Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Counseling – Philosophy'

Philosophical tenets have been at the heart of the counseling process since its inception. This study explores the factors present within a graduate-level counseling class that directly teaches these philosophical foundations through an exploration of dialectics and its impact on the medium of conversation. Interviews were conducted with both the professor that created the class as well as its current instructor along with focus groups of both current program students and program alumni. The fundamental aim was to understand the processes at work within the class and their influence on its students. The results suggest that by bringing the students into awareness of their own interpretative process by reading and discussing dense philosophical works that require them to bring something of themselves to the literature, the class fosters within its students an understanding and appreciation for the pervasiveness of the interpretative process within all people, especially those that will one day be their clients. This knowledge also seems to provide the students with a paradigm compatible across all perspectives and theories that will contribute to their counselor education.

The purpose of this thesis is to address the question, "Is Peer Counselling a way of fostering or promoting the existential notion of authenticity?" The intention of Peer Counselling is to improve the psychological health and well being of its participants (both counsellors and counsellees) through peer intervention and education. Peer Counselling training is a curriculum and method wherein students are taught to listen to and help in the choice-making process of their peers. Peer Counselling, both training and outreach interaction, encourages the development of positive identity and responsible independence as individuals exercise more control over their experiences. It seeks to create opportunities to learn how to actively and intentionally use experiences to gain new levels of confidence and competence. A process oriented, experiential training approach, it ensures the content is relevant to the learner. The self-directed attitude and approach of peer counselling encourages counsellors and counsellees alike to become active participants in their own development, in their own life choices. The acquisition of interpersonal communication skills such as empathic listening, facilitative questioning, decision making and values clarification may aid both counsellor and counsellee in a movement towards the existential notion of authenticity. Authenticity includes such characteristics and qualities as: genuineness in 'good faith'; autonomy; discovery of one's 'care structure'; creative choice making; critical examination of societally imposed norms; radical responsibility for the conditions and perspectives of one's life; and an openness to the dynamic nature of one's unique being. Re-constructions of peer counselling interactions provide opportunity to examine the theoretical possiblities for peer counselling to promote authenticity. Finally the implications of merging this curriculum with the philosophical notion of authenticity is examined in the light of actual classroom experience. Implications for pedagogy are discussed.
vi, 129 leaves ; 29 cm.

Extra-marital affairs are common in the US and frequently result in difficulties for individuals, families, and society as a whole. Empirical research on the topic is problematic. There is no universally accepted psychological definition of what behaviors or experiences constitute an affair; there are value-laden assumptions about marriage and affairs that are not usually questioned as part of the design or discussion of studies; and, there are non-trivial non-response biases in sampling on the topic. As a result there is a lack of meaningful psychological understanding of affairs and a dearth of evidence to support clear treatment directions for those who seek psychotherapy for this common issue. In an attempt to understand the essential psychological structure of the beginning of affairs, a descriptive phenomenological psychological study of the experiences from three adults who have had affairs (as they define them) and who had promised monogamy was undertaken. These interviews were transcribed, transformed and analyzed using Giorgi’s (2009) descriptive phenomenological method for psychology. The resulting structure of the experience includes the following constituents: dissatisfaction with the marriage and hopelessness about it improving; a sense of the self and the spouse having a fixed character that does not change; a lack of curiosity for the spouse; a preference for passion and novelty; a sense of deserving sexual satisfaction; the experience of passion overriding judgment; and, a lack of real consideration of divorce as a solution to the dilemma prior to the affair. In addition, passive intentionality, (Husserl, 2001), is offered to explain how a series of interactions with another outside the marriage develops into an affair before it is grasped as such. This structure is potentially clinically meaningful as thus far it has not been articulated in a descriptive and complete manner. It offers direction for the future development of clinical interventions and provides entry points into: discussions of ethics, values, intimacy, passion and subjectivity; marriage reform; and, the socio-historical contexts in which the meaning of affairs is located. Keywords: Extra-marital affair, monogamy, non-monogamy, marriage, infidelity, couples’ counseling, Giorgi, phenomenological research methods, intentionality.

Ritualized initiations are explored as having an important role in the breakdown of ego that is necessary for the growth and integration of components of the self once hidden in the shadows of the unconscious. In the modern world, the drive for linear growth and financial conquest has broken connection to archetypal, spiritual, and mythical guidance as well as to the numinous experiences that allow transformation. Through heuristic methodology, both depth psychological literature as well as broader media are considered to determine the importance of initiation for psychic growth and how a lost connection affects recent generations. This work shows that through the psychotherapeutic process, the therapist can provide the stage needed for a client in a transitional phase of life to safely break down and rebuild the ego structure necessary to move toward individuation.

Depth psychology, as a tradition originating from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, today differentiates itself from other practices of counseling psychology by claiming a special focus upon the soul and its experience of imagination. But the study of philosophy shows how the tenets of depth psychology are problematic—the anima mundi is a misunderstanding that brings about significant consequences for the practice of psychotherapy. This thesis undertakes a hermeneutic methodology by examining particular writings from philosophers Gotthold E. Lessing and Soren Kierkegaard. These works indicate the problematic character of thought that is not in accord with the beautiful, whereby a question is raised regarding how a psychotherapy that is informed by philosophy might make human life more beautiful. At the basis of these themes is the account of noetic heterogeneity and phantasia (“appearing”) in Aristotle’s De Anima, which is examined in relation to Michael Elliott’s new psychotherapy of Philosophic Psychology.

Words are a human medium for relaying any and all psychic states, from mundane to profound, and as a medium of description language also is considered an archetype. In the practice of psychotherapy the practitioner and client must find common linguistic ground in order to collaborate effectively and facilitate the therapeutic process. This thesis utilizes hermeneutic, alchemical hermeneutic, and heuristic methodologies— interweaving mythology, philosophy, psychology, and literature—as a means of emphasizing the poetic nature of the soul and a multifaceted approach to what James Hillman referred to as "soul-making." The research is guided by the principal question: How does language shift the imaginative landscape and deepen experience? Hermes is present in this work as a mythological figure as well as the archetypal representation of shape-shifting, uncertainty, and the ability to move in and out of literal and nonliteral realms, emphasizing the importance of metaphor in the therapeutic encounter.

