Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 16 of 16
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Cost Of Creating Therapeutic Relationships: A Phenomenological Study, Robert D. January
The Cost Of Creating Therapeutic Relationships: A Phenomenological Study, Robert D. January
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how licensed counselors address vicarious trauma and burnout when working with individuals exposed to trauma. This study involved ten licensed professionals from diverse settings including clinics, private practices, and non-profit organizations. Constructive Self-Development Theory guided this study, which defines how traumatic experiences influence a person’s sense of identity. This theory is particularly relevant to this qualitative study because it explains the challenges faced by professional counselors who interact with trauma survivors and acts as a guide toward solutions for preventing counselors from experiencing vicarious trauma and burnout. Snowball sampling was used …
Wounding Words: A Phenomenological Study Of How Individuals Experience Receiving Spiritual Bypass, Peridot Reed-Gilbert
Wounding Words: A Phenomenological Study Of How Individuals Experience Receiving Spiritual Bypass, Peridot Reed-Gilbert
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Currently spiritual bypass refers to a person's attempt to evade or sidestep significant events in his or her life by focusing solely on the spiritual dimension “bypassing” important psychological tasks necessary for healing (Cashwell & Young, 2004; Clarke et al., 2013). Several studies have been conducted proving that spiritual bypass is a phenomenon that individuals implement on themselves. However, the purpose of this study was to address the gap in the existing research literature by examining the lived experiences of those who have experienced receiving spiritual bypass from another person. Through semi-structured interviews, fourteen participants who self-identified as having experienced …
Sisters In Harm: A Phenomenological Study Examining Active-Duty Military Women’S Lived Experiences Of Military Sexual Assault And Trauma, Brandy R. Preston
Sisters In Harm: A Phenomenological Study Examining Active-Duty Military Women’S Lived Experiences Of Military Sexual Assault And Trauma, Brandy R. Preston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There has been a plethora of research studies conducted on the staggering statistics surrounding military sexual trauma (MST) and how the armed forces have systematically failed to provide appropriate protections for women who experience military sexual assault (MSA). However, firsthand experiences from active-duty women who experienced MSA and the possible secondary trauma they experienced have very little documentation besides that from a quantitative research point of view. Studies surrounding survivors’ personal experiences are even more limited. Within this body of research, a phenomenological approach is used to describe the contextual and perceptual experiences surrounding active-duty women who are survivors of …
Intimate Partner Violence And Spirituality: A Healing Process, Sheila Diane Lundquist
Intimate Partner Violence And Spirituality: A Healing Process, Sheila Diane Lundquist
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand how intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors, from the Atlanta area, use spirituality to heal from the abuse. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s (1954) Hierarchy of Needs as it shows how spirituality helped these women meet the needs on the hierarchy after having many of the needs ripped from them by the perpetrator(s). Intimate partner violence is a fundamental problem in the United States, especially during these times of COVID-19 and the stay-at home orders. Intimate partner violence takes a toll on the family unit, the community, and the …
African American Women's Posttraumatic Growth After Infidelity, Thelma J. Carpenter-Ellis
African American Women's Posttraumatic Growth After Infidelity, Thelma J. Carpenter-Ellis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This transcendental phenomenological study aims to examine African American women’s posttraumatic growth experience after infidelity without compromising health-related issues. This phenomenon of PTG after cheating needs to be thoroughly analyzed and added to the literature. The research questions are: (1) How do African American women describe their personal growth experiences after marital infidelity? (2) How do African American women describe characteristics that were [e.g., personality, character, fortitude, sense of identity] vital for their resiliency post-infidelity? and (3) How do African American women describe the changes in their assumptive worldview [e.g., trust, safety, attachment, religious faith] because of marital betrayal? Some …
Bruised By Their Transgressions: A Phenomenological Study Of Healing From Traumatic Religious Experiences, Sharron Y. Riley-Seymour
Bruised By Their Transgressions: A Phenomenological Study Of Healing From Traumatic Religious Experiences, Sharron Y. Riley-Seymour
