Leaders in higher education institutions throughout the United States regard distance learning as an important part of their long-term strategic planning (Allen & Seaman, 2015). Counselor education and supervision training programs are following this trend as demonstrated by the increase of online programs being offered to train professional counselors (Renfro‐Michel, O'Halloran, & Delaney, 2010). Some studies have investigated how online supervision compares to in-person or face-to-face counselor training (e.g., Lenz, Oliver, & Nelson, 2011). However, little is known about counselor educators’ experiences of online group supervision. A phenomenological case study explored the counselor educators’ lived experiences of resistance during online group supervision in Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) accredited programs. The results of the study identified four themes: the supervisory relationship matters, differences exist between online and face-to-face supervision, positionality and privilege influence resistance, and resistance is dynamic. The study’s findings could enhance the field’s understanding of resistance and expand on how to consider and approach resistance during online supervision.

This study investigated the problem of lack of a standardized curriculum in chemical dependency curricula to train the Certified Addiction Professional Counselor. The Columbia Assessment Services(CAS) was employed by the National Certification Reciprocity Consortium (NCRC) to complete a study for the field of addiction counseling. The study completed was a role delineation analysis and has since been translated into a book called the Study Guide for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselors (1992). This study guide was used to develop a course module using the Systems Approach to Training (SAT) format. This study addresses the basic research question, is an instructional training module using the Systems Approach to Training (SAT) method a consistent and standard delivery system for instruction? To answer the basic research question, three related or subsidiary questions must be answered. 1. As the content of the course module on assessment is already designed in a traditional approach, can the course also be designed using an SAT method? 2. Will the SAT format be a consistent and standard method of delivery of the knowledge to be learned as determined by a panel of experts? 3. Will the SAT format be a consistent and standard method of delivery for the skills to be performed, as determined by a panel of experts? This study ascertains through subject matter experts surveyed in the field, that the course module designed in the SAT format is a consistent and standard method of delivery for the training program utilizing a chemical dependency course module.

In 1975, Gabe Kotter introduced himself as the teacher of the Sweathogs on the television show Welcome Back, Kotter. Through the use of several timeless teaching strategies, Mr. Kotter facilitated the success of students identified by others as unruly and in need of remediation. Forty years later, these teaching strategies continue to be culturally relevant and applicable. During this presentation, the presenters will provide an overview of five timeless teaching strategies demonstrated by Mr. Kotter, show brief video clips, and discuss related literature.

The profession of counseling psychology has, for a long time, realized the need for reevaluating and improving traditional methods of training counselors. The major professional demands have been (1) a science-based approach to the training counselors; and (2) a more experientially oriented approach to the training of counselors. This study represented a developmental effort geared towards the integration of the above two demands. Seven experientially oriented modular instructional units were developed for use in a counselor education program. Units were developed on (1) what counseling and psychotherapy are; (2) history of counseling and psychotherapy; (3) counselor attitudes; (4) interviewing skills (A); (5) interviewing skills (B); (6) critical incidents in counseling and psychotherapy; and (7) counselor values, and ethical and legal responsibilities in counseling and psychotherapy. The Instructional units adopted a format containing (1) specific learning objectives; (2) descriptions of learning activities; and (3) evidence of learning or criteria statements for each learning objective. The seven units were put into training manual form. An instructor's manual was also developed to enable any counselor educator to teach the course by familiarizing himself with the manuals. The modular instructional systems were field tested on a pilot group of nine graduate students in counseling psychology. The pilot group met for six hours of class time each week for ten consecutive weeks. As a result of the field testing, parts of the system were either modified, eliminated, or added. The study concluded that the systems approach to counselor education is a viable alternative to more traditional methods of counselor education. It is a science-based approach characterized by a high level of accountability, and it offers and efficient and effective method for counselor education.

The purpose of this thesis is to explore, based upon a literature survey of articles and books published primarily, though not limited to, the past fifteen years, the development of the self-concept in children during the first five years of life. This will include defining self-concept, the establishment of its significance throughout the life span, the role significant others play in the development, an examination of sex-role identity in relationship to self-concept formation, and a critique of available tests and measurements, followed by a conclusion which focuses upon implications for treatment providers.

