<p> Trauma experiences are often at the core of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Many women report the initiation of substance use after a specific traumatic event. Among women in substance abuse treatment, 55% to 95% have experienced trauma. A sizeable body of literature has shown spirituality to be a mitigating factor in recovery from co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders. Although advancements have been made concerning trauma and spirituality, gaps remain in comprehensive, gender-specific, assessment strategies and treatment models that include an understanding of the impact of trauma on spiritual development. </p><p> This exploratory study examined the relationship between trauma and the spiritual well-being of women with substance use disorders. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between type of trauma and the spiritual well-being of women with substance use disorders, the relationship between age of first traumatic occurrence and the spiritual well-being, and the relationship between the number of traumatic occurrences and the spiritual well-being score as measured by <i>Spiritual Well-Being Scale.</i> Data were collected from adult females residents (n = 108) of a two-year modified therapeutic community. Participants met DSM IV criteria for a substance use disorder and reported a lifetime history of at least one traumatic occurrence. </p><p> The results of the study reflect descriptive data (demographic and frequency data) and outcome data from the <i>Adapted Trauma Assessment</i> and <i>Spiritual Well-Being Scale.</i> Descriptive data provided a representative profile of the sample. The majority of the women were White/Caucasian and Black/African American women in their late thirties. Most had obtained a high school education or equivalent. The typical participant initiated alcohol use between the age of 13 and 14, and drug use (other than alcohol) around the age of 16. Cocaine was identified as the primary substance used. The majority of the participants reported experiencing eleven traumatic occurrences. Most had experienced their first trauma between 9 and 10 years of age. "Physical Assault" and "Completed Rapes" were the most frequently reported type of trauma occurrence. The mean Spiritual Well-Being Score (94.0) indicated the majority of the participants had a scores within the high level of the "medium" range. </p><p> When addressing the research question, "What is the relationship between the type of trauma and spiritual well-being for women with a substance use disorder when comparing different types of trauma?" the data indicates that women who experienced sexual molestation had significantly lower (p = .047) Spiritual Well-Being scores than those who had not experienced the trauma of sexual molestation. For the question, "What is the relationship between age of first traumatic occurrence and spiritual well-being as reflected by the <i>Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Trauma Assessment</i>?" a significant positive correlation between age of first trauma from "Physical Assault" (r = .178, p = .039), "Being Tormented, Stalked, or Repeatedly Humiliated" (r = .244, p = .048), "Causing Harm" to another person (r = .519, p = .016) and Spiritual Well-Being scores was found. That is, as the age at first occurrence increased so did Spiritual Well-Being scores. Put another way, the younger the participant was at the age of each of these trauma occurrences, the lower her spiritual well-being scores. Examining the question, "What is the relationship between the number of traumatic occurrences and spiritual well-being as measured by the <i>Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Trauma Assessment</i>?" no significant relationship (r = -.093, p = .336) was found between the total number of traumatic occurrences and Spiritual Well-Being scores of women with substance use disorders. </p><p> This study examined the complex and co-occurring clinical concerns of women with substance use disorders. Conceptualized through Fowler's Faith Development Theory, these findings address the implications of trauma and spirituality from a developmental lifespan perspective. Further, prevalence rates for co-occurring trauma and substance abuse identified in this study reinforce the need for comprehensive, gender-specific, trauma-informed, and trauma-specific service delivery systems that recognizes the unique life experiences of women. Recognition of the prevalence of co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders and the impact of those events on treatment presentation, symptomology, retention and completion fosters a more holistic clinical perspective. Integration of spirituality in the provision of care promotes the inclusion of intrinsic and extrinsic supports that provide mitigating factors in trauma recovery. </p>

<p> Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among Filipino American men is a rarely discussed phenomenon and continues to be an understudied topic. To date, theories and empirical research on CSA disclosures are predominantly based on the experiences of White Euro-centric females and males. In this study, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the narratives of 12 Filipino American men with CSA histories to gain a better understanding of their CSA disclosures. Specifically, this study highlighted factors that have prevented and promoted their CSA disclosures. Overall, results in this study indicated that Filipino American men's CSA disclosures were generally uncomfortable and included notable non-verbal experiences; however, they were very much relieved by their disclosures. Core themes that reflected the barriers to their CSA disclosures included: (a) protecting the family; (b) preserving masculinity; (c) sexual taboos and boundaries; (d) lack of containment for discloser's experience; and (e) lack of intimacy and connection. Core themes that represented the promoters to their CSA disclosures included: (a) having access to intimacy and close relationships; (b) having support, stability, and safety; (c) addressing emotional issues; (d) wanting progress or a better life; and (e) gaining cognitive awareness that they were subjected to CSA. Political and societal, as well as clinical and theoretical implications of findings are discussed.</p>

