<p> Traditionally, mental health professionals have provided psychotherapeutic services through face-to-face sessions. As the Internet has become an increasingly important part of individuals&rsquo; personal and professional lives, psychologists and clients have used this medium to expand access to psychotherapy. The purpose of this quantitative correlational design was to investigate whether demographic variables and the personality traits of extroversion/introversion (E/I), as assessed by the Big Five Inventory, predicted clients&rsquo; preferences for a specific method of administered psychotherapy. The theoretical framework for this study was social information processing through computer-mediated communication. An online survey site was used to assist in survey design and data collection, and 301 individuals participated in the study. Results of the Pearson correlation indicated that age was negatively correlated with use of online therapy (<i>p</i> = .038). The variables of region, race, and E/I had no statistically significant effect on the use of online versus in-person therapy (all <i>p</i> values > .05). Findings reflected larger social trends that decisions to seek online therapy fall along lines of diversity related to age and technological knowledge. Recommendations include engaging older patients in opportunities for participating in online therapeutic services, as well as further research on the relationship between cultural diversity and online therapy. These results can inform practitioners and the community about the importance of expanding access to psychotherapeutic services for individuals who need them, which will in turn be an important component of positive social change.</p>

This study investigates success in parental mental health and child welfare work. Research has established the potential direct and indirect impacts of mental illness on parenting, the parent–child relationship, and the child, and the extent to which this poses a public health challenge. Problems with how adult and children’s services understand and deliver support to parents with mental health problems and their children have also been identified. In contrast, there has been little research about how parents with mental health difficulties and their children can be supported successfully. ‘What works’, or what constitutes success in parental mental health and child welfare work is missing from the literature. This study aims to begin to address this gap by providing an original contribution to conceptualising and evaluating success in parental mental health and child welfare work. This is an exploratory study, and as such covers a diverse population, i.e. different family members, different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, parents with different diagnoses, and statutory and voluntary sector agencies. The main issue here is to cover diversity; in terms of exploring different opinions of success – both in outcomes and processes – rather than to ensure applicability of the findings to all families in which there are parents experiencing mental illness. An interpretative approach was chosen for the study (within that data) to explore these issues. This was obtained by undertaking a multiple embedded case study methodology (Yin, 2003) with 12 families and their key workers from community mental health, children’s social care and the voluntary sector. Data collection was undertaken in three stages: individual interviews with parents, children and the professionals who support them; a review of the agency case files kept about the same families; and three focus groups. Participants were asked to identify successful situations that had occurred in each case study family during the 18 months prior to interview and give details about why these situations worked out well. The focus groups were convened to discuss the emerging findings from the first two phases of data collection. An examination of emerging themes, and the interplay between themes, gives insight into the shared ideas about what works and the shared methods and practices that are associated with successful outcomes. On the basis of these similarities, the findings offer a contribution to knowledge and practice about a mode of working which seems to make it possible to succeed in helping families previously considered beyond help. What is more, the practitioners also benefit from the helping relationship in this context.

<p>The purpose of this project was to develop a flexible, adaptable curriculum (Treadway) designed to meet the specific developmental needs of preadolescents who have been identified as being high risk for developing a substance use problem. Substance use among preadolescents has been reported with increasing frequency. Preadolescents (individuals ages 11 to 13) differ from their older adolescent counterparts behaviorally, cognitively, emotionally, and socially; differences which impact how to approach the preadolescent?s use of alcohol and drugs. Stakeholders are inclined to help younger clients, but have limited information on how to intervene effectively with preadolescents. In the space between substance abuse prevention and substance abuse treatment, there exists a strong need for a diversionary curriculum targeting preadolescents. The Treadway program was designed to meet this need. Key Words: Preadolescents, adolescents, substance use interventions, substance abuse, treatment manuals

<p>In recent years, there has been a shift in the field of psychology to consider a more holistic approach to therapy, with body-based therapies often classified as such. This study looked at relationships between participation in a trauma-informed, body-based, group therapy treatment (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy) and levels of overall symptoms, mindfulness, social connectedness, and post-traumatic growth. Participants were eight adult Caucasian women with a history of interpersonal trauma who participated in 20 weekly sessions of a Sensorimotor Psychotherapy-informed group intervention. They were assessed five times over 20 weeks plus at one month post-group. Results indicate that participants showed decreased levels of overall symptoms, increased levels of mindfulness, and increased social connectedness. This study adds to the limited research regarding Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and indicates that a group intervention based on the principles of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy may be effective for survivors of interpersonal trauma.

<p> Compassion is often misunderstood. To live with compassion does not mean to give up one&rsquo;s own well-being or to jeopardize the well-being of her family in order to serve the needs of others. Compassion means one must first take care of herself before she is able to tend to another. True compassion can exist only within the framework of well-balanced psychology or even-mindedness. It takes healthy self-esteem to realize one&rsquo;s own limits and set clear and direct boundaries to protect those limits. Compassion means being deeply human and at the same time honoring one&rsquo;s self and others. </p><p> Compassion, like muscle memory and rote memorization, is cultivated through practice. The current research from the field of neuroscience interprets compassion as a learned behavior as well as delineating that meditation is one of the most powerful tools for cultivating compassion and other balanced neurological states of being. </p><p> If we cultivated meditation, as we do reading and writing, as a part of the educational process for children from toddlers, through higher education, would that, in time change, what seems to be our addiction to the Ares archetype&mdash;war? At the very least, some students will see more compassionately, relate to life with more empathy, meet challenges with more optimism, and live with a greater sense of well-being and resilience. At best most of our children will grow up with these life affirming qualities that have power beyond measure to heighten the collective to live in a more peaceful state of consciousness. </p><p> This dissertation discusses the relationship between compassion and peace. As humanity becomes more compassionate, peace becomes a more viable state. </p>

<p> LGBTQ+ youth are at increased risk of experiencing stress, sadness, and dissatisfaction with life. A mixed-methods study was designed to examine the effects of mindfulness training on perceived stress and life satisfaction in LGBTQ+ youth. Quantitative pre- and post-test data were collected using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale-Adolescents and Goal Attainment Scaling. Qualitative data were collected via focus group at the conclusion of the mindfulness training. Results indicate that mindfulness training may be effective in reducing stress, increasing life satisfaction, and increasing coping skills in LGBTQ+ youth. School-based mental health service providers may find the group format of mindfulness training an effective use of time and resources.</p>

<p> This Art-Based Research (ABR) illuminates the power of creativity to inspire and heal people living in a maximum-security forensic psychiatric hospital. The study comprises: the individual and group artwork from the Collaborative Ceramic Art Therapy Studio with thirteen participants; a culminating thirteen-minute film found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PytlFZVvlig, <i> Conversations in Clay: Creativity, Collaboration, and Community</i>; an artistic inquiry and examination of the project footage; and a discussion of how the therapeutic filmmaking process helped capture the essential therapeutic elements of clay, filmmaking, and the art therapy studio environment.</p>

The intent of this study was to supply more data to further potential investigations in the systematic study of the normal personality as described in previous paragraphs.

The problem was to ascertain the relationship of a measure of self-actualization to a measure of mental health.

This study will attempt to evaluate the use of music in changing behavior patterns. The objective of the study is to show, through research and the use of actual case studies, that music can be used as the key to satisfy certain critical needs--whether orthopedic, medical, or psychiatric.