Counselor educators are responsible for training counselors-in-training (CITs), equipping them with knowledge and skills to best serve racially diverse clients (CACREP, 2015). CITs may demonstrate multicultural competence by broaching race, or inviting clients to consider the extent to which race contributes to one's presenting problem (Day-Vines et al., 2017). Practicum and Internship experiences offer counselor educators the opportunity to prepare CITs to broach race through group supervision. Thus, this interpretative phenomenological analysis aimed to explore experiences of Black counselor educators in CACREP-accredited counseling programs, as their voices have historically been overlooked in scholarship (Haskins and Singh, 2015). Five GETs were revealed including: (a) Degree of Multiculturalism in Counseling Program, (b) Regular Conversations of Race, (c) Defining Broaching, (d) Centering Clients' Culture, and (e) Feeling Tension with Students as well as three divergent experiences. Overall, these findings highlight the ways in which Black counselor educators navigate the task of supporting CITs with the broaching intervention. This study illuminates what counselor education programs, counselor educators, and CACREP can do to improve what is currently being done about broaching preparation in counselor education. / Doctor of Philosophy / Counselor educators are responsible for training counselors-in-training (CITs), equipping them with knowledge and skills to best serve racially diverse clients (CACREP, 2015). CITs may demonstrate multicultural competence by broaching race, or inviting clients to consider the extent to which race contributes to one's presenting problem (Day-Vines et al., 2017). Practicum and Internship experiences offer counselor educators the opportunity to prepare CITs to broach race through group supervision. Thus, this qualitative study aimed to explore experiences of Black counselor educators in CACREP-accredited counseling programs, as their voices have historically been overlooked in scholarship (Haskins and Singh, 2015). Five GETs were revealed including: (a) Degree of Multiculturalism in Counseling Program, (b) Regular Conversations of Race, (c) Defining Broaching, (d) Centering Clients' Culture, and (e) Feeling Tension with Students as well as three divergent experiences. Overall, these findings highlight the ways in which Black counselor educators navigate the task of supporting CITs with the broaching intervention. This study illuminates what counselor education programs, counselor educators, and the accrediting body for counselor education programs can do to improve what is currently being done about broaching preparation in counselor education.

There has been little research to date specifically addressing counselors' experiences with complementary therapy. The objective of this exploratory survey was to assess counselors' professional practice, knowledge and training, and personal experience with complementary therapy. The study design was a web-based, random sample survey of American Counseling Association members. Results indicated the typical respondent was female, Caucasian, holds a Master's degree and works in a private practice/self-employed or community agency setting as an outpatient counselor. Few respondents asked about or had clients volunteer use of complementary therapy. Anxiety and depression were the most common client concerns for which respondents recommended or referred for complementary therapy. Respondents agreed that client referrals should be to licensed or certified practitioners. Respondents reported that complementary therapy provided clients with at least some positive benefits and few negative consequences. The majority of respondents included complementary therapy in counseling during the past year and thought that complementary therapy should be included in addition to counseling. Although respondents considered themselves qualified to discuss a variety of complementary therapies, few possessed licensure or certification. The majority of respondents used informal, self-study to gain knowledge of complementary therapy. Most respondents have personally experienced at least one complementary therapy, primarily "To improve overall wellness". Respondents reported they received some to large benefits from this experience. A number of respondents descriptors had moderately positive associations with client usage, recommendation and referral, inclusion, and knowledge factors. These descriptors were those respondents who worked in a private practice/self-employed setting, as an outpatient counselor, were licensed as an LPC, provided individual, family/couples, or alcohol/substance abuse counseling, and had a psychodynamic orientation. There were moderately negative associations between respondents who worked in a K-12 setting, did not possess mental health licensure and were a Master's student and client usage, recommendation and referral, and inclusion factors. The data provide support for the idea that counselors are beginning to embrace a post-modern approach, which gives consideration to complementary therapy interventions. However, the findings also suggested that the counseling profession still has a good deal of work to do before it can be considered truly holistic. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to investigate post-secondary students' perceptions of the role and functions of their high school counselor. One hundred seventy-three students currently attending a community college in a suburban area of a large metropolitan city participated in this study. The participants were asked to complete a survey developed by the researcher. Five research questions (listed below) guided this study. 1) Do post-secondary students perceive that high school counselors are performing the functions outlined by the American School Counselor Association (see Appendix B and C), and are there gender and ethnic differences? 2) How are perceptions of services rated as "very" important by post-secondary students, and are there gender and ethnic differences? 3) How are perceptions of services rated as "often" performed by post-secondary students, and are there gender and ethnic differences? 4) What are post-secondary student's perceptions of the importance with which specific counseling functions are performed as compared to perceptions of frequency? 5) What is the level of unmet need for counseling services perceived as "very" important by post-secondary students? The results indicated that only two percent of high school counselors performed all functions identified on the questionnaire, however the majority of participants indicated counselors performed nearly one-third of the functions. The functions were noted as academic, career, or personal/social domain. The most important function and the most often performed function rated by participants was discussing graduation requirements and the least important as well as the least performed function was identified as assistance with relationship issues. In general, there was not a significant difference between gender and ethnicity. The percentage of participants who indicated a function was "very" important, however was "seldom" or "never" performed was above 50% for most functions. / Ph. D.

