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open access

Children's Experiences in Child-Centered Play Therapy: An Artwork-Based Phenomenological Investigation

Description: Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is an empirically endorsed approach for children facing specific clinical concerns and life circumstances alike. The majority of research to date has accrued data about clients from secondary sources, such as adult report and observation. The purpose of this study was to explore children's perceptions of participating in CCPT by implementing a developmentally accessible interview medium, allowing children to share their experiences directly. Ten children betwe… more
Date: July 2023
Creator: Quinn, Carol
open access

The Mentorship Experiences of Black Masters Students in CACREP-Accredited Counselor Education Programs

Description: Within this research study, a qualitative phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experiences of Black master's students (n = 10) who engage in mentorship in CACREP-accredited counselor education programs. The participants in this study represent different ACES regions in the United States, including SACES, NARACES, and NCACES. Six themes were discovered as a result of participants' experiences: (a) impact of mentorship, (b) benefits of mentorship, (c) qualities within mentoring… more
Date: July 2023
Creator: Smith, Hailey Brierre
open access

Child-Centered Play Therapy and Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Children on the Autism Spectrum

Description: The current study is the first repeated-measures design exploring the impact of child-centered play therapy (CCPT), an evidence-based child psychotherapy intervention, on autistic children's social-emotional assets, and emotional and behavioral problems across four times during intervention based on teacher reports. Participants consisted of 19 autistic children recruited from two Title-1 elementary schools in the southwest United States who were aged between 5 years and 8.25 years (M = 6.22, S… more
Date: July 2023
Creator: Chung, Regine Ki Ki
open access

The Lived Experiences of Resilient LGBTQIQ Emerging Adults Who have Histories of Complex Trauma

Description: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and queer (LGBTQIQ) adults are more likely to report experiences of complex trauma, and have detrimental mental health effects as a result, when compared to cisgender, heterosexual adults. However, LGBTQIQ adults have excellent capacity for resilience. In this phenomenological investigation, I explored the lived experiences of resilient LGBTQIQ emerging adults (N = 11) who have histories of complex trauma. Five themes emerged as a resu… more
Date: July 2023
Creator: Cunningham, Victoria L.
open access

The Role of Play Therapists' Characteristics and Self-Efficacy in Predicting Barriers to Engaging Parents

Description: The current study sought to explore play therapists' barriers to engaging parents in their clinical work as well as understand the relationship between play therapist characteristics and their attitudes toward parents. Using a demographic questionnaire, Therapist Barriers to Engaging Parents (TBEP), and the Counseling Self- Estimate Inventory (COSE), 136 members of the Association for Play Therapy were surveyed to explore predictors to engaging with parents. Overall, play therapists reported lo… more
Date: May 2023
Creator: Line, Ahou Vaziri
open access

The Role of Counselor Trainees' Co-Regulated Mindfulness: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Study

Description: Mindfulness is a practice that has the potential to help counseling students build a variety of skills that are necessary for clinical efficacy, including therapeutic presence, attunement, empathy, cognitive flexibility, and non-reactivity. However, mindfulness is rarely taught to students in mental health training programs, which makes it an untapped possibility to improve counselor education. Additionally, rarely do researchers explore the role of counselor mindfulness and counselor trauma on… more
Date: May 2023
Creator: Warwick, Lindsey A.

The Lived Experiences of Puerto Rican Mental Health Professionals Who Provided Postdisaster Counseling Services to Children

Description: This photovoice study explored the lived experiences of nine Puerto Rican mental health professionals who provided postdisaster counseling services to children. Due to the complex and multilayered experiences of Puerto Rican mental health professionals, this study used intersectionality as the theoretical lens to facilitate thematic analysis of the data. Results from coresearchers' narratives and photographs generated seven major themes: (a) la politiquería of disasters; (b) the impact of compo… more
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Date: May 2023
Creator: Rodríguez Delgado, Mónica

Implementing the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies with Black, Indigenous, and Womxn of Color

Description: The purpose of this descriptive multiple case study was to explore how counselors implement multicultural and social justice counseling competencies (MSJCC) when providing therapy to Black, Indigenous, and Womxn of Color. This study was informed by critical theory and intersectionality theory to capture the complex dynamics of identity and power through semi-structured interviewing, observations of archived counseling sessions, review of archived client case records, and administration of the M… more
This item is restricted from view until June 1, 2025.
Date: May 2023
Creator: Jarrett, Jodi Ann N.

