Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons^™

A Program Evaluation Of Bhc Alhambra Hospital Outpatient Services, Emily Rose House

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A program evaluation of the Behavioral Health Care (BHC) Alhambra Hospital's Outpatient Service program was conducted. The purpose was to evaluate the program implementation, assess the program results, and highlight methods of program improvement. The evaluator conducted focus groups with administrative and clinical program staff and evaluated data utilizing thematic analysis. Three themes, education, programmatic operations, and team highlighted areas of program effectiveness and areas of program improvement. Administrative staff and clinical staff highlighted the importance of training and improved communication between program staff and board and care staff. Recommendations include the administrative staff creating a plan to account for …

Clinician’S Recommendations In Treating Victims And Survivors Of Narcissistic Abuse, Sadaf Shalchian

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Although marriage and family therapists are one of the main providers in treating mental and relational health issues, there is not a significant emphasis on the identification, assessment, and treatment of victims and survivors of narcissistic abuse in COAMFTE-accredited Masters level Marriage and Family Therapy programs (COAMFTE, 2017). This needs assessment aimed to identify the knowledge and clinical skills recommended by clinicians who treat victims and survivors of narcissistic abuse to identify some needs, assessments, and treatment practices that can guide LMFTs in treating this population. This needs assessment explored current literature, research, and academic and clinical resources focused on …

Mental Health In Coptic Orthodox Communities: Needs Assessment, Marina Zaky

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In order to better understand the contributing factors to low visibility and an overall lack of representation of Coptic Orthodox individuals within the field of mental health, a needs assessment was conducted. Previous research studies have focused on the low visibility of the Coptic Orthodox population within the field of mental health but have focused primarily on stigma, without determining other needs and contributing factors. This needs assessment utilized the Delphi method of data collection in order to conceptualize the needs of the community from the perspectives of experts within the group. An extensive literature review was completed in order …

Sweet Pea: An Integrated Postpartum Mental Health Program For Mothers & Their Partners, Robynn L. Mays

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The Sweet Pea: Postpartum Parenthood Program is a postpartum depression and anxiety intervention to provide support for mothers and their supportive partners for 16- weeks of therapy. Through group, individual, and couples therapy, parents can discuss their symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety in three different settings. The parents will have the support from their Postpartum Care Team (PCT) which includes: their Case Manager and Clinical Therapist. Parents will also receive health care and social services provided through PCT to ensure the proper support through their postpartum parenting journey. The Sweet Pea Program is based on the concepts of the …

Emergency Care For Youth Who Experience Suicidality And Identify As Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning (Lgbtq+): An Interpretive Phenomenology, Theresa Schultz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Suicide is a leading cause of death in children; youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are at an exponentially higher risk of suicide. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of young adults who identify as LGBTQ+ and sought emergency care for suicidality when they were adolescents.

Methods: Heideggerian hermeneutics phenomenology is the research method used in this study. Youth, ages 18-25 years, who identify as LGBTQ+ and sought emergency treatment for suicidality when they were adolescents (13-17 years) were recruited to participate;fifteen youth enrolled. Individuals ranged in age from 20 to 25 years. Participants described …

Decolonizing Psychotherapy, Nicole D. Taylor

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This project aims to increase the use and inclusivity of mental health services within marginalized communities by providing education and training tools on the use and application of integrative mental health approaches. It is an offering of guidance, providing a culturally responsive framework for integrating yoga into psychotherapy. The manual aims to reduce systemic, colonialist, barriers to mental health services. This project is founded on the basis that mono-cultural foundations in traditional psychotherapeutic treatments negatively impact the attitudes and beliefs of service seekers, typically within excluded groups. Systems Theory and Critical Race Theory and Social Justice principles inform the application …

Pathways For Healing: An Online Therapeutic Support Group Program, Lisa Yvette Salazar

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Pathways for Healing: An Online Therapeutic Support Group Program (OTSG) is for women, ages 18 to 65 years old, diagnosed with chronic pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). The program focuses on women living in Texas rural communities with limited access to mental health providers. The aim for this study is to determine if an OTSG program, utilizing narrative therapy (NT) within a biopsychosocial-spiritual lens (BPS-S) will improve overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Support groups are provided in English and Spanish, over the course of 12 weeks, facilitated by a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and licensed pelvic floor physical …

Combined Treatment Model Program For Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence, Hillary Jeanne May

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This project seeks to fill a void in the mental health field by providing a combined treatment model program to address the needs of survivors of intimate partner violence. As such, the primary purpose of this project is the development of a treatment program with services that are easily accessible by survivors that is intended for future implementation in shelters or agencies that have contact with this population of women. This program offers a means to engage an underserved population in access to services and self-development to improve overall mental and physical health outcomes and attempt to prevent recurrent intimate …

