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Hello everyone! My name is Courtney Fairley. I previously attended the University of Texas at Tyler, where I received my bachelor's in Psychology. I am now attending Angelo State University, where I am in the process of completing my M.A. in Professional Counseling.

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When I am not busy with school, I enjoy shopping, listening to music, going to concerts, and doing fun activities with my 6-month-old daughter. I also volunteer once a month as an online crisis counselor.

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Upon completing my Professional Counseling degree, I plan on working for a non-profit organization in Dallas, TX, to help underprivileged communities of all ages receive mental health help at reduced rates. When I gain enough experience, I plan on starting my own non-profit organization and private practice.

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Although I have little experience in my chosen field, I participated in an observational research project at ASU, where I learned how vital nonverbal cues are when observing people. This experience helped me understand that body language is just as important as verbal cues.

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My definition of research is studies that have been analyzed through different methods to prove the hypothesis right or wrong. New findings often arise in research that can keep the study the same or change based on new evidence. Research helps counselors determine the best approach to counseling backed by scientific evidence.

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Benz, M. (2024). The Importance of Research in Counseling. Medical Research. https://medicalresearch.com/the-importance-of-research-in-counseling/

Palinkas L. (2014). Qualitative and mixed methods in mental health services and implementation research. Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology: the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53, 43(6), 851–861. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2014.910791

Tuna, B., & Avci, O. (2023). Qualitative analysis of university counselors' online counseling experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.), 42(10), 8489–8503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04358-x

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Research helps counselors find scientific methods that are proven to help and be beneficial to clients. Because counseling is not based on subjective experiences, counselors need to stay up to date on proven techniques that come from research to improve therapeutic skills. Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are evidence-based practices that come from research findings that have proven to help clients with mental health issues (Benz, 2024).

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-Qualitative analysis of university counselors' online counseling experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic (Tuna & Avci, 2023). COVID-19 was a significant turning point for online counseling. People were advised to stay indoors, and because of that, there was a different approach to counseling that would better fit people's lifestyles.

-Qualitative methods in mental health services research (Palinkas, 2014). Determines which methods are proven to be the most beneficial to clients.

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-Counseling theoretical approaches.

-Use of social media in counseling.

-Psychotherapy.

-Trauma counseling and crisis intervention.

-Addiction theories.

-Grief.