Counseling Commons^™

Attitudes Toward And Usages Of Humor Among Practicing Marriage And Family Therapists, Nicholas Todd Wilkens

Dissertations

A descriptive study was conducted exploring attitudes toward and usages of humor among marriage and family therapists. This was an internet study, novel for both St. Mary's University and for marriage and family therapy research in general.

The literature review highlighted the research and theory that has evolved over the past century, addressing the topic of humor in mental and physical health and development. It was noticed that humor has not been a significant topic of study in marriage and family therapy research, nor have attitudes toward and usages of humor been measured among any of the health professions, though …

Quality Of Life Factors Among Recovering Alcoholics, George Edwin Compton Jr.

Dissertations

The inspiration for undertaking the current research came from the Student Investigator’s own experience of 19 years in recovery from alcoholism. During his early years in graduate school, the Student Investigator witnessed occasional misunderstandings among some academics and helping professionals regarding the nature of alcoholism, and, specifically, the tasks involved in sustaining enduring recovery from alcoholism. Thus, this dissertation research, which has sought to examine, through qualitative research methodology, the factors involved in achieving and sustaining quality of life in extended recovery from alcoholism was undertaken.

Several authors have noted the need for research which focuses on long-term recovery from …

Understanding And Building Resiliency In Students Living With Parental Alcoholism: Implications And Interventions For The School Counselor, Lori K. Riley

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the strengths and positive qualities of children of alcoholics can be enhanced by counselors to promote resiliency. The author will identify typical characteristics of children who are raised by alcoholic parents and describe the short-term and long-term effects of this abuse on school-aged children and adolescents. A family systems perspective will be examined, along with a discussion of the risk these youngsters face.

A second purpose of this paper is to focus on the role of the school counselor in working with children who are living in dysfunctional situations due to …

Examining Counseling Strategies For African American Adolescent Crack Abusers, Paula Reed Dorris

Graduate Research Papers

The author of this paper has addressed the significance of the development of treatment strategies to implement with African American adolescent crack addicts. An integral basis for tailoring culturally specific treatment approaches for African American adolescents relates to the unique circumstances, which may promote more extensive crack abuse by this group. Depression was the difficulty which the author chose to focus upon. Several different methods of helping these adolescents are discussed. The intervention strategies which show promise in helping African American adolescent crack addicts include: (a) Interpersonal Therapy; (b) psycho-educational programs; (c) involvement of family members in treatment; (d) use …

Secret Pain : Understanding And Treating Self-Injurious Behaviors In Women, Eva Schoen

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is an attempt to raise awareness of the presence of self-injury in Western societies. Causes, symptoms, related diagnoses, and treatment of self-injurious behaviors will be discussed. Most importantly, however, this paper is meant to challenge and, ultimately, decrease the stigma surrounding SD and increase empathy and compassion for the self-injuring person.

Due to constraints of this research paper, the author focuses on female self-injurers and excludes information on self-injury in mentally retarded individuals and prisoners.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy With Children, Debra L. Irvin

Graduate Research Papers

This paper will look at the use of cognitive-behavior therapy with children. Specifically, it will focus on the areas of depression and anxiety. First, there will be a look at applying cognitive-behavior therapy to children. This includes strategies for working with children, and developmental considerations with children. Next, there will be a focus on using cognitive-behavior therapy for children with depression. This section includes an examination of depression in children, and three cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies. The strategies to be discussed include affective education, cognitive restructuring, and social skills training. Finally, there will be an exploration of the use of cognitive-behavior …

The Use Of Art Therapy In Counseling Children, Laura Longo

Graduate Research Papers

Art is being used more and more by counselors working with children, particularly within the school setting because it allows for children to communicate nonverbally in a timely manner. "Art therapy in a school setting can offer children the opportunity to work through obstacles that are impeding their educational progress. It can facilitate appropriate social behaviors and promote healthy affective development" (Bush, 1997, p. 16).

