The Perceptions Of Social Workers On The Mental Health Needs Of Immigrant Hispanic Males In New York City: A Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
The Perceptions Of Social Workers On The Mental Health Needs Of Immigrant Hispanic Males In New York City: A Phenomenological Study, Mauline Lawrence-Jackson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this research was to describe the experiences of social workers as they provide services to meet the mental health needs of Hispanic immigrant males in New York City. The study was based on Bronfenbrenner's (1979) Social Ecological Theory and Vygotsky's (1978) Social Constructivism to examine how social workers in New York City perceived and addressed the mental health needs of Hispanic immigrant men, while accounting for the influence of cultural and systemic factors. The main research question used in the study was: How do social workers in New York City describe their experiences providing services to Hispanic …
Vulnerability Through Story Deepening Male Relationships,
2026
Liberty University
Vulnerability Through Story Deepening Male Relationships, Paul Samuel Hahn
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Men need a vulnerable community. This action research project examines the development of a vulnerable community within the local church context at Maranatha Bible Chapel in Horseheads, NY. The men of Maranatha Bible Chapel feel the persistent challenges in Western culture that erect barriers to vulnerable masculine relationships within the community. Even though the men of Maranatha Bible Chapel report high participation in the church, they chronicle feelings of isolation and a desire for closer relationships between the men in the congregation. This action research project seeks to address the problem of vulnerable male relationships at Maranatha Bible Chapel by …
Exploring Nonresident African American Fathers’ Experiences Of Fatherhood,
2026
Liberty University
Exploring Nonresident African American Fathers’ Experiences Of Fatherhood, Jennifer Juanita Occil
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore nonresident African American fathers’ experiences of fatherhood. Although research has examined the influence of father involvement on children’s social, educational, and psychological outcomes, limited qualitative research has focused on the lived experiences of nonresident African American fathers, particularly those with higher levels of education and from the fathers’ perspectives. Family systems theory guided this study, focusing on differentiation of self, interdependency, and boundary setting. The central research question was, how do nonresident African American fathers describe their experiences of fatherhood? For this study, six nonresident African American fathers who had …
Understanding Husbands Who Live With A Spouse Who Abuses Substances: A Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
Understanding Husbands Who Live With A Spouse Who Abuses Substances: A Phenomenological Study, Starla Rachelle Huckeba
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Christian non-addicted husbands who are married to a substance-abusing wife in Texas. A thorough review of existing literature indicated that previous research has focused on female non-addicted family members. From this, a gap was identified, and the central research question was developed: How did the Christian non-addicted husband describe the personal effect of living with a substance-abusing wife? Family systems theory, attachment theory, and attachment to God theory guided this study. The sample included 12 husbands whose wives abuse substances. The data collection consisted of the completion …
Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Spouses Of Veterans With Ptsd And Nightmares In Coastal Georgia,
2026
Liberty University
Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Spouses Of Veterans With Ptsd And Nightmares In Coastal Georgia, Heather Evans
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of spouses of veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with recurring nightmares in coastal Georgia. Since the experience of the spouse of a veteran is a unique experience, the theories that guided this study were Bowen’s family systems theory and Lazarus and Folkman’s stress theory. These theories guided this study in comprehending the complexities of this role and the family dynamics and stress of a spouse of a veteran with PTSD and nightmares. Thematic analysis was used in this study to analyze the data. The literature on …
Police Officers Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Responding To Mental Health Crises: A Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
Police Officers Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Responding To Mental Health Crises: A Phenomenological Study, Kenderlette Necosha Gibson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The increasing prevalence of mental health issues and their connection to law enforcement creates a need to understand the perceptions and attitudes of police officers toward mental health. Through this qualitative phenomenological study, the lived experiences of police officers from multiple local law enforcement agencies located in Southeast Texas Region were examined, with a focus on how they perceived mental health issues, how they responded to crises involving mental health issues, and how their perceptions influenced their decision-making during these crises. It is estimated that at least 52.9 million people in the United States have experienced mental health issues since …
Pediatric Cancer Patients' Experience With Pediatric Medical Trauma And Caregiver Attachment: A Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
Pediatric Cancer Patients' Experience With Pediatric Medical Trauma And Caregiver Attachment: A Phenomenological Study, Rebekah L. Holland
