Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Why Her Business Is Our Business: Female Psychotherapists’ Experiences Working With The Perinatal Population, Alexa Garber M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Approximately 800,000 women in the United States yearly suffer from maternal mental health (MMH) conditions (Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, 2020). Not only is MMH the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth, but rates have increased with the COVID-19 pandemic causing pregnant women and new mothers to be even more vulnerable to developing mental health problems (Thapa et al., 2020). Research on the consequences of the pandemic have indicated a pressing demand on the field of psychology to meet the needs of individuals suffering from maternal mental health. Various challenges healthcare professionals face when working with the perinatal population …

Examining Dbt Clinicians’ Perspectives Involving Parents Of Emerging Adults In Treatment: A Qualitative Study, Emma Bernstein M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Emerging adults (ages 18-29) are at a heightened risk for developing mental illnesses, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and dying by suicide. Further, some emerging adults are considered to have “failed to launch” from their parents’ homes, leading to a postponement to full-fledged adulthood. While parents often play a significant role in their emerging adults’ lives, there is limited research on evidence-based treatment for emerging adults that systematically incorporate parents. Given the strong research support for Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) that includes parent involvement, it is sensible to consider applying developmentally tailored adaptations to additional populations and understand …

Goodtimer For Good Behavior: A Nonconcurrent Multiple Baseline Examination Of A Behavioral Device Intervention To Reduce Child Misbehaviors, Morgan Weinstein

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) effectively decreases disruptive behavior in children (Daley et al., 2014). Nonetheless, many parents perceive BPT to be challenging and demanding, leading to reports of high treatment dropout rates (Chacko et al., 2016.) To address this, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of Goodtimer, a behavioral health device utilizing contingency management, an element of BPT, to mitigate child disruptive behaviors. The Goodtimer is designed to make administering a contingency management system easier for parents. Employing a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design, the study assessed six families with children aged 3-9 years. Most parents who used the Goodtimer reported …

Fearing The Other: The Underlying Mechanisms Of Mental Illness Stigma, Theresa Maria Power

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

This study sought to clarify the underlying mechanisms behind mental illness stigma. Using a sample of 303 adults from the general population, participants completed a series of online self-reports in response to a vignette about “Harry,” an individual who was described as either Black or White, with schizophrenia or depression. Respondents answered questions regarding perceptions of dangerousness, causal attributions of mental illness, and endorsement of stigmatizing beliefs, and also provided narratives for Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) cards that were coded using the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (SCORS). Results of structural equation modeling indicated that there was no direct …

The Head, The Heart, And The Human: A Developmental Cascade Perspective Of Adults With Dextro-Transposition Of The Great Arteries, Alexandra Brooke Roseman

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

As survival rates for individuals with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), such as dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries (d-TGA), increase, there is a growing need to examine neurocognitive and psychosocial challenges from a lifespan perspective. However, research often overlooks the integration of these factors, despite evidence from other chronic illness populations suggesting their interplay influences psychosocial functioning in adulthood. This study assessed psychosocial maturity in emerging adults with d-TGA and explored its relationship with executive functioning (EF) and social cognition (SC) longitudinally. Data were drawn from the Boston Circulatory Arrest Study (BCAS) cohort at age 16 (n = 80) and …

The Roles Of Regulated Body Awareness And Empathy In Psychotherapist Empathic Attunement, Abby Fraade

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Psychotherapist empathic attunement has been shown to contribute significantly to treatment outcomes (Bohart et al., 2002; Elliott et al., 2018), but psychotherapist factors that contribute to increased attunement have not been extensively studied. The present study’s model, based on Erskine’s (1998) model of attunement, examined the impact of therapist body awareness, embodied regulation, and personal distress empathy on attunement. Participants were N = 180 therapist trainees from various clinical fields who completed an online protocol. Results indicated that, as predicted, embodied regulation moderated the relationship between body awareness and empathic attunement, such that the relationship was significant and positive only …

Child Sexual Abuse And Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Rocd): The Influence Of Betrayal Trauma On Mental Contamination, Maya Elizabeth Citron

