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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™

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2012

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Role Of Emotion In Therapists' Training : A Psychological And Social Exploration, Loren D. Helms Dec 2012

The Role Of Emotion In Therapists' Training : A Psychological And Social Exploration, Loren D. Helms

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study aims to explore emotionality and its particular relationship to students whom are training in psychotherapy. The study will examine emotion as it pertains to understandings of an individual's psychological structuring, the therapeutic process, and therapeutic growth. Emotion will be reviewed through psychodynamic theory and literature on therapeutic practice. In addition, the study will use a feminist lens to explore historical and social treatments of emotionality. Emotions and emotional expression will be considered as it becomes situated within social power heirarchies. Through these understandings and conceptualizations of emotionality, specific attention will be paid to the roles of psychotherapists. …

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Navigating The Experience Of Identity Intersection : An Exploration Of The Lesbian Mother Identity In The United States, Sarah A. Horn Dec 2012

Navigating The Experience Of Identity Intersection : An Exploration Of The Lesbian Mother Identity In The United States, Sarah A. Horn

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of lesbian women who have become mothers. My specific research aim was to investigate the formation of the lesbian-mother identity in terms of the way the individual woman's identity as a lesbian is shaped by her new experience and identity as a mother. Within this framework, I looked at which identity felt most salient in everyday life and how the individual woman felt each identity had contributed to her sense of self. I also looked at the different factors that either reinforce or inhibit an individual's likelihood to feel comfortable …

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Interdisciplinary Collaboration In School Social Work : Building Relationships For Ecological Change, Alex J. Kim Dec 2012

Interdisciplinary Collaboration In School Social Work : Building Relationships For Ecological Change, Alex J. Kim

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

School social work is part of social work's historical commitment to seeing people as well as the systems and environments they exist in, but much of today's school social work practice focuses on the clinical treatment of individual emotional and social problems. With growing needs and fewer resources, school social work must find ways of impacting more students through ecologically-informed practice that affects multiple levels of the school environment. Interdisciplinary collaborative practice can be a powerful way to foster ecological change by involving other staff in the effort to craft a stronger school system. In this study, 11 social workers …

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Coming Out : Sexual Orientation Disclosure To Siblings, Rachel M. Gottesman Dec 2012

Coming Out : Sexual Orientation Disclosure To Siblings, Rachel M. Gottesman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores LGBTQ individuals' experiences navigating sexual orientation disclosure to their sibling(s). The purpose of the study was to examine the role siblings play in sexual orientation disclosure, how and why LGBTQ identified individuals 'come out' to their sibling(s), and provide a glimpse into their experiences of this disclosure. Eleven individuals, ages 25–32 who identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bi–sexual, Transgender or Queer were interviewed via open–ended, semi–structured interviews. LGBTQ participants were asked to speak about their sibling(s) relationship prior to and following their sexual orientation disclosure and the trajectory of their sexual orientation awareness through the process of …

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Is Social Work The Work Of Love? : Love Practice And Queer Doing In The Process For Full Self-Determination, Sady K. Horn Dec 2012

Is Social Work The Work Of Love? : Love Practice And Queer Doing In The Process For Full Self-Determination, Sady K. Horn

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The 1915 National Conference of Charities and Corrections, during which Abraham Flexner stated that social work was not a profession because it lacked a "communicable technique", is understood as a historically significant event in social work history. Part of the discourse regarding the legacy of this conference has spoken to social work's struggle with comprehending the nature of its purpose and definition as a profession. In this thesis I explore the phenomenon of social work, understood as a profession, and how its professionalization may contribute to its struggle in developing a comprehensive practice method that makes its stated values of …

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"She's Such A Borderline" : Exploring The Stigma Of Borderline Personality Disorder Through The Eyes Of The Clinician, Jessica C. Fritz Dec 2012

"She's Such A Borderline" : Exploring The Stigma Of Borderline Personality Disorder Through The Eyes Of The Clinician, Jessica C. Fritz

