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We appreciate our sponsors for their contributions to AARC!
If you are interested in sponsorship, please reach out to Leigh Holman, [email protected]. 
Thursday, September 17
 

12:00pm CDT

Volunteer Check In
Thursday September 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Trinity Lobby @ [email protected]
Check in at the registration desk when you arrive, if you were notified you were chosen as a volunteer.
Speakers
KM
Thursday September 17, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Trinity Lobby [email protected]
  Volunteer Check In

1:00pm CDT

AARC Executive Board Meeting
Thursday September 17, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Sabine @ [email protected]
Association for Assessment & Research in Counseling Closed Executive Board Meeting
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 →
Thursday September 17, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Sabine [email protected]
  Board Meeting

1:00pm CDT

Thursday Registration Check In
Thursday September 17, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm 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 →
Thursday September 17, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Trinity Lobby [email protected]
  Registration Check In
 
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...
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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,...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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)....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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,...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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,...
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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,...
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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...
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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):...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
See More →
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....
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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...
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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
 
Saturday, September 19
 

6:30am CDT

Sunrise Yoga
Saturday September 19, 2026 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 @ [email protected]
Sunrise Yoga with Dr. Jennifer Stover, mental health and yoga practitioner.
Speakers
DJ
Saturday September 19, 2026 6:30am - 7:30am CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 [email protected]
  Event

8:00am CDT

Addressing Researcher Bias Within Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
This session examines researcher bias within Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and its implications for rigor in counselor education research. Participants will explore how subjectivity functions within hermeneutic inquiry, identify analytic risks such as the “black box” effect, and apply reflexive strategies to enhance transparency, credibility, and methodological coherence in IPA...
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Speakers
PS
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Connection Before Correction: Examining Adolescent School Engagement Through an SDOH Lens
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
School engagement predicts academic and long-term outcomes, yet contextual influences are often overlooked. Grounded in Ecological Social Justice School Counseling, an SDOH-informed framework, this study uses adolescent data from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Using SEM, links between SDOH and engagement, mediation by parent relationships, and demographic differences are...
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Speakers
NB
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Exploring Psychometric Properties of the Traumatic Growth Scale
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
This session will present results of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of a newly developed scale to measure posttraumatic growth. Attendees will learn about the scale-item development process including factor solutions and model fit, as well as the results of evidence for validity and reliability based on data from 1,600 respondents. We will discuss...
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Speakers
MP
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Making Research Accessible: Diverse Methods of Knowledge Dissemination
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
For research findings to inform clinical practice and create systemic change, they must be accessible to practitioners and community members. Peer reviewed journal articles are limited in terms of accessibility and counseling researchers must consider diverse methods of knowledge dissemination for clinical practice to be informed by rigorous research. In this session, presenters will discuss...
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Speakers
AG
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Navigating Authorship in Counseling Research: Ethical, Relational, and Practical Strategies
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
Authorship is a common yet complex ethical issue in counseling research. This interactive session will explore professional standards, power dynamics, and practical strategies for determining authorship and order of authorship across collaborative teams. Through case discussion and guided reflection, attendees will develop skills to prevent and address authorship conflicts, promote transparency,...
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Speakers
BM
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Pathways to Developing a Research Identity in Counselor Education
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
This session explores researcher identity development within counselor education, emphasizing key influences such as doctoral training, mentorship, and scholarly community. Through guided reflection and collective discussion, participants will evaluate their researcher identity and learn strategies to foster a sustainable research agenda and scholarly voice.
Speakers
EC
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Ten years of randomized controlled trials in counseling journals: Scope, quality, and insights
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
Randomized control trials (RCTs) are relatively rare in the counseling literature despite the strengths of this research design to inform evidence-based counseling practice. Come learn the scope (e.g., client populations, presenting concerns, modalities) and methodological quality (e.g., randomization procedures, intervention fidelity, data analysis) of RCTs published in counseling journals...
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Speakers
YX
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

