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Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

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Articles 31 - 60 of 569

Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Traditional Healing In Psychology On The Caribbean Island Of Montserrat, West Indies, Yvette Adelcia Cabey Jan 2022

Traditional Healing In Psychology On The Caribbean Island Of Montserrat, West Indies, Yvette Adelcia Cabey

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

In Montserrat, traditional healing medicines consist of herbal treatments and customary therapeutic methods such as ritual practices and herbal teas also known as “Bush and Weed” (Duberry, 1973, p.1). The purpose of this study is to discuss herbs known as “Bush,” in Montserrat, and how they benefit psychological wellbeing among the communities in Montserrat. A subsequent intention of this study is to address how an understanding of Montserratian Traditional Healing remedies can be beneficial to Western Psychological practice and enhance the efficacy for psychological healing. The gap in the literature indicates that few studies are examining mental health methods in …


Managing Expectations After Expecting: A Phenomenological Study Of Anger And Societal Expectations In New Motherhood, Jennifer Monahan Demella Jan 2022

Managing Expectations After Expecting: A Phenomenological Study Of Anger And Societal Expectations In New Motherhood, Jennifer Monahan Demella

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The literature on motherhood is dominated by topics on the roles of attachment, prenatal care, and childrearing. Research on the negative effects of motherhood is typically described in terms of postpartum depression (PPD) or postpartum mood disorder (PPMD). However, anger is a prominent component in motherhood, which may not be seen through the criteria of PPD or PPMD. Additionally, angry mothers conflict with the mythos of the Good Mother. In this phenomenological study, the thematic structure of mothers’ experience within the first year of their newborns’ life are examined. Data from interviews with seven women who were four to ten …


Therapist Self-Reported Attachment Organization And Countertransference Responses To Psychotherapy Clients, Morgan Janay Pell Jan 2022

Therapist Self-Reported Attachment Organization And Countertransference Responses To Psychotherapy Clients, Morgan Janay Pell

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Therapists experience thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in response to their clients, which are sometimes referred to as countertransference. Such responses may be influenced by the therapist’s personal history, including the quality of their attachment experiences. Research has demonstrated that adult attachment organizations influence a person’s cognitive, behavioral, and affective responses toward close others, thus providing a useful framework for understanding some countertransference experiences of therapists. This quantitative study sought to add to the existing literature by examining the relationship between therapist self-reported attachment organization and countertransference responses to clients. Seventy-three therapists participated in this study, including licensed psychologists, doctorate-level psychologists, …


Let's Talk About Sex: The Importance Of Sexuality Training In Doctoral Psychology Programs, Leja S. Wright Jan 2022

Let's Talk About Sex: The Importance Of Sexuality Training In Doctoral Psychology Programs, Leja S. Wright

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Sex is an integral part of human nature and identity (Sanabria & Murray, 2018), yet many clinical psychology programs may not offer adequate sexuality training. This study explored clients’ needs for support surrounding sexuality, clinical competence in human sexuality, and the availability of human sexuality training in doctoral psychology programs across the United States. In an effort to create a large sample size, I randomly chose 25 doctoral psychology programs to examine the nature of their sexuality trainings or sex education. Only two of these programs offered classes or trainings, though neither of the programs required the courses for program …


Seeking Treatment For Ptsd: The Post 9/11 Service Member's Experience, Stephanie A. Bowser Jan 2022

Seeking Treatment For Ptsd: The Post 9/11 Service Member's Experience, Stephanie A. Bowser

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) remains one of the most pervasive health conditions to affect the 2.7 million United States service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Untreated and/or inadequately treated PTSD can further lead to an array of health risks including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, social and occupational impairments, poorer quality of physical health, decreased overall perception of quality of life, and increase the risk of suicide. Considering these risks, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) created the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for the Management of PTSD and Acute Stress Reaction (ASR), highlighting …


Both Sides Of The Coin: Sexual Minority Perspectives On Relationships, Quynh Tran Jan 2022

Both Sides Of The Coin: Sexual Minority Perspectives On Relationships, Quynh Tran

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation aimed to better understand sexual minority individuals’ perceptions of how various minority stressors affect their interpersonal connections. In this study, sexual minority identity was defined as a sexual identity that was not the heterosexual, and was defined to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, and queer. Gender identity was not a criterion for either inclusion or exclusion in this study. This phenomenological study used semistructured interviews to explore the perspective of six participants who identify with sexual minority identities. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the data resulted in five main themes: (a) Growth-fostering relationships promote well-being, (b) Perceived …