One of the most pressing concerns that universities and colleges face today is the drug and alcohol abuse of students. In order to address this, there is a need to strengthen university policies in order to mitigate the increasing rate and cases of drug and alcohol abuse among students. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between college students’ level of awareness of policy, procedure, and interventions on drug and alcohol abuse and their reported drug alcohol use in a selected university. Specifically, this study examined how aware 160 first- to fourth-year college students are regarding the drug and alcohol policies, procedures, and interventions implemented on their college campus. The researcher asked 14 research questions to determine the relationships between students’ reported alcohol and drug use and factors including: awareness of alcohol drug policies and procedures, year level in college, age, ethnic group, marital status, gender, current residence, working status, living arrangement, cumulative GPA, the availability of drugs and alcohol at college parties, student enrollment status, family history of alcohol, and time spent volunteering per month. The researcher administered the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey (CADS) to measure these variables. The results indicated that the factors that had a significant relationship with alcohol and drug use were the awareness of campus policies, marital status, availability of drugs and alcohol at parties, student status, and hours spent volunteering. The rest of the variables did not have a significant relationship to the students’ alcohol and drug use. These results will contribute to more effective alcohol and drug prevention and treatment programs for students that address these significant factors.

This phenomenological study explored transgender individuals’ lived experiences of romantic relationship. This study utilized the concepts of Jung’s transcendent function and Buddhism’s middle way in order to articulate the transgender individuals’ felt experience of romantic relationships. Eight participants were interviewed and provided the research data, which was then examined in order to articulate and describe the experiences of the participants. This researcher found that most of this study’s participants pursued the fulfillment of their genuine gender individualities and participated in romantic relationships that are built on the full expression of their authentic gender identities. Additionally, many participants reported that their relationships were built around values such as support, negotiation, communication, and compromise. Further, multiple participants described the presence of the third, or in other words, the multiple or plural spectrum, via the ways of working through romantic relationship issues by forming contracts and an openness to co-create defined relationship boundaries. This research arrives at an understanding of the transgender romantic relationship and subsequently, human relationships through depth psychological understanding. The findings are discussed in connection to the themes provided by the participants: the personal evolution of their transgender experience, the experiences of living in a romantic relationship, and the experiences of the third. Further areas of depth psychological research, study, and clinical implications are also discussed.

This thesis, through heuristic and artistic-creative modalities, explores embodiment in the intersection of Merleau-Ponty’s sensuous phenomenology and depth psychology’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—that meaning making of self and world is done through and by way of one’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’s embodied coinherence with her surroundings, and points to conclusions and principles to bear in mind while working clinically with the chronically ill.

In this thesis a phenomenological-hermeneutic method of inquiry, coupled with an embracement of ecological and transpersonal principles, was employed to delve into the paradoxical nature of the transformational quest to awaken to non-dual living. In particular there is a specific focus on the difficulty of embracing and living out a traditionally Eastern spiritual tradition for Western individuals. Analysis of interview transcripts with three participants, as well as, the author’s own journals, found four major “stages” in the journey to daily living in a non-dual state, with 13 sub-themes. These interpretive themes delineate the chronological path followed by the three co-researchers on their journeys into embracing non-dual living. The first major theme – heeding the call: honouring what is – outlines childhood experiences and answering a call to walk the path. The second theme– the unfolding process: pulling back the veil – illuminates the depth at which consciousness development can impact one’s lived experience. The third major theme – the wonderful land of oz: pointing to the answer within – explores the individuals’ experience with various teachers on the path of consciousness development. The fourth, and final, major theme – finding a lotus in the muddy waters of life – reveals the need for beings on the path to return to the particular moment to face unresolved attachments and demons. These findings suggest the significance of an integrative approach to therapeutic/counselling experience, an approach that includes Eastern practices and philosophies in the repertoire of counselling tools, to ensure the deepest possible understanding between, and connection within, the partners in the therapeutic alliance.
viii, 249 leaves ; 29 cm.

At the University of North Texas, and as per the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards, masters students in counselor training are required to choose a personal theoretical approach to the counseling process. The purpose of this study was to investigate an experimental counseling theory identification procedure compared to the traditional procedure of helping students identify a personal theory of counseling. The investigation assessed the effect on 1) counselor self-report of confidence in theoretical orientation selection/identification, and 2) the degree to which a student consistently identifies, conceptualizes and utilizes a particular counseling theoretical approach. Volunteer participants (n=35) were recruited from three sections of COUN 5660 and were randomly drawn to group assignment within each class. The experimental condition focused on exploration of personal beliefs related to human nature, maladjustment and the nature of change as a basis for theory selection. The comparison group received the standard theory selection activities. The TCQ and TOPS-R were used to examine the effect of treatment and were administered at three points of time. Data was analyzed using a split plot ANOVA to examine group differences, changes across time, and the possible interaction of change with group membership. Statistical and practical significance of findings were analyzed. Results revealed no statistically significant differences between groups over time. Because findings revealed statistically significant main effect findings for time-ranging from moderate to large-post hoc analysis was conducted. One-way ANOVAs were conducted for each dependent variable to further understand results. Results indicated that both groups demonstrated a statistically significant increase over time in theory confidence, with large treatment effects for both groups. Post hoc results on the TOPS-R Humanistic/Existential scale and the Cognitive/Behavioral scale revealed mixed results regarding treatment effect.

