Thesis (MHSc--Health Science) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2004. / Also held in print (111 leaves, 30 cm.) in Akoranga Theses Collection (T 615.82 ALE)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1961. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-55).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-61).

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 1997. / Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Department of Physical Therapy. Also available online.

Thesis (M.Occ.Ther.((Faculty of Health Science))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Rochester, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-156). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Little research has explored the dilemmas of practice experienced by practitioners working with rehabilitation clients who are assimilating disabilities, resulting from injury or chronic conditions, into their lives. Consequently, there is limited literature to support educational initiatives or clinicians' decision-making in these settings. Accordingly, this qualitative study was designed to explore 'expert' physical therapists' perceptions of dilemmas of practice in rehabilitation settings. Using an ethnographic design, multiple interviews were conducted over a period of six months with each of ten participants. The researcher's theoretical background and 'insider' role were thoroughly explicated. Interpretive analysis was grounded in three overarching themes that emerged from the participants' accounts and compared with relevant theoretical constructs and research in physical therapy and other health professions. In the first theme the 'authority' of the concept of evidence-based practice as it is currently promoted within physical therapy was questioned. A need was identified to develop rigorous alternative sources of 'evidence' to support current practice that are more congruent with the multifactorial and client-centred nature of rehabilitation service provision. A second theme explored situations interpreted as causing moral distress in which the participants found themselves prevented from acting effectively on behalf of the clients, as a result of admission and discharge decisions and perceived misuse of rehabilitation resources within the organization and health system. The third theme related to the advantages and disadvantages of being involved with the interdisciplinary team. A lack of understanding of different professional philosophies of practice was perceived as a contributing factor to conflict and miscommunication. These themes are related to issues of professional accountability and suggest that physical therapy needs to develop a clearly articulated philosophy and conceptual models, including the concept of client-centred practice, that would reflect practice, serve to guide research and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. Alternative sources of 'best' evidence need to be developed that more realistically reflect complex 'practice' knowledge. In addition, the profession needs to commit to developing a comprehensive ethics curriculum offered in education programs and through interdisciplinary learning opportunities, by which physical therapists will be better prepared for the moral deliberations inherent in their professional role. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

This study examined if there were characteristic differences between play therapy students and non-play therapy students in training. Specifically, this study was designed to explore what, if any, characteristic differences between play therapy students and non-play therapy students in training exist in the following two areas: (a) personality variables, as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R) and (b) attitude toward children, and measured by the Barnett's Liking of Children Scale (BLOCS). Additionally, this study examined whether certain personality traits and the general attitude toward children for the play therapy student group correlated with the play therapy students' effectiveness ratings assigned to them by their play therapy supervisors. This study found statistically significant differences at the .05 alpha level between the play therapy (N=105) and non-play therapy students (N=79) in training in both the Extraversion personality trait on the NEO PI-R assessment and attitude toward children on the BLOCS. Non-play therapy students were in the High range for Extraversion, whereas play therapy students in training were in the Average range. According to this finding, play therapy students are less extraverted than non-play therapy students. Specifically, a statistically significant difference occurred on the Gregariousness scale of the Extraversion domain between the play therapy and non-play therapy group. Additionally, the play therapy student group scored a statistically significant higher mean total score on the BLOCS, indicating that play therapy students have a more favorable attitude toward children as compared to non-play therapy students in training. No other statistically significant results were indicated on the other personality scales of the NEO PI-R between the play therapy and non-play therapy students in training group. Statistical significance was found on the BLOCS total mean scores between play therapy students rated as "Highly Effective" and play therapy students rated as "Effective" by their play therapy supervisors. This result indicated that play therapists rated as highly effective had an overall more favorable attitude toward children then students rated as effective. Interestingly, the Conscientiousness personality domain was approaching statistical significance for the play therapists rated highly effective as compared to the play therapists that were rated effective. Furthermore, the results of this study quantitatively supported the personal characteristic qualities of play therapists as discussed by Axline (1969) and Landreth (2002).

In this study, I explored marriage and family therapist interns' growth experiences, both personal and professional, and the interplay between them. Participants discussed, using Internet discussion board and chat room formats, different kinds of personal experiences that influenced their clinical growth (as well as the reverse) and how these growth processes came about. Family systems theory provided the theoretical framework and Constructivism theory guided the manner in which the study was conducted. Thirteen marriage and family therapist interns from ten accredited MFT programs participated in the discussion board portion of the study. During the chat room interview, which took place at the end of the study, four participants elaborated upon their growth experiences and the reciprocal influence between their personal and professional lives. This study highlighted numerous personal, clinical, and professional growth experiences that played significant roles in the participants' lives. Participants identified experiences that were categorized as either "sources of growth" (what led to growth?) or "kinds of growth" (how did they grow?). For example, personal therapy and work experiences were noted as influential sources of growth for their clinical work. Family Systems Theory, whether discussed in a classroom setting or implemented in the clinic room, was considered influential on their personal lives. Participants' mentioned various kinds of personal and clinical growth experiences such as self-awareness, perspective-taking, and open-mindedness. To conceptualize and illustrate therapist interns' recursive growth processes, a theoretical model was developed. / Master of Science

Among the profession of marriage and family therapy, the goal is to help those individuals, couples, and families that are struggling in life. While working with these clients there is the possibility that the therapists may become stressed themselves and experience burnout. The following is a descriptive study of 30 marriage and family therapists (MFTs) in the state of Utah. The demographic variables of cli nical experience, sex, case load, serting of practice, education level, and marital status were studied as to their relation to the experience of burnout. Statistically significant findings demonstrated that the variables of sex and caseload were the only two variables that showed a relationship to burnout. Also studied was how prevention techniques such as diet, exercise, time-off, peer consultation, supervision and personal therapy lessened the effects of burnout. Although interesting trends were ind icated, only diet was found to be statistically significant. The participants of this study al so gave detail ed suggestions as to how they work to prevent burnout in their own careers as well as advice to help beginning therapists to also lessen the effects of burnout.