Digital Commons Network^™

Legal Advocates As Lifelines: Initial Psychometric Evaluation Of Victim Rights Within A Community-Based Agency, Jaylee York

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Navigating the legal process after sexual violence is often distressing and poses a risk of secondary victimization (Campbell, 2013). Victim Bill of Rights legislation throughout the U.S. aims to establish legal protections for victims. Organizations such as the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) offer independent legal advocacy. This dissertation sought to engage in socially responsive research with KCSARC to better understand the needs of both the organization and the survivors they serve.

This study developed and psychometrically evaluated two new measures: Victim Rights to Process (VRP), assessing whether a victim feels their rights to the legal process have …

Booked Or Buried In Texas: Risk Factors For Prebooking Suicide And Homicide Deaths Of Individuals With Sex Offenses, Nicole Moreira

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Preventable deaths during law enforcement encounters, particularly those violent in nature, such as suicide and homicide deaths, are of considerable public concern. Prebooking, the law enforcement custody stage that includes arrest, serving warrants, wellness checks, traffic stops is often the most dangerous and fatal stage of custody. Despite being the most potentially dangerous and unpredictable of any custody stage, prebooking remains grossly understudied in comparison to jail and prison research, underscoring the need for focused research. To address this gap, the present study examines risk factors for suicide and homicide deaths among individuals with sex-related offenses during prebooking custody. Individuals …

Building Resilience: The Role Of Social Rank And Alliances, Jarad Reiss

Masters Theses (Archived)

Resilience, the ability to recover from adversity, is a cornerstone of psychological well-being and a key to human thriving and mental fortitude. This study examines resilience as an adaptive psychological mechanism and situates it within an evolutionary framework to provide a clearer understanding of resilience across diverse populations, personalities, and cultures. Specifically, this study investigates whether perceived social rank predicts resilience and explores how social support and alliances mediate this relationship in a population of human service professionals. Participants (N = 256) completed an online survey that included measurements of resilience, social rank perceptions, personality, and coalition-related variables. Results suggest …

Fear And Oxytocin: Effects Of Intraperitoneal Pretreatment In Rats, Daniel Yeromenko, Kelsie German, Eros Fuentes, Jenna Meade, Ben Bustos

2025 Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide widely known for its role in social bonding and emotional regulation. Recent studies have suggested its involvement in modulating fear, stress, and anxiety responses, potentially offering therapeutic applications for trauma-related disorders such as PTSD. This study investigated whether pretreatment with oxytocin reduces behavioral and physiological fear responses in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats using a classical fear conditioning model. METHODS : Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats (12 males, 12 females) were assigned to one of four groups: control (no shock, no oxytocin), shock only, shock + low-dose oxytocin (0.5 mg/kg), and shock + high-dose oxytocin (1.0 mg/kg). …

Burnout, Life Satisfaction, And Meaning-Focused Coping In Correctional Mental Health Providers, Danielle Janet Tsamouris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies have found that burnout among correctional mental health providers is related to unique stressors that impact their physical, psychological, and emotional health, including the perceived and actual threat of violence. Using the transactional theory of stress and coping, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the influence of burnout and meaning-focused coping strategies on life satisfaction in correctional mental health providers. Online survey data from 102 master’s-holding correctional mental health professionals were recruited by SurveyMonkey who also administered the survey. Results from a standard multiple regression analysis suggested that meaning-focused coping strategies significantly and positively influenced life …

A Grounded Theory Approach To Intergenerational Adverse Childhood Experiences, Jessica Schweigert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Extensive research has been conducted on the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative long term physical and mental health outcomes, intervention strategies after exposure in childhood, as well preventative education measures to limit ACE exposure; however, limited research has been conducted on how the exposure to ACEs could influence parental behaviors, practices, the overall experience for parents, and the intergenerational continuity of these experiences for their children. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to explore how the adverse childhood experiences of parents could have influenced their parental behaviors and practices, parenting style and approach, and …

