Thank you God! Thank you God for the opportunity to shine and to successfully reach a major milestone in my personal and professional life. Thank you God that the doctoral journey is finally over. I also thank you God for bringing champions into my life that have supported me along the way. I'd like to acknowledge those champions. First, my husband, Joe "stud" Johnson. You are my friend and my partner. You truly inspire me. Your sense of humor, smile, encouragement, tough love when I want to slack off, understanding, and affection has helped me to reach my goals. I love you and I feel privileged that I get to experience this life with you. Gammy and Aunt Cherry, you are the wise women who have listened to me ramble on and on about all things graduate school. Thank you for being my cheerleaders and for being genuinely interested in my world. To my sister, Ashlee who reminds me that I have a job to do. My biggest priority is being a big sister that you can be proud of. I live each day with you in mind. Thank you so much for loving me, believing in me, encouraging me, and reminding me that I have something to offer this world. My youngest sisters, Kyema, Trenae, India and all of my godsiblings. Don't you ever forget that you are special and brilliant. Your intellect, talents, gifts, and passions will ultimately make this world a better place. Everyone knows that I do this work for all of the young woman and men who are hungry for a little encouragement. Know that when things got difficult for me, you were MY encouragement. Let's celebrate this victory together. iv to ever happen to the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Department. Words can't express the depth of my gratitude. I'd also like to say thank you to those individuals at the Graduate College, particularly Linda Comrie and Tony Dennis that are the nicest most genuine Broncos at WMU. Too often your support goes unrecognized. Finally, I dedicate this accomplishment to my mother-Shawn Diane Pritchett, GodMother -Yvette Morgan, grandfather-Juston "Jerry" Threets, and uncle-Scott Derek Pritchett. Please know that while you rest in the heavens above I rejoice in the fact that I was blessed to know you in the first place. Your spirit lives on in me and in all that I do. Thank you so much for impacting my life in such a magnificent way. Through me, others will know just how phenomenal you were and are.