Clinical Psychology Commons^™

Associations Between Cognitive Scripts Of Insecure And Anomalous Attachment And Psychopathology Symptoms In A Normative-Risk Community Sample, Andrea “Andie” Youniss M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Adult insecure and disorganized attachment representations have been shown to be consistently associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adulthood. A recently validated coding system (Groh & Haydon, 2024) was developed to assess insecure (i.e., deactivating and hyperactivating) and disorganized (i.e., anomalous) scripted attachment representations via the Attachment Script Assessment (ASA; Waters & Waters, 2006) – a word prompt task traditionally designed to assess secure base script knowledge. Deactivating scripts reflect minimized or ignored attachment-relevant problems; hyperactivating scripts entail exacerbated attachment-relevant issues; and scripts with anomalous content contain disorganized or contradictory attachment-relevant concerns that shape how caregiving interactions are expected …

Culturally Responsive Dialectical Behavior Therapy With Chinese Sexual And Gender Minority Individuals: A Qualitative Study, Weiyi Liao M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Professional guidelines emphasize the importance of adapting evidence-based treatments to the cultural and contextual needs of minoritized populations. Although substantial research has examined lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) mental health, comparatively little is known about the psychotherapy experiences of Chinese sexual and gender minority individuals or how dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may be delivered responsively with this population. DBT is an evidence-based treatment for emotion dysregulation, self-harm, and suicidal behavior that explicitly addresses the effects of invalidating environments. Because Chinese cultural contexts and LGBTQ-related minority stress may both shape emotional expression, help-seeking, and treatment experiences, this qualitative study …

To Use Silence Or Not Use Silence? A Qualitative Study Of Psychoanalysts’ Experience With Silence In Psychotherapy, Topaz Baumvoll M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Silence plays a multifaceted role within psychoanalytic theory and practice, yet remains understudied in therapeutic communication. While existing literature acknowledges silence as a significant aspect of therapeutic interaction, empirical studies specifically focusing on how psychoanalysts employ silence are scarce. This qualitative study addressed this gap by exploring how psychoanalysts understood and utilized silence in psychodynamic psychotherapy, identifying factors that influenced their perceptions of its use, and examining whether silence was experienced as conducive or obstructive to therapeutic interaction. Thirteen psychoanalysts (10 women, 3 men), aged 43 to 70, with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and representing heterosexual and gay/queer orientations, …

The Utility And Application Of Exposure And Response Prevention For Religious Scrupulosity In Orthodox Jews: A Critical Literature Review, Michael (Avi) Gurell M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Religious scrupulosity is a subset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by obsessions and compulsions related to religious beliefs and observances (Abramowitz et al., 2002; Miller & Hedges, 2008). Exposure and response prevention (E/RP) is the most effective psychological intervention for OCD and is also the recommended treatment for religious scrupulosity (Abramowitz, 2006; Abramowitz & Buchholtz, 2020). Orthodox Judaism has a set of beliefs and observances, some of which may challenge the appropriateness of using E/RP in this population (Huppert et al., 2007; Huppert & Siev, 2010). Although studies (e.g., Bonchek & Greenberg, 2009; Greenberg & Shefler, 2008) have examined aspects …

The Impacts Of Outside Friendships On Marital Satisfaction In The Orthodox Jewish Population, Rebecca Elberger

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

There is robust literature that supports the idea that maintaining a strong network of friends and social ties can help reduce the pressure on marriage and contribute to a more balanced and fulfilling life. Additionally, George et al. (2023) found that friendships significantly impact relational satisfaction, across individual, family, and mutual friend groups. A regression analysis in their study revealed that family support for the relationship and liking the partner were the greatest predictors of satisfaction. There are approximately 2 million Jewish people in the Greater New York area and there has been a steady increase in the Jewish population …

Mothers' Perspectives Of Behavioral Parent Training: A Qualitative Study, Ryan Schare M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Externalizing disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are the most common difficulties children face, with only half of children with these diagnoses receiving mental health treatment (Ghandour et al., 2019). Behavioral parent training (BPT) has been shown to be effective for treating externalizing disorders, yet parents exhibit low attendance and high dropout rates (Chacko et al., 2016). Researchers have examined parental acceptability of specific BPT skills (e.g., Calzada et al., 2013); however, no studies have focused on parents’ perceptions of BPT as an overall treatment package prior to participating in BPT. The present …

Experiences Of Jewish Women In Continuous Identity Cognitive Therapy And The Conceptual Alignment Of Treatment Goals Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Stages 3 And 4, Elisabeth Zigelstein