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

The aim of this project was to gain a better understanding of whether survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CTQ) are more prone to enduring higher levels of relationship-centered relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCI) symptoms. This project also examined whether mental contamination (VOCI-MC) influenced the relationship between CTQ and ROCI and if this impact was dependent on levels of betrayal trauma. It was hypothesized that betrayal trauma (BQ) would moderate the mediating effect of VOCI-MC on CRQ and ROCI symptoms. A sample of 270 female participants ages 18 years and older completed an online survey that assessed histories of childhood trauma, ROCI …

Treatment Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Lauren Bonicoro, Hollings Manderson

CSU Tower Day

Tower Day 2025 Graduate Poster 1st place Winner

Traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has long been considered an acceptable course of treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, CBT has 38 been shown to leave behind residual symptoms after treatment. A more recent method of treatment, inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT), uncovers the doubts behind a client's obsessions. With the growing rate of OCD diagnoses, it is crucial that counselors are able to adequately treat this disorder, teaching their clients how to replace unhealthy narratives with more realistic ones. This presentation will highlight the key aspects of I-CBT that are essential …

Numbered Heads Together: Student Outcomes, Teacher Acceptability, Teacher Burnout, And Maintenance Of Implementation, Nicole Parker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Numbered Heads Together (NHT) is a structured cooperative learning activity that supports active classroom participation from all students. The purpose of this study was to examine if NHT increased student cooperative behaviors and quiz scores, as well as whether teachers found the intervention acceptable and if teacher reported burnout improved. Three teacher participants and their respective students were recruited from a regional school based on teacher desire to improve classroom behavior management during cooperative learning times. A checklist of adherences to NHT steps was the primary measure. Classwide cooperative interactions were observed, and class average daily quiz scores were collected. …

Associations Between Observance Of Orthodox Jewish Mourning Rituals And The Psychological Processes Of Meaning Making And Religious Coping Following Loss: A Quantitative Study, Kayla Reich M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

While grief is a deeply individualized experience, research suggests that some coping mechanisms—such as meaning making—promote healthier psychological adjustment. Jewish mourning rituals may support meaning making, yet few studies have quantitatively examined this relationship. The present study investigated the association between observance of early Jewish mourning stages (i.e., aninut, levayah, and shiva) and both meaning making and adaptive religious coping. A sample of 60 Orthodox Jewish adults who had experienced the loss of a first-degree relative between one and five years prior to the start of the study completed measures of mourning observance, meaning making, and Jewish religious coping. Results …

Emergency Shift To Remote Cbt: Clinicians’ Evolving Experiences, Angela Flanagan M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote health services have surged in popularity. This study focuses on the initial experiences of CBT psychologists previously untrained in telehealth during the emergency shift to remote therapy, and how these attitudes and experiences have evolved over the last four years. Participants included nine licensed clinical psychologists previously untrained in remote therapy who were practicing CBT treatment for at least two years before the pandemic. This phenomenological qualitative research design involved semi-structured interviews with these nine psychologists. The analysis revealed three main interpretive themes: (1) Experiences Related to the Human Factor, (2) Experiences …

Shadows Of Discrimination: Impacts Of Ambient Discrimination On Queer People In The United States, Kayla A. Dufour

Psychology | Senior Theses

People identifying as LGBTQIA2S+ in the United States experience victimization, direct discrimination, and violence at a rate of 2 to 4 times higher than their heterosexual counterparts (Bender & Lauritsen, 2021), leading to higher levels of psychological pain and suicidal ideation, with up to 50% of LGBTQIA2S+ people having suicidal thoughts in their lifetimes. Those who experience ambient discrimination, such as witnessing or being made aware of discriminatory behavior of someone other than oneself in your group, have higher levels of psychological pain, PTSD, and substance use (Peterson et al., 2019). The goal of the present study is to gain …

Exploring Gender Disappointment: Social Stigma, Underlying Shame, And Grieving An Idealized Family… “Oh Well, As Long As It’S A Healthy Baby!”, Melanie Scaccio

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Gender disappointment (GD) refers to the sadness parents feel when the sex of their child differs from their preference (Groenewald, 2016). While GD is a globally recognized phenomenon, research in the United States remains limited despite anecdotal evidence on social media and restrictive gender norms (Heise et al., 2019). This qualitative study explored the subjective experiences of GD in American mothers. Twelve biologically female participants, aged 18 and older, who experienced GD were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews conducted via video conferencing, averaging 40 minutes, were analyzed using grounded theory methodology (Auerbach & Silverstein, 2003). A member …

