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Letters To Your Future Self And Reducing Anxiety: Development Of A Method, Molly Cowan

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Anxiety is a very common phenomenon in the world, whether it be diagnosed or not. With how detrimentally it can affect any given individual, it is important that the expressive arts therapies develop methods of aiding in reducing anxiety in people. This thesis explored the development of a method for reducing anxiety in individuals on an inpatient unit through writing and decorating a letter to their future self. The intervention was conducted four times, twice on two independent units, with between two to five participants in each group. Participants were instructed to write a letter to their future selves reminding …

2022 Dearfield Conference Program, Bob Brunswig, George Junne, Jay Trask, Bill Garcia

2022 Dearfield Conference

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Climate Variability On Child Nutrition In Ethiopia, Juan S. Gomez

Master's Theses

Changes in precipitation and temperature due to climate change have caused a shortage in food productivity leading to an increase in malnutrition outcomes, especially among children in developing countries that are more susceptible to undernutrition outcomes. This study contributes to existing literature studying the impact of climate variability measured by temperature, precipitation, and vegetation index on wasting. Wasting is measured by the weight for height score during the main growing season (Meher) using Demographic and Health Surveys data for five different periods in Ethiopia. Results suggest that lower NDVI outcomes are associated with an increase in the risk of acute …

Assessing The Efficacy Of California’S Wildfire And Forest Resilience Action Plan, Chloe Nelson

Master's Projects and Capstones

California’s wildfire threat eclipses current forestry management and wildfire mitigation strategies in place to protect people, infrastructure, and the natural environment. Climate change escalates wildfire risks with declining water supply coupled with hotter, drier conditions. California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan attempts to integrate and build upon previously successful wildfire resilience plans to amplify the scale and pace of the state’s land management and community protections. This research assesses the plan’s efficacy to respond to the growing wildfire threat. This study investigates if there is equitable planning for the needs of high-wildfire risk groups living in the WUI and …

Issues Of Right To Legal Counsel In Immigrant Removal Proceedings: Due Process Framework And Applicability, Cambria A. Judd Babbitt

Honors Projects

Immigration removal proceedings suffer from a lack of procedural due process protections for non-citizens facing deportation charges. This research examines constitutional due process framework, what it entails, and how it is to be fairly applied to non-citizens in the United States. Special attention is paid to ways the immigration court system is subject to unjust and biased procedures that make it difficult for immigrants to succeed in their removal cases. The main focus of this study is on the importance of direct legal representation in removal proceedings to support non-citizens and keep courts accountable for upholding the due process of …

Feeling Timeline: A Threshold Ritual To Anchor Expressive Arts Therapy Sessions With Children And Adolescents In Partial Hospitalization Programs, Mackenzie Ward

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Expressive arts therapy provides a useful modality for enhancing the scope of interdisciplinary treatment services for children and adolescents within partial hospitalization programs. The use of threshold rituals within sessions addresses several specific needs of this population, including structure, consistency, self-expression, and trauma-informed practices. The Feeling Timeline method, a threshold ritual developed for the opening and closing of expressive arts therapy sessions, was conducted at a large pediatric hospital within three day treatment psychiatric units. From November 2021 through April 2022, six participants between the ages of nine through sixteen engaged with the Feeling Timeline as a bridge into session, …

The Traumatology Of Adverse Childhood Experiences In High Risk Youth: Examining The Healing Potential Of The Neurobiological Processes In Art Therapy- Option 1: Development Of A Method, Marisa Massaro

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Examining the healing potential of neurobiological processes in art therapy with high risk youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) vitally needs to consider the neuroscience perspective of trauma. Practicing through a trauma-informed approach, there is a need to further investigate the impacts of art therapy for this population within the field of traumatology. Existing literature provides an understanding of ACEs, the neurobiological changes in functionality of the brain from toxic stress, the impacts on the brain, neurobiological processes in art therapy, prevalence of ACEs in high risk youth, and studies of art therapy with adverse childhood experiences in …

Literature Review: Foundations Of Self-Care Practice Utilizing Expressive Arts For Counselors In Training, Wendy Chambers Brown

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In this thesis I explore the concept of self-care for graduate students in the field of mental health counseling through their pre-licensure period, who I refer to as counselors-in-training. The thesis begins with a description of the existing literature on what challenges are unique to this field and population and how self-care may mediate the impact of such stressors as burnout, secondary or vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue, all of which can lead to impaired competence and/or leaving the profession. I have identified three foundational components to approach self-care: self-awareness/self-reflection, self-compassion, and balance. I believe these foundational elements are best …

Building Connections Through Community Art With Middle School Students: A Community Engagement Project, Amber Raguckas

