Counseling Commons^™

Teaching Peace, Stopping Bullying: The Transformative Power Of Kh Ahmad Dahlan’S Psychoeducation, Wahyu Nanda Eka Saputra, Anya Ahda Mahira, Salsa Puspita Dwi Djajuli

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Bullying in schools remains a serious problem that negatively impacts students' academic and psychological development. A safe and violence-free learning environment is crucial to supporting the achievement of national education goals, thus requiring effective interventions to reduce bullying behavior. This study aims to test the effectiveness of group counseling services using psychoeducational techniques based on the teachings of KH. Ahmad Dahlan in reducing bullying behavior. The scope of the study focuses on the application of peaceful values in junior high schools as a prevention strategy and as a positive character development strategy for students. This study used a quantitative approach …

The Efficacy Of Rapid Counseling With Single-Session Music Therapy On Enhancing Emotion Regulation In Response To Activating Events, Aloysius Selo Aryobimo Oentarto

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study examines the efficacy of Rapid Counseling with Single-Session Music Therapy (RCSSMT) in enhancing emotion regulation in response to activating events. Many daily circumstances are uncontrollable, often leading individuals with negative thought patterns to experience distress and anxiety, known as activating events. Music therapy, as a holistic approach, acts as an emotion-focused coping strategy by calming physiological stress responses and preparing the individual for cognitive restructuring. This research employed a single-subject pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design, with the subject being SG, who had the lowest initial score on the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The scores showed a gradual but significant …

Older Adults And Suicide: Protective Pathways To Apply Shores In Counseling, Anna A. Ellenson, Jenny L. Cureton

Adultspan Journal

Older adult suicide (OAS) is a growing concern as the U.S. population continues to age and access to counseling expands. Despite legal and ethical requirements, counselors are often underprepared to address suicide in later life, especially through the lens of suicide protective factors (SPFs). This conceptual article introduces SHORES, a research-informed mnemonic (Skills and strategies for coping, Hope, Objections to suicide, Reasons for living/Restriction of means, Engaged care, and Support), to help counselors assess, intervene, and plan treatment with older adults. We review literature on OAS, highlight gaps in counselor training, and provide an application guide for using SHORES with …

Gardening As A Psychosocial Well-Being Activity For Adults: Integrating Eco-Wellness And Developmental Theory, Christopher T. Belser, Helene Tavormina, Ann O'Hanlon

Adultspan Journal

Prior research has demonstrated the myriad of benefits that gardening can offer individuals, ranging from physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits. Though the counseling literature has begun to address the nature-wellness connection via EcoWellness theory (Reese & Myers, 2012), little attention has been paid to the benefits of gardening as a psychosocial well-being activity for adult populations. In this manuscript, authors offer a conceptual framework built on EcoWellness theory, psychosocial development theory, life-span, life-space career theory, and selection, optimization, and compensation theory that contextualizes gardening as a beneficial activity for young adults, middle adults, and older adults. Authors present specific …

Flow State As A Counter Measure Against Cognitive Decline: What Counselors Should Know, Isaac Burt

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the utilization of the neuroscience concept of flow state for therapeutic usage with older adult populations. Operationally defined, flow state is an altered state of consciousness (ASOC) that emerges when a person engages in an activity or endeavor. Once engrossed within this physical or cognitive undertaking, the person performs at their best (optimal) while expressing a feeling of joy and/or extreme satisfaction. To attain a flow state, there are several neurobiological mechanisms people must undergo. Due to beliefs that quality of life cannot increase in late adulthood, many older adults stop engaging in flow state activities. …

The Effects Of A Viniyoga-Based Practice On Mental Health Clinicians' Perceived Stress, Burnout, And Quality Of Life, Julie Pate

Dissertations

Psychotherapists often experience stress when treating distressed or emotionally troubled patients due to the emotionally taxing nature of their work, which can lead to burnout and other negative consequences (Bell et al., 2023; Maslach & Leiter, 2016; Simionato & Simpson, 2018) Therapists find it challenging to maintain regular self-care routines (Driscoll, 2023; Baker & Gabriel, 2021; Posluns & Gall, 2020). With the constant demand for counselors (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2024), there is a critical need for effective stress management strategies to mitigate burnout risks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2022; Sibitz, Pils, …

Exploring The Process Of Professional Identity Development For Generation Z Counselors-In-Training Enrolled In Cacrep-Accredited Master's Programs In The Northeastern United States Coun, Jordan G. Shaw

Dissertations

Professional identity development is a central outcome of counselor preparation programs, yet how Counselors-in-Training (CITs) experience this process, particularly during internship, remains underexplored. This qualitative study examines the lived experience of professional identity development among Generation Z CITs enrolled in master’s programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in the Northeastern United States, with specific attention to the implications for counselor education and supervision in a shifting professional landscape.

