<p> Counselor supervision has evolved as a skillset unique from counseling in the last 30 years. Approaches to counselor supervision, often created with counselor developmental models in mind, are examined, and the author claims that a combination of postmodern approaches to counselor supervision (narrative, systemic, reflective, and IPR strategies), referred to as constructivist approaches, are worthy of additional consideration and assessment. However, no instrument currently exists that validates constructivist approaches to counselor supervision. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore constructivist themes and characteristics associated with constructivist supervisors and supervisees' preference for each of the constructivist supervisor characteristics. The author sent a peer-reviewed and pilot-tested Constructivist Supervisor Scale to multiple counselor supervises. A principal components analysis was used to determine how many components are representative of constructivist supervision. Three components were revealed during the exploratory process: Warm and non-directive relationship, past and present experiences, and acceptance of various styles. Results also revealed that supervisees preferred constructivist supervisor characteristics. Future supervisors can use the Constructivist Supervisor Scale to determine whether constructivist methods are being used during supervision. The Constructivist Supervisor Scale can also be used to assess supervisees' preference for constructivist supervisor characteristics. </p>

<p> This thesis explores Spanish Christian mystic John of the Cross&rsquo;s concept of the dark night of the soul as a process of conscious suffering that leads to empowerment, meaning in life, and enhanced wholeness. In addition, this thesis considers depth psychological concepts of individuation and Self, and the depth psychological notions of the teleological function of suffering and conscious suffering in relation to the dark night of the soul. The work of C. G. Jung, James Hillman, Thomas Moore, James Hollis, and Barbara Sullivan, among others, is considered. Using heuristic methodology, this thesis presents the story of the author&rsquo;s personal experience in the darkness to illustrate how conscious suffering leads to personal transformation. Finally, the author provides a guideline for therapists working with clients who are experiencing a dark night of the soul.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to investigate the differential effects of the Capitalization vs. Compensation model applied to a brief, group-based intervention that focused on Character Strengths, as defined by Peterson and Seligman (2004). Traditional Character Strengths interventions in Positive Psychology apply a Capitalization model, in which individuals engage their top-ranked strengths of character, and this approach has amassed substantial empirical support. However, it is not known whether a Compensation model, in which individuals engage their bottom-ranked strengths, can offer similar benefits. One hundred and eighty-seven employees from eighteen small organizations were randomized at the group level to receive one of four psychoeducational interventions: Top Strengths, Bottom Strengths, Placebo (behavioral health), or a delayed-treatment Control. Participants completed the VIA Survey of Character Strengths and a pre-treatment battery of outcome measures that assessed both positive psychological variables, such as life satisfaction and psychological well-being, and negative life functioning variables, such as depression and negative affect. Post-treatment outcome measures and a compliance measure were completed approximately one month following the psychoeducational presentations. Results revealed few differences between experimental conditions for most measures; however, participants in the Bottom Strengths condition experienced a decrease in symptom distress and an increase in emotional well-being relative to those in the Placebo and Control conditions. Regression analyses revealed several interesting relationships between Character Strengths and outcome measures, with implications for applications in multiple fields. A discussion of methods to strengthen brief group-based interventions, as well as the future direction of Character Strengths interventions, concludes the paper.</p>

<p>Since the 1990s the rate of divorce has consistently stayed at a high level within the United States. Almost 50% of all marriages will end in divorce (Coontz, 2006; Strow &amp; Strow, 2006). This continued high rate of divorce has led to an increase in caseloads within the family court system. As a result, more of the court&rsquo;s time and resources are being used. Courts are unable to handle the influx of cases, meaning families typically have to wait long periods of time before decisions are made about custody or visitation agreements. Therefore, families find themselves stuck in transition of divorce or separation. As a result, families find it difficult to cope with and adjust to the divorce or separation (Deutsch, 2008). </p><p> In order to alleviate some of the pressure from the court system, divorce parenting education programs have been created to inform parents about different circumstances experienced during a divorce or separation (Coates, Deutsch, Starnes, Sullivan, &amp; Sydlik, 2004). Many of these programs aim to ease the transition for both children and adults, as well as decrease the amount of relitigation occurring within the court system. Parenting education programs are quickly becoming mandated by certain states and counties in order for final judgment to pass on a divorce or separation (Deutsch, 2008; Geasler &amp; Blaisure, 1998). </p><p> Because courts are now mandating parenting education programs and using resources to provide such programs, it is important to ensure effectiveness of parenting education programs. Fortunately, recent program developers have started to research the effectiveness of specific programs. Additionally, new literature assesses different aspects of parenting programs to determine what pieces are necessary for an effective divorce parenting education program. Important aspects of parenting education programs to consider include content, method of delivery, and theoretical foundation. Specific content presented in parenting education programs have been found to be more effective on parenting and rate of relitigation. Additionally, certain methods for presenting the content have been found to be more effective in changing parental behaviors following divorce (Geasler &amp; Blaisure, 1998; Kamniski, Valle, Filene, &amp; Boyle, 2008). With the growing body of literature, courts, hopefully, will be able to determine what divorce parenting education programs are most effective to ensure resources are being spent wisely. </p><p> The current study will explore whether a newly revised parenting education program (Children First Parenting Education Program, January 2011 edition) effectively improves parental attitudes, knowledge, and likelihood. Further, the current study will explore whether the Children First Parenting Education Program January 2011 edition has a larger effect on attitudes, knowledge, and likelihood compared to the Children First Parenting Education Program, May 2006 edition. Additionally, the current study will explore whether the newly revised Children First Parenting Education Program, January 2011 edition has a larger effect on the rates of relitigation among parents who attended the program compared to participants who attended the Children First Parenting Education Program, May 2006 edition. </p>

