Counseling Research Lab
The Counseling Research Lab exists to foster interdisciplinary research on mental health and counseling. The lab is staffed by the director and graduate student research assistants in the Counselor Education Department.
Current Projects
The Spiritual Bypass Project
This project involves the development and validation of spiritual bypass as a construct of importance for basic and applied research in counseling in a variety of diverse contexts.
- Project Leader: Jesse Fox, PhD.
- Research Assistant: Mary Kate Curry
- Related Studies: Magyar-Russell, G. & Fox, J. (2019-Present). Client use of religion and spirituality in the counseling and psychotherapy process. (IRB#HS-2019-073).
- Guttieriez, D., Mullen, P. R., & Fox, J. (2018-Present). Spiritual bypass and addiction recovery. (IRB# EDIRC-2018-10-19-13223)
The Counseling Depth Project
This project involves the development and validation of counseling depth as a construct of importance for basic and applied research in counseling in a variety of diverse contexts.
- Project Leader: Jesse Fox, PhD.
- Research Assistant: Daisy Zhou
- Related Studies: Gutierrez, D., Young, M. E. & Fox, J. (2019-Present). Validating the Counselor Depth Scale. (EDIRC-2018-02-19-12718)
The Good Samaritan Program Evaluation Project
This project involves the evaluation of counseling related services at the Good Samaritan clinic in DeLand, Florida.
- Project Leader: Leila Roach, PhD. & Jesse Fox, PhD.
- Research Assistant: Lisa Rickman, Daisy Zhou, and
- Related Studies: Fox, J., & Roach, L. (2019-Present). A Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation of the Good Samaritan Counseling Services. (IRB # 606)
Research Lab Staff
Director
Jesse Fox, PhD, serves as an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education and Director of the Counseling Research Lab. He joined the faculty at Stetson University in 2017 after serving several years on the faulty of Loyola University Maryland in the Department of Pastoral Counseling. Dr. Fox's research interests included the intersection of counseling and spirituality and religion, addictions, assessment and evaluation, and counseling processes that foster therapeutic effectiveness. He has conducted research and published on topics such as spiritual bypass, meditation, forgiveness, altruism, spiritual and religious pluralism, assessment development among others. Dr. Fox is passionate about getting students excited and involved in the process of scientific discovering. Please contact him if you are interested in becoming involved in the research lab.
Research Assistant
Previous Education: Master of Science, Psychological Science, University of North Florida. Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Minor in Criminal Justice, University of North Florida.
Research Interests: Religious Extremism/Fundamentalism; Violence and Aggression; Intergroup Dynamics; Followership.
Current Program: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Research Assistant
Previous Education: Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Central Florida.
Research Interests: Health and Wellness; Mindfulness, Self-Concept Development; Children and Adolescence.
Current Program: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Previous Research Assistant
Bachelor of Philosophy, Concentration in Religious Studies, Minor in Leadership Studies, Christopher Newport University,
Master of Theological Studies, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Research Interests: Substance abuse and therapeutic modality; the role and form of spirituality in substance abuse and recovery context; accessibility issues and removal of barriers to substance abuse treatment.
Mary Kate continues to practice primarily within in-patient substance use facilities, while remaining invested in the world of research, with topics of particular interest in spirituality, addiction, and post-traumatic growth. Additionally, Mary Kate is continuing her studies at William and Mary as a doctoral student in their Counselor Education Program, seeking to grow both as a practitioner and a future educator in the field of counseling. Her time working in the research lab was instrumental in preparing her for this next step!
Previous Research Assistant
Previous Education: Bachelor of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China
Master of Science in Children and Family Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Play Therapy Certificate
Research Interests: Multicultural issues in counseling, spiritual wellness, and working with youth and their families.
After graduating from Stetson, Daisy started her journey at Idaho State University as a Ph.D. student in the Counselor Education and Counseling program. Daisy will spend three years in that program to earn her degree. Daisy feels very excited to continue conducting research with the Counseling Research Lab at Stetson and very grateful for being part of it!
Previous Research Assistant
Previous Education: Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education, Daytona State College
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Research Interests: Postpartum recovery and traumatic birth experience; spirituality and moral identity development; collaborative strategies for counselors and teachers to better serve students in crisis using neuroscience education and technology; working with marginalized groups through the healthcare system and in perinatal mental health.
Lisa graduated Stetson in December 2019, joined the team at Casa Feliz Counseling working with adults and teens, and began work as a high school counselor with Volusia County Schools. Since graduating, Lisa has become a licensed mental health counselor, certified in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International, and has volunteered in a variety of roles through PSI and FCA. Lisa is also trained in EMDR and DBT therapies to bring effective treatment to the women and families in Deland struggling in the postpartum period. Lisa is joining the PhD program in Counselor Education with UCF to further strengthen important research and teaching skills and continue giving back to the Deland community in amazing ways.