<p> Cancer survivors are known to experience significant changes to psychosocial wellbeing (e.g., Everdingen et al., 2007; Houldin, 2000). In particular, cancer is considered to be a highly impactful and traumatic event (K&aacute;llay, &amp; D&eacute;gi, 2014; Kangas, 2013), and often contributes to negative changes in mental and emotional functioning. It has been projected that up to 50% of cancer survivors will experience impairment from mental health symptoms (Derogatis et al., 1983; Honda &amp; Goodwin, 2004; Massie &amp; Holland, 1990), with depression, being the most common, projected to affect 20-30% of cancer survivors (Honda &amp; Goodwin, 2004; Irwin, Henderson, Knight, &amp; Pirl, 2014). </p><p> Problematically, identification of psychosocial needs of cancer survivors within oncological care is lacking (Adler et al., 2008; Holland et al., 2011; Nakash et al., 2014). Oncological primary care providers may often fail to identify psychosocial needs of cancer survivors (Forsythe et al., 2013; S&ouml;llner et al., 2001), resulting in unmet psychosocial needs and a lack of mental health referrals (Nakash et al., 2014). Researchers have identified the need for improvements in assessment of psychosocial needs of cancer survivors as a critical step in reducing gaps in psychosocial care (Adler et al., 2008). Biopsychosocial models, which theoretically include physical, emotional, social, and functional health factors (Engel, 1980; Hatala 2012), have been identified as particularly salient in assessing holistic wellbeing of individuals with chronic illnesses such as cancer (Sperry, 2006). </p><p> Currently, measures of quality of life (QoL) remain the most commonly utilized biopsychosocial assessment tools in cancer care (King &amp; Hinds, 2012; Lavdaniti &amp; Tsitsis, 2015). However, QoL and other biopsychosocial assessments utilized in medical care have been criticized for bias towards the measurement of bio-medical functioning (Jacob, 2013; Moons, Budts, &amp; De Geest, 2006), and may fail to appropriately assess psychosocial factors&mdash;particularly those relevant to co-occuring mental health symptoms (Adler et al., 2008; Alonso, 2004; Connell, O&rsquo;Cathain, &amp; Brazier, 2014). Alternatively, wellness-based models, biopsychosocial models commonly utilized in psychosocial health professions, are generally more inclusive of psychosocial factors, and may provide a more robust assessment of cancer survivors&rsquo; psychosocial needs (Jamner &amp; Stokols, 2000; Myers et al., 2005a; Swarbrick, 2013). Additionally, researchers have suggested the inclusion of patient feedback in improving disciplinary conceptualization of wellbeing (Connell et al., 2014; Weston, 2005), as QoL and wellness are theoretically subjective concepts of health (Sirgy, 2012). To this end, the purpose of this research study was to examine connections between multidisciplinary frameworks of wellbeing, QoL and wellness, and their ability to assess significant psychosocial factors that impact the holistic wellbeing of cancer survivors. This study also compared multidisciplinary models of wellbeing to significant psychosocial factors identified by cancer survivors. </p><p> In the current study, both of the examined models of biopsychosocial wellbeing were found to account for significant variance in depression scores among cancer survivors. Additionally, both models were found to have significant commonality, as well as have unique contributions in predicting depression among cancer survivors. These findings suggest the utility of multidisciplinary inspection of biopsychosocial assessment models for use in cancer care. Furthermore, while the QoL assessment model was found to be superior in capturing the unique social and physical needs of survivors within the cancer context, the wellness model was found to contribute a new significant construct to the overall biopsychosocial model of wellbeing: coping styles. Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews held with eight cancer survivors resulted in the identification of additional salient psychosocial factors among cancer survivors not present in either of the models; namely, items related to post-traumatic growth, satisfaction with health providers and settings, and the impact of cancer-related financial burden. The qualitative results also provided further support for the quantitative results. While it is clear that current assessment models utilized in biomedical and mental health settings provide reasonable utility in accounting for the psychosocial needs of cancer survivors, the results of this study indicate the need for further refinement of biopsychosocial models utilized in the cancer context. Interdisciplinary inspection, as well as further analysis of the self-identified needs of cancer survivors may contribute to the creation of more robust biopsychosocial assessment models of wellbeing, and the resultant improvement of psychosocial care for cancer survivors. Furthermore, implications for theory, mental health and biomedical practice, and suggestions for future research will be shared while taking into consideration relevant literature on cancer survivorship.</p><p>

