The incorporation of therapy animals into psychological treatment has proven to be an effective form of treatment option for college students, yet limited information exists around the implementation of animal assisted interventions within groupwork. The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of animal assisted group therapy (AAGT) on…

The problem addressed in the study is that university counselors in the United States have been overwhelmed by the surge in student mental health care demand. The purpose of this qualitative dissertation was to explore and document the perspectives of university counselors and how they have been affected by the surge in student mental healthcare…

As diverse student populations in the United States continue to increase, the need to support culturally diverse student groups has become increasingly important, especially in postsecondary institutions. Colleges and universities have been relying heavily on student affairs professionals (SAPs) to provide services that inform and support diverse…

This study sought to explore the experiences of counsellors at Nelson Mandela University's Emthonjeni Student Wellness counselling unit regarding the implementation of a blended counselling model which integrated virtual interventions into the existing practice model. Grounded theory methodology was employed to generate an understanding of the…

This phenomenological investigation examined the experiences and knowledge of high school counselors in advising student-athletes on the NCAA college transition process. The study sought to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, successes, and experiences of school counselors in supporting student-athletes during a critical transition…

Trauma-informed practices were initially designed for children; however, we argue that higher education is well-positioned to address the needs of adults as well. This paper discusses adopting trauma-informed practices in organizations and relational spaces. We also share preliminary findings from a qualitative pilot study that explored the…

University counselors have been in place in China for more than fifty years, and they serve an important (yet underappreciated) role in Chinese universities. The professional development of this profession is: (1) a realistic need for the construction of quality education development teams in colleges/universities; (2) a theoretical need for the…

This paper explores the experiences of social work practitioners making a career move from front-line practice into academia. Six participants engaged in a focus group and subsequent individual semi-structured interviews to reflect on their transitional experiences. From this, factors that helped or hindered the transition were identified and…

The purpose of the study was to understand how faculty and counselors perceive student persistence, retention, and college readiness in relation to student academic success. The qualitative approach was utilized to obtain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of the participants. Purposeful sampling was utilized to select faculty and…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, academic advisors worked remotely and conducted virtual appointments. One higher education advising unit in the Southeast United States resumed in-person appointments while maintaining virtual appointments in Fall 2021. To address whether significant differences occur in appointment modalities, this study conducted…

The conclusion of 2024 state legislative sessions brought news of additional measures to limit higher education institutions' ability to offer initiatives focused on creating inclusion and belonging. In addition, and of particular impact on Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) members, several states and institutions that…

As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most face-to-face instructions and services in higher education, universities struggled to continue teaching and serving students. In particular, student services like academic advising were significantly impacted, as most advising is conducted in person. The use of synchronous communication technology was…

The goal of this qualitative case study was to determine what institutional processes and practices have been developed in relationship to mass shootings and gun violence, as well as how mass shootings in educational settings impact the way a campus responds and prepares a safety plan. Through speaking with threat assessment team members, student…

One-to-one work with students remains at the core of many higher education career services in the UK, but there is limited empirical evidence detailing the nature of these interactions. Drawing together existing strands of literature on the process and effectiveness of one-to-one career conversations, career decision-making difficulties, and…

Student Affairs professionals report concerns of stress, burnout, work-life balance issues, overall job satisfaction, and unrealistic demands and expectations often resulting in employees exiting the field (Boehman, 2007; Evans, 1988; Lorden, 1998; Marshall et al., 2016; Mullen et al., 2018; Rosser & Javinar, 2003; Ward, 1995). The COVID-19…