<p> Holistic methods have increased in popularity in the American culture. Interventions such as yoga, aromatherapy, mindfulness and walking therapy have been shown to be beneficial for the treatment of both physical and mental illnesses. However, little research exists regarding the use of holistic interventions in the field of counseling. This phenomenological study explores the experience of counselors who integrate holistic interventions into their practice and seeks to determine the essence of their development of self-efficacy. Co-researchers in this study included eight holistic counselors from rural, suburban and urban areas across the United States. Through semi-structured interviews, the co-researchers revealed the significance of personal experience with holistic methods, the influence of client feedback and the experience of formal and informal training on their development of self-efficacy. The findings of this study prompted recommendations for counselors who desire to integrate holistic methods and for the field of counselor education, including increased training and areas for future research.</p><p>

<p> This phenomenological research explored how the Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) model is used with Department and Children Family Services (DCFS-LA) referred couples. The interviews of two participants, who practiced EFT with DCFS-LA referred couples, were analyzed with a transcendental phenomenological approach. Seven themes emerged from the data: (1) joining by acknowledging DCFS-LA in the room, (2) creating safety for guardedness and stressors, (3) a slower EFT process, (4) culture &amp; socio-economic status, (5) treating domestic violence and substance abuse histories, (6) EFT meets DCFS-LA goals, and (7) adapting EFT for family reunification. The exploration of how EFT therapists used this model with DCFS-LA referred couples provided opportunities to look at how having an open case with DCFS-LA, practicing in a community-based service agency, being a racial minority, having socio-economic status, domestic violence histories, and substance abuse histories impacted the overall EFT process. The results have implications that EFT could be useful for the presenting issues of DCFS-LA referred couples and for family reunification possibilities. A literature review is incorporated with the themes and clinical implications for practicing EFT with DCFS-LA referred couples are provided.</p><p>

abstract: Although women of color have increased their presence in the workplace, many obstacles restricting career opportunities still exist. It is important that mental health professionals contribute in providing interventions to increase career opportunities for women of color. The purpose of this research is to add to the repertoire of interventions by studying the irrational career beliefs of Black women. This research utilizes the Believe It! program, an online career development program that focuses on altering irrational/maladaptive career beliefs that can prevent young females from pursuing career opportunities. An early study of Believe It! found it to be effective for Caucasian females, however the effects for minority females were less clear. The current study re-examined the effectiveness of Believe It! for minorities by altering the appearance of the animated character within the program. It was hypothesized that young African American women interacting with African American animated agents would display greater rationality in terms of career beliefs compared to young African American women interacting with Caucasian animated agents. Forty-four African American girls between the ages of eleven to fifteen were pre-tested with a battery of assessment devices addressing the irrationality of the girls' career beliefs. The measures included the Career Myths Scale, the Career Beliefs Inventory, the Occupational Sex-role Questionnaire, and the Believe It! measure. Four to eight days later, participants engaged in the online Believe It! Program; they were randomly assigned to either a matched condition (viewing the program with an African American animated agent) or a mismatched condition (viewing the program with a Caucasian animated agent). After completion of the intervention, participants were post-tested with the same assessment battery. MANCOVA and ANCOVA analyses showed that participants in the matched condition consistently benefitted from the matched intervention. Implications for this research are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.C. Counseling 2010

<p> This project employed the Development and Research Utilization Model (DRU) to compile a counseling group manual to help transition freshman college students from divorced homes. Analysis revealed that divorce is unfortunately a common occurrence affecting approximately four out of every eight marriages. Research showed that children from divorced homes are more likely to become anxious or depressed. Further study showed college campuses do not have the on-campus support needed for freshmen who were adversely affected by their parents&rsquo; divorce. The development phase of the DRU consisted of a literature review which affirmed the need for specific resources and help for this freshmen population. College students from divorced homes struggled with academic achievement and showed emotional, mental health, economic, and adjustment issues. Counselors at colleges and universities need to have support for students coming from divorced homes, and this manual will equip group leaders.</p><p>

This exploratory study aimed to answer three research questions about the relationship between childhood victimization and being hazed during college. Secondary data analysis was conducted with a sample of first-year college students who completed a web-based survey during their fall and spring semesters. Forms of childhood victimization measured in this study include: bullying victimization, peer victimization (multiple forms and length), and exposure to other forms of victimization (e.g., parental abuse, dating abuse). Results support the hypothesis that students with a victimization history are more likely be hazed during college. Specifically, a chronic victimization history – exposure to multiple forms of peer victimization, longer peer victimization, and other forms of childhood victimization – was associated with an increased odds of being hazed during college. Results did not support the hypothesis that a sense of college belongingness would moderate the relationship between past victimization and hazing during college. There was partial support for the hypothesis that a victimization history would put students at risk for perceived negative effects of hazing. Childhood physical dating abuse, sexual assault, and exposure to other forms of childhood victimization were all positively associated with perceived negative consequences of hazing. Lastly, results found that exposure to other forms of childhood victimization moderates the relationship between being hazed during college and depression. Specifically, those with prior exposure to other forms of childhood victimization who are also hazed report lower depression scores than those with this victimization history who do not enter hazing initiations. These findings lend themselves to future research to better understand the relationships found between childhood victimization and hazing initiations during college. These findings also have practical implications for understanding the trajectory of previously victimized students. There are a number of limitations of the current study that can be addressed in future research.

