Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons^™

Csa Survivors: What Heals And What Hurts In A Couple Relationship, Laura S. Smedley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant trauma that affects a person's self-concept and the ability to form healthy intimate relationships later in adulthood. Approximately 20% of adults who experience childhood sexual abuse go on to evidence serious psychopathology in adulthood (Harway & Faulk, 2005). Besides individual disturbances, CSA survivors struggle with many relational difficulties. These difficulties are usually most pronounced among their intimate partners (Reid, et al., 1995). According to attachment theory, attachment injuries are best healed in the context of a healthy, intimate relationship (Kochka & Carolan, 2002) (MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008). Conversely, the couple relationship may be …

Couples' Process Of Healing From Infidelity While In Therapy, Jordan Mark Staples

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Infidelity is one of the most common presenting problems for couples and marriage therapists. It is widely acknowledged to be a destructive phenomenon for a couple's relationship and is one of the most difficult presenting problems to treat. Treatment models for infidelity vary and have little empirical testing. The purpose of the proposed study was to investigate the client's perspective of the process for healing from infidelity. Additionally, the proposed study looked to qualitatively assess and amalgamate participants' experience of the healing process for infidelity. Themes and relationships among these themes were identified using open, axial, and selective coding processes. …

Family Aided Community Treatment As An Intervention For The Treatment Of Early Psychosis: A Proof Of Concept Study, Ryan P. Melton

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

Major psychotic disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, having severe impacts on the people who suffer from the conditions, their families and society. There is evidence that if these conditions are identified and treated early, the prognosis is improved. The purpose of this study is to produce findings related to the use of year long trial of family aided community treatment (FACT) with individuals who are experiencing a first episode psychosis as defined by the SIPS. Using a proof of concept design with multiple repeated measure t tests, this study focused on first-episode psychotic disorder participants …

Does Psychopathy Predict Future Risky Sexual Behavior?, Jessica Jade Fulton

Dissertations

Risky sexual behavior (RSB), such as having sex with an unknown partner, is associated with a variety of negative consequences including sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy. Previous research (e.g., Fulton, Marcus, & Payne, 2010) suggests that psychopathic personality traits as assessed by the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (Lilienfeld & Andrews, 1996) are associated with RSB. Self-Centered Impulsivity (SCI), which is characterized by impulsivity, irresponsibility, and reckless behavior, was positively associated with RSB among men and women. In contrast, Fearless Dominance (FD), which is characterized by fearlessness, manipulativeness, and social dominance, was positively associated with RSB among men but not women. …

Couple's Relationship With Diabetes: Transformation, Partnership, And Management, Ruth Houston Barrett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study used an MFT perspective to examine a model of three bio-psychosocial constructs, seeking to depict key dimensions of what makes couples successful in managing the demanding self-care regimen of diabetes. The model includes a meaning and emotion-oriented construct called relationship with diabetes, a psychosocial relational construct of diabetes-specific partnering support, and their direct and indirect effects on an endogenous construct of success in diabetes management. Surveys from 118 adult couples with diabetes provided data to test the hypothesized path and measurement model. Correlational and multiple regression analysis examined variable relationships, factor analysis examined construct dimensionality, and structural equation …

Second Generation Korean-American Parents: Social Context Influence On Parenting, Lana H. Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Korean-American families are an underrepresented group within the family therapy literature. In particular, the realities and lived experiences of American born second generation Korean-American parenting couples is limited. Therefore, this qualitative grounded theory dissertation used a social constructionist lens to understand how American born second generation Korean-Americans, raised amidst contrasting Korean and western cultural ideologies, conceptualize parenting and position themselves in relation to their children within parent-child relationships. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 parenting couples of children between 0-10 years of age to illuminate ways in which multiple cultural discourses, bicultural socialization, and racialized experiences influence the parenting process. …

Successful Again Through A Family Resilience Lens, A'Verria Sirkin Martin

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined successful aging through a family resilience lens by developing a psychometrically tested assessment that can be used to measure family and individual resilience in a population of older adults and by then applying these latent structures to predict successful aging across four domains; self-rated successful aging, psychosocial health, cognitive decline, and physical health. Data from 1,006 older adults were analyzed in three steps. The first identified the underlying latent structure through principle component (exploratory) factor analysis (EFA). The second included the use of confirmatory factor analysis to validate the structure from the first step. The third utilized …

Relational Interdependent Self Construal, And Spiritual Maturity As Predictors Of Marital Satisfaction, Conroy Everton Reynolds

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined the extent to which relationality is implicated in relationship satisfaction. Specifically, this study examined the role of two relational variables, Spiritual Maturity and Relational Interdependent Self Construal, in predicting the variance in marital satisfaction, after controlling for number of children, religion, employment status, education, length of marriage and household income among married heterosexual couples in Antigua. The Caribbean Island of Antigua is comprised primarily of persons of African descent, deeply religious, but who are influenced by western ideas and values. The results of this study reveal the importance of spirituality but not relational self- construal as a …

