School Counselor Morale: A Phenomenological Study On School Counselor Morale In The Post-Pandemic Era,
2026
Liberty University
School Counselor Morale: A Phenomenological Study On School Counselor Morale In The Post-Pandemic Era, Courtney J. Spradlin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the patterns of school counselors morale for K-12 public school counselors in Metro Atlanta. The theory guiding this study is phenomenological theory founded by Edmund Hesserl as it explains the philosophy behind lived experiences of people. These lived experiences can include: day to day experiences, trauma, life-changing events. Specifically, for this study this theory supports studying the lived experiences of school counselors in their day to day roles. The following questions are addressed in this study: How has school counseling changed since the pandemic? What is the current level of job …
A Study Of Combat Veterans Residing In Rural Communities Who Have Experienced Suicidality After Discharge,
2026
Liberty University
A Study Of Combat Veterans Residing In Rural Communities Who Have Experienced Suicidality After Discharge, Kelly Muratorri
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of combat veterans residing in rural communities who experienced suicidal ideation following discharge from military service. The central research question guiding this study was, What are the lived experiences of combat veterans who reside in rural areas and have contemplated suicide since discharge? The theories guiding this study were Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide, which emphasizes perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability for suicide, and Shneidman’s theory of psychache, which highlights the intolerable psychological pain that often is an underlying factor of suicidal behavior. Although there …
Exploring Resilience And Religion’S Influence On Addiction Recovery: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
Exploring Resilience And Religion’S Influence On Addiction Recovery: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Nicole Mason-Dye
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Substance use disorder (SUD) continues to be a pressing public health crisis in the United States, marked by complex mental, physical, and spiritual consequences. While evidence-based treatments are well developed, relapse rates remain high, highlighting the need for integrative models that incorporate spiritual and psychological resilience. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study described individuals recovering from SUDs’ experiences sustaining long-term sobriety in the Southeastern United States within a 100-mile radius of a metropolitan city as well as understand how spirituality and resilience interact to sustain sobriety and encourage personal transformation. Guided by resilience theory and framed within a constructivist-phenomenological paradigm, the …
A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Exploring The Psychological Distress Of Christian Black Women Who Experienced Parental Alienation As The Targeted Parent,
2026
Liberty University
A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Exploring The Psychological Distress Of Christian Black Women Who Experienced Parental Alienation As The Targeted Parent, Marcia Toller Leftwich
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Christian Black women who experienced parental alienation as the targeted parent. Data collection was conducted via semi-structured interviews with Christian Black women who experienced a high conflict separation or divorce and experienced parental alienation. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize the data, identify patterns, and make meaning as it emerged from the participants’ narratives. The findings revealed that parental alienation is a complex phenomenon characterized by psychological distress, emotional devastation, identity disruption, relational harm, and spiritual transformation. Spiritual connection and reliance on faith were at the center …
Spiritual Abuse: A Qualitative Study On The Lived Experience Of Survivors And Their Attachment To God,
2026
Liberty University
Spiritual Abuse: A Qualitative Study On The Lived Experience Of Survivors And Their Attachment To God, Danielle Farra Bingham
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Christian survivors of spiritual abuse and their relationship with God. The study also examined whether participants described those experiences using language comparable to Attachment Theory. Ten adult Christian survivors participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using Smith et al.'s (2022) interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Six Group Experiential Themes (GETs) emerged from the analysis: (a) wondering whether God was safe after sacred harm; (b) keeping God close enough to need Him and distant enough to survive; (c) trying to separate God's heart from the voices …
Psychosocial Functioning In United States Military Veterans Following Military Sexual Trauma: A Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
