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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

The Necessity Of Trauma-Focused Curricula In Mental Health Graduate Programs: Advocating For Comprehensive Trauma Etiology And Treatment Education With Proposed Course Outline, Aaron S. Gillespie May 2022

The Necessity Of Trauma-Focused Curricula In Mental Health Graduate Programs: Advocating For Comprehensive Trauma Etiology And Treatment Education With Proposed Course Outline, Aaron S. Gillespie

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

During the past four decades, it has become increasingly clear how prevalent trauma, polytrauma and co-morbid trauma-related disorders are within our shared, global communities. A growing body of research continues to uncover the mind-boggling impact these overwhelming experiences have on individuals, their families, and the communities that support them, including mental health professionals. It behooves us as allied mental healthcare providers to learn what trauma is, how it may affect the individual across the lifespan, as well as how to effectively identify and treat the trauma-related symptoms our clients present with. However, despite a proliferation of research demonstrating the growing …


Providing Effective Assessment Feedback To Patients: Lessons Learned From Feedback After A Severe Injury, Kelsie Mcquinn May 2022

Providing Effective Assessment Feedback To Patients: Lessons Learned From Feedback After A Severe Injury, Kelsie Mcquinn

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper seeks to articulate lessons learned from feedback received after a severe injury in order to help guide neuropsychologists provide effective feedback to patients. Given that there is no agreed upon conceptual framework for providing neuropsychological assessment feedback, parallels are drawn from what works in clinical psychology – the working alliance. I use personal examples to highlight how the working alliance, as well as other psychological principles, can help inform neuropsychologists provide the most effective feedback to patients.


An Assessment Of Adhd/Ld Support In Psyd Programs From The Perspective Of Faculty Advisors, Mac Zimdars Jan 2022

An Assessment Of Adhd/Ld Support In Psyd Programs From The Perspective Of Faculty Advisors, Mac Zimdars

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Among psychologists and doctoral psychology students, 14.3% and 10.7% reported having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or learning disabilities (LD), respectively; 67.3% of those with any disability experienced disability-related impediments and discrimination during graduate school or the application process (Lund et al., 2014). This paper is focused on assessing current PsyD program supports for students with ADHD/LD from a faculty advisor perspective. Specifically, this research assesses the faculty advisor-advisee relationship, as well as available support services and resources. Data was collected from an anonymous survey and utilized an empirical mixed-methods approach. Three themes emerged from the study: (1) Advisors lack …


Bipolar Disorder & Substance Use Treatment In Adults: A Tool For Recovery, Kaitlin Vieweg Parker Jan 2022

Bipolar Disorder & Substance Use Treatment In Adults: A Tool For Recovery, Kaitlin Vieweg Parker

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Bipolar Disorder is an affective disorder characterized by moderate to extreme lability in emotional states where individuals experience symptoms of mania, hypomania, mixed mood and/or depression. Individuals may be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, which is hallmarked by extreme mood lability between mood states of mania and depression. Alternatively, bipolar II disorder is distinguished by fluctuating hypomanic and depressive episodes (DSM-V, 2014). Cyclothymia is defined by shifting mood states that are less severe than bipolar I or II. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI, 2017), 2.8% of adults in the United States are diagnosed with a type …


Psychologists On Interdisciplinary Teams: Barriers To Interdisciplinary Work For Psychologists At The Pre-Doctoral Level And Beyond, Alison C. Swisher Jan 2022

Psychologists On Interdisciplinary Teams: Barriers To Interdisciplinary Work For Psychologists At The Pre-Doctoral Level And Beyond, Alison C. Swisher

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

With the shift of psychologists into practice in interdisciplinary medical settings, where might these providers receive adequate training for effective entry into these roles? The field of health psychology struggles to adequately keep up with the need for specialized psychologists within medical settings. Training programs have historically failed to provide training opportunities within interdisciplinary medical settings. This project examined the interviews of three psychologists with experience working and training pre-doctoral level students in interdisciplinary, health-focused, medical settings. Based on the information gathered herein, it appears that the barriers to training pre-doctoral psychology students within medical establishments stem from the following …


It Takes A Village: Tribalism As A Premise To Understand Societal Responsibility And Impact Of Mass Violence, Paige D. Schultz Jan 2022

It Takes A Village: Tribalism As A Premise To Understand Societal Responsibility And Impact Of Mass Violence, Paige D. Schultz

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

What is a mass shooter? This is difficult to answer as there is no single definition. The definition of a mass shooter depends on contextual factors including victim count, setting, and motivation (Gramlich, 2019). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines active shooters as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area” (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2021, page 1). While other definitions are used to identify a mass shooter, given the breadth of study in this area by the FBI, this paper will use the FBI definition.


