Counseling Commons^™

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, 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, 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, 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, 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 …

Becoming A Therapist In A Foreign Land: Narratives Of International Trainee Clinicians Of Color In The U.S., Prathma Sharma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation project is on the community of trainee clinicians of color, who have been consistently overlooked in the literature on mental health. This dissertation employed narrative analysis as a methodological framework to explore the experiences of international trainee clinicians of color as they navigated the complex landscape of mental health training in the United States. In an increasingly globalized world, the voices and perspectives of these individuals offered critical insights into the challenges, triumphs, and unique pathways that shaped their professional development. Much of the literature on diversity and inclusion tends to individualize the challenging experiences, …

Repairing Workplace Trust: A Process-Based Classroom Exercise For Management Education, Luke A. Langlinais Ph.D.

Posters

Trust is essential in every workplace, but conflicts, mistakes, and broken promises are inevitable. This project develops an experiential classroom exercise in which students diagnose workplace trust violations, examine the perspectives and emotions of both parties, and practice selecting and communicating evidence-based reparative actions. The exercise translates organizational behavior research into a practical learning experience that develops not only managerial competence but also the character, empathy, and relational wisdom needed to build healthy organizations and promote human flourishing.

I gratefully acknowledge peer review feedback on this project, and I am accountable for writing of this product without generative AI and …

A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study Of A 10-Week Wellness Program For Resident Assistants, Emily L. Lee-Chong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods pilot study used semi-structured interviews with 15 resident assistants (RAs), complemented by descriptive pre- and post-test data from the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (FFWEL), to explore their lived experiences of participating in a 10-week wellness program grounded in the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (IS-WEL). The purpose of this study was to examine the program's perceived influence on wellness practices and to explore the feasibility of implementing wellness-focused programming. Using a hermeneutic inquiry approach, the study identified four themes reflecting participants’ experiences throughout the program. Themes highlighted the importance of self-awareness through the IS-WEL model, the value of …

Integrating Matrescence Into Birth Worker Practice: A Practice Improvement Project, Kelsey B. Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect 20–25% of mothers worldwide and are a leading cause of maternal complications. Stigma, fragmented care, and limited provider training leave families vulnerable, while birth workers offer trusted, continuous support.

Problem: Birth workers' maternal mental health (MMH) training is minimal and often excludes matrescence, the developmental transition to motherhood, limiting their ability to distinguish normal adjustment from clinical PMADs and delaying intervention.

Methods: A single-group, pre-/post-test design evaluated a matrescence-informed workshop at Roots Community Health's 2nd Annual Symposium. Anonymous surveys measured knowledge, attitudes, and confidence, analyzed with Mann–Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and …

#Narctalk: Analysis Of Perceptions Of Personality Disorders In Tiktok Content, Amanda C. Dediego, Auna Nelson, Feven Seifu, Amanda D. Tracy, Madeline Grubb, R.J. Schoen

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Integrating Death Education Into Asynchronous Online Counselor Training, Kara E. Wolff

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Online counselor education has grown exponentially, with a greater number of courses being offered in an asynchronous format. This presents challenges and opportunities for counseling training in death education, a subset of grief counseling. Death anxiety and death avoidance can result in counselors-in-training's disengagement with strictly didactic materials in this area. Instead, death education must offer opportunities for experiential processing and personal reflection to be effective. Specific teaching strategies that foster the development of death acceptance and death competence within asynchronous online counselor education courses are offered.

Clinicians’ Reflections On Explainable Ai (Xai) In Counselor Education And Diagnostic Training: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Kuo Deng, Xiaomeng Ye, Yi Li-Brown, Cara Miles, Angelina F. Pennino

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Current approaches to teaching clinical diagnosis in counselor education and supervision often

rely on self-reports, brief vignettes, and supervisors’ recollections—methods that can be resource- intensive and prone to bias, contributing to diagnostic inaccuracy among trainees. While artificial

intelligence (AI) has gained traction in healthcare, many machine learning (ML) models function as “black boxes,” limiting transparency and educator trust. Explainable AI (XAI), which focuses on making AI processes interpretable, offers a potential solution for counselor training. This exploratory qualitative study examined eight licensed psychologists’ reflections after viewing a live demonstration of an original XAI model trained to predict depression. Using Reflexive …

Toward A Triadic Therapeutic Alliance: Understanding Client, Therapist, And Ai Relational Processes In Counseling, Jennifer Young

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into counseling through chatbots, digital companions, and clinical decision-support tools. This integration challenges traditional models of the therapeutic alliance, which have historically centered on the dyadic relationship between client and therapist. To address this gap, the Triadic Therapeutic Alliance (TTA) Model of Client-Therapist-AI Relational Dynamics offers a new framework for understanding how relational processes unfold when AI becomes an active participant in therapy. The model extends alliance theory into a triadic structure that includes the client-AI and therapist-AI relationships alongside the traditional human alliance. Drawing on research in human-computer interaction and ethical frameworks of trust …

Exploring Chatgpt As A Simulated Client: A Feasibility Study In Undergraduate Counselor Training, Kayla E. Hayes, Rebecca L. Wilson, Joshua Wilson

