Thesis (Ph. D.)--Syracuse University, 2009. / "Publication number: AAT 3381562."

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Regent College, 1998. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-158).

<p> This study examines the manifestations of the integration of somatic, transpersonal, and Western psychology in the context of actual psychotherapeutic process. Two main research questions were explored: &ldquo;What are the characteristics of the integration of somatic, transpersonal, and Western psychotherapeutic processes?&rdquo; and &ldquo;Do the lived experiences of the participating therapists reveal an overarching theory that may describe the integration of somatic, transpersonal and Western psychology in the context of the process of psychotherapy?&rdquo;. Data was collected from interviews with 8 licensed psychotherapists trained in somatic and transpersonal work who integrate these areas of expertise in their clinical work. The data was analyzed using a grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006) method, guided by principles of integral inquiry (Braud, 1998). The integration of these frameworks allowed the data to include applications of different research designs as well as participants&rsquo; alternative ways of knowing. This study resulted in a model that describes a possible integration of somatic, transpersonal, and Western psychotherapeutic processes as well as the characteristics of that integration. The model is based on four coexisting components. The first component describes two ways in which integration was identified: a mindful awareness of the multidimensional nature of inner experience, and therapeutic exploration of content relating to somatic, transpersonal, and Western psychologies. The second describes the therapist's personal and professional psycho&ndash;spiritual&ndash;somatic journey, as well as the attitude she holds toward the client. The third describes the process that allows integration to occur, and the fourth describes the outcomes of this work. These four components expand and deepen the existing literature on somatic, transpersonal, and Western psychotherapies, and are the foundation for a suggested working model concerning the actual practice of integrative psychotherapy.</p>

<p> This paper studied lawyers and spirituality and the potential benefits of offering spiritual guidance to lawyers, both personally and in connection with their law practices. This paper explored how spiritual guidance might be of particular service to lawyers (a) who identify as spiritual but not religious, and (b) who do not identify as spiritual or religious, but who have high aspirations for how the practice of law might best occur as a meaningful vocation for themselves as lawyers and as a valuable service to their clients and to society. The general questions intended to be explored in this paper were: (a) whether and how spirituality can be incorporated into the provision of legal services, (b) what transformations might be effected in the legal profession though attorneys cultivating spirituality into their lives, and (c) what role spiritual guidance might play in the process. The method used in this paper was qualitative; in particular, organic inquiry. Four practicing attorneys were interviewed. Participant attorneys completed a written questionnaire and were asked to respond to prepared questions in the individual interviews. A group process with all of the participant attorneys and the researcher occurred. </p><p> The results of this paper show that the participant attorneys have incorporated their unique sense of spirituality into their law practices. The results also indicate the perceived obstacles to the incorporation of spirituality into the practice of law and to the receipt of spiritual guidance. The results of this paper suggest that spiritual guidance might be a useful service to attorneys, both personally and professionally.</p>

This exploratory study sought to understand how spirituality influences the experiences of loss, grief, and finding meaning for seven Indigenous women following the death of a loved one. Writing from an Indigenous research paradigm with storytelling as the research method, five recurring themes emerged from the transcripts: 1)dreams; 2) honouring memory; 3) healing; 4) making space; 5)meaning. In addition, three central themes were present in the five themes: 1) connection; 2) relationships; 3) we are not alone. The research exposed a story within a story, as each storyteller revealed a history of trauma related to colonization, and their healing journey of coming to see, coming to know, and coming to be as Indigenous women. The study found that spirituality positively influenced the experiences of loss, grief, and finding meaning through the maintenance of connections and relationships with their loved one, and affirming meaning or purpose in their life.

<p> Attachment to God has been shown to serve as a protective factor against certain eating disorder risk factors such as negative body image and sociocultural pressure. The current project sought to further that research by examining the possible moderating effects of attachment to God on specific disordered eating symptoms. Data from questionnaires that were distributed through Amazon&rsquo;s Mechanical Turk were analyzed. The sample consisted of 102 women ranging in age from 19-57. The women varied in their religious affiliations and beliefs. They were given four questionnaires measuring perceived sociocultural pressures, eating disorder symptoms, emotional eating, and attachment to God. Attachment to God was hypothesized to moderate the effect of sociocultural pressures on disordered eating symptoms. It was predicted that the women who perceive more sociocultural pressure and had an insecure-avoidant attachment to God would score higher on anorexia symptoms in the eating disorder questionnaire, while women who perceived more sociocultural pressure and had an insecure-anxious attachment would score higher on bulimia symptoms. Additionally, significant correlations between anxious attachment to God and emotional eating factors were predicted. Results indicate a significant correlation between bulimia symptoms and anxious attachment, as well as significant correlations between bulimia symptoms and each factor of the Emotional Eating Scale (EES; anger/frustration, anxiety, &amp; depression). Furthermore, insecure-anxious attachment to God was found to significantly moderate the effect of sociocultural pressure on bulimia symptoms.</p>

This exploratory study sought to understand how spirituality influences the experiences of loss, grief, and finding meaning for seven Indigenous women following the death of a loved one. Writing from an Indigenous research paradigm with storytelling as the research method, five recurring themes emerged from the transcripts: 1)dreams; 2) honouring memory; 3) healing; 4) making space; 5)meaning. In addition, three central themes were present in the five themes: 1) connection; 2) relationships; 3) we are not alone. The research exposed a story within a story, as each storyteller revealed a history of trauma related to colonization, and their healing journey of coming to see, coming to know, and coming to be as Indigenous women. The study found that spirituality positively influenced the experiences of loss, grief, and finding meaning through the maintenance of connections and relationships with their loved one, and affirming meaning or purpose in their life.

Thesis (MEd)--University of South Australia, 1999

Thesis (D. Min.)--Nazarene Theological Seminary, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 57).