Santrauka Filosofinis konsultavimas: pro et contra Šiame darbe pristatomas šiuolaikinės filosofinės praktikos diskursas, nagrinėjant vieną kontraversiškiausių šio diskurso dalių – asmeninį filosofinį konsultavimą, kuris susilaukia nevienareikšmio įvertinimo. Asmeninis filosofinis konsultavimas, viena vertus, sutinkamas kaip senų filosofinių tradicijų sugrįžimas, steigiantis turiningą prieigą egzistencinėms kasdienio gyvenimo problemoms spręsti, kita vertus, sutinkamas kaip „sofistikos sugrįžimas“ ar psichinio gydymo surogatas, kuris veikiau yra psichoterapinių prieigų papildas, o ne savarankiška filosofinė praktika. Filosofiškumo paieškas asmeniniame filosofiniame konsultavime apsunkina faktas, jog nemažai filosofijos kaip terapijos idėją perėmė ir savo konsultacinėje praktikoje pritaikė praktikuojantys psichologai. Šios idėjos aptinkamos humanistinės pakraipos psichologijoje, Logoterapijoje, Egzistencinėje terapijoje. Todėl dažnai sunku atrasti, kur baigiasi filosofija ir prasideda psichologija. Kritiškai rekonstruojant pagrindinius asmeninio filosofinio konsultavimo diskurso tekstus, diskurso klasika tapusią rinktinę „Essays on Philosophical Counseling“, Peterio Raabes monografiją „Philosophical Counseling: Theory and Practice“, S.C. Shuster „Philosophical Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psichotherapy“, darbe yra teigiama, kad asmeninio filosofinio konsultavimo legitimacijos problema sutampa su filosofijos ribų klausimu, nes šio ginčo specifiką nulemia skirtingos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]
Summary Philosophical counseling: pro et contra This work presents a discourse on contemporary philosophical practice. It examines one of the most controversial aspects of the discourse; one which has been subject to varying assessments – philosophical counseling. Philosophical counseling, on the one hand, is sometimes regarded as the rebirth of an ancient philosophical tradition that attempts a purposeful approach to resolving the existential problems of daily life; but it is also regarded as "a return of sophistry" or a surrogate for psychological therapy – some see it more as a supplement to psychotherapy than as an independent philosophical practice. The search for what makes philosophical counseling philosophical is complicated by the fact that a significant part of the idea of philosophy as therapy has been taken over and applied by practicing psychologists. This idea is encountered in the humanist strand of psychology, in logotherapy, and in existential therapy, thus making the task of tracing the boundary line between philosophy and psychology more difficult. Through a critical reconstruction of the principal texts of the discourse on philosophical counselling – the classic anthology on the discourse, Essays on Philosophical Counseling; Peter Raabe's monograph, Philosophical Counseling: Theory and Practice; and S.C. Shuster's Philosophical Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psichotherapy – this work makes the claim that the problem of the legitimation of... [to full text]

Acting ethically is a core facet of the counseling profession's identity, safeguarding clients from undue harm (ACA, 2005). Through an increased understanding of both detrimental and positive factors that can influence counselors' perceptions of ethical behaviors, the counseling profession can intervene accordingly; this knowledge may assist in managing the problem related to unethical infractions. However, ethical behavior is a multifaceted and complex phenomenon, leaving many factors to be explored and examined. Workplace aggression, exposure to normative unethical behaviors, and an integrated modal of morality constitute some of these factors that warrant further investigation. A dearth of research currently exists within the counseling profession that examines the effects of workplace aggression and exposure to normative unethical behavior on counselors' perceptions of ethicality. Additionally, mediating variables in the context of acting ethically have scantly been researched within the counseling profession, including moral development and the moral foundations of care, fairness, and justice (integrated modal of morality). The present study investigated these various variables and the subsequent affects/relationships that ensued on counselors' perceptions of ethicality. Two phases of research were conducted: a pilot study (n = 166) that assisted in the development a Perceived Ethical Perceptions Instrument and a main study (n = 76) that assessed perceived ethicality contingent on the variables of workplace aggression, normative unethical behaviors, and the integrated modal of morality. Results from this study substantiated the complexity inherent within perceptions of ethicality, indicating that certain contextual factors may affect facets of perceived ethicality differently. of particular interest, the current study indicated that workplace aggression and the occurrence of unethical infractions by work supervisors/bosses and peers necessitated further investigation.;Keywords: ethical perceptions, workplace aggression, integrative modal of morality.

Self-perceptions are rooted in our relationships, interactions, and comparisons with others. The relational influences that impact self-perceptions may range from family members and friends to celebrities or characters in books, all of whom differ in terms of relational and psychological distance, such that some are more proximal (e.g., friends and family) while others are more distal (e.g., celebrities or characters in a book). Self-perceptions are meaningful given the bulk of research indicating that low self-perceptions are related to numerous clinical problems, especially in young people. Yet, researchers have yet to study the junction between late adolescents’ evaluations of the self in relation to proximal and distal influences. This dissertation begins by defining the constructs of the self and self-perception. The manner in which relational influences and a healthy sense of self develop are discussed within psychodynamic and social-psychological frameworks. A study is then presented that examines the relationships between individuals’ self-perception within different domains and with whom they identify in those domains. Late adolescents were asked about their self-perceptions across nine domains of perceived competency and then asked about with whom they relate, both positively (someone good) and negatively (someone bad), in each of those domains. Results demonstrated that higher levels of self-perception in three domains (job, social, and friends) increased the odds of identifying a proximal influence when asked about negative relational influences. Proximal influences (people close in relationships) were more prevalent than distal objects across all domains for a majority of the sample. However, high self-perception did increase the likelihood within these three domains. Gathering information regarding relational influences while also measuring self-perceptions contributes to understanding the construct of the self and the theoretical orientations presented. Current results may also inform clinical interventions aimed at strengthening self-concept in youth.

Multicultural competence (MCC), despite its integral part in school counseling and the school setting, is not applied within the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national model (NM). Rather, the ASCA NM is a guideline that is expected of school counselors with limited opportunity for deviation. Without incorporating multicultural practices in the school setting, student performance may suffer. Student performance affects everyone who is learning, working, or has a child who is or will be at the middle school level. The purpose of this study was to identify if perceived MCC, as measured by the MCCTS-R, and/or adherence to the ASCA NM, as measured by the SCPIS, could predict student performance and if there was a relationship between the perceived MCC and adherence to the ASCA NM. The school counseling and multicultural counseling theories were used together as a lens for the study. Florida middle school counselors (N = 115) were invited to participate electronically. Results were compiled in PsychData anonymously and transferred into SPSS. Multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation statistics revealed that perceived MCC and adherence to the ASCA NM collectively predict students' GPAs. Recommendations for future research include expanding to different educational levels and states. The results indicate that the ASCA NM would benefit from multicultural concepts within the guidelines, implicating positive social change for future learning, school counseling practices, and educational practices.

