Counseling Commons^™

Improving Veterans’ Psychological Well-Being With A Positive Psychology Gratitude Exercise, Clara Im Adkins

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The demand for therapeutic services and effective counseling interventions aimed at rehabilitating veterans has increased exponentially over the past thirty years. Veterans with PTSD symptoms experience several problems including, relationship issues, lower life satisfaction, suicidal ideation, isolation, and comorbid diagnoses. Current research on veterans diagnosed with PTSD suggests integrating wellness and strength-based approaches aimed at developing positive psychology characteristics into clinical services for veterans. Gratitude is a core construct in positive psychology and has been practiced in cultures all over the world. Gratitude journal interventions have been proven to increase well-being, positive affect, social relationships, optimism, life satisfaction, and lower …

"My Head Was Like A Washing Machine On Spin": (Improving) Women’S Experiences Of Accessing Support, Jo Neale, Kathryn Hodges

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This paper draws on data collected as part of two larger studies to set out the differences, according to women seeking support, between the feminist responses of the specialist women’s sector and the issues-led responses of other agencies. The first study examined the processes by which women enter, endure, and exit relationships with abusive men. The second study explored the barriers to help-seeking for those accessing a service for women involved in prostitution. Taking a feminist poststructuralist approach, the authors point to the gendered nature, both of the experiences that propel women toward help-seeking and of the responses they receive …

A Mule For The Patriarchy: Waking Up To The Harm Of Prostitution To Wives And Families, Andrea Heinz

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

I exited from commercial sexual exploitation eight years ago. Here, I share my reflections on how my actions directly impacted other women. I describe how my participation in the sex trade adversely affected the wives and girlfriends of sex buyers. I posit that sex sellers negatively impact these vicarious victims by subscribing to and endorsing “sex work” ideology. I assert that the collective good of all women is diminished by viewing sexual services as a market commodity. I stress that the collective good of all women is enhanced by assuming responsibility and compassion for one another.

Women Exiting Prostitution: Reports Of Coercive Control In Intimate Relationships, Tammy Schultz, Aimee A. Callender, Sally Schwer Canning, Jacey Collins

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

There is burgeoning research on intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences among women globally. However, there is a dearth of research on IPV experiences among marginalized populations in Western countries. Over the past decade, IPV research has shifted from a focus only on physical and sexual violence to include coercive control experiences. These include a continuum of nonviolent behaviors centered on maintaining dominance over one’s partner. However, the empirical literature on examining coercive control among women in prostitution within non-commercial intimate partners is lacking. In this study, we analyzed interviews with 17 women exiting prostitution and examined reported IPV sexual, physical, …

Seeing The Shadow Women: The Hidden Victims Of Prostitution, Donna M. Hughes

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

A group of hidden victims of prostitution has been brought to light by Ingeborg Kraus, a trauma therapist in Germany, and Andrea Heinz, a woman with experience in the sex trade in Canada. Dignity has published four articles by these two writers in the last year. Their nascent body of work is uncovering important new information and perspectives on prostitution. Through their own experience and interviews with wives of sex buyers and women with sex trade experience they show us a more holistic view of the harm of prostitution. They write about the wives and families of men who are …

Editorial, H. Luis Vargas

Counseling and Family Therapy Scholarship Review

Editor-in-Chief H. Luis Vargas' editorial for the latest issue of Counseling and Family Therapy Scholarship Review.

Social Presence In Online Counselor Education, Courtney M. Holmes, Christine Reid, Carolyn Hawley, Christopher Wagner

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Outcome research in online counselor education is lacking as is the focus on online teaching andragogy. To address this gap, the Community of Inquiry framework and social presence are discussed within the context of online learning in a counselor education program. Data were collected in a counselor education program in the mid-Atlantic comparing online and on-campus learning outcomes and perceptions of social presence in the classroom. On-campus learners had significantly higher perceptions of social presence when compared with online learners, although perceived level of social presence was not correlated with learning outcomes. Implications for counselor education are discussed.