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of individuals impacted by pediatric medical trauma and their attachment to their caregiver. The theories guiding this study include John Bowlby’s attachment theory as a framework for understanding relational experiences. Attachment theory provides the structural framework for understanding the meaning of attachment, impact on medical trauma, and how disability impact social experience. The study is designed using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Participants will include 10-15 adults who meet criteria, which include those who have experienced medical trauma as a child within the United States. They will be recruited …
The Impact Of Trauma On Emotional Well-Being And Professional Functioning In Registered Play Therapists,
2026
Liberty University
The Impact Of Trauma On Emotional Well-Being And Professional Functioning In Registered Play Therapists, Jami Stobaugh
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Play therapists often work with children who have experienced trauma, which can cause emotional strain, while offering opportunities for professional growth. Understanding how therapists’ personal trauma histories affect their well-being is crucial for supporting clinician resilience. This study examined the relationships among trauma exposure, trauma responses, post-traumatic growth (PTG), and professional quality of life among registered play therapists (RPTs) and RPT Supervisors (RPT-S). It also explored whether vicarious trauma (VT), supervisory working alliance, and counselor self-efficacy influenced these relationships. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from a national sample of play therapists via an online questionnaire that measured …
Living In The Shadows: Men Who Suffer Domestic Violence: A Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
Living In The Shadows: Men Who Suffer Domestic Violence: A Phenomenological Study, Sharon R. Blackmon
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Domestic violence (DV) among male victims is increasingly prevalent today, and it has a tremendous effect on both male and female victims. DV has had a lasting negative impact on the overall well-being of the male victims, and it has caused them to experience physical, emotional, and psychological distress. DV does not discriminate against race, gender, cultural background, economic or educational status. While there are a vast number of studies on DV, male victims are considered perpetrators instead of victims. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe male domestic violence victims' experiences with domestic violence in rural West …
From Rituals To Resilience: Individuals’ Lived Experience Of Self-Reflective Relationship Therapy (Srrt),
2026
Liberty University
From Rituals To Resilience: Individuals’ Lived Experience Of Self-Reflective Relationship Therapy (Srrt), Ehsan Adib Shabahang
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This qualitative Husserlian descriptive phenomenological study addressed a gap in first-person accounts of brief self-guided preventive relationship interventions. One such intervention, Self-Reflective Relationship Therapy (SRRT), is a 6-week self-guided workbook combining structured reflection with brief connection practices. The purpose of the study was to describe individuals' first-person lived experiences 6 to 18 months after completing SRRT. Six participants completed asynchronous written reflections, and the data were analyzed using Husserlian descriptive phenomenology with Colaizzi's seven-step method. Participants described SRRT as a workable path toward reconnection after periods of emotional distance or strain. Carryover centered less on continued adherence to the workbook …
Exploring The Impact Of Athlete-Coach Relationship On Self-Worth: A Phenomenal Study Of Perceptions And Dynamics,
2026
Liberty University
Exploring The Impact Of Athlete-Coach Relationship On Self-Worth: A Phenomenal Study Of Perceptions And Dynamics, Jada D. Harris-Wilson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research investigates how the coach-athlete relationship affects athletes' self-worth, emotional dependency, and resilience, using the single-parent or two-parent family dynamic as a moderating factor. Using self-determination theory, attachment theory, and social identity theory as frameworks, the current study explores how coaching styles influence the psychological well-being of athletes. This research utilizes interviews, questionnaires, and observations to analyze perceived coach support, emotional dependency, and resilience themes. The study's findings indicate that autonomy-supportive coaching helps athletes develop self-esteem, coping skills, and mental resilience. On the other hand, controlling coaching styles is associated with increased pressure and lower levels of resilience. Also, …
Korean Pastors’ Lived Experiences Of Their Congregants’ Mental Health Issues In The Philadelphia Suburbs: A Phenomenological Study,
2026
Liberty University
Korean Pastors’ Lived Experiences Of Their Congregants’ Mental Health Issues In The Philadelphia Suburbs: A Phenomenological Study, Guiyoung Kim
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe Korean pastors’ lived experiences of dealing with their congregants’ mental health issues in the suburban areas of Philadelphia. The theory guiding this study is ecological systems theory, which helps explain the mental health issues of Korean Americans and the factors influencing their help-seeking behaviors within the major ecological systems unique to this population. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 10 Korean pastors serving Korean American churches in suburban Philadelphia. The collected data was analyzed and aggregated into themes through coding.
