<p> Recent studies have focused on international students&rsquo; needs and experiences in counseling training and supervision, however, there is a lack of research regarding effective approaches for supervising international students. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether international counseling supervisees' perceptions regarding the degree to which multicultural discussion occurred in their university supervision moderates the relationship among supervision related variables, including acculturation, counselor self-efficacy, supervisory working alliance, and role ambiguity in supervision. The research questions were: (a) Does the frequency of cultural discussions in university supervision, as perceived by international counseling supervisees, moderate the relationship between acculturation to the US and counseling self-efficacy among international counseling students in the US, (b) Does the frequency of cultural discussions in university supervision, as perceived by international counseling supervisees, moderate the relationship between supervisory working alliance and counseling self-efficacy among international counseling students in the US, and (c) Does the frequency of cultural discussions in university supervision, as perceived by international counseling supervisees, moderate the relationship between supervisory working alliance and counseling self-efficacy among international counseling students in the US. Three moderation analyses were utilized, using regression analysis, to answer each research question. The results from the analysis indicated no significant moderating affect of frequency of multicultural discussions among supervision related variables of interest. Interpretation of the results included possibility of a direct relationship among the variables, or other potential moderators as well as probability of false negative results (Type II Error).</p>

<p> Problem: The literature suggests that religious orientation and ethnic identity inform the religious coping process, which is better understood in the context of a particular stressor. However, research on this topic is limited, particularly among ethnic minorities. </p><p> Method: A survey was used to collect data on religious orientation, ethnic identity, and religious coping from a sample of 319 adults who had lost a significant other within 36 months of the study. A total of 11 variables were measured using The Means-Ends Spirituality Questionnaire, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised, and the Brief RCOPE. </p><p> Results: A canonical variate labeled "religious engagement" was a predictor for religious coping. Further analyses using multiple regression found that variables associated with traditional religious expressions (Devotional Spiritual Means), spiritual ends with a transcendental focus (Approach-unseen-autonomous Ends, Avoidance-unseen-external Ends), and Ethnic Identity were relevant predictors of Positive Religious Coping while Transcendental Means was a relevant predictor of Negative Religious Coping. </p><p> A stepwise discriminant analysis found that "ethnic identity and conservative religious orientation" discriminated between ethnic groups. Cases with higher levels of ethnic identity and conservative religious orientation were more likely to be classified as Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino/a, while those with lower levels were more likely to be classified as White. </p><p> Conclusions: When coping with bereavement, individuals who engage in traditional expressions of spiritual worship and strive to achieve ordinary and transcendental spiritual goals are more likely to rely on a secure relationship with the sacred, a belief that life has meaning, and a sense of connectedness with their religious community. Also, individuals who place greater value and emotional significance in their sense of belonging to their ethnic group are more likely to engage in positive religious coping. Thus, counseling psychologists should strengthen their multicultural and spiritual competencies in order to provide ethical and effective services to a population that is increasingly diverse.</p>

<p> Loss of a child is the most complex death a person can experience. This event is multifaceted, containing intricate layers of mourning woven throughout the bereaved parent&rsquo;s lifetime. Despite considerable attention emphasizing grief reactions of the bereaved, relatively few studies have recognized the unique mourning of bereaved parents, including dreams related to their child. This hermeneutic phenomenological study investigated the lived experience of six bereaved parents who have encountered significant dreams of their child. The study utilized a depth psychological lens based on Jung&rsquo;s concept of the numinous&mdash;perceived as the mystery, the inexpressible, and that which pertains to the Divine. Data analysis yielded four supraordinate themes: Deepened Relationship with Self, Extended Relationship with Others, Intensified Relationship with It, and Heightened Relationship with God/Higher Power. This research sought to depathologize bereaved parents&rsquo; mourning and to cultivate awareness of the effects of dream encounters in order to foster hope and healing for the bereft parent. Results revealed that numinous dreams hold infinite potential, create a sense of meaning, and guide the bereaved parent toward psychological and spiritual transformation.</p>

