A Trial Of Resilience: From A Work Of Art To A Work Of Heart,
2026
Minnesota State University Moorhead
A Trial Of Resilience: From A Work Of Art To A Work Of Heart, Elizabeth Marie Sundquist
Dissertations, Theses, and Projects
In A Trial of Resilience: From A Work of Art to a Work of Heart, I will be exploring my growth as both an ever evolving human and as a school counselor. During my time in graduate school I have had many opportunities to reflect on my own journey through my learning through literature and my hands-on working experience with my students who I lovingly refer to as my kids. Through hope, determination, resilience, and a splash of creativity I reflect on my life journey to the present day. I chose the title to reflect on my own mental health …
A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of African American Millennial Couples' Perceptions Of Dual Trauma And The Impact On Marital Satisfaction,
2026
Liberty University
A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of African American Millennial Couples' Perceptions Of Dual Trauma And The Impact On Marital Satisfaction, Christopher Ray Merrell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe African American millennial married couples’ experiences with unresolved trauma in the North Texas Region, Texas. The theory guiding this study is John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. Multiple traumatic experiences and relationship fractures that inhibit marital satisfaction among African American millennials are also examined. Trauma, viewed from a generalized perspective and conceptual form, is defined as an uncontrollable and sudden event with highly adverse outcomes that may persist. Among African Americans, trauma from interpersonal distress, historical events, racial barriers, and socioeconomic stressors often hinders the pursuit of healthy marriages. This study examines millennial …
A Phenomenological Study Of Thai Adult Christians’ Experiences Of A Secure Attachment To God,
2026
Liberty University
A Phenomenological Study Of Thai Adult Christians’ Experiences Of A Secure Attachment To God, Sujirat Sirichai
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe Thai adult Christians’ experiences of developing a secure attachment to God. Many Thai children experience insecure attachments with their primary caregivers and attachment trauma. This study was guided by attachment theory to examine how attachment to primary caregivers, life crises, and relational and spiritual factors influenced the development of a secure attachment to God. This research used a transcendental phenomenological approach with a snowball sample of eight Thai adult Christians who demonstrate a secure attachment to God. Data collected through semi-structured interviews were analyzed through coding. Data analysis revealed six themes …
Post-Separation Abused Mothers’ Experiences With The Family Court System In Tennessee: A Transcendental Study,
2026
Liberty University
Post-Separation Abused Mothers’ Experiences With The Family Court System In Tennessee: A Transcendental Study, Heather Nicole Howse Neisen
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of mothers of post-separation abuse who were involved in a family court system where rulings negatively impacted the safety and justice of victims. The guiding theories for this study were Attachment Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Coercive Control Theory. There were three research questions for the study, “How have mothers who have experienced PSA been adversely impacted by the rulings from the FCS in TN?,” “How do post-separation abused mothers describe the impact that the Family Court System had on their overall wellbeing?” and “How do post-separation abused …
Answering The Call: Resiliency, Gender, And Growth Following Secondary Trauma In Emergency Dispatchers,
2026
Liberty University
Answering The Call: Resiliency, Gender, And Growth Following Secondary Trauma In Emergency Dispatchers, Brandi D. Colding
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative study examined secondary traumatic stress (STS), resiliency, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and gender among 911 emergency dispatchers, a population exposed to high levels of indirect trauma yet underrepresented in research. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether resiliency moderates the relationship between STS and PTG, and whether gender moderates the relationship between resiliency and STS. Data were collected from 99 U.S. emergency dispatchers using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Results indicated that most participants reported elevated STS, and correlations revealed that resiliency was negatively related to STS, while STS was …
The Lived Experiences Of People With Fibromyalgia (Fms) With Histories Of Traumatic Stress,
2026
Liberty University
The Lived Experiences Of People With Fibromyalgia (Fms) With Histories Of Traumatic Stress, Tamille L. Northern
