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Re-Painting Motherhood: A Community-Based Expressive Arts Project Exploring Motherhood’S Myths, Realities, And Hopes Through A Narrative Therapy Lens, Lauren Grignaffini-Morris

Expressive Therapies Theses

This thesis examines how socially constructed ideals of motherhood shape maternal identity, distress, and isolation, and explores the potential of addressing these experiences through a community-based expressive arts project. Drawing on motherhood studies, expressive arts therapy, and narrative therapy, the project highlights the potential benefits of utilizing expressive arts in a community setting to ease the tension between romanticized cultural narratives and the lived realities of mothers. Conducted with a support group for mothers in rural Vermont, the project used visual art, movement, creative writing, and collaborative mixed-media painting to examine problem-saturated motherhood stories, connect through embodied experience, and explore …

Grief Journeys: A Literature Review On Integrating Expressive Arts And Play In Grief Therapy, Joanna Marcus

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review explores the use of expressive arts therapy and play therapy in therapeutic spaces for grieving children. The author seeks to investigate how elements of expressive arts therapy and play therapy might be integrated to offer more effective support. Research was conducted using search engines to gather literature about historical and contemporary bereavement theories, play therapy, and expressive arts therapy, with a focus on children’s experiences. Two primary insights gleaned from this review are that the cognitive understanding of death is multifaceted and changes as children mature, and that children grieve in ways unique to their developmental stages. …

Implementing A Coatt Inspired Process To Support Adolescents And Young Adults With Neurodevelopmental Disorders In Transition: Development Of A Method, Andromeda Faber

Expressive Therapies Theses

This capstone thesis project explored the use of a Coactive Therapeutic Theatre (CoATT) inspired process with folks who have neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) as they transitioned out of the high level of care at their therapeutic school into a lower level of care in college and the workforce. CoATT is a recovery-based model that is time bound as the step between a higher level of care and a lower level of care. This project culminated in a CoATT inspired transition-based process to meet the needs of the neurodiverse population. Themes that were identified from this method included joy, resilience, taboo, tolerating …

Exploring Expressive Arts Journaling For Older Adults In A Psychiatric Hospital Using Mindfulness, Self-Compassion And Open Studio, Lesley Rodriguez

Expressive Therapies Theses

This thesis presents the findings of an expressive arts therapy group intervention for adults in a geriatric unit of a psychiatric hospital in the greater Boston area.  The twice weekly, 6-week intervention aimed to explore the central question of what occurs when a method of expressive arts journaling is introduced to older adults for symptom management of anxiety and mood disorders during their hospital stay. Through arts-based research and participant feedback, this capstone thesis charts the group experiences. The MOSS Visual Journaling model is named after its domains; Mindfulness, Open-studio, Story-telling, and Self-compassion. Themes generated through thematic analysis of the …

Embodied Identity In Dementia: Art Therapy As A Pathway To Selfhood, Sarah E. Southwick

Expressive Therapies Theses

Older adults living with dementia have often been erroneously perceived as inhabiting a singular lived experience marked by degeneration in cognitive functioning and considerable losses in self-identity. There is substantial literature to suggest that multisensory stimulation and art therapy are well-positioned as conduits for self-expression. However, a gap exists related to artistic media and how they may be implemented and tailored for people with dementia. This capstone explores the paradigm of selfhood as a subjective essence of being that may be accessed through creative expression and sensory engagement. Arts-based directives were implemented through a person-centered expressive arts therapy framework. Two …

Exploring The Potential For Meaning-Making In Expressive Art Therapies Interventions In Treatment Of Complicated Grief For Gun Homicide Survivors: A Literature Review, Ash Landrein

Expressive Therapies Theses

Research shows that the violent nature of homicide and the extreme lethality of firearms in conflict lead to increased psychological impairment for survivors and communities affected. Black and Latinx communities are disproportionately affected by gun violence, yet are historically underresearched and underserved. Social constraints and systemic negligence complicate and stigmatize the bereavement process. This literature review examined culturally relevant grief practices, theories and components of meaning-making (MM) post-loss, and Expressive arts interventions for facilitating meaning, safety, and reconnection for survivors, through an intersection of race, ethnicity, gender, and age. Cumulative research shows that MM can help individuals experiencing complicated grief …

Perfectly Messy, Right-Ish, And Good Enough: A Conceptual Synthesis Of Developmental Transformations (Dvt) As A Therapeutic Approach To Perfectionism, Lauren O. Boyd

