<p> The unique qualities of the teenage brain and the ubiquity of mobile technology suggest a role for mobile applications (apps) in the treatment of teenage depression. The hermeneutic portion of this inquiry into teenage depression includes both 20-year-old data on evidence-based treatment modalities and articles written in the last few years on mobile health applications (mHealth). The research problem includes few randomized controlled trials of the efficacy and security of mobile health applications. This thesis employs heuristic methodology to examine the author&rsquo;s personal experience with mobile interventions for the treatment of her depression. Of the many hundreds of mHealth solutions designed to address depression, most rely on the tenets of neuropsychology, positive psychology, and mindfulness-based therapies to drive functionality. Apps contain features familiar to teenagers and are easy to access with a smartphone. Teenagers are digital natives whose life-long exposure to technology necessarily shapes their expectations of immediacy and innovation.</p>

<p> The cultural movement toward abbreviation and multitasking detracts from the desire and also, potentially, the ability to begin engaging in deep reading. This is problematic, considering that the deep reading of narrative fiction has many potential benefits. Through the use of both heuristic and hermeneutic methodology, this thesis takes a look at the psychological and scientific literature that explores the relationship between reading narrative fiction and an increase in both empathy and theory of mind skills; how the art of reading narrative fiction can be viewed from a depth psychological perspective; and the author&rsquo;s personal experience with reading narrative fiction. This information is then utilized to explore how these components can be applied within the psychotherapy process through the use of bibliotherapy, as well as how it can be a valuable tool for one&rsquo;s own personal growth and exploration outside of a therapy setting.</p>

<p> This thesis explores the spiritual-bypass phenomenon identified by John Welwood and how it can be a defense against wholeness as defined in Jungian psychology. Using hermeneutic and heuristic methodologies, and drawing on depth psychological theories, the author discusses the various forms of spiritual bypass and the underlying shadow dynamics, such as emotional repression. The author examines the nature of psychological and spiritual development through states and stages of consciousness development, healthy transcendence versus unhealthy transcendence, and the Jungian process of individuation toward wholeness. The research also explores contributing factors to spiritual bypass including the effect of early childhood attachment style and demonstrates the significance of integrating psychological development in a spiritual path. Finally, the author provides suggestions for therapists working with clients who may be in spiritual bypass.</p>

<p> Attachment theory suggests that previous experiences direct one&rsquo;s interpretations of potentially stressful events and one&rsquo;s reaction to these events. As university students interact with a novel environment and face new demands, they may experience elevated levels of stress. Dependent on what resources they feel are available to them, they might feel confident in addressing these challenges, or they may believe they cannot meet the demands of the college environment. This perception of ability or inability can affect personal and academic success. Using attachment theory as a foundation, this study investigated the relationships among students&rsquo; attachment dynamics, coping styles, and perceived stress in a sample 174 West Virginia University students. Based on attachment theory and previous research, it was expected that both students&rsquo; attachment dynamics and coping styles would explain variance in perceived stress. As predicted, using hierarchical multiple regression analyses, both attachment dynamics and coping styles were observed to explain a significant amount of variance (26.8&ndash;45.5% variance explained) in the perception of stress, after accounting for demographic variables. Results of this study are explored with regard to how they can inform clinical work and future research with the university student population.</p>

<p> This thesis uses hermeneutic and heuristic methodologies to draw together the myth of Chiron and the phenomenon of spiritual bypassing. Spiritual bypassing is the tendency to use spiritual beliefs, teachings, and practices to avoid dealing with one&rsquo;s psychology, painful feelings, unresolved wounds, and developmental issues. Chiron is a mythological figure who mentored a number of Greek heroes and Asclepius, the god of medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Chiron, like his mentee Asclepius, embodies the Wounded Healer archetype. Chiron&rsquo;s wounding and healing journey can serve as a roadmap for spiritual practitioners on how to navigate out of bypass and deepen their path toward self-realization and individuation. Developing an archetypal awareness of one&rsquo;s wounds appears to reveal the aspects of one&rsquo;s psychology defended against in spiritual bypass. This emerging roadmap and lessons from Chiron&rsquo;s journey may help therapists, healers, and spiritual teachers accelerate their own path and assist clients. </p>

<p> Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are receiving increasing attention in the treatment of mental illness, and there is good support for their effectiveness as a stand-alone treatment across a range of disorders. It is possible that MBI would also be useful as an addition to standard treatment protocols. To assess this possibility, the present investigation involved a meta-analytical review of studies in which mindfulness techniques were added to treatment as usual to assess the incremental effect of mindfulness. A systematic review was conducted of relevant databases. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they met the following criteria: (a) mindfulness techniques or mindfulness-based interventions were employed in conjunction with treatment as usual and compared to treatment as usual alone; (b) patients in the sample were assigned a DSM-IV diagnosis or exhibited a specific symptom; and (c) the sample included individuals 18 years of age or older. Only studies using an experimental randomized controlled design were included. Fourteen eligible studies were found with an effective sample size of 695 participants. Effect sizes were calculated overall, and for subgroups (diagnosis subgroups, mean age, type of MBI) separately. Meta-analysis of between-group effects yielded an overall Cohen&rsquo;s <i>d</i> effect size of 0.61. Adding MBIs to treatment as usual appears to yield substantial incremental improvement when used with a variety of symptoms and disorders. </p>