A Phenomenological Study Of Counseling Students’ Learning About Wellness, Heather J. Fye, Eric R. Baltrinic

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The authors conducted a phenomenological qualitative study of counselor students’ experiences of learning about wellness guided by the Indivisible Self (Myers & Sweeney, 2004). Participants (N = 11 ) engaged in the experiential wellness activities during co-curricular group meetings throughout one academic year. Data were analyzed and three themes emerged: Wellness Considerations, Wellness Connections, and Wellness Applications. Limitations and directions for future research are illustrated.

Perceived Tenure Standards, Scholarly Productivity, And Workloads Of Counselor Educators At Comprehensive Universities, Gregory T. Hatchett

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This article describes the results of a survey that inquired about the tenure standards, scholarly productivity, and workloads of counselor educators (N = 168) employed at comprehensive colleges and universities. The results from this study describe the respondents’ perceptions of the tenure process and their preparation for faculty positions at comprehensive universities, along with additional data on their general workloads, teaching schedules, scholarly productivity, participation in outside professional activities, and financial remuneration. Implications for counselor education and the tenure and promotion process are discussed.

An Exploration Of Married Male Doctoral Students In Counselor Education, Anthony L. Suarez, Kristi L. Perryman, Chris L. Carver, Jessica M. Del Re

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This phenomenological study explored the effect of marriage on the lived experience of four male doctoral students in a counselor education program. Because males are a minority in the mental health professions, researchers often focus on the female perspective when studying graduate students’ experiences. Findings of the current study suggest that received support in multiple forms (e.g., emotional, financial, academic, and logistical) is the most salient benefit of marriage for the participants in this study, while time and role management pose significant challenges. Male students attempt to balance academic responsibilities with household duties, but still feel pressure to provide for …

Utility Of The Scientist-Practitioner Inventory In Counselor Education, Mei Tang, Susannah C. Coaston, Christina Pbibbs, Nzingha Dalila, Linda Milholland, Miller Kathy

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study examined the construct validity of the Scientist-Practitioner Inventory (SPI) modified for counseling profession to determine if S-P orientation could be assessed through mSPI. The mSPI was administered to masters’ students, practicing counselors, doctoral students, and faculty members in counselor education programs. The results showed that the mSPI has adequate construct and significant differences among groups. Implications for integrating S-P model in counselor education curriculum design, training, advising, and classroom teaching are discussed.

School Counselor Self-Efficacy In Advocating For Self: How Prepared Are We?, Jennifer Perry, Sejal Parikh, Maylee Vazquez, Rachel Saunders, Stanley Bolin, Merry Leigh Dameron

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Advocacy is a central component of providing comprehensive school counseling programs. Often, counselor advocacy entails advocating for the profession and clients. Utilizing the New General Self-Efficacy scale, this quantitative study examined the effect of advocacy training type, counselor education program level, and CACREP program attendance on the self-efficacy of school counselors in advocating for self. School counselors' self-efficacy in advocating for self (as a school counselor), rather than advocacy for the profession and/or students, was assessed. Analysis revealed advocacy training was a statistically significant predictor of self-efficacy in advocating for self, while program level and CACREP attendance were not significant …

Students With Problems Of Professional Competency And Their Impact On Proficient Students In Counseling Programs, Jason S. Rose, Stephanie Persutte-Manning

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Students with problems of professional competency (PPC) issues enact a negative toll on proficient students and require increased faculty attention. While there are resources aimed at supporting students with PPC, we will explore proficient students’ experience of stress and needed supports as a result of classmates with PPC.