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One of the myriad consequences of war is displacement and refugee-ism. People become refugees when they no longer feel safe in their country of origin. Before, during, and after the journey towards safety, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) endure several challenging circumstances which stretch their normal abilities to cope. In their efforts to cope, these people report several mental health challenges like sleeplessness, hypervigilance, anxiety, and depression. The reported mental health challenges are normal in this population; however, when they persist, they result in posttraumatic stress disorder. Surprisingly, some also report obtaining psychological growth due to their challenging circumstances. To examine the interplay of posttraumatic stress disorder and psychological growth in this population, the study was grounded on the cognitive theory of trauma and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Thus, the relationship among posttraumatic growth, religious commitment, and optimism within adult Liberian former refugees and IDPs traumatized by war-related events became the focus of the investigation. The grounding theories provided four hypotheses that explored the relationship among the constructs, as well as seven exploratory research questions that identified differences among participants. Through purposeful and snowball sampling methods, five hundred participants were selected as the sample; 444 returned the study package. Participants were adult Liberian former refugees and IDPs who could read and understand English at the 8th grade level, and who lived in Monrovia. Participants completed six instruments – the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Religious Commitment Inventory, the Revised Life Orientation Test, the War Trauma Screening Index, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, and demographic questionnaire. Results of the study indicated that there was a statistically significant correlation between impact of war-related events and posttraumatic stress disorder, with alterations in arousal and reactivity obtaining the strongest correlation. However, the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder for the Liberian sample could be attributed to the recent reaction to the Ebola virus which re-traumatized adult Liberian former refugees and IDPs. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant relationship between all factors of posttraumatic stress disorder and all factors of posttraumatic growth. The relationship between factors of religious commitment and factors of posttraumatic stress disorder was statistically significant for some posttraumatic stress disorder factors and not significant for others. Similarly, relationship between optimism and posttraumatic stress disorder was statistically significant for some and not significant for others. Finally, a structural equation model was conducted to identify latent variables affecting the relationship. Results indicated, as per the hypothesized model, that war events predicted trauma, which in turn predicted posttraumatic growth. However, even though religiousness and optimism could each predict posttraumatic growth, optimism, more than religiousness provided errors that co-varied with errors of trauma, indicating that with the presence of optimism, a person could move from trauma towards growth. Review of related literature situated the current study in the mental health discourse, especially in providing a voice for mental health on the African continent. Detailed methodology was provided, as were results of findings. Finally, summary, conclusions, and recommendations were provided for both mental health workers, counselor educators, and researchers.

The purpose of this study was to better understand the culture of an Upward Bound College Preparatory Program in the Midwest and how it interacted with the culture of 12th-grade UB participants. In particular, the study examined how UB and the cultures that 12th graders belonged influenced students' decisions, progression, and adult transitions. UB serves at-promise high school students who are highly susceptible to academic, career, financial, and psychological challenges during their 12th-grade progression and transition. Therefore, the researcher conducted an ethnographic study that included observations, documents, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups with (N = 70) participants in the Midwest. Participants included (n = 14) active 12th-grade UB primary participants, (n = 7) non-active 12th grade UB secondary participants, and (n = 49) adult tertiary participants. During this juncture in their lives, 12th-grade UB participants typically have fewer supports, while facing challenges and social stratification associated with their cultural and demographic statuses. Findings illustrated that UB's 12th-grade culture disregarded developmentally appropriate curriculum, mentor support, and a balanced level of structured guidance. In turn, these cultural interactions also influenced 12th-grade UB participants' decisions to engage in school activities, participate in UB program activities, engage in college going behaviors, and choose a particular college. Gaining a better understanding of the 12th-grade culture in this UB program provides several insights on how to improve the program's services. Recommendations include more culturally relevant interventions, comprehensive school counseling programs, and the development of 12th-grade UB curriculums that address the holistic (i.e., academic, personal, socioemotional) needs of 12th-grade UB students.

The literature has documented that negative life events such as divorce, financial issues, or relationship changes lead to various psychological concerns including depression, anxiety, or suicidal behaviors. However, several variables affect how people cope with negative life events. Among those variables, optimism, hope, and gratitude have been emphasized in the literature, and their relationships with several psychological outcomes have been studied. However, little is known about the effects of these variables on negative life events and their relationship to psychological distress and life satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between negative life events and psychological distress and life satisfaction. This study also examined the moderating effects of optimism, hope, and gratitude on negative life events' prediction of psychological distress and life satisfaction. This investigation tested the theoretical model that negative life events predicted psychological distress and life satisfaction in undergraduate students (N = 738). In addition, this investigation tested three theoretical interaction models that optimism, hope and gratitude moderated the relationships between negative life events and psychological distress and life satisfaction. The results revealed that negative life events predicted psychological distress and life satisfaction. Regarding moderating effects, optimism hope, and gratitude moderated negative life events' prediction of psychological distress, but not life satisfaction. These results are consistent with the existing literature on negative life events. The results and limitations are discussed along with suggestions for future research. Implications are presented for college counselors and counselor educators.