8:00am CDT

Toward Methodological Standards for Delphi Research in Counseling
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
Delphi methodology is widely used in counseling research to develop competencies, standards, and professional guidance, yet methodological practices vary considerably across studies. This session presents findings from a systematic scoping review of Delphi studies in counseling research and introduces a framework to support transparent, defensible methodological decisions when designing,...
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Speakers
HA
Saturday September 19, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Applying the EQUITY-AI Framework to Counseling Assessment and Research
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
Counseling researchers increasingly use artificial intelligence in assessment and research, creating ethical challenges related to transparency, bias, authorship, and data privacy. This session introduces the EQUITY-AI Framework, a structured ethical decision-making model grounded in counseling ethics and research integrity literature. Participants learn to apply the framework across the research...
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Speakers
LS
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Causal Machine Learning for Precision Counseling: From Average to Individual Treatment Effects
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Counselors emphasize individualized treatment for diverse clients, but interventions are often guided by studies that assess average treatment effects. Causal machine learning provides a rigorous way to estimate who benefits most (or may be harmed) from specific interventions using clinical trial data, offering data-driven insights to achieve better individual outcomes. This session discusses the...
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Speakers
YZ
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Demystifying research: Creative strategies for teaching master’s-level counseling research courses
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
Research and program evaluation are essential components of the counseling curricula. However, master’s-level counselors-in-training (CITs) often report anxiety and self-doubt in their abilities to engage with research. This presentation will explore the role of interactive and experiential learning on CITs’ research anxiety and experiences in research courses. The presenters will review...
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Speakers
avatar for Adriana Labarta

Adriana Labarta

Assistant Professor, Nova Southeastern University
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Four Functions of Counseling Scholarship: Applying Boyer’s Framework to a Maturing Discipline
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Comal @ [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...
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Speakers
MF
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Hopelessness and Helplessness; Detecting Clients at Risk of Suicide Before Rapport
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
Predicting safety issues with new clients can feel like fortune telling and often causes clinician anxiety. Hopelessness has long been identified as one of the most prominent warning signs for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but articulating these feelings can look different to each individual client. The presentation will review approaches to assessing and treating suicidal thoughts and...
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Speakers
CM
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Measuring Mentoring Engagement: Development and Validation of the Mentoring Engagement Scale
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
Professional mentoring may support school counselors’ well-being and sustainability, yet existing measures offer limited applicability for research. This presentation describes the development and initial validation of the Mentoring Engagement Scale, a self-report measure of mentoring engagement. Results from 324 U.S. school counselors supported a two-factor structure—Investment and...
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Speakers
EK
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Stories, Settings, and Systems: A Researcher's Introduction to Ethnographic Case Study
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Ethnographic case study (ECS) methodology offers counseling researchers a rigorous approach to examining culture, identity, development, and learning. This session introduces ECS foundations, design considerations, and application, covering case selection, conceptual framework, sampling, data sources, analysis, trustworthiness, and ethical practice. This session will equip attendees to adapt ECS...
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Speakers
SS
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

