Counseling Commons^™

The Relationship Between Counselor Hope And Optimism On Client Outcome, Michelle M. Muenzenmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The counselor is an important contributor to client outcome. Research findings about therapist effects are mixed. In this study positive psychology variables, hope and optimism, were evaluated with client outcome. The sample for this study consisted of 43 graduate-level counselor trainees in the first or second practicum semester and their adult clients in a university’s community counseling clinic. Results revealed no statistically significant relationships between student counselors’ hope and optimism and client outcomes. Post hoc analysis of student hope and their post-graduation expectations, revealed statistically significant relationships. Implications for counselor educators are presented along with areas for future research.

Predicting Client Outcomes Using Counselor Trainee Levels Of Ego Development And Altruistic Caring, Tracy S. Hutchinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that counselor educators continue to debate whether general personality characteristics, relationship building skills, or other knowledge or skills are important in selecting the most effective counselors (Crews et al., 2005). Further, counselor educators continue to rely on measures that have limited ability to predict counseling competence or success in graduate programs. Such measures include GRE and GPA scores along with heavy reliance on the personal interview that is well-known for bias. Moreover, research supports that there is a need for assessments that will assist in determining the most effective counselors and emphasize the importance of measuring those characteristics …

A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding Early Adult Friendships Of Third Culture Kids, Kyoung Choi, Melissa Luke

Faculty Publications

A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to explore the experiences of six Third Culture Kid (TCK) participants regarding their early adult friendships at one midsize university in the United States. The term TCK refers to a person who has spent a significant amount of his or her childhood outside of his or her own country and culture of origin and who has assimilated these cultures into a third culture. TCK participants identified making friends as the most challenging issue in their adjustment to the United States. Four themes emerged from the participants’ narratives, with four illustrative metaphors drawn from the …

Perceived Satisfaction Of Counseling Doctoral Students With Their Dissertation Chairperson: Examining Selection Criteria And Chairperson Behaviors, Cheryl Warren Neale-Mcfall

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The relationship between doctoral students and their chairperson has been linked to students' successful completion of their dissertation and program of study (Gardner, 2009; Lovitts, 2001). It is often the case that failure to complete the dissertation is what prevents doctoral students from completing their degree. When students do not successfully complete their degrees, attrition rates rise and programs and students feel the burden, both financially and as an investment of time. (Bair & Haworth, 2004). Studies indicate that many students fall short of completing the dissertation, or take much longer than expected, due to a lack of supervision or …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Self-Injury Treatment Pilot Training Program, Laurie Craigen, Danica Hays

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

With an increasing number of young adults who self-injure, there is a clear need for human service professionals to be adequately trained. Using a concurrent mixed methodological design, this study examined the changes in knowledge, awareness, and skills at the conclusion of a pilot training program for 79 counselor and human service professional trainees. Results indicated that knowledge, awareness and skills of human service professionals and counselor trainees improved significantly after the training. Implications for training and future research are provided. Within the conclusion of the manuscript, the researchers discuss implications for training and future research.

The Impact Of A School-Based Cultural Awareness Program On Students' Ethnic Identity And Self-Esteem, Charley Alexandria Braswell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the influences of a school-based cultural awareness program on ethnic identity and self-esteem in fifth grade early adolescents. The development and implementation of a school-based cultural awareness program was intended to offer students a basic foundation for the development and/or enhancement of ethnic identity and self-esteem. 106 fifth grade early adolescents participated in this study. All participants were recruited from one elementary school in the southeastern part of the United States. Participants completed a research packet including the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) both before …

The Interface Of Breastfeeding And Work: A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experiences Of White Low-Income Women, Jessica A. Kerby

Dissertations

Vocational psychologists have been called to expand the traditional discourses related to work and career to address the actual work experiences of individuals, especially those of the working class. Breastfeeding rates are on the rise among employed women and mothers of low-income, but little is known about women of low income who seek to concurrently work and breastfeed. Work-family interface theories suggest employed mothers of low-income may experience conflict and/or enhancement through multiple roles. The purpose of this research was to answer the call to vocational psychologists, give voice to the narratives around breastfeeding and work among lowincome mothers, and …

Counseling Professionals' Attitudes Toward Transgender People And Responses To Transgender Clients, Emily A. Nisley

Dissertations

The multicultural counseling movement emphasizes the critical nature of counselor attitudes in providing culturally competent service (e.g., Sue, 2001; Sue, Arredondo, & McDavis, 1992; Sue et al, 1982; Sue & Sue, 2003). Until recently, however, the counseling professions have paid little attention toward transgender people as a cultural minority group. The purpose of this study was to conduct the first assessment of counseling professionals' attitudes toward transgender people and to examine relationships between such attitudes and responses to a transgender client.

A national convenience sample of 138 master's and doctoral level counselors and counseling psychologists, recruited via electronic mailing lists, …

Ability Of Clinicians-In-Training To Recognize Vicarious Traumatization: A Multiple Case Study, Amy Cavanaugh

Dissertations

Clinicians repeated exposure to clients who have a history of traumatic experiences can lead to vicarious traumatization (VT), which is the potential for clinicians to experience negative consequences such as changes in their sense of self and worldview (McCann & Pearlman, 1990). Experiencing VT negatively impacts the clinician’s professional identity and counseling work with clients (Pearlman & Saakvitne, 1995a, 1995b; Saakvitne & Pearlman, 1996). Having an awareness of VT is a first step in protecting oneself from experiencing the potential consequences of counseling clients who have experienced trauma. Given this, it seems relevant to understand what clinicians-in-training know about VT. …

A Qualitative Exploration Of African American Womanhood: Implications For Counseling And Counselor Education, Nikita Murry

Dissertations

The disciplines of counseling and counselor education have expressed a commitment to greater multicultural competence. Existing research points toward greater study of Black American females; however, for some the call for equity and change in the societal perceptions of Black women has largely gone unanswered. For others, emerging research has started to change the perception of Black American women. Current counseling literature is limited in the exploration of gender identity development from a Black woman's perspective. This study fills a gap in the literature concerning gender identity development for Black American females by exploring the phenomenon of womanhood and how …

The Process Of One White Upper Middle Class Lesbian Couple Pursuing Parenthood For The First Time: A Qualitative Case Study, Jessica L. Manning

Dissertations

During the past three decades researchers have shown increasing interest in studying planned lesbian parenting. However, no previous studies have examined the process of lesbian couples as they pursue parenthood for the first time. Instead, previous research has typically conducted one retrospective interview with one or both parents in order to answer one outcome related query, such as whether a couple used a known or anonymous sperm donor. The current study is a qualitative case study that examines the process of one lesbian couple who is pursuing parenthood for the first time.

The participants in this study were Ann and …

Cecp Pride, November 2010, College Of Education And Human Development

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2010_10_25 Pca Gpca Quarterly Report, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

2010_10_15 Pca Pacca Report For Executive Board Meeting, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

2010_10_15 Pca 42nd Annual Conference, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

(No Date) Pca Awards Committee Report, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

(No Date) Pca Supervision Registry, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

2010_10_15 Pca Call For Programs, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

2010_10_15 Pca Executive Council Meeting, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.

2010_10_15 Pca Pamhca Division Report, Pennsylvania Counseling Association

PCA Board of Directors Meetings

No abstract provided.