Counseling Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Of The Personal And Professional Experiences Of U.S. Police Leaders Who Led Their Agency Through A Line-Of-Duty Death, Elizabeth A. Cary

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the personal and professional experiences of police leaders from across the United States who led their agencies through line-of-duty deaths (LODD). The social constructivist worldview guided this study as Creswell and Poth (2025) suggest that it captures complicated and multifaceted subjective meanings of individuals. Transformational leadership theory was the lens through which this research was conducted. Police leaders are faced with personnel, political, societal, and generational challenges following the events of Ferguson, George Floyd, the COVID-19 pandemic. This is on top of the already stressful and traumatic work police officers face …

Prevalence Of Intimacy Satisfaction In Relation To Burnout And Trauma Saturation Of First Responders, Krystoffer L. Bowman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A shared understanding of this issue enables us to recognize the uniqueness of each individual’s experience, supported by the consistent commitment of trauma-saturated professionals. But what happens when these individuals become so accustomed to trauma that they can no longer recognize it as such? When their professional identity is inherently tied to continuous exposure to trauma, they may unconsciously adopt emotional distancing as a coping mechanism, which can appear to others as a fixed personality trait or lifestyle, even outside the workplace. This professional emotional distancing, often a consequence of growing burnout and trauma saturation, may negatively impact intimacy satisfaction. …

Exploring The Counselor Identities Of Latina Counselors Through The Lens Of Their Familial, Cultural, And Religious Contexts: A Phenomenological Study, Samuel Landa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing a counselor identity is an essential component of becoming a counselor. There are several factors influencing the developmental process. Though there are several studies that explore the topic of counselor identity development, the research on what this process entails for Latina counselors is limited. Thus, this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study explores how family, culture, and religion influence the counselor identity development of Latina counselors. This study utilized Schlossberg’s transition theory (1981) to observe how these factors become evident in the first year of their Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) and how they influenced their …

Examining Perceived Problem-Solving Skills, Parenting Styles, And Biblical Principles: Insights From Parents Or Guardians Of African American Teen Males, Dorothy Farrow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship among parenting styles, the use of biblical principles in parenting, and the problem-solving skills of African American male teenagers aged 14 to 17 years in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as perceived by their parents or guardians. The study addressed a significant gap in existing literature by integrating biblical teachings with established psychological theories on parenting. The primary theoretical frameworks included Baumrind's parenting styles theory and Bandura's social cognitive theory. Using the Kruskal–Wallis H and chi-square tests, the study assessed the potential relationships among parenting styles, biblical use in parenting, and parent-perceived problem-solving skills of their …

Bridging Theory And Self-Development In Human Services And Counselor Education, Kristy Carlisle

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Counselor and human services education increasingly recognize self-awareness as a core component of professional competence and ethical practice. This conceptual manuscript presents a pedagogical framework that integrates major helping theories as tools for structured self-reflection and self-development among students and practitioners. Drawing from experiential learning theory, reflective practice, and models of counselor identity formation, the approach encourages learners to view themselves through theoretical lenses such as person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and existential frameworks, paralleling the very lenses through which they will view their clients in practice. By engaging in guided reflective activities, students examine personal beliefs, emotions, and behaviors to enhance self-understanding, …

A Phenomenological Exploration Into The Interpersonal Relationships And Mental Health Impacts Of Physical Activity, Movement, And Play On The Lived Experiences Of Caribbean Mothers, Janelle Chase-Mayers, Theresa D. Thomas

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: To explore the impact of wellness strategies incorporating movement, physical activity, and play on the mental health and interpersonal relationships of Caribbean mothers aged 25 and older.

Methods: A phenomenological study was conducted in 2021 to delve into the lived experiences of seven Caribbean mothers. Semi-structured interviews were employed to gather rich, qualitative data on their perceptions of wellness, motherhood, and the role of movement and physical activity in their lives.