9:05am CDT

Understanding and Applying Multilevel SEM to Address Cross-Cultural Measurement Noninvariance
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
This education session introduces multilevel structural equation modeling (MLSEM) for analyzing hierarchically structured data. Attendees will learn foundational concepts including multilevel modeling, multilevel CFA, and the stepwise MLSEM analytic process. Using Davidov et al.'s (2012) cross-cultural measurement noninvariance study as a worked example, this session demonstrates how MLSEM...
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Speakers
XA
Saturday September 19, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Checking the Box or Changing the Culture? Counselor Educators' Understanding of Ableism
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Ableism remains underexamined in counselor education, often reduced to accommodation compliance over systemic change. This session shares results from a mixed methods study on counselor educators' understanding of ableism. While more training predicted higher confidence, confidence was not related to lower ableism. Qualitative themes revealed knowledge gaps and a pervasive accommodation focus....
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Speakers
CB
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Knowledge, Power, and Inquiry: A Critical Pedagogical Perspective
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
Grounded in our ethical responsibility for inclusivity, this session introduces critical evidence-based research pedagogy and inquiry-based learning in counselor education. Participants will define core principles, evaluate integration across CACREP-aligned courses, and design an inquiry-based strategy with measurable outcomes. Through guided discussion and hands-on application, attendees will...
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Speakers
JD
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Mentoring Doctoral Students: An Intersectional, Feminist Panel Discussion
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
CACREP requires doctoral students to receive faculty mentorship. Empirically we know the importance of this mentorship on researcher identity and that these benefits are greater when centering intersectional and cultural factors. However: how does this look practically? Our panel includes counselor educators who identify as female, Full Professors, at high research institutions. We’ll discuss...
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Speakers
EG
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Positioning the Self in Research: Autoethnography in Counselor Education and Re‑Professionalization
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
This session examines autoethnography as a rigorous qualitative research framework (Adams et al., 2015; Ellis et al., 2011) within Counselor Education. Presenters will explore its epistemology, methodology, and possibilities for reflexive scholarship. The session will demonstrate the use of autoethnography in researching immigrant re-professionalization, highlighting how self-reflective inquiry...
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Speakers
SI
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Quasi-Experimental Design: How to Best Address the Lack of Randomization in Your Counseling Research
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
When it is not possible to apply randomization in a research study design, we limit our ability to draw causal conclusions from the results. This presentation will explore the two categories of methodological approaches of quasi-experimental research design that improve our ability to generalize such a study: analytic and design-based approaches. We will explore the designs of each approach to...
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Speakers
DC
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

Student Outcomes and School Counselor Perspectives on the Hope Intervention: A Mixed Methods Study
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Comal @ [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...
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Speakers
SL
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

10:10am CDT

The Forgiveness Reconciliation Inventory: An integrative tool for assessment, practice, and research
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
The Forgiveness Reconciliation Inventory (FRI, Author, 2021)) is a counseling tool to measure an individual's process through forgiveness and conflict. The FRI may be used to assess emotional safety, manage conflict, and address trauma, often distinguishing between and individual’s need for forgiveness versus the safety of reconciliation. In this session, attendees will earn how to integrate the...
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Speakers
RB
Saturday September 19, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Advancing Positive Childhood Experiences: Frameworks, Measurement, and Research Implications
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
This session introduces Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), emphasizing their framework, measurement, and significance for counseling research. Attendees will learn why PCEs are needed alongside the field’s strong focus on ACEs in research and practice. Presenters will review key frameworks, measurement approaches and limitations, and the value PCEs add to counseling research, along with...
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Speakers
GP
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Centering Advocacy in Counseling Research: Implications for Practice and Policy
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
Counseling researchers have an important role to play in the advancement of the profession through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of advocacy-informed data. This content session will 1) introduce approaches to research that support counseling advocacy efforts; 2) discuss the importance of public statements and making data available and consumable to counseling stakeholders; and 3)...
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Speakers
avatar for Danielle Pester Boyd

Danielle Pester Boyd

Assistant Professor, Auburn University
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Engaging Minoritized Participants: Recruitment and Retention in Counseling Research.
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
Anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at the state and federal level have inhibited research participation among historically minoritized groups, who were already underrepresented in counseling research. In this roundtable, we will discuss barriers to participation in research for minoritized groups, present strategies from the literature for recruiting and retaining research...
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Speakers
SK
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

How to conduct inductive content analysis in counseling research
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
Inductive Content Analysis (ICA) research is popular and used in diverse ways in counselor education. ICA allows scholars to uncover big-picture patterns when prior knowledge is fragmented or has not been discovered. Thus, scholars must use a systematic approach to conduct ICA research in counseling. We will present Schreier’s six step model for conducting inductive content analysis projects to...
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Speakers
DD

