Cyberstalking Victimization Among Mental Health Educators: Experiences of Student Stalkers

• In Event: Emerging Forms of Victimization: Digital Harassment, Institutional Harm, and Emotional Consequences

Abstract

Cyberstalking is a terrifying experience for many victims. Cyberstalking can also cause victims to develop substantial physical health concerns such as sleep issues and digestive problems, as well as mental health concerns like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Cyberstalking is also dangerous and can lead to sexual violence, assault, and murder. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore mental health educators’ experiences of cyberstalking behaviors on the part of their students. For the purpose of this study, mental health educators include professors who actively teach counselor education, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or clinical social workers and are actively involved in training students to become therapists. The researchers aim to discover the nature of cyberstalking in this population, along with the toll that cyberstalking takes on these individuals; how these professors cope with cyberstalking; the gatekeeping processes that are utilized to prevent student stalkers from progressing in their programs; as well as resources professors use either on campus or outside of campus to help with the gatekeeping process. The results of this study may help mental health educators learn more about the nature of cyberstalking within therapists-in-training well as how professors cope with cyberstalking when they are victimized in this way.

Authors

• Rebekah Reysen, University of Mississippi

• Kimberly Kaiser, University of Mississippi

• Kenneth Lomenzo, University of Mississippi

• Joshua Rosenbaum, University of Mississippi

• Tristin White, Sacred Heart University

• Stella Michael-Makri, Sacred Heart University