Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons^™

Impact Of Racism On The Use Of Intrusive Interventions, Marissa Mackey

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The American law enforcement’s disproportionate maltreatment and violence against the BIPOC community has become a mainstream social issue. Since racism and discrimination have been interwoven into American society since the country’s origin it is negligent to think that differential and unfair treatment starts and ends with police. Using the data from this study we will examine the relationship between racial minority status and the rate of use of intensive interventions such as restraints and seclusion in inpatient mental health facilities. The results of this study can be used to inspire future research into how to create equity within inpatient organizations, …

Measuring Countertransference And Self-Care For Therapists During Covid-19 And Telehealth, Elliott Duea

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The sudden onset of a global pandemic put therapists in a unique position; therapists that have always practiced in an office found themselves providing therapy from their homes. With this change, this study seeks to measure two things: the first goal of this study is to determine if therapists have encountered more instances of countertransference since practicing in their homes. And the second goal of the study is to determine if it has been more difficult to practice self-care since seeing clients at home over telehealth.

Effectiveness Of Telehealth In Treating Eating Disorders, Kylee Hellstern, Julia Robison

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Eating disorders have been increasing in severity and frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals are experiencing lockdown, isolation, increased fear of exposure and contraction, and disruption in regular routine. Clients and clinicians are being encouraged to conduct therapy virtually and through a screen. While almost all treatment has been moved online, little to no research has been done on telehealth’s effectiveness on treatment of eating disorders. The purpose of this proposed study is to collect quantitative data on the effectiveness of telehealth as a means of treatment for eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects Of Trauma-Informed, Culturally Adaptive Efit Among U.S. Cambodian Refugees, Liane Whang

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of culturally adaptive, trauma-informed Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) on Cambodian refugees with PTSD, depression, and/or somatic symptom disorder. Participants will be drawn from a geographical area with the largest concentration of Cambodian Americans in the Seattle, Washington area. Eligible participants are adults who have been diagnosed with PTSD, major depression, and/or somatoform disorders who have lived in Cambodia at some point during the Khmer Rouge regime before resettling in Seattle. Half of the participants will be offered trauma-focused EFIT while the other half will receive their usual psychiatric and …

Effectiveness Of Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (Efft) In Adults Experiencing Anorexia Nervosa., Lea Fingerhut

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is one of the most lethal and debilitating psychiatric disorders with a long recovery rate, underscoring the need for efficacious treatment. Although research has made significant advances in individual and systemic treatment options for AN, none have examined the use of family-based treatment options with adults experiencing AN. The following study aims to explore the efficacy of emotionally-focused family therapy (EFFT) in the treatment of AN.

Life Satisfaction In Family Caregivers Taking Care Of Someone With Dementia: A Comparison To Informal Caregivers And Non-Caregivers., Raelynn Johnston

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

There are an estimated 30 million individuals with dementia and that number is likely to doubles every twenty years. Individuals with dementia typically need additional support, which comes from caregivers. It is important to look at the life satisfaction of caregivers, both family and informal, compared to non-caregivers (Brodaty & Donkin, 2009). Caregivers experience higher rates of depression, stress, health complications, and lower rates of life satisfaction (Borg & Hallberg, 2006). This has clinical implications as it can demonstrate how therapists can provide resources and tools for caregivers to reduce depression, stress, and burden. This study aims to explore the …

Is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy In School-Based Settings Effective In Reducing Self-Harm Tendency Behaviors In Adolescents?, Enas Albar, Violet Ohsiek

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

About 16% of adolescents have engaged in deliberate self-harm (Muehlenkamp et al., 2012). These adolescents will experience a range of negative effects and can possibly engage in other high-risk behaviors (Westers & Plener, 2020). Solution-focused brief therapy is known to be cost-effective and applicable in school-based settings (Szlyk, 2018). Since teens are more likely to receive support in school settings, examining the effectiveness of SFBT is beneficial. Applying solution-focused brief therapy in a school-based setting will decrease self-harm tendency behaviors in adolescents. Our sample size will include both male and female participants ages 12-18 years old. Using data from collected …

Exploring The Therapeutic Relationship As A Central Focus Through Expressive Arts Therapy In Oncology, Akshata Parekh