Daniel DeCino

Associate Professor, University of South Dakota
Daniel DeCino (pronouns-he/him/his) is an Associate Professor in the Division of Counseling and Psychology Programs at the University of South Dakota. Dr. DeCino is a former middle school counselor in Colorado and he earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the... Read More →
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Mapping Trauma Education in Counseling Programs: A 25-Year Scoping Review
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
This session presents a 25-year scoping review (2002–2024) mapping trauma education in U.S. graduate counseling and Health Service Psychology programs. Following Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 35 articles were analyzed, revealing systemic gaps in curriculum, educator preparation, and institutional support. Attendees will learn scoping review methodology and...
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Speakers
YP
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Neuroscience-Integrated Assessment in Counseling: Culturally Responsive Practices and Procedures
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
This session will provide an overview of a newly released textbook entitled “Neuroscience-Integrated Assessment in Counseling: Culturally Responsive Practices and Procedures” with the design for graduate-level instruction for counselor education. Using a mixture of informative and interactive ways, the co-authors will use a case study(s) from the text to invite the audience to conduct a...
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Speakers
avatar for Yoon Suh Moh

Yoon Suh Moh

Associate Professor, Thomas Jefferson University
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Trends in School Counseling Intervention Research: Findings From a 25-Year Systematic Review
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
This session shares results from the largest open journal systematic review of school counseling interventions to date, analyzing 25 years of peer-reviewed studies (2001–2025) to help identify what works, what’s missing, whose needs are being centered, methodological strengths and weaknesses, and how the field is moving forward. Participants will gain a clear overview of trends (and gaps) from...
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Speakers
avatar for Catherine Griffith

Catherine Griffith

Associate Professor, University of San Diego
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

11:15am CDT

Using multi-group IPA as an Innovative Qualitative Method for Transnational Counseling Research
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
This session discusses multi-group interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) as a method for transnational counseling research. Extending traditional IPA, multi-group IPA uses different subsamples to explore shared and group-specific experiential themes, making it well-suited for research that focuses on counseling practice across national contexts. The session presents key procedures of...
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Speakers
SC
Saturday September 19, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

12:00pm CDT

Graduate Student Luncheon - Off Site at Ringos
Saturday September 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Ringos @ [email protected]
Meet up with fellow graduate students for some mid-day free food and fun at Ringos, within walking distance of the hotel.
Speakers
HM
AG
Saturday September 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Ringos
  Event

12:00pm CDT

Lunch on your own
Saturday September 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
TBA @ [email protected]
Lunch on Your Own
Saturday September 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
TBA
  Lunch on Your Own

1:30pm CDT

Beyond Q Factors: A Thematic Analysis of UDL Beliefs in Counselor Education
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
This session presents a reflexive thematic analysis of counselor educators’ beliefs about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) using post-sort interview data from a Q methodology study. Attendees will examine themes such as systemic limitations, overwhelming demands, and vulnerability, and learn how RTA deepens interpretation of perspectives in counselor education research.
Speakers
EP
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

1:30pm CDT

Beyond the Numbers: The Impact of Student-to-School Counselor Ratio on Student Success
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
This presentation explores how student-to-school counselor ratios influence student outcomes, including performance on standardized math and English assessments, chronic absenteeism, high school graduation, and college enrollment. The presenter examines how these effects vary across different contexts. Emphasis is placed on the role of school counselors in supporting student development across...
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Speakers
YL
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

1:30pm CDT

Comprehensive student assessment and implications for remediation and retention
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Comprehensive masters student assessment that clearly correlates with remediation and retention procedures, CACREP standards, and provides legal protections is an ongoing challenge for many counselor education programs. In this session, we share practical strategies on how to expand individual student assessment procedures to continuously and systematically target student knowledge, skills, and...
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Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Cook

Jennifer Cook

Associate Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

1:30pm CDT

Effectiveness of an AI Simulation and Feedback Intervention on CITs' Broaching and Self-Efficacy
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
This session presents findings from a quasi-experimental study examining an AI-based simulation and feedback intervention's effectiveness on CITs' broaching attitudes/behaviors and counseling self-efficacy. Results revealed significant broaching improvement (p = .019, d = 0.83) and medium-to-large self-efficacy effects between control and experimental groups. Attendees will explore how...
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Speakers
XA
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

1:30pm CDT

Narrative Analysis and Narrative Inquiry
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
This session focuses on narrative analysis and narrative inquiry as ways of understanding lived experience and identity through stories. Participants will explore key differences between analysis of narratives and narrative analysis, and engage in reflective activities to examine their own experiences. The session highlights how storytelling supports meaning-making, identity development, and...
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Speakers
MI
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