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Stages 1 and 2 of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which emphasize behavioral control and emotional experiencing, have received considerable operational and empirical attention, unlike the latter two stages of DBT which are meant to help individuals develop meaningful and fulfilling lives. CI-CT is a novel 12-week manualized group-psychotherapy intervention designed to enhance individuals’ connection to their life stories, future selves, and positive identities, while supporting the development of meaning-making and goal-directed behavior following suicidal crises and/or in the context of severe mental illness. This qualitative study explored 13 Jewish women’s experiences participating in a 10-session adaptation of CI-CT, following completion …

Formal Vs. Informal Disclosure Of Campus Sexual Assault: Social Reactions, Institutional Responses, And Associated Posttraumatic Stress, Karyna Fowler

Honors Theses

With research demonstrating increasing rates of sexual victimization on college campuses (Koss et al., 1987; Koss et al., 2022), sexual assault disclosure has become a critical construct with implications for victim-survivors’ posttraumatic stress (PTS) and healing. In the present mixed-methods study, college students (N = 558) at Bucknell University completed a survey assessing sexual victimization, disclosure, peer responses, institutional betrayal and support, and PTS; a subset (n = 9) participated in qualitative interviews examining social reactions, barriers to disclosure, and present functioning. Consistent with hypotheses, women reported significantly higher rates of sexual victimization than men; disclosure was relatively infrequent (26.5%) …

The Use Of Virtual Reality In Ptsd Research And Practice, Kenneth B. Abrams, Lindsay Okindo, Marta E. Bacon, Yiking Skylar Yu, Sofia Santamaria Germani, Malvika Malhotra, Nancy A. Cullen

Psychology Faculty Work

In the aftermath of traumatic events such as combat, sexual violence, or a natural disaster, individuals may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Technological advancements in virtual reality (VR) over the past few decades have opened new avenues for improving the assessment, treatment, and understanding of PTSD. VR allows users to be immersed in interactive, computer-generated environments that simulate real-world scenarios, such as a warzone or assault location, that would be difficult or unsafe to reproduce using traditional methods. The present paper offers an overview of how VR technology has been employed in both clinical and research settings related to PTSD. …

An Exploration Of Vicarious Trauma In The Integrated Trauma Team, Victoria L. Hadix

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the impacts of self-care, coping skills, and resilience on the perceptions of vicarious trauma by members of the trauma team in a small community hospital in the Northeastern United States, through the use of qualitative methodology and a semi-structured interview. The goal of this study was to gain an understanding of the mental health factors impacting health care professionals functioning in the fast-paced, demanding environment of the emergency room. Furthermore, the study explored health care professionals’ perceptions of the integrated trauma team and the relationships between individual and team-based characteristics. This study helped increase understanding …

Exploring The Relationship Between Discrete Cognitive Skills And Adaptive Skills In A Transdiagnostic Sample Of Children And Adolescents, Jacy L. Black

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The relationship between intelligence and adaptive functioning has been well researched for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. However, the relationship between these constructs has yet to be fully explored in other clinical pediatric populations that exhibit significant deficits in adaptive functioning. This archival study investigated the relationship between cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior in a transdiagnostic sample of children and adolescents. Although past studies have examined these relationships utilizing estimations of generalized intellectual ability, the present research examined associations between adaptive skills and discrete cognitive skills, often referred to as cognitive domains. By identifying the association …

Basc-3 Adolescent Version For American Indian / Alaska Native (Ai/An) Adolescents With Learning Difficulties: Identifying Comorbidities, Benjamin L. Shannon

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Deficiencies in cultural sensitivity among popular psychological assessment instruments can have significant consequences for diverse test takers, leading to inaccurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention. The present study aimed to explore possible differences in mean raw scale scores between an AI/AN adolescent sample and BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A normative sample data, as well as to establish preliminary evidence to suggest an increased prevalence of social/emotional dysfunction for AI/AN adolescents diagnosed with multiple specific learning disabilities (SLDs). Archival BASC-3 SRP-A and TRS-A data, collected from students and teachers at a residential school for American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents from …

Therapist Approaches To Disclosure And Associated Clinical Understandings Of Therapist Pregnancy In Psychodynamic Therapy, Alanna Doherty

Dissertations and Theses

Background: Therapist pregnancy is both an intensely evocative force and an unavoidable disturbance in the therapeutic relationship, that leaves the therapist with novel clinical issues and decisions to attend to while also undergoing significant personal change and potential psychic strain. It is also a strikingly understudied clinical phenomenon. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the process of disclosure of therapist pregnancy from the perspective of the therapist, to better understand how and why particular disclosure choices are made, and to examine disclosure as a site where personal needs and clinical decision-making intersect. Specifically, it builds upon the thematic categories identified …

Beyond Ssris: Omega-3 Fatty Acids And The Neurobiology Of Impulsivity In Borderline Personality Disorder, Sujean Doo

Scripps Senior Theses

Impulsivity is a central and clinically significant dimension of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and is strongly associated with self-harm, aggression, and suicide risk. Despite its prognostic importance, pharmacologic management of impulsivity in BPD remains inconsistent. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently prescribed; however, randomized controlled trials demonstrate limited efficacy for impulsive-aggression, and some patients experience a paradoxical behavioral activation. Meta-analytic and systematic reviews further suggest that mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics may outperform antidepressants, yet no specific medication is indicated to target impulsive behavioral dyscontrol.