A Quantitative Study On Loneliness: Exploring The Interaction Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Maladaptive Beliefs, Adult Attachment, And God Attachment,
2026
Liberty University
A Quantitative Study On Loneliness: Exploring The Interaction Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Maladaptive Beliefs, Adult Attachment, And God Attachment, Breanna Mcneal
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this quantitative study is to explore a moderated mediation analysis of the relationship between child adversity and loneliness when maladaptive beliefs are included as a mediator, along with adult attachment and God attachment as separate moderators with two subcategories (anxiety and avoidance). The results are based on 428 adult survey responses in which the key findings indicate that there is an initial direct effect between child adversity and loneliness, and that maladaptive beliefs mediate the relationship between child adversity and loneliness. Each of the moderated mediation models are supported only from the maladaptive beliefs to loneliness path …
Becoming Resilient: The Lived Experiences Of African American Women Who Were Raised By Single Mothers While Pursuing Higher Education,
2026
Liberty University
Becoming Resilient: The Lived Experiences Of African American Women Who Were Raised By Single Mothers While Pursuing Higher Education, La'quita Shaunae Williams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of African American women ages 18–45 who were raised exclusively by single mothers while pursuing higher education. The purpose of the study was to examine how participants interpreted and made meaning of resilience within the context of their academic journeys. Nine participants met inclusion criteria following an initial screening process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using IPA’s iterative, idiographic approach, allowing for in-depth exploration of individual narratives prior to cross-case thematic synthesis. Findings revealed resilience as relational, intergenerational, and culturally grounded. Themes reflected maternal modeling, adaptive persistence, …
The Effects Of Narrative Identity Awareness On The Relationship Between Adult Attachment, Shame, And God Attachment,
2026
Liberty University
The Effects Of Narrative Identity Awareness On The Relationship Between Adult Attachment, Shame, And God Attachment, Jacqueline H. Watson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative study examines the interconnectedness of adult attachment, shame, God attachment, and narrative identity awareness. Insecure adult attachment has been shown to result in increased shame experiences and has been linked to insecure God attachment. Awareness of narrative identity has been used to improve left-right brain integration and correct problematic narratives that often lead to shame. This research employs Likert scale-style questionnaire data, parallel mediation, and linear regression-based models to assess the connections between study variables. More specifically, it examines whether narrative identity awareness moderates the relationship between adult attachment, shame, and God attachment. Participants included self-identifying Christian adults …
The S.A.V.E. Model Of Biblically-Based Existential Therapy For Residents Of The Assisted Living Facility Casa Di Riposo Sardara In Sardinia, Italy,
2026
Liberty University
The S.A.V.E. Model Of Biblically-Based Existential Therapy For Residents Of The Assisted Living Facility Casa Di Riposo Sardara In Sardinia, Italy, Gregory K. Cherven
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Christian gerontological counseling, a traditionally non-progressive field, is a crucial area of ministry, particularly for older adults in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. At Casa di Riposo Sardara in Sardinia, Italy, many residents aged 70 and older lacked a solid biblical understanding of existence and eternal life, contributing to widespread existential anxiety among this population. To address this issue, the researcher developed the S.A.V.E. (solitude, autonomy, value, eternity) model of biblically based existential therapy. This model targets the four main pillars of existential therapy: meaninglessness, isolation, freedom, and death, offering biblical solutions for each. The approach incorporates positive imagery …
