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Friday, September 18
 

6:30am CDT

Sunrise Yoga
Friday September 18, 2026 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
Join Dr. Jennifer Stover, a yoga and mental health practitioner, to get the day started on a positive note!
Speakers
JS
Friday September 18, 2026 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Sunrise Yoga

7:00am CDT

Friday Registration Check In
Friday September 18, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Trinity Lobby @ [email protected]
Check in with the registration desk on the 1st floor in the lobby by the car park near the Trinity 2 ballroom.
Speakers
avatar for Eunae Han

Eunae Han

Assistant Professor, University of Texas El Paso
Dr. Eunae Han is an assistant professor in the Counseling and Special Education department at the University of Texas at El Paso and a licensed professional counselor in Texas. She is a feminist scholar with interdisciplinary expertise spanning counselor education, feminist psychology... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Trinity Lobby [email protected]
  Registration Check In

8:00am CDT

Fostering Research Identity Through Mentorship and Modeling: A Novel Mini-Series Approach
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 @ [email protected]
This poster presents a five-session research series designed to foster meaningful change in research identity among master’s counseling students and to support doctoral students’ development as mentors and educators. Guided by the practitioner-scholar model, the series pairs faculty modeling and mentorship. Preliminary qualitative findings highlight participants’ experiences of research self-efficacy, identity, and conference readiness, as well as doctoral students’ evolving research identities.
Speakers
ET
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 [email protected]

8:00am CDT

Assessing Learning Environments in Counselor Education: Theory-Driven Scale Development and Validati
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
To address the need for tools assessing learning environments in counselor education, this session presents empirical findings from the development study of the Multicultural Social Justice-Oriented Learning Environment Scale. It also provides a comprehensive overview of each step in theory-driven scale development and validation. The session will also report evidence for content, structural, convergent, and predictive validities to demonstrate how to apply and interpret psychometric data.
Speakers
SN

Sojeong Nam

Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico
Artists
C1
C2
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

But I Did the Literature Review!” — Equitable Authorship Practices in Collaborative Research
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
Collaborative research among faculty and students continues to expand in academic settings, (Swank et al., 2020). Despite ethical guidelines, ambiguity persists in authorship determination, reflecting power differentials and inclusion concerns (Swank et al., 2019, 2020; Smith & Williams-Jones, 2012). Participants will examine current practices, analyze equity considerations, and develop a responsive, equity-informed framework with practical strategies for ethical decision-making in authorship.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Okoye-Ezeoke
Artists
C1
C2
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Developing the CSESS: Assessing and Cultivating Self-Efficacy Sources in Counselor Education
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
This session presents development and validation of the Counseling Self-Efficacy Sources Scale (CSESS), a 25-item instrument assessing Bandura's four self-efficacy sources in counselor training. Findings from 271 counseling students demonstrate strong psychometric properties. The session also offers practical guidance on using CSESS profiles to inform teaching, supervision, and curriculum design. Attendees gain tools to assess and cultivate self-efficacy in counseling students.
Speakers
JJ

Jeongwoon Jeong

Assistant Professor, The University of New Mexico
Artists
C1
C2
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Fairness as an Interpretive Responsibility: Implications for Validity in Counseling Research
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
Fairness is a core component of validity, yet it is often underexamined or treated as an optional analytic step in counseling research. This session reframes fairness as an ongoing interpretive responsibility of the researcher that occurs across the research process. Attendees will learn practical strategies to integrate fairness into study design, measurement, analysis, and reporting to support valid interpretations and ethical score use.
Speakers
MM

Missy Moore

Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Outcomes of “Integrated Behavioral Health” Training: A Multi-Year Follow-up Study
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Building on the results from the pilot study, we further investigated the effect of training in Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care (IBH) and evidence-based practices (EBPs) across the lifespan on eight cohorts of graduate-level counseling students. We developed and offered our training as a summer program. More than 100 participants were trained in the IBH and  EBPs, and we utilized a single-group repeated measures design with multiple cohorts to evaluate the effect
Speakers
VA
Artists
C1
C2
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Research Designs for Community-Engaged Program Evaluations
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
Counseling researchers engage with schools and communities developing and evaluating effective, quality, and valuable programs. Interest holders face increasing pressure to ensure programs are accountable to proposed client outcomes. In this session, we review quantitative and qualitative research designs for formative, process, and summative evaluation plans, highlighting rigor amongst the complexities of data collection and analysis when conducting evaluations in schools and communities.
Speakers
AA

Azadeh Ahmadi

Assistant Professor, University of North Texas
Artists
C1
C2
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Development and Preliminary Validation of a 4MAT-Based Diagnostic System for Adult Career Transition
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 @ [email protected]
This poster presents the development and preliminary validation of a 4MAT-based diagnostic system for adult career transitions. The framework integrates pre-diagnostic profiling (transition typology and learning readiness) with stage-based performance indicators and process metrics. Pilot data (N=80–120) provide initial reliability and construct validity evidence. Attendees will gain a structured and replicable assessment approach for formative career counseling practice.
Speakers
JJ
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 [email protected]
  Poster

8:00am CDT

Evaluating Intentions to Use the 988 Lifeline Among College Students at Elevated Risk of Suicide
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 9 @ [email protected]
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free, 24/7 crisis support for individuals at risk of suicide; however, little is known about college students' help-seeking intentions and behavior related to the service. We therefore sought to examine reported levels of knowledge, use, and intentions to use the Lifeline among college students at elevated risk of suicide. Findings inform counseling practice and suggest outreach and intervention strategies to increase engagement of the Lifeline.
Speakers
HM
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 9
  Poster

8:00am CDT

Explanatory Mixed-Methods Insights on Unethical Supervision, Supervisory Rupture, and Repair
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 @ [email protected]
An explanatory mixed method explores the relationships among unethical supervision, supervisory rupture, and repair in supervisory relationships. In a quantitative study, supervisees identify the types of unethical supervision and assess them using new and existing relevant scales. Among the quantitative research participants, the supervisees who experienced supervisory rupture and its ensuing repair due to unethical supervision provide a lived experience in the following qualitative study.
Speakers
DH
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 [email protected]
  Poster

8:00am CDT

How Clients Choose Depression Treatments: Perceptions and Preferences
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 @ [email protected]
Why do clients with depression sometimes choose treatments that do not work while avoiding others that might help? This session examines what existing research reports about how adults with mild to moderate depression perceive effort, immediacy of symptom relief, and long-term commitment across diverse treatment options. Attendees will takeaway key themes, understand how these perceptions shape preferences, and apply empirical evidence to clinical strategies for collaborative treatment planning.
Speakers
SH
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 [email protected]
  Poster

8:00am CDT

Measuring What Matters: Outcome Evaluation in Child-Centered Play Therapy
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 @ [email protected]
Outcome evaluation in child-centered play therapy (CCPT) presents unique challenges due to the developmental, relational, and often nonverbal nature of children’s expression. Although CCPT is supported by a growing body of research, clinicians and counseling educators frequently lack clear, structured approaches to measuring progress in ways that are developmentally appropriate. This conceptual presentation introduces a practical framework for evaluating outcomes in CCPT across clinical settings
Speakers
SA
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 [email protected]
  Poster

8:00am CDT

The Development and Evaluation of the Parent-Child Relationship Quality Scale
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 @ [email protected]
This poster presents the development and validation of a contemporary Parent-Child Relationship Scale for parents of children ages 4–17. Using expert review, factor analysis, item response theory, and validity testing, the authors will present a brief, psychometrically sound tool. Attendees will learn how the scale was built, what constructs it measures, the item composition, and how it can support research and counseling practice.
Speakers
AH
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 [email protected]
  Poster

8:00am CDT

Understanding Partners’ Mental Health Experiences in Couples Utilizing In-Vitro Fertilization
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]
Traditionally, research regarding the experiences of families who use in-vitro fertilization (IVF) focus on the childbearing perspective highlighting the stress and uncertainty that comes with wanting to become a mother and/or parent (Clifton et al., 2020; Ye et al., 2025). There are minimal studies focusing on the mental strain men and partners endure with the fertility process (Ye et al., 2025). Therefore, this study explores the lived experiences of the non-childbearing partner.
Speakers
JG
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]
  Poster

8:00am CDT

Where Alliance Meets Outcomes: Client Outcomes and Therapeutic Relationship in Counselor Training
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 @ [email protected]
The therapeutic alliance has a well-documented relationship to client success in counseling. Understanding and assessing this alliance can offer important insight into client experiences and provide valuable training feedback for CITs. This presentation explores relationships between therapeutic alliance and client distress outcomes in a university training clinic, considers implications for counselor training and identifies future research directions for training clinics and CIT development.
Speakers
SH
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 [email protected]
  Poster

8:00am CDT

Addressing Misdiagnosis in Diagnostic Assessment Through Clinical, Cultural,& Experiential Training
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 @ [email protected]
This presentation aims to bridge the gap between basic DSM5-TR knowledge and the advanced diagnostic skills required for ethical clinical practice. The session focuses on improving diagnostic accuracy and confidence among counselor trainees by addressing common misdiagnoses such as bipolar disorder, PTSD, and ADHD and the influence of cultural bias. Participants will learn to integrate structured decision making models and culturally responsive frameworks through experiential teaching strategies
Speakers
EP
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 [email protected]
  Round Table, 18

8:00am CDT

Anger and Grief in University Honors Students: Assessing and Treating the Phenomenon
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]
Recent research points to the significance of studying anger, the impact on individuals and communities, and how measuring anger could help us better understand this human experience (Umbra & Fasbender, 2025). While anger is present across groups, the study of anger in the gifted population has a presence in history yet remains understudied. This session presents the preliminary results and implications from a study addressing anger and disenfranchised grief in university Honors students.
Speakers
MR
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]
  Round Table, 11

8:00am CDT

Assessing Agentic Identity Pathways in Autism: Implications for Counseling Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 @ [email protected]
This session introduces a theory-driven approach to assessing autistic identity as a dynamic, agentic process. Using a preliminary item pool, we conduct item-level exploration through exploratory factor and network analyses to examine three identity pathways grounded in Bandura's human agency theory and their links to well-being. Attendees will gain practical strategies for assessing identity processes and applying these insights in neurodiversity-affirming counseling practice.
Speakers
KZ
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 [email protected]
  Round Table, 10

8:00am CDT

Assoc Btwn Pornography Consumption & Romantic Relationship Outcomes with Exploration of Genre
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 @ [email protected]
Researchers have evaluated pornography's relational impacts; few studies explore animated genres high consumer interest. To address this gap, our team is validating the Pornography Use in Romantic Relationships Scale among college students via anonymous snowball sampling. We include pilot questions assessing animated pornography's perceived impact on relationships. Full results will be discussed in roundtable at the AARC Conference in September 2026.
Speakers
SM
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 [email protected]
  Round Table, 14

8:00am CDT

Beyond the Paper: Transforming Counselor Education Through Experiential Research
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 @ [email protected]
The study presented explores master ’s-level counseling students’ experiences in a high-stakes experiential research activity embedded within a research methods course. Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model and Interpretative Phenomenological method, students engaged in applied learning, reflection, and meaning-making. Findings of this study illuminated how experiential engagement deepens research competence, emotional awareness, and the development of research practitioner identity.
Speakers
AJ
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 [email protected]
  Round Table, 4

8:00am CDT

Confirming Servant Leadership’s Role in SUD Counselor Burnout and Turnover Prevention
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 @ [email protected]
The session examines how attributes of servant leadership in clinical supervisors relate to counselor burnout and turnover intention in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. After introducing ecological challenges of SUD care and servant leadership theory, we present a new study of data collected from a national sample of practicing SUD counselors (n = 1,805). Results suggest supervision interventions that may reduce burnout and turnover at the individual and organizational levels.
Speakers
AR
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 [email protected]
  Round Table, 17

8:00am CDT

Does Mental Health Service Use Moderate Risk for Youth Violence Involvement?
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 @ [email protected]
Youth violence is a major public health and school counseling concern. Here, we used the data from 20,745 adolescents in 145 schools to examine the structure of youth violence, test effects of risk factors on involvement, and examine whether use of mental health services moderated risk. Results suggest counseling moderated depressive, but not other types, of risk for violence involvement. Implications for counseling practice, threat assessment, and early intervention in schools are identified.
Speakers
GR
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 [email protected]
  Round Table, 12

8:00am CDT

Effects of Parental Motivations and Stress in Perceived Outcomes of Child's Play Therapy Treatment
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 @ [email protected]
What factors contribute to parents seeking mental health support for their child, and how do those factors impact how parents perceive their child’s play therapy outcomes? Using quantitative data from play therapy training clinics, this presentation will discuss how 1) parental motivation to seek treatment for their child, 2) parental competence, and 3) parent-child attachment predict pre- and post-treatment scores on measurements of parental stress and perceptions of their child’s behaviors.
Speakers
MS
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 [email protected]
  Round Table, 9

8:00am CDT

Exploring Wellness and Identity Transition in New Counselor Educators: A Methodological Dialogue
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 @ [email protected]
This roundtable introduces a proposed research agenda examining how early‑career counselor educators make meaning of wellness during the transition to new or junior faculty roles. Grounded in phenomenological and constructivist perspectives, the session emphasizes collaborative inquiry. Participants will discuss conceptual frameworks and qualitative methods (e.g., IPA, photo‑elicitation) to study wellness, identity transition, and context in counselor education.
Speakers
MW
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 [email protected]
  Round Table, 8

