Professional Research

GSCA does not distribute research surveys on behalf of members or the public.  However, in the interest of furthering the research that makes school counselors able to better themselves and assisting those who are in pursuit of higher degrees, we post surveys which have been screened by the GSCA Journal Editor for validity. We ask that school counselors participate as they are able in order to continue and support research in the field.

If you have a survey/research you would like posted below, please email info@gaschoolcounselor.org.  Please include the exact text you would like published and the IRB approval.   Your request will be reviewed and approved by our review committee before it will be posted.

Posted 3/24/25

Bringing Out the Brilliance in Black Girls is a strength-based study exploring factors that enhance self-esteem in Black girls despite the internalization of controlling messages received in the mass media. Over the years, this topic has become my passion as I watched the low self-esteem in the Black girls I work with as a Professional School Counselor inform identity, friendships, relationships, course choices, and career choices. Time Magazine's 2021 cover story, "The Mental Health Crisis in Black Girls," raised even more awareness and concern. One of the things that I have discovered in my research is that the negative and controlling messages that Black girls receive can be traced back to stereotypes of Black women (e.g., Jezebel, Sapphire, and Mammy) created during slavery. Negative controlling images of Black women portrayed in the media (television, movies, social and music) are contributing to poor mental health outcomes for Black girls. Did you know that in addition to an increase in major depressive episodes reported by Black girls, the CDC reports that 94,000 Black girls have attempted suicide since 2017? This study examines how gendered racial microaggressions, internalized stereotypes, and harmful societal messages impact the mental health, self-worth, and overall well-being of Black adolescent girls, contributing to a critical mental health crisis.

How can you help? Click here to read more and send the link to the parents of Black girls in your circle of influence. Please encourage them to participate. The findings will inform how we can integrate wellness activities for Black girls in our Comprehensive School Counseling Programs.

If you have questions about this research, please get in touch with me at Denise Hawkins at denise.hawkins@uga.edu. If you have any complaints or questions about your rights as a research volunteer, contact the IRB at 706-542-3199 or by email at IRB@uga.edu.

Sincerely,

Denise Hawkins, EdS, NCC
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Counseling and Human Development Services
The University of Georgia

Posted 3/24/25

• Time Commitment: Approximately 13 minutes
• Format: 110-question survey using a 5-point Likert scale
• Confidentiality: No identifying information will be collected, and all responses will remain anonymous.

Posted 2/14/25

My name is Carol Bentley and I am a doctoral candidate at the University of West Georgia studying the impact and effectiveness of student organization event policies. I am seeking participants for my study that will engage in interviews to give insights into experiences, attitudes, and beliefs.
 
If you are currently a certified School Counselor employed full-time and have participated in a crisis situation at your school, your participation will provide valuable insight and greatly contribute to the success of this study. This survey is designed for School Counselors who have participated in a crisis event. This study explores the school counselors' role in handling crises, discusses barriers to students receiving mental health services during and after crises, and examines current training practices for professional school counselors.
 
Participation in the study involves completing an anonymous survey that covers your experience and role in crises. The survey is designed to take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. After completing the survey, you will be asked if you would like to participate in a follow-up interview. Should you choose to participate, you will provide the researcher with your email address to schedule the interview. The survey responses will be anonymous unless you choose to participate in the interview portion of the study. In that case, your survey responses will be connected with the interview consent form and your identity. The researcher will not share this information in the report. By participating in both the survey and the interview, you will be eligible to receive a $25 Amazon gift card. 
 
CLICK HERE to access the survey. 
 
If you have any questions or concerns about the research or the survey, please email me at cb00207@my.westga.edu. You may also email Dr. Michele Pinellas, my dissertation chair and faculty supervisor, at mpinellas@westga.edu, or the University of West Georgia’s Institutional Review Board at irb@westga.edu.

Posted 11/18/24

Greetings! We are seeking participants for our new study "Interdisciplinary collaborations in schools: Lived Experiences of School-Based Professionals." The study will explore the collaborative experiences between school-based professionals. Participant inclusion criteria include the following:

-18 years of age or older
-Licensed/certified school counselor
-Licensed/certified school based mental health counselor
-Licensed school social worker
-Currently employed as a school-based professional
-Have at least 1 year of experience working in a school setting
-Experience collaborating with school professionals (school counselors, school-based mh counselors, school social workers)

If you are interested, please contact Dr. Montague at kmontagu@nccu.edu. 

Posted 11/18/24

I am working on a doctoral project entitled “Elementary School Counselors’ Experiences in Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices.” My research will be overseen by my faculty mentor, Dr. Lynn O’Brien.

My research examines the experiences of elementary school counselors working in their schools with children ages 4 to 12. I will be recruiting practicing elementary school counselors to participate in my study. I would like to conduct the interviews through a Zoom meeting.  You can see more details here.

Contact: Heather Rowan hrowan@capellauniversity.edu

Posted 11/18/24

Hello! 

We are conducting a confirmatory factor analysis study on the School Counselor Professional Identity Scale (SCPIS). Anyone with training and/or experience as a school counselor is invited to participate by reading the informed consent (5 mins.) and completing two brief questionnaires (approximately 10 mins. total): 

• Demographic Questionnaire – 10 questions
• School Counselor Professional Identity Scale – 49 questions 

Your responses will be kept confidential, help us discern the validity of the SCPIS scores, and advance our understanding of school counselor professional identity. If you are willing to participate, please click on the link below: 
https://lfsebs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cRZB0YVuiDxTU6q 

Participants will have a chance to enter their email address to win one of four $25 Amazon gift cards. Email addresses will not be linked to the research questionnaire responses.  

Thank you for your time. If you have questions, please contact me at CJurekovic@UMary.edu. 

Best regards, 
Dr. Christina Jurekovic 
University of Mary Counselor Education Department Chair