1:30pm CDT

Recommendations for Addressing Missing Data in Counseling Research
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Missing data can introduce bias and error, threatening the accurate interpretation of test scores. The presenter will review the threats of missing data to the accuracy of parameters and standards errors as well as strategies for appropriate handling it. Expressly, the presenter will discuss the importance of assessing the missingness mechanism and level of missing to accurately select the...
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Speakers
RC
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

1:30pm CDT

“But I’m not a research person!” Using the RARE Model to support research identity development
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
The RARE Model framework was originally designed to help reluctant faculty engage in program assessment. Counseling students often present with similar apprehensions and limiting beliefs when it comes to research: “I’m not a research person!” This session shows how the RARE Model can be applied in counselor education to foster confidence and support research identity development through...
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Speakers
GP
Saturday September 19, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

2:00pm CDT

Snack Break
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 Foyer @ [email protected]
Join us in the Trinity 3 & 4 Lobby for some mid-day snacks.
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Trinity 3 & 4 Foyer
  Snack Break

2:35pm CDT

A Content Analysis of Research-focused Presentations at ACES National Conferences
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
ACES conference presentations are a central way counselor educators and supervisors engage with research, especially for those in positions that do not require publication in scholarly journals. Yet, no researchers have examined trends in research-focused ACES presentations. We will present the findings from our content analysis study of ACES conference presentation descriptions from 1992 to 2025...
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Speakers
avatar for Phillip Waalkes

Phillip Waalkes

Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

AI in Counseling Research: Ethical Integration in Qualitative & Quantitative Methods
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
This session explores how artificial intelligence can be ethically and effectively integrated into counseling research. Attendees will examine practical applications of AI across qualitative and quantitative methods, including Q methodology, narrative inquiry, and survey design. Emphasis will be placed on preserving researcher reflexivity, trustworthiness & rigor, minimizing bias, and using AI as...
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Speakers
SG
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Assessing Outcomes in Trauma Training: A Mixed Methods Study of Counselor Development
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
This session presents preliminary findings from interviews and assessments with 18 counseling students enrolled in a crisis and trauma course. Results highlight how relational pedagogy, structured reflection, and experiential learning support students’ emotional regulation, reflexivity, and perceived preparedness. Attendees will gain strategies for assessing student outcomes in trauma training...
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Speakers
MH
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Growing Through Expansion: Cultural Humility and Relational Flourishing in Intercultural Couples
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
While research on intercultural couples has primarily focused on their unique relational challenges, cultural humility emerges as a valuable resource toward relational flourishing. Drawing on two quantitative studies, this session presents theoretically-informed pathways linking cultural humility to relational satisfaction via cultural sharing and self-expansion. Attendees will leave with...
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Speakers
PZ
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Healing as Legacy: An Endarkened Narrative Inquiry
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
This session explores Endarkened Narrative Inquiry (ENI) as a decolonial approach to researching the healing of emerging adult Black women. Centered on Black feminist thought and womanism, ENI disrupts Eurocentric ideals through intergenerational "Wisdom Whispers" and spirit-driven narratives. We examine how centering these voices and storytelling informs culturally responsive research and...
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Speakers
AB
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Not So Anonymous: Ethical considerations for publications using publicly accessible data
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
The public accessibility of data does not eliminate the researcher's obligation to protect the individuals represented within it. Through analysis of sample publications and pre-existing data, this presentation examines the ethical risks of using publicly accessible data in academic manuscripts and offers guidance for determining what should and should not be published. The session concludes with...
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Speakers
LL
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Recommendations for conducting a longitudinal study in counseling research
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
This presentation will focus on how to conduct a multiple time points (i.e., longitudinal) counseling research study. The presenters will discuss how to conceptualize a study, receive institutional review board approval, collect and analyze data, and disseminate findings. A longitudinal study on counselor well-being will be provided with results analyzed using structural equation modeling....
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Speakers
HF
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

