Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT)
Advisor
Fariha Niazi
Abstract
ABSTRACT Camp counselors are an integral part of effectively organizing and executing summer camps. Research has explored the experience of summer camp counselors, but little research has explored the experience of camp counselors at bereavement specialty camps. To address this gap in the literature, this study explored the camp counselor experience at a camp for children navigating their parent’s cancer. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design was used to examine the camp counselors’ experiences. Four former camp counselors were interviewed. Overall findings of the study included themes related to the rewards and challenges experienced by the camp counselors. Themes that emerged also included aspects of professional and personal growth for the camp counselors. Implications of the study for researchers, practitioners, the field of couple and family therapy and bereavement camps are discussed. Suggestions for future research are also noted. Keywords: bereavement camp, camp counselor, camp counselor experience, grief camp, specialty camp
NSUWorks Citation
April Brown. 2025. “I wouldn’t say I felt unsafe, but I wasn’t free to talk about it either”: How Cultural Factors Influence Chicana Survivors’ Disclosure to Their Family. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (96)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dft_etd/96.