The purpose of this paper is to explore how art is used in counseling children and examine specific techniques. Also, the author will focus on the stages of artistic development of children, the use of …

Adolescent Suicide : A Review Of Contributing Risk Factors And Issues Of Assessment, Joe S. Rich

Graduate Research Papers

Over the past decade, there has been an alarming increase in the rate of suicide among the adolescent population. It has been reported that among the 15 to 24- year-old population, the incidence of suicide has increased 200 percent since 1960. Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among adolescents and adults, ages 15 to 24- year-olds.

The purposes of this literature review are to (1) examine and identify factors that contribute to suicidal ideation in adolescents, (2) evaluate the adequacy of assessment measures of suicidal behavior including self-report, projective, and interviewing techniques, and (3) evaluate the general …

Combining Adventure Therapy And Reality Therapy As A Treatment Approach With Adolescents, Shawn C. Becker

Graduate Research Papers

Adolescence is often considered a time filled with emotional conflict and stress. That stress often gives rise to psychological and behavioral problems for a large number of adolescents (Zigler & Stevenson, 1993). Teens experience poor self-concepts, decreases in self-esteem, depression, and a general inability to cope with the stress experienced during this time period. It is reported that many youth also lack support and guidance from their peers, families, and schools which would normally provide security in the development of successful personal identities (Clagett, 1992).

Current therapeutic approaches need to address these adolescent issues and needs in order to help …

Use Of A Structured Interview To Evaluate The Validity Of The Alcohol And Drug Dependence Scales Of The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory Ii, Bert Van Hoek

Dissertations

This is an external validation study of the Alcohol and Drug dependence scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II ([MCMI-II], Millon, 1987). The Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-III-R ([SCID], Spitzer, Williams, Gibbon, & First, 1990) was administered to a sample of 73 adults who presented for treatment at a substance abuse facility to establish all possible substance abuse diagnoses based on the nosology of the revised Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (3rd ed. [DSM-III], American Psychiatric Association, 1980). Subsequently, scores on the Alcohol and Drug Dependence scales of the MCMI-II for the present sample were compared to …

The Effects Of Training And Experience On The Ability To Detect Relapse Precipitants In A Substance Abuse Client, Michael F. Sunich

Dissertations

This study examined the effects of training and experience on counselors' ability to detect relapse precipitants in substance abuse clients. Eighty counselor trainees from Western Michigan University and the University of Northern Colorado participated. They were classified as to their previous level of experience and then exposed to either the treatment condition or the control condition. Pretest-posttest data were gathered using a modified version of the Alcohol Confidence Questionnaire (Annis & Graham, 1988) (ACQ-M).

The findings from this study suggest that counselors with previous substance abuse experience tend to show less confidence in a client's ability to remain abstinent than …

The Relationships Between Marital Adjustment, Family Functioning, Task Management And Family Relationship Concerns In Couples Incorporating A Second Child, Amy Diguiseppe Bade

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among variables identified as potentially significant during the transition to second time parenthood. The theoretical framework for this study was based on the Circumplex Model of family systems (Olson, Sprenkle & Russell, 1979; Olson, Russell & Sprenkle, 1983), and a five domain structural model of marital and family adaptation (Cowan & Cowan, 1988).

The convenience sample consisted of 49 Caucasian middle class couples all expecting their second child. This was a one group pretest-posttest design with the birth of the second child functioning as the independent variable. The dependent variables …

A Validation Of The Family Of Origin Scale Using Alcoholic And Mental Health Patients, Arthur J. Fedor

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to add to the knowledge of family of origin assessment by demonstrating the utility of the Family of Origin Scale (FOS; Hovestadt, Anderson, Piercy, Cochran, & Fine, 1985) as a posttreatment measure of change with clinical samples. In this context, a second feature of the study was a further validation of the FOS.

Eighty-one clinical subjects in inpatient alcoholism treatment centers and outpatient mental health clinics were administered the FOS prior to treatment and again following treatment. Although the pretest-posttest model of the study was a quasi-experimental design, the focus was on the FOS's …

The Effects Of A Wilderness/Adventure Program On The Self-Concept, Locus Of Control Orientation, And Interpersonal Behavior Of Delinquent Adolescents, Timothy J. Zwart

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 26-day therapeutic wilderness program for delinquent adolescent males on three conceptually distinct but closely related constructs: self-concept, locus of control orientation, and interpersonal behavior. Justification for the study was derived from the limitations of past wilderness/adventure research which suggested that there was a need for additional research on the effects of this type of alternative program for delinquent adolescents.