8:00am CDT

Faith-Based REBT May Reduce Posttraumatic and Discrimination Stress in Justice-Involved BIPOC Adults
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 @ [email protected]
This session presents empirical results from a four-week, faith-based, group REBT intervention for justice-involved BIPOC adults with probable PTSD. Participants demonstrated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and discrimination stress, with large effect sizes observed in total scores and most subscales. Attendees will learn how culturally responsive REBT may improve engagement, address avoidance, and support poly-stress management in underserved populations.
Speakers
KP
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 [email protected]
  Round Table, 13

8:00am CDT

From Stories to Concepts: Guiding Grounded Theory Dissertations
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 @ [email protected]
This presentation offers practical strategies for teaching grounded theory (GT) and mentoring students through the research process. It clarifies GT’s core logic and the iterative relationship between data collection and analysis. Participants engage in a brief coding activity and are introduced to a five-phase timeline for structuring GT dissertations.
Speakers
DH
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 [email protected]
  Round Table, 6

8:00am CDT

Mapping Peace: A Conceptual Exploration of Embodied Anxiety and Christian Integration in Counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 @ [email protected]
This conceptual presentation explores peace as an embodied and spiritually integrated construct in the context of anxiety. Drawing from evidence-based anxiety treatment, evolving literature, and Christian integration, the presentation examines how anxiety disrupts nervous system regulation, presence, and agency, and how cultivating embodied peace may support healing. Participants will leave with implications for counseling practice, supervision, and spiritually integrated care are discussed.
Speakers
BK
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 [email protected]
  Round Table, 5

8:00am CDT

Needs Assessment of Older Adults: Implications for Ethical and Evidence-based Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 @ [email protected]
Screening and proper assessment of the needs domains of older adults represents a critical component of ethical, multicultural and evidence-based practice. This program will overview specific older adults areas of need and identify specific assessment instruments for use.
Speakers
EI
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 [email protected]
  Round Table, 3

8:00am CDT

Pilot study for the MARS Group: Preliminary findings and practical challenges
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 @ [email protected]
The Mindful Awareness and Relational Skills (MARS Group) was designed to help new counselors enhance their relationships with clients by fostering in-session mindful awareness. This presentation will introduce the MARS Group to attendees and share preliminary findings of the pilot study. Practical challenges of conducting a pilot study for a group-based intervention with practicing counselors will be discussed.
Speakers
DJ
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 [email protected]
  Round Table, 16

8:00am CDT

Students’ perceptions of School Counselors' Helpfulness and Accessibility: From the Source
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 @ [email protected]
Rarely we receive feedback from students on how helpful our actions and initiatives are!This session presents findings from a survey of rural middle school students’ perceptions of school counselor helpfulness and its impact on academic and career decision-making. Attendees will gain insights into measuring counselor support, key factors influencing student evaluations, and potential implications for supporting students’ academic and career interests.
Speakers
JH
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 [email protected]
  Round Table, 1

8:00am CDT

Using Q Methodology to Examine Subjectivity: A Dissertation Study as an Illustrative Example
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 @ [email protected]
Q methodology offers counselor education researchers a rigorous yet underutilized approach for investigating subjectivity in ways traditional qualitative or quantitative methods cannot. This session provides a practical, step-by-step walkthrough of conducting a Q methodology study, from developing a Q sample to interpreting factor solutions, using a completed dissertation on basic skills instructors' perspectives on practicum unreadiness as a case example throughout.
Speakers
RH
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 [email protected]
  Round Table, 2

8:00am CDT

Visualizing Cultural and Identity Transition: Photovoice with Japanese Expatriate Wives
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 @ [email protected]
The Japanese expatriate wives (JPNEW) often face multiple challenges with limited access to mental health resources, which impacts their gender identity after they moved internationally, accompanying their partners. In this presentation, the attendees will learn about the challenges among JPNEW and the use of photovoice, which helps to overcome the cultural barriers by allowing participants to express themselves freely. Participants learn how to conduct an ethical cross-cultural study.
Speakers
avatar for Yuima Mizutani

Yuima Mizutani

Dr. Yuima Mizutani (she/her) is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the Department of Education Sciences and Professional Programs. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from J.F. Oberlin University in Japan and her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 [email protected]
  Round Table, 7

8:00am CDT

Who Tells Our Stories when We're Both In and Out? Insider-Outsider Research with Black Women
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 @ [email protected]
This presentation will provide insights and implications for Black women counselor researchers as insider-outsider researchers conducting research with Black women. Two Black women counselor researchers will discuss the value and challenges of being an insider-outsider researcher, including implications for sharing intersectional identities, standpoints, and experiences of marginalization with their research participants, gaining information from participants, and producing critical conclusions.
Speakers
KA
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 [email protected]
  Round Table, 19

8:00am CDT

MECD & CORE Journal Editorial Board Meeting & Breakfast
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
Closed Editorial Board Meeting for MECD and CORE and Breakfast
Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Editorial Board Meeting

9:00am CDT

A Delphi Study to Identify School Counseling Site Supervision Training Content
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
This session will provide an overview of a Delphi research study conducted to explore essential topics needed for training school counseling site supervisors. The presenters will explain the current literature regarding school counseling supervisor training, provide an overview of Delphi methodology, and present the essential topics that reached consensus for school counseling site supervisor training. Attendees will be invited to share feedback on the results to inform future training. 
Speakers
JO
Artists
C1
C2
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
San Antonio [email protected]

9:00am CDT

Intellectual Humility and Counselor Trainees' Attitude toward Counseling Theories
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
Developing theoretical competence is central to counselor identity development. This session presents findings from an original longitudinal study on counseling students’ evolving attitudes toward theory, highlighting factors that foster positive engagement, including intellectual humility (IH). Attendees will explore strategies for integrating IH into teaching counseling theories and discuss ways to reconceptualize theory instruction to support counselor trainees’ theoretical development.
Speakers
PJ
Artists
C1
C2
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Comal [email protected]

9:05am CDT

Curating the Stories of CES Doctoral Student Identity: A Pilot Dramaturgical Narrative Inquiry
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:20am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 @ [email protected]
This session presents a pilot dramaturgical narrative inquiry exploring how CES doctoral students construct and revise professional identity within academic culture. Attendees will gain insight into identity as a dynamic, relational process shaped by institutional norms, power, and belonging, and consider implications for creative, arts-based narrative methods in researching and supporting doctoral student development.
Speakers
LR
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:20am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 [email protected]

9:05am CDT

Assessing Training Climate: Effects on Multicultural Self-Efficacy and Mental Health Stigma
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
This session presents quantitative findings examining multicultural counseling self-efficacy and mental illness stigma among counseling students, with multicultural training climate as a moderator. Results highlight how training environments influence measurable student outcomes. Attendees will gain strategies for assessing training climate and evaluating its impact on multicultural competence and stigma reduction.
Speakers
MH
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Collaborative Autoethnography in Social Justice Research: A Study Example
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
This session introduces collaborative autoethnography (CAE) as a social justice research methodology and demonstrates its application through a study examining East Asian women international doctoral students’ academic job search experiences. Attendees will learn CAE procedures, trustworthiness strategies, and its strengths for centering marginalized voices. Five themes reveal intersecting systemic barriers. Implications for equitable hiring practices in counselor education will be discussed.
Speakers
YP
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Decoding Affect: Automated Sentiment Analysis and Interaction Regimes in Psychotherapy Process
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
This session presents cutting-edge findings on therapist-client affect dynamics. We compare automated sentiment analysis (LIWC, XLM-T) to human coding (SPAFF), demonstrating how automated tools serve as scalable markers of therapeutic alliance. Furthermore, we reveal that psychotherapy is organized by interaction regimes—distinct modes like strain or stabilization—rather than fixed rules. Attendees will learn to identify these nonstationary shifts and the dyadic nature of emotional coregulation.
Speakers
PP
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Engagement in Professional Mentoring: Supporting School Counselors' Well-Being
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
Professional mentoring may support school counselors’ well-being and career sustainability, yet empirical research examining how counselors engage in mentoring relationships remains limited. This session presents findings from a national study investigating mentoring engagement and its associations with work engagement, psychological safety, and burnout among practicing school counselors, clarifying mentoring’s distinct role as a professional support within school counseling.
Speakers
EK
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Larger Research Team: Lessons from Structure and Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
The aim of this presentation is to build researchers’ confidence and competence in managing or participating in large research teams. Presenters will shaThis session introduces collaborative autoethnography (CAE) as a social justice research methodology and demonstrates its application through a study examining East Asian women international doctoral students’ academic job search experiences. Attendees will learn CAE procedures, trustworthiness strategies, and its strengths for centering marginalized voices. Five themes reveal intersecting systemic barriers. Implications for equitable hiring practices in counselor education will be discussed.re perspectives as project leads, faculty mentors, and student coders in a content analysis project. Topics include team structure, collaboration, mentorship, strengths, challenges, and lessons learned, offering strategies to enhance teamwork and avoid common research pitfalls.
Speakers
MB
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Teaching and Writing Conceptual Scholarship in the Age of Generative AI Tools
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
This session centers the enduring value of conceptual thinking and writing as foundations of scholarly identity and knowledge creation. As generative AI tools increasingly mediate the research process, scholars face new challenges in teaching and modeling deep, original scholarship. Attendees will learn the benefits and limitations of AI driven citation network mapping tools in both teaching and scholarly applications.
Speakers
MF
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

The Numbers Don't Lie: Research as Advocacy
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
Research can be a powerful form of advocacy by using empirical inquiry to expose injustice and inequity. Both quantitative and qualitative research studies can influence systemic change and advocate for marginalized populations. In this session, attendees will learn how to conceptualize research as a means of advocacy grounded in the AARC Standards for Multicultural Research and MSJCC. Examples of research projects that serve to facilitate systemic change will be presented.
Speakers
BA
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

What does it Take to Publish in MECD or CORE? Meet the Editors
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
Meet AARC's journal editors for the Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development and Counseling Outocome Research and Evaluation. Learn the aims of each journal. Review the author submission expectations and guidelines. If you've ever asked, what does it takes to get published in MECD and CORE, come find out and questions of the editors!
Speakers
JC
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Which Predictors Matter Most? Using Dominance Analysis to Improve Counseling Research Interpretation
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
Counseling researchers often examine correlated predictors such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance misuse when studying clinical outcomes. Hierarchical regression may obscure relative importance when constructs overlap. This session introduces dominance analysis, a method that clarifies predictor importance across regression models. Participants will learn how dominance analysis improves interpretation of counseling assessment data and informs research and clinical decision-making.
Speakers
AA

Azadeh Ahmadi

Assistant Professor, University of North Texas
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

A mixed-method approach to understanding the relationship between cross-cultural body ideals and eat
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 @ [email protected]
This mixed-methods study examines how societal gender roles and objectification influence body image and eating disorder symptoms in young adult immigrants. Using surveys and open-ended questions, it explores cultural values, acculturation, and protective factors such as cultural identity, community support, and resilience. Findings are framed by acculturation theory, objectification theory, and intersectionality theory and aim to inform culturally responsive interventions.
Speakers
CG
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

Barriers and Facilitators to Crisis Line Use Among Undergraduate Men of Color Format: Poster
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 9 @ [email protected]
Suicide deaths are rising among men of color, who face unique barriers to accessing life-saving crisis services. In this consensual qualitative research study, we examined factors influencing crisis line use among 20 undergraduate men of color. Themes focused on perceived barriers to, facilitators of, and potential experiences with crisis lines. Implications will address advocacy efforts to destigmatize help-seeking, support crisis services, and improve culturally responsive training.
Speakers
AS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 9
  Poster

9:05am CDT

Breaking the Silence: How Stigma and Cultural Expectations Affect Black Men’s Mental Health
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 @ [email protected]
This study explores the barriers Black men face and the disparities in mental health access due to stigma, mistrust, trauma, and limited awareness (Bauer et al., 2022; Cloud, 2024; Cofield, 2025; Craddock et al., 2021). This integrative review examines sociocultural barriers and gaps in assessment practices. Attendees will gain evidence-based strategies to improve culturally responsive assessment, outreach, and engagement with Black men.
Speakers
JB
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

Creating Conditions for Becoming: How Supervisors Navigate Intersectional Identity in Supervision
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 @ [email protected]
This constructivist grounded theory study examined how 11 supervisors navigate supervision with counselors holding multiple minoritized identities. Findings revealed a core category, Creating Conditions for Becoming, four universal processes, and three variations by social location. Attendees will learn supervisor practices that reduce supervisee burden and support professional development.
Speakers
BA
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy in Mental Health: A Comparative Study of Human Therapists and AI
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 @ [email protected]
This poster presents a comparative study examining the diagnostic accuracy of licensed mental health therapists and AI chatbots using standardized, fictional clinical case scenarios. Expert consensus diagnoses served as the reference standard. Findings highlight strengths and limitations of human and AI diagnostic reasoning across common disorders. Attendees will gain insight into the ethical and practical implications of integrating AI into mental health assessment.
Speakers
IB
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

Mixed Methods in Counseling Research: What Counts and What Doesn't
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 @ [email protected]
Mixed methods research (MMR) is increasingly used in counseling, yet confusion persists about what qualifies as a true MMR study. Adding an open-ended question to a survey is not mixed methods—integration is the defining feature. This poster clarifies the distinction between MMR and multi-method designs, walks attendees through three core designs (explanatory sequential, exploratory sequential, and convergent), and uses side-by-side examples to illustrate what integration looks like in practice
Speakers
CA
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