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of 21 study participants who had comorbid Fibromyalgia Syndrome and PTSD/CPTSD, and had experienced traumatic stress before their fibromyalgia diagnoses, hoping to increase the understanding of this central phenomenon. An ontological theoretical framework guided this research approach to explore and describe the study participants’ subjective realities while describing their perceptions of their situations. Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a chronic pain condition with characteristics like widespread debilitating musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, tenderness, muscle atrophy, chronic fatigue, rashes, sensitivities, gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome, cognitive difficulties, stigmatization, unacknowledged disability, …
Managing Religious Values Conflicts In Counseling: A Quasi-Experimental Study Exploring The Impact Of Experience, Cognitive Flexibility, Religiosity, And The Supervisory Relationship In Cases Of Religious Trauma,
2026
Liberty University
Managing Religious Values Conflicts In Counseling: A Quasi-Experimental Study Exploring The Impact Of Experience, Cognitive Flexibility, Religiosity, And The Supervisory Relationship In Cases Of Religious Trauma, Nicole M. Taylor
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative study sought to understand the relationships between counselor religiosity, cognitive flexibility, supervisory relationship, and cognitive dissonance related to values-based conflicts. The sample consisted of 175 clinical mental health counselors still in their master’s program, in clinical residency, or licensed less than five years. Participants must have been enrolled in or graduated from a CACREP accredited program to foster consistency in clinical training. A series of demographic questions and four previously developed assessments provided data to analyze four research questions. Results suggested counselor religiosity had a significant, positive relationship with values-based conflicts, with cognitive flexibility emerging as a potential …
Childhood Sexual Abuse, Cultural Secrecy, And The Management Of Social Relationships Among Single African American Mothers,
2026
Liberty University
Childhood Sexual Abuse, Cultural Secrecy, And The Management Of Social Relationships Among Single African American Mothers, Najah Briana Blassingame
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of African American female survivors’ residing in the state of South Carolina. This study explored how the cultural norms of secrecy within the AA community discouraged the open disclosure of personal or familial trauma to maintain a family’s reputation, protect the community’s image, and display family loyalty (Brazelton, 2015). The normalization of secrecy within the AA community contributes to the continuation of generational trauma which can break the family apart or mend it back together (Petion et al., 2022). The theories that guided this study were identified as the …
The Experience Of Coptic Orthodox Youth Concerning Morals Taught In Public Education,
2026
Liberty University
The Experience Of Coptic Orthodox Youth Concerning Morals Taught In Public Education, Peter S. Endrawis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of Coptic Orthodox youth concerning moral education taught in public schools. There were four research questions this study answered: 1) How do Coptic youth describe their experience of navigating moral teachings in public schools? 2) What meaning do Coptic youth ascribe to church tradition based on their experience in public schools? 3) How do Coptic youth describe their worldview concerning faith based on their experience in public schools? 4) How do Coptic youth describe their worldview concerning spirituality based on their experience in public schools? The theory guiding this …
Trauma Meets Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lived Experience Of Secondary Trauma As Told By Mental Health Professionals Working In The Substance Abuse Field Within The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Region,
2026
Liberty University
Trauma Meets Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lived Experience Of Secondary Trauma As Told By Mental Health Professionals Working In The Substance Abuse Field Within The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Region, Paschaun S. Miller
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe mental health substance use professionals’ experiences with secondary trauma. This study aims to answer questions about how providers perceive their perceptions of secondary trauma based on their personal experiences and client caseload while exploring these providers’ willingness to remain in the field after trauma exposure. This study specifically concentrates on the experiences of mental health professionals working in the substance abuse field within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. The primary theory guiding this study is the constructivist self-development theory, which focuses on different responses (i.e., positive vs. negative) among individuals who …
The Shared Experiences Of Learning Forgiveness Of Oneself Using The Reach Forgiveness Model For Those With Chronic Illnesses And Disabilities,