<p> Although evidence-based practices (EBPs) have been identified in the literature, insufficient information exists about how to successfully implement them. As a result, implementation efforts have been met with failures. Little is currently known about what affects the success of implementation efforts for best practices such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) in an acute inpatient psychiatric setting (AIPS). A longitudinal multiphase mixed methods case study examined an implementation effort to provide DBT-A in an AIPS over a 24-month period. The process of implementation was investigated through in-depth interviews, a focus group, and field observations. Six categories were identified that affected the DBT-A implementation in an AIPS: appeal of DBT as a treatment modality, impact on patients, implementer characteristics, the implementation process, organizational dynamics and structure, and staff support. Implications for implementing EBPs within organizational environments are discussed. This study represents the first attempt to use qualitative and mixed methodology to examine the process of DBT implementation in an AIPS. </p>

<p> The question of how one may effectively build a therapeutic relationship with adolescent patients deemed to be experiencing symptomatology associated with psychotic functioning has largely evaded examination by both qualitatively and quantitatively oriented researchers. This study has attempted to discover, through semi-structured interviews with students at a residential treatment facility, whether said question may be seen to have anything approaching a useful answer. It was hypothesized that student participants would speak to a desire for those with whom they interact to understand them as persons, to behave authentically and to communicate their shared humanity. Results provided evidence that these issues and themes were included in student perceptions of human relationships, as well as indicated several other important topics related to successful and unsuccessful interactions with others. While conclusions did offer tentative insights into effectively forming bonds with severely disturbed youth, further research is necessary to determine alternative explanations for relational successes and failures.</p>

<p> The current study sought to examine the role of traditional values in China and the United States as one of the important social psychological mechanisms through which romantic relationships affect mental health. The work is guided by the Social Structure and Personality framework, focusing on the meaning construction dictated by traditional values in the stress process, while also addressing the structural and cultural origins of meanings. Specifically, I used path models to examine how those internalized values moderate the impacts of romantic relationships on the mental health of Chinese and American college students and also compared the effects across gender and nations with Multi-group SEM method. The results show that traditional values work as a major social-psychological mechanism influencing Chinese students only by exacerbating the impacts of breakups on their depression. In terms of gender and national patterns, the most important finding is that the unconditional main effect of traditional values differs across gender and nations and Chinese women are mostly harmed by those values. The results partially support the theoretical construction and also add to both the meaning studies in the stress process and the substantive research of romantic relationships and mental health.</p>

<p> This study examines the role of the intuitive function in addiction recovery. Addictive behaviors create an internal state dominated by imbalanced instinctual drives. The psychological manifestations are obsessive thoughts, anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and a sense of isolation. This research explored how subtle unconscious influences like the intuitive function have a role in shifting this treacherous internal state. Intuition is a prominent spectrum function which bridges the unconscious and conscious by providing unexpected knowledge of unknown origins when none is consciously available, assesses potential of situations, and imparts understanding of how and when to carry out instinctual action (Jung, 1971/1976, 1948/1981a).</p><p> Field research was conducted through a qualitative, intuitive, phenomenological methodology. Twelve participants in recovery from alcoholism were asked through conversational interviews about their experience of intuition in sobriety. The participants claimed intuition initiated, sustained, and enhanced their sobriety. They were able to distinguish the intuitive function from the amplified state of need, obsessive thought, and angst. They reported synchronicities, dreams and intuitive influences were instrumental in the decision to stop drinking. In longer term recovery, the intuitive function was perceived when helping others, solving problems, learning self-care, and enhanced intuition was described as one of the biggest gifts of sobriety.</p><p> This research contributes to the field of psychotherapy by discovering the important role of the intuitive function in addiction recovery. Recognizing and helping patients cultivate intuition facilitates the apprehension of addictive behaviors. Working with unconscious functions such as intuition helps those considering sobriety, as well as those in sobriety, to establish a relationship with their unconscious other than one based on addictive patterns. Developing the intuitive function in recovery establishes a conscious relationship to the primary process beyond impulsivity and curbs instinctual impulsivity. </p>