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore the attitudes and feelings that mental health clinicians have towards Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), which, as the literature shows, is a highly stigmatized diagnosis within the field. Special attention was paid to the participants' treatment experiences with this client population, including initial reactions, issues of countertransference, treatment approaches, prognosis, and clinician disclosure. The study was designed to explore the reasons or meanings behind the negative stereotypes that often accompany discussions around BPD. Previous research has not utilized a qualitative approach with therapists. Instead, the existing literature has focused on evidence-based treatments for BPD and …

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Comparing Individual And Couples/Family Therapy : Practitioners' Perspectives, Rebecca H. Lawrence Dec 2012

Comparing Individual And Couples/Family Therapy : Practitioners' Perspectives, Rebecca H. Lawrence

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study examines social workers' perspectives on the similarities and differences between individual and couples/family therapy. Particular attention is given to similarities and differences between individual and couples/family therapists' use of self, orientation towards conflict, and relationship factors. The investigation is based on semistructured interviews with 10 master's level social workers who specialize in either individual or couples/family therapy. A number of interesting trends emerged in the findings of this research. Therapists in both modalities perceived couples/family therapists' use of self to be more active and directive than individual therapists, and described more behavioral interventions when working with couples/families. …

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Social Workers' Changing Perceptions Of Disability Through Working With Clients With Disabilities, Juliette F. Kennedy Dec 2012

Social Workers' Changing Perceptions Of Disability Through Working With Clients With Disabilities, Juliette F. Kennedy

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores the changing perceptions (attitudes and language use) of clinical social workers toward clients with disabilities through a qualitative exploration of clinicians' experiences working with this population over time. Based upon in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine experienced clinical social workers currently in private practice, the findings suggest that clinicians' attitudes and language use toward persons with disabilities are influenced by many factors, including contact with individuals with disabilities, supervision, post-masters training and social work theory. While participants in this study were not versed in disability theory, they nonetheless were flexible in applying alternative approaches with their clients …

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Having A Voice And Being Heard : A Scoping Review Of What Current Literature Tells Us Is Most Important To The Caregivers, Children And Social Workers Involved In Kinship Foster Care, Leah J. Hoffman, Leah J. Hoffman-Setka Dec 2012

Having A Voice And Being Heard : A Scoping Review Of What Current Literature Tells Us Is Most Important To The Caregivers, Children And Social Workers Involved In Kinship Foster Care, Leah J. Hoffman, Leah J. Hoffman-Setka

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken in order to determine what the existing literature tells us about how children, kinship caregivers and social workers perceive the quality of care provided to children placed in kinship foster homes, using a scoping review methodology. The studies that made up the sample had a range of research questions and purposes, but all discussed to some degree, the views of their study participants – children, kinship caregivers and/or social workers – regarding their understandings of what aspects of quality care were most important to child well-being in kinship foster homes. Findings indicate that social workers tend …

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An Exploratory Study Of White People's Evolving Consciousness And How Their Awareness Of White Privilege And Racism Changed Their Consciousness, Phillip C. Horner Dec 2012

An Exploratory Study Of White People's Evolving Consciousness And How Their Awareness Of White Privilege And Racism Changed Their Consciousness, Phillip C. Horner

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore the many ways in which a White person's consciousness changes due to their awareness of White privilege and racism. The research was a qualitative study with a sample of 12 White people who self identified as able to recognize the benefits of their White privilege, accepted their own role in perpetuating racism, were knowledgeable about racial, ethnic, and cultural differences, and are able to talk about race. Through phone interviews, participants were asked to reflect on their lives and offer their narrative of how learning about and accepting their White privilege and racism have …

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Black Students' Classroom Silence In Predominantly White Institutions Of Higher Education, Mahajoy A. Laufer Dec 2012

Black Students' Classroom Silence In Predominantly White Institutions Of Higher Education, Mahajoy A. Laufer