Mediating Models Of Depression, Anxiety, And Ptsd In Adults With Early Versus Late Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses, Kaycee Malaki Dobson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults are being diagnosed with autism at greater rates than in the past two decades. This research study examined whether the age of autism diagnosis impacts the severity of comorbid mental health disorders in adults formally diagnosed with autism. The Empathizing-Systemizing theory, which posits that autistic individuals systemize at greater rates, was applied to understand the link between age of autism diagnosis and two common comorbid disorders, depression (measured by the PHQ-9) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; measured by the PCL-5). Mediation analyses were used to explore these relationships on a convenience sample of 232 adults with autism. No significant …

How Art Therapy And Emdr Help Asylum Seekers And Refugees Move Towards Healing Trauma: A Literature Review, Anna Mogilevsky

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In the past ten years, there has been a significant rise in the number of asylum seekers and refugee populations worldwide (UNHCR, 2022). Displaced individuals are extremely vulnerable to mental illness because of the compounded trauma experienced in their countries of origin with the stress of immigration, asylum seeking, culture shock, and language barriers. PTSD is affecting 500 million individuals globally, and refugees are especially susceptible to having these symptoms (Farrell, 2020). Art therapy and EMDR are identified as the most promising modalities for treating such trauma.

This literature review examines the various ways EMDR and art therapy have been …

Changing The Narrative: A Meta-Analysis Of Narrative Therapy And It's Changes Since Inception, Elijah J. Shriner

Honors Projects

This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of narrative therapy across 43 studies involving diverse populations and mental health conditions. Studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, and case studies, with outcome measures primarily focused on depressive symptoms, interpersonal functioning, and psychological distress. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges’ g to account for small sample bias. Overall, narrative therapy demonstrated moderate to large positive effects on symptom reduction and client well-being, though variability in study design and reporting limited the precision of some estimates. Findings support narrative therapy as a promising intervention across clinical contexts, while highlighting the need for more rigorous, …

Understanding Deviance Through General Strain Theory: A Study Of The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping, Yazmin Robles

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

The following paper demonstrates the validity of Robert Agnew’s general strain theory. In particular, the paper thoroughly examines empirical support for general strain theory, applies the theory to the infamous 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping, and introduces policy recommendations. The paper finds support, limitations, and suggestions for general strain theory through qualitative literature analysis. Clear connections are made between the empirical findings of the theory and the motivation behind the kidnapping. In particular, the paper highlights the significance of financial strain, emotions, and opportunity as motivators in the Chowchilla case. Policy recommendations are made in connection with the theory application to …

Exploring A Holistic Conceptualization Of Destructive Leadership: Perspectives From The Lived Experiences Of Latino Law Enforcement Command Staff Officers, Carmelin Rivera

Dissertations

Recently, there has been an increased interest in destructive leadership or what is characterized as the dark side of leadership. There is, in fact, no consensus in the literature about the definition of destructive leadership, and this murkiness has led to two somewhat different approaches to understanding this phenomenon: 1) a leader-centric approach that emphasizes the bad behaviors and traits of so-called toxic leaders and 2) a much broader, holistic approach, often discussed as the toxic triangle (Padilla et al., 2007), that focuses on how destructive leadership is co-created by a toxic system of bad leaders and susceptible followers …

From Bystanders To Upstanders: A Multi-Level Strategy To Combat Human Trafficking In Hospitality, Aili Wu, Wei Wei, Lu Zhang

ICHRIE Research Reports

Human trafficking, a prevalent hidden crime, continues to be a pressing concern in the hospitality industry. However, the effectiveness of existing anti-human trafficking programs in improving employee response behaviors remains unknown. This report evaluates the effectiveness of training messages to capture hospitality employees’ attention, facilitating empathy and willingness to help the victims. It further explores the facilitators and barriers influencing employees’ responses to human trafficking after training. The findings from this report provide a practical guide for hospitality practitioners to develop and refine ongoing training programs, strengthening employees’ commitment to combating human trafficking. Beyond general training, this report offers a …

Looking Forward To It: Investigating The Role Of Anhedonia In Episodic Future Thinking, Sarah Corner, Alicia E. Meuret