Second Generation Korean-American Parents: Social Context Influence On Parenting, Lana H. Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Korean-American families are an underrepresented group within the family therapy literature. In particular, the realities and lived experiences of American born second generation Korean-American parenting couples is limited. Therefore, this qualitative grounded theory dissertation used a social constructionist lens to understand how American born second generation Korean-Americans, raised amidst contrasting Korean and western cultural ideologies, conceptualize parenting and position themselves in relation to their children within parent-child relationships. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 parenting couples of children between 0-10 years of age to illuminate ways in which multiple cultural discourses, bicultural socialization, and racialized experiences influence the parenting process. …

Working With Families With A Member On The Spectrum, Scott Browning Phd

Annual Foundations Behavioral Health/La Salle University Autism Spectrum Disorders Conference

This workshop is an examination of family therapy with a family when at least one member is on the spectrum. A trait scale (developed by the speaker) is utilized to assist therapists in having a clear direction to assist families in this position. Case studies will be utilized.

This program is designed to help you…

1. Provide therapy to families with a ASD member
2. Know how to utilize the ASD Trait Scale
3. Assist couples in discussing differences in their perception of their ASD member
4. Have specific interventions available after the workshop
5. Know how to incorporate all family members into treatment

Evidence Based Practice Implementation: Perceptions And Expectations Of Master Of Social Work Students, Mholi Kent Vimba

Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Efforts to develop sustainable Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) implementation strategies in work settings have been generally unsuccessful. Scholars have focused on perceptions of workers already in work settings to identify implementation barriers and facilitators. None have focused on perceptions of social workers in training. This nationwide non-probability correlational study assessed Master of Social Work (MSW) students’ perceptions of EBP using a self-administered online survey. A total of 212 (57%) completed this survey with 164 (43%) timed out.

Perceptions were assessed using three sets of questions corresponding to the independent variables: EBP knowledge, attitude toward EBP and EBP self-efficacy. A …

The Operationalization And Validation Of Isomorphism In Supervision, Robert Eric Heidel

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation study is focused on operationalizing and validating the construct of isomorphism in supervision. Liddle and Saba (1983) defined isomorphism as the “recursive replication of processes and content between counseling and supervision. The construct has not been validated in the literature (Bernard & Goodyear, 2004), occurs in supervision at an unconscious level (Williams, 1997), is not understood by supervisees (Raichelson, Herron, Primavera, & Ramirez, 1997), and yet plays an integral and foundational role in how supervision is facilitated and structured (Gentry, 1986; Liddle, Breunline, Schwartz, & Constantine, 1984; Liddle & Saba, 1983; White & Russell, 1997).

In order to …

Engaging Men: Optimum Transformation Conditions For Domestic Violence Offenders, Benjamin Pierre Scott

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study explored which conditions are optimal for supporting domestic violence offenders in reducing recidivism thereby enabling long-term sustainability of healthy relationships. This study’s objectives were to identify the role of current interventions in creating optimal conditions for change in domestic violence offenders, determining what motivational strategies are effective in producing meaningful engagement in treatment, identifying relational treatment methods and processes that are (are not) effective in reducing domestic violence recidivism, and what is needed programmatically to be effective in decreasing recidivism. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using the methodology of grounded theory. Collection and analysis of the …

Alliance And Termination Status In Couple Therapy: A Comparison Of Methods For Assessing Discrepancies, Suzanne Bartle-Haring, Tatiana Glebova, Rashmi Gangamma, Erika Grafsky, Robin Delaney

Rashmi Gangamma

Much of the empirical data available about therapeutic alliance and its relationship to termination status come from individual psychotherapies. We know less about therapeutic alliance in couple therapy. A unique characteristic of alliance in couple or family therapy is the possibility of discrepancies in alliance between system members. In this study we sought to demonstrate three statistical techniques: standard deviations, the intraclass correlation to assess discrepancies in alliance over time during the initial stage of couple therapy, and the use of these various measures to predict termination status using a sample of 72 couples from a university-based training clinic. Differences …

Alliance And Termination Status In Couple Therapy: A Comparison Of Methods For Assessing Discrepancies, Suzanne Bartle-Haring, Tatiana Glebova, Rashmi Gangamma, Erika Grafsky, Robin Delaney

Falk College Research Center

Much of the empirical data available about therapeutic alliance and its relationship to termination status come from individual psychotherapies. We know less about therapeutic alliance in couple therapy. A unique characteristic of alliance in couple or family therapy is the possibility of discrepancies in alliance between system members. In this study we sought to demonstrate three statistical techniques: standard deviations, the intraclass correlation to assess discrepancies in alliance over time during the initial stage of couple therapy, and the use of these various measures to predict termination status using a sample of 72 couples from a university-based training clinic. Differences …