This thesis synthesizes findings from systematic reviews, randomized trials, and neuroimaging research to evaluate …

Roots To Recovery: How Therapeutic Horticulture Can Heal Sexual Trauma, Fiona E. Larsen-Teskey

Scripps Senior Theses

Sexual assault is one of the most prevalent sources of trauma among females. While still requiring more research, therapeutic horticulture (TH), also known as gardening therapy, has so far shown promising results regarding trauma recovery. In this study, I seek to discover how TH can aid in female sexual assault recovery. To determine its impact, I will conduct a three-month experiment with two groups: those who receive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and those who receive CBT plus TH. I will specifically measure three common side effects survivors face: dissociation, shame, and PTSD. These categories will be measured through surveys and …

Bilingual Beginnings: Expressive Language And Socio-Emotional Development In Early Childhood, Molly C. Mccormick

Scripps Senior Theses

Although research on bilingualism has expanded rapidly in recent years, the majority focuses on cognitive advantages or receptive vocabulary, or the words children understand. Far less attention has been given to how expressive language, the words children produce, and its potential role as the mechanism linking bilingual exposure to socio-emotional development. Although dual-language learners sometimes appear to have relatively limited expressive vocabularies in one language, these differences tend to reflect patterns of language use and input quality rather than true developmental delays. Even so, temporary differences in expressive skills can be especially meaningful during children’s formative years, when they rely …

Assessing Diagnostic Overshadowing For Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) And Eating Disorders (Ed), Eden Sweet

Scripps Senior Theses

Significant behavioral overlaps in feeding patterns are observed among individuals with eating disorders (EDs) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These behavioral similarities can blur diagnostic boundaries, contribute to diagnostic overshadowing, and consequently increase the risk of misdiagnosis and the implementation of ineffective treatment approaches. The proposed study addresses the risk of diagnostic overshadowing as it relates to the ambiguous distinction between autism-driven feeding behaviors and clinically significant eating disorders (ED) within the autistic population. Although the literature has acknowledged behavioral similarities between ASD and EDs, limited research has systematically examined how they impact diagnostic practices and influence the likelihood of …

Mindfulness As A Potential Facilitator Of Self-Forgiveness?, Isabella S. Lindsay Castelli

Scripps Senior Theses

Despite clinicians’ attestation to self-forgiveness’ relevance in clinical practice, as well as research suggesting its positive relationship to well-being, most clinicians are not familiar with models for facilitating self-forgiveness. The present study draws on theoretical overlap between mindfulness theory and three prominent models of the self-forgiveness process, as well as empirical research showing a positive association between dispositional mindfulness and dispositional self-forgiveness. Participants were adults in the United States, randomly assigned to a mindfulness exercise or control (progressive muscle relaxation exercise). Participants were asked to think of a transgression they committed, report their self-forgiveness for that transgression, and retake the …

Early Developmental Wounds To Interpersonal Struggles: The Role Of Emotion Dysregulation, Parth Yogesh Sompura

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Numerous studies have examined the effects of trauma on emotion dysregulation or have focused primarily on childhood trauma. The present study aimed to understand the effects of trauma at different developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The sample consisted of 201 participants, who were selected from a larger pool of participants who received course credit for completing this study. The results of this study revealed that trauma at all ages significantly and positively affects interpersonal difficulties, through emotion dysregulation as a positive mediator, as hypothesized. However, contrary to hypotheses, childhood trauma did not have a greater effect compared to adolescent …

Digital Lover: Insecure Attachment Styles And Romantic Parasocial Relationship Among Chinese Female Otome Game Playersdigital Lover: Insecure Attachement Styles And Romantic Parasocial Relationship Among Chinese Female Otome Game Players, Weifan (Kyrie) Zhang M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The existing literature has explored the relationship between insecure attachment styles and parasocial relationships, particularly focusing on traditional media such as television. However, it has largely overlooked the novel form of media represented by contemporary Chinese otome games, which offer an idealized digital environment potentially more appealing to players with insecure attachment styles. Moreover, previous studies have not sufficiently differentiated between general parasocial interactions and the specific nuances of parasocial romantic relationships unique to romantic video games (RVGs). This study seeks to bridge these gaps by examining the psychological underpinnings of Chinese female players' engagement with female-oriented romantic video games. …