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Episodic future thinking, or our ability to simulate personal future events, is implicated in a range of important functioning from problem solving to emotion regulation. However, individuals with clinical diagnoses like depression and schizophrenia struggle to produce future thinking that is vivid and detailed. While these deficits mirror well-document autobiographical memory deficits, they remain poorly understood. The current study aimed to examine the role of anhedonia in episodic future thinking vividness using a within-subjects dimensional approach. A mixed sample of sixty-five undergraduate students and community adults completed two future thinking tasks and one autobiographical memory across two study visits, during …

The Effects Of Crf1 Antagonism On Spatial Navigation And Long-Term Potentiation In The Tgf344-Ad Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Nicole C. Reyna

Psychology ETDs

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by neurobiological deterioration and cognitive impairment that is irreversible. Alzheimer’s disease patients exhibit increased stress system abnormalities including upregulation of the corticotropin releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1) and elevated levels of cortisol. People experiencing increased psychological distress in life are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and experience faster rates of neurocognitive decline. Therefore, the current dissertation aimed to examine the underlying systems involved in Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology and stress. Administration of the CRF1 antagonist, Antalarmin, reduces AD pathogenesis and anxiety-like behavior in models of Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, the current project used the …

Literature Review: Drama Therapy As A School-Based Intervention For Military-Connected Adolescents, Katherine E. Dooley

Expressive Therapies Theses

The following literature review will review current research surrounding military-connected adolescents mental health and the viability of utilizing drama therapy as a school-based intervention to improve their mental health. Military-connected adolescents are an invisible minority who experience a unique set of stressors. This population experiences frequent relocation, parental deployment, and the impact living this way can have on the entire family. The current research shows that military-connected adolescents are more likely than their civilian peers to experience mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety. School-based therapeutic interventions have been shown to help decrease symptoms. School-based interventions allow for the therapist …

Examining Working And Episodic Memory In Young Adults With Anhedonia, Sofia Uribe

Psychology Theses and Dissertations

Depression is associated with impairments in memory processes. Evidence suggests there is poor recognition of positive information and quicker disengagement with positive information from working memory in depression compared to healthy controls. The working memory differences are hypothesized to be downstream effects of taxed working memory from rumination processes that impair reward learning. Furthermore, episodic memory impairments for positive information are hypothesized to be downstream effects of dopamine dysregulation from anhedonia in memory formation processes. The current study utilized the Diffusion Drift Model to examine whether anhedonia severity predicted differences in evidence accumulation using an index called drift rates in …

Alive Old-Time Radio Play: Performance-Based Drama Therapy With Cognitively Healthy Older Adults, Aaron T. Dore

Expressive Therapies Theses

The live radio play format is uniquely positioned to offer social benefits for older adults when explored through a performance-based drama therapeutic lens. Though firsthand familiarity with old-time radio is not a prerequisite for meaningful participation in a group styled after this bygone era of storytelling, the format naturally supports accessibility needs common among the older adult population. The minimal blocking requirements, script-in-hand approach, and adaptable format make it especially accommodating to a wide range of skill levels and areas of interest. Research into therapeutic interventions for older adults tends to rely on reminiscence and life review approaches with an …

Using Dabke To Embody Sumud: A Literature Review Of Indigenous Palestinian Dance In Relation To Ongoing Trauma, Reema Rustom

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review explores the psychological and psychosomatic impacts of political violence on Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation. Drawing from historical, academic, and ethnographic sources, the thesis examines how risk factors such as displacement, home destruction or demolition, and chronic exposure to military aggression contribute to trauma. Utilizing expressive arts therapy as a lens for understanding how arts-based processes support working through trauma, the review identifies existing Palestinian cultural practices that allow for the reclamation of the self, the collective, and the land. This review also highlights protective factors that support the well-being and resilience of Palestinians, such as …

The Neuropsychiatric Value Of Expressive Arts Therapy Integrated With Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy In Treating Alzheimer's Disease And Related Disorders (Adrd), Alicia C. Hesse-Cleary