Novice counselors may struggle to understand and follow ethical guidelines for boundary behaviors with clients. When counselors violate therapeutic boundaries, harmful consequences can result for clients and counselors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the possible relationship between novice counselors' (NCs') attachment to supervisors and NCs' ethical perceptions and boundary practices. This study addressed the possible predictor variables of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting. Bowlby's attachment theory provided the framework for the study. Survey data from 114 NCs were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression. Each regression analyzed predictors of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting in model 1 and added level of attachment anxiety and level of attachment avoidance to supervisor in model 2. Findings indicated that NCs' level of anxious attachment predicted serious boundary violations (BVs). Those with higher levels of attachment anxiety reported more BVs and perceived more items as BVs. Level of attachment avoidance also distorted ethical perceptions; those high in attachment avoidance considered more items to be boundary crossings and BVs. The variables of age, male gender, and an urban practice setting significantly predicted higher reported boundary crossings. Males more often did not consider behaviors to be BVs, and more females agreed with expert perceptions of items which were neither a boundary crossing nor a BV. Age was significant but contrary to previous findings because in this sample, as age increased, reported BVs decreased. Findings may lead to changes in how counselor educators and supervisors train NCs to manage boundaries in therapeutic relationships.

Counselling psychology springs from humanistic and existential/phenomenological values arguing for the need to see human beings in a holistic manner. This value system is a move towards well-being rather than pathology and sickness. The philosophical underpinning of counselling psychology gives a unique identity to the profession, raising different questions for counselling psychologists’ working within NHS settings, which is governed by the medical model. At a time that our profession faces enormous challenges and questions about its future, this study explored the experience of seven chartered counselling psychologists working within different NHS settings using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method.︣The analysis of the study revealed six major themes: (1)The process of creating a therapeutic identity; (2) Valuing the counselling psychology founding principles in practice; (3) Working within the medical model;(4) Experiencing tensions: the power of the context; (5) Dealing with the tensions; (6) Current changes and the future of counselling psychology in the NHS.︣The results showed in greater detail that the participants held a strong therapeutic identity; practiced in accordance with the counselling psychology values; experienced different tensions while working within the NHS, but have found different ways to deal with these tensions, including holding a pluralistic stance, assimilating the medical model with their own value base system and prioritizing the clients’ needs over the NHS guidelines. Lastly, the analysis indicated that the recent changes have contributed additional feelings of anxiety and uncertainty to the participants regarding the future of the profession.

This thesis proposes and explores the theory and application of pluralism in the evaluation of counselling and psychotherapy. Current models of monistic and multi-method research are seen as inadequate as each tends to actively undermine the other(s). Those that attempt to offer a broad range of data types often struggle to maintain adequate 'truth value' for all their statements and findings. A pluralist process and mechanism is proposed to provide a constructive alternative to the essentially destructive models of scientific and epistemological (generally dialectical) progress described by Kuhn, Hegel and others. It also offers an advance on previous alternatives and other pluralist models. The pluralism proposed comprises cycles of structured interaction between differing methods based on a positively framed dialogue. Utility, as variously defined from different perspectives, is seen as a prime consideration. However, the approach is not merely pragmatic as it also protects the idealist epistemological aspirations and needs of the divergent research paradigms that might be applied in evaluating counselling and psychotherapy. The thesis describes a series of studies based on this pluralist model in order to explore its practical application. Three of these studies investigated the effectiveness of counselling services. Overall, their findings were supportive of the counselling interventions studied while successfully meeting a broad range of stakeholder needs. A fourth study explored pluralism in a context dominated by reductionist concerns and produced normative data on a psychometric measure of self / ideal-self discrepancies (equated with self esteem).

Abstract The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore perceptions of loss and grief experiences within religious rites and rituals vis-à-vis the context of counseling. Literature indicated the need for a better understanding of grief and loss experiences from bereaved individuals’ perspectives and the context within which loss and grief experiences occur (Dillenburger & Keenan, 2005; Stroebe, Hansson, Schut, & Stroebe, 2008). Participants for this study included 10 purposefully selected Catholic members from two Catholic Church parishes in Nigeria, Africa. All participants had experienced loss and grief, had participated in Catholic burial and funeral rites and rituals, and were 21 years or older. The main research question was: How do bereaved individuals perceive their grief experiences within the context of Catholic burial and funeral rites and rituals? Data collected to answer the research questions consisted of observations, semi-structured interviews, and documents. A cross-analysis approach was used that identified 63 themes, which were collapsed into 11 major themes. depicted in three areas; bereaved participants’ grief experiences, bereaved participants’ experiences of rites and rituals, and implications for counseling. The findings of this study indicated that loss of a relationship was a dominant preoccupation in grief and grieving process. Additional themes reflected by bereaved individuals’ grief and grieving experiences were; time and nature of death, religious rites and rituals, family and community support, family frictions, financial stressors, positive memories, belief system, finding meaning, ongoing traumatization, and counseling. Overall, the conclusion from this study was that three areas conceptualize loss and grief experiences: bereaved participants’ grief experiences, bereaved participants’ experiences of rites and rituals, and implications for counseling.

