Counseling Commons^™

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Wellness And Wellness Promotion In Counselor Education Programs, Brett Kyle Gleason

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This phenomenological investigation explored the lived wellness experiences and perceptions of wellness promotion of doctoral level counseling trainees enrolled in CACREP-accredited programs. Participants included a national heterogeneous sample of 12 doctoral level counselor trainees currently enrolled in CACREP-accredited counseling programs. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to provide a textural-structural description of doctoral students' lived wellness experiences and perceptions of wellness promotion while enrolled in a CACREP-accredited counseling program. Three structural codes includingcomponents of wellness, program culture, and recommendations were identified along with 13 textural codes throughout participant interviews. The findings of this study provide insight into wellness …

Motivations For Underreporting Suspected Concussion In College Athletics, Susan C. Davies, Brenna M. Bird

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

Student-athletes often fail to report concussion signs and symptoms, thereby putting themselves at risk for delayed recovery and permanent impairment. The present study examined motivations for underreporting concussion symptoms among college athletes enrolled at an NCAA Division I university. One hundred and ninety-three student-athletes in high-risk sports completed a multiple-choice survey related to self-reporting of suspected concussion symptoms and reporting of teammates’ symptoms. Results indicated that 45% of participants did not report their own suspected concussions during the present season and 50% did not report suspected concussions in teammates.

Responses revealed that the primary reason for underreporting a suspected concussion …

The Relationship Of Prayer And Forgiveness To God Attachment, Romantic Attachment, And Relationship Satisfaction In Christian Married Adults: A Mediation Study, Joshua Michael Myers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research demonstrates that one's attachment to God accounts for unique variance in Relationship Satisfaction after accounting for the effects of Romantic Attachment. To date, only one study has sought to find a similar finding within a predominately married population. However, no study has attempted to partially explain this effect. This study seeks to answer the following research question: does Prayer and Forgiveness partially mediate the relationship between God Attachment and Relationship Satisfaction in a married population? It is hypothesized that Prayer and Forgiveness will partially mediate the relationship between God Attachment and Relationship Satisfaction in a married population. The study …

The Unspoken Truth: A Practical Guide For Pastors, Helping Abusers Break The Cycle Of Sexual Abuse, Teresa Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For years, men, women and children have suffered silently as a result of sexual abuse. The abuser suffers and the cycle continues. Destroying the silence of sexual abuse is the beginning of breaking the cycle. Research has shown that the abuse goes far beyond the actual act and causes physical, emotional, and psychological damage. This project will investigate and encourage open discussion, address the abuse, and give valuable insight to the causes and consequences of sexual abuse. This project will offer prescriptive and preventative measures to all parties involved, in an effort to heal and stop sexual abuse. Through research …

Psychological And Social Variables Impacting Young Adults Caring For Severely Mentally Ill Mothers, Courtney Gale Deloney

Dissertations

This dissertation study examined the psychological and social functioning of young adults who care for their severely mentally ill mothers; in doing so this study examined the independent variables coping style, perceived stress, quality of life, and resilience. The dependent variables considered were race, socioeconomic status, support group participation, and living in the same household as one’s mother. Young adulthood was examined as a distinct period of human development. The policy of deinstitutionalization led many families to become caregivers for their severely mentally ill relatives. While some knowledge on this exists, little is known about the experiences of young adult …

Legal Marriage, Civil Unions, Registered Domestic Partnership And Well-Being Among Same-Sex Couples, Naomi J. Schwenke

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This dissertation used a quantitative method of analysis to explore well-being among couples with different types of legal unions: legal marriage, civil unions, registered domestic partnership. Specifically, this study examined individual, relational, social, and familial components of well-being. Individuals in legally recognized same-sex relationships were recruited for this study. Participants were asked to complete an internet-based survey. Social constructionism provided the theoretical framework for this study. Results show differences among individuals in legally married unions compared to individuals in all other forms of legal unions on measures of satisfaction with life, psychological and physical well-being. Additionally, the results show strong …

Gender, Power, And Trust Issues In Couple Therapy With Adult-Survivor Couples, Melissa A. Wells