The Devil’S Advocate: The Relational Therapist As Jung’S Fourth In The Treatment Of Queer Christian Clients, Whitney Wilson Jan 2022

The Devil’S Advocate: The Relational Therapist As Jung’S Fourth In The Treatment Of Queer Christian Clients, Whitney Wilson

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper is an exploration of C.G. Jung’s essay, A Psychological Approach to the Dogma of the Trinity, and how he inadvertently provides a relational psychodynamic lens for working with queer Christian clients who are differentiating from their harmful, embedded theologies. Jung hypothesizes that the Christian Trinity archetype – the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, cannot exist without a fourth member, the Devil, who holds an essential role in the successful differentiation of the Trinity. The relational therapist is called to act as the Devil when working with queer Christian clients - inviting in seemingly mischievous and dangerous thoughts that …


The Intersubjective Perspective: An Effective Treatment Model For Incarcerated Clients, Zachary Grant Weiss Jan 2022

The Intersubjective Perspective: An Effective Treatment Model For Incarcerated Clients, Zachary Grant Weiss

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Although there is already a large body of theoretical literature on the utility of Intersubjective Systems Theory in working with more challenging clinical presentations, little has been written about the use of this approach in working with incarcerated clients. In this paper, I will be making the case for the utility and need for the Intersubjective Perspective in working within the forensic system. This paper will first focus on building a general framework for Intersubjective Systems Theory, and its theoretical understanding of clients’ striving towards health, love and connection. Next, this paper will take time to focus on a brief …


Athletic Injury And Resources For Student-Athletes: A Proposal For An Athlete Injury Playbook, Jessica J. Pauley Jan 2022

Athletic Injury And Resources For Student-Athletes: A Proposal For An Athlete Injury Playbook, Jessica J. Pauley

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Athletic injury happens frequently and is rarely predictable. While injury is common in sport involvement at all levels, this proposal focused on National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes and expanding the resources they have available to them. The vast literature on athletic injury and rehabilitation in sport has served researchers and academic consumers, and unfortunately, has lacked an easily accessible resource for student-athletes and sports medicine professionals to utilize. Therefore, the purpose of this doctoral paper was to propose a resource focused on post-athletic injury and written for collegiate student-athletes to understand called, The Secret Playbook. This playbook included information …


Attachment Theory To Inform Intervention In Correctional Populations With Adverse Childhood Experiences And Substance Use Disorders, Samantha Mendoza Jan 2022

Attachment Theory To Inform Intervention In Correctional Populations With Adverse Childhood Experiences And Substance Use Disorders, Samantha Mendoza

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Research shows a correlation exists between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and poor mental health such as psychiatric and substance use disorders (Adshead, 2018). Research further suggests a correlation between ACEs and insecure attachment in adults (Adshead, 2018). The National Institute on Drug Abuse (2020) estimates 85% of the correctional population either has a substance use disorder or was incarcerated for a drug-related offense. This paper theorizes that those involved in the correctional system with a history of high ACE scores and substance use also experience insecure attachment, which is not currently addressed in correctional SUD programs. Attachment theory moderates the …


Older Adults And Suicide As Examined Through The Lens Of Joiner's Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide, Pamela Holmes Jan 2022

Older Adults And Suicide As Examined Through The Lens Of Joiner's Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide, Pamela Holmes

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Older adults face the highest rates of suicide of all age groups. The older adult population is not a homogenous group, and each age range—young old, middle old, and oldest old—has specific risk factors. Although Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide (IPTS) has been deemed valid among these age groups, it has not been specifically researched in older adults in each older age range. Due to lack of research and low reporting rates, not enough is known to develop specific detection and prevention measures targeting this population. This paper addresses the application of Joiner’s IPTS to both genders in each of …