Expressive Therapies Theses

This conceptual synthesis of the literature examines the relationship between pathological and non-pathological yet distressing perfectionism as well as play and improvisation in the context of Developmental Transformations (DvT) as a therapeutic intervention. With the support of research operationalizing perfectionism and its impacts on daily functioning, a connection between increasing cognitive flexibility and uncertainty tolerance is explored through the lenses of improvisation, dramatic play, and DvT. Through critical analyses, supporting literature has been explored by noting both implications and limitations of each study. Perfectionism, dramatic play, improvisation, and Developmental Transformations (DvT) are explored independently before an intersection is proposed and …

Person, Process, And Between: Art Therapy Through The Lens Of Transformative Learning Theory, Lacy Silas

Expressive Therapies Theses

This thesis uses the lens of transformative learning theory to explore the features and processes observed in art therapy, as no unique framework currently exists. The literature explores the tenets of transformative learning theory, person-centered therapy, and present documentation of the art therapy process. The study observes the art therapy process with three clients at a private therapy practice over the course of four months. The research has three main findings: 1) shared facets of art therapy and transformative learning, 2) transformative learning phases observed in art therapy, and 3) unique qualities of the art therapy process. The findings demonstrate …

Exploring Immigration-Related Trauma With Trauma-Informed, Culturally Relevant Creative Processes, Alexandra Gadway

Expressive Therapies Theses

The Latinx population is one of the fastest growing racial and ethnic groups in the United States, yet there is still a great need for culturally appropriate training tools and screenings to support folks experiencing immigration-related trauma. This study explores ways art therapy can foster connection and empowerment for a Latinx child impacted by immigration-related post-traumatic stress, if only the field considers expanding its culturally relevant and trauma-informed creative-based processes. Newer literature in trauma-informed expressive therapies suggests a bottom-up approach, wherein tapping into the kinesthetic and sensory levels of the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) allows us to process through movement, …

Incorporating Principles And Wisdom From Hospital Chaplaincy And Pastoral Ministry To Create A Ministry Model To Address Social Isolation And Loneliness In Black Churches, Albert A. Kemp

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

To address the growing and widespread epidemic of social isolation and loneliness, with special focus on Black churches, this dissertation developed a program with the following areas of application: 1) how healthcare trained chaplains can coordinate with churches to positively impact individuals identified as lonely and socially isolated with better social and physical health, 2) how principles of chaplaincy and pastoral care can mitigate and intervene competently when such people are identified, and 3) how the project’s model can be organized, taught, and incorporated into existing arenas of church ministry.

The purpose of the project was to create a ministry …

The Church As Provider Of Pastoral Care: Relational Presence, Narrative Listening, Preaching, And Advocacy In African American Missionary Baptist Churches In Southside Fort Worth, Texas, Michael R. Timberlake

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Abstract

Michael R. Timberlake, Sr.

May 1, 2026

THE CHURCH AS PROVIDER OF PASTORAL CARE: RELATIONAL PRESENCE, NARRATIVE LISTENING, PREACHING, AND ADVOCACY IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCHES IN SOUTHSIDE FORT WORTH, TEXAS

The purpose of this research project is to restore and maintain the resiliency in the African American Missionary Baptist churches in the Southside of Fort Worth, Texas. The research identified a high level of importance for African American churches in Fort Worth to resemble the historic legacy of spiritual leadership, communal care, and social advocacy while ministering within contexts marked by racial and economic marginalization. Enabling practical …

Essays On Development Economics, Environmental Economics, And Political Economy, Weihong Li

Economics Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1 explores the strategic behavior of provincial leaders in China in response to visits by central government leaders. I find that such behavior is correlated with provincial leaders’ personal characteristics and their connections with the visitors. Meanwhile, acting strategically during these visits has a positive and significant effect on overall promotions, but a positive and insignificant effect on promotions to the most important positions in the Politburo.

Chapter 2 examines the impact of the Confucian norms on the spatial heterogeneity of fertility rates and sex-selective abortions in contemporary China. To overcome the challenge of quantifying cultural norms, I construct …

Where Is Home: Finding Belonging In God Through Expressive And Drama Therapy Processes Among Chinese Diaspora International Students, Minmin Pan

Expressive Therapies Theses

Being an international student for 12 years in the United States, this research engages with personal reflection and literature around international student identity formation situated in the current social and political context of increasing visa and employment uncertainty. International students’ ongoing movement across cultural spaces, limited representation of cross-cultural narratives and supportive spaces in academic settings, can contribute to fragmentation in experiences and identity that are shaped by dominant narratives and social positioning, thus further leading to disconnection from self and surroundings.