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This phenomenological study explored the impacts of religious/spiritual abuse (RSA) on women abused by Christian religious leaders in their adulthood, describing their treatment experiences and identifying effective elements of their healing processes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 women who had experienced RSA in adulthood. Four central research questions guided the interview protocol: 1) How do participants describe what led them to seek therapy? 2) How do participants describe their therapeutic/healing processes? 3) How do participants describe what they found helpful/not helpful or effective/ineffective in their treatment/healing processes? 4) How do participants describe factors influencing their treatment/healing processes? The interviews …
Clinicians’ Self-Disclosure Within The Therapeutic Alliance With A Trauma-Related Disorder, Jenna J. Lamaster
Clinicians’ Self-Disclosure Within The Therapeutic Alliance With A Trauma-Related Disorder, Jenna J. Lamaster
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how therapists build therapeutic alliances with their clients in trauma-based therapy using self-disclosure in the southern United States. The field of psychology benefitted significantly from a clearly defined and operationalized study that focused on the specific forms and usage of self-disclosure within the trauma-based therapeutic alliance, which advances the current research and uncovers the understanding of this potentially helpful intervention. The researcher used a case study approach and collected data using a semi-structured interview approach. These interviews were then examined using coding and the NVivo software. Theoretical coding was utilized …
Exploring Resiliency To Burnout: A Phenomenological Study Of Addiction Counselors Resilient To Burnout, Brian Paulson
Exploring Resiliency To Burnout: A Phenomenological Study Of Addiction Counselors Resilient To Burnout, Brian Paulson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of addiction counselors who appeared resilient to burnout (BO) and compassion fatigue (CF). The research question to frame this study was: What are the lived experiences of addiction counselors who appear resilient to severe levels of burnout and compassion fatigue, leading to longevity in the addiction counseling field? This included resiliency factors to resolve BO and CF, coping skills to resolve symptoms of BO and CF, and internal and external factors that contributed to BO and CF. Several theories were used to conduct this study, including Social Cognitive Theory, Social …
An Investigation Into Posttraumatic Growth And Resilience After Trauma In African American Women, Britney A. Mitchell
An Investigation Into Posttraumatic Growth And Resilience After Trauma In African American Women, Britney A. Mitchell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among posttraumatic growth, resilience, and trauma in African American women. Posttraumatic Growth Theory was used as the theoretical foundation for the study. A correlational survey design was used to investigate the relationships among the variables of posttraumatic growth, resilience, and trauma among African American women. Four instruments were used in this study, including a demographic survey developed by the researcher, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10), and the Life Event Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). This study will investigate how spirituality is used as a coping skill …
Ink Therapy: The Use Of Tattoos By Male Survivors Of Sexual Trauma, Lisa M. Johnson
Ink Therapy: The Use Of Tattoos By Male Survivors Of Sexual Trauma, Lisa M. Johnson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
With the advancement of the feminist movement, our society typically views the experience of sexual trauma as a female issue. The male perpetrator–female victim dyad is the most academically researched and socially recognized experience of sexual trauma. The continued focus on that dyad leaves the male experience of sexual trauma underrepresented in scholarly literature and socially misunderstood. When seeking post-trauma clinical treatment & social support, the shame and stigma associated with male rape myths may represent significant barriers. These barriers leave male survivors to exercise autonomy in finding effective means of identity reformation and coping. The purpose of this phenomenological …
The Impact Of Childhood Adversity On Career Decision-Making In Licensed Mental Health Clinicians: Aces And The Helping Profession, Lindsay Rose Seeger
The Impact Of Childhood Adversity On Career Decision-Making In Licensed Mental Health Clinicians: Aces And The Helping Profession, Lindsay Rose Seeger
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Traumatic experiences can have lasting impacts on an individual across the lifespan. Areas of adult functioning that are impacted by trauma may include but are not limited to mental health, physical health, relationships, communication style, attachment tendencies, and so on. Traumatic experiences in childhood can yield dysfunction in areas of intrapersonal functioning and interpersonal functioning. Childhood adversity has been studied in detail over the last two decades, with notable research done in the areas listed above. What is less studied is the impact of childhood adversity on career choice. Factors influencing career choice are endless; research points to socioeconomic status, …