Can Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Be A Viable Treatment Option For Law Enforcement Officers With Ptsd?, Megan Rinderer Jan 2022

Can Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Be A Viable Treatment Option For Law Enforcement Officers With Ptsd?, Megan Rinderer

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Law enforcement officers (LEO) are more likely to experience symptoms of PTSD when compared to the general population yet are less likely to seek mental health treatment (Jetelina et al., 2020). Given that LEO face unique occupational stressors and repeated exposure to traumatic events, treatment for PTSD among law enforcement populations poses unique challenges for clinicians. The combination of these variables precludes officers from seeking and receiving mental health services. Research regarding the efficacy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) as a psychotherapeutic intervention is limited. To date, no studies have examined the use of BJJ to mitigate symptoms of PTSD …


Asexuality And Demisexuality: Clinical Implications Of Sexual Identity, Michael Scott Fiorini Jan 2022

Asexuality And Demisexuality: Clinical Implications Of Sexual Identity, Michael Scott Fiorini

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper considers demisexuality as an identity and sexual orientation for use by psychologists using historical, sociological, and psychological perspectives. It discusses the clinical implications of demisexuality as an identity and orientation distinct from asexuality. The paper discusses applications and limitations of defining and identifying demisexuality in a clinical population and it's social, scientific, and contextual significance. The paper compares what can be observed with existing diagnostic guidelines present in the DSM-5 for the identification of Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (FSIAD) and Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (MHSDD). The paper proposes guidelines for the diagnosis and the ethical clinical treatment …


Working With Families With Refugee Experiences In The United States: The Impact Of Forced Displacement On Parent-Child Relationships After Resettlement, Sakshi Kapur Jan 2022

Working With Families With Refugee Experiences In The United States: The Impact Of Forced Displacement On Parent-Child Relationships After Resettlement, Sakshi Kapur

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Refugees resettled in high-income countries like the United States have a unique set of challenges ranging from great psychological disturbance to acculturation challenges. With recent changes to policies related to immigration and refugee resettlement in the United States after the 2016 presidential elections, the refugee diaspora was left with resettlement services focused more on ensuring national security and economic independence rather than services that catered to re-integration beyond economics like acculturation stress, family functioning, and cultural adjustment. This systemic literature review explores the impact of forced displacement and migration on individuals, with an emphasis on family systems and parent-child relationships. …


"Stay Strong": Internalized Stigma, Religiosity And Black Mental Health In Colorado, Breigh Jones-Coplin Jan 2022

"Stay Strong": Internalized Stigma, Religiosity And Black Mental Health In Colorado, Breigh Jones-Coplin

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

While the societal stigma on mental illness deters people from seeking mental health services, there is limited research on how Black personality and cultural practices may impact stigma and Black mental health (NAMI, 2020). In an attempt to identify protective and risk factors for internalized stigma and Black mental health, the present study examined 416 Black adults in Colorado and identified significant relationships between African Self-Consciousness, internalized stigma of mental illness, religiosity, and mental health functioning. Results showed that having a strong African-centered identity and religious grounding are associated with less internalized stigma and difficulty in functioning and mental health …


Psychologists’ Graduate Training Experience And Attitudes In Religion And Spirituality, Kristi Santiago Jan 2022

Psychologists’ Graduate Training Experience And Attitudes In Religion And Spirituality, Kristi Santiago

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

In a nationwide poll, 76% of the population of the United States identifies with a formal religion of some kind (Gallup Organization, 2021). Despite the prevalence of religion and spirituality (R/S) throughout the country, graduate programs appear to neglect training on this multicultural issue. The purpose of this paper is to better understand psychologists’ attitudes toward the quality and depth of their graduate training in R/S, determine how competent psychologists feel at managing discussions of R/S within psychotherapy, and recommend necessary improvements to graduate training in R/S. Data was collected using a 24-item, online survey, which was circulated throughout college …


Mindfulness And The Relationship Between Connectedness To Nature And Affect, Mathew Stewart Jan 2022

Mindfulness And The Relationship Between Connectedness To Nature And Affect, Mathew Stewart

