Counseling Commons^™

Stigma And Isolation: The Lived Experiences Of Male Sexual Assault Survivors In College, Vanessa Vela

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Male sexual assault survivors on college campuses face barriers to disclosure, support, and recovery due to stigma, societal expectations of masculinity, and inadequate institutional resources. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of six male survivors of sexual assault enrolled in college, focusing on their perceptions of sexual violence before and after their assault, the psychological burden of disclosure, and their experiences with available support systems. Participants described challenges including rape myths, feelings of isolation, fear of emasculation, and limited access to gender-inclusive resources. While online communities provided some support, institutional services often failed to meet their needs due …

The Use Of Ritual In Counseling Sessions For Suicide Loss Survivors, Dr. Kailey Bradley, Dr. Yegan Pillay, Dr. Ibrahim Akmese

Adultspan Journal

Suicide loss impacts every aspect of the lives of those left behind, creating shattered assumptions and feelings of meaninglessness. In this perspective piece, the authors attempt to describe how the use or rituals in sessions can be therapeutically beneficial to suicide loss survivors across the lifespan. This piece provides a brief overview of the impact of suicide loss, theoretical approaches to suicide loss, and examples of rituals that can be used in sessions. Lastly, the authors share how they have used rituals in their own clinical work to provide guidance for mental health professionals working in diverse clinical settings who …

Permission To Unpack: Releasing The Traumas From Toxic Relationships, One Brick At A Time, Tomasa Villaronga

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

"Permission to Unpack: Releasing the Traumas from Toxic Relationships, One Brick at a Time" is a transformative manuscript designed to empower women to confront and heal from the traumas tied to toxic relationships. This book serves as a comprehensive guide, offering practical tools and insights to help readers engage in self-discovery and healing at their own pace. Central to the narrative are the principles of transformational leadership, guiding women on a journey of self-exploration and empowerment.

The text delves into critical themes such as Depression, Cycles, Love Bombing, Domestic Violence, Relapse, Sex, Narcissism, Trauma Bonds, Rebounding, Grief, and Forgiveness, providing …

Counselors’ Role In Supporting Lgbtgeqiap+ Teens Living In The Foster Care System, Elizabeth K. Kurt

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Queer youth in the United States are overrepresented and simultaneously unseen in the foster care system. They experience more negative mental health outcomes than their non-queer peers, and the child welfare system does not always provide safe or affirming care for these marginalized youth. LGBTGEQIAP+ teens are placed in congregate care at high rates and face a myriad of challenges in these settings that exasperate existing mental health concerns. This poster examines the injustices of out-of-home care and the maltreatment that gender and sexual minority youth experience in the foster care system, as well as exploring factors that improve …

Power, Interpersonal Trauma, And The Counseling Relationship: A Grounded Theory Analysis, Laura Caputo, Cassandra A. Storlie, Jenny L. Cureton, Sharazazi Dyson

2025 Faculty Bibliography

The purpose of this constructivist grounded theory analysis was to explore how adult women with histories of interpersonal trauma experience power within the counseling relationship. Using semi‐structured interviews with 29 clients in counseling, concurrent data analysis and collection resulted in a process theory composed of seven categories and one core category. Categories included Sociocultural Mental Health Factors, Past Experiences of Power, Choosing Counseling, Assessing for Safety and Fit, Advocating for Needs, Reliving Disempowerment, and Reclaiming Power. Participants’ experience of power was summarized by the core category, Practicing Personal Power in Connection with Others, which represented the model's central concepts. The …

Cohesive Model Of Supervision: An Empirically Based Approach, Gülşah Kemer

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Supervision models are fundamental to our supervision practices and criticized for lacking empirical support. As a data-driven approach based on research with expert supervisors, Cohesive Model of Supervision unifies existing models’ central premises in a meaningful manner and emphasizes the understated areas of supervision practice.