Results: Over 700 codes resulted in 6 themes and 100 subthemes. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: 1. Family of Origin Influences: Participants discussed how …

Interviews With Roman Catholic Couples In First-Time Long-Term Marriages: Navigating The Landscape Of Life-Long Marriages With Spirituality As The Guiding Principle To Achieving Enduring Marital Relationships, Sovichan E. Scaria, Carl L. Thameling, Jana P. Sutton, David Hale

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

In-depth guided interviews were conducted with 10 Roman Catholic (RC) couples to reveal the impact religious spirituality had on their long-term marriages. Achieving this goal meant examining Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage, divorce and annulment, and relationship development and maintenance. The interview sessions were video-audio taped and analyzed. Some sample questions asked of the couples were: “How, if at all, did spirituality play a role in choosing your spouse?” “How do you practice spirituality in your marriage?” and “What advice would you give younger couples who have recently gotten married?” Analysis resulted in 8 themes being identified as important to …

Voices From The Hyflex Classroom: Understanding The Graduate Counseling Student Experience, Taryn Akgul, Jessica Brown, Aaron Suomala Folkerds

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Counselor education and counseling master’s Programs face a changing landscape in higher education. This includes balancing the demand for a high-quality HyFlex program that prepares students for the counseling field. This qualitative exploratory study utilized a phenomenological approach to understand the counseling master's student experience in a hybrid program. The research questions focused on the students' experience attending the program either strictly on zoom, in person, or a combination of both and how that impacted them and their learning. The study consisted of eight participants who were alumni from one CACREP accredited counseling masters program. The findings included themes of …

Integrating Clinical Reasoning Into Mental Health Diagnosis: A Conceptual Framework For Counseling Practice, Ashley F. Waddington, Alexander M. Fields, Haley Ault

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Clinical reasoning has long guided diagnostic accuracy in nursing and medical fields, but its application in mental health counseling remains limited. This paper presents a conceptual diagnostic decision-making (DDM) process to embed clinical reasoning into the diagnostic process for counselors, incorporating two vital constructs: counselor self-efficacy and counselor bias (implicit and explicit). Grounded in Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy (1977) and Carvalho et al.’s (2017) clinical reasoning model, the framework highlights the cognitive, behavioral, and contextual factors that shape diagnostic decision-making in early-career counselors, including counselor biases. The paper calls for reform in counselor training, emphasizing curriculum enhancements as pathways to …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Delivery Of Trauma-Informed Services To Hospital-Based Clients Ot, Frank Czuba

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Hospitalization can traumatize clients and impact overall health outcomes, leading to increased hospital readmission rates and resulting in a negative impact for both clients and providers. Limited information exists regarding how hospital-based occupational therapists evaluate and address trauma, even though incorporating trauma-informed principles into professional practice can enhance the occupational therapy process. The study explored the comprehension and perceived significance of trauma-informed tenets among occupational therapists delivering services in hospital-based settings. A quantitative research study with an exploratory design was implemented to explore how occupational therapists (OT) understand and utilize trauma-informed practices with their clients in a hospital setting. An …

(No Date) Pca Past Presidents, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

Fostering Social Support On College Campuses, Shannon G. Kirkpatrick

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project aims to explore social support received while attending an undergraduate institution and what can be done to improve it. During undergraduate years, students are confronted with many new stressful experiences. Given that social support can serve as a protective factors, it is important to explore how it functions within the context of the undergraduate experience. Many students do not utilize campus counseling services, even if their mental health declines from lack of social support. Students must feel supported by those that they interact with on and off campus, and if they are not, they must have somewhere …

Response Cost Token Economies Effectiveness On Increasing Responsiveness To Directions In Early Intervention Aba, Madison Polaski

Masters Essays

The present case study analyzes the effectiveness of response cost token economies used in early intervention applied behavior analysis services in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Using a response cost, the researcher looked to decrease challenging behaviors consisting of physical aggressions towards peers and adults, while increasing responsiveness to instructions or demands given to the participant. Data from the baseline phase and intervention phase was compared to test whether the intervention was successful.