The Need For Collaboration: Experiences And Perceptions Of Preservice Principals And School Counselors, Jennifer Tygret, Sylvia Mendez, Adric Arndt, Desiree Lovato, Margaret Scott

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

While professional collaboration between school counselors and principals has the potential to enhance the educational environment for students, preparation programs typically do not provide collaborative opportunities to preservice candidates. In response to concerns expressed by preservice school counselors and principals regarding this lack of opportunity, researchers designed and implemented a collaboration workshop. Following the workshop, a multiple-case study research design was utilized to explore the value of collaboration from the perspectives of both groups through participant interviews grounded by the Five Elements of a Professional Community. Findings indicate educators in these preparation programs have the opportunity to institutionalize a collaboration …

Contemplative Practice: A Proposal In Reducing Novice Counselor’S Performance Anxiety And Excessive Self-Focus, Clarissa Cigrand

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This article proposes the utilization of mindfulness meditation and other contemplative practices to help mitigate the challenges experienced by novice counselors when working with clients for the first time, namely, performance anxiety and an excessive self-focus marked by self-doubt, self-criticism, and fear of making a mistake. The author specifies forms of contemplative practice that have been used in counselor preparation and highlights their demonstrated value in developing therapeutic presence, enhancing self-compassion, supporting self-awareness, strengthen active listening and attention skills, and bolstering emotion regulation. The author presents a case study that illustrates the utility and integration of contemplative practice into a …

Counselor Preparation In Crisis, Trauma, Grief, And Neurocounseling, Karlesia T. Montague, Katie Christensen, Susan Furr

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Crisis, trauma, and grief are common themes in counseling while neurocounseling is a relatively new term that has increased presence in counseling. However, little is known about the current status of CACREP programs offering courses directly preparing counselors to address these concerns. This descriptive study analyzed CACREP programs (N = 392) to determine how many counselor education programs offered courses in each special topic. Results indicated that programs offered crisis courses at the highest rate (62.2%) compared to trauma (41%), grief (21.2%), and neurocounseling (5.1%). These results examined program offerings immediately following the CACREP 2016 Standards revisions and may …

Alcohol Abuse Rising Like Covid, Christine Chasek

Counseling Faculty Publications

Alcohol use is a common coping response to stress. Historically, it has increased during times of catastrophic events. The COVID-10 pandemic can be placed in both of those categories.

Social Support Following Pregnancy Loss And Its Implications For Women’S Experiences Of Posttraumatic Growth, Agata Freedle

Dissertations

The available literature suggests that social support can contribute to individuals’ positive psychological changes following a traumatic event. However, the effects of the social milieu following pregnancy loss on women’s post-loss adjustment continues to be vastly unexplored. This dissertation explores a gap in the literature surrounding the relationship of interpersonal and intrapersonal social factors on women’s posttraumatic growth (PTG) after miscarriage or stillbirth via three studies. Specifically, the following factors were investigated in relation to PTG: 1) Adult attachment and women’s experiences of dyadic coping; 2) self-disclosure, positive social reactions and deliberate rumination; 3) empathy and prosocial behaviors. Women who …

The Experience Of Being Gender Nonbinary: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Gene Crofts

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

The call for research on the growing population of persons who identify as gender nonbinary includes the need for in-depth explorations of lived experience, especially among Persons of Color. This study focuses on four individuals, 27 to 32 years of age, who identify as gender nonbinary as well as Hispanic/Latinx and reside in the unique minority-majority, conservative/progressive state of New Mexico. Interpretative phenomenological analysis, with its idiographic approach, was used to gather data through interviews and present the findings in both descriptive and interpreted terms. Results focus on three themes: realization required a unique journey, allowances are made for mothers …

A Multicultural Study Of The Experience Of Grief Following Involuntary Job Loss, Diane Lacen

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

A MULTICULTURAL STUDY OF THE EXPERIENCE OF GRIEF FOLLOWING INVOLUNTARY JOB LOSS

by DIANE BYRD LACEN

B. A., English, The University of New Mexico, 1989 M. A., Secondary Education, The University of New Mexico, 1996 M. A., Counseling and Guidance, New Mexico Highlands University, 2005 Ph.D., Counselor Education, The University of New Mexico, 2020

ABSTRACT

Unemployment affects many individuals and families in today’s world. This qualitative multiple-case study design examined how individuals from diverse backgrounds experienced grief following involuntary job loss. A purposeful sampling consisted of nine adults who represented the multicultural diversity in New Mexico. Triangulation of methods included …