Emotional Flooding: Examining Associations With Family Of Origin Violence And The Mediating Role Of Attentional Bias To Threat, Rachel Zukerman

Theses and Dissertations

Emotional flooding, or the experience of partner negative affect as intensely disorganizing and overwhelming, has recently emerged as an important variable in predicting maladaptive relationship behaviors, including intimate partner violence (IPV). However, not much is known about risk factors for flooding beyond qualities of the interpersonal interaction. While flooding depends on the experience of intense partner negative emotion, some individuals may vary regarding their propensities to feel flooded in a relatively stable way, and therefore may be more likely to engage in destructive relationship behaviors. Theory and research suggest that family violence negatively impacts emotional processing by increasing emotional arousal …

Predicting Dysfunctional Anger Through Irrational Beliefs And Maladaptive Schemas: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Katharine Downing Romero

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the complex relationship between irrational beliefs, maladaptive schemas, and anger using validated quantitative methods and a novel Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations (ATSS) paradigm. An investigation involving 170 participants from student and general populations used text-based scenarios to induce anger, revealing significant associations between expressed irrational beliefs, early maladaptive schemas, trait anger, and general anger dysfunction. While irrational beliefs were not significantly linked to induced anger levels in this non-clinical population, state anger increased the strength of the relationship between anger outcomes and early maladaptive schemas, suggesting that heightened emotional states may amplify schema impact on anger …

The Moderating Effect Of Age Group On Patterns Of Change In Ptsd Symptom Clusters During Trauma-Focused Cognitivebehavioral Therapy, Alyssa Nicole Williamson

Theses and Dissertations

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—5th Edition (DSM-V) includes four symptom clusters that compose Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-- Re-Experiencing, Avoidance, Negative Alterations in Cognitions and Mood ("Cognitive Mood"), and Hyperarousal (American Psychological Association, 2013). In response to findings that PTSD often presents differently in children and adolescents than in adults, the DSM-V now includes developmental considerations for diagnosis (e.g., Cohen et al., 2010; Scheeringa et al., 2012). As research on pediatric PTSD has grown, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT; Cohen et al., 2016) has emerged as the most empirically supported intervention for reducing PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, and behavioral …

Role Of Self-Forgiveness, Self-Compassion, And Self-Acceptance On Psychological Well-Being And Adjustment In Divorced People, Augustine Ifeanyi Umeatuegbu

Theses and Dissertations

Divorce is becoming a new normal, yet individuals may question their self-worth. Existing research reveals that divorce and separation are associated with negative psychological and physical consequences. This study investigated the relationship between self-constructs (self-forgiveness, self-acceptance/self-condemnation, self-compassion) and Psychological well-being among divorced people. Each of these aspects of the self is thought to lead to disturbance. However, the relationship of these concepts to each other, which has a unique influence on psychopathology and well-being, was tested. The current study sampled 270 adults from social media/online and prolific platforms, who completed scales measuring each of the self-constructs and depression, anger at …

Examining The Impact Of Clinicians’ Traditional Beliefs Onend-Of-Life Care Communication, Alexandra Spinelli

Theses and Dissertations

Effective end-of-life communication is essential to patient-centered care, shaping treatment decisions, family well-being, and overall care quality. While patients’ traditional beliefs are often cited as barriers to quality end-of-life care, less is known about how clinicians’ own beliefs affect their communication efficacy and distress tolerance. This study examined how traditional beliefs—specifically those about death and dying (e.g., avoidance of direct discussion due to taboos), emotional expression (e.g., viewing emotion as dangerous or controllable), and filial piety (e.g., respect and deference to elders)—relate to clinicians’ distress intolerance during end-of-life communication. It also tested whether self-efficacy mediates or moderates these relationships. A …

Is Demandingness The Core Irrational Belief Leading To Anger? A Test Of Ellis' Theory, Yareli Perez Ibarra

Theses and Dissertations

Anger has detrimental effects on individuals, and 7.8% of the United States population experiences intense, poorly controlled anger (Birkley & Eckhardt, 2015; Bogdan et al., 2016; Rissman, 2017; Okuda et al., 2015). Despite this, anger remains absent as a standalone disorder within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) though is highly prevalent in five disorders within the DSM. Evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioral approaches, namely Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as forms of treatment (Fernandez & Johnson, 2016; David & Szentagotai, 2006). Within REBT, Albert Ellis proposed that Demandingness was …

