<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>

<p> Disabled students graduate from post-secondary education at a lower rate than non-disabled students. It is unknown if disabled and non-disabled students experience equal access to mental health services. This mixed methods study compared participants' reported psychological distress and willingness to utilize mental health services among disabled and non-disabled university students (N=96) and analyzed qualitative data regarding barriers and supports to utilizing mental health services. Disabled students reported more psychological distress and higher willingness to utilize mental health services than non-disabled students. These findings support the importance of promoting mental health care for disabled postsecondary students.</p><p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to assess how clinical supervisors' style of interaction, as described by SDT&rsquo;s concepts of perceived autonomy support versus perceived controlling style, predicts the counseling self-efficacy (CSE) of a mental health counseling intern placed in a field internship. An additional purpose of this study was to examine if this relationship between autonomy support and counseling self-efficacy was mediated by autonomous work motivation. Participants were approached during an internship class session to complete instruments related to their demographic characteristics, perceptions of supervisory interaction style &ndash; autonomy supportive versus controlled (<i>Perceived Autonomy Support Scale &ndash; Employee</i>), autonomous or controlled motivation (<i>Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale</i>) and counseling self-efficacy (<i>Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory</i>). In addition, a need for autonomy scale (<i>Autonomy and Homonomy Measure </i>) was also included in the questionnaire packet to perform an exploratory analysis on participants&rsquo; need for autonomy as it relates to perceived autonomy support. Participants consisted of master&rsquo;s level mental health counseling interns enrolled in their field internships. Regression analyses were conducted to assess the predictive relationship between perceived autonomy support from supervisor and participant&rsquo;s counseling self-efficacy. Path analyses were conducted to investigate if this relationship was mediated by autonomous work motivation.</p><p>

<p> Meditation is increasingly integrated into therapeutic interventions. Metta (loving-kindness) meditation, which cultivates compassion, is relatively unstudied. Metta&rsquo;s emphasis on compassion has spurred speculation that metta meditation may benefit mental health professionals at risk for compassion fatigue, a condition characterized by depression-like symptoms that results from paying witness to others&rsquo; trauma. The current study employed psychological phenomenology&mdash;a qualitative research methodology which uncovers the essential meaning of an experience&mdash;to explore mental health professionals&rsquo; lived experiences of metta meditation. Moustakas&rsquo;s recommendations for phenomenology guided data collection and analysis. Semi-structured interviews with 17 mental health professionals, clinicians and clinical supervisors, yielded 58 invariant components clustered into eight themes regarding metta meditation experience. These themes were used to write textural descriptions for each participant, from which a textural composite was created. Structural mechanisms interwoven into the composite created the <i>essential</i> description of participants&rsquo; lived experience of metta meditation. Implications are discussed.</p>

<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> Therapeutic treatment facilities that support adolescents in the criminal justice system in reforming delinquent behaviors are being used across the country as an intervention alternative to more punitive correctional facilities. Cognitive behavioral therapeutic techniques are the current primary treatment method used in such facilities, which has left them void of any depth psychological or psychodynamic modalities. Although cognitive behavioral therapy provides useful tools in supporting a patient&rsquo;s emotional awareness and affect regulation, it falls short in tending to the whole of an individual&rsquo;s psychic needs and drives. Using hermeneutic and heuristic methodologies, this thesis focuses on how a combination of depth psychological tools and psychodynamic conceptualizations of the adolescent psyche could increase treatment efficacy and client engagement. Using depth psychological and psychodynamic literature as well as this author&rsquo;s own professional experience in the field, this thesis examines the benefits of depth psychological methods in adolescent court-mandated treatment facilities.</p>

Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 103 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-75).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [179]-221). Also available on the Internet.