Therapeutic Horseback Riding With Military Veterans: Perspectives Of Riders, Instructors, And Volunteers,
2015
Antioch University - Seattle
Therapeutic Horseback Riding With Military Veterans: Perspectives Of Riders, Instructors, And Volunteers, Leslie Lafleur
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Statistics reveal that over 353,000 military members have been diagnosed with PTSD and/or TBI resulting from war-related activities. With the rising number of war stress injuries, there have not been enough psychotherapeutic services to meet the current demand for the care of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Although some intervention strategies have been deemed successful, the current standards of care (e.g., exposure therapy, cognitive therapy) are limited by training inadequacies, accessibility, and outcomes (e.g., retention, early drop out, resistance, non-responsiveness). Furthermore, it is unclear whether these treatments are efficacious in addressing the unique symptom presentations of this population. The …
Assessing Suicide Risk Scores As A Predictor Of Suicidal Behaviors In A Correctional Psychiatric Facility,
2015
Antioch University - Seattle
Assessing Suicide Risk Scores As A Predictor Of Suicidal Behaviors In A Correctional Psychiatric Facility, Janice Rice
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study evaluated suicide risk assessments in a correctional psychiatric setting. It considered whether clinicians’ judgment of suicide risk predicted future suicidal behaviors in seriously mentally ill prisoners. Data analysis did not show that higher suicide risk scores predicted more suicidal behaviors, nor did it show that suicide risk scores differentiated multiple attempters, or those who went on to attempt suicide or self-harm two or more times in the three years following the assessment. Study data did, however show that suicide risk scores significantly differentiated those who went on to attempt suicide or self-harm at least once in the three …
Short-Term Attachment Outcomes Of Infants In The Child Welfare System,
2015
Antioch University - New England
Short-Term Attachment Outcomes Of Infants In The Child Welfare System, Tracy Markowitz
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Children with prenatal substance exposure are often born into families of low socio-economic status, low educational level, and with restricted access to health services. Pregnant substance-using mothers tend to reject, neglect, and generally misattune to their infant children. These environmental risk factors increase the likelihood of negative developmental outcomes such as poor academic performance, externalizing behaviors, and an insecure attachment style. In compliance with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Child Welfare Services often places at-risk infants into traditional or kinship foster care placements. This study looked at how placement type and …
Racial/Ethnic Status And Perceived Stigma For Breastfeeding In Public,
2015
Antioch University - New England
Racial/Ethnic Status And Perceived Stigma For Breastfeeding In Public, Nicole I. Medina-Shewey
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The World Health Organization recommends babies be exclusively breastfed for at least six months. However, the Centers for Disease Control reported that only 18.8% of American mothers exclusively breastfed their children to six months in 2014. Past studies have indicated that Minority women breastfeed at rates lower than Caucasian women. The current study aimed to determine if perceived stigma associated with breastfeeding in public is a possible factor in this phenomenon. It utilized a hardcopy and online version of a survey that was distributed at Women Infant Children’s (WIC) offices in New Hampshire and online breastfeeding support groups. The sample …
Survey Of Compassion Fatigue Education In Apa-Accredited Clinical And Counseling Psychology Programs,
2015
Antioch University - Seattle
Survey Of Compassion Fatigue Education In Apa-Accredited Clinical And Counseling Psychology Programs, Marissa Joy Scroggins
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The purpose of this study was to examine the present state of compassion fatigue (CF) education in APA-accredited clinical and counseling doctoral level training programs. It also sought to identify the number of training programs that require CF training or offer it as optional, attempted to discern the type of setting in which it is taught (class, supervision, etc.), as well as identified some of the reasons why it may not have been included (cost, time, interest, etc.) in programs without CF training. A researcher-developed survey was designed and consisted of a mixture of yes/no and multiple choice questions. Program …
Designing A Data-Tracking System For A Private Therapeutic Day School,
2015
Antioch University - Seattle
Designing A Data-Tracking System For A Private Therapeutic Day School, Olin J. Bittner
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The Children's Institute on Mercer Island (CHILD) is a private therapeutic day school in the Seattle area serving students in elementary and secondary education. Their stated mission is to "provide innovative school programs and therapies that promote social, emotional and academic development for children with special needs." In the fall of 2012 they engaged in a program evaluation that in many respects resembles a needs assessment in order to explore and improve aspects of their functioning. Through preliminary evaluation processes, including dialogue with CHILD's Leadership Team and a survey of internal stakeholders, an area of interest in student mental health …
Is There A Relationship Between Alcohol/Drug Counselor's Strength Of Belief In The Disease Concept Of Addiction And Burnout?,
2015
Antioch University Seattle
Is There A Relationship Between Alcohol/Drug Counselor's Strength Of Belief In The Disease Concept Of Addiction And Burnout?, Dan D. Dodd
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study examined the association between substance abuse counselors’ (a) level of burnout and strength of belief in the disease concept of addiction, (b) level of burnout and recovery status, and (c) recovery status and strength of belief in the disease concept. Participants were recruited via a purposive convenience survey sampling method of counselors who were certified Chemical Dependency Professionals (CDPs) or Chemical Dependency Professional Trainees (CDPTs) who were employed in substance use disorder outpatient treatment facilities. A total of 130 surveys were distributed of which 72 were returned giving a 55% response rate. Six surveys were removed due to …
