Research Projects

We are interested in conducting research collaborations and providing educational or professional development workshops in the community based on specific needs.

The Trauma Recovery and Growth Research Group mainly conducts qualitative and mixed-methods studies. We explore patterns of trauma, trauma recovery, and posttraumatic growth in the context of socio-cultural intersectionalities. Our hope is to use what we learn from our current projects and extend our research agenda towards other intersectionalities related to the realm of trauma, trauma recovery, and posttraumatic growth. Additionally, we research the development of trauma-informed counselors within the realm of counselor education and supervision.

We are currently working on:

• Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, and their relationship to Quality of Life for Counselors-in-Training
• Factors Affecting Trauma Recovery and Posttraumatic Growth in Survivors of Complex Trauma

Recent Publications:

• Sharma, J., Isaac, A., Fullen, M. & Riddle, J. L.* (2026). Lived Experiences of Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Counseling. The International Journal of Advancement in Counselling, 48(3), 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-026-09659-x
• Ripley, D., Jordan, J. R., Sharma J., & Allesch, T (2026). A Journey, not a Destination: The Intersection of Trauma and Substance Use Recovery. The Professional Counselor, Volume 16, Issue 2, Pages 133-150.doi:10.15241/dr.16.2.133