Black American collegiate women encounter microaggressions. The need to constantly regulate intense emotions in a sanctioned way to avoid further gendered-racial ramifications may increase emotional distress and lead to the use of high effort coping, such as the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema. This anonymous online mixed-data study explored the…

Multiracial individuals have been simultaneously oppressed and neglected in U.S. society. Although the population of Multiracially-identifying individuals in the United States continues to grow, the predominant counseling literature continues to focus primarily on monoracial identity groups. This has significant implications for Multiracial…

Research on sexual minorities' religious experiences largely focuses on faith-based challenges/supports, family dynamics, and identity conflicts -- yet, there is limited research studying how these systems intersect with religious college campus and counseling experiences. This paper explores how 13 gay students at Christian and Jewish colleges…

Under-utilization of mental health resources by Black students stands in sharp contrast to exploding demand for clinical services on campus. Review of existing literature indicates that African-Americans experience unique patterns of stress exposure throughout childhood and on predominantly White college campuses. Cultural preferences,…

This article offers a framework for working with international students who are preparing for re-entry to their heritage countries and who present with a social status that is treated very differently in the heritage and host countries. We discuss three specific social statuses--physical ability, gender roles, and sexual orientation--to illustrate…

First-generation college students (FGCS) experience the same challenges as non-first-generation students (NFGCS), but they also face their own unique stressors such as a lack of academic preparation, absence of support from family and friends, and difficult cultural transitions. A combination of these factors may put them at higher risk for mental…

This study examined the relative contributions of peer teasing, relational aggression, and body image disturbance on subclinical maladaptive eating patterns among female college students. One hundred and two female college students completed self-report online surveys on peer teasing, relational aggression, body image disturbance, and eating…

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a prevalent psychiatric illness that often first presents at college. If left untreated, BPD can lead to severe disability or fatality. While multiple evidence-based treatments for BPD exist, most are resource intensive and, therefore, difficult to implement at the typical college mental health center.…

This naturalistic study was designed to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week skill-based group therapy that focuses on building resilience. The group, informed by Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT; Linehan, 1993, 2015), targets general clients at college counseling centers and emphasizes mindfulness as a coping strategy to stress, cognitive…

Mental health leaves of absence have increased among college students, but little is known about their experiences. We explored the role of psychotherapy among college students before, during, and after a mental health leave, using thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 11 students who returned successfully to college after a mental…

Given the rise of incidents of mass violence affecting college campuses, interventions for students are gravely needed, especially ones with broader accessibility and reach. This pilot study examined two online narrative writing interventions for undergraduates experiencing distress a year after exposure to a mass murder at their university.…

This report outlines the evaluation of a brief dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) group skills training program for students presenting with serious psychological concerns (referral reasons included suicidality, self-injury, and substance use). Students were enrolled in distress tolerance groups ranging from 7-10 weeks. The majority of the…

The roles that pets play in the lives of college students have received little attention in the college counseling literature. This article will review four topics related to college students and pets that have implications for counselors: (a) the separation anxiety that students experience from not having their pets at college, (b) the…

This study examines the experiences of transgender college students in coping with stress in comparison to their cisgender peers. Undergraduate and graduate students from 73 colleges, totaling 26,292 participants, of which 47 identified as transgender completed an online survey. Transgender students reported greater exposure to trauma and higher…

College students may be misdiagnosed as personality disordered when in fact their problems are better explained by their upbringing. Growing up with a personality disordered parent may cause them to initially present with what appear to be personality disordered traits due to issues such as not learning adequate coping skills. Accurate diagnosis…