No Time For That: Graduate Psychology Student Perspectives On Self-Care Culture, Anthony Primavera Jan 2022

No Time For That: Graduate Psychology Student Perspectives On Self-Care Culture, Anthony Primavera

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Graduate psychology students face numerous stressors that can hinder their performance both academically and clinically as they move through their education and into the professional world (Pakenham & Stafford-Brown, 2012; Shen-Miller, 2011). Engagement with regular self-care not only can enhance a sense of well-being, but also plays a crucial role in shielding an individual from some of the most harmful effects of stress (Wise et al., 2012). Graduate level psychology programs are inherently positioned to teach graduate trainees about the importance of self-care practices and to help them develop self-care habits that they can take into future careers. It appears …


The Caregiver’S Experience Of Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, Jordyn Deschene Jan 2022

The Caregiver’S Experience Of Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, Jordyn Deschene

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

As the rate of Lyme disease diagnoses increases in the United States, it can be assumed that the frequency at which post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) is diagnosed will also increase. While research has been published on the experience of caregivers of other chronic illnesses, no studies have examined the experience of the PTLDS caregiver. This quantitative study sought to discover the most significant burdens, mental health status (levels of anxiety and depression), and level of invalidation experienced by the PTLDS caregiver. Thirty individual participants took part in this study. This study found that mental burden is a significant area …


Love Outside Margins: Mental Health And Marginalization In Intercultural And Monocultural Couples, Tara Masseratagah Jan 2022

Love Outside Margins: Mental Health And Marginalization In Intercultural And Monocultural Couples, Tara Masseratagah

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

As the number of intercultural couples increases in North America, the impact of perceived marginalization of these relationships on the mental health of individuals is an area that requires continued clinical understanding. This quantitative study sought to explore how anxiety and depression levels in intercultural and monocultural couples are associated with levels of perceived marginalization. Qualitative follow-up questions were used to understand the varying reasons for marginalization and support between couples. One hundred twenty-four individual participants in romantic relationships took part in this study; of this, 64 were in monocultural relationships and 60 were in intercultural relationships. This study found …


Web-Based Therapeutic Horticulture Intervention: An Online Program Development Study, Dana Ludmer Jan 2022

Web-Based Therapeutic Horticulture Intervention: An Online Program Development Study, Dana Ludmer

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The pandemic has become a nationwide psychological trauma, posing a serious mental health risk in the United States. As the pandemic increases social disconnection and depression, amongst other psychological concerns, the need for accessible therapeutic interventions has become imperative. The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the interest and preferences in a web-based therapeutic horticulture intervention for connectedness and well-being. This study utilized a mixed methods approach, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. A needs assessment surveyed American Horticulture Therapist Association (AHTA) members as well as gardening hobbyists. Quantitative data was evaluated through descriptive statistics, while …


Psychological Impact On Probation Officers Supervising Individuals With Mental Illness, Janelle Hickey Jan 2022

Psychological Impact On Probation Officers Supervising Individuals With Mental Illness, Janelle Hickey

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Every year, millions of adults in the United States are ordered to participate in supervised community probation and parole (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2021). Probation and parole supervisees with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) are overrepresented in the criminal justice system and, therefore, probation and parole officers (PPOs) can expect to work with supervisees with mental illness. While there is extensive research on the impact of working with individuals with SPMI on community support professionals, there is little research focusing specifically on PPOs (Whitehead, 1985). The limited research that exists suggests PPOs who supervise individuals with SPMI endorse symptoms …


Exploring The Needs Of Black Single Mothers In Therapy, Nompelelo Boucher Jan 2022

Exploring The Needs Of Black Single Mothers In Therapy, Nompelelo Boucher

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative study of 6 Black single mothers utilizes a focus group format to explore their experiences in mental health treatment. The specific barriers they face to seeking treatment are reviewed, given that this particular population is substantially underrepresented in mental health therapy. The study seeks to gain a better insight of what factors contribute to attracting and retaining them in therapy for positive outcomes. Six emergent themes surfaced highlighting the fact that these women overcome numerous historical and cultural barriers to present for treatment to address serious issues of stress, grief, and loss, that they have a desire to …


Beyond The Controversy: An Exploration Of Cultural Socialization Behaviors In Transracial Adoptive Families, Karmen Smith Jan 2022