2026
Liberty University
The Shared Experiences Of Learning Forgiveness Of Oneself Using The Reach Forgiveness Model For Those With Chronic Illnesses And Disabilities, Diane Delezene Browers
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to understand the shared lived experiences of disabled persons after using self-forgiveness coping skills. The theory guiding this study is Lazarus and Folkman’s stress and coping theory, which explores the ability of a person to manage stressors when the mind is overwhelmed and the ability to cope with stress falters. Furthermore, the stress and coping model of forgiveness, which was developed lessen stress by using forgiveness as a coping strategy, and critical disability theory are foundational to this study with specific relation to chronic illness, mental health, and ableism. The principal …
Family Support And Counseling: Predicting Family Relationship Quality And Self-Management In Women With Epilepsy,
2026
Florida Atlantic University
Family Support And Counseling: Predicting Family Relationship Quality And Self-Management In Women With Epilepsy, Tiffany A. Winch
Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present
Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, can impede many aspects of daily life for individuals diagnosed with it (Beghi, 2020; Kanner & Bicchi, 2022). The problem is that women with epilepsy may struggle with family relationships and epilepsy self-management, and it is not known to what extent family support and epilepsy counseling ameliorate this detriment. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the extent to which family support and epilepsy counseling predict family relationship quality and epilepsy self-management among women who suffer from the condition. Surveys measuring the variables family support, epilepsy counseling experience, family …
Chrononutrition: A Beginner’S Guide For Mental Health Professionals,
2026
Concordia University, St. Paul
Chrononutrition: A Beginner’S Guide For Mental Health Professionals, Jerrod Brown Phd, Ma, Ms, Ms, Ms, Ms, Ms, Jeremiah Schimp Phd, Ma, Lpcc, Leanne Skehan Dcn, Msacn, Mph, Mba, Shelley Mydra Dmft, Lmft, Jonathan Ward Dc, Phd(C), Ms, Dibcn, Kelly Rain Collin Ed.M.
Nutritional Neurocriminology Today
Chrononutrition focuses on how nutritional timing influences biological rhythms (Castro-Mata et al., 2025; Kim et al., 2025; Raji et al., 2024). This includes examining how dietary patterns (e.g., timing, frequency, and regularity) affect the circadian system and metabolic health (Cart & Pauling, 2025; Juliana et al., 2023; Negri et al., 2025). Sleep schedule, shift work, substance use, malnutrition, and other external factors, which will be discussed in this article, can disrupt the circadian rhythm. This disruption increases the risk for serious mental health problems (Baron & Reid, 2014; Castro-Mata et al., 2025; Franzago et al., 2023). Alternatively, consistent and nutritious …
Careers In A Box: A Promising Career Exploration Curriculum For Rural Youth,
2026
West Virginia University
Careers In A Box: A Promising Career Exploration Curriculum For Rural Youth, Kristine M. Ramsay-Seaner, Amber Letcher, Elizabeth Koob, Meagan Scott Hoffman, Laura Hasselquist
The Rural Educator
This article highlights a career exploration curriculum that was developed to support the vocational guidance needs of school counselors working in six rural, high-need communities in North Dakota and South Dakota. Based on social cognitive career theory, Careers in a Box was created to bridge existing gaps in career exploration curricula for rural middle school youth. This grab-and-go curriculum introduces participants to specific careers across the spectrum of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences and provides them with hands-on activities associated with these careers. While program evaluation is ongoing, preliminary results indicate an associated increase in personal resilience in …
Heroes Of Medicine In The Rio Grande Valley: Documentary Interview With Dr. Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez,
2026
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Heroes Of Medicine In The Rio Grande Valley: Documentary Interview With Dr. Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Raquel Elena Orellana
Heroes of Medicine in the Rio Grande Valley
Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez PhD is an Associate Professor of Clinical Practice at UTRGV in Edinburg, Texas and she is the clinic director of the UTRGV Psychology training clinic. She completed a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno, California. Her doctoral degree is in Clinical Psychology with a major specialization in Neuropsychology and minor specialization in Health Psychology. She completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at UTMB in Galveston with a major emphasis in hospital consultation, outpatient psychotherapy, and psychological and neuropsychological evaluations with diverse populations. She completed an informal neuropsychology post-doctoral residency in Texas …