Exploring Intimate Partner Relationship Satisfaction Among Women Who Have Experienced Discrimination And Childhood Trauma,
2026
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Exploring Intimate Partner Relationship Satisfaction Among Women Who Have Experienced Discrimination And Childhood Trauma, Rachel L. Gaglio
Dissertations
Objective: Connections may exist between intimate partner relationship satisfaction outcomes and experiences of childhood trauma and discrimination among women. The majority of existing research highlights individual trauma impacting relationship satisfaction that includes military experience, childhood trauma, domestic violence, and sexual assault, yet there is a gap in research which expands on both childhood trauma and discrimination endured among women in relation to intimate partner relationship satisfaction outcomes, as they relate to intimacy and closeness and resolving conflict and arguments. The present study explored the links between childhood trauma and discrimination experienced by women and their connection in intimate partner relationship …
From Body Positivity To Body Power: How Music Therapy And Body Liberation Intersect To Address Body Oppression In The Therapeutic Space–A Literature Review,
2026
Lesley University
From Body Positivity To Body Power: How Music Therapy And Body Liberation Intersect To Address Body Oppression In The Therapeutic Space–A Literature Review, Katherine M. Perkoski
Expressive Therapies Theses
With the rise of overt fascism, anti–fat bias, anti–intellectualism, anti–multiculturalism, anti–diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the persistence of white, capitalist, cisheteropatriarchy narratives around bodies, music therapists need to recognize how client and therapist bodies show up in practice. In this critical literature review, bodies will be sociopolitically and culturally contextualized, and the intersections of music therapy, body liberation, and body power will be discussed. Music therapists need to address the body oppression faced by sociopolitical identities such as race, gender, disability, age, body size, sexuality, neurodiversity, class, ethnicity, nationality, housing status, and immigration status. The music therapy field needs to …
Dance Movement Therapy Enhances Experiential Master Play In Child Centered Play Therapy: Literature Review,
2026
Lesley University
Dance Movement Therapy Enhances Experiential Master Play In Child Centered Play Therapy: Literature Review, Fallon M. Walsh
Expressive Therapies Theses
This literature review examines the use of Dance movement therapy to enhance trauma processing during Experiential mastery play in Child centered play therapy. The purpose of this review is to evaluate existing research on trauma in adolescents, Dance movement therapy, and Child centered play therapy to understand the support and effectiveness of combining these interventions. The paper discussed research on the following topics: Adverse childhood experiences, Dance movement therapy, Child centered play therapy, Experiential mastery play, and kinesthetic empathy. As this is a growing topic, the discussion section explores the overlap of Dance movement therapy and Child centered play therapy, …
Between Cultures: An Expressive Arts Community Engagement Project On Identity, Belonging, And Cultural Transition Among International Students,
2026
Lesley University
Between Cultures: An Expressive Arts Community Engagement Project On Identity, Belonging, And Cultural Transition Among International Students, Shilpa Ivaturi
Expressive Therapies Theses
International students navigating cultural transition often experience disruptions not only in social adjustment but also in their sense of identity, belonging, and meaning-making. Grounded in expressive arts therapy, cross-cultural psychology, and mythopoetic frameworks of transformation, this thesis explores how creative processes can support international students in reflecting on and integrating their evolving identities during periods of cultural transition. A four-hour trauma-informed expressive arts workshop, structured around the Hero’s Journey arc of departure, initiation, and return, was facilitated across two sessions at a university in the northeastern United States. Seven international students from diverse cultural backgrounds engaged in multimodal practices including …