The purpose of the study was to develop an understanding of how perceptions of same-sex relationships affect counselors'-in-training (CITs) identification of intimate partner violence. The researcher examined whether the sexual orientation of a client has an impact on CITs identification of violence, identification of victimization and perpetration and how homonegative attitudes shape perceptions of same-sex relationship violence. Data was collected via information questionnaires regarding demographic and professional background, experimental vignettes modified from Blasko, Winek, and Bieschke']s (2007) study, and the 10-item version of the Modern Homonegativity Scale (Morrison and Morrison, 2002; Morrison, Kenny, and Harrington, 2005). The sample included 203 master and doctoral students from CACREP-accredited counseling programs in the southern region of the United States. The results indicated that most respondents were able to appropriately identify intimate partner violence. The levels of agreement regarding types of violence varied between vignette types. An ANOVA revealed significant differences between relationship type and identification of mutual violence, victim, and perpetrator. Respondents attributed more responsibility for the violence to female victims when the perpetrator was also female. Findings suggest that gender of the initiator (perpetrator) and non-initiator (victim) of violence may impact identification of violence more than sexual orientation. The results also suggest that respondents' homonegative attitudes impact perceptions of violence in same-sex relationships, particularly female partnerships. More research is needed on counselor response to relationship violence and sexual orientation. Exploring how beliefs in heteronormative gender-roles and homonegative attitudes impact perceptions of same-sex intimate partner violence among CITs is crucial for competent and ethical practitioners. / Ph. D.

Career development is a component of the work of both school counselors and counselor educators. A review of the literature found no existing comparison of between-rural differences in career self-efficacy and college outcome expectation when considering students from rural fringe, rural distant, and rural remote communities. Utilizing Social Cognitive Career Theory and Critical Pedagogy of Place as guiding theoretical frameworks, this study sought to examine between-rural differences in self-efficacy and outcome expectation. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze data collected from rural college students attending a large Appalachian research university. Regression and path analysis were used to make causal inferences from the data. The mixed-method exploratory study utilized a convergent design where qualitative data was concurrently collected and analyzed to provide context to the quantitative findings. The findings show that while no statistically significant between-group differences existed with outcome expectation, rural remote students had lower self-efficacy scores than other rural students, particularly relating to social skills. Large group social skills and social adjustment to college could be valuable areas of intervention for school counselors and higher education administrators looking to improve college outcomes for rural remote students. / Doctor of Philosophy / Career and college preparation are key components to the work of school counselors and higher education administrators. While a review of the literature shows that the career development needs of rural students are different than their non-rural peers, there has been no examination of the differences that exist between rural groups. This study looked at differences in career development among rural students who had grown up in various levels of remoteness. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to determine if any differences exist and what those differences are. The results showed that students from more remote areas had lower levels of confidence in their ability to succeed academically in college. Additionally, social skills were a common theme when exploring what areas of transition were difficult for rural students.

As global mental health initiatives continue, the need for culturally responsive approaches to research and mental health inquiry and intervention as increasingly important. However, most counseling programs and research preparation do not include indigenous approaches to address training and clinical practice. Liming and Ole Talk has emerged as a culturally responsive methodological approach with some Caribbean populations, however, at the time of this study, it had not been used with people from the Bahamas. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to continue to explore Liming and Ole Talk as a pathway to inquiry with Caribbean people leading to the research question; how do Bahamian immigrants experience liming and ole talk as a approach to mental health inquiry? For this study, 5 Bahamians signed up to lime, 4 came on the day of and 1 limer returned to process after. Utilizing a storytelling and reflective approach to analysis 5 connection points emerged: Stigma, Immigration as enlightenment, Spirituality as cause and intervention, Helplessness, and Hopefulness. The findings of the study are relevant for counselor education programs, clinical practice, and research methodological training.

