This research evaluates childhood mental health disorders and their prevalence. Public-school systems are tasked with providing equitable education and services to students in special education who are in need under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Public school districts may look outside of the traditional academic setting, to a…

The evolving role of the school counselor reflects a commitment to supporting the holistic development and well-being of all students, addressing the complex challenges they face, and creating learning environments where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. School-based mental health programs and strategies are…

Adolescents in the United States are in a mental health crisis. It is estimated that more than 20% of children ages nine to 17 struggle with behavioral, emotional, and social problems and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). Mental health…

School counselors play an integral role in helping adolescents navigate and overcome the psychological distress that they experience. This study aimed to better understand the experiences of Jamaican school counselors who provide psychological support to adolescents in high school. Urie Bronfenbrenner's (2006) bioecological model of human…

Graduate school is a high stress situation due to the need of fulfilling expectations while balancing various personal, professional, and educational obligations. As a result, graduate students are especially susceptible to mental health conditions during their educational journey. Take a Stability Equilibrium Course ("Take a SEC") was…

Existing literature on mental health utilization with Division I college athletes is very limited. Specifically, little research has been conducted regarding what may make an athlete more or less likely to seek mental health services. This qualitative study investigated 1.) The facilitators and barriers for mental health utilization among the…

The purpose of this capstone project was to study the student-athlete experience, including post-sport life. Participants were invited to engage in the research study so long as they met the following requirements: must be between ages 21-31, male or female, played a NCAA Division I sport for all four years of college and no longer have athletic…

High school athletes are not immune to mental health challenges. The persistent lack of state or national mental health guidelines for athletes has impacted high school athletes' abilities to access and apply resources in a mentally healthy manner. This can impact not only a high school athlete's career but can leave lasting effects on collegiate…

This study examined the relationship between acculturation level, help-seeking attitude, and self-stigma among international students enrolled in the graduate counseling program (ICS) within the United States. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) served as the theoretical framework, positing that behavioral intentions are the strongest determinant…

Student Veterans experience a range of health and mental health challenges that may impact their social and academic functioning as they transition from military to student life. Of those in need of treatment, some do not receive support for successful integration into collegiate life. Recognizing the barriers to care faced by this population, a…

Youth spend an increasing amount of time at school and are experiencing greater mental health needs in the school setting. School professionals have the responsibility to respond and assist in managing the mental health needs of students. Illinois has implemented the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act to provide psychoeducational…

College-level students experience various life stressors that impact them academically, mentally, and physically. They struggle to navigate through those stressors; however, campus counseling services are underutilized. (Laidlaw et al., 2016). The central purpose of this Dissertation in Practice was to understand college-level students' perception…

My dissertation studies the relationship between counseling and violence within U.S. schools. Much of the research on school security and school safety tends to lean heavily on routine activities theory and other opportunity theories, which limits the study of other factors critically relevant to this topic such as school climate. This…

Food insecurity is a problem for millions of people in the United States. In 2020, 10.5 percent of US households were food insecure, and for people of color, the numbers were even greater. With the United States' history of discrimination against Black and Brown people in areas such as housing, employment, and education, racism is clearly a root…

As national headlines inform us of increasing school violence, adolescent suicide, and other mental health issues, there is an obvious need to offer support to adolescents in their schools. This study was spurred by the researcher's practice as a mental health clinician and school counselor working in a variety of public and private schools over…