Counselors' Experiences: Training and Use of Standardized Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Tests in Play Therapy Practice

Description: Assessment is a core component of the counseling identity. While previous literature has explored child clinicians' attitudes and use of standardized assessment instruments, less is known about the assessment practices of counselors providing play therapy to young children. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the subjective experiences of counselors who regularly use standardized social, emotional, and behavioral tests in their play therapy practice. Eleven professional counsel… more
This item is restricted from view until January 1, 2025.
Date: December 2022
Creator: Iliff, Tamara
open access

Using Gottman's Sound Relationship House Scales to Assess the Impact of Safe Conversations Workshops

Description: This study replicated components from Babcock et al. (2013) by examining an Imago-based Safe Conversations (SC) workshop using Gottman's psychometrically established instruments for couple functioning. Participants were 28 married heterosexual couples (N = 56) with a mean age of 27.30 years (SD = 10.16), 89.3% non-Hispanic, 78.6% Black or African-American, 85.7% first time married, 75% with at least a bachelor's degree, and a median household income in the $100,000-150,000 range. Couples indepe… more
Date: December 2022
Creator: Eaglin, Benlon V.
open access

Effective Caregiver Consultation in Play Therapy: A Program Evaluation

Description: This study examined the effectiveness of caregiver consultations in caregiver's child's play therapy process through a program evaluation lens. Archival data was used from a counseling clinic located in the central southwestern United States. Quantitative data was collected from caregiver who filled out assessments (PSI-4 and CBCL) about their child's progression through play therapy and both groups frequency of attendance. A regression analysis was used to determine if caregivers perceived cha… more
Date: December 2022
Creator: Lowe, Paige Mathison
open access

The Counseling Experiences of Clients Who are Polyamorous: A Phenomenological Inquiry

Description: Polyamory is an identity that describes the ability to experience romantic love with more than one romantic partner at a time. Polyamory is often perceived as being perverse, amoral, and relationally broken or deficient; however, people who identify as polyamorous are found to be as mentally healthy and happy as people who are monogamous. Clients who identify as polyamorous may experience their counselor as lacking familiarity with and knowledge of polyamory or as actively working against their… more
Date: May 2022
Creator: Stevens, Carly Rachel
open access

Depth in Supervision: The Role of Relational Depth and Supervisory Working Alliance in Predicting Counselor Self-Efficacy

Description: This study aimed to explore supervisee and supervisor experiences of relational depth (RD) within the supervisory relationship and its association with supervisee level of counselor self-efficacy (CSE). Participants in the study were master's level counseling students and their doctoral supervisors in a practicum course. A total of 52 supervisees (aged 22-57; 19.2% male, 80.8% female) and 18 supervisors (aged 25-46; 16.7% male, 83.3% female) participated in the study. Results demonstrated that… more
Date: May 2022
Creator: McCullough, Rachel Folsom
open access

Developing a Partnership for Internship Training at a Community-Based Animal Assisted Therapy Practice

Description: The effectiveness of a pre-graduation animal assisted therapy internship site was investigated through an ethnographic, phenomenological methodology with mixed-methods components. A total of 12 participants who fit into either the category of supervisor, intern, or administrator involved in the animal assisted therapy practice, were interviewed. A research team analyzed the qualitative interview data and researcher participant field notes and came to a consensus of eight major themes: ranch env… more
Date: May 2022
Creator: Bugni, Brooke R.

The Resiliency Experiences of Black, Indigenous People of Color Counselors in Training at Historically White Institutions

Description: In this phenomenological investigation, a qualitative approach to research methodology is utilized to explore the resiliency experiences of Black, Indigenous, people of color counselors in training (N = 12) at historically or predominantly White institutions. The participants represent multiple regions of the United States, spanning from the northeastern United States to the Pacific Northwest. Five themes were uncovered as a result of the interviews: (1) strategies for resiliency; (2) experienc… more
Date: December 2021
Creator: Lollar, Shannon R

Experiences of Parents of Preadolescents with Child–Parent Relationship Therapy

Description: Preadolescence is a time of emotional, physical, social, and relational changes, which can lead to mental health concerns. Parents of preadolescents also experience changes within their roles as parents, and both parents and preadolescents experienced a wide range of changes and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mental health intervention focused on enhancing the parent-child relationship among parents of preadolescents is important for overall family functioning. This phenomenological… more
Date: December 2021
Creator: Agarwal, Sarah M.
open access