The circumstances of responding to loss due to human death are among the most stressful experiences encountered in life. Although grief’s symptoms are typically considered essential to their gradual diminishment, possible negative impacts of complications related to grief are also well known, and have been associated with detriments to mental and physical health. Grief, however, can also generate transformative positive change. Thus, albeit ineludible, responding to loss is not uniformly experienced, expressed, or understood. It is also culturally-shaped, making attempts to define “normal” grief, as well as to label some grief “abnormal”—and to medicalize it—possibly problematic. Bereavement (the situation surrounding a death) and mourning (the publicly expressed response to loss due to death) are changing. Some of these changes (e.g., the increase in hospice care settings prior to deaths, and alterations in the ritual responses following all deaths—irrespective of their context) may have important implications for avoiding grief’s possible complications and for promoting its potential benefits. An improved alignment of grief theory, research, and practice is warranted; but theories of grief are diverse, and historically have not been empirically well-supported. This research articulates a new grief model, the loss-processing framework, featuring three dimensional components (perception, orientation, and direction). As a first step toward validation of the framework, also included is an empirical study examining retrospective descriptive reports of adult loss response relating to the first of these three dimensions (perception). As an interpretive, translational approach to understanding grief, the loss-processing framework may serve to positively impact grieving, health, and life quality.

Introdução: A abordagem \"Health at Every Size®\" (HAES®) vem sendo utilizada para o cuidado de pessoas com obesidade. Objetivo: Compreender os efeitos de uma nova intervenção interdisciplinar baseada na abordagem HAES®, especialmente acerca dos processos de escolhas alimentares. Métodos: Este foi um ensaio clínico prospectivo randomizado controlado, de sete meses, que empregou o desenho de métodos mistos. Cinquenta e oito mulheres obesas compuseram a amostra e foram alocadas aleatoriamente nos grupos intervenção (I-HAES®, n = 39) ou controle (CTRL, n = 19). A intervenção do grupo I-HAES® consistiu em uma nova proposta de cuidado baseada na abordagem HAES®, consistindo de atividade física três vezes por semana, atendimento nutricional individual quinzenal e cinco oficinas filosóficas. Já a intervenção do grupo CTRL consistiu em uma intervenção tradicional baseada nesta abordagem, consistindo de palestras bimestrais. Para ambos os grupos foram feitos ao início e final da intervenção exames de sangue, testes de função muscular, aferição de peso corporal e das circunferências da cintura e quadril, além do preenchimento de escalas e questionários autoaplicados. Duas entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas e dois grupos focais foram conduzidos com todas as participantes. Os dados qualitativos foram analisados pela técnica da análise de conteúdo e os quantitativos pelos softwares estatísticos SAS e SPSS. Resultados: Embora ambos os grupos tenham reportado melhoras na qualidade da alimentação, estas foram mais expressivas no grupo I-HAES®. Essa melhora se relacionou com o maior engajamento com experiências culinárias e com o aumento no planejamento da alimentação. Outras estratégias que impactaram positivamente nas escolhas alimentares desse grupo foram comer com atenção, com tempo adequado e de acordo com as sensações de fome e saciedade. Inicialmente, as participantes de ambos os grupos relataram que seus corpos traziam consequências físicas e psicológicas negativas, impactavam na sua autoavaliação e eram alvo de estigmatização. Posteriormente, grande parte do grupo I-HAES® reportou que, embora a perda de peso ainda fosse uma expectativa, elas estavam satisfeitas com outros ganhos que tiveram, não colocavam mais a perda de peso como central para sua felicidade e entenderam que as mudanças se dariam em longo prazo. O peso corporal, o índice de massa corporal e as circunferências da cintura e quadril não diferiram significativamente intra ou entre grupos (p > 0,05). O grupo I-HAES® apresentou aumento no consumo de oxigênio máximo e no teste funcional -timed-stand? (P = 0,004 e P = 0,004, comparação entre grupos). Não foram observadas diferenças intra ou entre grupos para as medidas objetivas de atividade física, embora a maioria das participantes do grupo I-HAES® tenha reportado estar engajadas ou ter planos para incluir atividades físicas em suas rotinas. Ambos os grupos apresentaram melhoras relacionadas à qualidade de vida, mas no grupo I-HAES® estas foram mais expressivas. Conclusões: Uma nova intervenção baseada na abordagem HAES® pareceu superior a uma intervenção tradicional. Embora não tenham sido observadas mudanças no peso corporal e em níveis de atividade física, essa nova intervenção melhorou as escolhas, atitudes e práticas alimentares das participantes, sua percepção de imagem corporal, capacidade física e qualidade de vida.
Introduction: The \"Health at Every Size®\" (HAES®) approach is being more and more used to the care of people with obesity. Objective: To understand the effects of a new interdisciplinary intervention based on the HAES® approach, especially regarding food choice processes. Methods: This was a prospective, seven-month, randomized, controlled, mixed-method, clinical trial. Fifty-eight obese women composed the sample and were randomly allocated into the intervention (I-HAES®) or control (CTRL) groups. The I-HAES® intervention consisted of a new proposal of care based on the HAES® approach, comprising physical activity classes three times a week, biweekly individual nutritional sessions, and five philosophical workshops. The CTRL intervention consisted of a traditional intervention based on this approach, comprising bimonthly lectures. Both groups were assessed at the beginning and after the intervention for blood tests, aerobic condition, body weight and waist and hip circumferences, muscle function, in addition to the filling of scales and questionnaires self-administered. Two semi-structured individual interviews and two focus groups were conducted with all participants. The qualitative data were analyzed using the content analysis technique, whereas the quantitative data were analyzed using the statistical software SAS and SPSS. Results: Although both groups reported improvements in food quality, they were more expressive in the I-HAES® group. It seems that this improvement was related to this group higher engagement with culinary experiences and the increase in food planning. Other strategies that positively impacted on the food choices of this group were eating mindfully, deliberately, and in response to hunger and satiety cues. Initially, participants of both groups reported that their bodies had negative physical and psychological consequences, impacted their self-assessment, and were subject to stigmatization. After the intervention, most of the I-HAES® group reported that although weight loss was still an expectation, they were satisfied with other gains they had, no longer placed weight loss as central to their happiness and understood that the changes would take place in the long term. Body weight, body mass index, and waist and hip circumferences did not differ significantly within or between groups (p > 0.05). I-HAES® showed increased peak oxygen uptake and improved performance in the timed-stand test (P = 0.004 and P = 0.004, between-group comparisons). No significant within- or between-group differences were observed for objectively measured physical activity levels, although most participants in the I-HAES® group reported that they were engaged in or had plans to include physical activities in their routines. Both groups presented improvements related to quality of life, but in the I-HAES® group these were more expressive. Conclusions: A new intervention based on the HAES® approach seemed superior to a traditional intervention. Although no changes were observed in body weight and physical activity levels, this new intervention improved participants\' food choices, eating attitudes and practices, their perception of body image, physical capacity and quality of life.