The Lived Experience of Shared Military Identity in Therapeutic Relationships: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Veteran Therapists
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 @ [email protected]
Veterans experience high rates of PTSD, depression, substance use, and suicide, yet often underutilize mental health services. This proposed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) explores how veteran therapists experience shared military identity with veteran clients during assessment and treatment. Guided by second-order cybernetics, the study conceptualizes assessment as a relational, co-constructed process. Findings may inform counseling assessment by highlighting therapist positionality, cultural understanding, and relational factors that influence engagement.
Speakers
JH
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

The Role of Search Investigators in Transnational Adoption Search and Reunion: A Scoping Review
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 @ [email protected]
This study uses the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews to explore what is known about the role of investigators in birth family searches for transnational adoptees. Findings indicate that search investigation is an unregulated practice, investigators utilize traditional and digital search methods, navigate the complex sociopolitical landscape of transnational adoption, and expend significant emotional labor.
Speakers
SB
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

Using reaction-times to measure depression
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]
Directly measuring emotional state using latency difference of millisecond responses to depressive (D) vs. non-depressive (ND) words can overcome self-report limitations. Cross-sectional (n=682) data show two factors (D=15 items σ²≈11%; ND=12 items σ²≈11%), sensitivity .73, specificity .91, predictive and concurrent validity with PHQ-9/CES-D (p<.001). A longitudinal sample (n=97): replicates and extends validity; inversely tracks wellbeing; has good reliability (test-retest=.6; Cronbach's α≈.7).
Speakers
OB
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]
  Poster

9:05am CDT

A Relational-Cultural Perspective to Research Identity
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 @ [email protected]
This session examines researcher identity development through a Relational-Cultural Theory lens, emphasizing vulnerability, connection, and authenticity in scholarly growth. Participants will explore relational influences on research identity, critically reflect on barriers to authenticity, and identify strategies to cultivate a connected, meaningful scholarly voice. Attendees will gain tools to support sustainable and relationally grounded research trajectories.
Speakers
EC
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 [email protected]
  Round Table, 1

9:05am CDT

Anti-Fat Bias and the Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa in Fat Clients
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 @ [email protected]
Weight bias is a well-documented yet under addressed concern in counseling. Research confirms it impairs clinical judgment, damages therapeutic alliance, contributes to misdiagnosis, and increases care avoidance among fat clients. This presentation will discuss previous weight bias literature, current gaps in research, and the intended use of experimental analogue research to identify where anti-fat bias is impacting diagnostic decision making of anorexia nervosa in the counseling process.
Speakers
CP
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 [email protected]
  Round Table, 8

9:05am CDT

Body Art in Higher Education: Tattoos, Piercings, Outcomes Among African American Female Students
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 @ [email protected]
African American female college students, particularly those attending rural institutions, remain underrepresented in this literature. The present study examined perceptions and practices surrounding tattoos and body piercings and their relationships with alcohol use, drug use, and sexual activity among African American female undergraduate students at a rural university.
Speakers
LH
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 [email protected]
  Round Table, 5

9:05am CDT

Bridging Disciplines: Designing and Implementing Interdisciplinary Outcome Research in Counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 @ [email protected]
This session explores how to design and implement interdisciplinary outcome research in counseling, using a trauma and chronic pain intervention as a model. Attendees will learn strategies for collaborating across disciplines, developing inclusion criteria, selecting assessments, structuring interventions, and integrating qualitative analysis within mixed-methods designs.
Speakers
KS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 [email protected]
  Round Table, 17

9:05am CDT

Do We Really Know what Burnout is? Examining Conceptual and Methodological Challenges of Burnout
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 @ [email protected]
Burnout among counselor educators is a growing concern, yet the field’s understanding is stalled by a "crisis of definition" and reliance on limited measurement tools. This session provides a foundational deconstruction of the burnout construct, challenging the status quo of current literature. Participants will evaluate the methodological "blind spots" in CE research and explore the JD-R model as a rigorous framework for advancing more nuanced, systemic inquiry in the field.
Speakers
SY
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 [email protected]
  Round Table, 3

9:05am CDT

Exploring the Relationships Between Parental Support & Mental Health of Black College Aged Women
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 @ [email protected]
This correlational study design explores the relationship between levels of parental support, academic motivation, and mental health in African American women in college. More specifically, the impact of parental support on academic motivation and mental health. This sample (N=235) was recruited through an online survey panel of participants who met the inclusion criteria. Results, implications, and suggestions for future research will be shared during this session.
Speakers
JB
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 [email protected]
  Round Table, 2

9:05am CDT

Forgiveness and Political Reconciliation
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 20 @ [email protected]
This study explores the impacts of political trauma to identify the association of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Speakers
RB
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 20 [email protected]
  Round Table, 20

9:05am CDT

From Couch to Campus: Clinical Counselors Engering School Counseling Through Alternative Licensure
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 @ [email protected]
School counselor shortages continue to challenge K–12 schools (ASCA, 2018; ASCA, 2023; Goodman-Scott et al., 2022). Alternative licensure pathways are one strategy for strengthening the school counselor pipeline (ASCA, 2023). This roundtable explores the findings and implications of a study examining how clinical mental health counselors perceive their preparation when transitioning into school counseling through an alternative licensure program.
Speakers
avatar for Leanne Campbell

Leanne Campbell

Assistant Professor, Northeastern State University
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 [email protected]
  Round Table, 19

9:05am CDT

Integrative Sandtray Supervision with CITs: A Single-Case Research Design
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 @ [email protected]
This roundtable reviews the implementation of integrative sandtray supervision with CITs who worked at trauma-based internship sites. The study discussed in this roundtable used a single-case research design to examine the effectiveness of the intervention on reducing secondary traumatic stress over the course of an academic semester. In addition to the results, this roundtable discusses limitations of the study, recommendations for future research, and the implications for counselor education.
Speakers
VS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 [email protected]
  Round Table, 13

9:05am CDT

International and Cultural Understanding of the Social Determinants of Mental Health
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 @ [email protected]
This roundtable session is intended to discuss how different cultures and countries conceptualize the Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDMH). Some key topics of this roundtable discussion include how counseling research outside of the United States can utilize the SDMH model, what specific cultural factors should be considered when using the SMDH model for research, and how research of the SDMH model may have already been conceptualized internationally.
Speakers
PS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 [email protected]
  Round Table, 14

9:05am CDT

Is Dieting an Evidence-Based Practice? Measuring What Matters Most in Size-Inclusive Counseling."
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]
Most counselors will encounter clients pursuing weight loss, yet dieting is associated with low success rates, physical, and mental health risks. This roundtable highlights findings from a recent Delphi study in which panelists addressed dieting and weight loss when determining competencies for providing size-inclusive counseling. Attendees will engage in a discussion of these findings, translating them into best practices for navigating assessment and goal setting while reducing weight stigma.
Speakers
avatar for Kari Slater

Kari Slater

Assistant Professor, Wilmington University
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]
  Round Table, 11

9:05am CDT

Keeping the Humanity in Human Subjects: Prison Research and Ethics
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 @ [email protected]
Incarcerated individuals with mental illness (IIMI)experience live with the well-documented double stigma of criminality and mental illness by mental health professionals. This stigma can bleed into research with IIMI, despite Human Subjects protections. Research design can address ethical risks early and set researchers up for success. An experienced prison researcher will discuss risks grounded in her 30 years' experience and provide resources for preventing errors that can cause problems.
Speakers
avatar for Leigh Holman

Leigh Holman

Professor & Department Chair, Sam Houston State University
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 [email protected]
  Round Table, 6

9:05am CDT

Making Coding Work: Practical Strategies for Team-Based Analysis in Counseling Research
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 @ [email protected]
Coding and team-based analytic processes are central to many counseling research approaches (e.g., content analysis, CQR), yet researchers often struggle with implementation. This session provides practical strategies for developing coding systems, training teams, managing discrepancies, and maintaining rigor. Attendees will leave with concrete tools to support transparent, systematic, and credible analytic processes.
Speakers
LS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 [email protected]
  Round Table, 18

9:05am CDT

Relational Approach to Ethical Decision-Making: A Content Analysis of Counseling Literature
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 @ [email protected]
Professional counseling approaches ethical decision-making from a power-over individualist framework, downplaying the importance of the client and the counseling relationship, and placing the counselor in an isolated position. In this session, presenters will share data from a content analysis of professional counseling literature on relational cultural therapy (RCT) and ethical decision-making. Attendees will discuss an RCT grounded approach to ethical decision-making and future research plans.
Speakers
DS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 [email protected]
  Round Table, 12

9:05am CDT

Student Outcomes and School Counselor Perspectives on the Hope Intervention: A Mixed Methods Study
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 @ [email protected]
This mixed methods study evaluated Hope Matters, a school counselor–led group intervention grounded in Snyder’s hope theory. Using a pre–post–follow-up test design with 135 students (grades 3–7), results showed significant increases in hope, but no improvements in attendance, grades, or discipline referrals. Interviews with six counselors identified key themes that influenced implementation. Participants will learn the hope intervention and how to apply a mixed methods approach to evaluation.
Speakers
SL
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 [email protected]
  Round Table, 7

9:05am CDT

The Impact of Trauma Work: Counselors’ Lived Experiences of Witnessing, Strain, and Growth
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 @ [email protected]
This session presents findings from a hermeneutic phenomenological study of counselors working with multilayered complex trauma. Results highlight trauma work as a dialectical process involving strain, embodiment, institutional pressures, and meaning-making. Attendees will gain practical strategies to support counselor well-being, supervision, and sustainable trauma-informed practice.
Speakers
LC
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 [email protected]
  Round Table, 4

9:05am CDT

Using Rasch Analysis to Strengthen Assessment Tools in Counselor Education
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 @ [email protected]
Assessment tools are widely used in counselor education to evaluate counseling competencies and professional development of counselors in training and in higher education. However, many assessments rely on traditional validation method that such as the Multicultural Counseling knowledge and Awareness Scale that relied on Classical Test Theory (Lu, 2016). This presentation introduces Rasch Analysis as a measurement approach that can strengthen tools by improving overall measurement validity.
Speakers
SS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 [email protected]
  Round Table, 16

9:05am CDT

When Ideas Outrun Evidence: Accelerating Counseling Research Translation Responsibly
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 @ [email protected]
Counseling research is shifting as ideas spread quickly through trainings, podcasts, and social media while traditional publishing moves slowly. This session examines how to get trustworthy findings to clinicians and counselor educators sooner through rapid but rigorous publication pathways, living evidence products, and clinician-friendly translation tools, using a recent theory dispute to illustrate how counseling can reduce knowledge lag without sacrificing rigor, equity, or ethics.
Speakers
DS
Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 [email protected]
  Round Table, 15

10:10am CDT

Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale: A Mnemonic Framework for Suicide Risk Assessment Training
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
This presentation presents the current psychometric properties of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) across clinical settings and populations. Reliability and predictive validity are foregrounded, while focusing on how psychometric properties vary across settings and populations. Then, this presentation introduces a new mnemonic framework grounded in the C-SSRS to support, not replace, counselor training, recall, and intervention in suicide risk assessment utilizing the C-SSRS.
Speakers
SR
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT

10:10am CDT

Beyond Database Searches: Comprehensive Approaches to Article Collection in Systematic Reviews
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Systematic reviews are central to advancing rigorous counseling scholarship, yet relying on library database searches alone can often result in missing relevant studies. This session introduces a multi-faceted approach to article collection, including advanced database strategies and complementary methods (e.g., handsearching, AI tools, and expert review). Attendees will gain practical strategies to improve completeness, transparency, and methodological rigor in systematic review research.
Speakers
avatar for Catherine Griffith

Catherine Griffith

Associate Professor, University of San Diego
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Critical Incident Technique and Enhanced Critical Incident Technique: Methodological Applications an
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
Explore how the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) and Enhanced Critical Incident Technique (ECIT) can strengthen qualitative research in education and counseling. This session highlights key differences, credibility strategies, and practical applications through case examples, helping participants determine when and how to use each method in their own research.
Speakers
SW
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Reflexive thematic analysis 101
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
Braun and Clarke’s 2006 article, Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology, seems to have catapulted the use of this method in published research. While the flexibility of the method is likely part of the attraction, the ambiguity of the actual process also can present challenges. It is important for counseling researchers to become familiar with reflexive thematic analysis phases as a way to adhere to rigor, and in turn, conduct quality research that promotes the profession.
Speakers
JK
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Rethinking What Counts as Data: The Case for Social Media in Counseling Research Methodology
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Emerging scholarship suggests social media can serve as a naturalistic dataset capturing dimensions of human experiences that assessments, surveys, and interviews may exclude. Drawing on research from online communities, this session questions what can count as data for publication in counseling. Attendees will be able to critically evaluate digital data sources and apply them across counseling research contexts, while also comparing whether the nature of this data applies to their own research.
Speakers
LL
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Strategies and Considerations for Teaching Doctoral-Level Research Courses in Counselor Education
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
This session explores strategies and considerations for teaching and supporting counselor education doctoral students to transition from research consumers to independent researchers. Grounded in scholarly frameworks, the presenters will share insights and examples from teaching doctoral research courses and mentoring doctoral student researchers. Participants will engage in collaborative discussions and leave with implications to enhance their own doctoral-level research instruction.
Speakers
SN

Sojeong Nam

Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

What was studied (and what wasn’t): A scoping review of 390 counseling intervention articles
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
Join us for a critical examination of what counseling intervention research has – and has not – studied through a PRISMA scoping review of 390 professional counseling intervention articles (2015-2024). We map populations and concerns targeted and neglected; modalities, settings, and specialty areas emphasized; research questions posed; and designs used. Together, we will interrogate strengths, limitations, alignment with counseling foundations, and priorities for research that informs practice.
Speakers
avatar for Casey Barrio Minton