Disordered Eating Tendencies: Investigating The Link With Attachment Styles, Emotional Dysregulation & Personality Dysfunction, Ndeye Marie-Charlotte Seck

Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating (DE) refers to problematic eating habits that do not meet clinical criteria for eating disorders. However, if it goes unnoticed and escalates, it could eventually lead to an eating disorder (ED). The current study sought to investigate DE tendencies in relation to attachment styles, emotional dysregulation and personality dysfunction among university undergraduates (n = 254). The sample consisted of 74.8% female participants, 23.6% male participants, and 1.6% non-binary participants. The mean age of participants was 19.45 years (SD = 1.67). Emotional Dysregulation emerged as the strongest correlate of DE tendencies (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), indicating a moderate positive association between these two variables. Global Personality Dysfunction was also moderately associated with DE tendencies (r = 0.26, p < 0.05). Attachment style was positively correlated with DE tendencies (r = 0.25, p < 0.05). In a multiple regression analysis examining the predictive value of attachment, emotion regulation and personality, “Emotional Dysregulation” emerged as the sole and most robust predictor of disordered eating (DE) tendencies, demonstrating a statistically significant effect (β = 0.187, p = .026). However, when analyzed separately, Attachment and Personality Dysfunction still accounted for 4.8% and 11.5% of the variance in the outcome variable, respectively. These findings suggest that attachment insecurity, emotional dysregulation and personality dysfunction may be risk factors for developing an eating disorder. These findings also suggest that a thorough understanding of Eating Disordered behaviors should involve assessment of attachment styles, emotional regulation and personality dysfunction.

Neighborhood Context And Covid-19 Mortality, Patrick Dawid

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority populations in the U.S., with disparities in infection rates and population-level mortality. Research on racial/ethnic differences in case fatality rates (i.e., mortality per diagnosed case) has yielded mixed results, with some studies finding higher mortality for racial/ethnic minority patients and others showing no differences. These inconsistencies may stem from context-dependent factors including neighborhood characteristics. One potential neighborhood variable which may affect health is ethnic density—the concentration of a racial/ethnic group within a neighborhood—which has shown protective, detrimental, and neutral effects in prior studies. Ethnic density may influence health outcomes through …

Online Dating Experiences And Body Dissatisfaction Among Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Individuals: A Qualitative Study, Luciano Caprio M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Through the evolution of online dating applications, individuals are able to form interpersonal connections with one another at a rapid pace. The effects of such communications can hold both protective and risk factors within the LGBTQ+ community. Previous research suggests that lesbians, gay, and bisexuals who have experienced weight discrimination, particularly fatphobic and anti-fat attitudes, while utilizing these online dating platforms, have increased body dissatisfaction. However, there is minimal research focusing on the implications of discrimination, body dissatisfaction, and the usage of online dating platforms in the transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) community. This qualitative study explored the experiences of …

From Theory To Practice: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Mental Health Factors In Sentencing Decisions, Crystal Ortiz M.A.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The overrepresentation of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness sentenced within the criminal justice system remains a significant concern in the United States. While existing literature discusses the prevalence of mental health concerns among offenders, it does not acknowledge the importance of considering an offender’s mental health in sentencing as standard practice within the justice system. Research highlights the importance of individualized sentencing plans, the use of validated risk and needs assessment tools, and multidisciplinary collaboration among mental health professionals and law enforcement agencies to comprehensively evaluate an individual’s mental health history and needs (Skeem et al., 2006; Steadman et …

A Literature Review Of Behavioral Outcome Measurement And Reporting Methods In Contemporary Diversity Training Research, Jesse Basson

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Diversity Training (DT) has become increasingly popular within organizational and academic settings as sociopolitical issues such as race relations, gender discrimination, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ populations continue to be examined in the United States. Research on the impacts of DT on participant learning has produced mixed findings, provoking questions regarding overall effectiveness and outcome measurement in DT. Training evaluation research has previously defined learning into three separate categories; Affective learning, cognitive learning, and behavioral learning (Kraiger et al., 1993), and behavioral learning outcomes in DT have been the least investigated of the three (Kulik & Roberson, 2008a). This critical literature …