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Middle school students are faced with many challenges related to their mental health and school. During the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, additional mental health concerns and challenges related to school were escalated. In a population that is pre-occupied with peer interactions and perceptions, being in quarantine left students without a sense of connection to their peers. The goal of the community engagement project presented was to utilize the creative arts to aid in building a sense of community and connection amongst 15 middle school students. During a creative arts enrichment course, the students were asked to select two art …

A Bioaffinity Self-Assembling Gel For Localized Delivery Of Immunotherapeutics, Ngoc Pham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a type of cancer in which malignant cells develop in the kidney tubules. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), including anti-PD-1 antibodies (aPD1), as monotherapies or in combination settings have advanced to the front-line treatment for patients diagnosed with RCC. Systemic infusion of ICI may render subtherapeutic concentrations in the lesions and increase risks of immune-related adverse events. To overcome these limitations, locoregional drug delivery has gained substantial interests as a modality in immuno-oncology. However, conventional intratumoral injections may be ineffective because the high interstitial fluid pressure in tumors resists drug retention and results in rapid local …

The Road To Reparations A Comparison Between The United States And South Africa, Ikonii Chiabi

Senior Theses

This thesis paper is designed to be an analysis of potential methods on how to achieve reparations in the United States and South Africa. Both nations’ Black demographics have been victims of white supremacy and enslavement, pushing the white masses to excel while the rest are left to parish. The oppression of these groups have been acknowledged and as opposed to a simple verbal apology, I will write on how compensation in the forms of money, education, and land can be used to undo the wrongdoings of the past. The point of this paper is to present my newfound perspective …

The Costs Of Lolicon: Japan’S Pedophilia Trade, Megan Sluzhevsky

Senior Theses

This thesis investigates Japan’s normalization of pedophilia via the proliferation of popular culture and media. This analysis will begin by looking at historical examples of pedophilia, specifically focusing on chigo in Medieval Japanese Buddhism, wakashu in Edo Period pleasure quarters, and the spread of soft power diplomacy after World War II. This phenomenon will also be viewed in the modern context by discussing lolicon in Japanese media and advertising, idol culture in the Japanese music industry, the JK business, and “real” child pornography. The ways that Japan benefits from this culture economically and politically will also be investigated. Finally, this …

Influencers, Cognitive Goods, And Labor Conditions In The Platform Economy: Delving Into The Careers Of Influencers In North America And South Asia, Saiba Dilnaz Haque

Senior Theses

Social Media is one of the most significant agents of influence on minds, thus it is not surprising that many individuals are becoming entrepreneurial by becoming Influencers to monetize the seemingly easy job. I focus on the evolving labor conditions related to influencers while expanding on Maurizio Lazzarato’s Marxist framework of immaterial labor to investigate connotations of the platform economy. I expand upon a concise literature review on the link between the acceleration of entrepreneurial endeavors and Social Media, the concepts of influencing as labor coined by Crystal Abidin, micro-celebrities, self-branding, and a discussion of immaterial labor to provide a …

Journalists Vs. Authoritarians: The State Of Press Freedoms In Hungary, Turkey, And Egypt, Allison Lecce

Senior Theses

The 21st century has been partly defined by the regression of liberal democracies paired with the rise of modern authoritarian regimes. This phenomenon is marked by a decrease in civil liberties and an erosion of democratic institutions and practices. A free and independent press is often one of the first institutions targeted by rising authoritarian leaders, due to its nature as a government watchdog. This thesis analyzes the state of press freedoms in different authoritarian and illiberal regimes. It aims to answer the question: what is the correlation between the type of government and the way the government treats the …

A Qualitative Study On Nurse Facilitators Of Mind-Body Skills Groups, Paula D. Blake-Beckford

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), founded by Dr. James Gordon, provides communities with evidence-based Mind-Body Skills Groups (MBSGs) that foster self-care, self-awareness, and self-expression. MBSGs range from 8 to 12-week series on various mind-body practices wherein group members meet, practice, and reflect on the impact of mind-body skills in their lives. Research has demonstrated that participants in MBSGs have positive outcomes. Healthcare professionals (HCPs), especially nurses, gain resiliency from MBSGs. As facilitators of MBSGs, nurses develop essential skills transferable to clinical and educational settings. MBSGs are therapeutic for adult participants with chronic stress. Prior to this thesis, only one …

Integrating Expressive Arts Therapies Into Facilitated Online Therapy Groups For Adults: A Review Of The Literature, Lora Williams