The Perceived Experiences Of High School Students And Their Mental Health In Sda Academies, Melody Ezpeleta

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this project was to gather the perceived experiences of high school students in terms of their mental health while attending Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) academies. The rationale for this qualitative needs assessment was to learn about how the identified mental health conditions are being attended to and what mental health resources or supports are needed at the academies. Forty-six participants were recruited from the Pacific Union under the North American Division Office of Education (NADOE). An anonymous, 20-minute online survey was completed independently by participants in which they were guided to select one of four roles: administration, direct …

An Intervention Program For Adult Female Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Camille Sauder

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) has been linked to adverse impacts within the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual (BPSS) domains of adult female survivors’ lives (Fergusson et al., 2013). The impact of CSA within each of these domains may contribute to long-term trauma symptoms that impact multiple areas of life including symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that underlie dysfunction within intrapersonal and interpersonal functioning. Programs that have been designed to holistically treat this population lack interventions that target each of the BPSS domains with a structured, cohesive approach that assess the survivor’s readiness based on level of current trauma symptoms. …

We Program Training Manual For Culturally Responsive School-Based Mental Health Practices, Staysha M. Veal

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An abundance of evidence suggests that K–12 Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) students experience disparities in school-based mental health services and negative school-based outcomes due to racism, discrimination, and biases. Such experiences have deleterious impact on their mental health, academic functioning, and other pre- and post-matriculation outcomes. These dynamics can lead to poor academic functioning and adverse mental health outcomes which can include depression, anxiety, toxic stress, decreased self-worth and self-esteem, and psychological maladjustment. School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) providers that are trained to be culturally responsive are uniquely situated to mitigate these negative events and ensure that BIPOC students …

Program Evaluation Of The Mend Program In Its Application Of Working With Adult Pnes Patients, Ashley Park

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study is a program evaluation of a family systems program, MEND and its application of working with patients who have Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures, otherwise known as PNES. This study evaluates PNES patients who have completed MEND focusing and comparing outcome measures like health related quality of life (HRQL), emergency room visits, and medications with PNES patients who have not done MEND. Results suggest that MEND improved PNES symptoms and overall HRQL.

Adaptation Program: Systemic Treatment Of Incarcerated Individuals And Their Families, Katrina Arabyan

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of the Adaptation program is to support families impacted by incarceration. It is a family-based therapeutic program implemented within a correctional facility. Adaptation utilizes Structural Family Therapy (SFT) to focus on creating systemic change by addressing the rules, roles and behavior patterns of incarcerated individuals and their families. Barriers to family member attendance are addressed via the use of telehealth.

Dance Movement Therapy Interventions To Build Coping Skills And Identity In Adolescent Patients Dealing With A Cancer Diagnosis: Development Of A Method, Ariel Hortin

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescents are a special category in pediatric oncology because of their unique physical and mental development. This patient population has needs specific to both their development and cancer diagnosis. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) focuses on building awareness of inner sensations so that the patient can then connect those observations with felt emotions and thoughts. Connecting the physical experience with the emotional experience can provide helpful information for the patient as a tool for change. Building and strengthening relationships with family members also strengthens the critical support system for the patient. Dance Movement Therapy interventions may be effective in working with …

Parental Stress In Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Jenny Do

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a multi-systemic genetic disorder with great clinical variability. As the needs of one child with TSC may vastly differ from another, parenting demands may similarly differ. Characterizing parental stress, or emotional maladaptation arising from parenting duties, can enable healthcare providers to assist parents of children most efficiently with TSC-related symptoms and improve both parent and child health outcomes. This study surveyed 269 parents of children (aged 0-12 years) with TSC and received the following information: children’s TSC clinical features, parent demographics, and a Parent Stress Index (PSI) score. Parents reported higher stress levels for children …

Caregiver-Child Conversations About Sex In African American Women, Hannah King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using grounded theory methods, this study examines the experience of African American women during their caregiver-child conversations about sex and the impacts of the conversations on their sexual attitudes. The process of these conversations begins with an unplanned topic and progresses further to identify six essential themes of these conversations: gender differences, race and religion, protective/emphasis on protection, lack of knowledge, withholding knowledge, and sex negativity/shame. African American women’s description of the process included feelings of shame and negativity towards their sexuality. Caregivers promoted positive messages about sex by having open conversations that advocated for equality between the genders, empower …