<p> This thesis explores how the depth psychotherapist can experience a sacred passage of initiation in the context of archetypal dreams. It examines the intersections of meaning making in alchemical and mythological dream imagery and the numinous experience of initiation. It explores C. G. Jung&rsquo;s individuation process and whether identifying dream images as archetypal wounds can deepen the psychotherapist&ndash;client therapeutic relationship. Using hermeneutic and heuristic methodology, this research uses a comparative analytical lens and the author&rsquo;s personal process of tracking two archetypal dreams that coincide with the author&rsquo;s answer to the soul&rsquo;s calling to depth psychology and the first phase of seeing psychotherapy clients in graduate training. Honoring the unconscious as a map for psychological complexes, emotional states, unexpressed narratives, and symbols of both the personal and collective, the author expands upon an ancient way of honoring the death and rebirth of an individual in a transformative state of growth.</p>

<p> This thesis uses a hermeneutic approach to examine what culture is from the perspectives of complexity theory, object relations theory, and self psychology. Nurturation, a framework that examines the constitution of culture, is highlighted in the findings. Nurturation proposes that culture is the field that people, as interdependent entities, cocreate by virtue of being interdependent. The manner in which this human field operates is primarily through the patterns of connectedness that are expressed. This field affects people&rsquo;s individuation potential, and its constitution is found to perpetuate this potential, the more so at lower levels of development. Empirical validation is tentative. The epistemological approach of attachment theory is found to have potential in providing empirical support.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to identify a group of twenty-something adults to help guide and develop a sermon series to transition a congregation through the grief of losing a primary staff member. The study was originally focused on using the advisory group to develop a preaching style effective for the age group from which the advisory committee emerged. During the course of the study, the church experienced traumatic loss. The study shifted focus to support the collective grief of the congregation and transition to a new person to replace the absent staff member. The advisory group met face-to-face as well as through video conferencing, which was a new experience for the advisory group. The congregation overall successfully transitioned to a new staff member, yet a small though significant group of leaders could not adequately deal with loss, causing additional trauma in the context of the congregation, that, by the end of the project, continued unresolved.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a Two-session Child Parent Relationship Training on parental perception of children's problem behaviors; parental acceptance of child; parental stress; and parental attitudes, knowledge and skills about child-centered play therapy. All of the parents of children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in grades one to five in a small southern county were eligible for the study. Sixty parents were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. </p><p> A two-way ANOVA with one between subjects and one within subjects effects was used to examine differences between the experimental and control groups on the VADPRS pre-test and post-test, and independent t-tests were used to compare the experimental and control groups for each of the dependent variables. The statistical analyses found no differences between the experimental and control groups with regard to parental perception of child problems, parental acceptance of child and parental attitudes about child-centered play therapy. There were differences with regard to parental stress and parental knowledge, such that parents in the experimental group reported lower levels of stress and more play therapy knowledge than the parents in the control group. These findings are promising in terms of both helping parents of children with ADHD and exploring alternative models of CPRT that could be more widely used.</p>

<p> This quasi-experimental, exploratory study adds important empirical research to the relatively new field of individual-oriented relationship education. It describes the extent to which specific relationship beliefs and attitudes are held, and evaluates the impact of an undergraduate, semester-long Intimate and Family Relationships course on these beliefs. Utilizing data collected over two semesters at the University of Montana, this study compared 356 student responses at the beginning and end of the semester on three separate scales designed to quantify select measures of specific constraint beliefs and attitudes: Attitudes About Romance and Mate Selection (AARMS), the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale-Short Form (IRMA-SF). Additionally, this study examined the mediating effects of several student background factors: parental divorce, gender, and parenting style on student responses to the educational experience. The researcher found significant results in the following areas: (a) gender differences with regards to the Love is Enough Cohabitation constraint beliefs, and rape myth acceptance; (b) differences on the Love is Enough constraint belief and rape myth acceptance between Adult Children of Divorce and non-Adult Children of Divorce; (c) differences between students who are in a relationship and those who are not, with regards to the One and Only constraint belief, and rape myth acceptance. The results are discussed in the context of exploring and understanding possible variables that may or may not impact relationship health, and may or may not be amendable to individually oriented relationship education. Limitations of the study, implications of the findings, and recommendations for future research are discussed.</p>

<p> The ancient Egyptians believed that the material world as well as the imaginal inner world was infused with spirit and spirits. They believed in a wholly integrated reality, which included the physical forms of nature as well as the unseen images, gods, goddesses, powers, symbols, and meanings that go beyond a rational intelligent comprehension but rather present a harmonized inner and outer perception of reality. </p><p> This study utilizes an alchemical hermeneutic research methodology, which advocates research with soul in mind using meditative transference dialogues to inform the scholarly research and interpretation of resources used to investigate the spiritual substance of these important concepts such as the psyche to matter problem, and the possible loss of soul in a modern materialist paradigm. This inquiry explores how ancient Egyptian sacred science relates to the variety of ways in which humankind has defined soul and spirit, how this ancient Egyptian way of being could be integrated in modern modalities of science, and how this integration would impact today's understanding of reality. </p><p> The study proposes how a modern shift into this ancient cosmology might benefit today's sciences, medicine, and most significantly the practice of psychotherapy, which, from a conventional perspective, is presently considered from a largely materialistic perspective, with little or no regard for the unseen and the immeasurable presence of soul. Conclusions are drawn regarding the personal impact of the study on the researcher, efforts toward a methodology of psychotherapy practice integrating the concepts of ancient Egyptian sacred science, and the limitations of adopting a modern cosmology rooted in an ancient way of being.</p>