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In early 2020, COVID-19 infections soared throughout the world, driving most group interactions online. Online adult Expressive Arts Therapy (EAT) groups faced unique challenges and opportunities, as the arts interventions did not always translate directly online without adaptations. In this literature review, this thesis focuses on how the specialization of Expressive Arts has been applied to these online adult therapy groups. Where the literature lacked references to the Expressive Arts specifically, the individual arts of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), Expressive Writing (EW), Art Therapy, and Music Therapy were considered. This capstone thesis offers suggestions for areas of future research to …

Playing The Roles Of The Eating Disorder: Suggestions For The Use Of Drama Therapy In Adolescent Residential Eating Disorder Treatment, Olivia Cosby

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescents with eating disorders are faced with a variety of medical and psychological complications. This literature review examines these complications and the treatments available to adolescents with eating disorders, as well as factors influencing treatment resistance and dropout, specifically at the residential level of care. Additionally, the use of drama therapy as a treatment option for adolescents with eating disorders is explored. The use of role theory and role based work is proposed as a way of tackling treatment resistance in adolescents. Through role-based work, a client is given the opportunity to explore the functional aspects they attribute to their …

Where I’M From: Internal Manifestations Among Cambodian Women Using The Expressive Arts A Literature Review, Noeun Chhim

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Chronic mental illness has affected many Cambodian people, but, culturally, Cambodians aren’t accustomed to opening up and discussing their feelings, rather defining mental illness to craziness and seeking help is presumed taboo. Thus, Cambodians are often reluctant to talk about their experiences and/or their related illnesses. Though Cambodians have experienced inconceivable suffering and violence during the Khmer Rouge era, for the purpose of this thesis, I will be discussing the role of Cambodian women and investigate the extent of what they’ve witnessed and experienced. Cambodian women have suffered through many years of trauma and grief, during and after the Khmer …

The Role Of Community Music Therapy In Building Social Connections And Reducing Stigma For People With Substance Use Disorders: A Literature Review, Sarah Sacala

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis investigates the benefits of Community Music Therapy (CoMT) in creating social connections and reducing stigma for people suffering from substance use disorders. For the purpose of this paper, substance use disorders (SUD), substance use, and addiction are framed as part of an umbrella construct, and they are used interchangeably. Stigma towards drug users is a social phenomenon all over the world. According to Mora-Ríos, Ortega-Ortega, and Medina-Mora (2017) social rejection is more experienced in drug users than any other diagnosable condition. This literature review is theoretically grounded in the notion that substance use disorder stems from biological …

Interoception And Expressive Writing In Expressive Arts Therapies: A Trauma-Informed Approach – Literature Review, Julianne Corey

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Journal writing is a popular intervention to bring into therapeutic work with groups and individual clients, particularly within applications of expressive arts therapies. Yet often participants become resistant when encouraged to explore more challenging episodes of their lives through writing, even though studies have shown that excavating these events is precisely what benefits health and wellbeing through expressive writing applications. This literature review provides a deeper understanding of the role of interoception and mindful, contemplative movement on unlocking the stories our bodies hold. An arts-based, autoethnographic practice informed the selection of literature. This paper investigates the theoretical connections to similar …

The Role Of Community Music Therapy In Building Social Connections And Reducing Stigma For People With Substance Use Disorders: A Literature Review, Sarah Sacala

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis investigates the benefits of Community Music Therapy (CoMT) in creating social connections and reducing stigma for people suffering from substance use disorders. For the purpose of this paper, substance use disorders (SUD), substance use, and addiction are framed as part of an umbrella construct, and they are used interchangeably. Stigma towards drug users is a social phenomenon all over the world. According to Mora-Ríos, Ortega-Ortega, and Medina-Mora (2017) social rejection is more experienced in drug users than any other diagnosable condition. This literature review is theoretically grounded in the notion that substance use disorder stems from biological …

A Literature Review On Decolonization Of The Expressive Arts In Order To Help Facilitate Racial Healing Within The Black Community, Kateri Collins

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review will analyze the racial disparities in the current Euro-centric expressive therapy modalities and will examine the additional needs to allow for these modalities to facilitate healing within the Black community and recommend adjustments accordingly. When conducting my research and coming up with my research question I came to the conclusion that my proposed question is: What are the racial disparities within the expressive arts due to them being Euro-centric and where are the areas that need adjustments to be culturally competent?

