Date of Award

1-2011

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Joseph R. Morris

Abstract

African American female teenagers are at-risk for low academic achievement as well as personal and social problems. These concerns have the potential to impact their psychological development including resiliency, self-efficacy, and racial identity. This is an issue that needs focused attention. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to determine if a structured group counseling model effectively impacts African American female teenagers‟ resiliency, self-efficacy, and racial identity. The researcher conducted four structured counseling groups over a period of 20 weeks; however, the teenagers participated in consecutive 10 week sessions. The treatment was applied to two groups simultaneously, and the groups consisted of eight to14 members. The results of this study should contribute to counseling professionals‟ knowledge about experiences, backgrounds and belief systems of African American female teenagers as it specifically explored African American female teenagers‟ current experiences of a group counseling intervention. Discussions targeted perceived racism, sexism, classism, coping mechanisms against experiences of oppression, and African American female teenagers‟ identity as an African American and female. Counselor educators, counselors, teachers, and others in helping roles should benefit from this information as this research will provide a culturally intentional, competent and ethical intervention to employ when working with this population.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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