Using an existential-phenomenological framework and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants born between 1995 and 2010 who were completing …

Corrigendum To “Decolonizing Knowledge As Epistemic Justice: Key Conceptual Tendencies From The Global South” [Tanzania Journal Of Sociology, Vol. 11, Issue No.2, December 2025: 113 - 128], Richard Sambaiga

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This article registers corrections done to a reference section of "Decolonizing Knowledge as Epistemic Justice: Key Conceptual Tendencies from the Global South” [Tanzania Journal of Sociology, Vol. 11, Issue No.2, December 2025: 113 - 128]

Digital Morality And National Values: Pancasila As An Ethical Compass For Technology-Enhanced Counseling In Indonesia, Dominikus David Biondi Situmorang, Hendrik Tuaputimain, Muqaffi Muqaffi, M. Solehuddin

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The very fast development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) in the last decade have changed the way of mental health practice internationally, including Indonesia. Although these technologies extend reach, deepen therapeutic engagement, and facilitate clinical analysis, they also present serious ethical challenges with respect to privacy, algorithmic bias, depersonalization, and disparity. This integrative review draws on literature from counseling, digital ethics, immersive technologies, and Indonesian philosophical studies to consider how Pancasila can serve as a culturally situated ethical guide for technology-mediated counseling. The results disclose four overarching themes: shifting role of …

A Qualitative Examination Of The Motivations For Homeschooling Among Black Americans, Portia J. Witt

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the motivations and lived experiences of African American homeschooling families. Twelve Black parents from multiple states participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’ (1994) Modified Stevick–Colaizzi–Keen method and coded thematically using NVivo. Nine themes emerged: autonomy, holistic education, community belonging, online networks, public resources, curriculum gaps, personal values, effective learning, and legacy of harm. While racialization in schools—including tracking, microaggressions, and misidentification—contributed to participants’ decisions, motivations also reflected intersectional factors such as faith, disability, mental health needs, giftedness, and a desire for cultural protection and flexible learning. Findings suggest homeschooling serves as a …

2026, Aca Camp Research Forum Book Of Abstracts, American Camp Association

ACA National Camp Research Forum Abstracts

This book includes 20 abstracts that will be presented at the 2026 American Camp Association (ACA) Research Forum to be held during the ACA annual conference from February 17-20, 2026, in San Diego, California. Abstracts have been grouped into similar areas and will be presented across five verbal sessions (i.e., camper outcomes, specialty programming, camp staffing, camp administration, and medical/health for youth and families) and one poster session.

Understanding Technology Integration Through Hermeneutic Interpretation: A Study Of Faculty Experiences At An Hbcu, Jill Ardley, Tamara Smith-Moyler, Keesha M. Kerns, Beatrice Darden-Woody, Priscilla Spencer, Ronald White

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study explores how six education faculty members in the School of Education at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the southeastern United States interpret and implement instructional technology instruction through a hermeneutic theoretical lens. Grounded in the HBCU’s School of Education vision statement, the research investigates how faculty members’ understanding of human learning behaviors shapes their pedagogical choices within School of Education courses. The qualitative analysis revealed three key themes: (1) Technology as a Tool for Equity and Inclusion, (2) Alignment with the School of Education Vision, and (3) Student-Centered, Practice-Oriented Use of Technology. Rather than employing …

Enhancing Self-Esteem In Adolescents During Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Mixed Methods Study, Praveen Injeti, Julie D. Kugel, Dragana Krpalek, Liane Hewitt, Lida Gharibvand

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Low self-esteem (LSE) can negatively impact adolescent mental health, leading to suicidal ideation (SI). Social stressors, such as peer rejections, are considered a source of stress that can contribute to LSE, SI, and subsequent admission to psychiatric facilities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an occupational therapy intervention to improve self-awareness and self-esteem during short-term hospitalization.