Editorial For Issue 20(1), Jeff Moe, Peighton Corley, 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. In our era of continued political attacks and undermining of gender diverse and sexual orientation diverse people, our editorial board remains committed to creating knowledge that speaks to the inherent worth of LGBTQIQA+ people and related groups. Our histories and communities are dynamic, and we continue to shape standards of care and best practice that not only improve the mental health and well-being of gender diverse and sexual orientation diverse people but help improve the lives of all people …

Counseling And The Neurodiversity Paradigm: A Call To Action, Emily Goodman-Scott, Rawn Boulden, Aaron Albright, Jenna Alvarez, Betsy M. Perez

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The counseling profession is rooted in prevention, wellness, mental health, and a critical social justice approach to serving historically marginalized communities, including people with disabilities. The overarching construct of disability comprises subtypes, such as neurodivergence. Given the prevalence of neurodivergent individuals worldwide (approximately 15%-20%), the counseling profession must be prepared to support this community. At the same time, there is a dearth of peer-reviewed literature on neurodiversity specifically for the counseling profession. In this article, we address a timely topic in the profession. We discuss utilizing a critical counseling lens and centering marginalized identities, such as people with disabilities; prominent …

Spirituality And Psychological Well-Being In College Students: Does Resilience Mediate This Relationship, Kevin C. Snow, Jessica Starken, Lindsay A. Phillips

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Given continued challenges of college transition and recent changes (e.g., COVID) leading to increased use of college counseling services and past studies exploring spiritualty/religion and resilience pertaining to psychological well-being (PWB), this study explored the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB in college students. Three scales, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, and the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale, were used to measure the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB. Results of this study showed support for the relationship between spirituality, resilience, and PWB in college students. Results also lend support for future research exploring therapeutic incorporation of spirituality …

Professional Standards For School-Based Behavior Analysts (2nd Edition), Selena J. Layden, Emily Muise, Karen L. Berlin, Samantha Gregory, Daniel Irwin, Kaylan Long, Daria K. Lorio-Barsten, Jennifer L. O’Berry, Hannah Riddle

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Public educational settings are unique and complex environments that require specific knowledge and skills for the professionals that work in these environments. School-based behavior analysts can be a great asset to public schools. However, these professionals must be able to firmly understand and perform the responsibilities of a behavior analyst in collaboration with educators and service providers in a public school setting. The presence of behavior analysts in public schools is still relatively new, when compared with other specialized services. Therefore, behavior analysts, teachers, administrators, and others should focus on collaboration to promote the success for all stakeholders with an …

Grief Counseling Best Practices: A Delphi Study, Jillian M. Blueford, Megan J. Doughty Shaine, Elizabeth A. Doughty Horn, Marcela Kepic, Michael Kocet, Katie Kostohryz Dr., Sara Jean-Philippe, Jen R. Hartman

Adultspan Journal

This Delphi study identifies expert-informed best practices in grief counseling to address current gaps in counselor education. Findings present essential competencies—knowledge, skills, and awareness—to guide ethical, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed support for grieving individuals across diverse settings.

Protecting Those Who Protect Us: A Blueprint For Mandatory Mental Wellness Standards For First Responders, Joy Hutchinson

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

First responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), dispatchers/telecommunicators, and corrections officers, serve as the backbone of public safety in the United States. Their work requires rapid decision-making, repeated exposure to traumatic events, and sustained emotional regulation in high-stakes environments (Hoell et al., 2023; Vig et al., 2020). Despite their critical roles, mental health support across these professions remains inconsistent, optional, and largely reactive rather than preventative, with many systems relying on self-referral only after crisis onset (Burke, 2021; Johnston et al., 2025).

Between 2021 and 2025, U.S.-based research has documented alarming levels of burnout, depression, anxiety, …

Showpony, George Theodore Ellington

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

The poetry collection Showpony focuses on the real-life experiences of a woman in her twenties during the 1970s, who is treated by psychiatrist Dr. Robert J. Stoller at UCLA in a desperate attempt to make her normal. Mrs. G struggles with homicidal and suicidal thoughts, psychosis, as well as her homosexuality and transgender identity. Showpony examines the ways in which psychology has pathologized these experiences and the ramifications for patients, particularly those who have been publicly showcased as examples of their conditions used to train future students. The collection critiques the exploitation of patients by psychiatrists and psychologists, highlighting unethical …