The modern world is facing a revolutionary development in the clinical medicine and biomedical sciences. Due to the different life supporting systems, it is easily possible to keep patients with severe diseases alive. With organ transplantation a lot of people, who would otherwise die can live long and happy lives. In vitro fertilization allows a woman to bear the child that is not genetically related to her. Due to the possibility of contraception, safe abortions and prenatal diagnosis, women and couples can make preferable choices concerning their future child. Such medical developments and improvements have a great impact on our life, and provoke a lot of ethical questions and moral dilemmas.

The aim of this thesis is to answer the question whether prenatal diagnosis can be justified as it mainly leads to the selective abortion, whether and when the fetus counts as a person and whether the prospective parents can perform selective abortion on the basis of fetal disability; and to discuss ethical problems that are experienced by the doctor, who brings the news into the family and what is his/her role in the decision-making process.

This study examines the transaction of the lived experience of ‘suffering’ in the process of psychotherapy. ‘Suffering’ is conceptualised as having its weight and value transacted between a psychotherapist and his or her client. As a psychotherapist from a family with a disabled member, my fieldwork in a hospital with the parents of disabled children was conducted in Taiwan. The development of our therapeutic relationship was discovered as the process of ‘suffering transaction’: the interaction of lived experience of suffering between my clients and myself. Two clients took part in this study in which eight to ten sessions of counselling or psychotherapy were conducted and transcribed as the research data. The data also included my lived experience, which was made explicit in this field work through records of six sessions of therapeutic supervision and my self-reflective therapeutic diary and research journal. Inspired by Gee’s (2000) work on data presentation, my understanding of client’s stories is represented as poetic form. Reflections from the use of reflexivity explore the inter-correlations of ‘suffering’ between us. The theoretical perspective informing the further analysis of this study is hermeneutic phenomenology and social suffering. The socio-cultural embodiments in language are explored as the hermeneutic horizons of the theme of suffering transaction. Politically, the development of ‘early intervention’ in Taiwan creates as ‘unjust’ context for those encountering medical services, and this shared understanding of the medical bureaucracy influenced the psychotherapeutic encounter. The analysis also explores the influence of Confucian approaches to gender difference and family ethics, and Christian religious beliefs, in relation to the self-identification of my clients in suffering for other. These three horizons indicate that searching for the meaning of suffering is an inter-subjective process that entails taking the responsibility for the ‘Other’ as the symbolic socio-cultural body. The thesis concludes with discussion about the ethics of the therapeutic relationship. I argue that in psychotherapy, both therapist and client are engaged in the Levinasian idea of the primordial responsibility ‘for’ the other. In the context of wider debates about psychotherapy as an ethical practice, I argue that a therapist has the pre-moral position of not only witnessing client’s lived experience of suffering but also being witnessed by the client. This study provides an example in which the context of ‘witness’ is inter-subjectively developed in psychotherapy.

Across the United States, an overwhelming majority of the population claim that religion and spirituality beliefs shape their worldview and assist in coping with life stressors. Yet, the literature has shown that mental health practitioners reported discomfort integrating religion and spiritually in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to explore whether license-holding mental health professionals in Southern California develop reluctance toward addressing religion/spirituality with their clients. Through snowball sampling, 52 clinicians composed of social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists were recruited across Southern California (N =52). The participants were measured descriptively based on (a) confidence in their ability to integrate client beliefs into treatment and (b) their comfort discussing topics related to RS with their clients. Results revealed an overall level of reluctance ranging from 15 percent (for comfortability) to 25 percent (for ability) among the study participants. Licensed clinical social workers reported slightly lower reluctance level than other licensed professionals. Implications of the findings were discussed.