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored Black students' silence in classrooms at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) of higher education in the northeast United States. Fifteen student interviews revealed that teaching material centered on European-American culture and history influenced their silence. Participants perceived devaluing of people of color in course material and perceived that professors used and allowed racist language and opinions to pervade the classroom. Students negotiated the tension of having discordant views from the mainstream and at times, between other students of the same racial and cultural group. They often elected to speak out against perceived discrimination and remained silent in …

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The War On Women And The War In The Self : A Foucaultian And Kleinian Analysis Of Anti-Choice Ideology, Shoshana A. Funk Dec 2012

The War On Women And The War In The Self : A Foucaultian And Kleinian Analysis Of Anti-Choice Ideology, Shoshana A. Funk

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study explores the external power dynamics and internal psychic processes involved in both historical and contemporary anti-choice ideology, practice, and rhetoric. The three primary tactics of the anti-choice movement and current "war on women" involve 1) promoting the establishment of fetal personhood through measures—both rhetorical and political, 2) the co-opting of feminist and liberal rhetoric in establishing a woman-centered, as opposed to fetus-centered, anti-abortion strategy, and 3) the use of incremental policy measures and restrictions at the state and local level, including the creation of legal and practical barriers to the procedure for both women and abortion providers. …

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Evolving Identities, Shaping Connection : The Effects Of Narrative-Sharing Spaces On Undocumented Latino Students, Christopher M. Heinrich Dec 2012

Evolving Identities, Shaping Connection : The Effects Of Narrative-Sharing Spaces On Undocumented Latino Students, Christopher M. Heinrich

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study was undertaken to explore the ways in which undocumented Latino students navigate and shift personal identity, notions of group solidarity and political consciousness upon "coming out" as undocumented and participating in narrative-sharing spaces that specifically ask them to reflect on their citizenship status in the company of other undocumented young people. The study aims to help guide the social work community in developing further support for undocumented youth. The study sample comprises nine undocumented Latino students from the San Francisco Bay Area, ages 20 – 24. Data was collected through in-depth, in-person interviews that focused on participants' …

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Implicit Communication : The Body's Role In Clinical Work With Trauma Survivors, Julia A. Jakubowski Dec 2012

Implicit Communication : The Body's Role In Clinical Work With Trauma Survivors, Julia A. Jakubowski

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This exploratory-descriptive study examined therapists' use of their physiological responses in work with trauma survivors. Broadly, the study sought to understand how a therapist's physiological responses play a role in how they construct meaning about a client. The study sample consisted of eight Relationally oriented therapists who worked with trauma survivors. Data were collected through hour-long, semi-structured interviews with each participant at a single point in time, utilizing the Physiological Response to Trauma Questionnaire. Findings revealed that participants used their physiological countertransference to inform clinical functions, specifically: ability to attune, choice of interventions, assessment, and ability to maintain boundaries and …

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Coparenting Among Mexican-American And Non-Latino White Couples, Amy B. Kallenberg Dec 2012

Coparenting Among Mexican-American And Non-Latino White Couples, Amy B. Kallenberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Grounded in structural family theory, the present study examined how positive coparenting relates to couple satisfaction and to positive parenting for predominantly lowincome Mexican American and non-Latino white heterosexual couples. The sample was selected as a subset from the Supporting Father Involvement study, based in California. Participants included 73 mono-racial/ethnic families (56.2% Mexican American and 43.8% non- Latino white), each including a youngest child under age 11. Couple Discussion Task ratings from observed coparenting interactions were tested for associations with: 1) self-reported couple satisfaction, and 2) Parent-Child Interaction scales derived from observed parent-child interactions. Results indicated that the connection/cohesiveness aspect …

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A Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Mexican Americans And Non-Latino White Americans : Does Culture Influence Family Cohesion And Father Involvement?, Claudia V. Ruiz Esparza Escobedo Dec 2012

A Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Mexican Americans And Non-Latino White Americans : Does Culture Influence Family Cohesion And Father Involvement?, Claudia V. Ruiz Esparza Escobedo

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This quantitative research study is a preliminary assessment of family cohesion and father involvement in two cultural groups: Mexican American and non-Latino white American families with children between the ages of one to seven years old and of low to medium socioeconomic status. The line of inquiry is whether or not culture influences family cohesion and father involvement in this sample. The variables of family cohesion and father involvement were measured along with an examination of the effects of culture and acculturation on Mexican American families. The Family Circles instrument is a pictorial assessment tool used in this study to …

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Oef/Oif Veterans With And Without Ptsd : Levels Of Relationship Distress, Social Support, Combat Experience, And Deployment, Jeanne-Marie E. Mailloux Dec 2012

Oef/Oif Veterans With And Without Ptsd : Levels Of Relationship Distress, Social Support, Combat Experience, And Deployment, Jeanne-Marie E. Mailloux

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

As Veterans have returned home from the OEF/OIF wars they have faced many struggles with reintegration. Studies of Veterans returning home have found rates of PTSD as high as 18 % (Hoge et al., 2004; Hoge, Terhakopian, Castro, Messer, and Engel, 2007). The symptomatology of PTSD has historically complicated Veterans primary relationships as well other interpersonal relationships and this study seeks to look at the relationship between PTSD and interpersonal distress in a sample of Veterans returning from the OEF/OIF wars. The author conducted secondary analysis of data from a survey taken by a sample of Connecticut Veterans (n = …

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Is Sexual Violence A Public Concern Or A Private Affair? : An Exploration Of Community Members' Perceptions In A Rural New England Village, Mary S. Thompson Dec 2012

Is Sexual Violence A Public Concern Or A Private Affair? : An Exploration Of Community Members' Perceptions In A Rural New England Village, Mary S. Thompson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative methods study explores how community members were impacted by isolated cases of sexual violence that involved their neighbors in a rural New England village and asks whether they perceive sexual violence as a public concern or a private affair. As a pastor in the town when these events occurred, I wondered about the ensuing communal silence and its impact on the community as a whole. Were individuals navigating questions about social norms and communal responsibilities, as they processed personal thoughts about sexual violence and their emotional experiences of their neighbors' pain? Fourteen community leaders representing three generations of …

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Homelessness As Trauma : A Theoretical Analysis Exploring Treatment Of Symptoms Of Grief And Loss In Single African-American Homeless Women, Jesse J. Dice Dec 2012

Homelessness As Trauma : A Theoretical Analysis Exploring Treatment Of Symptoms Of Grief And Loss In Single African-American Homeless Women, Jesse J. Dice

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this theoretical study was to explore and describe the trauma that single homeless African-American women are at risk for before and during homelessness. Grief and loss theory and attachment theory were used to bring attention to the need of addressing traumas during homelessness. Literature was reviewed relating to exploring the areas of cross-sectional identities of race, gender and socioeconomic status within this population, historical contexts of homelessness in the U.S., and homelessness as trauma, to analyze the language used to describe the barriers in receiving treatment as a single homeless African-American woman. Through exploring these topics and …

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Juvenile Sexual Offenders : The Influence Of Modeling, Verbal Instruction, And Relationship Structures On Sexual Offenders, Leanne M. Peterson Dec 2012

Juvenile Sexual Offenders : The Influence Of Modeling, Verbal Instruction, And Relationship Structures On Sexual Offenders, Leanne M. Peterson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The main aim of this study was to examine the ways in which obedience, social learning theory, and moral motives influence to sexual offenses of juvenile sexual offenders. From a sample of 502 incarcerated sexually abusing youth, 40 endorsed a question indicating that they "had been told to sexually abuse others." Eighty-four percent of the sample used in this study had been sexually abused. Sixteen percent of the sample had not been sexually abused. The findings support that physical modeling did have an impact on the sexual offenses committed by juvenile sexual offenders however, being told to offend did not …

