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 …
How Marriage And Family Therapy Graduate Programs Awaken, Develop, And Teach Clinical Intuition: A Hermeneutic Qualitative Phenomenological Study,
2025
Antioch University
How Marriage And Family Therapy Graduate Programs Awaken, Develop, And Teach Clinical Intuition: A Hermeneutic Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Jessica Fountas
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This research explored how marriage and family therapy graduate programs awaken, develop, and teach clinical intuition. Using criterion-based sampling and snowball sampling, six licensed marriage and family therapists participated in a two-step hermeneutic phenomenological study consisting of individual semistructured interviews and a follow-up focus group. Requirements for participation were licensed marriage and family therapists who were in clinical practice, had experienced the phenomenon of clinical intuition and awakening of clinical intuition, and used clinical intuition in therapy with clients and in systemic supervision with supervisees. The research findings highlighted 14 themes: Reflection of the Experience of Clinical Intuition; Bodily Knowing, …
The Importance Of Accessibility, Self-Advocacy, And Affirming Care: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Transgender And Gender Diverse Older Adults’ Primary Care Experiences,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
The Importance Of Accessibility, Self-Advocacy, And Affirming Care: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Transgender And Gender Diverse Older Adults’ Primary Care Experiences, Jason Vaught
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The present study explored the lived experiences of Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) older adults when receiving primary care. The methodology utilized for this study was Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three participants completed individual, semi-structured interviews. The themes that emerged included “Lack of Accessibility to Services,” “Need for Self-Advocacy,” and “Value of Affirming Care from Providers.” These results illustrated the multifarious needs that arise for TGD older adults when accessing primary care. The findings provided recommendations for healthcare organizations, primary care physicians, and other healthcare professionals. Specifically, the recommendations emphasized two key practices for physicians treating TGD older adults: (1) …
Memento Mori: A Photo-Elicit Narrative Analysis On Grief,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Memento Mori: A Photo-Elicit Narrative Analysis On Grief, Jared Becknell
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Training and education about grief counseling has been stagnant, stalling the creativity and novel practice when working with bereaved individuals. Counselors in Training often receive minimal education and training in grief, even though clients will ultimately experience this phenomenon. Qualitative research findings provide insights into how individuals actively engage in the grieving process, while promoting their own versions of healing and acceptance through the artifacts kept from deceased loved ones. These findings explore the lived experience of individuals who keep artifacts from a deceased loved one. Results show an active participation in reconnecting to the deceased versus addressing grief symptoms …
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 …
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’ …
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 …
Bisexuality: An Individual's Direction Is Society's Detour,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Bisexuality: An Individual's Direction Is Society's Detour, Madisyn J. Roberts
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This dissertation explores the lived experiences of self-identified bisexual adults through a qualitative, narrative inquiry approach that centers how folx construct their story of sexuality and individual meaning making capacities based on held intersections of identity. Using Queer theory and intersectionality as a theoretical framework, this study investigates and advocates that sexual orientation is not validated or invalidated by its fluidity but aims to understand how bisexuality is an integrative part of an individual’s identity. This dissertation explores how society’s tendency to view sexuality as divided between heterosexuality and homosexuality erases the complexity and spectrum of sexual orientations that exist …
Experiences Of Dissertating Students: What Works?,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Experiences Of Dissertating Students: What Works?, Laura Durkin
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study explores the experiences of doctoral graduates from Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) programs. Guided by theoretical frameworks on student attrition and institutional racism, the research investigates three primary questions: (1) What dissertation- specific programmatic factors influence time to completion for CES doctoral students? (2) What interventions most strongly promote a sense of social integration and belonging? and (3) What interventions most strongly promote academic integration and confidence in students’ ability to succeed? Data were collected anonymously through an online survey, which included demographic and open-ended questions. Twelve 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, …
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 …
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 …
Outside Of The Counseling Room: Whiteness And Antiracism,