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Exposure to in-vivo and virtual nature has been shown to increase a person’s positive affect from a variety of mechanisms. Natural settings and green-spaces allow for the recovery of attentional resources whereas urban environments elicit opposite effects. Individuals who practice mindfulness in general exhibit greater attentional resources and potentially could see added benefit to their well-being through exposure to natural environments. This research investigated whether those who are more mindful receive greater benefits from exposure to virtual restorative natural environments compared to individuals who do not practice or engage with mindfulness regularly. Subjects viewed an urban, urban/nature, or nature representative …


Filling The Gaaapps: Generating Affirming Asian American Perinatal Psychological Services, Jennifer Yuen Jan 2022

Filling The Gaaapps: Generating Affirming Asian American Perinatal Psychological Services, Jennifer Yuen

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Women in the perinatal period face a unique set of mental health challenges, as they must navigate both physical changes and transitions in their life. Perinatal mental health has been linked to child outcomes, such as social emotional development, cognitive development, and physical growth. In addition, women of racial and ethnic minority groups are confronted with barriers to accessing services and are therefore less likely to utilize mental health services. While international attention has recently focused on the experiences of women of color in the perinatal period, Asian American women have been largely overlooked. This systemic literature review explores the …


La Luz: Illuminating The Effects Of Language And Considering The Role Of Culture In A Postpartum Depression Prevention Program For Spanish- And English-Speaking Mothers, Erin Flanagan Jan 2022

La Luz: Illuminating The Effects Of Language And Considering The Role Of Culture In A Postpartum Depression Prevention Program For Spanish- And English-Speaking Mothers, Erin Flanagan

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and concerning mental health condition. Many prevention programs and interventions have been researched to prevent or alleviate symptoms of postpartum depression. The current study aimed to examine the effects of a psychoeducational PPD prevention program (ROSE), administered in the early postpartum period, on reported PPD symptoms and parenting self-efficacy beliefs in both English and Spanish speaking women. The study investigated the hypotheses that: a PPD prevention program which has been validated in the prenatal period would be efficacious in reducing depressive symptoms when administered postpartum; the PPD prevention program would improve parenting self-efficacy; and …


Unique Types Of Angel And Ghost Memories In Low-Income, Diverse Pregnant Women, Rebecca Spear Jan 2022

Unique Types Of Angel And Ghost Memories In Low-Income, Diverse Pregnant Women, Rebecca Spear

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This study examined the associations between three types of angel memories, defined as recollections of loving moments with childhood caregivers, and pregnant women’s reported childhood adversity and current PTSD symptoms. Angel memories were coded from the Angels in the Nursery Interview (Van Horn et al., 2008) into three subtypes: protection in the context of harm, rupture in the protective shield, and sensory memories. Participants were 175 ethnically-diverse pregnant women (M age = 28.07, SD = 5.68, range = 18-40 years; 61.1% non-White) who completed the Angels Interview, the Adverse Childhood Experiences scale (ACEs; CDC, 2021) for childhood adversity, and …


“It’S Right Below The Surface”: Clinicians’ Experiences Of Shame In Therapy Work With Adult Clients With Body Shame, Body Image Concerns, Or Eating Disorder(S), Tess Carroll Keeley Jan 2022

“It’S Right Below The Surface”: Clinicians’ Experiences Of Shame In Therapy Work With Adult Clients With Body Shame, Body Image Concerns, Or Eating Disorder(S), Tess Carroll Keeley

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Shame–understood as a feeling in which one believes that they are inadequate, or wrong to their core–is a painful emotional experience that seems to be at the crux of many mental health concerns. Despite the pervasiveness of shame as an emotional experience, little research has demonstrated if shame is a clinical theme in therapy, and if so, how it is identified and treated. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore if, and how, shame manifests during therapy sessions with clients who are experiencing eating disorders and/or body image concerns. A secondary purpose was to discover how clinicians’ training …


Unreality And Loss Of Self: Dissociative Experiences In Buddhist Practitioners, Jill Loving Jan 2022

Unreality And Loss Of Self: Dissociative Experiences In Buddhist Practitioners, Jill Loving