Exploring The Meaning Of Doctoral Completion For African American Females Who Have Attended A Predominantly White Institution, Devara D. Brock
Exploring The Meaning Of Doctoral Completion For African American Females Who Have Attended A Predominantly White Institution, Devara D. Brock
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
As evidenced by the average doctoral student turnover rate, pursuing a doctorate degree may be exceedingly difficult. African American women (AAW) in particular, tend to face unique challenges in higher education due to their gender and racial identities, yet because of their perceived success in comparison to their Black male counterparts, their doctoral experiences at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) frequently go overlooked. Furthermore, considering the impact that trauma can have on higher education success, it is crucial to better understand the intricate nature of the doctoral experiences of AAW to determine how to further facilitate their success. To add to …
An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Perfectionism And Adverse Childhood Experiences In African American Adults, Natasha Maria Beckum
An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Perfectionism And Adverse Childhood Experiences In African American Adults, Natasha Maria Beckum
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Decades of research have confirmed an association between family dysfunction, adverse parentchild relationships, and perfectionism. However, to date, only one study has confirmed a link between perfectionism and specific types of ACEs. There are no studies that have examined the relationship between ACEs and perfectionism in predominately racial/ethnic populations. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative survey research was to investigate the relationship between conventional and expanded ACES and perfectionistic traits and behaviors. Additionally, this study aimed to determine if the experience of ACEs is associated with higher levels of perfectionism in African Americans. Data was collected using the Hewitt Multidimensional …
The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors Related To Natural Disaster Trauma, Jennifer Baxley Bellinger
The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors Related To Natural Disaster Trauma, Jennifer Baxley Bellinger
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand and describe the lived experiences of school counselors in South Carolina regarding natural disaster trauma and their perceptions regarding their ability to work effectively with students during and after disasters. The experiences of school counselors regarding their perceptions of effectiveness when working with students both during and after natural disasters prior to this study were unknown. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model provided the framework for this study as it outlines the necessary preparation for and execution of a school counselor’s work with students, while Herman’s trauma theory and …
Morale Of Educators Amidst A Pandemic: A Heuristic Phenomenological Inquiry, Dawn Dianne Peterson
Morale Of Educators Amidst A Pandemic: A Heuristic Phenomenological Inquiry, Dawn Dianne Peterson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This heuristic phenomenological qualitative research study aimed to understand the educators' perceptions of their lived experience teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on teacher morale in the U.S. The theory guiding this study is Narrative Identity Theory, in which Dan McAdams proposed the first full theoretical model. This theory contributed significant awareness to the phenomenon studied when trying to understand the evaluative and emotional meaning expressed through the stories of the teachers. The essence of morale is understood more holistically considering the contribution of Narrative Identity Theory. Data was collected through online interviews on Microsoft Teams and analyzed …
The Role Of Military Chaplains And Effective Spiritual Care For Strengthening Military Marriages During Deployments, Carl Michael Johnson
The Role Of Military Chaplains And Effective Spiritual Care For Strengthening Military Marriages During Deployments, Carl Michael Johnson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Military chaplains provide spiritual support and counseling to the military populations alongside conducting religious services. As a military process, chaplaincy operates as a liaison between military personnel, mental health professionals, and clinical marriage counselors. In this context, the military population is extensive and consists of military personnel, military chaplains, and their civilian families. It must be acknowledged that various service-motivated challenges confront these individuals. For instance, military marriages are threatened by lengthy deployment and family separations. Therefore, it is significant to contextualize military marriages’ coping, survival, and strengthening as most contemporary researchers have focused on this subject. Most studies have …