Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Commons^™

The Hero’S Journey Through Therapy: A Literature Review, Rylee Blake

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The Hero’s Journey (Campbell, 1949) is a common narrative structure throughout ancient mythology and modern storytelling which describes the transformation of a hero through a journey of trials and represents the experience of psychological healing throughout various cultures. Because of the ancient and common nature of this structure and the psychological importance of personal narrative and storying even from an early age (Boyd, 2018; Klees, 2016), this thesis hypothesizes that a client’s experience throughout psychotherapy will follow the stages of the Hero’s Journey and that invoking this structure within the therapy room, particularly for drama therapists, will empower clients toward …

An Intergenerational Study: Mirrors As A Tool For Self-Reflection, Susan Ridley

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

Globalization and advances in technology have resulted in a loss of cultural, community, and individual identity. Having a strong sense of self can be a protective factor in resisting peer pressure and involvement in negative behaviors, and a determining factor in the formation of one’s coping skills, and resiliency to life’s challenges. This was especially important for adolescents who are negotiating the developmental growth from childhood to adulthood, and older adults who are transitioning from the independence of adulthood to the dependence of old age.

This was a qualitative intergenerational study on the process of self-reflection on identity. Mirrors have …

Pre-Verbal Trauma, Dissociation And The Healing Process, Dorothy Dreier Scotten

Educational Studies Dissertations

This qualitative research study examines some of the ways in which the healing process takes place in adults who have experienced dissociation, and who have most likely been psychologically traumatized before full language development. The impact of early trauma on human cognitive, socio-emotional, and spiritual development are explored within the context of participant narratives in order to develop an understanding of what may be helpful in developing effective teaching strategies for clinical and teacher education. In-depth interviews were conducted with four adult persons who had been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. All had histories of infant psychological trauma and all …