I Think You Think I'M A Virus: Metastereotype Awareness In Asian Americans, Queenie Lam

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Reports of anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic are concerning, particularly given that Asian Americans may especially perceive and anticipate being stereotyped by others as virus-carrying foreigners due to their Asian American identity (e.g., increased perpetual foreigner metastereotype awareness). The present study explored metastereotype awareness (MSA) – an individual's belief that someone holds a stereotype about them as a result of their group membership – in a sample of 1.5 and 2nd generation East and Southeast Asian Americans (N = 422). Participants completed an MSA activation paradigm, followed by self-report measures assessing their MSA of the perpetual foreigner, model minority, …

Transient Stress And Childhood Maltreatment: Unraveling Their Impact On Working Memory And Emotion Dysregulation, Serena Veith

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Childhood maltreatment is associated with cognitive impairments and emotion dysregulation, with prior research documenting structural changes in stress modulation in affected individuals. This study examined the relationship between childhood maltreatment and working memory (WM), focusing on the roles of stress and emotion dysregulation. While childhood maltreatment has been linked to cognitive deficits, its specific impact on adult WM remains underexplored. It was hypothesized that childhood maltreatment would negatively affect WM. However, initial analyses found no significant relationship between childhood maltreatment and baseline WM. Post-hoc analyses revealed a positive relationship between childhood maltreatment and WM improvement over time, suggesting potential resilience …

Sexual Identity Development In A Culture Of Shame: The Impact Of Non-Affirming Religious Upbringing And Internalized Homophobia On Sexual Satisfaction In Lgbtq Adults, Rhiannon Ashley Gibbs

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Internalized homophobia is a common component of the LGBTQ developmental experience which impacts sexual identity development (Peterson & Gerrity, 2006; Rowan & Malcom, 2003). As well, many LGBTQ people raised in Christian religious communities frequently grow up in environments which are not affirming of their sexualities (Barnes & Meyer, 2012; Boppana & Gross, 2019; Herek et al., 2009; Ream & Savin-Williams, 2005; Rodriquez & Oullette, 2000). While much research considers the impact of these minority stressors on LGBTQ well-being (Frost & Meyer, 2009; Herek et al. 2009; Keating & Muller, 2020), fewer consider the specific impact on sexual well- being. …

Interpersonal Functioning In The Offspring Of Trauma Survivors: An Investigation Of The Impact Of Parenting Behaviors, Attachment, And Personality On Facial Emotion Recognition, Isabelle Rachel Bachrach

Selected Full-Text Dissertations 2020-

Parental post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been associated with various psychological and behavioral outcomes in their offspring. Utilizing a sample of (N=330) adult offspring of trauma-exposed parents, this study used self-report and behavioral measures to examine the relationship between parental PTSD symptom severity and adult participant’s romantic attachment insecurity, pathological personality traits, and facial emotion recognition (FER) accuracy for subtle emotional expressions. Additionally, it explored the role of maladaptive parenting behaviors on these associations. Results indicated that higher parental PTSD was associated with higher levels of parental care and an affectionate constraint parenting style. Additionally, parental PTSD was related …

Racial Preference As A Moderator In The Match-Alliance Relationship: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Indian Immigrants, Sarika Agarwal M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Patient preferences are defined as a patient’s desire for specific behaviors or attributes of the therapist or therapy (Arnkoff et al., 2002). Psychotherapy patients may hold a preference for a same-race therapist due to their perception that the therapist is similar to themselves, which may positively affect the therapeutic alliance (Cabral & Smith, 2011). However, since previous research has found mixed results on the positive effects of racial matching in psychotherapy (Cheng et al., 2023), another possible angle to examine the effects of racial matching on the therapeutic alliance is by taking patient preference into account. While data is limited …

The Birth Experience During The First Wave Of Covid-19 Lockdown In New York Hospitals: A Qualitative Study, Emily Morse Small M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

In 2020, alongside the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, 209,338 births occurred in New York State (Osterman et al., 2022). While much of the public adjusted to working or learning in a virtual world, many hospitals in New York remained open to treat those in need of care. Women nearing the end of their pregnancy, many of whom felt that they had no other choice, found themselves headed to the hospital—to the labor and delivery unit. Many studies completed outside of the United States on the birth experience during the pandemic found an increase in the likelihood of negative …