Start From Zero: Reimagining Creative Arts Therapy Education In An International Context,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Start From Zero: Reimagining Creative Arts Therapy Education In An International Context, Ling Cheun Bianca Lee
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This qualitative dissertation examines how Hong Kong-based art therapists trained in Western graduate programs adapt their educations to the cultural, institutional, and sociopolitical realities of their local contexts. Using photovoice methodology informed by decolonial, liberatory, and trauma-informed frameworks—referred to as stir fry praxis—the study centers the experiences of 11 participants navigating professional reentry, identity formation, and systemic constraints. Seven interrelated themes emerged: The evolving and precarious landscape of art therapy in Hong Kong; the dual role of practitioners as therapists and educators; the impact of sociopolitical forces, including self-censorship and limited access to care; the limitations of Western-centric education; grassroots …
Examining The Relationship Between Bicultural Stress And Mental Well-Being Among Second-Generation Filipino Americans Living In The United States,
2025
Antioch University
Examining The Relationship Between Bicultural Stress And Mental Well-Being Among Second-Generation Filipino Americans Living In The United States, Krista Parker
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Research investigating the bicultural and mental health experiences of Filipino Americans, the third largest Asian American group in the United States, are consistently overlooked, with second-generation Filipino Americans (SGFAs) facing greater risk of adverse mental health outcomes. This quantitative study addresses a critical gap in research by examining the relationship between bicultural stress and mental well-being among SGFAs living in the United States. Using a cross-sectional survey design, a multivariate regression analysis examined the relationship between bicultural stress and four mental health constructs (as measured by depression, anxiety, stress, and self-esteem) among 302 SGFA participants. Results from this study strongly …
High School Counselor Perceptions Of Trauma-Informed Professional Development And Implementation Of Trauma-Informed Practices In Schools,
2025
Pepperdine University
High School Counselor Perceptions Of Trauma-Informed Professional Development And Implementation Of Trauma-Informed Practices In Schools, Kimberly Faulkner-Camacho
Theses and Dissertations
This non-experimental phenomenological study aimed to delve into school counselors’ perspectives on what motivates them to participate in trauma-informed professional development, the necessary supports for implementing trauma-informed practices in schools (TIPS), and the barriers that impede implementation. Drawing on situated learning theory and adult learning theory, this study sought to enhance the understanding of school counselors’ views on trauma-informed professional development and implementation. These frameworks offered valuable insights into how to support counselors and shed light on existing barriers. The study involved 10 traditional public high school counselors from non-charter schools in Los Angeles County, selected through snowball and purposive …
Exploring Help-Seeking Experiences And Barriers Of Ethnic And Racially Marginalized Individuals With Ocd In The United States,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Exploring Help-Seeking Experiences And Barriers Of Ethnic And Racially Marginalized Individuals With Ocd In The United States, Nayara Aparecida Da Costa Silva Beall
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This qualitative study explored the help-seeking experiences and barriers of ethnic and racially marginalized individuals with OCD living in the United States through a sociocultural model of OCD. Participants included eight adults who self-identified as members of a racial or ethnic marginalized group and with an OCD diagnosis. Individual interviews were conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of participants’ experiences and data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Five themes emerged from the analysis: (1) OCD Emergence, (2) Barriers to Getting Help with OCD, (3) Desire for Help, (4) Ongoing Challenges with OCD, and (5) The Importance of Finding …
Reality Shock And Systemic Strain: Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Pre-Licensed Mental Health Counselors,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Reality Shock And Systemic Strain: Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Pre-Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Sara Al-Khedairy
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The counseling profession is struggling to meet the rising demand for mental health care due to a growing workforce shortage driven by burnout, inadequate support, and low compensation—pressures that disproportionately impact pre-licensed clinicians. Despite their critical role in sustaining the field, pre-licensed counselors often face systemic barriers with little structural support. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of pre-licensed clinical mental health clinicians through social-ecological and reality shock theories. Participants included 14 pre-licensed clinical mental health counselors who had graduated from CACREP-accredited programs within the last five years. Individual interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of participants’ …
Intersectional Opportunities For Drama Therapy And Counseling,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Intersectional Opportunities For Drama Therapy And Counseling, Erica Craig-Mann
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The purpose of this study was to explore the intersectional possibilities between the fields of drama therapy and mental health counseling through the lens of transformative learning theory. Specifically, the research sought to understand the lived experiences of professionals trained in both disciplines to identify how these fields might mutually inform, strengthen, and enhance one another through collaboration and/or dual training. Data were collected through a qualitative online survey and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: (a) Theoretical and Practical Overlaps and Distinctions; (b) Drama Therapy-Informed Counseling: Embodiment, Creativity, and Experiential Practice; (c) Counseling-Informed Drama Therapy: Frameworks for Practice, …
Humane Education And Animal Assisted Interventions To Reduce Trauma Impacts: A Scholarly Personal Narrative,
2025
Antioch University
Humane Education And Animal Assisted Interventions To Reduce Trauma Impacts: A Scholarly Personal Narrative, Nina Wiebalk