Behavioral Health Training For Integrated Behavioral Health: A Delphi Study, Nicholas Schmoyer, Lisa Corbin, Jessica Huffman, Gülşah Kemer

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Using a classical Delphi design, the authors used an interdisciplinary panel of behavioral health experts in integrated behavioral health (IBH) to identify foundational skills and knowledge counselor educators need to teach clinical mental health counselors for IBH practice. Eighty-eight statements were identified. Implications are provided for counseling and other behavioral health educators.

Confidentiality In Addiction Treatment: Navigating 42 Cfr Part 2 Within Human Services, Chaniece Winfield, Jessica Huffman

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Recent federal legislation, including the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAE) and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), has placed greater emphasis on quality integrated health care, with a focus on access, treatment options, and evidence-based practices. Changes to Federal 42 CFR privacy protections also impact individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment, either as a primary diagnosis or comorbidity. Human service professionals, as generalists in the behavioral health field, provide vital treatment, recovery, and prevention services for individuals with substance use and addictive disorders. This paper explores the implications of these legislative changes, particularly regarding privacy protections …

19.2 Ceus, Albright Aaron, Peighton Corley, Yusuf Barburoglu, Jeff Moe

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

[Introduction] WLCO-2024-0077.R1 Heteronormative and cisnormative language in Southern University counseling and Title IX Offices

1. This study utilized the document analysis is a five step process including all EXCEPT

a. Gaining access to the documents via the web

b. Understanding hope and why the texts are produced.

c. Utilizing previous research to validate ideas or themes in the texts.

d. Determining the accuracy of the documents

e. Linking the documents with other website observations to triangulate results

f. Deconstructing the texts using a code book.

2. One of the most commun issues the research found was that the University websites …

Navigating Recovery: Insights From Distance Learning Human Services Students' Abstinence Experience, Chaniece Winfield, Jill Kivikoski, Catalina Kraft

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

With the rise in overdose and problematic drug use in the United States, it is crucial to develop competent human service practitioners in addiction treatment and recovery settings. This qualitative study explores the virtual abstinence experience of distance learning human services students, using Mezirow’s transformative learning theory to examine how a 21-day experiential abstinence prompts critical reflection and perspective transformation. The study investigates the socio-emotional and physiological factors influencing participants' progress toward sobriety, including cravings, withdrawal, isolation, and relapse triggers. Findings highlight how participants' critical reflection leads to a deeper understanding of addiction and recovery, as well as an enhanced …

Ce 622 Syllabus: Family Systems Counseling, Anquinetta V. Calhoun

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course introduces students to the theory, assessment techniques, and intervention strategies used in the practice of family systems counseling. The focus of the course will be on building a theoretical base for understanding and applying family systems counseling strategies and techniques. Didactic and experiential learning will provide students with the opportunity to apply and integrate knowledge and skills.

Ce 633 Syllabus: Ethical Practice And Social Change, Mitch Moore

Counselor Education Syllabi

This course introduces students to the legal, professional and ethical issues that affect the practice of counseling and psychotherapy and the methods and ethical basis for counselors to be agents of social change. Students will become familiar with law and ethical codes related to the counseling profession. A model for ethical decision-making will be presented. Also, students will be presented with models for social change in their function as leaders, change agents, collaborators, and risk takers. Providing outreach and advocacy services in the school and community settings, students will expand their role as counselors to include the social contexts of …

A 14-Year Content Analysis Of School-Family Partnership Publications In Counseling: Trends, Gaps, And Future Directions, Yi-Wen Su, Dan Li

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This content analysis examined 55 articles on school-family-community partnerships published in counseling journals between 2010 and 2024, identifying trends in publication type, methodology, and population focus. Most articles (54.54%) were conceptual, with Professional School Counseling leading in publication volume. Limited empirical research and a lack of focus on diverse populations were noted, with only 18.18% addressing racial minorities (primarily Latino and African American) and 5.45% focusing on rural communities. Four primary strategies for strengthening partnerships emerged: Inclusivity, Leadership and Empowerment, Equity-Focused, and Consistent Communication—each aligning with the school counselor’s roles in fostering collaborative, equitable partnerships. Recommendations emphasize a need for …