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The treatment for cancer can be physically, mentally, emotionally and socially challenging. These treatments have side effects like physical body pain, hair loss, changes in weight, energy, nausea and more. These physical changes impact the social, mental and emotional well-being of the patient and makes this journey of the life-threating prognosis of cancer very tough to confront. Expressive arts therapy provides a safe space for the patients to address their mental health concerns as a result of this treatment. The Capstone Thesis Project explored expressive arts therapy interventions with 95 patients through single or multiple sessions while going through their …

Evaluating Standardized Assessments’ Ability To Capture Lived Experience Of Cancer Patients And Survivors In Art Therapy Groups, Lara Desanto, Sarah Han, Cecilia Sánchez

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the use of quantitative assessments typically used in research to evaluate experiences of cancer patients and survivors receiving group art therapy services. Literature exploring program evaluation as a methodology, how current research selects standardized measurement tools for the evaluation of art therapy interventions with adult cancer patients and survivors, and on the efficacy of art therapy with this population is reviewed.

Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from four participants, who were clients in two eight-week art therapy groups. Quantitative data were collected in the form of pre- and post-test measurements using six commonly used standardized quality …

Integrating Art Therapy And Emotionally Focused Therapy With Couples: A Conceptual Framework, Pauline A. Hall

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how art interventions are aligned and integrated with emotionally focused therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2020) in the treatment of relational distress with couples. EFT is a brief humanistic evidence-based treatment, grounded in attachment theory, with experiential and systemic approaches to intervention that engage underlying emotion to create more secure bonds. Notably scant literature exists blending art-based and verbal approaches in EFT, despite the importance of verbal imagery in EFT intervention and the experiential nature of expressive therapies. In this study, NVivo qualitative data analysis software facilitated thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with five clinicians who integrate the …

Keeping Count: Studying The Effects Of Previous Sexual History On A Current Coupling, Kaelyn D. Pate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis details a quantitative study focusing on the sexual double standard and how its impact on sexual attitudes and behaviors has a possible influence on relationship satisfaction. The purpose of this research is to understand how attitudes regarding the prevailing double standard reflect the hesitancy towards having a partner with a previous sexual history as the discussion suggests. There will be a review of previous literature for the traditional, cultural, and even paradoxical aspects that make up the standard. Findings of the study showed that there was no significant relationship found between a respondent’s acceptance of the sexual …

It's About Time: Examining The Role Of Time Together And Perceived Stress In Couple Relationships, Rachel J. H. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Because stress is a common struggle in romantic relationships and because stress can spill over into couples’ interactions and affect their level of relationship connection, it is important to understand what can help couples adapt to stress and maintain meaningful relationships. Quality time together has been found to have positive effects on relationship outcomes overall. Additionally, family stress theory has posited that having sufficient resources can help couples adapt to stress and avoid a crisis situation. As such, time together was examined as a potential resource for couples to draw upon to adapt to the potential negative effects of perceived …

Treatment Access For Dual Diagnosis Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Pedro Banuelos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In 2018, of 1.3 million Latinx adults in the United States facing concurrent issues with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders (MHD) 93% remained untreated for either diagnosis. This is concerning since Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data reveals that this population is at greater risk for suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. They also face structural barriers such as employment, housing, legal involvement, and insurability that further impede access to treatment.

This study’s purpose was to examine barriers to accessing treatment for Latinx populations confronting co-occurring SUDs and MHDs. This study used a qualitative design …

The Value Of Community Psychiatric Services For The Elderly’S Dementia Caregiver Group: Exploring The Perspectives Of Participants, Elise Greto

Patient Experience Journal

Community Psychiatric Services for the Elderly (CPSE) at a large teaching hospital in Toronto has offered a monthly support group for caregivers of persons with dementia for over 30 years. Participants were surveyed in January 2018 about group attendance, benefits of attending the group, and areas for improvement. Results are shared in this case study. A total of 8 participants responded to the survey with a response rate of 47%. The feedback was predominantly positive. The most prevailing theme that emerged from the survey responses was group members’ appreciation for the opportunity to meet with one another to discuss relevant …