<p> Being diagnosed with HIV challenges individuals physically, socially, and psychologically, and for most people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in the U.S. occurs in the contexts of lives already burdened by socioeconomic disadvantage and structural racism. Despite these challenges, little research examines the developmental process of psychological adaptation to HIV diagnosis, particularly among high-risk heterosexual (HRH) low-SES PLHA of color. This study, informed by ecological theory and Critical Race Theory uses qualitative methods to address this gap by operationalizing a new multidimensional construct of adaptation comprised of three mutually reinforcing sub-constructs (acceptance, engagement in medical care, disclosure of HIV status), and examining the factors that influence adaptation. Black and Latino adult HRH-PLHA (N = 140) were recruited through peer referral in Brooklyn, NY in 2012-2015. A subset (N = 28) were purposively sampled for maximum variation for in-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews on the cognitive/behavioral process of adaptation to HIV diagnosis. Data were analyzed using an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Most participants were male (60.8%); Black (78.6%; [21.4% Latino]); aged 47 years (SD=7.12 years) on average. Most were unemployed (92.9%); lacked basic necessities in the past year (75.0%); had histories of homelessness (71.4%) and incarceration (85.7%); and met criteria for lifetime problematic substance use (78.6%). Analyses revealed a construct of adaptation to HIV diagnosis that is multidimensional, where each sub-construct (acceptance, engagement in medical care, disclosure of HIV status) is an important, albeit not equally influential aspect of adaptation. Rather, acceptance is the foundation of adaptation, and a prerequisite for engagement in medical care and disclosure. Successful adaptation is characterized as a dynamic process where delayed acceptance is common, disclosure is a life-long process, and for some participants, is positively transformative. Finally, findings showed adaptation is influenced by a dynamic interplay of individual-level and contextual factors (i.e. problematic substance use, social support, diagnosis in coercive environments, poverty and its resultant chaos, and the historical legacy of AZT-monotherapy). Implications include a need for interventions that incorporate trauma-informed approaches and that appreciate the pervasive influence of distal contexts (structural racism, poverty) on the lived experience of low-SES HRH-PLHA of color adapting to their HIV diagnosis.</p>

<p> This study was designed to determine if a mental health professional&rsquo;s web presence with use of social media icons (or badges) would impact upon the perceived competence of that therapist. The icons were those of the three major social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. The 162 participants consisted of undergraduate students enrolled at two major universities located in the western United States. The participants were asked to think of themselves as help-seekers for purposes of this study. Three mock web pages were designed, one with no social media icons presented, one with social media icons which laid claim to a low number of Likes, Followers, and Pluses (terms of art used by Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus respectively), and one with social media icons which laid claim to an extraordinarily high number of Likes, Followers, and Pluses. Participants were evenly split between males and females, and then placed at random into groups of 27 that then viewed one of the three mock web pages. Participants were asked to rate the fictional therapist as to perceived overall competence, as well as to indicate their willingness to make initial contact with that therapist. The measurement instrument used was the Counselor Rating Form &ndash; Short Version (CRF-S). Results were not statistically significant. Findings and potential for future research are discussed.</p>

<p> Due to the increasing number of persons of Arab descent living in the United States, estimated at over 3.5 million in 2012, there has been a recognized need for a deeper understanding of acculturative, gender, and immigration-related stressors that Arab American women face. In response to this need, a one-day workshop for mental health professionals interested in or currently working with women of Arab descent living in the United States was developed. The workshop focuses on increasing knowledge of the various types of stress (e.g., acculturation, discrimination, gender role strain, parent-child relationships, care giver, familial, cultural expectations, work, school, etc.) experienced by Arab American women and providing culturally congruent stress reduction interventions. The development of the curriculum was informed by existing literature on people of Arab descent living in the United States, cultural issues in serving diverse populations, and stress management interventions. Interviews with 3 Arab American women were integrated with the literature and the 1-day workshop curriculum was developed. The curriculum was reviewed by 2 current practicing psychologists who rated the content, strengths, and weaknesses of the curriculum. Their feedback was incorporated into a compilation of suggestions and future directions for the refining and evaluating curriculum.</p>