<p> This qualitative study was an exploration of therapists&rsquo; countertransference (CT) in therapy sessions addressing client sexual issues. The purpose of the study was to better understand how therapists experience and manage CT in or between sessions and how they appraise their work when sessions addressing client sexual concerns trigger their vulnerabilities. The study included interviews with 10 licensed, experienced therapists who described their experience and management of CT in and between therapy sessions that focused on client sexual issues. The researcher employed a qualitative methodology to understand the many layers of influence and facets of therapists&rsquo; CT. </p><p> Six conclusions emerged from this study. First, the findings support the claim that CT is a dynamic and co-created process. Second, evidence from this study suggests that cultural CT operates both overtly and subtly. Third, the findings suggest that client sexual issues are not consistent, primary triggers of CT. Therapists in this sample experienced CT related to client sexual issues, but only when an additional client behavior or trait also affected the therapist&rsquo;s vulnerability. Fourth, the data suggest that CT commonly manifests by narrowing therapists&rsquo; perceptual fields and empathetic strain. Fifth, flexibility in the therapeutic process and resolute boundaries that the therapist sets support effective management of CT. Finally, CT events may result in a rupture of the therapeutic relationship or may facilitate therapeutic gains. This study adds to existing research that depicts CT as a dynamic, multifaceted, and layered process that occurs between a therapist and a client.</p><p>

<p> This thesis explores the healing effects of surrender to and trust in the alchemical nature of the psyche to produce psychospiritual transformation toward wholeness and wellbeing. Through alchemical hermeneutic, heuristic, and intuitive methodologies the research explores healing outcomes of merging with the divine through a relationship with a guru, consciously being in a love relationship, and engaging with astrology as alchemical processes that help to integrate unconscious content into consciousness. The author observes the alchemical process in the merging of heaven and earth, or cosmos and psyche, as it weaves through her own life. She tracks the alchemy through which an interpersonal love relationship and encounters with the guru Mata Amritanandamayi produced both physical and emotional healing. The thesis also explores the psychotherapeutic use of astrology and suggests ways to integrate experiences of the divine, interpersonal love, and one's astrological chart into psychotherapy to support healing and movement toward wholeness.</p><p>

<p> The prevalence of sexual violence in the United States is a critical issue and the aftermath of sexual assault can have profound effects on psychological well-being. Rape Crisis Centers play a vital role in supporting sexual violence survivors. The framework through which Rape Crisis Center clinicians understand the experiences of survivors has a substantial impact on the course of counseling, how survivors interpret their own experiences, and survivors&rsquo; psychological health. A neoliberal medicalized framework conceptualizes distress post-sexual assault as a disease or disorder and places the responsibility on an individual to &lsquo;fix&rsquo; themselves, situating the problem within the person, rather than in a sociopolitical context. This framework has become increasingly prevalent in Western society and has permeated psychology. </p><p> The goal of the present study was to explore the impact of a neoliberal medicalized discourse on clinicians&rsquo; understandings of survivor distress and provide a counter-dialogue to the often polarizing conversations as to whether medicalization is &lsquo;good&rsquo; or &lsquo;bad.&rsquo; This study aimed to answer: 1) How does a medicalized discourse impact how Rape Crisis Center clinicians make meaning of their clients&rsquo; experiences post-sexual assault? And 2) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a medicalized framework to understand the aftermath of sexual assault for survivors who seek services? Engaging in qualitative inquiry, a modified version of interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed. </p><p> Analysis revealed four master themes titled, <i>Wielding the Double-Edged Sword of the Medical Model, Navigating the Healing Process with Survivors, Stay in Your Lane: The Role of the RCC</i>, and <i>Understanding and Honoring Survivor Shame</i>. The themes are discussed in terms of how medical neoliberalism subtly influences clinicians&rsquo; work. Implications for social justice are considered, especially as they relate to Rape Crisis Centers&rsquo; aims to increase access for marginalized populations. Recommendations for researchers and clinicians working with sexual violence survivors are provided pertaining to (a) how to critically adopt a medical framework, (b) how to empower survivors with information about medication, (c) alternatives to individual counseling for survivors, and (d) future research with survivors to further explore the effects of medical neoliberalism on their conceptualizations of distress post-sexual assault.</p><p>

<p> Extra-marital affairs are common in the US and frequently result in difficulties for individuals, families, and society as a whole. Empirical research on the topic is problematic. There is no universally accepted psychological definition of what behaviors or experiences constitute an affair; there are value-laden assumptions about marriage and affairs that are not usually questioned as part of the design or discussion of studies; and, there are non-trivial non-response biases in sampling on the topic. As a result there is a lack of meaningful psychological understanding of affairs and a dearth of evidence to support clear treatment directions for those who seek psychotherapy for this common issue. In an attempt to understand the essential psychological structure of the beginning of affairs, a descriptive phenomenological psychological study of the experiences from three adults who have had affairs (as they define them) and who had promised monogamy was undertaken. These interviews were transcribed, transformed and analyzed using Giorgi&rsquo;s (2009) descriptive phenomenological method for psychology. The resulting structure of the experience includes the following constituents: dissatisfaction with the marriage and hopelessness about it improving; a sense of the self and the spouse having a fixed character that does not change; a lack of curiosity for the spouse; a preference for passion and novelty; a sense of deserving sexual satisfaction; the experience of passion overriding judgment; and, a lack of real consideration of divorce as a solution to the dilemma prior to the affair. In addition, passive intentionality, (Husserl, 2001), is offered to explain how a series of interactions with another outside the marriage develops into an affair before it is grasped as such. This structure is potentially clinically meaningful as thus far it has not been articulated in a descriptive and complete manner. It offers direction for the future development of clinical interventions and provides entry points into: discussions of ethics, values, intimacy, passion and subjectivity; marriage reform; and, the socio-historical contexts in which the meaning of affairs is located. Keywords: Extra-marital affair, monogamy, non-monogamy, marriage, infidelity, couples&rsquo; counseling, Giorgi, phenomenological research methods, intentionality.</p>