It was hypothesized that following participation in this program the youths would exhibit increased self-concept, more internal locus of control orientation, would express higher needs for inclusion and affection …

Effectiveness Of A Video Recorded Ocean Scene Technique As A Relaxation Therapy, David M. Ford

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a video recorded ocean scene as a relaxation technique by comparing it with an established method, progressive relaxation training (Jacobson, 1938) on their ability to affect the following physiological measurements: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.

Thirty female elementary school teachers participated in this study and were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Video Recorded Ocean Scene Group, Progressive Relaxation Training Group, and Self Directed Relaxation Group (used as control). The general protocol for each treatment group consisted of a forty minute session with …

Alcoholism: The Insidious Disease, Kathryn Van Bruggen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to describe alcoholism as a disease, it s likely etiology, symptoms, methods of treatment and prognosis. Problems due to alcoholism are reported as they affect not only the alcoholic but the family, job and community as well. Education will help identify an alcoholic problem before it becomes too advanced. Various treatment modalities are discussed, including Alcoholics Anonymous. This study relates to the impact on the family and how the family can exacerbate the problem. Conclusions are based on observations of alcoholics and families of alcoholics in a therapeutic setting and literature review.

Implementation Evaluation Of A Social Detoxification Program, Thomas M. Slaven

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

While cities across the United States are attempting to revitalize their central business districts, the presence of the public inebriate remains one of the most neglected urban problems hampering redevelopment efforts. An evaluation of the implementation of a social detoxification program was conducted to monitor planning, initial staffing, training, building community linkages, impact on the criminal justice system, and changes in clients' working and drinking behavior. Public Drunkenness arrests, and working and drinking behavior were measured at intake, three month and six month follow-up with a sample of clients undergoing detoxification, a comparison group of individuals jailed but not detoxified, …

Ua35/11 Student Honors Research Bulletin, Wku Honors Program

WKU Administration Documents

The WKU Student Honors Research Bulletin is dedicated to scholarly involvement and student research. These papers are representative of work done by students from throughout the university.

• Garvin, Catherine. The Recognition of Anticipatory Grieving and Associated Needs of the Family of a Critically Ill Patient
• Parks, Barbara. Energy Properties of Textiles
• Martin, Lanna. A Historical Approach to the Understanding of Civil Disobedience
• Atwood, Tammy. The Computer Manufacturing Industry and the Burroughs Corporation
• Allen, Christopher. The Battle of Marathon: Athens' Magnificent Triumph
• Martin, Lanna. Melville's Creation of Captain Vere as Pontius Pilate in Billy Budd
• Boles, Barbara. Emerson's Uriel and the …

Adolescent Chemical Substance Use And Abuse : Environmental And Personal Determinants, And A Proposed Model For Group Intervention, Lindy Louise Low Lecoq

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the literature review is to identify consistent patterns regarding adolescent use and abuse of chemical substances, especially alcohol and marijuana. Acute physical, cognitive and social effects of alcohol and marijuana use are outlined, and environmental and personal determinants of drug use and abuse are examined. Methods of prevention and intervention are discussed and, from the research findings, a model group counseling program designed for the school setting is proposed. Adolescent use of both marijuana and alcohol is found to be modal by age 16-17. The physical, cognitive and social effects are pervasive and especially damaging to chronic …

Washington County Aftercare Service Utilization Study, James Richard Peterson

Dissertations and Theses

Broadly speaking, the purpose of this study is to:

1. Assess the functioning of the psychiatric hospital aftercare service delivery system by examining community service utilization patterns of Dammasch Hospital releases.

2. Obtain descriptive information relating to Washington County's chronic aftercare population.

3. Provide an objective data base that can be used to further develop the Aftercare Service Delivery System in Washington County.

Hour House And The Practicum Student: Suggested Guidelines, Stan G. Harris

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.