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The burgeoning fields of trauma-informed therapy and humane education are increasingly incorporating Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI). Given the growing understanding of trauma’s impact on developing brains, implementing humane education and AAI programs, such as the one I created, is crucial. This study will detail my efforts establishing and managing this program at a small non-profit within a major metropolitan city located within the Eastern United States, an agency dedicated to preventing and treating child abuse and trauma. To support this mission, I collaborated with our Executive Director to launch an AAI and humane education program, training and partnering with two …
Exploring The Perceptions Of Technology Use Of Clinicians And Their Clients,
2025
Antioch University
Exploring The Perceptions Of Technology Use Of Clinicians And Their Clients, Chase M. Torbergson
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The research question guiding this study was: What is the perceived understanding of technology use by clinicians for their work with clients? Fourteen participants completed an online qualitative survey exploring their experiences with technology and media in clinical practice. A thematic analysis revealed four primary themes. The first theme, variations in counselor online media usage, highlighted differences in how counselors engaged with online platforms for education, client connection, and self-care. The second theme, counselor assessment of, and dialogue around, online media use, captured varying levels of intentionality in exploring clients’ digital habits, ranging from minimal inquiry to regular, structured discussions. …
Exploring The Ethics Of Social Media In The Counseling Field,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Exploring The Ethics Of Social Media In The Counseling Field, Kaitlynn Cornell-Mullane
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Social media has become deeply integrated into both personal and professional lives, yet the use by counseling professionals remains underexplored. This study investigated how various roles within the counseling field experience and utilize social media in their professional development, identity formation, and ethical practice. A qualitative online survey was utilized to collect data from counseling professionals (N = 20). Findings revealed 6 themes: (a) Conflicting Perspectives on Client Social Media Use and Engagement, (b) Personal Discomfort and Ethical Ambiguity, (c) Counselors’ Varied Approaches of Social Media Use, (d) Social Media Use for Professional Development, (e) Mixed Perspectives on Social Media …
Exploring The Mental Health Of Korean-American Elderly Immigrants,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Exploring The Mental Health Of Korean-American Elderly Immigrants, Iris Minkyung Kim
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study sought to understand the mental health of Korean-American elderly immigrants using the theoretical frameworks Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development and Interpersonal Psychotherapy Theory (IPT). To achieve this purpose, this study incorporated a qualitative thematic analysis and conducted in-depth interviews with 10 elderly Korean immigrants living in the United States. From these interviews, eight themes were identified: (a) multifaceted immigration experiences, (b) immigration challenges, (c) complex language barriers, (d) personality constructs impacting experience, (e) the importance of relationships, (f) limited information and access to support, (g) life satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and (h) advice for future immigrants. These themes indicate …
Initial Validation Of The Measure Of Practical Existential Wellbeing,
2025
Antioch University
Initial Validation Of The Measure Of Practical Existential Wellbeing, Bryant L. Moore
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
According to the theory of existential psychology, all humans experience existential anxiety, a negative feeling that results from the understanding of certain unavoidable truths. If left unchecked, existential anxiety can lead to symptoms of mental illness. Much work has been done to explore and measure existential anxiety, but little has focused on protective factors within existential theory. This dissertation proposes the construct of existential wellbeing, representing protective factors corresponding to different existential domains. To assess this construct, a new instrument, the Measure of Practical Existential Wellbeing (MPEW), was developed, distributed, and analyzed in relation to other established measures. The MPEW …
Mental Heath Experiences Of Transracial Adoptees Of The Global Majority (Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color - Bipoc).,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Mental Heath Experiences Of Transracial Adoptees Of The Global Majority (Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color - Bipoc)., Phebe Brako
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of transracial adoptees of the global majority (BIPOC), focusing on their bicultural identity integration and its impact on mental health. During semi-structured interviews, nine participants shared their stories of navigating cultural and racial dynamics as adoptees in predominantly White adoptive families and communities. The findings revealed six core themes: (1) the Quest for Bicultural Identity Formation, (2) Cultural Integration and Adaptation, (3) Navigating Racial and Cultural Tensions, (4) the Role of Family in Cultural Integration, (5) the Importance of Community and Support Systems, and (6) Mental Health and Therapeutic Experiences, addressing …
Parental Stress, Self-Compassion, And Meaning In Life Among Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder,
2025
University of Kentucky
Parental Stress, Self-Compassion, And Meaning In Life Among Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hyun-Ju Ju
Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education
Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience higher levels of parenting stress than mothers of typically developing children or children with other developmental disabilities, which can undermine their psychological well-being. Additionally, parental stress among mothers of children with ASD is influenced by various demographic factors. This study primarily identified the relationship between parental stress and demographic factors. It also examined the correlations among parental stress, self-compassion, and meaning in life of mothers raising children with ASD within a positive psychology context. Finally, this study investigated whether self-compassion mediates the relationship between parenting stress and two distinct dimensions …