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Hip-Hop As Healer : Black Males' Experience Of Hip-Hop Culture, Tawnee Sae-Saue Dec 2012

Hip-Hop As Healer : Black Males' Experience Of Hip-Hop Culture, Tawnee Sae-Saue

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study was developed to explore the experiences that Black men have of hip-hop and its potential healing function. Ten Black men were interviewed in the Los Angeles and Bay Area regarding their experiences as either practitioners or followers of hip-hop. Participants were asked to reflect on the role that hip-hop has played in their lives, hip-hop's effect on their racial identities and its impact on their emotions. All subjects described themselves as having a relationship with hip-hop that was, and continues to be, transformative. Participants described hip-hop as a chosen kinship and described the culture as having a …

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Questioning Neutrality : An Inquiry Into Contemporary Therapists' Attitudes Towards Neutrality In The Clinical Encounter, Shoshanna D. Brady Dec 2012

Questioning Neutrality : An Inquiry Into Contemporary Therapists' Attitudes Towards Neutrality In The Clinical Encounter, Shoshanna D. Brady

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore the possible relationship between clinicians' training in neutrality at Smith College School for Social Work and their enduring practice ideals with respect to neutrality. Grounded in the theoretical literature regarding models of psychodynamic therapeutic change, this research project sought to describe the role of neutrality in contemporary clinical practice, addressing a gap in comprehensive empirical research on this topic. Research data was collected from 224 alumni who graduated from Smith College School for Social Work (SCSSW) during the past 30 years and are currently practicing in the field of mental health. Participants completed an …

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Resiliency On The Home Front : Addressing The Needs Of Family And Friends Of Unmarried Military Members During Deployment, Michelle E. Biltz Dec 2012

Resiliency On The Home Front : Addressing The Needs Of Family And Friends Of Unmarried Military Members During Deployment, Michelle E. Biltz

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to explore the needs of family and close friends of unmarried military members. Unmarried military members depend on parents, relatives, siblings, significant others, and close friends for support during deployments, however there is limited research available on the needs of this population. The main research question was: What are the needs of family and close friends of unmarried military members during deployment? A questionnaire was used to recruit participants through Facebook military communities and online military community forums. There were 33 total participants who were asked to identify an unmarried military member with whom they had …

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Talking Through The Body : A Comparative Study Of Cognitive-Behavioral And Attachment Based Treatments For Childhood Trauma, Eric A. Eichler Dec 2012

Talking Through The Body : A Comparative Study Of Cognitive-Behavioral And Attachment Based Treatments For Childhood Trauma, Eric A. Eichler

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Childhood abuse and neglect have been shown to have a devastating impact on an individual's social, emotional, and physical development. This study was undertaken in order to determine the best treatment approach for survivors of childhood trauma. The author investigated the impact of traumatic stress on the brain, and reviewed the psychoanalytic, child development, and neurobiological literature on the importance of the attachment relationship for healthy development. Various perspectives on the diagnosis of childhood trauma were explored, including models that centralize childhood trauma as the cause of much of the spectrum of mental illness we see today. The author researched …

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Life In College : An Exploratory Study Examining Undergraduate Students' Experiences With Indirect Aggression, Mary M. Mclaughlin Dec 2012

Life In College : An Exploratory Study Examining Undergraduate Students' Experiences With Indirect Aggression, Mary M. Mclaughlin

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The aim of this project was to examine college students' perceptions about a destructive, covert form of bullying known as "indirect aggression." Indirect aggression is a type of social manipulation in which the aggressor manipulates others to attack the victim. This study also collected information about the "reality TV" viewing habits of the sample during high school. The goal was threefold: to pilot a methodology for examining perceptions of indirect aggression in the college student population, to expand our understanding of this covert form of bullying in young adults, and to examine the relationship of reality TV exposure to indirect …