Casey Barrio Minton

Professor & Department Head, University of Tennessee
Casey Barrio Minton is Professor and Head of the Department of Counseling, Human Development, and Family Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

‘What Are We Missing?’: Advancing Spirituality Assessment in Counselor Training
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
Spirituality is a critical yet under-assessed dimension of client identity, and counselor education lacks consistent approaches for preparing counselors-in-training (CITs) to assess it with cultural responsiveness. This session examines limitations in current assessment practices, identifies training gaps, and offers a structured, ethically grounded approach for integrating spiritually responsive assessment into counselor education and clinical practice.
Speakers
SK
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

A Lifetime at War Within: EMDR for Complex PTSD Beyond Military-Focused Treatment
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 @ [email protected]
Veterans have high rates of ACEs that interact with military trauma, increasing risk for CPTSD, depression, and suicidality. This case report illustrates how VA assessment focused on a single military trauma led to worsening of symptoms after prolonged exposure therapy. A lifespan-informed assessment revealed complex trauma, and EMDR addressing both childhood and military trauma resulted in sustained symptom reduction highlighting the need for routine ACEs screening and CPTSD-informed treatment.
Speakers
JH
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

Adolescent Perspectives on Therapist Self-Disclosure
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 @ [email protected]
Therapist self-disclosure (TSD) remains widely debated in psychotherapy, with limited research examining youth perspectives. This session highlights adolescents’ views of TSD and its role in shaping the therapeutic relationship. Using Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) for data collection and Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) for analysis, findings illustrate how TSD influences trust, engagement, and rapport with youth, including implications for counselor educators and supervisors.
Speakers
LE
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

Exploring the Intersectional Narratives of East Asian American Youth: A Photovoice Study
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 @ [email protected]
This photovoice study explores the intersectional experiences of East Asian American adolescents. By visually documenting lived experiences, participants amplify marginalized voices, revealing nuanced narratives about cultural identity, stereotypes, family dynamics, and stressors. The research findings deepen the understanding of youth's diverse identities and offer insights for promoting inclusive practices in educational and community settings.
Speakers
avatar for Szu-Yu Chen

Szu-Yu Chen

Associate Professor, Palo Alto University
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

Hidden Doubt: Predicting Impostor Syndrome in First-Gen Students Through Wellness and Resilience
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 @ [email protected]
First-generation graduate students face attrition rates exceeding the one-in-three loss seen across graduate education. CACREP (2024) urges counselor educators to prioritize retention in a field facing professional shortages. Impostor syndrome is linked to negative mental health outcomes and increased attrition risk in this population. Using standard multiple regression, this presentation examines wellness and resilience as predictors of impostorism and offers strategies to support students.
Speakers
TE
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

How to Develop an Observation Tool: A Step-by-Step Guide for Practice and Research
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]
This session provides a step-by-step guide for developing observation tools in counseling, education, and community settings. Participants will learn how to move from theory to observable indicators, design domains and rating systems, and establish rigor through expert review, pilot testing, and interrater reliability. An arts-based classroom observation tool is used as a practical example to illustrate each step.
Speakers
DF
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

Listening to the Pipeline: A Thematic Analysis of Student Experiences
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 @ [email protected]
Students engaging in internship report an increase efficacy in assessment skills and implementing crisis intervention (Fields et al., 2023). This study (a) explores emerging themes of students’ experiences one-year post-graduation following their enrollment in a trauma-informed professional pipeline, (b) identifies key challenges and opportunities experienced when working with CAYs who have experienced trauma, and (c) delineates areas for future research and implications for counselor educators.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Deaton

Jennifer Deaton

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jennifer D. Deaton, PhD, LCMHC (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

Preparing Play Therapy Trainees to Work with Suicidal Children: Impact of a Brief Microteach
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 @ [email protected]
This session presents pilot findings on a brief microteach intervention designed to increase play therapy trainees’ self-efficacy in working with suicidal children. Results showed significant gains in confidence across key skills. Attendees will learn how to integrate short, developmentally responsive training strategies into coursework to better prepare students for working with suicidality.
Speakers
ED
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

Research Advocacy: Counselor and Faith-Based Collaborations Advance Generational Wealth Equity
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 @ [email protected]
Counseling and faith-based collaborations are essential for bridging generational wealth gaps among minority communities, which influences societal health. Approximately 73% of individuals experience financial stress, while individuals from BIPOC communities have an even higher propensity to experience financial stressors. This session reviews counseling standards, Christian BIPOC resilience, culturally responsive collaboration, and a qualitative study on counselor–church partnerships.
Speakers
NC
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 [email protected]
  Poster

10:10am CDT

A Reckoning with Gender, Race, and Objectification: Immigrant Women’s Body Image in Turbulent Times
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 @ [email protected]
This session examines how contextual factors, including societal gender roles, cultural body ideals, and attitudes toward immigrants, contribute to maladaptive and harmful behaviors among young immigrant women. Attendees will gain insights into key protective factors, such as cultural identity and community support, and how research can inform culturally responsive care. Implications for addressing mental health disparities and fostering resilience in diverse populations will also be discussed.
Speakers
CG
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 [email protected]
  Round Table, 10

10:10am CDT

Assessing Covert Trauma: Does technology have a role?
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 @ [email protected]
Covert trauma is chronic, relational, and psychosocial in nature, yet it remains an inadequately assessed and underdiagnosed phenomenon in the counseling literature. This session explores covert trauma and emerging AI, telehealth, and virtual technologies that are transforming the way we conduct covert trauma assessments, while also examining ethical imperatives around bias, confidentiality, and clinical validity.
Speakers
VG
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 [email protected]
  Round Table, 2

10:10am CDT

Becoming a Researcher: Doctoral Students’ Journeys in Researcher Identity Development
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 @ [email protected]
This roundtable explores how doctoral students develop researcher identities through the challenges, uncertainties, and growth inherent in research training. Drawing on participants’ lived experiences and scholarly frameworks, attendees will examine common barriers, supports, and turning points in the development of researchers. Participants will leave with practical strategies to foster confidence, resilience, and ethical research practices in doctoral education.
Speakers
avatar for Ashley McGee
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 [email protected]
  Round Table, 12

10:10am CDT

Behind the Walls: Conducting Community Engaged Research in Correctional Settings
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 @ [email protected]
Community engaged research is challenging in any setting, but in prison settings there are additional barriers to entry that researchers should be aware of. Based on the presenter's decades of working and conducting research in prisons, she will provide real-world considerations for establishing partnerships, understanding potential confounding variables, recruiting subjects, and collecting data, all of which researchers should consider prior to submitting an IRB. Case examples and Discussion.
Speakers
avatar for Leigh Holman

Leigh Holman

Professor & Department Chair, Sam Houston State University
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 [email protected]
  Round Table, 7

10:10am CDT

Capturing Complexity and Centering Equity: Single Case Design for Practice-Based Counseling Research
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 @ [email protected]
Single case research design (SCRD) in counseling is a powerful tool for advancing client outcome counseling research that is practice based and equity focused. This session will focus on the use of mixed methods in SCRD to transform routine clinical practice data into meaningful client centered research. Participants will learn how to enhance the measurement of complex client outcomes and center the clients voice by integrating qualitative and quantitative data into their research.
Speakers
OL
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 [email protected]
  Round Table, 14

10:10am CDT

Data Collection with College Students and Emerging Adults: Best Practices and Sampling Strategies
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]
Emerging adults (ages 18–29) are the most likely age group to begin counseling services and receive mental health therapy, which underscores the need for counseling research on this population. This session will describe the differences between sampling college students from an educational setting and emerging adults through a developmental lens. Participants will learn creative recruitment strategies for both college and non-college settings, as be able to evaluate research results and implicat
Speakers
MN
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]
  Round Table, 11

10:10am CDT

Disrupting Objectivity: Positionality-Conscious Activism as Reflexive Praxis in Counselor Education
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 @ [email protected]
This session explores positionality-conscious activism in counselor education research in response to national and global humanitarian crises (e.g., genocide in Gaza, violence against immigrant communities, anti-DEI executive orders). Positionality-conscious activism, grounded in anti-oppressive leadership frameworks, calls researchers to leverage their power and privilege to take an anti-oppressive stance in all stages of the research process and enact social change using research as advocacy.
Speakers
SG
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 [email protected]
  Round Table, 5

10:10am CDT

Examining Mothers’ Ability to Recognize Sexual Grooming Behaviors of Child Sexual Abusers
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 @ [email protected]
Research acknowledges the importance of parents’ role in the prevention of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), yet there are few prevention programs that target parents. During the 50-minute round table session, presenters will briefly discuss preliminary findings, explore methodological challenges, invite feedback on CSA prevention curriculum development, and facilitate discussion on trauma-informed parenting strategies.
Speakers
LM
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 [email protected]
  Round Table, 13

10:10am CDT

From ABD to PhD: Rewriting the Dissertation Journey Through Connection, Culture, and Sisterhood
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 @ [email protected]
The dissertation phase is isolating, and for Black women navigating PWIs while managing multiple roles, that isolation carries the risk of staying ABD. This session explores how three Black women doctoral candidates reframed completion through immersive writing retreats rooted in connection, culture, and sisterhood. Grounded in research on identity-affirming spaces and peer support, presenters share what made the difference. Attendees leave with a framework for underrepresented doctoral writers.
Speakers
LW
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 [email protected]
  Round Table, 1

10:10am CDT

From Value to Practice: Consensus-Based Supervisory Strategies for Cultivating Cultural Humility
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 @ [email protected]
In this session, we present findings from a Delphi study that examined expert consensus on supervisory best practices for cultivating cultural humility in supervisees. Attendees will learn about the study’s rationale and Delphi methodology, and engage in discussions about how the resulting guidelines may inform counselor training, clinical supervision, and future research on culturally responsive practice.
Speakers
MB
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 [email protected]
  Round Table, 3

10:10am CDT

Initial Psychometric Evaluation and Applied Utility of the Counselor Self-Discrepancy Inventory
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 @ [email protected]
This session presents the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the Counselor Self-Discrepancy Inventory, a measure assessing discrepancies between counselors’ professional and personal selves. Grounded in self-discrepancy theory, results from EFA and CFA support a multidimensional structure with reliability and validity evidence. Implications for counselor training, supervision, and assessment practices will be discussed.
Speakers
DL
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 [email protected]
  Round Table, 15

10:10am CDT

Mapping as a Qualitative Research Method: Counseling Implications for Adult Third Culture Kids
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 @ [email protected]
This presentation explores the Adult Third Culture Kids (ATCKs) who have received college counseling sessions. ATCKs have unique international childhood backgrounds with mental health challenges, but they have been understudied, leading to limited resources. The participants will learn about the unique experience of ATCKs in the college settings. Additionally, the participants will learn about the Mapping activity in our ongoing study and how the activities can be used in cross-cultural studies.
Speakers
avatar for Yuima Mizutani

Yuima Mizutani

Dr. Yuima Mizutani (she/her) is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the Department of Education Sciences and Professional Programs. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from J.F. Oberlin University in Japan and her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 [email protected]
  Round Table, 8

10:10am CDT

Novel Eye-Movement Intervention: Repeated Measures Analyses of PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety Scores
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 @ [email protected]
Elements of the novel eye-movement protocol will be shared, followed by results of this quantitative clinical trial, meant to help confirm results of the pilot study. This quasi-experimental design had no control group but included pretest, midway, and posttest scores for PTSD frequency and severity, depression, anxiety, and ER using repeated measures analyses. Results showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, along with significant improvement in ER.
Speakers
DC
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 [email protected]
  Round Table, 4

10:10am CDT

Policy on Paper, Silence in Practice: Black Student-Mothers in CACREP Doctoral Programs
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 @ [email protected]
Black student-mothers navigate a unique intersection of academic rigor and systemic misogynoir, yet institutional policy evaluation centering their lived experiences is critically scarce. This session presents a multiple-case study grounded in Black Feminist Thought and Intersectionality, triangulating Title IX mandates with lived narratives. Attendees will explore findings on policy-practice gaps and receive evidence-based recommendations for faculty training and standardized support.
Speakers
SC
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 [email protected]
  Round Table, 19

10:10am CDT

Research Gaps in Exercise-Based Trauma Interventions for Data-Driven Counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 @ [email protected]
This session examines research gaps in exercise-based interventions as complementary approaches for trauma recovery. Participants will review current evidence and consider emerging research priorities related to optimal exercise types, dose-response relationships, population differences, measurement strategies, and mechanisms of change. Practical, low-cost study designs for counseling settings will be discussed to support data-driven practice.
Speakers
avatar for Analysia Holguin
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 [email protected]
  Round Table, 6

10:10am CDT

Team Research Development: 15 Essential Practices Described and Discussed
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 @ [email protected]
This session presents 15 essential practices for relational, culturally responsive, and high-impact team research in counselor education. Participants will explore strategies to build inclusive, collaborative partnerships, clarify roles, uphold ethical standards, and navigate team complexities, fostering trust, mutual accountability, and culturally grounded approaches that enhance both team functioning and scholarly impact.
Speakers
PL
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 [email protected]
  Round Table, 16

10:10am CDT

Voice, Perception, and Relational Process: Audio-Based Approaches in Counseling Research
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 @ [email protected]
This session explores the use of voice as a method for studying relational process in counseling research. Focusing on audio-based designs, it considers how voice recordings can be used to examine perceptions of communication and relational qualities. Discussion will center on methodological considerations and implications for culturally responsive research.
Speakers
JK
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 [email protected]
  Round Table, 17

