Exploring Latina Clinical Mental Health Counseling Students’ Perceptions of Teaching Practices

Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with clinical mental health counseling students to understand perceptions of their instructors’ teaching practices. Using an-evidenced based teaching model as a theoretical lens (Malott et al., 2014), researchers highlighted students’ experiences, perceptions, and beliefs regarding teaching. Following a discussion, recommendations for researchers and counselor educators to improve teaching practices are provided

Evaluating the Impact of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on Hope and Clinical Symptoms With Latine Clients

We implemented a single-case research design (SCRD) with a small sample (N = 2) to assess the effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) for Latine clients experiencing mental health concerns. Analysis of participants’ scores on the Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS) and Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2) using split-middle line of progress visual trend analysis, statistical process control charting, percentage of non-overlapping data points procedure, percent improvement, and Tau-U yielded treatment effects indicating that SFBT may be effective for improving hope and mental health symptoms for Latine clients. Based on these findings, we discuss implications for counselor educators, counselors-in-training, and practitioners, which include integrating SFBT principles into the counselor education curriculum, teaching counselors-in-training how to use SCRDs to evaluate counseling effectiveness, and using the DHS and OQ-45.2 to measure hope and clinical symptoms

Understanding Perceived Differences Between Successful and Struggling First-Year Mexican American College Students: An Exploratory Study

In this exploratory study, we conducted in-depth interviews with university seminar instructors to discover perceived differences between successful and struggling first-year Latina/o college students. Several factors emerged from interviews to differentiate successful and struggling Latina/o college students. These factors include assimilation, motivation to pursue goals, family knowledge and resources, family social class, different preparation for postsecondary education, and different levels of support and encouragement in high school. We provide recommendations for high school counselors and researchers

Integrating Wellness within Group Counseling for Latinx Adolescents

Latinx adolescents may begin middle school with lower levels of life satisfaction and hope. In the current study, we implemented a small-series (N = 4) single-case research design to evaluate the impact of a group counseling wellness experience to increase Latinx adolescents\u27 life satisfaction and hope. Analysis of participants\u27 scores on outcome measures yielded treatment effects indicating that the group counseling wellness experience may be effective for increasing hope and life satisfaction. Implications for school counselors are provided

Examining the Practicum Experience to Increase Counseling Students’ Self-Efficacy

Counseling graduate students may begin practicum with low self-efficacy regarding their counseling abilities and skills. In the current study, we implemented a small-series (N = 11) single-case research design to assess the effectiveness of the practicum experience to increase counseling students’ self-efficacy. Analysis of participants’ scores on the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scale yielded treatment effects indicating that the practicum experience encompassing direct services, group supervision, and triadic supervision may be effective for increasing counselor self-efficacy. Given that the practicum experience with triadic supervision was a promising approach for improving counseling graduate students’ selfefficacy, we provide implications for counselor educators to integrate triadic supervision and self-efficacy to the forefront of discussions

Exploring the Impact of a Positive Psychology Intervention with Latina/o Adolescents

Latina/o adolescents may begin middle school with lower levels of life satisfaction, hope, and self-compassion. In the current study, a small-series (N = 5) single-case research design was implemented to evaluate the impact of a positive psychology group counseling experience to increase Latina/o adolescents’ life satisfaction, hope, and self-compassion. Analysis of participants’ scores on outcome measures yielded treatment effects indicating that the positive psychology group counseling experience may be effective for increasing hope, life satisfaction, and self-compassion. Given that the positive psychology approach was a promising approach for improving Latina/o adolescents’ positive outcomes, implications for school counselors to integrate positive psychology into treatment processes are presented

Examining the Impact of a Positive Psychology Intervention with Latina Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

We implemented a small series (N = 3) single-case research design to assess the effectiveness of a nine-session positive psychology treatment program for Latina survivors of intimate partner violence. Analysis of participants’ scores on life satisfaction and depression scales using the percentage of non-overlapping data point’s procedure yielded treatment effects indicating that a positive psychology treatment program may be effective for improving life satisfaction for Latina survivors of intimate partner violence. Implications for counselors and researchers are provided

Examining the Impact of a Positive Psychology Intervention with Latina Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

We implemented a small series (N = 3) single-case research design to assess the effectiveness of a nine-session positive psychology treatment program for Latina survivors of intimate partner violence. Analysis of participants’ scores on life satisfaction and depression scales using the percentage of non-overlapping data point’s procedure yielded treatment effects indicating that a positive psychology treatment program may be effective for improving life satisfaction for Latina survivors of intimate partner violence. Implications for counselors and researchers are provided

The Effects of Barriers, Acculturation, and Academic Goals on Latina/o Students’ Academic Performance

The current study explored 112 Latina/o college students’ perceptions of barriers, acculturation, academic goals, and academic performance. Acculturation to the Anglo culture and academic goals were positively related to college performance. Perceptions of career barriers also had a positive relationship with college performance. A discussion regarding the importance of these findings is provided and implications for counselors are offered

Narrative therapy with youth at a juvenile boot-camp facility: a single case research design

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.The purpose of the study was to bring forth the stories from youth cadets in a juvenile justice boot-camp facility, to gain an understanding of the psychological symptoms that youth experience, as well as, to examine the effectiveness of a narrative therapy counseling intervention for reducing clinically relevant psychological symptoms manifested by youth at a juvenile boot-camp facility. The principal investigator conducted this study with a sample of youth cadets (N = 8) currently enrolled in a juvenile boot-camp facility. Youth chosen to participate in this study were between the ages of 15 to 17. The population for this research was obtained through convenience sampling, and was selected by staff from a South Texas boot-camp facility, based on the level of clinically relevant psychological symptoms in youth cadets. Analysis of participants' scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1993), using the percentage of data exceeding the median statistical procedure (Ma, 2006) yielded treatment effects indicating that a narrative therapy intervention may be effective for improving youth functioning and reducing mental health symptoms. Treatment effects ranging from moderate to large were noted for scores on Interpersonal-Sensitivity, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsion, and Psychoticism measures of the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1993) for a majority of participating youth cadets. Using a narrative therapy treatment approach to assist youth on improving clinically relevant psychological symptoms and adjustment problems is a strategy that should be considered by counselors in juvenile justice settings, clinical settings, and by counselors in education programs. Because counselor education programs and mental health treatment settings are furthering their research activity and counselor supervision, narrative therapy provides a useful and effective means to enhance youth functioning and improvement in coping skills to manage clinically relevant psychological symptoms. It is recommended that this body of research be continued for other educational, work, and health settings. Counselor educators, supervisors, and educational leaders are in a position to promote narrative approaches, which has shown to further youth social and mental health development, however further use and exploration on the effectiveness of narrative therapy is needed.Counseling & Educational PsychologyCollege of Education and Human Developmen