Background: Prior to the early 1990s, most counselor preparation programs did not have multicultural competencies. Therefore, a call was made for the use of multicultural competencies in counselor preparation programs. Yet, the popularization of multicultural competencies of this time in education had a Eurocentric bent, a kind of colorblindness More recently, scholars confirmed that these Eurocentric multicultural competencies had become the primary template from which counselor preparation programs taught culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy. Therefore, a call was made for the use of critical race theory (CRT) in counselor preparation programs to challenge and change Eurocentric cultural competence. Purpose: This study explored the presence of CRT and culturally relevant pedagogy in an educational counseling master’s program preparing community college counselors. Methodology: This content analysis explored an educational counseling master’s program. Various data collection methods employed included program document analysis, and semi-structured interviews of program faculty/counselor-educators, program student-counselors/alumni. Conclusion: The main findings of this content analysis are that although not explicit, and albeit limited, evidence of CRT themes were inferred in some way in the program’s content; while culturally relevant pedagogy was evident within the variety of counseling techniques employed.

The deregulation of snacks by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) permits institutions to provide enhanced snacks incidental to participation. Athletes may now have the opportunity to improve their diet quality. The purpose of this research was to assess the consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as body composition of Division I collegiate athletes. The sample included 19 American football players and 8 volleyball players. Paired t-tests were performed to compare fruit intake, vegetable intake, and body fat percentage pre- and post-deregulation of snacks. Linear regression models were used to determine correlations between change in fruit intake and change in body fat percentage and change in vegetable intake and change in body fat percentage. There were no significant differences in the paired t-tests; however, there was a significant correlation in increasing fruit intake, vegetable intake, and decreasing body fat percentage among football players. Results suggest that regular contact with a Registered Dietitian may improve diet quality, and providing nutrient-dense foods planned by a Registered Dietitian to college athletes may improve body fat percentage.

This exploratory research study investigated perceptions of practicum counselor trainees to help understand how prepared they believed they were for supervision. Based upon common elements of various developmental models of supervision, this study examined counselor trainees’ perceptions of their preparedness for practicum supervision based upon: (a) expectations of supervision; (b) understanding of the structure and formats used in supervision; (c) receptivity to and use of feedback in supervision; and (d) the evaluative component of supervision. This study also investigated possible explanations as to what factors may lead counselor trainees to feel more or less prepared for practicum supervision. The participants in this study were 156 counseling students enrolled in practicum courses at 27 CACREPaccredited counseling programs across the United States during the spring semester of 2005. The instrument used in this study was the Counselor Trainee Preparedness Perceptions Survey - Practicum Supervision (CTPPS-PS) survey, developed by the researcher. The CTPPS-PS was administered anonymously online through an Internet link distributed to students by practicum instructors or in paper format. To minimize the effects of varying practicum supervision experiences incurred by the sample participants, data collection was restricted to a 30-day period during the first half of the academic semester. Findings from this research revealed significant positive relationships between counselor trainees' overall perceptions of preparedness for practicum supervision and perceived preparation for various aspects of supervision. For the various aspects of supervision, the strongest relationships were found between overall perceptions of preparedness and preparation for what is required in supervision and to accept guidance and support through supervision. The weakest relationship was between overall perceptions and preparation for supervisory evaluation. These research findings also revealed significant positive relationships between counselor trainees' overall perceptions of preparedness for practicum supervision and perceptions of practicum supervision experience to date as well as with comfort experienced with receiving feedback in supervision. Another significant finding was consistently higher overall perceptions of preparedness for trainees being supervised by part-time faculty and for trainees attending universities with doctoral counseling programs. The findings of this study may encourage counselor educators to augment their programs and courses with supervision preparation strategies so that students may begin practicum feeling better prepared than the participants in this study. For supervisors, findings from this study can form the basis for a dialogue at the onset of supervision to determine the needs of counselor trainees, and thus help mitigate potential obstacles to practicum experiences resulting from areas lacking in preparation for supervision.

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to gain a deep understanding of the shared experiences of therapists who provide counseling in non-traditional, natural environment settings. Eight participants shared their experiences about counseling in nature. The primary research question for this study was: What are the shared experiences of counselors who provide nature-based counseling? A review of the literature of nature-based counseling provided benefits to spending time in nature, descriptions of various types of nature-based counseling, and ethical and legal issues that affect nature-based counselors. Semi-structured interviews comprised of open-ended questions were used to collect data by phone and through the use of video conferencing software. Audio taped interviews were transcribed and analyzed for key words, descriptive terms, and themes. Additional materials provided by counselors were analyzed for themes and overarching themes. A cross-case analysis yielded seven super-ordinate themes. The research question and sub-questions were addressed by the super-ordinate themes. The super-ordinate themes are: 1) Major Tenets, 2) Training and Ethical Concerns, 3) Benefits, 4) Motivations for Using Nature, 5) Beliefs About Human Connection With Nature, 6) Counselor’s Role, and 7) Spirituality. I employed validation procedures throughout my research to ensure accuracy during the data interpretation, which included clarification of my biases, member checking, peer debriefing and peer review, and the use of “thick, rich description.” Implications for counselors and counselor educators are presented, with recommendations for further research. Personal reflections of the researcher were provided.