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<p>This counseling project examines the issue of recidivism and the need to realign the current system of retribution in favor of rehabilitative services in the United States prison system. Theoretically, this project reviews attachment theory as developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth and ties the central constructs inherent to attachment theory to equine-assisted prison-based programs. Support and evidence of animal-assisted interventions as agents of healing and psychological growth is found in connection between theory and practice in the case study involving the selected hypothetical inmate, Robert. Robert explores his traumatic past using attachment theory based personal therapy sessions in conjunction with working with the horses through the prison-based animal program. Dialogue exchanges in therapy elucidated how Robert&rsquo;s attachment to the horses and with his therapist developed. The resulting progression and insight building abilities he acquires may serve as preventative measures with respect to re-offense after release. </p>

<p> Chronic unemployment is one of the top stressors in life that affects an individual&rsquo;s income, identity and self-worth, emotional and physical health, and personal relationships. At the extreme, the stressors are associated with an increased risk of suicide. While the damaging effects of chronic unemployment are extensive, not everyone experiences such negative consequences. The focus of research has primarily been on the negative impact rather than exploring what may account for the differences in the ways that individuals adapt, such as the intelligent use of positive emotions. Researchers using quantitative methods have identified significant correlations among emotional intelligence (EI), positive emotions, and coping. The problem is that the results have not provided an understanding of the deliberate use of positive emotions to cope with stress. The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic (interpretative), phenomenological study was to provide a rich, contextual understanding of the processes by which individuals activated and utilized positive emotions via EI to cope with the multiple stressors associated with chronic unemployment. A purposeful sample of six adults receiving services from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Job Center and unemployed for a period of 6 months or more participated in the study. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews to collect the data. The data was analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The identified themes underscored the importance of providing support services to extend vocational interventions and can be used to inform policy makers of changes needed in unemployment programs. Second, the use of a phenomenological approach to examine the confidence in the ability to use emotions and the ability to activate and use positive emotions provided support for the proposition that the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions (PE) facilitates the application of trait EI and the deliberate use of positive emotions to cope with stress.</p>

The study investigates the psycho-cultural and social influences on the academic and social coping concerns of Nigerian graduate students studying at Clark Atlanta University. The research collection of data among Nigerian graduate students at Clark Atlanta University highlights the roles played by different variable factors such as educational, social, cultural and economic, which may create stress that may in turn affect the well-being of the student's academic and social life. The stipulated data in this research portrays the importance of establishing a multi-cultural counseling program that will enhance the students; past and present psycho-cultural experiences and offer counseling and psychological support as graduate students encounter the new learning eco-community. This in turn helps in reducing the stress experienced by the students during this period of adjustment and separation anxiety from their traditional support systems.

<p> The unique qualities of the teenage brain and the ubiquity of mobile technology suggest a role for mobile applications (apps) in the treatment of teenage depression. The hermeneutic portion of this inquiry into teenage depression includes both 20-year-old data on evidence-based treatment modalities and articles written in the last few years on mobile health applications (mHealth). The research problem includes few randomized controlled trials of the efficacy and security of mobile health applications. This thesis employs heuristic methodology to examine the author&rsquo;s personal experience with mobile interventions for the treatment of her depression. Of the many hundreds of mHealth solutions designed to address depression, most rely on the tenets of neuropsychology, positive psychology, and mindfulness-based therapies to drive functionality. Apps contain features familiar to teenagers and are easy to access with a smartphone. Teenagers are digital natives whose life-long exposure to technology necessarily shapes their expectations of immediacy and innovation.</p>

<p> The cultural movement toward abbreviation and multitasking detracts from the desire and also, potentially, the ability to begin engaging in deep reading. This is problematic, considering that the deep reading of narrative fiction has many potential benefits. Through the use of both heuristic and hermeneutic methodology, this thesis takes a look at the psychological and scientific literature that explores the relationship between reading narrative fiction and an increase in both empathy and theory of mind skills; how the art of reading narrative fiction can be viewed from a depth psychological perspective; and the author&rsquo;s personal experience with reading narrative fiction. This information is then utilized to explore how these components can be applied within the psychotherapy process through the use of bibliotherapy, as well as how it can be a valuable tool for one&rsquo;s own personal growth and exploration outside of a therapy setting.</p>

