skills, Self-Confidence, and Adaptation …
