<p> Self-forgiveness is an emotion focused coping mechanism that increases positive emotions and behaviors. Self-forgiveness has been found to be moderated by guilt and shame in support of Hall and Finchman&rsquo;s theory on the emotional components of self-forgiveness. Men and women recovering from alcohol addiction have been found to struggle with shame and guilt, however, little is understood about this association. This quantitative correlational non-experimental research study investigated the relationship between self-forgiveness and risk of relapse in adults who were recovering from alcohol abuse, how shame and guilt moderated this relationship and how this relationship differed by gender. Anonymous surveys were conducted in two treatment centres and two Alcoholic Anonymous recovery meetings in the city of Calgary. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, The Heartland Forgiveness Scale, Alcohol Risk of Relapse Scale, and the Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale. Multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted to test the study hypotheses. Self-forgiveness was found to have a non-significant relationship with risk of relapse (&beta; = .040, <i>p</i> &lt; .720) and the scores did not differ by gender [Male (&beta; = &ndash;.061, <i>p</i> &lt; .641), and Female (&beta; = &ndash;.0.17, <i>p</i> &lt; .937)]. Shame (<i>F</i> (3, 79) = .614, <i>p</i> = .608), and guilt (<i>F</i> (3, 79) = 7.244, <i>p</i> = .000) did not have a moderating effect on the relationship between self-forgiveness and the risk of relapse. When shame and guilt interacted with self-forgiveness in predicting risk of relapse, the results did not differ by gender [Male (<i>F</i> (4, 55) = 5.770, <i> p</i> = .001), and female (<i>F</i> (4, 18) = .580, <i> p</i> = .681)]. However, a result not hypothesized in the study was found among male participants that guilt was predictive of risk of relapse (<i> F</i> (3, 56) = 7.595, <i>p</i> = .000). This study highlights the impact of maladaptive guilt that maintains the cycle of addiction. Clinicians can utilize this knowledge to employ strategies of eliminating maladaptive guilt in psychotherapy. Further research is needed to determine if these results could be replicated with other demographic groups to identify other plausible mechanisms between self-forgiveness at risk of relapse.</p><p>

<p> Middle Eastern individuals represent a heterogeneous group comprised of different nationalities, languages, and religious identifications. Yet, Middle Eastern Americans are widely underrepresented in the psychotherapy literature. Extant literature appears to focus on professional opinions about what psychotherapists should do when working with this population, including understanding cultural factors, such as incorporating family in treatment and acculturation status. Considering cultural communication patterns among this population, emotion is generally understood to be inhibited or suppressed, as disclosing personal problems and expressing emotion outside the family sphere can be viewed as disloyal and/or shaming. Thus, one of the many areas mental health clinicians should consider when working with Middle Eastern clients is how to recognize emotional communication patterns and identify and assist their clients with emotion regulation and/or dysregulation in a culturally sensitive manner. </p><p> To address the need for research on how emotions are expressed and regulated in psychotherapy with Middle Eastern clients, this study qualitatively analyzed three psychotherapy cases from a university&rsquo;s community counseling center&rsquo;s archival research database. More specifically, the researchers used an inductive content analysis approach with emotion, emotion regulation and InVivo codes to observe themes of emotional expression, regulation and dysregulation that emerged from the gathered data from a course of psychotherapy with these Middle Eastern American clients to further classify the observable phenomena (Elo &amp; Kyng&auml;s, 2008; Hsieh &amp; Shannon, 2005; Salda&ntilde;a, 2009; Weber, 1990). </p><p> Consistent with previous literature, results indicated that negative emotions were coded more frequently in psychotherapy sessions than positive emotions, as was the emotional regulation strategy of <i>Experiential Avoidance</i>. Surprisingly, data emerged revealing positive emotion regulation strategies (e.g., acceptance and emotional identification) that were not identified by literature describing this population. By obtaining a better understanding of how Middle Eastern American clients expressed and utilized their emotions in treatment, this study may be useful to the future work of clinicians and researchers targeting treatment of these individuals in a culturally sensitive manner and in an approach that emphasizes positive emotion regulation strategies.</p><p>

abstract: This study explored the motivation and persistence factors for non-professional athletes who decided after the age of 40 to begin training for an IRONMAN distance triathlon. The qualitative methodology of grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) was used in conceptualizing and implementing the research. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 individuals in the Southwest region of the United States. Data was coded in accordance with grounded theory methods. Motivation themes that emerged from the data centered around either initiating training for triathlon as an approach toward a specific goal or outcome, or beginning triathlon as a way to cope with personal difficulties. Obstacles to motivation also emerged, such as finances and time, injury, fear and doubt, and interpersonal difficulties. Persistence themes emerged that centered around either taking active steps to help continue training and relying on internal traits or characteristics to promote persistence. Data are discussed in terms of how these individuals adopt triathlon as a part of their lifestyle and identity, and how they come to persist in training beyond IRONMAN. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Counseling Psychology 2015

abstract: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using a grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006) to examine the subjective experiences of mindfulness. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who practice mindfulness on a regular basis. Data analysis revealed domains related to the experience, conditions, strategies and consequences related to the practice of mindfulness. The following main themes emerged: subjective experience, mechanism of practice, use of metaphors, contextual influences, and shift in perception. An emerging theoretical model related to the experience of mindfulness is also proposed. Implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Counseling Psychology 2013