2:35pm CDT

Trend Analysis of Attention-related Problems in College Clients: Baselines and Treatment Outcomes
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Using 2018-2025 data from a CMHC training clinic, this trend analysis explores prevalence and severity of reported attention issues before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic for college student clients. Treatment effects of counselors-in-training will be analyzed to identify direct and third-variable effects, evaluating mediating relationships of anxiety and depression with student age and...
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Speakers
MS
Saturday September 19, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Advancing Career Counseling Research for First-Generation College Students: A Multi-faceted Approach
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande B @ [email protected]
This session focuses on advancing career counseling research for first-generation college students (FGCSs) through multidimensional approaches. We will examine FGCS research examples integrating methodologies, such as latent profile analysis, meta-analysis, and longitudinal SEM. Attendees will learn how these projects capture FGCSs’ dynamic career trajectories and subgroup heterogeneity, thereby...
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Speakers
BU
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande B [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Attachment Styles and Self-Deficits in Counseling Assessment
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine A @ [email protected]
As attachment theory is increasingly used in counseling, accurate assessment is essential. This session presents findings from a study of counseling students examining the convergent and discriminant validity of the primary attachment style questionnaire (PASQ) with measures of adult attachment and self-object needs. Results show borderline-secure styles actually reflect self-deficits more than...
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Speakers
ET
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine A [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Demonstrating the Feasibility of Mixed Methods Research in Counseling Program Evaluation
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine B @ [email protected]
Evaluating counseling training programs can be challenging when relying on a single method. This session presents a sequential explanatory mixed methods case study evaluating relational training for mental health volunteers supporting youth with caregiver cancer. Quantitative results were followed by qualitative data to explain and deepen findings. Participants will learn how integrating...
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Speakers
KL
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sabine B [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Evaluating the Utility of the Sporting Resilience Model for Collegiate Student-Athlete Resilience
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Comal @ [email protected]
This presentation evaluates the utility of the Sporting Resilience Model (Gupta & McCarthy, 2022) among collegiate student-athletes. A hierarchical multiple regression is used to examine the unique and incremental variance explained by 10 biopsychosocial protective factors and their relative contributions to resilience. Findings will inform assessment practices, higher education programming,...
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Speakers
JS
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Comal [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Final Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial for Gottman Method Couples Counseling for Infidelity
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Canyon Lake @ [email protected]
This presentation will present the final results of an RCT on Gottman Method Couples Therapy for the treatment of couples dealing with Infidelity. The results include qualitative and quantitative findings. The quantitative results have been analyzed using dyadic analysis (Actor Partner Interdependence Model), as well as Mixed-Linear Modeling which analyzed behavioral measures, relationship...
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Speakers
PP
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Canyon Lake [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Mapping Counselor Inclusion in Medicare: An Outcome-Based Geospatial Case Study
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
San Antonio @ [email protected]
This presentation delivers practical applications of geographic information systems (GIS) in counseling research and assessment. Using a spatial analysis of Medicare-approved mental health counselors and social determinants of mental health, the presentation shows how GIS can enhance counseling research. Attendees will gain an applied overview of data and technical requirements, as well as...
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Speakers
JW
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
San Antonio [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Preparing Counselors for Tomorrow’s Practice: AI Literacy and Ethics
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Willow Creek @ [email protected]
Artificial intelligence tools are rapidly entering counseling education and practice, yet many programs lack guidance for addressing them ethically. This session introduces a practical framework for developing AI literacy grounded in counseling ethics and professional identity. Participants will explore key AI concepts and strategies for critically evaluating AI-generated information used in...
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Speakers
CG
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Willow Creek [email protected]
  Content

3:40pm CDT

Using Discipline Data as an Equity Assessment Tool
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande A @ [email protected]
Exclusionary discipline remains common despite evidence linking suspension to negative outcomes. This session frames discipline as a measurable system using an MTSS lens. Participants will learn to analyze referral patterns, disaggregated outcomes, and fidelity indicators to identify gaps and evaluate impact. A checklist-based evaluation tool shows how measurement can guide intervention selection,...
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Speakers
DS
Saturday September 19, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT
Rio Grande A [email protected]
  Content
 
2026 Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling Conference
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Thursday, September 17
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Willow Creek
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