Expressive Therapies Theses

Neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and other dementias, are progressive disorders that lead to white matter damage in the brain, resulting in structural and functional consequences that disrupt neuronal pathways and contribute to significant cognitive and behavioral impairments. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form and a leading cause of death among older adults. Nearly 97% of patients experience neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are incredibly challenging to treat effectively as the disease progresses and, in some cases, may be untreatable with pharmaceuticals. This situation significantly increases caregiver burden and healthcare costs. Traditional pharmacological treatments for these conditions have …

Icanfeel: A Digital Art Activity To Support Distress Detection In Adult Oncological Patients, Marie J. Deschamps

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

Considered the 6th vital sign, distress, a combination of hopelessness, anxiety, fear, and depression, can impact patients’ quality of life, treatment adherence, and mortality. While screening is required in oncological centers, distress remains under-detected. This study examined the use of Icanfeel, a novel digital art-based tool, to complement traditional psychometric assessments such as Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), to support patients’ expressions of symptoms and distress detection. Hospitalized adult oncological patients (N = 22) engaged twice with Icanfeel and with an active control condition. At various time points during the protocol, patients self-reported symptom burden using ESAS, self-disclosure …

Dance/Movement Therapy Interventions That Can Address And Decrease Impacts Of Developmental Prosopagnosia: A Literature Review, Caitlin Rivenbark

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review explores dance/movement therapy (DMT) as a treatment modality for developmental prosopagnosia (DP) or face blindness. Research on DP causes and assessments are limited, as well as research on treatments and supportive management. In order to conceptualize how DMT might support people with DP, this paper focuses on mitigating the impacts of having the condition by exploring treatments for conditions with similar impacts including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD). The interventions included were pharmacotherapy, behavioral contingencies, mainstream therapies, and alternative therapies including DMT and drama therapy (DT). The various …

Hope-Centered Art Therapy Exploring The Emergence Of Relational Narratives In Nurturing Resilience In Children, Niloofar Ojani

Expressive Therapies Theses

This review examines the importance of hope and resilience in art therapy interventions for children by synthesizing current research on how art therapy can foster hope. The data were collected by reviewing published peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, reflective writing, and artmaking—arts-based research methods. The beginning sections delve deeply into the definition of hope and resilience in the context of adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. Art therapy acts as a creative medium for fostering these qualities. It is discussed that creative expression contributes to emotional regulation, utilizes therapeutic intra- and inter-relationships as a source of hope, and connects the child with …

“It’S… Complicated:” A Literature Review On The Possibilities Of Using Drama Therapy To Improve Relational Functioning Of Emerging Adults With Complex Trauma, Sarah M. Drapeau

Expressive Therapies Theses

Interpersonal relationships play a crucial and complicated role in the mental well-being and development of emerging adults. Complex trauma has a significant negative effect on relational functioning, which plays an important role in post-traumatic growth, especially for emerging adults. This thesis reviewed current literature to outline the interaction between complex trauma and interpersonal relationships through the developmental lens of emerging adulthood. Empirical studies highlighted emotional (dys)regulation, attachment processes, and self-concept as mediating factors of this interaction. The literature reviewed offered current treatment approaches for this population, with connections that were relevant to drama therapy approaches. The literature showed that drama …

Transforming Education: The Impact Of Dance/Movement Therapy In School Settings, Emily Viprino

Expressive Therapies Theses

Abstract

The author will examine the application and effectiveness of Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) programs in school settings. DMT offers a unique, non-traditional approach to therapeutic counseling that may be more accessible for some students and could help reduce barriers and hesitation to participate in counseling for others. By integrating movement and other forms of art expression, DMT uses a multi-modal approach to therapy. It also provides opportunities for students to engage in physical movement during the school day. The literature explored in this thesis will include studies on expressive therapies in schools that aim to improve student learning and behavior …

How Can Tattoos Be Understood As Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy?: Integrating Visual Art, Personal Narrative, And Embodied Experience: Development Of A Method, Rachel S. Hall