Psychosocial Functioning In United States Military Veterans Following Military Sexual Trauma: A Phenomenological Study, Anika M. Hernandez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is a pervasive yet often underrecognized form of military-based trauma that may significantly disrupt veterans’ psychological and psychosocial functioning. Although existing literature highlights clinical symptomatology, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), less is understood about how MST shapes long-term psychosocial functioning across relational, occupational, emotional, and identity-based domains. This Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study explored the lived experiences of veterans who survived MST and examined how participants describe changes in self-concept, interpersonal relationships, occupational functioning and overall quality of life following trauma exposure. Grounded in Psychosocial Development Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, this study examined how veterans …
“It’S Not Just A Story”: A Phenomenological Study Of Evangelical Christian Women Who Have Disclosed Childhood Sexual Abuse To An Evangelical Pastor,
2026
Liberty University
“It’S Not Just A Story”: A Phenomenological Study Of Evangelical Christian Women Who Have Disclosed Childhood Sexual Abuse To An Evangelical Pastor, Erin M. Collins
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe Evangelical Christian women's experiences disclosing childhood sexual abuse to their pastor in the southeastern region of the United States. Childhood sexual abuse has been a globally studied public health and human rights concern. Over the past few decades, the knowledge of childhood sexual abuse has accumulated in a substantial amount of empirical research, through state and federal legislations, as well as with media coverage. This research has shed light on the gaps in the study regarding disclosure of childhood sexual abuse to an evangelical pastor. Most available research discussed the physiological …
For Love Or Green Card: Exploring Intermarriage Experiences Of African American Women To West African Men In The First Decade Of Midlife From A Historical, Cultural, And Psychosocial Perspective,
2026
Liberty University
For Love Or Green Card: Exploring Intermarriage Experiences Of African American Women To West African Men In The First Decade Of Midlife From A Historical, Cultural, And Psychosocial Perspective, Kelley Owusu Asante
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of African American women who married West African men during the first decade of midlife. It investigated the historical, cultural, and psychosocial factors that shaped the women’s perceptions and experiences of intermarriage. The guiding theories were social exchange theory, competitive market theory, marital paradigm theory, and sex ratio imbalance theory. Social exchange theory, developed by George C. Homans in 1958, provided a framework linking behavioral psychology and microeconomics. The study centered participants’ narratives to understand how love, commitment, and cultural negotiation unfolded in these unions. The sample comprised 12 African American women …
The Effect Of Covid-19 On Maryland Community College Students: Mental Health, Learning, And Environmental Challenges,
2026
Liberty University
The Effect Of Covid-19 On Maryland Community College Students: Mental Health, Learning, And Environmental Challenges, Vickie R. Braxton
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to describe the lived experiences of minority students attending a community college in the state of Maryland during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theories guiding this study were Hobfoll’s Conservation Resources Theory as it focuses on the impact of a lack of external and internal resources on mental health when recovering from a prolonged disaster; the Theory of Transformative Learning as it focuses on how new learning processes affect cognitive abilities in different study environments; and The Theory of Connectivism as it focuses on how individuals learn digitally through experiences outside their control …
Exploring The Occupational Risks Among Human Service Professionals: A Trauma-Informed Approach To Caring For Others And Ourselves,
2026
Concordia University, St. Paul
Exploring The Occupational Risks Among Human Service Professionals: A Trauma-Informed Approach To Caring For Others And Ourselves, Shaian Kong
Master of Arts in Human Services
It is known that human service practitioners are often expected to maintain empathy, compassion, emotional regulation, and professionalism during high-stress or uncertain situations. These experiences expose practitioners to a unique intersection of trauma. While helping others through their own trauma, practitioners may also experience symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, emotional exhaustion, sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and avoidance despite not directly experiencing the traumatic events themselves. Current literature highlights these existing occupational risks that may hinder sustained career development, increased compassion fatigue, and affect workplace standards and support. With things like frequent increase in workloads, workforce shortages, and insufficient professional support, practitioners …
Racial Trauma And Posttraumatic Growth: Implications For Counselors,
2026
University of Virginia
Racial Trauma And Posttraumatic Growth: Implications For Counselors, Margaret M. Poandl, Nowoola Awopetu, Paul C. Harris Dr.