<p> Through hermeneutic and heuristic research this thesis looks at melancholia or complicated grief with the contributing factor of identity questioning. From a depth psychological perspective, normal grief is differentiated from melancholia or complicated grief, which involves the unconscious. This exploration employs the theory of Allan Hugh Cole Jr., whose work on melancholia draws on that of Donald Capps, Erik Erikson, and Sigmund Freud. A disposition to melancholia, particularly in men, comes from the first abandonment by a primary parent, resulting in identity loss and resistance to resolution of grief. Factors such as trauma, sexual orientation, religion, or marginalized race can have exacerbating effect on melancholia and were found to have treatment implications. Ritual, art, play, humor, and dreams can be identity-conferring and restorative resources. The author proposes that melancholia with identity issues should be understood as a psychological problem that is distinct from, although it can prolong and complicate, grief.</p>

<p> This thesis explores the spiritual-bypass phenomenon identified by John Welwood and how it can be a defense against wholeness as defined in Jungian psychology. Using hermeneutic and heuristic methodologies, and drawing on depth psychological theories, the author discusses the various forms of spiritual bypass and the underlying shadow dynamics, such as emotional repression. The author examines the nature of psychological and spiritual development through states and stages of consciousness development, healthy transcendence versus unhealthy transcendence, and the Jungian process of individuation toward wholeness. The research also explores contributing factors to spiritual bypass including the effect of early childhood attachment style and demonstrates the significance of integrating psychological development in a spiritual path. Finally, the author provides suggestions for therapists working with clients who may be in spiritual bypass.</p>

<p> Literature extolling the psychological benefits of self-forgiveness is robust, yet there are no evidence-based models for facilitating self-forgiveness in individual psychotherapy. Further, there is no consensus in the literature on the definition of self-forgiveness. This quantitative, survey-based study examined licensed clinicians&rsquo; (<i>N</i>=57) perceptions of the efficacy of self-forgiveness treatment interventions, their preferred definitions of self-forgiveness, and how frequently treatment methodologies were utilized. Correlational analyses examined the relationship between clinicians&rsquo; definitions, perceptions of efficacy, and frequencies of use of self-forgiveness methods and the clinicians&rsquo; demographic factors (theoretical orientation, type of licensure, age, years of clinical experience, and type of training). Hong and Jacinto&rsquo;s (2012) definition was the most frequently chosen (36.8%), followed by Hulnick and Hulnick&rsquo;s (2011) definition (35.1%). Most clinicians (57.9%) were not familiar with any of the various treatment methods. Among clinicians familiar enough to rate the methods, Hulnick and Hulnick&rsquo;s (2011) method received the highest efficacy rating (<i>M</i> = 4.11, <i>SD</i> = 1.17), followed by Enright et al. (1996) method (<i>M</i> = 3.67, SD = 0.71). The most frequently used were Jacinto and Edwards&rsquo; (2011) method (<i> M</i> = 2.09, <i>SD</i> = 1.35) and Hulnick and Hulnick&rsquo;s (2011) method (<i>M</i> = 2.04, <i>SD</i> = 1.58). Correlations were significant for theoretical orientation and source of training; theoretical orientation provided the largest explanation for variance. Implications for future research, clinical training, and development of evidence-based treatment modalities are discussed. Linkage between self-forgiveness and remediating shame, recidivism, spiritual psychology, and Jungian psychology are reviewed. Keywords: self-forgiveness, psychotherapy, counseling psychology, spiritual psychology, quantitative study</p>

<p> Human trafficking for sexual exploitation, a dire human rights violation, is a world-wide problem. According to the Polaris Project (n.d.), the illegal sex trade makes 32 billion dollars yearly. Women and children are often sexually exploited for profit after being lured away by &ldquo;fraud, force, or coercion&rdquo; (U.S. Department of State, 2009, p. 8). This phenomenon poses a serious threat to women and youth who are at risk and vulnerable to exploitation. The majority of females are victimized in their own country (McClain &amp; Garrity, 2011). Nonetheless, many Americans are not aware that such tragic underground criminal activity is thriving right here, within our own borders. Trafficking occurs in every state across the nation and approximately 14,500 to 17,500 foreign victims are trafficked each year into our nation (McClain &amp; Garrity, 2011; Polaris Project, n.d.). This is not only a problem for third world countries; this is a global problem that threatens the safety of countless women and children. Though primary prevention is the ultimate goal, Young (2012) illuminates the need for continued education and training of professionals working with survivors as well as collaboration across multiple service venues over time. The current study seeks to contribute to the limited but growing body of literature in this important area by identifying factors that are important to consider when working with survivors of sex trafficking. This researcher will personally interview professionals and staff who work directly with survivors of sex trafficking and recruit survivors to respond anonymously to a questionnaire about their experiences. Both the interview and the questionnaire inquiries will pose open-ended questions in order to gather qualitative data from service providers and survivors, respectively. This study will provide an opportunity to gain insight and perspective on the pertinent factors that need attention when working with this unique population. </p><p> Key words: sex trafficking, survivors, service providers, factors.</p>