<p> This hermeneutic and alchemical hermeneutic dissertation reviews Jungian literature related to body-based methods of practicing depth psychotherapy to address the problem of extremely limited body-based Jungian psychotherapeutic modalities. It goes on to offer explanations of the various psychological aspects of four of the five Elements within Chinese medicine. It then offers four sequences of Five Element Archetypal Qigong (FEAQ) related to the four Elements previously addressed: Wood, Fire, Metal and Water. It concludes with a discussion of findings and recommendations for future research and practice. Essentially, this dissertation uses the psychological concepts and insights contained in Chinese medicine to show how they can be applied to Jungian psychotherapy through the moving meditation of FEAQ. Body-based psychotherapies constitute a minuscule fraction of the literature and practice modalities within Jungian psychotherapy. This dissertation begins the process of increasing the validity and prevalence of body-based Jungian psychotherapy. It also implies the need for further research on the applicability of Chinese medical concepts to contemporary Western body oriented psychotherapies. </p>

<p> When a child has a terminal diagnosis, the intervention of legacy building is offered as a standard of care in all of the 77 teaching children&rsquo;s hospitals in the United States. Legacy building is a group of activities designed to create tangible items, such as hand and foot prints, locks of hair, or scrapbooks, to promote meaning making for dying individuals, while also providing support to family and friends. Nevertheless, research has yet to identify the benefits of such interventions for the surviving immediate family. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of legacy building interventions on bereaved parents and siblings. Specifically, how do legacy building interventions facilitated by healthcare professionals impact bereavement for the immediate family? A qualitative thematic analysis approach was taken to address the research question. </p><p> A total of 16 participants representing 8 families, consisting of 11 parents and 5 siblings participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was utilized and developed into 4 major parent themes emerged: (a) Introduction of legacy building, (b) Experience of legacy building items, (c) Psycho-social care, and (d) Maintaining connection. Additionally, 4 major sibling themes emerged which are (a) Experiences with legacy building items, (b) Sibling grief, (c) Psycho-social care, and (d) Maintaining connection. Implications for clinical practice will be discussed as well as future research.</p>

<p> Some psychotherapy clients have created video game avatars whose lives in virtual worlds include imaginal material and therefore invite depth psychological consideration. Using hermeneutic, alchemical hermeneutic, and artistic-creative methodologies, this thesis expands the conception of the therapeutic container to include these worlds and characters. The research explores how depth psychology can help Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists integrate their clients&rsquo; virtual lives into therapy. A literature review examines the ways computer simulations are different from other activities and describes a postmodern realm where identity is an experiment in a multiplicity of simulations that are both rich and ideological. A multicultural approach is taken in order to treat clients&rsquo; avatars and their worlds with dignity and involves an attempt to understand the cultures of technology, digital systems, and video worlds. The author proposes both an overall attitude toward and specific interventions for incorporating the virtual realm into psychotherapy.</p>