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers new possibilities for simulation-based counselor training by enabling scalable, text-based interactions that mimic human dialogue. This exploratory feasibility study examined whether ChatGPT can serve as a simulated counseling client and feedback provider for undergraduate students learning counseling skills. Five upperclassmen completed a 45–60-minute text-based session with ChatGPT portraying “Sarah,” a college student experiencing depression and loneliness, followed by AI feedback and a semi-structured interview. Trained raters judged ChatGPT’s client portrayal and feedback as generally accurate, particularly for tone, empathy, and identification of students’ strengths. Accuracy was lower for rapport, summarizing, and pacing characteristic of an …

The Digital Tightrope: Navigating Social Media Ethics In Counseling, Kaitlynn Cornell-Mullane

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Social media has become deeply integrated into both personal and professional lives, yet the use by counseling professionals remains underexplored. This study investigated how various roles within the counseling field experience and utilize social media in their professional development, identity formation, and ethical practice. A qualitative online survey was utilized to collect data from counseling professionals (N = 20). Findings revealed six themes: (1) Conflicting Perspectives on Client Social Media Use and Engagement, (2) Personal Discomfort and Ethical Ambiguity, (3) Counselors’ Varied Approaches of Social Media Use, (4) Social Media Use for Professional Development, (5) Mixed Perspectives on Social Media …

Generative Artificial Intelligence In Counselor Development: Examining Systemic Influences On Training, Lauren Dollarhide, Leo Gonzalez Jr., Rachel M. Smith

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

The use of large language models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, AI-assisted supervision platforms, and AI-powered role-play simulations) in counselor education is changing the way counselors-in-training (CITs) are trained and has both risks and benefits for the field. This conceptual article applied Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to evaluate the impact of these technologies at multiple levels within the counseling training environment. The microsystem is described as the interactions between CITs and the AI they use to support their training experiences (e.g., AI-based learning tools, role-playing simulations). The mesosystem refers to the movement of AI across different …

Simulation-Based Education In A Counseling Skills Course: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study, Alexandra Gantt-Howrey, Hana Shewamoltot Meshesha, Renyi Huang, Elizabeth A. Doughty Horn, Renee Howells, Adenike Ololade Adedapo

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Simulation-based education (SBE) is a technique that introduces students to real-world experiences (Gaba, 2004) in a safe way (Holmes et al., 2023). Scholars have suggested that SBE may be a promising means of enhancing counselor education (e.g., Pope & Hilliard, 2024). We recruited a sample of N = 12 counseling skills students who completed up to 12 simulation-based education (SBE) activities using Simucase (2025) across one semester. We conducted an embedded, qualitatively-driven mixed methods pilot study (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2017) to understand participants’ perspectives on and impacts of the SBE activities on their perceived counseling self-efficacy and multicultural competence. …

Examining Six Domains Of Resilience With Latinx College Students From Migrant Farmworker Backgrounds: A Quasi-Experimental Single Case Design Study, Rebecca Dickinson, Raissa Miller, Cian L. Brown, G Michael Russo, Emma Knowles

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Resilience-building interventions show promise in higher education, yet few studies focus on Latinx college students from migrant farmworker backgrounds (LMFWs), a group facing significant challenges such as acculturative stress, mixed familial immigration status, and educational discontinuity. This quasi-experimental single-case design study examined resilience domains among LMFW students participating in a group-based intervention informed by the predictive 6-factor resilience model. Resilience was measured across six domains: collaboration, vision, tenacity, reasoning, health, and composure, using standardized assessments adapted from Rossouw and Rossouw (2018). Pre- and post-intervention scores were visually analyzed to assess change at the individual level. Results indicated a evidence of …

The Roles Of Adverse And Benevolent Childhood Experiences In Posttraumatic Growth And Social Connectedness Following Interpersonal Trauma, Margaret Poandl, Emily Kitching, Daniel Gutierrez, Yuqi Zhang

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Interpersonal trauma, such as childhood abuse, neglect, and intimate partner violence, is a prevalent and harmful form of trauma associated with deleterious psychosocial outcomes. Despite its negative impacts, individuals exposed to interpersonal trauma may also experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). While adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known risk factors and benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) are potential protective factors for adult outcomes, little is known about how combinations of ACEs and BCEs influence PTG. This study examined how combinations of ACEs and BCEs relate to PTG and social connectedness among individuals who have experienced interpersonal trauma. Using cross-sectional survey data from 615 …

Padres Ayudando A Padres: Co-Constructing A Family-Centered Mental Health Intervention Of, By, And For Central American Immigrant Parents, Rachael Goodman, Colleen K. Vesely, Maribel Tohara Nakamatsu, Victoria Stone, Valeria Quintana, Bethany Letiecq, Amigas De La Comunidad

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our partners in a Central American immigrant enclave reported an increasing need to support parents and children whose mental health was negatively impacted by the confluence of underlying systemic stressors and traumatic experiences. Using our existing family-centered participatory action research (FCPAR; Letiecq, Vesely, et al., 2022) approach and guided by the transcreation model (Nápoles & Stewart, 2018), we co-constructed a mental health intervention in partnership with community members, via our community advisory board (CAB). Essential to this process was building the intervention with the community, ensuring that it was culturally and contextually grounded …