Relational spirituality literature suggests that one’s relational experience with God can deeply impact their interpretation of experiences, social …

Perception, Payment, And Pollution- Examining The Effects Of Air Quality On Health And Healthcare, Colin Sleeper

Economics ETDs

Abstract

This dissertation examines how air quality and public attention to environmental shock affect perceived health status and healthcare utilization. The first chapter uses publicly available survey data from BRFSS and a triple difference framework to analyze the effects of the 2018 wildfire season in Oregon on self-reported mental and physical health. Findings indicate that those in Oregon in 2018, during the period of heightened attention to wildfire smoke, experienced approximately 1.4 additional poor mental health days, on average. The second chapter includes Merative MarketScan commercial insurance claims data to test whether these changes translate into a behavioral response. Results …

Examining The Glat As A Measure Of Ai Literacy, Hunter R. Castleton

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The current study examined the Generative AI Literacy Assessment Test (GLAT) as a promising test of AI literacy due to its content, which is grounded in relevant AI literacy theory, and its design as a cognitive measure of AI literacy. To examine the GLAT, data were collected from a sample of 543 graduating seniors at James Madison University (JMU) who took the GLAT as part of a longer series of tests. Their responses were first analyzed to assess the test’s item characteristics and internal structure. Following this initial analysis, a final item set was established to ensure that low-quality items …

Interprofessional Collaboration: A Survey Study Focusing On Pre-Service Professionals, Megan L. Bell

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) are bound by an ethical code to engage in appropriate means of interprofessional collaboration for the best interest of their clients. Training in this has been increased during graduate coursework to ensure BCBAs are intentionally following through on this notion to allow for stronger professional relationships with other related service providers and are holistically providing the best care possible for their clients. The goal of this survey was to better understand how these changes compares to other related services providers and their goals of collaboration, when working with individuals with disabilities. A survey was disseminated …

Teaching Dangerous Stimuli And Safety Responses Through Equivalence Based Instruction And Behavioral Skills Training, Jacob J. Taylor

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Approximately 12,000 children die yearly due to accidental injuries (Centers for Disease Control, 2023). Injuries include ingestion of hazardous substances, firearm discharges, lacerations, and drownings. Data reflect general injury rates in children, but analyses across demographic variables are limited. Children with developmental disabilities may have specific risk factors for injury due to delayed language acquisition and deficits in daily living skills (American Psychological Association [APA], 2022). Evidence-based procedures such as stimulus equivalence training (SET) and behavioral skills training (BST) have been used to teach safety skills (e.g., Giannakakos, 2021; Hanratty et al., 2016), which may reduce injuries in children. Therefore, …

Advertising Influence On Climate Change News Coverage: A Comparison Of The New York Times And The Guardian, Natalie L. Hamren

Communication ETDs

This study examines how fossil fuel advertising may influence climate change coverage by comparing The New York Times, which publishes fossil fuel advertisements, and The Guardian, which has banned them. Drawing on the Hierarchy of Influences and Social Responsibility Theory, the study uses ethnographic content analysis by analyzing (n=104) articles between 2022 and 2025 to examine framing, source usage, tone, and emphasis. Findings indicate that The New York Times more frequently framed climate change through political and economic lenses and relied heavily on government and business sources. In contrast, The Guardian more often employed scientific framing, cited researchers, …

Divided By Truth: Legislative Consequences Of Presidential Signaling On Social Media, Christian D. Pereira

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

How does presidential communication on social media shape legislative behavior in Congress? While presidents have traditionally been seen as capable of mobilizing coalitions through public appeals, this dynamic may no longer hold in the contemporary media environment. Focusing on posts from President Donald Trump’s platform, Truth Social, we examine whether presidential commentary referencing Congress affects subsequent legislative activity. Drawing on theories of agenda setting and elite signaling, we argue that visible presidential communication increases the partisan salience of issues and alters legislators’ incentives. Using an original dataset of Trump’s Truth Social posts merged with measures of congressional activity, we find …

Hospital Concentration And Aca Premiums, Lucas Piselli

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

PowerPoint presentation about Hospital concentrations and the ACA marketplace.

Table Of Contents

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

Table of Contents for the Bryant University Undergraduate Journal Volume 6, Spring 2026.

Verso

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

Verso for the Bryant University Undergraduate Journal Volume 6, Spring 2026.

Latinos And Liberalism: An Evangelical Explanation For Us Latinos’ Record Support For Donald Trump In The 2024 Election, Charles Daniel Iii

Denison Journal of Religion

No abstract provided.