Treatment Decision Making In The Postpartum Period: Examining Women’S Preferences And Perspectives,
2015
Antioch University - New England
Treatment Decision Making In The Postpartum Period: Examining Women’S Preferences And Perspectives, Jenessa Danielle Deleault
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This research study aims to understand the medical decision-making process for new mothers who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, or psychological distress following birth, and understanding their treatment preferences. This study replicates one by Patel and Wisner (2011), and was developed from their suggestions in further research. The goal was to replicate the methodology with a more diverse sample of new mothers. The study reviews recent literature on postpartum depression and anxiety, including, symptoms, etiology, risk factors, the impact on family functioning and child development, as well as the literature on medical decision-making. The Decisional Conflict Scale, the Problem-Solving Decision …
Fostering Connections: Group Therapy For Young Women Aging Out Of Foster Care,
2015
Antioch University - New England
Fostering Connections: Group Therapy For Young Women Aging Out Of Foster Care, Meaghan Elizabeth Pilling
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The following dissertation outlines a group intervention designed to improve the relational and mental health of female emerging adults who have aged out of foster care. It is argued through review of the literature that emerging adulthood is a unique developmental phase in which relational connections are vital to successful transition to adulthood. Female emerging adults who have aged out of foster care frequently lack these social supports; their isolation renders them particularly vulnerable to psychological and interpersonal problems. Therefore, a mentoring component might be valuable to this population and is included in the current intervention. Included in the following …
Evaluating An Organization's Response To Vicarious Trauma In Staff And Multidisciplinary Team Members,
2015
Antioch University Seattle
Evaluating An Organization's Response To Vicarious Trauma In Staff And Multidisciplinary Team Members, Molly O'Neil
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Program evaluation method was utilized to examine the relationship between vicarious rauma (VT) and organizational policies and practices. VT and secondary traumatic stress (STS) refer to the impact of hearing explicit accounts of people being directly traumatized. Indirect exposure to a traumatic events can cause traumatic stress and changes in the person's way of experiencing the self and the world. The focus of this evaluation was developed collaboratively with the Clinical Director of Monarch Children's Justice and Advocacy Center (MCJAC), the site of the program evaluation. The question of study was How effectively is MCJAC addressing vicarious trauma in staff, …
Clinical Supervision And Trainees' Perceptions Of Their Ability To Force Therapeutic Alliance,
2015
Antioch University - New England
Clinical Supervision And Trainees' Perceptions Of Their Ability To Force Therapeutic Alliance, Julia Taddonio
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Countertransference is a construct that originated in psychoanalysis that has been acknowledged in most forms of therapy. The management of countertransference is important for preventing it from adversely affecting treatment, especially for clinicians in training. While all therapists experience countertransference, training therapists may be more vulnerable to it impeding the development of a strong working alliance with clients. Outcome research has found a moderate relationship between the working alliance and treatment outcome. Only a small amount of writing has focused on the relationship between content and process of supervision and the trainee’s ability to form strong working alliances with clients. …
Psychopathy And Attachment: The Effect Of Security Priming On Psychopathy In A College Student Sample,
2015
Georgia Southern University
Psychopathy And Attachment: The Effect Of Security Priming On Psychopathy In A College Student Sample, Blake D. Herd
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Psychopathy has been defined as a pattern of negative behaviors, social interactions, and affective features, including impoverishment of emotion, unethical and manipulative actions, and impulsivity (Neumann & Hare, 2008). It is estimated that between 15 to 30 percent of incarcerated adults meet the criteria for psychopathy (Hare, 1991, 1996; Salekin, Rogers, Ustad, & Sewell, 1998). Because psychopathy is linked with deviant behaviors and a significant portion of incarcerated adults are high in psychopathy, methods of reducing psychopathy are needed. The current longitudinal study sought to reduce state psychopathy levels through secure attachment priming. It was first hypothesized that the mean …
Undiscovered Meanings Of Minority Doctoral Students In Counselor Education Programs,
2015
George Fox University
Undiscovered Meanings Of Minority Doctoral Students In Counselor Education Programs, Beronica M. Salazar
Faculty Publications - Graduate School of Counseling
Higher education institutions aim at being more receptive to attract, recruit, and retain diverse students (“Diversity & the Ph.D.,” 2005). The increase of racial/ethnic diverse minority doctoral students in counselor education programs has created a need to understand their individual challenges. The dearth of research related to the in-depth experience of doctoral students in counselor education program affirms the need for exploration of minority doctoral student experience. This research proposal aspires to give voice to minority doctoral students’ stories of their challenging experiences, employing a reflexive process to discover the meanings connected to the experiences and identifying essential themes for …
Alliance Expectations And Alliance As Predictor Of Therapy Engagement And Outcome,
2015
Antioch University - New England
Alliance Expectations And Alliance As Predictor Of Therapy Engagement And Outcome, Daniel C. Greif