Bungy Jump Into The Unknown - Women Escaping Domestic Violence, Megan Levy

Megan Levy

What happens to those women coming out of a women’s refuge? Can they live away from Domestic Violence? Do they have parenting skills? To answer these questions a case study methodology combined with theories from Humanistic, Social and Community Psychology was implemented to analyse the contents of the meetings held by the refuge’s Self-Help Group,. This group consisted of 11 women, ages 29 to 48 yo: Five of them still in domestic violence; and the rest escaping DV: two, in the refuge, and four who had left 12 to 36 months ago. The first finding: When a woman is still …

Development Of A Contextual Model For The Treatment Of Infidelity, Kirstee Williams

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Family systems theory has a history of critique by feminists for ignoring larger societal processes, thus inadvertently assuming equality in processes that are not inherently equal (e. g., Goldner, 1985; Hare-Mustin, 1978). Current research suggests that gendered power processes continue to organize how heterosexual partners relate to each other, making it difficult for couples to build mutually satisfying relationships (Coontz, 2005; Knudson-Martin & Mahoney, 2009). These same societal processes also influence both the etiology of affairs and recovery from them. Therefore, resolution of infidelity involves the interplay of many complex issues, of which gender, power, and culture are part (Williams, …

Exploring Email Letter Writing To Augment Therapy Relationships With Clients Who Self-Injure, Babette A. Rosabal

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

The use of social technologies continues to grow at a rapid pace. Such technologies free individuals to communicate with one another in a multitude of ways without the need to be face-to-face in the same room This study was designed to explore, based on a small sample of case studies, the usefulness of one way that social technology is employed today, collaborative email letter writing (CELW), when used in conjunction with live therapy sessions to counsel a self-injuring population. Currently, most email counseling consists of exchanging communications without live clinical intervention (Heinlein, Welfel, Richmond, & Rack, 2003). While self-injury behavior …

Daytime Predictors Of Evening Alcohol Use: Treatment Implications For Moderate To Heavy Drinkers, Diana M. Doumas

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study examined daytime mood, stress, and drinking-related consequences as predictors of evening alcohol use. Twenty-four moderate to heavy drinkers completed diaries twice daily for 28 days. Results of hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses indicated daytime negative mood states predicted higher levels of evening alcohol use, whereas negative drinking-related consequences predicted lower levels of subsequent alcohol use. Clinical implications include emphasizing negative drinking-related consequences in enhancing client motivation to change. Results also support routine assessment of anxiety and depressed mood to help clinicians identify risk factors for drinking and provide intervention strategies targeting negative mood states to improve treatment outcomes.

The Youth Comprehensive Risk Assessment (Ycra) As A Treatment Guidance Tool For Adolescents With Behavioral And Developmental Challenges, Kenneth M. Coll, Brenda J. Freeman, John Butgereit, Patti Thobro, Robin Haas

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This chapter describes the evolution of the Youth Comprehensive Risk Assessment (YCRA) by first describing the need, then the evolution of the assessment tool, and finally studies that provide validation.

The Present State Of Affairs In Art Therapy For Multicultural Families In Korea, Eun Mee Choi

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

With the advent of globalization, Korea has undergone a transformation and has a more multicultural population than ever before. Most multicultural families consist of a Korean male and a foreign female. These families experience difficulties such as social isolation, and children of these families experience difficulty in school as Korean society has not kept pace with the changing demographics of the country. The purpose of this study was to investigate art therapy for multicultural families in Korea to address the difficulties these families experience. To achieve this goal, surveys were used with married migrant women (n = 28), therapists working …

Exploring Support Network Structure, Content, And Stability As Youth Transition From Foster Care, Jennifer E. Blakeslee

Dissertations and Theses

Many older youth in foster care lack adequate resources and ongoing support in their social networks as they transition into young adulthood, while other youth in these circumstances experience stable social networks providing comprehensive support. Systematically measuring the supportive personal and service-oriented relationships in youth networks expands the scope of inquiry in this area by identifying patterns of social network structure, member composition, and relational qualities that are associated with more or less support provision through formal and informal relationships. These can also be measured over time to observe changes in network form and content and assess network stability. This …

Family Value Transition In A Changing Turkey, Yudum Akyil

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation consists of two articles. The first article presented is a literature review written to identify and review studies of intergenerational value transmission and social change. The main outcomes fell into five subsections (a) culture and values (b) social change and values, (c) continuing and changing values in Turkey, (d) parent-adolescent relationship adaptation to social change, and (e) implication for clinicians working with changing families. Overall, the literature review illustrated the complexity of value transmission process for families in rapidly changing societies and the need for more understanding of those families' experiences for the clinicians. The second article extends …