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Racial trauma is ubiquitous among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and people who belong to other marginalized groups. It is likely that counselors will work with individuals who have experienced racial trauma. Aligned with the counseling profession’s values, counselors can take a strengths-based approach that incorporates facilitation of a historical trauma posttraumatic growth (HT-PTG) framework. This paper presents evidence-informed practices that can foster growth on individual and collective levels. A case example is provided that integrates individual- and collective-level interventions bidirectionally, along with implications for counselor training pedagogically, through supervision, and continuing education. Counselors can identify, encourage, and …
The Safe Fishbowl Model: Psychological Safety By Design In Counseling Skills Training,
2026
Plymouth State University
The Safe Fishbowl Model: Psychological Safety By Design In Counseling Skills Training, Mike Mariska
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Skills training in counselor education can be constrained by performance anxiety, which may reduce participation, limit deliberate practice repetitions, and shift demonstrations to the instructor. This applied-practice manuscript introduces the SAFE (Structured Avatar and Feedback Experience) Fishbowl model, a simulation architecture designed to address performance anxiety while scaling participation. SAFE Fishbowl integrates rotating counselor roles, a real-time coaching loop, structured observation grounded in experiential learning theory, and purposeful debriefing. An implementation example for group counseling leadership skills is provided, along with adaptation guidance across multiple skill domains and delivery modalities. Descriptive course-evaluation feedback illustrates feasibility and perceived usefulness. Implications include …
A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Cacrep Accreditation Standards: Implications For The 2024 Cacrep Academic Quality Standards,
2026
Canisius University
A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Cacrep Accreditation Standards: Implications For The 2024 Cacrep Academic Quality Standards, David Moran
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
This embedded mixed methods study examined the frequency of CACREP standards cited as ‘not met’ by the CACREP Board of Directors and explored counselor educators’ experiences with program evaluation. Frequency analysis revealed that Section 4 standards were disproportionately cited, yet applied consistently across diverse institutional types and delivery formats. Qualitative interviews with 16 counselor educators identified four themes: The Paradox of Agency, Faculty Workload Challenges, Performative Compliance vs. Authentic Improvement, and Faculty Experience with Program Evaluation. Findings suggest that while accreditation decisions are unbiased, the evaluation process imposes substantial strain on faculty resources. These results have …
Integrating Consensual Non-Monogamy In Counselor Education: Practical Guidelines And A Pilot Descriptive Study,
2026
Kent State University
Integrating Consensual Non-Monogamy In Counselor Education: Practical Guidelines And A Pilot Descriptive Study, Yun-Zhuo (Zoey) Liu, Lena Salpietro
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is a prevalent and diverse relationship structure, yet mononormative assumptions persist in counselor training and practice, contributing to stigma and inadequate care. Research indicates that counselors’ CNM-specific knowledge and attitudes are critical to positive therapeutic outcomes (Schechinger et al., 2018), highlighting the need for clear guidance. In response, this paper presents Guidelines for Incorporating CNM in Counseling Curricula. Three domains are grounded in multicultural and social justice principles: foundational knowledge and terminology, challenging bias and promoting self-reflection, and application informed by attachment theory. Additionally, findings from a survey of counselor educators (N = 54) are presented. Results …
U.S. Service Member To Counseling Student,
2026
Coastal Carolina University
U.S. Service Member To Counseling Student, Nicole Marie Arcuri Sanders, Kellie Forziat-Pytel
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
This qualitative descriptive study examines the absence of military career pathways for licensed mental health counselors (MHCs) and the impact of this structural limitation on service members' career transitions. Findings indicate that both combat and non-combat veterans pursued mental health counseling due to personal service-related mental health experiences and dissatisfaction with available care while in service. Despite these challenges, many participants expressed a strong desire to continue serving their country as professional counselors. Over half of the participants reported separating from the military because no occupational role existed for licensed MHCs. At the same time, most indicated they would have …
The Expert Myth: Impostor Phenomenon And Research Identity In Counselor Education,
2026
University of Western States