Beyond The Controversy: An Exploration Of Cultural Socialization Behaviors In Transracial Adoptive Families, Karmen Smith

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The voices of the families that have successfully raised transracially adopted children with a positive cultural identity are missing from the literature: “Further research is needed on adoption from the perspective of the adoptee” (Clark et al., 2006, p. 192). There are methodological shortcomings that inhibit our ability to definitively determine adjustment outcomes for this population. Such shortcomings, combined with a failure to address additional variables that influence outcomes, have left identified gaps in the research unaddressed. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to identify the cultural socialization behaviors that contributed to the development of the participant’s positive …


Examining Face-To-Face And Online Supervisee Disclosure Within The Supervisory Alliance, Letitia D'Aria Unger Johnson Jan 2022

Examining Face-To-Face And Online Supervisee Disclosure Within The Supervisory Alliance, Letitia D'Aria Unger Johnson

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this research was to examine face-to-face and online supervisee disclosure within the supervisory alliance. Just as client care pivoted to online platforms, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so did clinical supervision, which was uncharted territory for many, including those familiar with online counseling. The methodology used was consensual qualitative research (CSR). Eight participants were recruited as a sample of convenience, and semistructured interviews were conducted via Zoom. Results indicated domains such as important characteristics of the supervisory relationship, importance of communication, supervisor characteristics related to self-disclosure, positive aspects and negative aspects of online supervision, and …


Examining Gender Differences In A Forensic Sample Using The Personality Assessment Inventory, Rebecca Elliott Jan 2022

Examining Gender Differences In A Forensic Sample Using The Personality Assessment Inventory, Rebecca Elliott

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Rates of female criminality appear to be rising (The Sentencing Project, 2022), and thus more women are likely to present for evaluation in a forensic capacity. A majority of research in the field of criminal behavior has focused exclusively on male populations. A dearth of research examining risk factors among female offenders has led to a lack of empirically validated tools used to assess women. Additionally, research on gender differences within a forensic population representing a wide range of referral questions has not been conducted. Women offenders present with unique and different risk factors than men (Grimbos et al., 2016); …


Adverse Religious Experiences And Lgbtq+ Adults, Alex Fox Jan 2022

Adverse Religious Experiences And Lgbtq+ Adults, Alex Fox

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The aim of this study is to explore the ways in which LGBTQ+ people are affected by adverse or traumatic experiences related to religion or spirituality. Many LGBTQ+ adults were reared in environments where negative, disaffirming beliefs or teachings about sexual orientation or gender identity were pervasive. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach to data collection and analysis. Participants responded to a brief online survey, the data from which was used for quantitative statistical analysis. Twelve participants were selected at random from a pool of survey volunteers and took part in in-depth interviews regarding adverse religious experiences (AREs). Results of …


Developing The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Power, And Privilege Assessment In Cft/Mft: A Delphi Study, Carrie Hatch Jan 2022

Developing The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Power, And Privilege Assessment In Cft/Mft: A Delphi Study, Carrie Hatch

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Couple and Family Therapists (CFTs) engage in clinical practice from a systemic framework. This framework positions MFTs to consider the impact of social systems on the MFT/CFT field and their clients. Issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, power, and privilege (DEIPP) impact all of the systems in which we operate. Currently, there is no consensus on a tool measuring training clinicians’ competencies related to DEIPP beyond self-report. There is a need for a DEIPP competency measure because, currently, the most widely used measure is self or observer report, which may not provide a complete …


The Mechanism Of Reducing Anxiety Through Mindfulness Interventions: Digital Therapeutic Program, Maria Neizvestnaya Jan 2022

The Mechanism Of Reducing Anxiety Through Mindfulness Interventions: Digital Therapeutic Program, Maria Neizvestnaya

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the prevalence of anxiety disorders, making it a population health concern in the United States and worldwide. The growing need for effective prevention and treatment of anxiety coincides with a deficit of mental health providers and physicians. With the healthcare system currently overwhelmed and the slow training pipeline of new providers, the gap between patient demand and treatment providers will not be closed in the next decade. There is a growing need for evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders that can increase access to care while addressing the underlying mechanisms of anxiety. Digital therapeutics is a fast-developing …


Experiences Of Queer Women And Nonbinary Individuals With Mental Health Care Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elizabeth Claire Simpson Jan 2022