Method: The research used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the impact of a psychoeducational intervention by an occupational therapist on 16 adolescents. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) was used before the intervention (pretest), immediately after the intervention (posttest …

A Phenomenological Study To Describe The Lived Experiences Of U.S. Military Veterans Diagnosed With Ptsd Who Have Completed A Spiritually Integrated Treatment Program, Roger Fall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of U.S. military veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who completed a spiritually integrated treatment program. Schlossberg’s transition theory formed the study’s primary theoretical framework, through which the following research questions were answered: 1) How do U.S. military veterans diagnosed with PTSD describe their experiences before attending a spiritually integrated treatment program? 2) How do the participants describe their expectations for the program prior to their participation? 3) How were the participants’ expectations met, and were any unexpected outcomes experienced while participating in the program? and 4) …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Christian Women Emotional Traumatic Symptoms Post Spousal Infidelity, Tracy Y. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The discovery of spousal infidelity has been recognized in the literature as a devastating breach of marital commitment. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe women of faith’s experiences with emotional trauma after discovering spousal infidelity in the Northeastern United States. This study’s theoretical framework is guided by Schlossberg’s transition theory, which aims to answer the following research questions: How do women of faith describe emotional trauma after the discovery of infidelity? How does infidelity affect the psychological, emotional, and physical functioning of women and their social systems? How do participants describe their spiritual relationship with God after …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Mental Health Needs Of High School Youth In A Rural Community Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Maritza Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe former high school students’ experiences with mental health struggles while in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Texas Public Independent School District. Mental illness increased among youth during the prolonged pandemic period of time and many of the pervasive mental health concerns have not been addressed effectively in the aftermath. As a result, a growing number of concerns pertaining to the mental health wellbeing of K-12 children continues to be on the rise. Thus, it is of utmost importance to learn more about the experiences of our youth …

Breaking The Silence: Hispanic Male Child Abuse Survivors And Their Post Traumatic Growth, Maria Angelica Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe Hispanic male survivors’ experiences of child abuse in Southern California. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism (Pfadenhauer, 2019), as it explains how a worldview is developed. The additional theories are Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory, Bowlby’s (1973) attachment theory, and Widom’s (1989) cycle of violence and how they influence the development of an individual’s perception and worldview. Tedeschi and Calhoun’s (1996) post-traumatic theory also influenced this study as it focused on growth after the trauma experience. The study includes 12 male participants of Hispanic descent between the ages of …

Small Courageous Minds, Desirae Bach

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the barriers, agreements, and disagreements between mental health and Christianity, specifically as it relates to helping Christian children with anxiety. The following investigation explores how God defines and reacts to anxiety in the Bible and how anxiety is explained through scientific research. By explaining both scientific and biblical views of anxiety, the Christian community can grasp a better understanding of how to help children with anxiety. The research also builds a foundational investigation on how anxiety affects children and possible solutions for relieving anxiety in children. Educating children at a young age about mental health and offering …

Examining The Psychological Impact Of Adverse Childhood Traumatic Experiences In Adult Survivors: Creating A Community Of Awareness And Intervention, Lawanda T. Mobbs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma encompasses experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, experiences which have profound and lasting effects on an individual’s development and well-being. These behaviors can manifest in many ways. The intricate interplay between childhood trauma, mental health challenges, and maladaptive behaviors creates a complex clinical picture, often requiring specialized and trauma-informed approaches within the community. Understanding the efficacy of interventions tailored to this population is crucial for improving the quality of life and fostering resilience. Despite extensive research, there remain significant gaps in understanding the full scope of these effects and how to mitigate them. This study investigated …

African American Adult Male Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And Their Subsequent Experiences In Intimate Partner Relationships, Christian Lee Jefferson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative interpretive phenomenology study is to explore the lived experiences of African American adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse within intimate partner relationships. The problem is that it is not known how African American adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse describe their present or past intimate partner relationships experience or the impact that childhood sexual abuse has on their intimate partner relationships. Research shows how experiences of sexual abuse create difficulty in managing intimate partner relationships. Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse often had damaging effects on adults with their romantic relationships. Findings from …