While an ever-increasing amount of literature exists regarding various aspects of ADHD, the relationship of functional impairments to important life and social skills, as well as professional functionality remains relatively unexplored. The Barkley Functional impairment scale is a recently developed and untested scale, especially with respect to other constructs of college life. While the reported validity is promising for use of evaluating functional impairments in people with ADHD, the validity and utility of the scale should be evaluated in relation to similar constructs to determine overall benefit. By doing so, researchers and other professionals in the field of counseling, rehabilitation, and professional development can address the relationships, and can improve counseling and rehabilitation services people with ADHD. Therefore, a study encompassing the relationships among measures of self-perceived functional impairment, quality of life, college self-efficacy, and career decision state could prove beneficial in understanding how aspects of ADHD affect individuals throughout the college experience. The purpose of this study was to address and to evaluate the strength of these relationships. If the self-perceived functional impairment scores were deemed to be associated with quality of life and college self-efficacy, the use of the BFIS as a diagnostic and prescriptive tool could be supported to improve the effectiveness of counseling and rehabilitation services for college students with ADHD. Four research questions guided this study. The first question stated, "Is the self-perceived functional impairment related to quality of life?" The second question stated, "Is the self-perceived functional impairment associated with college self-efficacy?" The third question stated, "What is the relationship between perceived level of functional impairment and career decision state as measured by indecision and satisfaction with choice?" The fourth question stated, "What is the relationship between perceived level of functional impairment, college self-efficacy, and career decision state with respect to self-perceived quality of life in students diagnosed with ADHD?" The hypothesis for the first question was, "There is an inverse correlation between self-perceived functional impairment and quality of life in students diagnosed with ADHD." The hypothesis for the second question was, "There is an inverse correlation between self-perceived functional impairment and college self-efficacy in students diagnosed with ADHD." The third question had two hypotheses. The first hypothesis for question three was "There is a positive correlation between level of indecision and perceived level of functional impairment." The second hypothesis for question three was, "There is a positive correlation between degree of dissatisfaction with career choice and perceived level of functional impairment." The hypothesis for the fourth question was, "Functional impairment, college self-efficacy, and career decision state all will capture significant independent variation in the prediction of quality of life in students diagnosed with ADHD." The first, second, and third hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product-Moment correlations. The fourth hypothesis was tested by using linear multiple regression. Data were collected from 150 of 1108 students registered with the Students with Disabilities Resource Center (SDRC) at Florida State University through an email questionnaire. Two emails were sent approximately two weeks apart to obtain participants. Volunteer participants were potentially compensated by having their anonymous identification number submitted to a raffle drawing to receive one of three prizes: a $150 gift card, a $75 gift card, and a $50 gift card. A web-based survey program was utilized, consisting of a background/demographics questionnaire and the Occupational Alternatives Questionnaire (OAQ), the Barkley Functional Impairment Scale-Long Form (BFIS-LF), the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), and the College Self-Efficacy Inventory (CSEI). This instrument was approved by the Florida State Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to utilization with participants. Only complete surveys were used in the calculation of results. Results of the study showed the first hypothesis was accepted that quality of life is moderately and inversely associated with perceived level of functional impairment. The second hypothesis also was accepted. College self-efficacy was inversely, but weakly associated with perceived level of functional impairment. The first part of the third hypothesis was rejected that the level of indecision with career choice was related to perceived level of functional impairment. The second part of this hypothesis was accepted that dissatisfaction with career choices was weakly correlated with perceived level of functional impairment. The fourth hypothesis was confirmed that perceived functional impairment, self-efficacy, and level of dissatisfaction with career choice significantly contributed to the quality of life of students diagnosed with ADHD. Levels of functional impairment and dissatisfaction were inversely correlated with quality of life in the prediction model. The information gathered yields beneficial information about the use of the BFIS in disability and rehabilitation counseling centers as a tool for addressing perceived functional impairments and related constructs of students diagnosed with ADHD. The correlations found among self-perceived functional impairment, college self-efficacy, the dissatisfaction portion of career decision state, and quality of life of people with ADHD could significantly benefit the manner in which services are provided to people utilizing various disability services on college campuses. Based on these results, the utility of the BFIS was supported as a prescriptive tool and as an instrument for counselors to use to address the relationship between self-perceived functional impairment, college self-efficacy, dissatisfaction with career choice concerns, and quality of life in college students diagnosed with ADHD. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester 2015. / November 4, 2015. / ADHD, BFIS, Career Decision State, Quality of Life, Self-Efficacy, WHOQOL / Includes bibliographical references. / Deborah Ebener, Professor Directing Dissertation; Mary Frances Hanline, University Representative; Gary Peterson, Committee Member; Shengli Dong, Committee Member; Debra Osborn, Committee Member.