The Expert Myth: Impostor Phenomenon And Research Identity In Counselor Education, Kristi B. Cannon, Kelly Coker, Trent Hepting, Lidian Ramirez-Fiol, Robyn T. Simmons
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Imposter Phenomenon (IP) affects counselor educators across career stages, yet it is often conceptualized as an individual deficiency rather than a systemically reinforced experience. This article frames IP in counselor education through the lens of the Expert Myth—a systemic pattern within academic culture that reinforces the expectation that faculty must consistently present as fully knowledgeable, productive, and self-assured to be regarded as credible. We examine how institutional cultures, publish-or-perish pressures, and inadequate mentorship structures create and reinforce imposter feelings, particularly among marginalized faculty and those navigating researcher identity development. Drawing on existing literature, we propose that meaningful intervention requires systemic …
Modernizing Career Counseling In Counselor Education: A Conceptual Exploration,
2026
Auburn University
Modernizing Career Counseling In Counselor Education: A Conceptual Exploration, Yuhyun Park, Se Hoon Kim, Rasheed Adeyemo, Sarah Ebner, Mallory Redmond, Breeana Donayre, Carly Steves
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Career development is often confined to a single course despite its relevance across counseling practice. This conceptual article reframes it as an integrative foundation for counselor preparation, supervision, and professional identity. It examines connections among work, mental health, education, disability, relationships, and social context across counseling specializations. The article also considers doctoral training and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in career-related practice. Recommendations address curriculum design, supervision, and future research on integrated career preparation.
The Lived Experiences Of Queer And Trans Counselor Educators In Cacrep Programs,
2026
Sam Houston State University
The Lived Experiences Of Queer And Trans Counselor Educators In Cacrep Programs, Erin Pitts, Kathleen Brown-Rice, Maribeth F. Jorgensen
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Queer and trans professionals historically experience discrimination, persecution, and oppression in the workplace. While counselor education has ethical and accreditation standards requiring multicultural inclusion and competence, there is limited research that explores the experiences of queer and trans counselor educators in the workplace. We used an interpretive phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of queer and trans faculty working in CACREP programs. Four participants completed semi-structured interviews, resulting in four themes: 1) career journey, 2) visibility matters, 3) if not us then who, and 4) work in progress. Implications for counselor education programs are offered related to identifying and addressing …
Developing Grief-Informed Counselors: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of Counselors-In-Training’S Learning Experiences,
2026
The Family Institute at Northwestern University
Developing Grief-Informed Counselors: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of Counselors-In-Training’S Learning Experiences, Katherine Atkins, Sonya Lorelle, Jennifer Slawson
Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Grief remains underrepresented in counselor education despite its relevance across the lifespan and its inclusion in the 2024 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards. This qualitative study explored how counselors-in-training (CITs) conceptualized grief and their developing professional role following participation in a structured grief education series. Eleven master’s-level CITs engaged in didactic instruction, experiential grief interventions, and reflective focus groups. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four interrelated themes were constructed that addressed grief conceptualization, counselor role development, integration of the personal self, and educational supports for grief competence. Findings reflected shifts toward relational, culturally responsive, and …
A Narrative-Restorative Framework For Addressing School Bullying,
2026
California State University, San Bernardino
A Narrative-Restorative Framework For Addressing School Bullying, Tristan Patel, Michelle Myers, Daniel Stewart
Journal of Educational Research and Practice
Bullying in schools is often addressed through punitive deterrence practices, solution-focused counseling, or restorative conferencing. These approaches often fail to recognize or account for the power imbalance that ultimately sustains bullying. This article discusses a narrative-restorative intervention to address bullying as a relational and communal issue, rather than relying on isolation or deterrence practices. The limitations of the dominant models discussed highlight the role of power in shaping bullying dynamics and connect legal and ethical responsibilities of narrative-restorative practices. Situated within the framework of California education law and professional ethical standards, at its core, undercover anti-bullying teams aim to redistribute …