2025
Antioch University Seattle
Outside Of The Counseling Room: Whiteness And Antiracism, Carlee D. Smith
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This dissertation explores the lived experiences of white counselors as they integrate antiracism practices into their non-clinical lives. Rooted in the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) framework, this study addresses the gap in literature surrounding how white counselors embody antiracist ideologies outside of the counseling room. Through narrative qualitative methods, the research examines the challenges, strategies, and reflections of white counselors committed to antiracist practices; practical integration into personal life often encounters barriers related to internal biases, social resistance, and limited educational support. Insights from this research highlight the critical need for ongoing self-reflection, community accountability, and structural …
Cultivating Empathy: A Content Analysis Of Empathic Themes In Best-Selling Children's Books,
2025
Antioch University
Cultivating Empathy: A Content Analysis Of Empathic Themes In Best-Selling Children's Books, Elnaz J. Afousi
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study examines the presence and nature of empathic content in best-selling children’s picture books, with a focus on developmental relevance for preschool-aged readers. Using a modified version of the iEPIC empathy coding system, 10 titles from the New York Times best-seller list were analyzed to assess the frequency and complexity of three empathy-related constructs: Emotion or State Description (ESD), Exploring Emotion or State (EES), and Empathic Understanding or Concern (EUC). Results indicate that while all books contained some empathy-related content, ESD3 (self-reflective emotional descriptions) and EUC2/EUC4 (understanding and helping others) were most prevalent, suggesting an emphasis on both intrapersonal …
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 …
Subthreshold Depression In The National Epidemiologic Survey On Alcohol And Related Conditions Iii (Nesarc-Iii): A Quantitative Analysis Of Prevalence, Characteristics, And Burden In A Nationally Representative Sample,
2025
Antioch University
Subthreshold Depression In The National Epidemiologic Survey On Alcohol And Related Conditions Iii (Nesarc-Iii): A Quantitative Analysis Of Prevalence, Characteristics, And Burden In A Nationally Representative Sample, Scott T. Young
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
While subthreshold depression (subD) is relatively young for a diagnostic concept at a mere half century old, it has burdened individuals and societies for far longer. Research has established that it is a highly prevalent, clinically important entity with clear links to personal distress and impairment (including increased suicidal ideation and behavior), societal burden (e.g., increased reliance on public assistance programs), and economic costs (both personal and public). Research has also demonstrated that it represents a significant risk factor for incident major depression (MD) and that it likely represents both a prodromal and residual state in the normal course of …
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 …
Exploration Of Mystical Experiences And Relationship Changes: An Ayahuasca Study,
2025
Antioch University
Exploration Of Mystical Experiences And Relationship Changes: An Ayahuasca Study, Ginny Jo Reyes
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This mixed-methodology dissertation explores how participation in ayahuasca ceremonies at Rythmia Life Advancement Center (Costa Rica) influences relationship dynamics within couples. Looking at this in combination with self-reported mental health changes, the connection to mystical experiences are navigated. Statistical significance and narratives are explored; this study steps into the gap between ancient plant medicine traditions and the modern search for meaning, healing, and connection. Grounded in a social constructionist lens, the study combines pre- and post-surveys (CAGE-AID pre-only; MAT, KMS, RHS, PSS, GAD-7, PHQ-9; MEQ-30 post-only) with semistructured interviews. Quantitatively, participants showed significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression, with …
Culturally Responsive Social Emotional Learning Intervention On Parents And Its Impact On Family Well-Being,
2025
Antioch University
Culturally Responsive Social Emotional Learning Intervention On Parents And Its Impact On Family Well-Being, May Duong
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study examines how Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)-based parent education can bridge cultural divides and strengthen family-school partnerships in increasingly diverse educational settings. Conducted at an independent California elementary school where student demographics shifted to become more diverse in the last ten years, the research addresses a critical gap: while parent education is essential to child development, it remains overlooked in SEL implementation. The research investigates whether Western-based SEL frameworks, which emphasize individualism, can effectively support families from collectivist cultures. Through the EQ Gym program—a culturally responsive parent education initiative—the study explores three key questions: how school-based SEL research can address …
The Healer's Call: Helping Clients In A Secular World With Spiritual Problems,
2024
Brigham Young University
The Healer's Call: Helping Clients In A Secular World With Spiritual Problems, Brent Taylor
Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy
No abstract provided.