In an attempt to replicate and extend previous research, the present study conducted a brief psychoeducational intervention through community organisations designed to overcome methodological shortcomings of past studies. The two session intervention (one session with follow-up phone call) sought to establish if a brief community intervention was effective in both improving family members’ knowledge about schizophrenia and various other indicators linked to improved client functioning. People with schizophrenia and their family members (N = 50) were recruited into a controlled trial of a brief educational intervention. Clients and their corresponding key family members were randomly allocated to a treatment group or a wait-list control group. Measures included those reflecting knowledge about schizophrenia, expressed emotion, perceived coping ability, burden of care and distress. Analyses showed that knowledge increased significantly after the intervention and not after the control condition and was maintained at a nine-month follow-up. Family members’ and clients’ expressed emotion ratings significantly decreased from pre- to post-test with changes in total expressed emotion scores improving across treatment by over twice the magnitude compared to the control condition. All gains were maintained at the nine-month follow-up, with continuing improvement seen in family members’ intrusiveness ratings. A similar pattern of findings was reflected on other indices, with significant improvements in burden of care, coping and distress that were more a function of intervention than the control condition. All gains were maintained at the nine-month follow-up. Additionally, assessment of relapse rates at this follow-up interval indicated that no client had relapsed. Overall the results suggested that although knowledge increased as a result of education, the improvements in all indicators other than knowledge appeared to be due to education combined with some non-specific factors. These non-specific factors may have included expectancy effects, setting effects, sampling bias and other possibilities. These issues are considered in terms of implementation of brief programs in supportive community settings and in terms of future research.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) leads the way as an evidenced based psychotherapy, and the evaluation of CBT training programs is increasingly seen as important if this position is to be maintained. In this dissertation, CBT case conceptualization, as a core psychotherapeutic competency, acquired in training, is evaluated. Case conceptualization, integrates precipitating, predisposing, maintaining, and protective factors, functioning as an explanatory and prescriptive roadmap for therapy. Gaining self-knowledge through exposure to some form of personal therapy is cited as important in gaining psychotherapeutic competency. Self-practice/ self-reflection, show promise as a form of personal therapy compatible with the principles of CBT. This study evaluates the content and quality of CBT case conceptualizations produced by a sample of 26 participants who have completed the Massey University Post Graduate Diploma, using three case conceptualization rating scales. In addition, the impact of a self-practice/self-reflection manualised training intervention designed to improve the quality of case conceptualization in trainee cognitive behaviour therapists, is explored using thematic analysis. The evaluation of the CBT conceptualizations showed predisposing factors and psychological mechanisms as receiving the most attention from participants. However, the majority of participants failed to pay attention to socio-cultural, biological, protective factors and factors pertaining to the therapeutic relationship. The majority of the participants were able to produce a 'good enough' CBT case conceptualization, however the ‘problem list’ was not well developed, and the conceptually relevant aspects of the therapeutic relationship and protective factors were given less attention. The effect of a self-practice/self-reflection training intervention on the quality of CBT case conceptualizations produced by the intervention group (n = 16) drawn from the main participant sample, was qualitatively evaluated using thematic analysis. Theoretical understanding of the model, self awareness, empathy, conceptualization of the therapeutic relationship, adaptation of clinical interventions, and clinical practice were all subjectively perceived by participants to have increased as a result of the intervention. An inferential analysis compared the performance of the intervention group (n=16) that of a comparison group (n=10), made up of the remainder of the larger sample described in the context of the first question. The comparison group had not been exposed to the manualised intervention. The comparison was both within, and between the two groups. The quality of the intervention group showed an improvement on one of the rating scales, indicating a possible link between the training intervention and case conceptualization competency, however, the improvement was not replicated by the other two rating scales. The findings are discussed in the context of improving CBT training with regard to case conceptualization.

ABSTRACT Background: Previous criminal justice policies have been non-effective leading to overpopulated prisons and unsuccessful reintegration. There is a lack of effective supportive and/or rehabilitative services resulting in high rates of recidivism and mental health implications. Objective: This study investigated the perceived impact that incarceration and reintegration with little to no supportive and/or rehabilitative services has on the mental health status of an individual. The emphasis was on participant perception and not on professional reports because of underreporting and lack of attention to mental health in the criminal justice system. Methods: Focus groups in the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley were held to gather preliminary data used to develop the survey for this study. The survey was distributed to 88 male and female ex-offenders over the age of 18 who were no longer on probation or parole. Secondary data from United Way 211 and California State Reentry Initiative was collected to report current trends of supportive and/or rehabilitative services. Results: Incarceration was found to negatively impact perceived mental health status, but reintegration was not. Supportive and/or rehabilitative services continue to be rarely offered and accessed, but when accessed, perceived mental health status is better. Supportive and/or rehabilitative services are more readily available. People who are using these services are improving their quality of life, becoming productive members of society, and preventing recidivism. Conclusions: A paradigm shift is currently under way to reduce recidivism by improving supportive and/or rehabilitative services during incarceration and reintegration. Many offenders are receiving services as an alternative to incarceration, recidivism rates are being reduced, and ex-offenders are becoming productive members of society. The field of social work is an integral part of reentry services and should continue advocating for policies and services that support reintegration efforts at the micro and macro level.

碩士
輔仁大學
哲學系
106
Integrating the three basic principles of philosophical consultation “without patient concept, value leadership, and intersubjectivity”, the author believes that the establishment of the relationship between the two parties in the consultation is mainly based on the principle of " intersubjectivity." The principle of intersubjectivity emphasizes that the two sides of the consultation can freely play their own subjectivity, respect each other and work together to complete the consultation, and then establish a good communication relationship of mutual trust. This article will extend the principle of "intersubjectivity" in philosophical consultation to practical experience and explore the importance of establishing a good relationship. The establishment of the inter-relationship discussions, we will use Whitehead (Alfred N. Whitehead, 1861-1947) metaphysics and philosophy consultative system in the history of philosophy "intersubjectivity" correlation between the two principles echo each other, Provide a method for the “relationship establishment” between the counselor and the interviewer. In Whitehead's metaphysical system, Whitehead believes that the actual things have a relationship with all things, that is, the meaning of the actual things is not independent, but is related to the whole universe. And this interrelated system comes from the process of taking and receiving, and this process of acceptance will eventually bring the actual things to a harmonious balance, satisfying the desire to follow the subjective purpose and perfection, and the actual things are accepted or rejected by the choice of value. Make more than one, and combine multiple actual things into one unity. Through the above brief description of the principles of philosophical consultation and the theory of Whitehead, the author will explain the "intersubjectivity principle" in philosophical consultation and the relationship between the counselor and the interviewer through the Whitehead's metaphysical system. The establishment of the philosophical principle of "intersubjectivity" can have a more precise philosophical and theoretical basis, and try to improve the theoretical methods established by the relationship between the counselor and the interviewer in the process of discussion, so that the philosophical consultation's researchers can get a clearer idea of the application of the above. Keywords:Philosophical Counseling, Whitehead, Intersubjectivity, Prehesion