<p>Unmanaged stress produces both negative physical and psychological health effects on Emergency Department Healthcare Professionals (ED HPs) as well as having effects on workplace health and safety. In this descriptive study, the researcher analyzed Survey Monkey&trade; results to identity effective and ineffective stress management methods utilized by ED HPs. There were 16 ED HP participants and the survey was distributed via e-mail invitations over a one-month period during the summer of2013. California State University Long Beach Internal Review Board (CSULB IRB) approval for the study was obtained. </p><p> The data were collected using snowball sampling and included demographic data about the participant's work experience and multiple-choice data regarding current experiences with workplace stress coping. Descriptive data regarding the participant's ideas of effective stress management methods within the workplace were also obtained. Null hypotheses involved the reported beliefs of ED HPs regarding coping mechanisms present at the workplace and their general effectiveness. </p>

<p> In the United States, since 1980, excess weight reached epidemic levels and labeled a public health crisis. Obesity rates correlated with chronic disease drive health care expenditures, absenteeism, worker compensation claims, co-morbidities, mortality rates, and more. </p><p> Many organizations offer employee wellness programs but are difficult to measure benefits and determine the most effective strategies. Wellness program effectiveness was seldom linked to organizational variables. Research questions were: (1) What organizational variable effects, such as organizational size, engagement in policies that encourage participation, and median income of the school district, determined by zip code income census data, have on school employee health outcomes, perceived health and wellness participation rates; and (2) Will the employee's residence effect health outcomes, perceived health and wellness participation rates, determined by employee's residence zip code and median income zip code census data. </p><p> Research generally focused on one organizational variable or health outcome in a variety of organizations, whereas this study examined multiple organizational variables and health outcomes within many school districts. The hypotheses were: (1) Mid-sized districts have better employee health outcomes, perceived health and participation rates than larger-sized districts; (2) Districts with better developed wellness policies using best practices have a positive effect on employee health outcomes, perceived health and participation rates; and (3) Organizational effects on employee health outcomes, perceived and participation rates vary by where the employees' resides and works, as it links to median income zip code census data, with employees residing and working in lower/medium income areas having the worst health outcomes, perceived health and participation rates, and best results with the highest income. </p><p> This longitudinal study had several layers of organizational effects on employee wellness in Southern California School Districts. The program impacted almost 10,000 employees, self-selecting a variety wellness options, such as wellness challenges, health screenings, coaching, incentives, and staff development workshops. Data collected yearly included: (a) objective health measurements, such as body mass index and systolic/diastolic blood pressure; (b) self-reported perceived health measurements, such as health, stress, energy, confidence, self-esteem, and body image; and (c) the type of interventions. The data was archival and collected from 2005 to 2012.</p>

<p>This thesis explores the potential for soul-making in the prison violence-prevention program known as GRIP&mdash;an acronym for Guiding Rage into Power. The author utilizes hermeneutic methodology to explore the meaning and evolution of the concept of soul-making within the literature of depth psychology. Using heuristic methodology, the author then analyzes what he perceived to be a profound demonstration of soul-making among the members of the GRIP prison group he cofacilitated. The findings indicate that by combining a downward move into the underworld of emotional woundedness and psychopathology with a vertical orientation that includes contact with ego-transcendent archetypal energies, the inmates participating in the GRIP program had an opportunity for deep healing and genuine soul-making. </p>

<p> Although there is an extensive literature on women who are overweight, obese, or suffer from eating disorders, less is known about women who are at a healthy weight yet who are attempting to lose weight. To learn more about the psychological characteristics and behavioral patterns of such women, this study analyzed data from the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA-II). We compared these women with two groups of women: (a) those who are at a healthy weight but who are not attempting to lose weight and (b) overweight women who are attempting to lose weight. We employed numerous variables including BMI, depression, anxiety, academic performance, exercise, and diet strategies in these comparisons. In terms of psychological health and weight-related behavior, healthy women attempting weight loss are more similar to overweight women who are attempting weight loss than they are to healthy women who are not attempting to lose weight. We found comparatively high rates of depression, anxiety, and academic difficulty among our target population. Based on our findings and the relevant literature, we recommend that university health officials provide weight-related educational information to female students in an effort to promote psychological well-being and healthy weight practices.</p>