Experiences Of Queer Women And Nonbinary Individuals With Mental Health Care Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elizabeth Claire Simpson

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on mental health. Queer women and nonbinary individuals disproportionately experience mental health issues when compared to heterosexuals, often facing challenges in receiving care from providers who are sensitive to their concerns and competent in their care. Objective: To report experience of queer women and nonbinary individuals in the United States with mental health care services before and during the pandemic. Methods: Data were gathered via a 43-item survey about experiences with mental health care services before and during the pandemic that was posted on four social media sites, and flyers hung …


The Lived Experiences Of Sports Retirement Among Elite, Action Sports Athletes, Gracie Struthers Jan 2022

The Lived Experiences Of Sports Retirement Among Elite, Action Sports Athletes, Gracie Struthers

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This study explored the lived experiences of sports retirement among elite, action sport athletes. This study examined participants’ retirement experiences, their well-being post-retirement, and recommendations participants had for current athletes about retirement. Interviews were conducted remotely with four participants. Participants identified as Caucasian, in the 25–38 age range, had been involved with their sport competitively for 17.75 years, and had been retired for 3.37 years. Data was collected and analyzed utilizing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Participants’ experiences during retirement illustrated a significant disruption in their lives and the way they lived. This disruption was characterized by significant grief and distress, …


Motivational Interviewing In Vocational Rehabilitation: Why It Matters For People With Disabilities, Alicia Wein-Senghas Jan 2021

Motivational Interviewing In Vocational Rehabilitation: Why It Matters For People With Disabilities, Alicia Wein-Senghas

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is increasingly being trained within and integrated into public vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs based on its efficacy in related fields and yet research specific to the efficacy of MI in public VR programs is almost nonexistent. This study used a quantitative sequential design to explore relationships between MI training, MI proficiency, and VR customer outcomes within the State of Vermont’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VT DVR) program. The study occurred in two phases. In the first phase, 30 VR counselors were recruited, and their level of MI proficiency was established using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Measure …


Influencing Legislation For Juveniles In The Adult Judicial System: A Phenomenological Examination Of Legal Advocates, Krista F. Franklin Jan 2021

Influencing Legislation For Juveniles In The Adult Judicial System: A Phenomenological Examination Of Legal Advocates, Krista F. Franklin

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

INFLUENCING LEGISLATION FOR JUVENILES IN THE ADULT JUDICIAL SYSTEM: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF LEGAL ADVOCATES Krista Franklin Antioch University Seattle Seattle, WA This phenomenological study explores the lived experience of Washington State lawmakers and legal activists regarding their involvement in passing Washington State Senate Bill 5064 in February 2014. In response to the 2012 landmark federal Supreme Court decision, Miller v. Alabama, Senate Bill 5064 reduced the number of crimes for which juveniles could be sentenced as adults to life without parole. Six interviewees were selected from those who testified in Olympia, WA. Individual interviews were conducted in an open-ended …


Adoptive Identity: Emerging Adult International Adoptees’ Narrative Coherence Following Early Institutional Care, Samuel Vladimir Highland Jan 2021

Adoptive Identity: Emerging Adult International Adoptees’ Narrative Coherence Following Early Institutional Care, Samuel Vladimir Highland

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

It is well established that, while all orphanages are not equally harsh, none can provide the quality of care found in most homes. The depriving circumstances of many such institutions often leads to lingering delays across social, emotional, cognitive, psychological, and physical domains of development. However, for many international adoptees there is evidence of resilience and catch-up growth across these same domains following adoption. Adoptive identity theory provides the framework for this qualitative exploration assessing the degree of coherence among six previously-institutionalized (PI) international adoptees’ narratives about the meaning and role of adoption in their lives as emerging adults. Adoptive …


The Student Experience Of Psychoeducational Assessment: A Phenomenological Study, Teresa Hoffman Jan 2021

The Student Experience Of Psychoeducational Assessment: A Phenomenological Study, Teresa Hoffman

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Emerging adults with specific learning disabilities (SLD) are interviewed to understand the student experience of the psychoeducational assessment process that is codified by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA). The assessment practice is well established to qualify students for special education and related services (SERS) to ensure every child in the United States has the opportunity for free and appropriate education. An overview of the general psychoeducational assessment practice and specific assessment for SLD is supplemented by the literature regarding best-practices for psychological assessment with children/adolescents to set the context for a process that is encountered triennially …