Expressive Therapies Theses

This paper explores the inherent intermodal nature of tattoos through the lens of expressive arts therapy, demonstrating how tattoos integrate visual art, personal narrative, and embodied experience. A group intervention was designed and implemented in an outpatient setting, drawing on existing literature and the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) to examine how tattoos function as therapeutic tools that support identity formation, emotional healing, and self-expression. The intervention guided participants through an intermodal process that began with reflective writing on identity-forming experiences, followed by visual art-making and somatic engagement. This approach illuminated the transformative potential of tattoo conceptualization within a therapeutic context, …

A Method For Developing Multicultural Musical Fluency: Reclaiming A Relationship With Traditional Ashkenazi Music, Rachael Penn

Expressive Therapies Theses

Counseling and music therapy scholars recommend that students and clinicians engage in self-inquiry to explore their cultural values to build multicultural competence. I created an arts-based method for deep reflection using theory and techniques in the literature regarding culture-centered music therapy, including ethnographic inquiry, the cultural unconscious, intersubjective theory, active imagination, embodiment, and artistic reflection. I engaged with music from my own cultural background, which included Ashkenazi klezmer music and Yiddish folksong, to reflect on my cultural values and to build a living relationship with the music. Thematic analysis revealed eight themes, including the function of the music, personal memories …

Open Studio Concept Conducted By An Expressive Arts Therapist And Art Therapy Intern As A Replacement For Art Class In Special Education, Brianna Jewett

Expressive Therapies Theses

In 2022-2023, 15% of U.S. public school students between the ages of 3 and 21 were on an Individualized Education Plans (IEP) due to various disabilities. This paper examines the impact of an open studio model, conducted by expressive arts therapists, on the engagement of students with social and emotional disabilities aged between 16 and 18 years old. A thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed that using an open studio model facilitated by expressive arts therapists in place of a more traditional art education class for students who require additional social and emotional assistance can foster a sense of control …

Why Disability Justice Matters In Mental Health Care And How Drama Therapists Can Help Get It Right, Anish Nakahara

Expressive Therapies Theses

Disability Justice (DJ) is an important, ever-growing aspect of mental health work that must be further explored and implemented if mental health professionals are committed to harm reduction and health equity. Drama therapy (DT) provides a unique accessibility that traditional psychotherapy does not always afford. The emphasis on encounters, relationality, and creative expression provides more avenues through which people can approach DT. Through analysis of current literature, this thesis explored the present relationship between DT and DJ, the relationship between the broader mental health care system and DJ, and how progress can continue toward competent, dignified care for disabled people. …

"La Vida Es Un Carnaval": An Exploration Of Cuban Identity And Nostalgia Through Dance/Movement Therapy - A Community Engagement Project, Maria Fernanda Mendez Mendoza

Expressive Therapies Theses

“La Vida Es Un Carnaval” is a community engagement project and thesis that explores how identity and nostalgic resilience show up through dance/movement therapy with Cuban immigrants living in the United States, specifically Massachusetts. This project brought together six Cuban-born participants, ages 26 to 67, each with their own unique migration stories; from the Rafter Balsero Crisis of 1994, to the “Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot” policy, and family reunification. Through a mix of in-person and online sessions, participants explored their experiences using intermodal activities including dance/movement therapy techniques, conversation, journaling, artwork, and music. Themes of cultural pride, “Cubanía” – Cuban-ness, culture shock, and …

Emotional Pathways: A Literature Review Of Emotion Process In Emotionally Focused Therapy And Drama Therapy, Chiao-Ting Yuan

Expressive Therapies Theses

This capstone thesis explored how emotionally focused therapy (EFT), and drama therapy (DT) could be integrated to improve emotional regulation, self-awareness, and mental healing. Based on attachment theory and emotional process framework, how these two different but complementary interventions could increase emotional participation and transformation was explored. This literature review indicated that although EFT’s structured and verbal approach is different from DT’s creative and embodied skills, the two approaches share common goals and target the same emotional process. In DT, several techniques can be found that are closely related to EFT’s emotional process. These techniques can provide a unique and …