Children Of Divorce Parents Group Manual, Sheyenne Hokit

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Divorce is something that is, unfortunately, becoming a commonality for a lot of children, and due to the complexity of divorce, many children struggle when trying to understand divorce and how it affects them. Some effects of divorce are various emotional and behavioral issues such as increased anger and decreased emotion regulation. Social, health, and academic concerns were also found. Counseling interventions like narrative therapy, emotion-focused family therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and play therapy were found to be effective with this population (Hirschfeld & Wittenborn, 2016, Thomas & Gibbons, 2009). The identified interventions provide peer-based social support, education on the misconceptions …

Failure: A Heuristic Inquiry Of The Experience Of Failure Through A Nature Based Art Therapy Process, Lisa Manthe

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

The aim of this arts based study was to investigate the experience of failure during the dissertation process. Through a heuristic lens, its objective was to gain an understanding of the tacit experience of failure and the influence of a nature art based process on the understanding of failure. Failure is integral to the scientific method (Wang et al. 2019), enhancing understanding and teaching us valuable skills. Intentional engagement with our response to failure allows us to address and incorporate possibilities that are often unseen (Nelson et al., 2017). The art process illuminates tacit knowledge, unearthing creative solutions and untapped …

Youtube, Cyberbullying And Covid-19, Ani Shavliashvili

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this research is to uncover how people discuss bullying or cyberbullying experiences via YouTube videos before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since people were indoors during the pandemic, individuals took to social media and left comments on YouTube about bullying. Since people could not discuss bullying in-person, it was interesting to see how people shared their views on bullying and cyberbullying via YouTube, as well as how that might have changed after the start of COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how social media platforms like YouTube provide a safe space …

Illuminating The Increase Of Intentional Dating In The Covid-19 Pandemic And Its Connection To Relationship Satisfaction Through The Lens Of Photography., Caitlin Carnegie

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

In this study, the researcher examined if the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted individuals to reprioritize their emotional needs in intimate relationships. As a result of reprioritizing intimate relationship needs, the researcher also examined whether intentional dating increased within an individual. Furthermore, the researcher explored the use of photography to illuminate an individual's relationship satisfaction and motivation for dating. Asking these questions can help to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted intimate dating relationships and how dating trends may have shifted. It further explores how photography can also be used as a research tool as well as a …

The Therapeutic Benefits Of Children’S Literature: Responding Through Making Art And Writing Stories, Janae Dueck

Art Therapy | Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the use of a children's book followed by the application of the Draw A Story (DAS) art therapy assessment tool by Rawley Silver (1988). The study takes place in three elementary school classrooms located in the greater Bay Area region. Previous literature addresses the historical uses of children’s books and their potential to offer therapeutic benefit to young readers. Through a quasi-experimental, one-group posttest only design, eighteen second to third grade level students were asked to reflect on a children’s book by writing a story of their own. Participants were between the ages of seven and nine, …

Associations Of Sexual Satisfaction, Relationship Quality, And Cognitive Functioning Within Intimate Relationships In Older Adulthood, Allison G. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The roles of sexual satisfaction, relationship quality, and cognitive functioning within older adults (N = 538) intimate relationships are assessed at two timepoints over an 11-year timeframe. Longitudinal data from 63 older adults are assessed through a path modeling approach to examine how sexual satisfaction and relationship quality change throughout older adulthood. Cross-sectional data for 538 older adults are utilized to examine the association between cognitive health and sexual satisfaction/relationship quality. Qualitative data from 125 older adults are utilized to understand how older adults describe their intimate relationships. Results from path models demonstrate that one’s degree of sexual satisfaction …

Healing Racial Trauma And Reframing The Miseducation Of U.S. America: Altering Exclusionary Textbooks As A Therapeutic Experiential, Kamaria Erin Wells

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This exploratory mixed-methods, arts-based research investigated the therapeutic impact of fusing art therapy, group therapy, altered book making and alternative therapeutic modalities on self-efficacy, self- awareness, community efficacy and awareness, and reduction of racial trauma symptomology. The intention of the study was to understand the experiences of mental health professional participants (n =5), consequent to four therapeutic group sessions. Participants disclosed experienced symptoms of race-based PTSD pre and post sessions via the University of Connecticut Racial/Ethnic Trauma Survey, in addition to qualitative data. Qualitative data consisted of artwork, written responses, and exit interviews confirming the hypothesis that this radical healing …

Does Attachment Predict Coping Strategies? An In-Depth Look At Millennials During Covid-19, Clinton Johnson

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Individuals form attachments during the early stages of their lives, with the caregiver serving as their first attachment figure. An individual's attachment style may predict how an individual will react to challenges in life. Responses to challenges may be either adaptive (solution-focused) or maladaptive (solution-avoidant). The objective of this study was to examine how millennial adults demonstrate adaptive coping skills across attachment styles. This unique study explored the relationship between attachment style and coping strategies among five millennial adults. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling via social media and were included if they met the criteria of being a millennial …