10:10am CDT

Who Is Most Likely to Report Postpartum Depressive Symptoms? Insights From the PRAMS
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 @ [email protected]
Participants will learn how data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) can be used to examine postpartum depression across sociodemographic groups and social conditions. This session highlights how understanding social drivers of mental health may help identify those who are more likely to report postpartum depressive symptoms, with implications for screening, assessment, and follow-up in counseling.
Speakers
SK
Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 [email protected]
  Round Table, 18

11:05am CDT

Beyond total scores using item-level symptom patterns to improve college mental health assessment
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 @ [email protected]
This session applies latent profile analysis (LPA) to delineate distinct anxiety and depression symptom profiles among college students. Attendees will learn when LPA is most appropriate, how to select indicators, evaluate model fit, and interpret profile plots. We will also examine whether financial stress and international student status predict the profile memberships and whether stigma differs across profiles, highlighting implications for screening and targeted outreach.
Speakers
CP
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 [email protected]

11:05am CDT

Anger and Grief in University Honors Students: Assessing and Treating the Phenomenon
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 @ [email protected]
Recent research points to the significance of studying anger, the impact on individuals and communities, and how measuring anger could help us better understand this human experience (Umbra & Fasbender, 2025). While anger is present across groups, the study of anger in the gifted population has a presence in history yet remains understudied. This session presents the preliminary results and implications from a study addressing anger and disenfranchised grief in university Honors students.
Speakers
MR
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 [email protected]
  Round Table, 2

11:05am CDT

Are Participants Using AI? Implications for Qualitative Research Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 @ [email protected]
Rapid developments in large language models raise growing concerns about participants’ AI use in research relying on subjective responses, which may undermine the validity and authenticity of research data. Drawing on emerging scholarship and researchers’ experiences, this roundtable explores implications for qualitative research, potential indicators of AI use in interviews, and strategies researchers can employ to enhance data integrity during research design and data collection.
Speakers
YH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 [email protected]
  Round Table, 12

11:05am CDT

At the top of the evidence hierarchy: Advancing randomized controlled trials in counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 @ [email protected]
Randomized control trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard of empirical intervention research, yet these studies are rarely conducted in counseling research. In this roundtable, you will explore designing and conducting RCTs in counseling. We will discuss strengths and limitations in existing RCTs in counseling, priorities for future RCTs, and strategies for designing, implementing, and publishing RCTs in alignment with professional counseling identity.
Speakers
YX
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 [email protected]
  Round Table, 10

11:05am CDT

Conjoint relationship interventions' spillover effects on co-parenting: A Systematic Review.
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]
Coparenting represents a salient relational context for children’s functioning and development. Beyond the influence the parent-child and marital relationships have, the coparenting relationship uniquely contributes to children’s social and emotional adjustment. A systematic review was conducted to examine if couple relationship education and couples therapy have coparenting spillover effects. The final review contains 18 studies. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Speakers
avatar for Carrie Hunt
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]
  Round Table, 11

11:05am CDT

Designing and Refining Culturally Responsive Scales: Applications of IRT and Measurement Invariance
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 @ [email protected]
Developing and refining assessment instruments that are both psychometrically sound and culturally responsive is a critical skill for counseling researchers. This session provides practical strategies for designing, evaluating, and refining counseling instruments using advanced psychometric techniques, including Item Response Theory (IRT) and measurement invariance testing.
Speakers
avatar for Ching-Chen Chen

Ching-Chen Chen

Associate Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dr. Ching-Chen Chen earned her doctoral degree in counselor education, with an emphasis in measurement and assessment, from University of Cincinnati. Her research interests include cross-cultural measurement development, multicultural counseling, integrative approaches to substance... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 [email protected]
  Round Table, 18

11:05am CDT

Dismantling Barriers to ADHD Assessment:Is Intensive Training of Pre-licensed Clinicians the Answer?
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 @ [email protected]
How do we dismantle systemic barriers and increase client access to competent and affirming ADHD assessments? Providing intensive assessment training to pre-independently licensed clinicians is an avenue to addressing this issue in Oregon, increasing access to care and treatment for clients.
Speakers
KH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 [email protected]
  Round Table, 15

11:05am CDT

Enhancing Counselor Trainee Crisis and Trauma Competency Through Artificial Intelligence Simulations
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 @ [email protected]
Graduate counseling programs struggle to provide consistent, ethical training in crisis and trauma care. This mixed-methods study evaluates AI-based simulations versus role-play in a CACREP course. Findings examine impacts on self-efficacy, decision-making, and preparedness, positioning AI simulation as a scalable, trauma-informed training tool.
Speakers
AJ
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 [email protected]
  Round Table, 1

11:05am CDT

From Imposter to Practitioner: Measuring Counselor Confidence Across Training Stages
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 @ [email protected]
Counselor self-efficacy plays a central role in the development of competent practitioners. Although research highlights the importance of self-efficacy in predicting counseling performance and skill development, counselor education programs often lack clear, structured approaches for assessing confidence across training stages. This conceptual presentation introduces a comprehensive framework for measuring counselor confidence from early coursework through practicum and internship.
Speakers
SA
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 [email protected]
  Round Table, 3

11:05am CDT

How Do We Measure Group Skills? Rethinking Assessment in Counselor Training
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 @ [email protected]
Group counseling is required in CACREP-accredited programs at multiple points, yet assessment practices rarely capture group-specific competencies. This session proposes a multidimensional approach to evaluating group counseling skills and engages participants in discussion of challenges and strategies for assessing skills through live observation and recordings.
Speakers
LH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 [email protected]
  Round Table, 14

11:05am CDT

Increasing Well-Being Among Veterans Using Psychoeducation and Mindfulness: Preliminary Data
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 20 @ [email protected]
The most recent suicide prevention annual report from the VA provides data from 2022 and indicates that in 2022 there were 6,407 suicides among Veterans, equating to 17.6 Veteran suicides each day (Miller, 2024). Professional counselors need to know what the current research in professional counseling literature states about Veteran suicide. We provide preliminary data examining the use of psychoeducation, exploration of anger, and mindfulness in a 6-week intervention with Veterans.
Speakers
MR
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 20 [email protected]
  Round Table, 8

11:05am CDT

Pain and Pressure: the need for bidirectional assessments for chronic pain clients
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 @ [email protected]
This presentation will examine the impact of mental health on clients with chronic pain from a counseling perspective. The presenters will review the current assessment tools available for chronic pain. Furthermore, the presenters will discuss the impact of mental health on chronic pain. Finally, the presenters will provide implications related to the assessment of mental health factors with chronic pain clients.
Speakers
AC
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 [email protected]
  Round Table, 4

11:05am CDT

Providing Tools to Protect Children from Internet Dangers (Education Session)
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 @ [email protected]
The following presentation will discuss specific themes and play behaviors in play therapy that may indicate a child's dangerous use of technology. These themes were gathered from an extensive questionnaire sent to Association for Play Therapy members. Therapists will be able to identify strategies for addressing therapeutic themes that emerge during sessions. Resources to support parents will also be provided.
Speakers
KK
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 [email protected]
  Round Table, 6

11:05am CDT

Qualitative Findings of a School Counselor-Led Mindfulness Intervention with Middle School Teachers
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 @ [email protected]
This session presents the qualitative findings of the experiences of middle school teachers who participated in a five-week, school counselor-led, mindfulness-based professional development intervention program. The presenters will share the themes of the teachers' reflections that influenced their well-being, classroom climate, and relational practices with students in order to create more emotionally responsive learning environments.
Speakers
NC
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 [email protected]
  Round Table, 19

11:05am CDT

Relational Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for Counseling Research and Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 @ [email protected]
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts communication, emotional regulation, and relationship functioning, placing strain on romantic partnerships. This session presents dyadic research on help-seeking stigma, motivation, and relationship satisfaction in TBI-affected couples. Attendees will explore implications for counseling research, including the value of dyadic methods and strategies to better understand and support relational processes in clinical and research contexts.
Speakers
VH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 [email protected]
  Round Table, 13

11:05am CDT

Research Self-Efficacy Beyond Skills: Interpersonal and Systemic Influences in Doctoral Training
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 @ [email protected]
This session shares findings from a concept mapping study on counselor education doctoral students’ research self-efficacy (RSE). Results highlight that mentorship, feedback, and collaborative learning strongly influence RSE. Participants will explore how these interpersonal and environmental factors shape research confidence and discuss strategies to create supportive training environments that foster doctoral students’ research self-efficacy and researcher identity development.
Speakers
ZS
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 [email protected]
  Round Table, 9

11:05am CDT

Teaching Research & Assessment: Creative approaches to making the material relatable and relevant.
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 @ [email protected]
Teaching research and assessment can be daunting, especially when students are unenthusiastic about learning the material. In this session, we will discuss creative and innovative teaching approaches counselor educators can use to meet CACREP student learning objectives in a fun and approachable manner. We will include a discussion of teaching both research methods and assessment. This will be an interactive session, and participants will leave with usable teaching tools.
Speakers
MH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 [email protected]
  Round Table, 5

11:05am CDT

The Integration of Popular Culture into Counselor Education Andragogy: A Phenomenological Inquiry
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 @ [email protected]
Counselor Educators across the country are integrating popular culture media into their andragogical practices in counselor education preparation programs. The research team aimed to explore the lived experiences of counselor educators who are weaving their teaching practices with popular culture mediums such as tv shows, films, novels/books, social media, etc. to help develop the next generation of counselors.
Speakers
SG
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 [email protected]
  Round Table, 17

11:05am CDT

Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to Examine Trauma Teaching in Counselor Education
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 @ [email protected]
This 50-minute session presents findings from an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study examining counselor educators’ and doctoral students’ lived experiences of teaching trauma in CACREP-accredited programs. Findings highlight perceived needs, preparedness, supports, and barriers. This session will present the IPA method, key findings, and discuss implications for improving trauma education in counselor education.
Speakers
avatar for Yoon Suh Moh

Yoon Suh Moh

Associate Professor, Thomas Jefferson University
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 [email protected]
  Round Table, 7

11:05am CDT

Using Machine Learning to Analyze Data: Trauma and Social Determinants to Predict Mental Health
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 @ [email protected]
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow, counselor educators and researchers are jumping into AI and machine learning (ML) in exciting ways. In this session, we’ll share recent work using ML to predict mental health outcomes from adverse childhood experiences and social determinants of mental health. We’ll also demystify ML, walk through practical strategies for working with datasets, and open the floor for questions and discussion.
Speakers
avatar for Eunae Han

Eunae Han

Assistant Professor, University of Texas El Paso
Dr. Eunae Han is an assistant professor in the Counseling and Special Education department at the University of Texas at El Paso and a licensed professional counselor in Texas. She is a feminist scholar with interdisciplinary expertise spanning counselor education, feminist psychology... Read More →
avatar for Alex Gantt-Howrey

Alex Gantt-Howrey

Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 [email protected]
  Round Table, 16

11:15am CDT

Assessing Community Readiness to Inform Mental Health Strategies in Asian American Communities
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
Many mental health interventions are developed and implemented without assessing whether communities are ready to adopt and sustain them. This session demonstrates how the Community Readiness Assessment (CRA), a stage-based model, aligns culturally responsive mental health strategies with a community’s readiness level. Interviews with 26 Asian leaders across 11 Wisconsin regions, scored across five CRA domains, identified distinct readiness stages with implications for mental health planning.
Speakers
SQ
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Assessing Reflexive Social Justice Advocacy: A Feedback Loop for Counselors and Counselor Educators1
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Counselor education emphasizes social justice advocacy, yet programs lack clear assessment tools to evaluate how students and educators engage in advocacy discourse. This session introduces a Reflexive Social Justice Feedback Loop as an assessment-informed framework for measuring intentional, culturally responsive advocacy development. Attendees will gain research and assessment strategies aligned with MSJCC and counselor training outcomes.
Speakers
CP
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Cultivating Collaborative Scholarship in Integrated Care Workforce Development
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
This education session examines strategies for fostering interprofessional collaborative scholarship to support integrated care workforce development. Drawing on lessons from HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce grants (PITCH & PEP), presenters will share research-informed frameworks for conceptualizing, implementing, and disseminating team-based scholarship that advances integrated care education and strengthens professional collaboration.
Speakers
MB
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Listening to the Pipeline: A Thematic Analysis of Student Experiences
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
Students engaging in internship report an increase efficacy in assessment skills and implementing crisis intervention (Fields et al., 2023). This study (a) explores emerging themes of students’ experiences one-year post-graduation following their enrollment in a trauma-informed professional pipeline, (b) identifies key challenges and opportunities experienced when working with CAYs who have experienced trauma, and (c) delineates areas for future research and implications for counselor educators.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Deaton

Jennifer Deaton

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jennifer D. Deaton, PhD, LCMHC (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Navigating AI in Counselor Education: Expert Perspectives on Pedagogy, Ethics, and Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
This session presents findings from a reflexive thematic analysis of interviews with nine counselor educators recognized as AI experts. We explore how educators navigate tensions between cognitive development and accessibility, address clinical readiness concerns, and implement intentional pedagogical strategies. Participants will learn evidence-based approaches to integrating AI into curriculum, supporting students, and developing institutional guidelines.
Speakers
YX

Yiying Xiong

Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Navigating Ethics, Manipulation, and Vulnerable Participants: Experimental Analogue Design
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Experimental analogue design has been used increasingly in fields that involve working with vulnerable topics and populations, allowing for “real-world” simulations while taking precaution to avoid foreseeable harm to participants (Cook & Rumrill, 2005). This presentation will cover the design, the benefits and drawbacks, and the overall relevance to the counseling field. Through content lecture and activity, participants will leave with concrete knowledge to apply to future research studies.
Speakers
CP
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