碩士
華梵大學
哲學系碩士班
98
Laozi's emphasized on “Spiritual environment friendliness”, he believed in the reduction of material pursuit, and in turn elevating the spiritual dimension. Modern people tend to be focused on their livelihoods, resulting in spiritual suffering and depression. The philosophy of Laozi's can help serve as guidance for spiritual transcendence from chaos. Viewing from a pragmatic perspective of mankind’s development, from primitive fishing, farming, and agricultural societies to today’s complex industrial and commercial world, and then the information network society in the recent decade, the material wellbeing of people continue to improve, however, their spiritual wellbeing are relatively deprived. A troop is an epitome of society, there are some who joined the service but unable to adapt to the troop environment resulting in pessimistic thinking or negative psychological escapism, and helpless depression, some even considered to forgo their lives. In the philosophy of Laozi's, “Weakness” had been one of the most significant concepts, in terms of the definition of “Weakness” by Laozi's, it is definitely not the dissipation of potentials, on the contrary, it is a kind of accumulation of “potentiality”. According to this perspective, whatever activity one engages in, one should not “flaunt”, because to “flaunt” is not only incompliant to the “non-action” of “Dao”, it is also the dissipation of potentials. Therefore, the manifestation of dominant matters is the commencement of the path towards destruction. Laozi's told us to make use of the “Weakness” principle to deal with all matters in the world, this is coherent with Laozi's idea of the progression of “Dao”, from cosmogony to life,, the concept of “Weakness” is an indispensable element. “Weakness” and “strife” reflect all states of nature, and this is exemplary of the intertwined relationship between “Weakness” and “strife”. The author has been dedicated to military psychological counseling work for more over a decade, and whilst studying the philosophy of Laozi's became particularly enlightened of Laozi's insight on psychology, his concepts and ideas coincide with theories and methods developed by world recognized psychologists. Today’s modern society had begun to reflect on how to apply the philosophy of Laozi's and incorporate it to personal spiritual growth, through retrospection on life to transcend the state of being, enriching the spirit, and attaining more precise views and values about life. The thoughts of Laozi's deeply influenced people’s ideas and attitudes, this value perspective is a different view of treating humanity and matters, such a value perspective enables the broadening of the mind, transcendence from mundane constraints, and attaining genuine freedom of mind, thus allowing for one to reach the realm of happiness. Such is the principle life value perspective of Laozi's. Keywords: Dao, non-action, nature, emptiness, serenity, Weakness, peace, non-strife, counseling, psychological health.

While "philosophical counseling" emerged in the 1980's as a new form of caretaking practice, it can be understood as an attempt to re-embrace a tradition that goes back to the ancients, with their conception of philosophy as a "way of life." This study discusses elements of that tradition in order to provide a theoretical-historical framework for the modern practice of philosophical counseling. The central figure for this philosophic tradition is Socrates. The present study focuses on his notion of the "the examined life," while considering some doctrines in Hellenistic philosophy as further expressions of the Socratic tradition. As represented in the Platonic dialogues, Socrates exhibits "the examined life" by engaging in the practice of philosophy as some kind of "care of the soul." Though he speaks on occasion of the "conversion" that may be required for the commitment to this philosophic practice, it is carried out, in dialogical settings, through the rational-cognition dimension of reason and argument, undertaken with a basic critical stance. This is fundamental for differentiating philosophy from psychotherapeutic practices and highlights the unique value that philosophy may be able to contribute to caretaking practices. This dissertation has a synoptic character: it seeks to integrate a self-reflection on the philosophic tradition with a concern for issues present in the contemporary field of caretaking. For those broad purposes, the interpretation of ancient philosophy relies mainly on the scholarly work by G. Vlastos, M. Nussbaum, M. Foucault, and P. Hadot. With their guidance, the dissertation addresses one question in general: What was present in classical philosophy as a way of life with therapeutic aims that is absent in today's dominant practices of care for the person?
acase@tulane.edu

碩士
國立屏東大學
教育心理與輔導學系碩士班
104
This study focuses on exploring the development and practice of the counseling psychologists' narrative-oriented philosophy. It originated in Researcher's experience when I learn narrative therapy at master's stage . The study invited three counseling psychologists who learned narrative therapy and using it to real consulting over five years. The method of this study used semi-structured interviews to collect the data, and analyzing it by "Holoistic-contnet" and "Hooloistic-form" model of the Narrative research. Several findings according to data analysis are as follows: 1.The development of the counseling psychologists' narrative-oriented philosophy is rooted in their lives. It formed their unique philosophy. 2.The identity of the development of the counseling psychologists' narrative-oriented philosophy is multiple. Not only the complete identity but also the part identity can be the one. 3.There are five processes in the development of the counseling psychologists' narrative-oriented philosophy: cultivating, contacting, preferring, identifying, practicing. It's not a straight, but a multi-way for counseling psychologists. 4.The practice of the counseling psychologists' narrative-oriented philosophy gets across the five processes, and showing in their lives and counseling. Narrative-oriented philosophy helps counseling psychologists to face and deconstruct the dominant story, and continuously helps them growing up by the experiences. The findings may serve as a guide for research, teacher, superviser, student, and counseling psychologist, etc.

The author, a psychotherapist, has been integrating the practice of acupuncture into his clinical approach for several years. This dissertation explores and evaluates the value of a knowledge of acupuncture theory and practice for the treatment of mental and emotional disorders. Chapter I states the background for this project and defines basic terms. Chapter II reviews the theoretical orientation particularly Yin and Yang theory including the eight principles and adaption of the theory to differential diagnosis. Yin and Yang are further examined in relation to mental health and Western pathology. Analogies are drawn with the work of Perls, Freud, Reich and Lowen. Chapter II reviews the research on acupuncture for schizophrenia and acupuncture for drug addiction. The number of studies is relatively small with positive aggregate results. Chapter IV discusses the author's utilization of acupuncture and includes a section on the psychological effects of points. Included also is a comparative review of depression and an evaluation of acupuncture and spiritual practice. Chapter V presents seven case studies from the author's clinical practice. All had previous experience with psychotherapy, which they deemed of little value and all responded positively, in varying degrees, to acupuncture intervention. Chapter VI explores the social, political and cultural difficulties in introducing and promoting acupuncture in the West and concludes with five hypotheses on the effects of acupuncture for mental health: (1) Acupuncture is very effective with anxiety states; (2) Acupuncture often is of value in the treatment of depressive states; (3) Acupuncture has positive value in the treatment of paranoid states and related personality disorders; (4) Acupuncture has promise for the treatment of major affective and cognitive disorders; (5) Acupuncture may help control the aversive side-effects of antipsychotic medications. There are two appendices: (A) The Elements of Acupuncture and (B) A Short History of Acupuncture.