Who's Qualified? Examining Attorney Perspectives On Lpcs In The Legal System,
2026
St. Mary's University
Who's Qualified? Examining Attorney Perspectives On Lpcs In The Legal System, Becca Wilson, Bernave Vega
Posters - 2026
Legal cases frequently intersect with mental health concerns, positioning Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) to contribute clinical expertise in custody disputes, trauma documentation, and psychological functioning. As mental health issues become increasingly central to both civil and criminal proceedings, the working relationship between attorneys and counselors carries real consequences for clients, yet LPCs entering legal settings often face challenges related to role clarity, courtroom preparation, and professional credibility. Existing research has focused primarily on counselors' forensic experiences, leaving attorney perspectives on LPC involvement largely unexplored. This gap is meaningful, as attorneys serve as gatekeepers to expert involvement and their perceptions of …
The Intersection Of Social Desirability And Cultural Competence In Counselors: Broaching Sexual Topics With Sexually Minoritized (Lgb) Clients,
2026
National Louis University
The Intersection Of Social Desirability And Cultural Competence In Counselors: Broaching Sexual Topics With Sexually Minoritized (Lgb) Clients, Jareb Kinney
Dissertations
Mental health counselors increasingly work with sexually minoritized clients, yet limited understanding exists regarding how social desirability shapes counselors' perceived cultural competence and their willingness to broach sensitive sexual topics in therapeutic settings. This gap can obscure the subtle ways personal conditioning and professional performance pressures influence clinical practice. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore how social desirability influences mental health counselors' experiences and perceived cultural competence when discussing sex-related topics with sexually minoritized clients. Guided by symbolic interactionism, the study employed a purposive and snowball sampling strategy to recruit ten mental health counselors with direct clinical experience serving …
The Lived Experiences Of Master's Level Counselors In Professional Counseling Association Leadership,
2026
Old Dominion University
The Lived Experiences Of Master's Level Counselors In Professional Counseling Association Leadership, Catalina R. Kraft
Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations
Leadership and advocacy are essential for all counselors (Lewis, 2022; McKibben, 2016; Paradise et al., 2010; Sweeney, 2022). However, within research and professional counseling associations, there appears to be a bias in which counselor educators are the expected, default leaders within the counseling profession (Burns, 2015; Kleist, 2018; Speciale & Goodrich, 2020). While counselor educators may have experience as counselors, they primarily work in academia, so their experiences do not authentically represent the needs of professional counselors. Counseling leaders need to represent and understand the people they serve: counselors. Therefore, this study sought to understand the lived experiences of master’s …
“We're Human. We Are Just Human”: Experiences Of Trans And Two-Spirit Individuals In The Midwest,
2026
University of South Dakota
“We're Human. We Are Just Human”: Experiences Of Trans And Two-Spirit Individuals In The Midwest, Gwen Avery Donner
Honors Thesis
In the United States today, gender can be a hot button topic, seemingly controversial and assigned as political, and within conservative regions the topic of gender becomes more taboo. Unfortunately, this view can lead to the stigmatization and discrimination of individuals who fall outside of the socially constructed gender binary. In order to explore how living in the conservative landscape of the Midwest impacts individuals who reside outside of the gender binary, 11 semi-structured, qualitative interviews with Trans and/or Two-Spirit individuals were conducted in which they were asked about their lived experiences. The findings of the interviews revolved around two …
Clinicians’ Perceived Preparedness To Support Clients Who Have Co-Occurring Disorders,
2026
Governors State University
Clinicians’ Perceived Preparedness To Support Clients Who Have Co-Occurring Disorders, Jessica A. Love Jordan, Joseph Day
Journal of Applied Disciplines
Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are prevalent, yet many clinicians feel underprepared to provide integrated care for this population. This study explores the factors influencing clinicians' perceived preparedness and objective knowledge in treating clients with co-occurring disorders. Data were collected from 131 clinicians using the CODECAT EZ 2.0 and TIP ZIP assessments to evaluate their competence in co-occurring disorders treatment. Results indicate that while participants held positive attitudes toward integrated care, their practical knowledge and skills were often rated as average or below. Education, clinical experience, and continuing education were found to significantly influence both perceived preparedness and …