<p> Trauma and dissociation have been researched in many populations with a clear connection established between the two. This study further explored this connection in the difficult to study population of refugee children. They often are living in tumultuous settings with limited access. The study consisted of 45 children all of whom had been exposed to potentially traumatic events due to displacement. 26 of the children were male with 19 females and an age range from 6 years old to 14. 4 classroom teachers completed the Child Dissociative Checklist for up to ten of their students. The CDC was found to be reliable for this population (<i>&alpha; = .903</i>). Frequency statistics showed at least 40% of the sample scoring above the modified pathology score of 11 and the most often endorsed items focused on emotional labiality, memory and denial as primary dissociation responses. Hierarchical linear regression was utilized to determine the relationship of nature of gender, age and time since displacement on the development of pathological dissociative response. The study found that gender was an insignificant predictor of dissociation (<i><b>F (1,44) = .184, p > .05</b></i>), but together, age and times since displacement were significantly correlated to higher reports of dissociation. After controlling for age, time since displacement did not have a significant effect on dissociative response <i>(R² = .178, p > .05)</i> refugee children living in camps in Lebanon.</p><p>

<p> This thesis explores different ways the media influences the psyche and society. Although research has found some positive effects, it points to primarily negative impacts, including manipulating emotions, instilling fear, promoting racism, influencing social control, and ultimately impacting peoples&rsquo; perceptions of reality and the world, which can extend into problematic effects on the electoral process and the shaping of popular culture. North Americans can be adversely impacted by media images and content to which they are exposed daily. Negative and fear-producing content can contribute to mental illness as well as societal degeneration. This thesis uses a hermeneutic methodology to identify ways in which the media may be negatively impacting the psyche. The research suggests connections between media and the contents of the cultural unconscious related to the American dream, female objectification, and fear of the other. It posits that fear-producing media can be seen as a form of psychological abuse.</p>

<p> Using a sample of 251 college students, it was found that 1) when differentiation (D) of work values was calculated using three indices,&nbsp;high-low D, Iachan D, and variance D,&nbsp;only Iachan D positively related to indecision but&nbsp;high-low D and variance D did not,&nbsp;2) none of the three indices of D&nbsp;related to career maturity, 3) work values profile elevation (PE) positively related to extraversion, openness, and negatively related to depressive symptoms and career indecision but was unrelated to career certainty and&nbsp;neuroticism and 4) work values PE moderated the relationship between Iachan D and career indecision. The findings from this study benefit both vocational counselors and clients by improving the utility of individuals&rsquo; work values results so that they can provide additional information to understand a person&rsquo;s work values profile.</p><p>

<p> This study examined the effect of clinical supervision on job satisfaction and burnout among school psychologists in large urban school districts in Florida. The theory of work adjustment, Maslach and Jackson&rsquo;s three-dimensional model of burnout, and Atkinson and Woods&rsquo;s triadic model of supervision were the theoretical foundations and/or conceptual frameworks used in this study. The two research questions that guided this study addressed the effect of the receipt of clinical supervision on job satisfaction and burnout among school psychologists in large urban school districts. The study was conducted with a convenient sample of 75 school psychologists from a target population of 330 who were primarily working as practitioners within the school districts. An online survey was created with demographic questions, the short-form Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ-sf), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory&ndash;Educators Survey (MBI-ES). The MSQ-sf has an overall scale of job satisfaction that was computed. The MBI-ES is comprised of three subscales: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. The subscale total scores were calculated for each MBI-ES dimension. The Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test revealed no statistically significant difference in job satisfaction between the two groups (<i>U</i> = 736, <i>z</i> = 1.783, <i> p</i> = .075). The MANOVA did not reflect a significant difference in burnout between the two groups, <i>F</i>(3,71) = .657, <i> p</i> = .581; Pillai&rsquo;s Trace = .027; partial &eta;² = .027. </p><p>

<p> Technology has been integrated into the modern era and continues to influence society, culture, and the individual. The digital influence has left a split in its wake that affects intergenerational relationships, value constructs, self-development, and the aesthetics of attachment. The paradigm that dominates the majority of psychological theory and practice is functioning from metanarrative models that are being rejected by younger generations. Using a hermeneutic method, this thesis explores the inception and continuing radical emergence of the technological self. Winnicott&rsquo;s theory of transitional objects and potential space, along with Kaufman&rsquo;s quantum physics theory of radical emergence, are utilized to reveal how the Internet and digital devices function to fulfill the needs of Millennials and Generation Zers. Psychoanalysis is facing the demand to attend to the shifts and gaps between traditional, dominant therapy models and the millennial self that has become technologically embodied.</p><p>

<p> This thesis explores effective and unintrusive interventions for treating noncompliant teens. Using hermeneutic and heuristic research methodologies, the use of coercion in adolescent mental health care is examined, with specific focus on the practice of transporting, or escorting, adolescents to treatment to determine its potential for trauma. Previous scanty research into the subjective experience of teenagers who have experienced being escorted to treatment indicated that treatment outcomes were not affected by the initial transportation. The research into trauma, adolescent psychology, and the effects of coercion as presented in this thesis, however, shows that being escorted has a high probability of traumatizing an adolescent. The author concludes that teaching noncompliant adolescents reflexivity and autonomy is more effective than prohibition and coercion. A re-visioning of adolescent defenses and symptomology suggests embracing all aspects of an adolescent's experience as evolutionary developmental adaptations in need of gentle guidance rather than inhibition. </p><p>