STRIVE to Save Lives: Scaling a School‑Based Suicide Prevention Training and Outcome‑Tracking Model
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
Suicide remains a significant concern for middle and high school youth, placing school‑based counselors in critical frontline roles. However, training in evidence‑based suicide prevention is inconsistent, and systematic outcome tracking is rare. This methods‑focused session presents implementation‑science–informed strategies for monitoring intervention effectiveness, fidelity, and follow‑up using a scalable digital outcome‑tracking tool.
Speakers
MM
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

We Rise Together: Building Collaborative Frameworks for Supporting Marginalized Clients and Students
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
Research challenges the harmful misconception that Black, Latinx, low-income, and limited English-speaking families do not value education or client success, a narrative that sustains systemic barriers to engagement in counseling contexts. This session examines how assessment data informed culturally responsive, client and family-centered workshops. Using pre/post surveys, outcome indicators, and focus groups, findings demonstrate how data-driven interventions strengthen engagement.
Speakers
JD
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

A 10-Year Topic Modeling Analysis of Counseling Research in the Journal of Counseling & Development
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 @ [email protected]
This session applies a semantically grounded topic modeling approach, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), to Journal of Counseling & Development (JCD) abstracts (2016–2025) to uncover distinct thematic topics and research trends. Attendees will gain insights into shifting professional priorities and learn how computational text analysis maps the field's current state and gaps. This enables the strategic positioning of future investigations toward under-examined areas in counseling research.
Speakers
avatar for Hayoung Jung
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 [email protected]
  Poster

11:15am CDT

A longitudinal qualitative analysis of early counselor trainee professional identity development
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]
With an evolving educational and healthcare landscape, it is becoming more critical for counselors to hold a unified, strong professional identity. This poster presentation summarizes the results of a qualitative investigation on how early counselor trainees’ (N = 48) CPI evolved over a semester in an introductory counseling course. In particular, we present a thematic analysis of how the counselor trainees’ responses developed their CPI over five data collection points.
Speakers
SH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]
  Poster

11:15am CDT

Cross-cultural Validation of the 21-item Cultural Humility and Enactment Scale in South Korea
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 @ [email protected]
This study validated the 21-item Cultural Humility and Enactment Scale in the Korean context, where demographic shifts toward multiculturalism intersect with traditional values emphasizing humility. CFA supported the three-factor structure, and convergent validity was established via its associations with CQS (cultural intelligence), CHS (cultural humility), and WAI (working alliance). Configural invariance across age groups was supported, but metric and scalar invariance were not.
Speakers
DH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 [email protected]
  Poster

11:15am CDT

Examining the CES-D Scale Using Multidimensional Rasch Rating Scale and Partial Credit Models
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 @ [email protected]
This session examines the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) through Rasch modeling approaches. Guided by evidence from confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch dimensionality analyses, the study compares unidimensional and multidimensional rating scale and partial credit models. Attendees will learn how Rasch methods can be used to evaluate dimensionality and item functioning, thereby strengthening the interpretation of CES-D scores.
Speakers
avatar for Zhi Jie Lee

Zhi Jie Lee

Doctoral Candidate, The Ohio State University
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 [email protected]
  Poster

11:15am CDT

Future Oriented Stress amongst International Emerging Adults in U.S. amidst Visa Policy Changes
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 @ [email protected]
This session explores future-oriented stress (i.e. a chronic state of anticipatory anxiety) among International Emerging Adults (students and professionals) in the U.S., examining visa instability, identity conflicts, and counselor strategies for culturally responsive support and advocacy, studied through a convergent parallel mixed-methods design of document analysis and interviews.
Speakers
NH
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 [email protected]
  Poster

11:15am CDT

Strengthening Self-Belief in Higher Education: A Systematic Review
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 @ [email protected]
This systematic review synthesizes current research on effective interventions for improving psychological beliefs among BIPOC and first-generation college students in comparison to no intervention. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the psychological and academic challenges faced by these populations, identify interventions to address these disparities, and explore how these outcomes are exacerbated within predominantly White institutions.
Speakers
avatar for Jazmine Hasty
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 [email protected]
  Poster

11:15am CDT

Virtual Reality in Counselor Education: Experiential Learning and Multicultural Competence
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 @ [email protected]
Counselor educators prepare the next generation of counselors, making their perspectives on virtual reality (VR) essential. This roundtable shares a phenomenological study using interviews with counselor educators in CACREP-accredited programs. Attendees will gain insight into VR’s potential for experiential learning, multicultural competence, innovative teaching, and barriers to implementation.
Speakers
CO
Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 [email protected]
  Poster

12:15pm CDT

Professional Networking Luncheon
Friday September 18, 2026 12:15pm - 12:45pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
Join your colleagues in the Trinity 2, 3, & 4 ballrooms for a plated lunch and great conversations!
Friday September 18, 2026 12:15pm - 12:45pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Event

12:45pm CDT

Keynote: The Importance of Data-Driven Legislative Advocacy: A Curated Conversation with Dr. Octavio Martinez, Executive Director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
During this challenging time for mental health advocates, our keynote is sure to engage our members in a thoughtful conversation that motivates purpose-driven action using the assessment, research, and program evalluation skills that AARC members value. Join the American Counseling Association's Director of Legislative Engagement and Strategy, Ms. Patsy Cunningham, LCPC, as she moderates a curated conversation with Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr. the Executive Director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at University of Texas Austin on the importance of data, numbers and stories, in legislative advocacy.
Moderators
L
DO
MP
Speakers
KO

Keynote: Octavio N. Martinez

Executive Director, The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

JM
M
MB
F
ED
Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Event

1:45pm CDT

Association for Assessment & Research in Counseling Annual Member Business Meeting
Friday September 18, 2026 1:45pm - 2:15pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
Annual business meeting for the AARC membership.
Moderators
P
DA
Speakers
DR
PA
Friday September 18, 2026 1:45pm - 2:15pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Event

2:35pm CDT

Four Functions of Counseling Scholarship: Applying Boyer’s Framework to a Maturing Discipline
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
This session applies Boyer’s Four Functions of Scholarship—discovery, integration, application, and teaching—to counseling and counselor education. Presenters invite attendees to consider broader, more inclusive understandings of scholarly work and to explore ways counseling programs can recognize and reward diverse forms of knowledge production. Strategies for successfully promoting one’s integrative, applied, or pedagogical scholarly pursuits will be shared.
Speakers
MF
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

From Epoché to Essence: Rigorous Analytic Practice in Transcendental Phenomenology
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
This presentation examines transcendental phenomenology as a rigorous qualitative methodology in counselor education. Drawing on Husserl and Moustakas, it clarifies distinctions between transcendental and hermeneutic approaches and outlines core analytic procedures (e.g., horizontalization, reduction, synthesis). Participants will learn strategies to enhance rigor and trustworthiness and apply these methods in counselor education and supervision contexts.
Speakers
VB
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

From Practice to Publication: Helping Clinicians Publish on Counseling and Sexual Wellness
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
Clinicians hold valuable practice-based knowledge that is often absent from scholarly literature. This interactive session, led by the editorial team of the Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness, helps counselors transform clinical expertise into publishable manuscripts. Participants will learn how to identify strong topics, navigate peer review, overcome common barriers, and leave with a concrete action plan for moving from idea to submission.
Speakers
NW
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Integrating Practice Based and Participatory Action Research to Bridge Research and Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
This session explores how Practice-Based Research and Participatory Action Research build a data-to-action pipeline to address systemic inequities and bridge research and counseling practice. Using school counselor training examples, we share outcomes (e.g., fewer discipline referrals, higher student belonging), co-designed interventions, and tools that turn data into sustainable, equity-focused change. Implications for adapting this model across counselor preparation context will be discussed.
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Rumsey

Amanda Rumsey

Associate Professor, Clemson University
The presenter is an Associate Professor at Clemson University. She is a licensed professional counselor, certified school counselor, and nationally certified counselor. She has been involved in AARC since 2013, including being a past emerging leader, and is currently the Treasurer... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

International Panel
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Giordano

Amanda Giordano

Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Amanda Giordano, PhD, LPC is an associate professor of counseling at the University of Georgia. Dr. Giordano works to advance the counseling field with rigorous research and has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. As a counselor educator, Dr. Giordano regularly... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Making the Invisible Visible: Transparency and Rigor in IPA Analysis
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) positions researcher subjectivity as central to meaning-making, creating tension around rigor and transparency. This session examines how analysis can become a “black box” and provides practical strategies, including reflexivity and audit trails, to enhance transparency and strengthen credibility in IPA research.
Speakers
PS
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Measurement of Neurocognitive Processes in Mental Health Counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
Psychopathology arises from neurocognitive processes, yet most instruments used in counseling focus only on symptoms. This presentation demonstrates tasks (e.g., Stroop, Wisconsin Card Sort, n-back, RTID) to measure mechanisms like working memory, executive function, and emotional states. With access to pre-conscious states, lessened self-report biases, and sensitivity to earlier change, participants will learn how to enhance assessment batteries and the empirical rationale for doing so.
Speakers
OB
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Strengthening Research Mentorship to Build Collaborative Scholars in Counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
Research mentorship is a cornerstone of counseling graduate education, supported by best practices. Yet at some point, both educators and students must shift from a traditional mentorship model to a true research partnership and the skills required for effective collaboration are rarely taught explicitly. This session explores strategies for strengthening research mentorship with the goal of developing confident, capable, and collaborative research partners in the counseling profession.
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Prosek

Elizabeth Prosek

Professor, Penn State University
Elizabeth A. Prosek (she/her/hers), PhD, LPC, NCC, is a Professor of Education and Professor-in-Charge of Counselor Education at Penn State University. Her research interests include counseling military populations; community engagement and program evaluation; co-occurring presenting... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Detecting Aberrant Response Patterns on the CES-D Scale: A Graded Response Model Approach
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 @ [email protected]
This study examines aberrant response patterns on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) using the graded response model, a two-parameter logistic item response theory model. A Monte Carlo simulation and applied analysis were conducted with data from 1,563 respondents. Person-fit and response pattern indices were compared to detect constant and random aberrant responses and to support response validity in CES-D research.
Speakers
avatar for Zhi Jie Lee

Zhi Jie Lee

Doctoral Candidate, The Ohio State University
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

Hope as a Dyadic Mediator Between Conflict and Satisfaction in Couples
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 @ [email protected]
Sustaining improvements in couple counseling is challenging, as repeated conflict can undermine satisfaction. This study examines hope as a dyadic mediator linking perceived conflict to each partner’s satisfaction. Using dyadic couple data and an Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM), we test how conflict affects both partners’ satisfaction through hope. Findings may inform interventions that enhance hope to maintain therapeutic gains over time.
Speakers
DK
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

Latent Class Analysis of Large-Scale Data in Counseling Research: Mental Health Disparities Example
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 @ [email protected]
This poster presents the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) as an accessible, large-scale dataset for counseling research and shows how latent class analysis (LCA) can be applied to mental health disparity study. Based on the data (analytic N = 93,274), it illustrates the LCA process and visual outputs (e.g., model comparison tables, classification plots). Attendees will gain practical insights into LCA decision-making for uncovering subgroup heterogeneity in counseling-relevant data.
Speakers
JL
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

Latent Classes of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Differences in Life Satisfaction and Development
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative mental health and developmental outcomes across the lifespan. This poster session presents the findings of a study using latent class analysis with a sample of emerging adult. Findings from the current study identified distinct ACE profiles and examined differences in life satisfaction, quality of life, resilience, and the features of emerging adulthood. Implications for research and practice will be highlighted.
Speakers
MN
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

Loneliness and belonging among undergraduate students: A dual continuum approach
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 @ [email protected]
This session explores a paradox of college mental health: students report high levels of isolation despite socially dense campus environments. This presentation applies a dual continuum model to identify four typologies of loneliness and belonging: Fulfilled, Searching, Indifferent, and Distressed groups. Attendees will learn how internal resources, help-seeking stigma, and campus climate distinguish these groups, highlighting that internal distress is not mitigated by social engagement alone.
Speakers
avatar for Hayoung Jung
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

Measuring Mentorship: A Psychometric Meta-Analysis of the Mentoring Competency Assessment-21
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 @ [email protected]
Mentoring is the backbone of counselor education, so evaluating its effectiveness is critical for our profession. We introduce the Mentoring Competency Assessment (MCA-21), a gold standard measure of mentoring outcomes across the allied health professions. We present the findings of a psychometric meta-analysis to the degree that inferences of validity and reliability can be generalized across samples of participants in future research and practice.
Speakers
avatar for Stephen Lenz
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

Preparing Counselors in Training (CIT)for Work With Marginalized Clients in SUD Treatment
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 @ [email protected]
CIT increasingly work with marginalized populations, including individuals experiencing substance use disorders, housing instability, and court-mandated treatment. Effective supervision is essential in preparing trainees to navigate complex systems, ethical dilemmas, and barriers to care. This poster highlights key supervision considerations, emerging challenges, and practical strategies for supporting counselor development when working with justice-involved and underserved populations.
Speakers
RK
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

Translating Advanced Assessment Technologies into Culturally Responsive Forensic Practice
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 @ [email protected]
The forensic assessment landscape is rapidly evolving, requiring forensic counselors to understand emerging evidence‑based technologies used to evaluate competence, culpability, malingering, and risk. This session reviews the most common technologies employed by forensic evaluators and emphasizes culturally responsive, neuro‑informed case conceptualization and counseling strategies. Implications for advocacy will also be discussed.
Speakers
AL
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 5 [email protected]
  Poster