Gatekeeping As An Online Adjunct Clinical Instructor In Counselor Education, Bernadet Dejonge, Deborah J. Rubel, Yun Shi

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This interpretative phenomenological analysis study examined how adjunct instructors teaching online clinical counseling courses experienced gatekeeping in the context of the university system. The research question was: How do online, adjunct instructors teaching master’s level clinical counseling courses experience their university interactions as a part of gatekeeping? The participants described five experiential themes. These were: a) Balancing marginalization in the system with advocacy for the profession; b) Maneuvering through dependency on the system in gatekeeping; c) Finding consultation while navigating gatekeeping interactions; d) Managing the intensity of clinical courses; and e) Navigating the steep learning curve of learning how to …

The Invisible Struggle: Unveiling The Realities Of Living With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Maura A. Stewart

Social Work Theses - Archive

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of rare connective tissue disorders that impact multiple systems of the body and are frequently misunderstood or misdiagnosed. This thesis explores the lived experiences of adults with EDS, focusing on the physical, emotional, and systemic challenges they face in daily life and healthcare. Using a mixed-methods survey, data were collected from 83 participants across the United States and beyond. The results revealed common themes of delayed diagnosis, medical dismissal, mental health struggles, and lack of access to knowledgeable providers. While chronic pain and fatigue were the most frequently reported symptoms, participants also described emotional …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Factors Affecting The Joy Of Life In Old Age: A Scale Development Study, Yalçın Karagöz, Yusuf Karaşi̇n, Mustafa Filiz, Mehmet Ateş

Adultspan Journal

This study aims to introduce a measurement tool into the literature that can reveal the factors affecting the joy of life in older adulthood. Participants included 266 individuals aged 55 and over living in Izmir, Turkey. The process of developing the scale includes the following stages: problem identification, item pool creation, expert opinion, form shaping, pilot application, and finalizing the scale. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale consists of 6 different dimensions, and the variance explained by these dimensions was found to be 65.184%. The acceptable values for the scale's fit indicators are as follows: χ²/df0.90, IFI > 0.90, …

Mindfulness & Mental Health: Balanced Time Perspective As A Mediator, Eddie Trueblood

Masters Theses

Mindfulness is a practice of intentionally paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. Being more mindful can decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, among other mental and physical health improvements. (Donald et al., 2016; Hofmann et al., 2010; Kabat-Zinn et al.,1992). This study examined if balanced time perspective (BTP) is one of the mechanisms of action of mindfulness in its relationship with depression, anxiety, and stress. BTP refers to a person’s ability to flexibly adapt their time perspective (attention to the past, present, or future, and positive or negative attitudes toward each) to suit the current …

Lived Experiences Of School Counselors’ Facilitation Of Small Group Counseling In Public High Schools, Joshua D. Hurley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of school counselors’ facilitation of small group counseling in public high schools. Prior research has shown that high school counselors utilize small group counseling at a lower rate than their elementary school counterparts. Researchers have identified two primary barriers that school counselors face in the implementation of small group counseling in schools to include time and internal fear and anxiety. This study investigated the lived experiences of 11 school counselors in their facilitation of small group counseling in the public high school setting. Through data analysis, three …

The Geography Of Care: Rural Versus Urban Caregiver Perspectives On Community Resources For Parkinson’S Disease Management, Rebecca Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the experiences and perceptions of caregivers for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) in rural versus urban settings, with particular emphasis on their access to and utilization of community resources. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 caregivers, the research explored how geographical location impacts caregiving challenges, support systems, and resource accessibility. Using Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use as a theoretical framework, the study revealed both universal caregiving challenges and location-specific barriers. While all caregivers reported significant emotional burden and healthcare system navigation difficulties, rural caregivers faced distinct challenges related to resource accessibility and specialized care availability. …