<p> Over the course of a therapist&rsquo;s career, absences from work are inevitable. Although therapist absences undoubtedly impact the therapy process, the topic has not received sufficient attention to produce helpful guidelines. Instead, clinicians looking to the literature for recommendations find less in peer-reviewed journals regarding therapist absences than they would if they were to turn to popular media geared toward a client audience (Barchat, 1988). This study sought to begin to remedy this research gap using a Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) research design focusing on anticipated therapist absences. Ten therapists with at least two years of experience post-licensure were asked about their general thoughts and approach to absences and the training they had received regarding therapist absences. They were also asked to discuss in depth a time that they were absent during therapy with an individual, adult client, focusing on the period before, during, and after the absence, as well as its overall impact. Participants reported generally receiving minimal or no formal supervision or training regarding therapist absences, and experiencing emotional distress when thinking about absences as a whole. When asked about specific absences, however, participants reported experiencing more positive than negative emotions, creating a plan with the client, and generally achieving positive outcomes. Implications are discussed, including recommendations for training, clinical work, and future research.</p><p>

<p> This thesis explores issues of accessibility, quality, and effectiveness in the treatment by mental health professionals of children exhibiting severe cases of parental alienation syndrome (PAS). It presents treatment options that reflect the most up-to-date approaches, research and extensive experience, and the current knowledge base established by expert clinicians. Hermeneutic research finds the need for increased support, education, and additional resources to enable professionals to provide PAS-informed approaches when working with children and families in high-conflict divorce situations, particularly children presenting with extreme behaviors, including traits associated with psychopathology and mental illness. The author integrates personal experience in seeking to support a loved one who was the targeted parent of a severely alienated child. This heuristic account is based on witnessing a family struggling to find a way out of alienation and seeks to highlight the challenges of this client population.</p><p>

<p> The current study highlights symptoms of early childhood trauma that are often overlooked. It challenges the common assumption that if children are not talking about the trauma then it does not bother them but rather focuses on symptoms that may be surfacing unconsciously, through play, dreams, and somatic symptoms. Drawing from the current researchers experience with trauma composed the statement: Therapists and primary caregivers can help children work through early childhood trauma, without knowing their narratives, but rather with combinations of depth approaches using dream work, play therapy, and somatic techniques that are interwoven with the use of imagination. This led to pulling from the works of Judith Herman, Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, Patricia Garfield, and Violet Oaklander. Generating findings that prove effective to easing symptoms of early childhood trauma when combining techniques from these different areas of study: dream work, somatic work on the body and play.</p><p>

<p> Little is known about predictors of treatment selection for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aimed to identify the relationship between patient demographics, positive cut-off score of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and somatization, number of lifetime traumas, diagnosis, length of treatment, and clinician&rsquo;s selected evidence-based therapy (EBT). A secondary data analysis of 319 adults who sought services at a community mental health clinic who reported IPV was conducted. Neither Patient demographic characteristics or screen positive cut-off score for PTSD, anxiety, depression, or somatization was indicative of selected EBT. Patient demographic characteristics of age, female gender, race/ethnicity, employment disability, marital status, and education were found to be significant pre-treatment predictors of attending more sessions of treatment. There was no association between clinician&rsquo;s treatment selection of EBT and patient diagnosis or patients number of lifetime traumatic experiences. A dramatic need for future research regarding predictors of selected EBT are discussed.</p><p>

<p> Divorce and coparenting are widely studied topics in the field of marriage and family therapy. Clinicians and researchers have attempted to develop interventions to assist couples in which one or both partners are considering divorce so their decision-making processes result in better outcomes, which might safeguard adults and children from the potentially negative effects of divorce. Discernment counseling is such an intervention&mdash;intended for mixed-agenda couples with the goal of helping the partners gain clarity and confidence in making a decision about the future direction of their marital relationship. Using open-ended survey and interview questions, this phenomenological qualitative research explored Path 2 partners&rsquo; experiences of discernment counseling, divorce, and coparenting. Participants were recruited through gatekeepers at the Minnesota Couples on the Brink project and eleven (11) Path 2 partners participated in the survey/interviews. Three major themes emerged: 1) clarity and honesty, 2) appreciation for structure, and 3) cooperation in divorce and coparenting. Generally, the data findings suggest Path 2 partners described their discernment counseling experience as helpful for gaining clarity and honesty, providing necessary structure in their divorce decision-making process, and led to more cooperative divorce processes and post-divorce coparent relationships. </p><p>

The purpose of this thesis was to assess the agreement between youths and therapists on homework adherence. Kappas were computed for sessions 4 through 12. Agreement ranged from poor (κ = .22) in session 4 to excellent (κ = .83) in session 6, with percent agreement ranging from 69.9% to 95.6%. All other sessions fluctuated from excellent to fair to good. Additionally, homework completion was examined as a function of youth characteristics according to both reporters. An independent sample t-test determined there were no significant differences in percent completion according to both reporters, except for parent income according to therapists. Possible explanations for discrepancies in agreement are discussed. It is suggested that in order to avoid discrepancies between youth and therapist reports, it may be necessary for therapists to clearly set rules and enlist the help of parents in order to ensure homework completion throughout therapy.