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Although one-third of partners in couple therapy have experienced childhood abuse, our field has developed few specific interventions that address the lingering effects of child abuse on current couple dynamics. A common impact on adult survivors is the struggle to trust their intimate partner. Furthermore, asymmetrical gendered power processes often erode trust. Given the propensity for adult-survivor couples to experience a distrusting emotional culture, this dissertation studied the effect of gendered power dynamics on trust in partner interactions, as well as identified clinical processes of Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT) that helped adult-survivor couples change power disparities to a mutually supportive …

Substance Abuse Among The Elderly: What Works In Treatment, Sophia Morelli

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Social workers are trained during the course of their education to work with the elderly and to understand the various dynamics of aging. These professionals also receive education on substance abuse and how to assess clients as well as link them to appropriate supportive services. How can social workers be more inclined to effectively treat the elderly substance abuser? What are, if any, special considerations a social worker should be aware of when working with the geriatric population? What treatment modalities seem to be more effective with the elderly client? This study utilized a qualitative analysis consisting of interviews with …

Beliefs Among Licensed Clinical Social Workers About Assessing Parents Abused As Children, Emma Celina Duarte

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child abuse is a pressing national issue that affects thousands of children every year in the United States. The lifelong implications of child abuse been well documented in the literature, which identifies psychopathology, interpersonal violence and suicide risk, and substance abuse as a prominent triad of the negative sequelae of child abuse. Parents abused as children represent a subgroup that introduces additional domains of clinical interest and unique needs, including parenting stress and perceived parenting competence. These complex clusters of needs are clinically significant, and the beliefs licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) hold about parents abused as children can significantly …

Effectiveness Of Anti-Bullying Teams From Practitioners' Perspectives, Dorry Lillard

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

School bullying is a worldwide problem and has been called a “social phenomenon” that is negatively impacting the lives of children, including the bullies, the victims and the bystanders. This project used qualitative methods to investigate the implementation process and effectiveness of a bullying intervention called Undercover Anti-Bullying Teams. The “no blame” approach idea to healing bullying relationships originated by Bill Hubbard was later modified with narrative perspectives by Michael Williams, a counselor at a high school in Auckland, New Zealand. The purpose of this project was to gain qualitative insight from two practitioners in New Zealand, and two practitioners …

Transgenerational Transmission And The Relationship Between Parents With Symptoms Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Their Children With Symptoms Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Donald Dean Campany

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined parental symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its effects on children referred for treatment with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Data was collected from children who had been diagnosed ADHD. This research attempted to determine whether negative family functioning can be predicted between caregivers with symptoms of PTSD and their children with symptoms of ADHD, and whether PTSD caregiver’s behavior is an indication of ADHD like symptoms in their children. Results revealed that there was a not a significant difference in behavior of children with symptoms of ADHD when compared to parents with symptoms …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Emotional Literacy Instruction On At-Risk Students, Shannon H. Garcia

Dissertations

This study examined the impact of social-emotional literacy instruction for at-risk adolescents ages 13 to 18 at the high school level. Of particular interest is the impact of social-emotional literacy instruction on at-risk youth Grades 9-12 in secondary high schools’ 8-week-long social-emotional literacy class through Project AWARE, particularly in the areas of suspension, expulsion, attendance, connectivity, attitude toward school, resiliency, and relational aggression rates; the data were analyzed using archival data and teacher interview. Project AWARE, the social-emotional literacy intervention examined in this study, educates and provides mentorship for at-risk students, while also providing a group educational component on relationships …

A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Reporting Experience For Female Survivors Of Sexual Assault On College Campuses, Candace N. Park

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative phenomenological design was used to explore the lived experiences of college women who reported sexual assault to law enforcement officials. Utilizing a feminist conceptual framework, the purpose of the present study was to identify the essence of the reporting experience for college women who experienced a sexual assault. Six college women agreed to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with open-ended questions to better understand the experience of the phenomenon under investigation. The Modification of the Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen Method of Analysis of Phenomenological Data (Moustakas, 1994) was utilized for analysis of the data collected in order to …

How Play Therapists Integrate Knowledge Of Attachment Theory Into Clinical Practice: A Grounded Theory, Karen Marie Swanson Taheri

