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 10/16/25

School Counselors’ Roles, Beliefs, and Practices in Working with Section 504 and the Intersection of Counselor Burnout

We are conducting a research study on the role of school counselors in their work with Section 504 and students with disabilities. We are interested in learning more about how school counselors’ responsibilities, beliefs, and practices related to Section 504 intersect with their experiences of professional stress and burnout. Specifically, we seek to better understand the ways in which managing Section 504 processes may influence counselors’ ability to implement a comprehensive school counseling program, their perceptions of equity in service delivery, and their overall well-being in the profession.

Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and anonymous. Please review the information carefully before deciding whether to participate. As a token of appreciation, all participants may choose to enter a drawing to win one of four $100 gift cards. If you have any questions before making your decision, please feel free to contact Rob Gilbert at rjgilbert@loyola.edu

Survey Link: https://loyola.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6nEWLGD70FYW290

Principal Investigator: Robert Gilbert, Ph.D., Loyola University Maryland
Department: Education Specialist, School Counseling Program
Contact Information: rjgilbert@loyola.edu,

IRB: HS-2025-046

Posted 9/11/25

Updated 10/16/25

I am still in need of 10 interviewees. To participate in an interview, please click 'Yes' at the end of the survey and share your contact information. You do not have to answer every survey question to participate in an interview. Feel free to contact with questions. Thank you!

Hi! My name is Jenny Tollison. I am a doctoral student at the University of West Georgia. I am inviting K-12 school counselors to participate in a study titled "An Ecological Examination of the Factors that Impact Mental Health Programming in K-12 Schools: A School Counselor's Perspective." The purpose of this study is to investigate how school counselors currently address student mental health in K-12 settings. Your participation will contribute to a deeper understanding of strengths and potential barriers to addressing mental health in schools. Through this study, I aim to clarify the role that school counselors play in addressing student mental health as well as identify ecological system components that help or hinder the services they are equipped to offer and maintain. Eligible participants are K-12 certified (clear renewable or non-temporary) school counselors who are at least 18 years old and have at least one year of K-12 school counseling experience.

You can click on this link to access a short survey that explores how school counselors support student mental health. You are also invited to participate in an interview that offers School Counselors the chance to share their insights and experiences in delivering mental health services within K-12 schools.

Contact Information:

Researcher: Jenny Tollison

Department: School Counseling

Doctoral Candidate, University of West Georgia (UWG), Ed.D. Professional Counseling and Supervision

Contact Information: jtollis3@my.westga.edu

Supervision UWG Faculty: Dr. Julia Whisenhunt

Department: Counseling, Higher Education and Speech Language Pathology

Professor, Assistant Department Chair, and Program Director

Contact Information: jwhisenh@westga.edu

IRB Contact: irb@westga.edu

IRB Approval #: UWG25-070

Posted 5/23/25

My name is Katrina Wilson, and I am a current doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision Program at Auburn University in the Special Education Rehabilitation and Counseling Department, collecting data for my dissertation. You are cordially invited to participate in a research study entitled, “The Perceptions of the School-Based Mental Health Counselor on the Tenants of a Successful Collaborative Relationship with School Counselors to Deliver Appropriate Counseling Services in a K-12 Academic Setting.” I am completing this research under the direction of my dissertation chair and faculty advisor, Dr. Malti Tuttle.

To determine your eligibility, participants must be: (1) 19 years of age, (2) delivering services to students in a K-12 school setting while collaborating with a school counselor, (3) hold a professional associate or full license; and (4) willing to participate in a 45–60-minute audio recorded semi-structured interview for data collection purposes and to review the interview transcript for themes. Individuals who complete the study will receive a $25 amazon gift card.

Your participation is voluntary, your information will remain confidential, and all responses will be protected and adhered to ethical research guidelines. Please click on the Qualtrics link below if you meet the requirements for the study and would like to sign the informed consent.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Katrina Wilson at kdw0066@auburn.edu. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, you may contact the Auburn University Office of Research Compliance or the Institutional Review at IRBadmin@auburn.edu. Thank you again for your contribution.

https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_880rwrFHMECEi2i

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

Dear School Counselors,

My name is Shashondalyn Samuels, and I am a PhD student in the Counseling Department at Mercer University, currently enrolled in COUN 701: Advanced Psychometrics under the supervision of Dr. Morgan Kiper Riechel. As part of my coursework, I am conducting a research study on School Counselor Burnout to develop and validate an instrument designed to measure this critical issue. Given the increasing demands on school counselors, understanding burnout is essential for informing policies and improving professional support systems.

I am inviting current school counselors to participate in this study by completing a brief, anonymous online survey. Your insights will be invaluable in shaping a tool that accurately assesses burnout and contributes to meaningful research in the field.

Survey Details:

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.

Your participation is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time. If you are interested, please click here to access the survey.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at Shashondalyn.Shanay.Samuels@live.mercer.edu or my course professor, Dr. Kiper Riechel, at riechel_me@mercer.edu.

Thank you in advance for your time and contribution to this important research!

Best regards,

Shashondalyn Samuels, PhD Student
Mercer University | Counseling Department
Email: Shashondalyn.Shanay.Samuels@live.mercer.edu