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Clients begin psychotherapy with expectations that may or may not be met during treatment. Discrepancies between pretherapy expectations and the therapy experience may influence client response to treatment. This naturalistic observational pilot study investigated whether the discrepancy between initial expectations of the working alliance and the experience of the alliance predicts early client engagement and outcome. Participants were adult therapy clients at a university training clinic. Each participant completed the Expected-Working Alliance Inventory before their first session and a shortened version of the Working Alliance Inventory after. We hypothesized that the difference between expected alliance scores and actual alliance scores …
A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of Parenting Half-Siblings Within A Blended Family,
2015
Antioch University - Seattle
A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of Parenting Half-Siblings Within A Blended Family, Nicole Josephsen
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Blended families are a growing population and encompass a diversity of characteristics and family types. Among the different types of blended families are those with both stepchildren and mutual children. Research on the complex experience of parenting a mutual genetic child and a stepchild within a blended family is minimal. To better understand the unknown experience of such parents, this phenomenological study was conducted to provide an in depth description of the experience of simultaneously parenting mutual children and stepchildren within a blended family. In this phenomenological study the researcher conducted interviews with six participants who varied by gender, socioeconomic …
The Role Of Heart Rate Variability In The Treatment Of Migraines,
2015
Antioch University - New England
The Role Of Heart Rate Variability In The Treatment Of Migraines, Thomas M. Ledoux
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This dissertation assessed the role of heart rate variability (HRV) in the treatment of migraine headaches. The extent of this relationship was measured through a 12-session HRV biofeedback protocol to increase HRV and decrease migraine frequency through resonance frequency breathing (RFB) training. This project used a single-case design methodology to analyze phase changes in physiological variables with a specific focus on changes in HRV and migraine symptoms from baseline to completion of the biofeedback protocol. The prevalence of migraine headaches is discussed, the history of biofeedback as an intervention for migraine is reviewed, and the rationale for the relationship between …
Behavioral Adjustment In Children With Life Threatening Illness A Qualitative Study,
2015
Antioch University - Santa Barbara
Behavioral Adjustment In Children With Life Threatening Illness A Qualitative Study, E. Joseph Becher Jr.
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This study investigated factors that affect adjustment in children with life-threatening illness from the viewpoint of the parents/caregivers. The data were collected from parents/caregivers whose children have a life threatening diagnosis. Parents/caregivers were interviewed and asked to complete the Parent Request Questionnaire (PRQ) which was given to them after the in-person interview. This newly developed PRQ was utilized into prior research to predict the levels of adjustment in children. It includes age, whether the child has been informed of the diagnosis, whether the child engages in age-appropriate activities, the child's prior experience with death, the child's family's involvement in treatment, …
Understanding The "Refugee" Of Hurricane Katrina: An Exploration Of Titles, Time And Post-Traumatic Growth,
2015
Antioch University - Santa Barbara
Understanding The "Refugee" Of Hurricane Katrina: An Exploration Of Titles, Time And Post-Traumatic Growth, Kandice L. Timmons
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the “refugee” experience of displacement from an individual perspective and the impact of trauma during a natural disaster through the lens of post-traumatic growth. It views survivors of Hurricane Katrina, who were displaced and returned home, and aims to investigate what changes, if any, have occurred since their return. The literature aids in understanding the complexities of the trauma endured in the aftermath, and seeks to better understand their refugee identity, the experience of displacement, the effects of trauma, and the changes that occurred in recovery. The data was collected through the Brief …
Undergraduate Catholic Lesbians: The Intersection Of Religious And Sexual Aspects Of Identity,
2015
Antioch University - New England
Undergraduate Catholic Lesbians: The Intersection Of Religious And Sexual Aspects Of Identity, Christina Marie Chestna
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
The following is a qualitative study designed to shed light on the experiences of undergraduate Catholic lesbians. The study focused on the unique ways in which these women negotiate the intersection of the religious and sexual aspects of their identities. Research shows that religious and sexual aspects of identity often conflict. In-depth research aimed specifically at the negotiation of religious and sexual identity dimensions is needed. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate Catholic lesbians who had the opportunity to speak about the ways in which they negotiate the potentially conflicting religious and sexual aspects of their identities. …
Resilience To Trauma Throughout The Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse,
2015
Antioch University
Resilience To Trauma Throughout The Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse, Kaylee L. Curilla
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
This qualitative dissertation project explored how young-old adults have healed from the traumatic experience of being sexually abused in childhood. This project utilized an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyze themes across the young-old adults’ responses. Data collection consisted of interviewing six participants (age 51-58) who have had a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) from a loved one or other trusted individual and have felt that they have healed and demonstrated resiliency from the experience. Ten general themes emerged: (a) Getting older has helped me develop a better understanding and helped me to become less emotionally reactive; (b) After …