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The quality of the dynamics within individuals’ early relationships with their caregivers can impact the overall mental health, functioning, and quality of future relationships for those individuals (Aguilar, Sroufe, Egeland, & Carlson, 2000; Bowlby, 1988; Carlson, 1998; Cassidy & Shaver, 2008; Deklyen & Greenberg, 2008; Johnson & Whiffen, 2003; Levy & Orlans, 1998; Ogawa et al., 1997; Renken et al., 1989; Warren, Huston, Egeland, & Sroufe, 1997). Attachment Theory describes the nature, characteristics, and dynamics of the relationship between a child and caregiver, and delineates how an internal concept of self and self and others is created via those relationships …

Men And Friendship: An Exploration Of Male Perceptions Of Same-Sex Friendships, Gerard Williams

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Differences between female and male same-sex friendships have been the subject of numerous studies. Additionally, male same-sex friendships have been studied independent of the differences related to female same-sex friendships. Despite these studies, a comprehensive, agreed on definition of male friendship remains unclear or ill-defined. The manner in which men perceive, express and experience same-sex friendships can be viewed as learned behaviors based on gender schema and sex typing. Men’s friendships, as viewed through the gender schema theory, are shaped through the association of gender based male identity and male behaviors. This phenomenological study investigated male perceptions of same-sex male …

How Are Therapeutic Professionals Interpreting Ethics In Practice With Migrant Clients?, Madeline A. Brenner

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

The research study aimed to understand the praxis of mental health professionals working with immigrant and refugee populations in relation to ethical guidelines and agency protocols. Through practice-led inquiry, seven mental health professionals were interviewed from differing therapeutic backgrounds and orientations; including Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Social Work, Counseling, and Art Therapy. The researcher sought to identify how theory of therapeutic professionals differ, where professionals are engaging in culturally competent practice and what impact this has on the therapeutic relationship. Participants identified the key components of a positive therapeutic relationship include trust, cultural competency, approach, presence, as well as …

Academic Advising: Helping Promote The Success Of College Students With College Students With Psychiatric Disabilities, Jamie P. Claytor

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Academic advisors in higher education include professional full-time staff advisors, faculty advisors, graduate assistants, interns, and staff who serve dual roles as academic advisors and career advisors. Who among these many groups does the advising can have an impact on how advising is delivered and of what the advising process consists. For those students dealing with psychiatric disabilities, they may find themselves suffering academically and afraid to ask for help. It is essential to have an academic advisor who can recognize students in distress, guidelines regarding how to deal with these students, and steps to take when referral to a …

Digital Natives: The Nature Of Technology On College Student Mental Health, Nicole Crump

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Anxiety and depression are consistent issues experienced amongst college student populations in the United States (American College Health Association, 2013). However, there is limited research on what contributes to the cause of increased student reports of anxiety and depression. While there are many contributing factors to a student’s experience of anxiety and depression, little to no research has looked at the effect of social media and nature on college student anxiety and depression. The researcher has provided a literature review on the benefits and barriers of nature and technology use on college student’s health. The researcher conducted a multivariate correlational …

Military Families’ Reintegration And Resiliency: An Examination Of Programs And Civilian Counselor Training, Jaime Grove

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Military members and their families have many potential issues to face, both during deployment and reintegration. Some of these issues include mental health problems, relationships with family members, employment, etc… This paper will include a review of the literature regarding current concerns of military members and their families, an overview of some of the existing programs aimed to help this population, interviews with three counselors working with the military population, and conclusions and recommendations for future programs. Findings included differences between programs in the research and what techniques counselors may be using and strategies for developing effective programs.

Emerging Adulthood: Defining The Life Stage And Its Developmental Tasks, Hannah B. Trible

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Emerging adulthood, as first proposed by Jeffrey Arnett, is the developmental period spanning ages 18-29. Culturally, it is a time of institutionalized role moratorium, especially in post-industrial societies. Emerging adults share the five characteristics of self-focus, instability, identity explorations, feeling in-between, and a sense of possibilities. Emerging adulthood takes place across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups, although the experience of emerging adulthood varies among groups. The present paper provides an overview of the theory of emerging adulthood and its expressions in American society. An original program called “The Something Potluck” is outlined in the Appendix. The Something Potluck is designed …