<p> Last year, 2017, $150 million was invested into marketing for diamonds, the majority of advertisements, targeted engagement rings, and using tactics meant to make people feel inferior if they do not acquire a specific brand, diamond or ring to boost and maintain their revenue (Bain Report, 2017). With societal pressure, so much focus placed on embedding engagement rings into culture and consumeristic norms, little attention has been placed on how this is affecting the meanings couples are making of engagement rings. To date only one study has been done that had any questions relating to engagement rings and couples; the study found a positive correlation between cost of engagement ring and increased risk of divorce (Francis &amp; Mialon, 2015). However, there were no answers as to what contributes to this. This study aimed to understand what, if any, influence commodification has had on couples in meaning making of engagement rings in their relationships. Utilizing phenomenology, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with seven couples and analyzed using Moustakas (1994) phenomenological methods of analysis. Results highlight couple's experiences including various symbolism embedded within engagement rings; how their perceptions were influenced, aspects of shame and how their view of their relationship influenced their view of their relationship. </p><p>

<p> The rate of individuals transitioning to old age (<i>i.e.</i> 65 and older) is expected to exponentially increase in the coming years (United Nations Development Division, 2015), and as such society&rsquo;s need for research promoting successful aging to meet the demand for this growing population is accelerating. The transitionary period into old age holds significant and diverse challenges and losses that interact across life domains, and can make old age seem depressing and lead to a decline in well-being (Stevernick, 2014). Although older adults have many challenges that are associated with old age, many continue to live in a positive and adaptive way (Jeste &amp; Oswald, 2014). As such, successful aging has become a highly researched model, which refers to relatively high levels of cognitive, physical, and social functioning, and distancing from disease and disability (Rowe &amp; Kahn, 1997). The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether higher levels of sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction as well as personality predicted successful aging. Successful aging was operationally defined through the change in overall psychological well-being from middle to older adulthood. Health status and gender were also assessed to see whether they moderated the effect of predictors on overall psychological well-being. The study employed previously collected data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), a large sample of Wisconsin high school graduates who provided longitudinal data on diverse information across an extensive period of time (Herd, Carr, &amp; Roan, 2014). The data used was collected from the 1993 and 2011 waves when participants were an average of 53 and 71 years old. Variables were created from self-report survey items from Ryff&rsquo;s Psychological Well-Being Scales (Ryff &amp; Keyes, 1995), the Big Five Inventory, version 54 (BFI-54) (John, 1990; John, Donahue, &amp; Kentle, 1991), self-report data on sexual behaviors, and demographic information. Two-way mixed effects ANOVA and hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and personality all predicted change in overall psychological well-being. Health and gender did not moderate the relationship between sexual behaviors and psychological well-being, however the relationship between personality and psychological well-being was partially moderated by health and gender.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how siblings of individuals with schizophrenia understand the symptoms and problems that an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia experiences. Although there is, as of yet, no consensual model of normalcy or of psychopathology, models are important because they have implications for clinical practice. In regards to schizophrenia specifically, clinicians and researchers have asserted the importance of the family in the development and course of the disorder. Siblings may offer a unique viewpoint as they may experience or have experienced sub-clinical schizophrenia-related symptoms themselves. </p><p> Five individuals who have a sibling diagnosed with schizophrenia were interviewed about how they conceptualize their siblings&rsquo; experiences and problems. The interviews were analyzed with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. A total of sixteen emergent themes from the interviews are discussed, some of which include very different, still the same; struggle to understand; &ldquo;that thing;&rdquo; &ldquo;vigilant, careful, cautious;&rdquo; still love and care; and alienation from self and others. Several components of the themes indicate that participants had both a categorical and a dimensional model of their siblings&rsquo; problems. Future research regarding gaining a greater understanding of how people conceptualize the problems and experiences of those diagnosed with schizophrenia and clinical applications are also discussed. </p><p>