<p> This thesis employs heuristic and hermeneutic methodologies to explore the lives of military wives from a depth psychological perspective. The author investigates the obstacles inherent within the military lifestyle that may hinder military wives&rsquo; journeys through the complex process of individuation. The hindrances explored include dependence, marginalization, and myriad psychological challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and grief that result from frequent separations from loved ones, transiency, deployments, lack of control, and loss of identity. This thesis posits that individuation is critical to achieving wholeness and a healthy psyche; however, for military wives, their lifestyles place them at a distinct disadvantage in the individuation process as compared to civilian women. Informing psychotherapists of this unique population&rsquo;s struggles enables therapists to work more effectively with military wives. This work suggests possible clinical applications of the findings and discusses the clinical implications of the research.</p>

<p> This thesis utilizes hermeneutic methodology and a depth perspective to explore how women&rsquo;s connection with their bodies impacts their growth during the individuation process. Western culture is discussed in terms of its emphasis on rational thought and progress&mdash;the realm of Yang and Logos. Although the phenomenon of the dominating masculine principle has enabled rapid technological and scientific development, repercussions may exist as a result of the suppressed Yin and Eros energies. Such ramifications are examined in relevance to Jung&rsquo;s theory of individuation and the body. Separation from the body is researched through studies on objectification theory, dissociation, disordered eating, and cosmetic surgery. Alternatively, practices including yoga, Vipassana meditation, Watsu, Authentic Movement, and image-based bodywork are reviewed to illuminate the benefit of somatic connection. Results indicate that integrating the body, mind, and soul through conscious awareness can facilitate Weetern women&rsquo;s journey toward wholeness.</p>

<p> Physicians require discipline, determination, a tolerance for delayed gratification, and brainpower to navigate college, medical school, postgraduate education, and their personal and professional careers. A high degree of resilience is needed for this journey. Adding to research on the concept of resilience, this thesis recognizes two factors beyond one&rsquo;s control that influence one&rsquo;s capability for resilience: infant attachment pattern and adverse childhood experiences. Alchemical hermeneutic methodology was employed to examine the influence of these factors on the development of resilience and to explore the vulnerability of medical students and physicians to a failure of resilience. A heuristic approach taken to incorporate the author&rsquo;s experience and observations as a physician provides evidence of the pressures and potential pitfalls in physician lives. The author proposes changes in medical training and the structure of medical practice that take into account individuals&rsquo; strengths and limitations in regard to their capacity for resilience.</p>

<p> Although recognition of the constellation of emotional and mental events that comprise trauma date back to the late 19th century, contemporary curative approaches are derived from World War II desensitization treatments for battle fatigue that appear today in exposure-based therapies. To bring trauma therapy up to date, application of a phenomenological research method to critique contemporary treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder requires a multisystemic approach to the mind&ndash;body constellation that is clinically informed by state-of-the-art neuroscientific research relating to the pathophysiology of trauma. Particularly important is understanding the necessity of cross-hemispheric integration of emotional and cognitive imprints that persist after traumatic events. Mindfulness-based therapies such as the metacognitive model, emotion-focused therapies, and breath training such as samatha meditation techniques as well as the incorporation of somatic and ecopsychological approaches such as saltwater immersion are all effective, long-term, compassionate solutions that create lasting recovery from trauma and its adverse consequences to the life and well-being of the trauma victim.</p>

<p> This causal comparative study investigated the relationship of an identified disability (IDEA declared vs. non-declared) on success outcomes for sixth through twelfth grade at-risk students enrolled in a school-based mental health program. Outcome variables included: selected attendance, behavior, and achievement indicators for students who were enrolled in and received intensive school-based counseling.</p><p> Overall, after one year in the program, referrals for violent incidents significantly decreased for both groups of students while lack of respect incidents increased, indicating that staff changes in providing preventative strategies and approaches for working with students may have led staff to "catch" student behaviors at an earlier phase. IDEA declared students also had a significant decrease in suspensions. Although absences increased and instructional days decreased for both groups of students, a few of the non-declared students had more extreme changes. In-depth examination of the data showed that non-declared students, in particular Black and Asian students, had the most negative changes. Achievement data revealed that the majority of IDEA declared and non-declared students failed at pre and continued to fail at post.</p><p> This study adds to the limited base of research that on outcomes for students with and without disabilities. As school-based mental health counseling programs, coupled with strengths-based, multi-level counseling approaches expand across schools, it is important that we further the research base to determine what differences exist and what ramifications emerge for students based on disability, mental health problem, or ethnicity. Findings in this study of decreased referrals for severe behaviors for all students, decreased suspensions for IDEA declared students, and more extreme cases of negative outcomes for Asian and Black students without a disability, should be considered important factors in the continued effort to improve educational success for all students by supporting and promoting positive social emotional development and decreasing student risk factors.</p>