The anti-racist efforts of deconstructing all Euro-centric modalities are crucial for the field of expressive arts …

Applying Expressive Arts Therapy Interventions With Chinese Adolescents With Academic Maladjustment, Huaxin Wang

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis first explores the relationship between several concepts related to academic stress (academic burnout, academic weariness or school weariness, and school refusal) and their influencing factors, which are collectively referred to as academic maladjustment. It then reviews the empirical intervention research on academic maladjustment among Chinese adolescents. Study review has found that effective talk therapy interventions for Chinese adolescents with academic maladjustment often adopt a systematic perspective of family therapy and related techniques. Researchers worked with adolescents on their personal factors that contribute to academic maladjustment and work on the interpersonal level and obtained the cooperation of parents and …

The Use Of Drama Therapeutic Play And Unconditional Positive Regard In Fostering Self-Actualization In Unhoused Individuals, Amanda Ludeking

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Childhood instability and the associated trauma are risk factors for homelessness, a circumstance which is perilous and traumatizing in itself. In order to survive such dangerous situations, unhoused individuals can develop protective behaviors to keep others away, which makes building and maintaining interpersonal relationships difficult. Beyond this, aspects of childhood instability can negatively affect socialization and interpersonal skills; for example, attachment theory suggests that attachment-based trauma (resulting from an insecure relationship with a caregiver) can negatively impact self-regulation and social skills into adulthood. This literature review seeks to better understand how two specific approaches to treatment, person-centered therapy and drama …

Art And Eco Therapies: Benefits To Motor Development Of Preschool-Age Children In The Screen Era, Tatiana J. Miranda Orama

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In the highly technological society we currently live in, children are spending more time in front of screens instead of engaging in play or spending time in nature. Screen time has increased significantly in the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Excess screen time poses a threat to the motor development of preschool-age children. The fields of art therapy and ecotherapy have theoretical and practical groundings that make them an alternative to traditional therapies in the area of skill development and deficit prevention for children’s motor skills. This study focuses on the benefits that art therapy and ecotherapy can …

The Neurobiology Of The Healing Arts: Expressive Arts Therapy As An Effective Treatment For Adults Diagnosed With Complex Ptsd Due To Complex Trauma In Childhood: A Literature Review, Cheryl Ratliff

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Empirically based therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found to be less effective in treating more severe trauma presentations such as complex PTSD (CPTSD). Neurobiological investigation provides a framework for examining the physical and psychological effects of trauma on brain and nerve structures and provides insight into how to effectively treat CPTSD. This literature review examined symptomology of CPTSD resulting from complex trauma in childhood, neurobiological effects of trauma and their implications for treatment, and the efficacy of the current treatment models, primarily those of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), narrative exposure therapy (NET), and somatic psychotherapies. …

Art Therapy For Veterans In The Military To Civilian Transition: A Literature Review, Sydney Kroll

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Although all U.S. military service members eventually return to civilian life, whether they serve 20 years and retire through the military or serve a few enlistments before making a career change, the unique challenges that come with the military to civilian transition are largely overlooked, particularly the accessibility of mental health services during this period. Commonly referred to as separating from the military or “getting out” amongst service members, this stage from active duty to veteran status involves a significant adjustment in lifestyle and responsibilities. Potential gaps in health insurance and income, relocating, supporting their family, and aligning with a …

Community Directed Exploration Of Expressive Therapy Applications To Combat Barriers To Mental Health For First Responders, Anne Rossman

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

First responders are critically under supported in their pursuits of mental health and face a wide gambit of barriers to care. Using an asynchronous online forum, I invited first responders to engage in a community creative process, share their experiences of barriers to care and explore possible solutions to combat these barriers. From my review of the literature in preparation for this community project I surmised that to find effective methods of interventions and support for this population, the development of these should begin with the first responder community itself. The culture that surrounds this community often is avoidant of …

Musical Theatre And Drama Therapy: A Duet For Dementia, Amy Bingen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The purpose of this capstone thesis is to explore the potential of developing musically informed dramatic interventions that directly support the quality of life (QoL) for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Alzheimer's disease (AD) is progressive, causing people to lose their memory and thinking skills and eventually carrying out simple daily tasks. Researchers estimate that more than 5 million Americans live with AD today. There is no known cure for dementia, but treatment care has evolved into person-centered, non-pharmacological approaches often involving expressive art interventions to channel a patient's creative strengths. Research has become increasingly valuable in …

Redefining Connection And Meaning-Making Through Virtual Artistic Community Amidst Persistent Adversity: A Community Engagement Project, Gwendolyn Healy

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the meaning of community drastically shifted across the world. Many groups and individuals were forced to alter their professional, academic, and personal lives in order to persevere through this collective, global health crisis. During a time in history where so much changed in a short period of time, community and peer supports became more important than ever. Specifically for students involved in arts or expressive arts programs, the process of collective art making serves as a means of communication, connection, and emotional and mental processing. Without these connections and critical supports, feelings of disconnect, disinterest, loss …