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The Double Bind Of Triple Jeopardy : Exploring The Impact Of Multiple Minority Stress On Lgbtq-Identified Asian Women In America, Anastasia Y. Taketomo Dec 2012

The Double Bind Of Triple Jeopardy : Exploring The Impact Of Multiple Minority Stress On Lgbtq-Identified Asian Women In America, Anastasia Y. Taketomo

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to determine the impact of multiple minority stress on LGBTQ-identified Asian women living in America. The research explored how the values of families of origin, communities, and chosen families impact identity negotiations, as well as overall quality of life. The findings of this study were utilized to conceptualize best practices for mental health practitioners around better meeting the needs of individuals experiencing multiple minority stress. One hundred and fifty-two women living in the United States responded to a series of multiple choice and narrative response questions via Internet survey. They were asked questions focusing on demographics, …

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A Theoretical Approach To Understanding Alcohol Misuse In Military Personnel Returning Home From Operation Iraqii (Oif) And Operation Enduring Freedom (Oef), Patrice K. Boyce Dec 2012

A Theoretical Approach To Understanding Alcohol Misuse In Military Personnel Returning Home From Operation Iraqii (Oif) And Operation Enduring Freedom (Oef), Patrice K. Boyce

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical thesis explores the misuse of alcohol in military personnel who are returning home from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The study focuses on what occurs to these soldiers upon their return home, as they try to manage their experiences of combat while continuing to fulfill their duties as soldiers, sailors, Marines, airman, and guardians. The comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which sometimes result from traumatic memories and experiences of the Middle East, and the misuse of alcohol which some returning soldiers use as an acceptable tool for numbing symptoms of PTSD are explored in this …

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Are We Reaching The Body? : A Study Of Social Workers' Attitudes On The Mind-Body Connection In Trauma Treatment, Samuel R. Douglas Dec 2012

Are We Reaching The Body? : A Study Of Social Workers' Attitudes On The Mind-Body Connection In Trauma Treatment, Samuel R. Douglas

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

A national sample of 39 social workers currently treating traumatized clients in therapy in the United States responded to an anonymous, online survey designed to gauge their attitudes toward the role of the mind-body connection in trauma treatment and recovery. The study sought to ascertain whether the most recent research in the neurobiology of trauma, and the resulting developments in the theory of trauma treatment, had significantly influenced the approach taken by social workers in clinical settings. The findings suggest that social workers have largely embraced the idea of a mind-body connection in trauma, and are inclined—in theory, if less …

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Partnering Into Parenthood : Exploring The Relationship Between Coparenting And Couple Satisfaction In Triadic Family Systems, Elizabeth H. Welton Dec 2012

Partnering Into Parenthood : Exploring The Relationship Between Coparenting And Couple Satisfaction In Triadic Family Systems, Elizabeth H. Welton

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This mixed methods study explores qualities in couple relationships, as they emerged in the initial interview of a coparenting intervention, as they relate to couple satisfaction. Fifteen sets of parents were asked to describe and discuss their coparenting and couple relationship in the initial interview. Their degree of couple satisfaction was measured at baseline and again 18 months later, and coparenting and couple qualities were examined side by side with baseline couple satisfaction scores and change scores. By exploring qualities pertaining to the coparenting and couple subsystems during early parenthood, this study illuminates the complex interplay between coparenting and couple …

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The Impact Of Multiple Deployments On Military Spouses, Renee D. Rountree Dec 2012

The Impact Of Multiple Deployments On Military Spouses, Renee D. Rountree

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This mixed method, exploratory, retrospective study explores the impact of multiple deployments on military spouses. Previous studies have focused on single deployments while looking at stress, coping styles and stages of deployment. This study is exploring the afore mentioned topics with the stipulation that the spouse has to have experienced at least two deployments. Eighty spouses from all branches of the military, except the Coast Guard, participated in this study. The spouses completed an online survey where they were asked multiple choice, scaling and open-ended questions comparing the first and second/subsequent deployments. The questions were designed to learn more about …

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