<p> Generation Y is one of the most studied generational cohorts in history, and much has been written about the psychology of this generation. Generation Y has been influenced by a number of factors, including the technological revolution, the economic recession, and the self-esteem movement. These factors have hindered Generation Y's psychological and maturational development. In addition, Generation Y shares many characteristics with the psychological archetype of the puer aeternus. Using hermeneutical and heuristic methodologies, this thesis focuses on the relationship between the puer aeternus archetype and the millennial generation, as well as the main factors contributing to Generation Y&rsquo;s delay in achieving traditional developmental milestones. Both psychological and demographical literature and research, along with personal experiences of the author, are incorporated to demonstrate the connection between Generation Y and the puer aeternus archetype, as well as to examine the critical factors that have influenced Generation Y&rsquo;s psychological and maturational development.</p>

<p> This thesis, through heuristic and artistic-creative modalities, explores embodiment in the intersection of Merleau-Ponty&rsquo;s sensuous phenomenology and depth psychology&rsquo;s archetypal feminine. The research argues that illness evokes or re-members the often unconscious relationship with the body that is the legacy of Cartesian dualism. The author references her own experience with multiple sclerosis to found the premise of the work&mdash;that meaning making of self and world is done through and by way of one&rsquo;s perceiving body. As illness shifts the taken-for-granted sedimentations of the lived body, in tandem a new lived body and surrounding world must be oriented to and made meaningful. Following a scholarly inquiry of Merleau-Ponty and the archetypal feminine, three art pieces are presented. Based upon radical reflection, the art represents the author&rsquo;s embodied coinherence with her surroundings, and points to conclusions and principles to bear in mind while working clinically with the chronically ill.</p>

<p> This production thesis utilizes an artistic-creative methodology through the workings of both heuristic and hermeneutical approaches to explore the function of story&mdash;how we are told stories and how we retell them&mdash;throughout an individual&rsquo;s life. Furthermore, this thesis examines their role and effect on the mental-emotional realm. Through the craft of creating her own personal fairy tale by way of active imagination, the author offers an example of working with archetypal images (common to the author as well as the collective) to come into contact with unconscious drives and shadow impulses, confront their intentions, and ultimately come to resolution over their tensions, resulting in psychological transformation. This thesis offers a look into the importance of play, the imaginal realm, and the endless nature of meaning making and their relationship to healing.</p>

<p> This thesis explores whether the coach-athlete relationship can be viewed as a relationship of attachment within which one can develop self-awareness, self-regulation, response flexibility, and resilience. Using hermeneutic and heuristic methodology, the findings suggest that an attachment-based approach to coaching can help coaches and athletes update their internalized models of attachment and move toward greater attachment security and earned security. Developing and integrating the brain structures associated with secure attachment, such as the insula and the right hemisphere of the brain, can lead to resilience, mental toughness, and performance enhancement in sport. Drawing from the literature on attachment, interpersonal neuroscience, and sport psychology, this thesis proposes a new model for training athletes called Attachment Based Coaching (ABC). ABC methods focus on attunement, resonance, contingent communication, breath, meditation, and mindfulness as well as interventions based on the psychological skills training approaches of relaxation, goal setting, imagery, and self-talk.</p>

<p> This study examined the relationship between compassion fatigue, how Cognitive Behavioral oriented therapists are, self-efficacy, how positively respondents viewed their time spent in therapy, and caseload. Surveys were mailed out to 400 doctorate level clinical psychologists licensed in Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri. Respondents completed the Compassion Fatigue Self-Test for Psychotherapists, a demographics form, and a self-efficacy measure. Results indicated that the more positive therapists viewed their time spent in therapy, the lower their risk for compassion fatigue. Also, analyses found that clinicians who reported having a higher percentage of clients with a personality disorder diagnosis would be a higher risk for compassion fatigue.</p>