2:35pm CDT

A Two-Phase Qualitative Design for Mapping ChatGPT Adoption Trajectories
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 @ [email protected]
This session presents a two-phase qualitative design for examining counseling students’ ChatGPT adoption over time. Integrating Critical Incident Technique and Constructivist Grounded Theory, the study maps developmental stages and explains underlying processes. Emphasis is placed on methodological rigor, data integration, and application of this design to process-oriented research in counselor education.
Speakers
avatar for Fan Fan

Fan Fan

Doctoral Candidate, The Pennsylvania State University
Fan Fan (樊璠) is a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education with a dual title in Comparative and International Education at Penn State. As an international scholar, Fan is passionate about blurring methodological and disciplinary boundaries and fostering cross-disciplinary communication... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 [email protected]
  Round Table, 3

2:35pm CDT

An Exploration of Wellness Meaning‑Making Among International Counselor Trainees
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]
This session explores academic writing as a psychological process shaped by emotions, beliefs, and identity. Participants will examine common barriers such as avoidance and perfectionism and learn practical, evidence-informed strategies to build more consistent and sustainable writing practices through reflection and application.
Speakers
DF
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]
  Round Table, 11

2:35pm CDT

Between Conviction and Practice: Religion, Counselors, and LGBTQ+ Clients
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 @ [email protected]
There is often a parallel process in the development of a scholarly research identity between the junior faculty creating a research agenda and the counselors in training who are learning how to conduct counseling research. This session will explore that process and discuss how organization and mentorship impacts that process and what we have learned from our students about being mentors and researchers.
Speakers
LD
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 [email protected]
  Round Table, 15

2:35pm CDT

Centering Haitian Women’s Voices: A Phenomenological Study of Racial Trauma
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 @ [email protected]
Grounded in research, this session centers Haitian women's experiences in the United States with racial trauma. It examines how these experiences are shaped by their intersectional identities, their coping mechanisms, and key protective factors. The session concludes with recommendations for culturally responsive care for this population and a call to action for allies to engage in advocacy efforts that support communities impacted by racial trauma.
Speakers
CM
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 [email protected]
  Round Table, 7

2:35pm CDT

Evaluating ASCEND: Data-Driven Prep for School Counselors Serving Students with Disabilities
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 @ [email protected]
There is need for holistic metacognitive measures of counselors' and counselor-students' levels of state and trait mindfulness, executive functioning (EF), stress, and wellness as a metacognitive assessment to measure and further understand the cognitive and mental wellness needs of counselors. When baseline data for EF and mindfulness levels of counselors is attained, researchers can then design better mindfulness interventions specifically for the multicultural needs of counselors altogether.
Speakers
avatar for David Duany
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 [email protected]
  Round Table, 13

2:35pm CDT

From Classroom to Change: Research as Advocacy in Non-Research-Focused Counseling Programs.
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 @ [email protected]
Join this roundtable hosted by counselors with experience working in community collaboration focused on community mental health to: 1) explore your perceptions about the role of counselors in collaborative community mental health initiatives; 2) review and debate the relevancy of counseling advocacy competencies related to this domain; and 3) identify opportunities to use community collaboration as an advocacy tool in your work.
Speakers
MC
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 [email protected]
  Round Table, 16

2:35pm CDT

Increasing Well-Being Among Veterans Using Psychoeducation and Mindfulness: Preliminary Data
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 @ [email protected]
The most recent suicide prevention annual report from the VA provides data from 2022 and indicates that in 2022 there were 6,407 suicides among Veterans, equating to 17.6 Veteran suicides each day (Miller, 2024). Professional counselors need to know what the current research in professional counseling literature states about Veteran suicide. We provide preliminary data examining the use of psychoeducation, exploration of anger, and mindfulness in a 6-week intervention with Veterans.
Speakers
MR
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 [email protected]
  Round Table, 8

2:35pm CDT

Mentorship in Counseling Research: What Mentees Need and How Mentors Can Respond
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 @ [email protected]
Research and Program Evaluation has long been one of CACREP’s foundational curriculum areas for counselor training. How can counselor educators teach program evaluation effectively to both master’s and doctoral counseling students? This session will explore the challenges, strategies, and resources that support the successful teaching of program evaluation.
Speakers
QC
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 [email protected]
  Round Table, 18

2:35pm CDT

No Policy Background? No Problem, Bestie! An Introduction to Policy Analysis for Counseling Research
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 @ [email protected]
Counseling researchers addressing systemic mental health challenges need rigorous tools for policy analysis. Drawing on perspectives from education, public health, and public administration, this session offers a well-rounded introduction to policy analysis for counseling researchers at any experience level. Attendees will learn how this multi-framework approach enhances analytical depth, supports equity-centered inquiry, and produces policy recommendations grounded in counseling research.
Speakers
SK
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 [email protected]
  Round Table, 6

2:35pm CDT

Priming a Neurocognitive Memory Mechanism to Augment Traditional Mental Health Counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 @ [email protected]
Little attention has been paid to neuropsychological mechanisms-of-change in counseling. A pilot study (test n=50; control n=47) tested memory priming to transform clinical mental states into real/sham antidote forms, added to psychodynamic, CBT, and humanistic counseling. Real priming significantly sped up depression reduction (SMD 1.01) and wellbeing increase relative to sham (SMD 0.95, ps<.001), showing the value of targeting core memory systems within traditional mental health counseling.
Speakers
OB
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 [email protected]
  Round Table, 8

2:35pm CDT

Reconnecting Under Constraint: Can Family Therapy Repair Attachment in Juvenile Justice Settings?
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 20 @ [email protected]
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 20 [email protected]
  Round Table, 20

2:35pm CDT

Self-Esteem & Body Dysmorphia: Exploring the Role of Social Media
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 @ [email protected]
This session examines relationships among self-esteem, social media use, and subclinical body dysmorphia in emerging adult women. Specifically, social media use will be examined as a moderator that exacerbates existing construct relationships. Findings highlight self-esteem as a key predictor, along with multiple other critical correlations. Attendees will gain insight into assessment, prevention, and counseling strategies to address body image concerns and maladaptive media engagement.
Speakers
RD
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 [email protected]
  Round Table, 2

2:35pm CDT

Self-Report vs. Simulation-Based Assessment of Suicide Gatekeeping Competence among Youths
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 @ [email protected]
Suicide gatekeeping trainings are often evaluated with self-report measures, which capture perceived confidence but provide limited evidence of performance. This session will present a pilot study (n = ~30) examining suicide gatekeeping competence among high school students across pre-, post-, and 6-week follow-up. We will compare self-reported gatekeeping self-efficacy with performance on an AI-simulated risk assessment module to show how simulation-based assessment can complement self-report i
Speakers
IK
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 [email protected]
  Round Table, 5

2:35pm CDT

Starting Where You Are: Using Backcasting to Build a Research Agenda from a Local Practice Idea
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 @ [email protected]
Counselor educators often begin their research careers with a practice-based idea: a population they know, a problem they see, an intervention they believe could work. Backcasting inverts conventional research planning by beginning with a desired future state and working backward to map the research steps required to achieve it. This session bridges assessment and research with practice by modeling how to get started without waiting for perfect conditions to begin.
Speakers
EM
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 [email protected]
  Round Table, 9

2:35pm CDT

The Post-Dissertation Pivot: Establishing Your Research Agenda as New Faculty
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 @ [email protected]
New faculty face a variety of challenges in transitioning from dissertation completion to building a sustainable research agenda, with literature highlighting identity shifts, collaboration demands, and tenure pressures (Gibson et al., 2015; Gosling et al., 2020). The presenters address this transition by offering practical strategies for reframing dissertation work into a coherent research program, cultivating mentorship and collaboration, and aligning with long-term goals.
Speakers
LS
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 [email protected]
  Round Table, 1

2:35pm CDT

The Stories Behind the Stats: Using Mixed Methods to Holistically View Student-Athlete Mental Health
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 @ [email protected]
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 19 [email protected]
  Round Table, 19

2:35pm CDT

Transforming Trauma Assessment: Unifying the Clinical and Creative Lens in IPV Work with Families
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 @ [email protected]
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a public health issue affecting adults and children across multiple levels of family and social functioning, yet disclosure is often limited by fear, safety concerns and systemic barriers. This session examines the Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD) as a trauma‑ and violence‑informed art therapy tool to identify family dynamics, trauma indicators, and unspoken IPV experiences within a comprehensive assessment, while supporting rapport‑building and treatment planning.
Speakers
SW
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 [email protected]
  Round Table, 4

2:35pm CDT

Using Anonymous Questionnaires to Collect Sensitive Information: A CQR Case Study
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 @ [email protected]
The traditional dissertation format faces criticism for low publication rates and limited utility in assessing doctoral competency. This presentation examines how Multiple Manuscript Dissertations (MMDs) in counselor education can be used to effectively evaluate CACREP standards, serve as a meaningful competency assessment tool, and facilitate publishable scholarship. We share emerging assessment frameworks, trends, and implementation recommendations for programs considering this shift.
Speakers
KE

Kelly Emelianchik-Key

Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 [email protected]
  Round Table, 12

2:35pm CDT

Using Data to Support Professional Counseling Programs and Rationalize Access to Resources
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 @ [email protected]
This roundtable explores clinical language proficiency in counselor education, highlighting its relationship to language discrimination and counselor self-efficacy among international students. The session introduces a three-facet model to support teaching and supervision. Attendees will receive practical strategies for promoting linguistically and culturally responsive training and will discuss future approaches to assessing clinical language proficiency.
Speakers
RD
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 [email protected]
  Round Table, 14

2:35pm CDT

When Is It Participatory? Navigating the Tensions of Participatory Action Research
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 @ [email protected]
This presentation invites counselors and researchers to collaboratively explore community-engaged research in counseling settings. Drawing on a case example from rural addiction counseling, facilitators will prompt dialogue on building authentic partnerships, navigating ethical complexities, and adapting methodologies to community contexts. Participants will share challenges and solutions from their own experiences, generating collective insights that bridge research and
Speakers
JC
Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 [email protected]
  Round Table, 17

3:25pm CDT

Snack Break
Friday September 18, 2026 3:25pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 Foyer @ [email protected]
Snack Break
Friday September 18, 2026 3:25pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 Foyer
  Event

3:40pm CDT

AI-III Workshop: A Scalable Model for Integrating Generative AI in Counselor Training
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
This presentation introduces the AI-III workshop model, a structured framework for integrating generative AI in counselor education. A mixed-methods program evaluation examined its quality and effectiveness. Preliminary findings support an ethically grounded and sustainable approach to AI integration in counselor training. Participants will gain practical, evidence-informed strategies for responsible AI implementation across roles as learners, practitioners, supervisors, and educators.
Speakers
LX
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Developing Multi-tiered Research Teams for Student and Faculty Success at R1 Institutions
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
Students’ mentorship experiences are pivotal in developing research competence and efficacy. Yet, much of the current research focuses on doctoral students, ignoring opportunities to support trainees across the academic lifespan. Our educational session presents a multitiered model of student research mentorship to provide targeted engagement activities and meaningful scaffolding. This model helps students develop research confidence while supporting sustainability within counselor education.
Speakers
DD
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Evaluation of a Diagnostic Decision Making Model and Curriculum for Counseling Professionals
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
Counselors are expected to develop diagnostic clinical reasoning skills that are culturally responsive, evidence-based, and ethically sound, yet counseling research continues to highlight gaps in how diagnostic competence is assessed. This session introduces a diagnostic decision-making model grounded in clinical reasoning, self-efficacy, and cultural humility. In addition, the federally funded program evaluation plan will be discussed, along with practice for experiential components.
Speakers
AF
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

I made an Instrument, Now What? Testing Four Methods to Determine Scoring Procedures and Thresholds
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Many counseling researchers are skilled in instrument development and psychometric testing, but the scoring procedures for these instruments are often basic or undetermined. It is necessary for researchers to be familiar with and able to determine rigorous scoring procedures for the instruments they develop. The purpose of this presentation is to describe four methodologies that the presenters tested to create the scoring procedures for their original tool: the Community Readiness Instrument.
Speakers
NR
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

International Panel
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Giordano

Amanda Giordano

Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Amanda Giordano, PhD, LPC is an associate professor of counseling at the University of Georgia. Dr. Giordano works to advance the counseling field with rigorous research and has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. As a counselor educator, Dr. Giordano regularly... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Keeping the Counselor in the Loop: AI-Enhanced Assessment in Clinical Care
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
This session explores AI as a counselor-support tool for deploying, scoring, interpreting, and using assessment data in clinical care. Participants will examine how AI can synthesize structured, text, audio, video, and longitudinal data to identify patterns, support report drafting, and inform treatment planning while preserving counselor oversight, ethical safeguards, privacy, and culturally responsive interpretation.
Speakers
CC
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Mapping the Narratives: Introduction to Semantic Network Analysis
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
This session introduces semantic network analysis as a method for examining narratives in counseling research and training. Participants will explore foundational concepts, learn basic analytic steps, and examine examples using narrative and textual data. Illustrative examples will demonstrate the application of semantic network analysis to counseling research and practice.
Speakers
ZK
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Using Concept Mapping to Identify Crisis Competencies in Community Mental Health Counselor Training
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
Despite demands for specialized skills in community crisis settings, counselor training remains inconsistent. This education session presents a stakeholder-informed concept mapping methodology to systematically identify and assess essential crisis competencies. Attendees will explore this research design, learn to develop a focus prompt, and examine how to translate stakeholder data into measurable outcomes for counselor education curricula and clinical supervision.
Speakers
EM
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Collecting and Analyzing Data during Grant Projects: Strategies to Amplify Participants' Voices
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 @ [email protected]
This session explores practical strategies for collecting and analyzing data from two federal grant-funded projects (i.e., National Science Foundation DRK-12 and Department of Education GEAR UP) with an emphasis on elevating participant voices. Participants will gain skills to productively organize participant data while also conducting grant projects at the same time. Examples of participant data and findings will be provided.
Speakers
DL
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 3 [email protected]
  Poster

