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

Understanding Partners’ Mental Health Experiences in Couples Utilizing In-Vitro Fertilization

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

Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]

Traditionally, research regarding the experiences of families who use in-vitro fertilization (IVF) focus on the childbearing perspective highlighting the stress and uncertainty that comes with wanting to become a mother and/or parent (Clifton et al., 2020; Ye et al., 2025). There are minimal studies focusing on the mental strain men and partners endure with the fertility process (Ye et al., 2025). Therefore, this study explores the lived experiences of the non-childbearing partner.

Speakers

Jessie Guest

Speakers

Palmer Gudmundson

University of South Carolina

Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]

Poster, 1

9:05am CDT

Using reaction-times to measure depression

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

Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]

Directly measuring emotional state using latency difference of millisecond responses to depressive (D) vs. non-depressive (ND) words can overcome self-report limitations. Cross-sectional (n=682) data show two factors (D=15 items σ²≈11%; ND=12 items σ²≈11%), sensitivity .73, specificity .91, predictive and concurrent validity with PHQ-9/CES-D (p<.001). A longitudinal sample (n=97): replicates and extends validity; inversely tracks wellbeing; has good reliability (test-retest=.6; Cronbach's α≈.7).

Speakers

Oliver Boxell

Friday September 18, 2026 9:05am - 9:55am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]

Poster, 1

10:10am CDT

How to Develop an Observation Tool: A Step-by-Step Guide for Practice and Research

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

Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]

This session provides a step-by-step guide for developing observation tools in counseling, education, and community settings. Participants will learn how to move from theory to observable indicators, design domains and rating systems, and establish rigor through expert review, pilot testing, and interrater reliability. An arts-based classroom observation tool is used as a practical example to illustrate each step.

Speakers

Dania Fakhro

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina

Friday September 18, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]

Poster, 1

11:15am CDT

A longitudinal qualitative analysis of early counselor trainee professional identity development

Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT

Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]

With an evolving educational and healthcare landscape, it is becoming more critical for counselors to hold a unified, strong professional identity. This poster presentation summarizes the results of a qualitative investigation on how early counselor trainees’ (N = 48) CPI evolved over a semester in an introductory counseling course. In particular, we present a thematic analysis of how the counselor trainees’ responses developed their CPI over five data collection points.

Speakers

Sebastiana Halpin

Friday September 18, 2026 11:15am - 12:05pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]

Poster, 1

2:35pm CDT

Latent Classes of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Differences in Life Satisfaction and Development

Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT

Trinity 2 Poster 1 @ [email protected]

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative mental health and developmental outcomes across the lifespan. This poster session presents the findings of a study using latent class analysis with a sample of emerging adult. Findings from the current study identified distinct ACE profiles and examined differences in life satisfaction, quality of life, resilience, and the features of emerging adulthood. Implications for research and practice will be highlighted.

Speakers

Matthew L. Nice

Associate Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Matthew L. Nice, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, is an associate professor with the Department of Counseling and Human Development at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and chapter faculty advisor for IUP’s Chi Sigma Iota Chapter, Iota Upsilon Pi. He is a licensed professional counselor, a... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm CDT
Trinity 2 Poster 1 [email protected]

Poster, 1

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 1 @ [email protected]

School counselors are well positioned to address children’s complex individual and family needs, yet many lack access to training in developmentally responsive and systemic interventions. In this session, we present findings from a Foundation funded initiative integrating play therapy and relationship education training for school counselors in a rural school district. We will review program evaluation findings and implications for cross-specialization training are discussed.

Speakers