Five Love Languages: Assessment Of Marital Satisfaction In African American Couples, Freddricka C. Lee

LSU Master's Theses

This mixed-methods study examined marital satisfaction among five (n = 10) heterosexual, African American married couples. In particular, this study examined how acknowledging a partner’s love language (Chapman, 1995) can affect these couples’ level of marital satisfaction. The participants were native to the South and ranged from 26-55 years of age. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data revealed couples were satisfied with their marriages. Although only marginally significant, the findings also revealed acknowledging a spouse’s love language was positively related to higher levels of marital satisfaction. Seven themes emerged throughout the interviews, namely communication; financial stability; understand a spouse’s …

Kesejahteraan Dan Ekologi Anak Angkat Warga Negara Indonesia Dalam Pengangkatan Anak Antarnegara (Intercountry Adoption) Menghadapi Negara Baru, Monica Sundawati Susanto, Johanna Debora Imelda

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

Adoption is currently one of the efforts chosen by several couples to have children. Adoption of children currently being processed in Indonesia is not only for prospective adoptive parents who are Indonesian citizens, but can also be processed for foreign citizens who wish to adopt Indonesian citizens (intercountry adoption) which has been regulated in the Government through Government Regulation Number 54 of 2007 concerning the Implementation of Child Adoption. In these regulations, children who can be adopted are neglected or neglected children. Therefore, adoption is carried out with the aim of protecting and improving the welfare of the child. The …

Exploring The Efficacy Of The Helen B. Landgarten Art Therapy Clinic’S Transition To Telehealth During Covid-19, Brittany Benjamin Amante, Alejandra Hernandez, Emily Lin, Amanda D. Martin, Chao Zhao

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This research qualitatively explores the impacts of the Helen B. Landgarten Art therapy Clinic’s transition to art therapy telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this research was to explore the efficacy of interventions and the clinical themes that emerged as a result of telehealth art therapy services delivered to marginalized communities through the Helen B. Landgarten Art Therapy Clinic. Data that was collected includes anonymous surveys from administrators, teachers, and caregivers of those receiving services and facilitators of services, semi-structured interviews with administrators, teachers, and caregivers of those receiving services, as well as a focus group with …

Art-Making During A Global Pandemic: A Collaborative Autoethnography, Caitlin Carey, Parisa Frost, Jon Harguindeguy, Sarah Heller, Susan Lee, Christina Smith, Eva Wang

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Between March 11, 2020 and May of 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) counted over 100 million cases of COVID-19, resulting in three million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2021). In order to examine the effects of art-making on social and psychological well-being, seven graduate students from the Marital and Family Art Therapy Program at LMU conducted the following study utilizing a qualitative, arts-based research approach through collaborative autoethnography (CAE). The research question — What are the effects of personal art-making on well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic? — was posed by the seven graduate student authors. The data revealed that pandemic-time art-making …

An Art Therapist's Use Of Art Making As Self Care In Pediatric Medicine, Emily Hargraves

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This heuristic research project examines my personal use of art making as a form of self-care while interning in a pediatric hospital. The review of the literature investigates the concept of self-care and the use of art making as a therapeutic outlet for working art therapists, for professionals in the healthcare field, and for art therapy students working specifically in hospital settings. The literature suggests that self-care is a necessary process, that self-care is not just for the physical self, but also for one’s mental health. The literature also indicates that art therapists have found that art making as a …

Surrogacy Among Filipinos Who Have Struggled With Infertility: A Discourse Analysis, Gabrielle Marie A. Liamzon, Andrea Mari P. Santos, Marie Ashley G. Tamayo, Ma. Elizabeth J. Macapagal

Psychology Department Faculty Publications

Surrogacy continues to be practiced to address infertility in the Philippines; however, discussions on the method are sparse, given its limited accessibility and morally questionable procedures that may concern potential parents in a developing country. Using discourse analysis, the researchers interviewed ten (10) Filipino Roman Catholics who were struggling with infertility, to uncover how they construct the idea of surrogacy. The study shows the discourses on surrogacy are often approached in a detached manner, where potential parents describe the method as a last choice or one that is never considered. They articulate this position by highlighting the emotional factors surrogacy …