Construction Of A Developmental Social Privilege Integration Scale, Abigail M. Martin Jan 2021

Construction Of A Developmental Social Privilege Integration Scale, Abigail M. Martin

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The APA’s 2017 multicultural guidelines task psychologists with the aspirational goal of understanding the nuances of historical and contemporary systems of power, privilege, and oppression. Scholars such as Helms (1984) demonstrated the critical need to readjust psychology’s focus from oppressed groups to privileged groups. In her seminal 1988 article, McIntosh insisted that in order to “redesign social systems,” privileged groups must first acknowledge their “unseen dimensions” (p. 1). Similarly, Black and Stone (2005) and Johnson (2018) asserted the lack of social privilege awareness is part of American culture, which helps to maintain the invisibility of privilege and the status quo …


Adult Attachment Interview Classification: Comparing Two Coding Systems, Patricia M. Hastings Jan 2021

Adult Attachment Interview Classification: Comparing Two Coding Systems, Patricia M. Hastings

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Research on the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) provides an opportunity to study the ways in which early childhood relational experiences might influence an individual over a lifetime. It is not yet clear, however, whether results from different coding systems for the AAI are equally useful. The first purpose of this study was to compare attachment classification distributions obtained from coding AAIs with the Berkeley and Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) coding systems. The second purpose was to explore whether AAI classifications derived from the Berkeley or DMM system were more strongly associated with mother and mother-child dyad outcome variables. Participants were a …


Divine Narcissism: Raising A Secure Middle-Aged Adult, Rachel Sachs Riverwood Jan 2021

Divine Narcissism: Raising A Secure Middle-Aged Adult, Rachel Sachs Riverwood

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Utilizing an arts-based feminist autoethnographic stance and method, this dissertation is an evocative exploration of the process and experience of attempting to develop a cohesive identity and build a secure attachment to the self. The author uses countercultural methods—prioritizing and centralizing her experience and uncovering and acting in defiance of oppressive norms—to identify and experience their impact on her identity and intra- and inter- personal relationships. Various tensions are explored, including the suppression of self and desire, self-objectification, fearful-avoidant attachment, and shame; and their influence on engaging in emotional and sexual intimacy is examined. Critique on the role of female …


Experience Of Gender Role Expectations And Negotiation In Second Generation Desi Couples, Deepa Patel Jan 2021

Experience Of Gender Role Expectations And Negotiation In Second Generation Desi Couples, Deepa Patel

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Due to the lack of research on the Desi community, this qualitative study was the first of its kind to investigate the process of gender role expectation and negotiation style among second generation Desi couples. Previous research provided awareness of unequal treatment amongst the male and female genders within the patriarchal structure of the Desi community. However, this study provided a unique understanding on Desi couples’ perspective on gender dynamics. Six couples, ages 25- 35, who were married for at least 3 years and identified as second generation Desi were interviewed in order to gain a deeper understanding of gender …


I’M So Satisfied: A Qualitative Approach To Understanding The Process Of Marriage Satisfaction Among African American Couples, Rashida Spence Jan 2021

I’M So Satisfied: A Qualitative Approach To Understanding The Process Of Marriage Satisfaction Among African American Couples, Rashida Spence

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The current study uses a strengths-based framework to identify the process of marriage satisfaction among 1 same-sex African American married couple and 5 heterosexual African American married couples. Six themes emerged through qualitative analysis demonstrating that marriage satisfaction is a co-constructed experience created between couples through a series of interactions cultivating healthy conditions that strengthen relationship functioning and promote well-being. Based on the results the experience of marriage satisfaction is formed by the organizing concepts of connection, intentionality, purpose, sentiments of peace, authentic communication, and well-being. Results are discussed in association with existing research, as well as, Self-Determination, and Relationship …


Homelessness And Adhd: A Hidden Factor?, Elizabeth A. Shepherd Jan 2021

Homelessness And Adhd: A Hidden Factor?, Elizabeth A. Shepherd

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, henceforth known as ADHD, is a common psychiatric problem recognized and diagnosed in children; however, it is not recognized or diagnosed as often in adults. There has been some research illustrating a relationship between ADHD and homelessness. The purpose of this study was to further explore if ADHD could be a hidden factor contributing to homelessness in adults. This descriptive study utilized archival data of patients at a health center in the United States to examine the relationship between homelessness and ADHD. Two analyses were completed using IBM SPSS version 25. Starting from a master dataset including …