TPC-Journal-V4-Issue4

The Professional Counselor \Volume 4, Issue 4 311 supervisors finalize manuscripts to unify the voices of various authors, and then submit them for review with appropriate publishing venues. The close of the academic year also brings the end of the research group experience. Consistent with clinical values, the doctoral supervisors believe that an important element of any group is to reflect on the experience to provide opportunities for celebration and closure. At the conclusion of the experience, research supervisors facilitate group reflection, encouraging master’s-level researchers to consider and share what they learned about themselves, about research and about their roles as counselors. Closing celebratory dinners are held as final group sessions. Table 1 MDCRG Timeline and Tasks by Stage Stage Timeline Tasks 1: Forming September Select group leadership Recruit master’s-level researchers Set up group structure 2: Research Preparation October–November Select research topic Apply for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval Apply for research grants Apply for conference presentations 3: Active Research December–March Collect data Analyze data Conference presentation 4: Writing and Closure April–May Manuscript preparation Reflection Celebration and closure Outcome and Evaluation Each iteration of the MDCRG has been successful in both content and process. The groups produced scholarly work including the following: one published article in a professional, refereed journal; a CACREP- funded student research grant; three professional presentation sessions at a state-level counseling conference; implementation of a training program on working with LGBT clients in a multicultural course; a professional presentation at a regional counseling conference; and two articles published in a regional counseling newsletter. These accomplishments have exceeded the expectations of all involved. In addition, of the master’s-level researchers involved during the first 2 years, two researchers have now completed doctoral degrees in Counselor Education and Supervision, others are currently in doctoral programs, and others have advanced to clinical practice. All of the doctoral-level supervisors are now working as counselor educators in CACREP-accredited programs. Beyond the scholarly accomplishments that the groups achieved, master’s-level researchers gained new skills, knowledge and perspectives about research. After two iterations of the group, doctoral research supervisors conducted an informal survey with which to assess the learning outcomes of the MDCRG experience for master’s-level researchers. Participants were asked to respond in writing to prompts on their