3:40pm CDT

From classroom to living room: Training school counselors for Play and Systemic Intervention
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 @ [email protected]
School counselors are well positioned to address children’s complex individual and family needs, yet many lack access to training in developmentally responsive and systemic interventions. In this session, we present findings from a Foundation funded initiative integrating play therapy and relationship education training for school counselors in a rural school district. We will review program evaluation findings and implications for cross-specialization training are discussed.
Speakers
JG
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 8 [email protected]
  Poster

3:40pm CDT

Getting Regression Right from the Start: Assessing and Addressing Model Assumptions
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]
Linear multiple regression (LMR) is among the most frequently used analyses in counseling research, yet scientific reports often underreport critical details to establish scientific rigor. We will review the importance of statistical power, measurement precision, and model assumptions in relation to LMR. We report the results of a 5-year content analysis of these features across ACA-family journals and provide guidance for testing, assessing, and addressing each to ensure defensible results.
Speakers
avatar for Stephen Lenz
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]
  Poster

3:40pm CDT

International Counseling Trainees in U.S. Programs: A Scoping Review of Supervision Research.
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 @ [email protected]
International counseling trainees (ICTs) are an increasingly visible presence in U.S. counseling psychology and counselor education programs, yet they encounter unique challenges related to language, acculturation, supervision dynamics, and clinical training requirements. This session presents findings from a scoping review that maps the current literature on ICTs’ supervision and training experiences, highlighting key themes, barriers, and promising supervisory practices.
Speakers
ZC
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 6 [email protected]
  Poster

3:40pm CDT

Pocket Therapy? A Meta-Analysis of Mental Health Apps for Anxiety and Stress
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 @ [email protected]
We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to explore the impact of app-based interventions on anxiety and stress symptoms. Reviewing studies published between 2002 and 2025, our analysis provides an evidence-based understanding of using mobile apps for promoting mental health outcomes across different age groups and populations. Join us at our poster presentation to discover the effectiveness of mobile mental health interventions, explore factors influencing their effectiveness, and discuss how
Speakers
YA
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 4 [email protected]
  Poster

3:40pm CDT

School-Based Interventions to Reduce School Absenteeism: A Meta-Analysis
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 @ [email protected]
This session presents a meta-analysis of 13 recent studies (2020–2025) examining school-based interventions to reduce absenteeism. Findings show a small but significant improvement (Hedges’s g = 0.091), with stronger effects in single-school settings. Attendees will gain insights into effective strategies, key contextual factors, and practical implications for implementing interventions to improve student attendance.
Speakers
DL
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 2 [email protected]
  Poster

3:40pm CDT

Who Benefits and Who Drops Out from University Counseling Services? （Poster Presentation）
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 @ [email protected]
University counseling centers serve diverse student populations, yet not all students benefit equally and premature dropout remains common. Using large-scale, multi-site data from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), this poster examines who benefits from counseling services and who is at risk for early dropout. Findings highlight how demographic, clinical, and engagement factors shape outcomes, with implications for equity-focused service delivery and stepped-care planning.
Speakers
JF
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 7 [email protected]
  Poster

3:40pm CDT

AI in Assessment: Ethical, Clinical, and Educational Applications
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 @ [email protected]
This session explores the integration of AI in clinical mental health and educational assessment. Participants will analyze current research, debate AI’s role through theoretical and pedagogical lenses, and apply ethical and cultural competencies to real-world scenarios. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks for evaluating responsible AI use in assessment contexts.
Speakers
avatar for Laura A. Bailey Smith

Laura A. Bailey Smith

Director of Research, Associate Professor, Lindsey Wilson University
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 15 [email protected]
  Round Table, 15

3:40pm CDT

All the single cases, all the single cases. Now [students] put your hands up!
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 @ [email protected]
Single case research design (SCRD) is a growing methodology across behavioral disciplines to establish evidence for treatment and intervention effectiveness. SCRD offers a more feasible, practical method to assess intervention effectiveness, using smaller samples to infer clinical significance (Lenz, 2015; Mirza et al., 2017). This Q&A session will support students and researchers by exploring how to apply SCRD in current or future studies based on presenters' ongoing scholarship.
Speakers
CB
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 13 [email protected]
  Round Table, 13

3:40pm CDT

An Exploration of Wellness Meaning‑Making Among International Counselor Trainees
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 @ [email protected]
This roundtable session draws on findings from an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study to explore how international counselor trainees conceptualize wellness. Participants will analyze how cultural contexts and exposure to wellness frameworks within counselor education shape trainees’ ongoing meaning‑making of wellness. Guided discussion will focus on implications for counseling research, education, and supervision to support culturally responsive wellness approaches.
Speakers
MW
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 1 [email protected]
  Round Table, 1

3:40pm CDT

Between Conviction and Practice: Religion, Counselors, and LGBTQ+ Clients
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 @ [email protected]
This presentation examines how Christian counselors navigate the tension between religious beliefs and ethical obligations when working with LGBTQ+ clients. Using self-report measures and the Implicit Association Test (IAT), we compare counselors' stated attitudes with their implicit biases and broaching behaviors. Findings carry implications for research on religiosity and clinical bias, as well as practice-level guidance for supervisors, training programs, and ethical standard development.
Speakers
KV
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 5 [email protected]
  Round Table, 5

3:40pm CDT

Closing the Competency Gap: The TRACA for Transracial Adoption Counseling
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 @ [email protected]
This session presents research validating the Transracial Adoption Counseling Assessment (TRACA), an instrument measuring counselor competencies for supporting transracial adoptees. Attendees will examine psychometric validation findings to identify specific competency gaps in counselor preparation, gain evidence-based assessment strategies for counselor education programs, and explore curriculum integration approaches to enhance clinical practice with transracial adoptees and their families.
Speakers
LA
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 14 [email protected]
  Round Table, 14

3:40pm CDT

Content and Connotation: An Analysis Protocol to Center Student Participant Perspectives
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 @ [email protected]
How do we engage our participants’ unique perspectives, especially when research involves children and adolescents? Presenters will guide a roundtable discussion to present the analysis protocol used for a photovoice intervention in an elementary school setting. Positioning our participants as experts and artists of their own experiences, we examined the content and connation of student artifacts produced before a play therapy intervention.
Speakers
avatar for Alexandra Frank

Alexandra Frank

Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 18 [email protected]
  Round Table, 18

3:40pm CDT

Demystifying Institutional Review Boards (IRB) Through an Equity Lens
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) play a critical role in protecting human participants, yet the process is often experienced as opaque and intimidating, especially for equity-focused counseling and assessment researchers. This interactive session introduces the purpose of IRBs, categories of review, and key protocol components while centering issues of power, vulnerability, and social justice. Attendees will gain practical strategies for navigating IRB processes ethically and confidently.
Speakers
CC

Catharina Chang

Professor, Georgia State University
Catherine Y. Chang, PhD, LPC, NCC, CPCS, is a professor at Georgia State University, where she is also director of International Programs for the College of Education and Human Development. She has published and presented in the areas of social justice and advocacy, multicultural... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]
  Round Table, 11

3:40pm CDT

Evaluating ASCEND: Data-Driven Prep for School Counselors Serving Students with Disabilities
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 @ [email protected]
This session presents the ASCEND Fellowship, a DOE-funded program preparing school counselors to support students with disabilities. Grounded in the ASCA National Model and experiential learning, the program integrates coursework, a speaker series, and a summer bootcamp (ASCA, 2019, 2022; Kolb, 1984). Attendees will gain strategies for developing evaluation frameworks and applying mixed-methods data to assess counselor competency (Havlik et al., 2019).
Speakers
avatar for Tyreeka Williams
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 3 [email protected]
  Round Table, 3

3:40pm CDT

Examining a Polyvagal Trauma Intervention: A Single-Case Study of the Safe and Sound Protocol
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 @ [email protected]
This session presents findings from a single-case research study examining the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a polyvagal-informed intervention for trauma. Results indicate meaningful reductions in trauma symptoms and improvements in autonomic regulation. Attendees will gain insight into integrating nervous system-informed approaches to enhance treatment engagement, safety, and retention in trauma counseling.
Speakers
RN
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 16 [email protected]
  Round Table, 16

3:40pm CDT

From Classroom to Change: Research as Advocacy in Non-Research-Focused Counseling Programs.
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 @ [email protected]
This session will reframe research as a practical tool for advocacy in non-research-focused counseling programs, where heavy teaching loads often limit institutional expectations for research publication. Based on ACA code of ethics and CACREP standards, the session will highlight strategies to integrate research into teaching, examine key challenges and benefits, and guide attendees in creating a brief, actionable plan to implement advocacy-based research that improves student learning outcomes
Speakers
AU
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 6 [email protected]
  Round Table, 6

3:40pm CDT

Mentorship in Counseling Research: What Mentees Need and How Mentors Can Respond
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 @ [email protected]
This session explores research mentoring relationships in counselor education, grounded in research and presenters’ lived experiences. Attendees will identify key qualities of effective mentoring, examine common challenges, and develop practical strategies to cultivate meaningful and productive mentoring relationships in counseling research.
Speakers
LS
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 8 [email protected]
  Round Table, 8

3:40pm CDT

Reconnecting Under Constraint: Can Family Therapy Repair Attachment in Juvenile Justice Settings?
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 @ [email protected]
Do family therapy interventions during incarceration meaningfully shift attachment? This session presents findings from a residential juvenile justice setting, revealing minimal change in attachment despite treatment participation. Attendees will gain insight into attachment stability, barriers to family engagement, and strategies for strengthening attachment-focused care in restrictive settings.
Speakers
DA
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 10 [email protected]
  Round Table, 10

3:40pm CDT

Research as Advocacy: Mentoring Counselors-in-Training From Competent Consumer to Competent Research
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 @ [email protected]
This roundtable will discuss strategies for mentoring master’s-level counselors-in-training through the full research process, from developing research questions to publication and conference presentation. Framing research as client advocacy, presenters will share practical approaches for engaging students in meaningful research experiences that build competence as both consumers and producers of research.
Speakers
JG
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 17 [email protected]
  Round Table, 17

3:40pm CDT

The Personal is Empirical: A Co-Autoethnographic Exploration of Research Identity Development in WOC
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 @ [email protected]
This session explores the research identity development of women of color in a Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) doctoral program. The presenters use autoethnography for reflexive inquiry into their experiences. Attendees will discuss the utility of autoethnography as a method in CES, identify important factors in research identity development, and consider the influences of cultural identity and social support.
Speakers
avatar for Patrice Bryan

Patrice Bryan

Doctoral Candidate, Duquesne University
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 12 [email protected]
  Round Table, 12

3:40pm CDT

The Stories Behind the Stats: Using Mixed Methods to Holistically View Student-Athlete Mental Health
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 @ [email protected]
Student-athletes are uniquely vulnerable to a range of mental health symptoms including perfectionistic thinking, identity-related stress, anxiety, and burnout. This presentation draws on research findings to highlight the importance of capturing student-athlete wellness complexities by integrating quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Participants will learn how holistic, narrative research enhances understanding of student-athlete mental health to better inform counseling practice.
Speakers
TS
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 9 [email protected]
  Round Table, 9

3:40pm CDT

Using Anonymous Questionnaires to Collect Sensitive Information: A CQR Case Study
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 @ [email protected]
Collecting sensitive data poses unique challenges for counseling scholars, particularly for minoritized participants. In this session, we will present methods for using anonymous online questionnaires to collect sensitive qualitative information. We will demonstrate this utility presenting a consensual qualitative research study examining crisis line use for suicide among 20 undergraduate men of color. Join us to develop strategies for exploring sensitive topics in our current climate!
Speakers
AS
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 2 [email protected]
  Round Table, 2

3:40pm CDT

Using Data to Support Professional Counseling Programs and Rationalize Access to Resources
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 @ [email protected]
Professional Counseling programs face increased pressure to demonstrate their value and effectiveness to secure vital resources. This roundtable discussion will explore strategies for using data to demonstrate impact and advocate for resources to support Professional Counseling programs. We will discuss types of data that are persuasive when engaging with administrators and other key stakeholders. We will also address common barriers to data collection and strategies to overcome those barriers.
Speakers
JW
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 4 [email protected]
  Round Table, 4

3:40pm CDT

When Is It Participatory? Navigating the Tensions of Participatory Action Research
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 @ [email protected]
This session examines tensions in participatory action research (PAR), asking: what makes research truly participatory? Drawing from school-based research and participatory frameworks, presenters explore how institutional constraints shape participation across the research process. Attendees will consider PAR as a continuum and leave with tools to navigate participatory work with methodological clarity and integrity.
Speakers
SS
Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 7 [email protected]
  Round Table, 7

4:30pm CDT

Welcome Reception
Friday September 18, 2026 4:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
Enjoy some pre-dinner networking and drinks. Drink tickets available at the door. 2 tickets per person for beer or wine and/or your choice of non-alcoholic beverages.
Friday September 18, 2026 4:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Event
 
2026 Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling Conference
From $99.00

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