<p> This research explores what happens to some men when, despite the best of intentions and heroic efforts on all sides, a marriage ends in divorce. Using a blend of alchemical hermeneutics and hermeneutic phenomenology, this qualitative study explores the lived experience of 5 heterosexual men who suffered psychologically in divorce. Divorce was examined from Freudian, Jungian, and archetypal perspectives using the depth psychological lenses of alchemy, mythology, and fairy tale. A hybrid method of qualitative analysis was created that incorporated the use of psychodrama to analyze the data. From the results of this study, the journey through divorce for suffering men can be seen as being comprised of 3 stages: a Coming Storm, a Tempest, and an Aftermath. The intrapsychic destruction experienced by many men in divorce was also viewed as an attempt at an undoing of the <i>hieros gamos</i>, or sacred marriage. From the results of this investigation, it is further postulated that such a divorce may be a psychological impossibility. The author&rsquo;s experience as a divorced man informs his observations and conclusions. </p><p>

<p> This exploratory single case study assessed the effectiveness of a new body-based art psychotherapy intervention to address trauma and, thereby, promote constructive change in an individual who perpetrated inter-partner violence (IPV). The participant was a single Spanish-speaking 42-year-old heterosexual Mexican immigrant male with a history of psychological trauma. The therapy was conducted over the course of 2 years within an existential framework and addressed the following themes: relationships, childhood trauma and abuse, masculine ideology and IPV, and anger and related feelings. Furthermore, the intervention, which included a breathing practice grounded in Jin Shin Jyutsu (energy work), was implemented for the purpose of fostering the embodiment/internalization of material examined in therapy. Because breathing helps modulate affect, the breathing practice increased the client&rsquo;s capacity to work through his childhood trauma and enabled him to somatically access feelings, memories, and unconscious material. It also contributed to the client&rsquo;s development of insight and awareness concerning emotions and deepened his spirituality. Equally important, the intervention included an art therapy process that encouraged the client to externalize difficult feelings that he might otherwise not have been able to articulate. The Formal Elements of Art Therapy Scale (FEATS) detected the client&rsquo;s depression in his artwork at a critical point in the therapy. Over time, the participant&rsquo;s artwork showed changes not only in the themes depicted, but in the clarity and fluidity of the images he created. The results of this study suggest that this intervention might be a viable treatment for addressing trauma in men who perpetrate IPV. Furthermore, because this intervention increases self-awareness, self-understanding, and the motivation to change, it could be explored as a treatment for other mental health conditions, including with other populations and in group settings. </p><p>

<p> The purpose of this study is to examine the differences between counselor supervisors&rsquo; and supervisees&rsquo; perceptions of the impact of multicultural supervision on client outcome. Counselor supervisors and supervisees may have differences in how much they believe multicultural factors affect client outcome and this study aims to determine what differences exist. These differences are important in understanding how supervisors might better serve supervisees and in turn clients. There were 61 participants in the study that consisted of faculty, counselor supervisors, counselors, and graduate students in counseling-related fields. The current study found that multicultural supervision/competence alone predicted supervisor client outcome. The findings suggest that training in supervision and multicultural supervision is vital to the professional development of counselors and trainees in counseling-related fields. This training is also necessary because of the impact it has on clients. The implications of this study are to be able to improve the knowledge of those in counseling-related fields as to the importance of multicultural counseling and competence in training. Further research on what supervisees consider as important contributions to client outcome should be considered. One recommendation is to explore further what subscales of both the independent variables of supervision satisfaction, counselor self-efficacy, the supervisory working alliance, multicultural supervision/competence and the dependent variable of perceived client outcome to provide more specific information about what aspects are important contributions to perceived client outcome by supervisors and supervisees.</p><p>

<p> Considering the profound levels of trauma exposure among the growing refugee population worldwide, there is an urgent need to better understand the complex interactions of factors associated with resilience as a key protective factor against adversity. This study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate the relationship between demographic factors, environmental stressors, trauma coping self-efficacy, cultural factors, resilience, and PTSD among Syrian refugees in Germany. Quantitative findings showed that nearly half of all survey participants (n = 127) met the criteria for a probable PTSD diagnosis (n = 59, 46.5%). Environmental stressors were significant predictors of PTSD, explaining 45.7% of the variance after accounting for significant demographic factors (&beta; = &ndash;.683, t = &ndash;9.842, p = 0.000). Participants who had food concerns were 42.8 times more likely to have probable PTSD than participants who reported having enough food (OR = 42.8, 95% CI = 5.6 to 330.1, p &lt; 0.000). Not being content with one&rsquo;s housing situation increased the odds of having probable PTSD 14.7 times compared to individuals who had no housing concerns (OR = 14.7, 95% CI &ndash;5.7 to 36.6, p &lt; 0.000). Qualitative findings indicated five main themes that represent threats to positive adaptation to life in Germany: 1) communication difficulties, 2) socioeconomic living conditions, 3) family related issues, 4) cultural differences, discrimination, and social isolation, and 5) asylum procedure. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.</p><p>

<p> This master&rsquo;s thesis proposed an integrative group counseling intervention utilizing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), attachment theory, and mindfulness for youth who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The proposed group is intended as a Tier 2 support in a trauma-informed multi-tiered system of supports on a school campus; however, the group can be offered in mental health treatment settings. Synopses of the research described the symptomology of trauma, detailing the adverse consequences for youth who have experienced trauma, including the neurobiological impairments, mental health challenges, social limitations, maladaptive behavioral outcomes, harmful academic impact, and negative health outcomes. The literature review substantiated the probable benefits of the use each component of this integrative group counseling intervention to support youth with post-trauma difficulties. The integrative intervention is designed to reduce trauma symptomology, improve attachment patterns, and increase mindfulness in youth who have ACEs. Limitations, implications and recommended future research are discussed.</p><p>