Remaking Buford Highway: Immigration And The Struggle For Walkable Suburbia, Amit Kamma

Harvey M. Applebaum ’59 Award

Constructed according to a car-centric vision typical of American suburbs, one segment of Buford Highway outside Atlanta has become a corridor defined by immigrants who often walk and use public transit. These behaviors conflict with the existing car-focused infrastructure, compelling government actors to make the Highway more multimodal. Progress towards that goal is ongoing and precarious, demonstrating wider systemic challenges in U.S. planning and local governance.

Understanding Counselor Burnout From An Ecological Systems Perspective, Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, Lisa Belknap, Emily Velidow, Jessica Gaul, Phoenix Rosewood, Nayara Aparecida Da Costa Silva Beall

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory as a guiding framework, this study explored the experiences of licensed counselors who self-identified as having recovered from burnout. Burnout was conceptualized as a prolonged response to chronic occupational stress, while participants were invited to describe their experiences based on their own lived understandings of the phenomenon. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using data collected through an anonymous online survey featuring open-ended prompts. Participants included 32 licensed counselors who graduated from CACREP-accredited programs and reported previously experiencing burnout and no longer identifying as currently burned out. Thematic analysis yielded nine interrelated themes encompassing contributors, …

Counseling Supervision In Vocational Rehabilitation: An Integration And Extension Of The Discrimination Model And Critical Disability Theory, Nichole Tichy, Harvey C. Peters

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

As a specialized counseling discipline, vocational rehabilitation aims to support individuals with disabilities in obtaining integrated and competitive employment within their communities. Within the rehabilitation counseling profession, the practice of clinical supervision is considered an essential function of the job; however, most professionals report inadequate or nonexistent supervision within their professional settings. Research on this topic is scarce, and few clinical supervision models exist specific to the needs of rehabilitation counselors. In this manuscript, we present an adaptation of the discrimination model for counselors that incorporates vocational rehabilitation and critical disability theory to encourage the challenging and dismantling of ableism. …

Navigating The Borderlands: Testimonios Of First-Generation Chicanas In Counselor Education, Jessenia Garcia, Heather Trepal

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This research applies Anzaldúa’s (1987) Borderlands Theory to examine the testimonios of first-generation Chicana faculty in counselor education. A narrative methodology was employed (n=10), leading to the identification of several themes that illuminate their unique challenges and resilience. Four themes emerged: (a) balancing worlds: family and academia, (b) weaving identity into academia, (c) cultural identity in the borderlands, and (d) disrupting borders, including the subtheme: Red tape and higher ed mafia. These findings provide insight into the institutional barriers and identity navigation experienced by these faculty members. Recommendations for recruitment and retention are included.

Navigating The Intersection Of Artificial Intelligence And Counseling: Implications For Counselor Identity, Ethics, And Counselor Education, Anabel Mifsud, Barbara Herlihy

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This article examines the ethical, professional identity, and counselor education implications of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into counseling practice. As AI use expands in mental health care, it offers opportunities to enhance accessibility and efficiency while raising complex ethical concerns regarding competence, accountability, transparency, confidentiality, equity, and preservation of the therapeutic relationship. The authors explore how AI may reshape counselor roles and professional identity, underscoring the need to safeguard core values and the relational foundation of counseling. Recommendations are offered for adapting counselor education to prepare future practitioners for AI-augmented practice. The authors call for sustained, critical dialogue to ensure …

Practitioners’ Experiences Of Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based (Dir) Approach In Their Professional Practice With Neurodivergent Clients: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Ekaterina Sidor

Educational Studies Dissertations

This phenomenological study explores how professionals experience integrating the developmental, individual-differences, and relationship-based (DIR) framework in their work with neurodivergent clients. Although DIR is recognized as an evidence-based developmental approach in the field of autism support, little is known about how its integration affects practitioners themselves. Grounded in relational-cultural theory and transformative learning theory, the study examines how engagement with DIR influences practitioners’ professional practice and development. Using a qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological design, data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and in-depth interviews with multidisciplinary professionals from diverse international contexts who completed DIRFloortime training and actively implement DIR in their work. …

The Efficacy Of Emotional Reframing As An Intervention To Promote Adult Transformational Growth, Linda Rossetti

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study investigates the underexplored relationship between adult developmental growth and emotions. Developmental growth requires an individual to respond to self-concept instability by adopting new meaning structures and navigating oppositional emotions. This quantitative study examined the relationship between an emotional reframing intervention and perspective shifts, an indicator of developmental progression. Data collected on three college campuses in the 2024-2025 academic year revealed a strong positive relationship between the intervention and perspective shifts, as evidenced by differences in pre- and post-assessment responses within the studied population, both in aggregate and in specific use cases. The findings contribute to three academic arenas: …