Engendering The Trans Cft: Gender Diverse Experiences Of Couple And Family Therapy Training Programs,
2025
Antioch University
Engendering The Trans Cft: Gender Diverse Experiences Of Couple And Family Therapy Training Programs, Coltan J. Schoenike
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Mental health literature, including in couple and family therapy (CFT), is sparse when it comes to transgender and gender diverse (TGD) topics. This is all the more the case when it is discussing instances where the provider themself is the one who is TGD. Very little literature exists that acknowledges the existence of trans clinicians and often focuses solely on whether their transness should even be disclosed. This study aimed to address this gap and explore the experiences of TGD CFTs, particularly focusing on training experiences in programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education …
Exploring The Use Of Somatic Skills And Techniques In Clinical Supervision,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Exploring The Use Of Somatic Skills And Techniques In Clinical Supervision, Areka D. Foster
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study explores the lived experiences of clinical supervisors who engage in somatically oriented supervision. Informed by relational-cultural theory and polyvagal theory, the research employs a grounded theory methodology to investigate the potential development of a somatic supervision framework. Eleven participants completed semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed using both thematic analysis and grounded theory techniques. Eleven core themes emerged: (a) conceptualizations of somatic supervision, (b) integration of somatic techniques in supervisory practice, (c) theoretical foundations for somatic supervision, (d) attunement to countertransference, (e) the supervisory relationship, (f) trauma-informed approaches, (g) somatic techniques and practices, (h) initiating and structuring somatic …
Inheriting Power And Pain: An Examination Of Intergenerational Influences In The Stories Of Black Women In Professional Leadership Positions,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Inheriting Power And Pain: An Examination Of Intergenerational Influences In The Stories Of Black Women In Professional Leadership Positions, Angela Banks
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study aimed to explore the stories of Black women in professional leadership roles. Grounded in a Black feminist perspective (Crenshaw, 1989) and informed by historical and intergenerational trauma (Brave Heart, 1999), this study utilized Black storytelling as a methodological framework and employed thematic analysis to examine the narratives of participants. A total of nine Black women in leadership positions across various industries participated in one-on-one interviews. The findings revealed four key themes: (1) What I saw and what others saw in me: Community leadership, (2) Instilled values: The Strong Black Woman Schema, (3) The only one: Sole representation and …
Reimagining Care: Experiences Of Trauma-Informed Approaches And Deinstitutionalization In Caribbean Child Welfare,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Reimagining Care: Experiences Of Trauma-Informed Approaches And Deinstitutionalization In Caribbean Child Welfare, Sarah L. Subhan
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study explored the perceptions and experiences of child welfare professionals on trauma-informed care and implications for deinstitutionalization in Trinidad and Tobago. The qualitative study utilized research interviews from 21 participants to inform findings. The participants included professionals from various agencies who work with children in care and protection. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, yielding six overarching themes (1) the need for training and capacity building in child protection, (2) systemic and organizational challenges to trauma informed care, (3) cultural and community factors impacting child protection, (4) the need to support family units as a pathway to …
Doctoral Student Supervisors' Experiences With Broaching Race And Race-Related Issues,
2025
Old Dominion University
Doctoral Student Supervisors' Experiences With Broaching Race And Race-Related Issues, Judith Wambui Preston, Gülşah Kemer
Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications
In this descriptive phenomenological study, we explored 13 doctoral student supervisors’ experiences with broaching race and race-related issues in supervision with counselors-in-training. Three themes emerged: the function of broaching; self-perceived attributes affecting broaching; and experiences of programmatic support and challenges. We discussed practical and research implications with study limitations.
Counselors’ Role In Supporting Lgbtgeqiap+ Teens Living In The Foster Care System,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Counselors’ Role In Supporting Lgbtgeqiap+ Teens Living In The Foster Care System, Elizabeth K. Kurt
Graduate Research Posters
Background: Queer youth in the United States are overrepresented and simultaneously unseen in the foster care system. They experience more negative mental health outcomes than their non-queer peers, and the child welfare system does not always provide safe or affirming care for these marginalized youth. LGBTGEQIAP+ teens are placed in congregate care at high rates and face a myriad of challenges in these settings that exasperate existing mental health concerns. This poster examines the injustices of out-of-home care and the maltreatment that gender and sexual minority youth experience in the foster care system, as well as exploring factors that improve …
The Long-Term Psychological Effects Of Violent Crime On Victims: A Review Of Evidence And Supportive Interventions,
2025
Missouri State University
The Long-Term Psychological Effects Of Violent Crime On Victims: A Review Of Evidence And Supportive Interventions, Jayden E. Oleksyn-Lamb
Graduate Theses/Dissertations
This study utilizes anonymous survey data collected from 26 mental health professionals in various regions of Canada to understand which psychological disturbances are the most prevalent among victims of violent crime as well as which psychological interventions are most beneficial for treating violent crime victims. The data revealed that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), anger, guilt, self-blame, and shame are each highly prevalent. Findings also revealed that certain therapeutic methods including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Supportive Counselling (SC), Progressive Relaxation (PR), Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy (CPT) and Cognitive Restructuring (CR) are associated with …
