2026 Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling Conference: Full Schedule

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

8:00am CDT

Anger and Grief in University Honors Students: Assessing and Treating the Phenomenon

Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT

Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]

Recent research points to the significance of studying anger, the impact on individuals and communities, and how measuring anger could help us better understand this human experience (Umbra & Fasbender, 2025). While anger is present across groups, the study of anger in the gifted population has a presence in history yet remains understudied. This session presents the preliminary results and implications from a study addressing anger and disenfranchised grief in university Honors students.

Speakers

Meredith Rausch

Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]

Round Table, 11

9:05am CDT

Is Dieting an Evidence-Based Practice? Measuring What Matters Most in Size-Inclusive Counseling."

Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT

Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]

Most counselors will encounter clients pursuing weight loss, yet dieting is associated with low success rates, physical, and mental health risks. This roundtable highlights findings from a recent Delphi study in which panelists addressed dieting and weight loss when determining competencies for providing size-inclusive counseling. Attendees will engage in a discussion of these findings, translating them into best practices for navigating assessment and goal setting while reducing weight stigma.

Speakers

Kari Slater

Assistant Professor, Wilmington University

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

Round Table, 11

10:10am CDT

Data Collection with College Students and Emerging Adults: Best Practices and Sampling Strategies

Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT

Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]

Emerging adults (ages 18–29) are the most likely age group to begin counseling services and receive mental health therapy, which underscores the need for counseling research on this population. This session will describe the differences between sampling college students from an educational setting and emerging adults through a developmental lens. Participants will learn creative recruitment strategies for both college and non-college settings, as be able to evaluate research results and implicat

Speakers

Matthew Nice

Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]

Round Table, 11

11:05am CDT

Conjoint relationship interventions' spillover effects on co-parenting: A Systematic Review.

Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT

Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]

Coparenting represents a salient relational context for children’s functioning and development. Beyond the influence the parent-child and marital relationships have, the coparenting relationship uniquely contributes to children’s social and emotional adjustment. A systematic review was conducted to examine if couple relationship education and couples therapy have coparenting spillover effects. The final review contains 18 studies. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Speakers

Carrie Hunt

Friday September 18, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]

Round Table, 11

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

Dania Fakhro

Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Table 11 [email protected]

Round Table, 11

3:40pm CDT

Demystifying Institutional Review Boards (IRB) Through an Equity Lens

Friday September 18, 2026 3:40pm - 4:30pm CDT

Trinity 2 Table 11 @ [email protected]

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) play a critical role in protecting human participants, yet the process is often experienced as opaque and intimidating, especially for equity-focused counseling and assessment researchers. This interactive session introduces the purpose of IRBs, categories of review, and key protocol components while centering issues of power, vulnerability, and social justice. Attendees will gain practical strategies for navigating IRB processes ethically and confidently.

Speakers

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