Assessing the Clinical Experiences and Attitudes of Play Therapists Working with Children of Parental Substance Use

Description: This study aimed to gain insight into the clinical practices and attitudes of currently practicing play therapists working with children with a parent with a substance use disorder. Participants in the study were play therapists credentialed by the Association for Play Therapy, either as a Registered Play Therapist™ or Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™. A total of 198 play therapists participated in the study. Results demonstrated that variables including prior education, caseload of childr… more
Date: December 2021
Creator: Yurkovich, Chelsea V

Counselors' Experiences of HIV Status Disclosure to Children Living with HIV in Uganda

Description: Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate tremendous advancement in the fight against HIV/AIDS infection through prevention, provision of high-quality treatment options, and psychosocial services to infected and affected individuals and communities. However, there is still a considerable number of new infections occurring among children, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers highlight the benefits of HIV status disclosure to children. Yet, there is limited research conce… more
Date: August 2021
Creator: Opondo, Harriet
open access

Impact of Child-Centered Play Therapy on the Mindful Expressions and Social-Emotional Competencies of Head Start Preschoolers

Description: In this study, I examined the impact of child-centered play therapy (CCPT) on the social and emotional functioning and mindful expressions of preschoolers in Head Start preschool programs. Participants were 23 children from two Head Start preschool programs in the southwestern U.S. who qualified for free or reduced lunch and were referred by school personnel for behavioral or academic concerns (18 males, 5 females; ages 3-5, mean age = 3.74). The sample consisted of 1 (4.3%) African American, 5… more
Date: August 2021
Creator: Robinson, Hannah Beth
open access

Exploring Experiences of Emotionally Focused Therapists Serving Interabled Couples: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Description: In the U.S., an estimated 61 million people identify as having a disability, making up 26% of all adults. The occurrence of a disability for one person within a couple impacts the physical, social, psychological, and emotional state of the person who acquired a disability, forcing changes to quality of life. Interabled couples, defined as one partner having a physical disability and the other partner identifying as nondisabled, navigate various systems of care as they respond to the needs of th… more
Date: August 2021
Creator: Tapia-Fuselier, Jose Luis, Jr.

A Combined Mindfulness and Social Emotional Learning School Counselor Consultation Approach with Teachers

Description: The demands on teachers have been further amplified both personal and professional in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of stress teachers face is unsustainable. Stress can have negative outcomes for the teacher student relationship. Increasing teachers' social-emotional competence can lead to a more supportive classroom environment and improved teacher and student outcomes. Researchers have determined mindfulness-based interventions are conducive to increasing teachers' social-emoti… more
Date: August 2021
Creator: Molina, Citlali E
open access

Outdoor Child-Centered Play Therapy with Attention and Social-Emotional Competencies in Children

Description: Children experience a multitude of benefits in response to interactions with nature. Despite documented effects, children have increasingly spent less time outdoors over the last century and experienced higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses. Although child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is a culturally and developmentally responsive mental health treatment for children, researchers have limited study of environmental structure and materials employed in the therapeutic process of CCPT. … more
Date: May 2021
Creator: Walker, Kimberly L. A.
open access

Relational and Social-Cognitive Predictors of PTSD in U.S. Combat Veterans: A Path Analysis

Description: The purpose of the present study was to explore a theoretically based social-cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by investigating attachment-related and social-cognitive predictors of PTSD in a sample of 125 post-9/11 U.S. combat veterans. Subjects completed an online survey assessing PTSD symptomology, attachment-related internal working models, perceived social support, and mentalizing capacity. Path analysis provided empirical support for a respecified version of the mode… more
Date: May 2021
Creator: Smith, Julia E.
open access

Involving Children in the Assessment Process: Experiences of a Developmentally Appropriate Feedback Model

Description: Assessment is a foundational part of counseling practice, which includes the process of providing assessment feedback to those tested. Millions of children are assessed across the United States through the public-school system, hospital, agency, and private practice settings. Though millions of children are assessed yearly, there has been little research surrounding providing assessment feedback with children. In this study, the author qualitatively explored children's experiences with a develo… more
Date: May 2021
Creator: Weeks, Sara Eaton
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