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

On the surface, the Buddhist idea of emptiness and experiences of depersonalization and derealization seem to have significant overlap. Meditations on emptiness in the Buddhist tradition seek to lead meditators to observe the ego as illusory and empty of inherent content as one step in the journey to liberate oneself from suffering. Conversely, dissociation is generally an involuntary, automatic response to severe trauma that can become more common or chronic in an individual over time. Topographically, these experiences may look similar; both include a sense of unreality of the self and often of the broader world. However, differences in stimulus …


A Missing Narrative: The Creation Of A Trauma-Informed Children’S Book For Children In The Foster Care System, Elizabeth Hoff Saunderson Jan 2022

A Missing Narrative: The Creation Of A Trauma-Informed Children’S Book For Children In The Foster Care System, Elizabeth Hoff Saunderson

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This article includes a review of literature relevant to the experiences of children in the foster care system including demographics, trauma and stressful experiences, attachment challenges, and useful interventions. Limited research has been conducted to inform resource tools for children in foster care. The aim of the present study was to create a trauma-informed resource tool for children in the foster care system in the form of a children’s book. A review of children’s books related to foster care yielded four major themes including the importance of mindful language, the need for a resource tool, a focus on safety, and …


Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment In Breast Cancer Patients: Guidelines For Neuropsychological Evaluation And Management, Ali Al-Humadi Jan 2022

Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment In Breast Cancer Patients: Guidelines For Neuropsychological Evaluation And Management, Ali Al-Humadi

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Current literature indicates there is still some debate regarding the scope and severity of cancer treatment related cognitive impairment (CRCI), with a wide variety of complex factors contributing to cognitive decline and discrepancies between objective findings and patient self-report. This paper aims to provide guidelines for neuropsychological evaluation, management, and rehabilitation of CRCI in breast cancer patients based on current research. This paper also aims to discuss current research on proposed mechanisms of action for CRCI, the cognitive domains affected in CRCI, and significant bio-psycho-social risk factors impacting CRCI.


The Impact Of A Relationship Education Program On Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women, Anne Clara Biermann Jan 2022

The Impact Of A Relationship Education Program On Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women, Anne Clara Biermann

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Health disparities amongst pregnant individuals of color have long been documented and yet, they persist. While there is growing recognition, the search continues for solutions to close the health disparity gap between White women and women of color. This research is a follow-up to a 2022 study exploring the impact of the MotherWise program on birth outcomes. MotherWise provides an individual-oriented relationship education program and case management service for minority and low-income pregnant women in Colorado. This research further explores a positive trend of the program's impact on preterm birth rates by examining differential effects of participation by race. In …


Therapist Self-Disclosure With Mandated College Students: A Case Study, Zachary Lattanzio Jan 2022

Therapist Self-Disclosure With Mandated College Students: A Case Study, Zachary Lattanzio

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Facing the stark reality of a disturbing mental health crisis present in the college populations of the United States, college counseling centers (CCC) must figure out ways in which they can utilize all of their available limited resources, especially regarding potential high-risk students who are unlikely to seek treatment and those that pose a danger to self or others. In certain cases, mandated treatment can potentially mitigate or eliminate crises, and may serve as an effective intervention to students whose risky behavior may be normalized within the culture of colleges across the United States. However, while this course of treatment …


Psilocybin And The Psychologist: A Proposed Methodology For Exploring The Effects Of Clinicians’ Psychedelic Experiences On Their Clinical Practice, Brian N. Iliescu Jan 2022

Psilocybin And The Psychologist: A Proposed Methodology For Exploring The Effects Of Clinicians’ Psychedelic Experiences On Their Clinical Practice, Brian N. Iliescu

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper proposes a phenomenological exploration of the perceived influence of psychedelic experiences on clinical psychologists’ practice of psychotherapy. The goal of the proposed study is to open-endingly explore the psychedelic experiences of psychologists to identify common themes, underlying phenomena, and the impact that those experiences may have on their individual practice of psychotherapy. At present, no published studies have explored or identified how the perceived long-term effects of psychedelics influence professional mindsets and practices. This paper aims to synthesize the current literature, identify a gap, provide rationale for future queries into the non-clinical uses and effects of psychedelic medicines, …