Research Participation Request: Study Title: Lived Experiences of Counselors who Serve Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in College

[Karakan Can, Neslihan]

Greetings,

I hope you are well.

Are you a counselor who works with young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who attend college?

We invite you to participate in a research study titled “Lived Experiences of Counselors who Serve Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in College” (IRB-FY26-254). This study is being conducted by Neslihan Karakan Can, a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Ohio University, under the advisement of Dr. Tamarine Foreman.

The purpose of this study is to explore how counselors’ lived experiences influence their skills, knowledge, attributions, and actions when serving this population. By sharing your experiences, you will contribute to a deeper understanding of counselors’ challenges and needs—helping to inform the development of counselor education, supervision, and mentorship that fosters better outcomes for college students with ASD.

Time: 5-10 minutes for informed consent and demographic questionnaire 60-90 minutes for interviews, 10-20 minutes for member checking.

Interviews will be conducted remotely/online using Microsoft Teams.

Study Title: Lived Experiences of Counselors who Serve Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder  in College 

Participant Eligibility

To participate in this study, you must

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have at least a Master’s degree in counseling 
• Be licensed in the state where you practice (LPC, LMHC, LMFT, or equivalent).
• Have a minimum of three (3) years of direct professional counseling experience with young adults (ages 18–25) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in college.
• Be located in and provide counseling services within the United States at the time the research is conducted.

Link to Consent Form and the Survey: https://ohio.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tEVdPamqaKRbF4

If you decide to participate in this study and know someone else who might also qualify and be interested, feel free to share the study information with them. To protect everyone’s privacy and confidentiality, I won’t ask you for any names or contact details of other potential participants. Instead, you are encouraged to forward the study invitation via email, social media, or any communication/chat group shared with other counselors in your district, county, or state to anyone you believe meets the study’s eligibility criteria. 

Sharing this opportunity is completely voluntary, and anyone who receives the information from you can decide for themselves whether they would like to participate. If they have questions or would like more details, they can contact me directly using the contact information provided in the invitation or consent form.  Your support in spreading the word is greatly appreciated, and please rest assured that both your participation and their privacy will be fully respected.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the principal investigator at nk17...@ohio.edu or her academic advisor, Dr. Tamarine Foreman fore...@ohio.edu              

Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to the field of counseling and counselor education. Your time and insights are greatly appreciated.

 

Warm regards,

Neslihan Karakan Can

Neslihan Karakan Can, MA

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Doctoral Candidate, Counseling Education & Supervision (CES)

Past President of Alpha Chapter Chi Sigma Iota (2024-2025)

2025-2026 Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) Leadership Intern

Ohio Counseling Association Graduate Student Award Recipient

Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701