CityU Scholarly Work (Open Access)
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Contains open access scholarly work from City University of Seattle students, faculty, and staff.
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Item The Healing Capacity of Animal Assisted Counselling(2026-01) Keszthelyi, SylviaAmid rising and increasingly complex mental health challenges, there is a growing demand for innovative therapeutic approaches that address both physiological and relational aspects of client care. While animals have long been used in the treatment of humans, the formal implementation of animals with the clinical treatment plan is still a newer, growing modality that is not well understood. The goal of this capstone is to provide counsellors, current and future, with a comprehensive understanding of animal-assisted counselling and how it can enhance their therapeutic practice. The human-animal bond has intrinsic attributes that support individuals to feel more connected with others and within themselves using the foundations of Polyvagal theory and the therapeutic alliance. This capstone will propose a workshop to educate any counsellors interested in using animals within their clinical work, to expand their capacity in addressing the evolving landscape of mental health care.Item Behind the Lens: Sharenting, Family Vlogging, and the Psychological Impact of Growing Up Online(2025-07) Neilson, NicoleThis capstone synthesizes research on the psychological, developmental, and systemic impacts of sharenting, the practice of parents sharing children's images and information online. This work explores how early and ongoing digital exposure influences autonomy, identity formation, and relational boundaries. Guided by Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory, Bowen Family Systems Theory, and Goffman's Dramaturgical Approach, the literature review synthesizes research on the ways curated online portrayals shape self-concept, disrupt family dynamics, and create lasting digital legacies. The review also evaluates four intervention models, Circle of Security Parenting, Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, Mindful Parenting, and psychoeducation, as potential frameworks for guiding caregivers toward ethical, developmentally informed sharing practices. The capstone addresses implications for mental health professionals, caregivers, policymakers, technology platforms, and community organizations, recommending stronger legal safeguards for child influencers, integration of digital ethics into counselling practice, and platform-level measures to protect minors' privacy. These recommendations aim to support child-centred, ethically responsible approaches to online content creation involving children.Item From Corruption to Connection: An Integrated Perspective on Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Recidivism in Forensic Settings(2025-12-15) Hills, CalaThis capstone, guided by a biosocial framework, examines the question: How effective is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in reducing recidivism factors in forensic settings? The review explored how DBT supports rehabilitation by addressing interconnected psychological, behavioural, and environmental factors associated with reoffending. A systematic search was conducted across major psychology, mental health, and criminology databases in accordance with PRISMA (2020) guidelines. Ten peer-reviewed studies published between 2018 and 2025 met inclusion criteria, spanning randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, and qualitative designs. Four additional review articles published from 2017 onward were included to strengthen theoretical and contextual grounding. Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021), guided by abductive reasoning, was used to synthesize patterns across the literature. Findings indicated that DBT consistently improves emotion regulation, impulse control, coping, and prosocial decision-making—factors strongly linked to reduced reoffending. Adaptations such as shortened modules, simplified materials, and trauma-informed delivery enhanced accessibility, particularly for individuals with intellectual disabilities or co-occurring substance-use and mental-health challenges. However, variability in program length, inconsistent follow-up, and limited attention to cultural diversity constrained generalizability. Overall, DBT shows strong potential as an ethically grounded and flexible intervention that promotes relational safety and rehabilitation in correctional settings, though evidence on long-term recidivism and culturally diverse outcomes remains limited.Item The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Emotion Regulation in Adult Romantic Relationships(2025-12) Rogers, ShelbyThis capstone examines the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on emotion regulation in adult romantic relationships. Specifically, it investigates how ACEs influence emotion regulation abilities and their relational consequences in adulthood through an attachment theory perspective. The main question of this project is: How does exposure to ACEs affect emotion regulation and co-regulation in adult romantic relationships? To answer this, relevant peer-reviewed literature from the past five years was collected, analyzed, and synthesized in a literature review. The methodology used is literature review. A thematic analysis was performed to identify and develop key themes. What were the findings? This review and analysis critiqued existing research methodology and highlighted significant gaps and limitations. The capstone concludes with recommendations for clinical practice, emphasizing suitable modalities such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Narrative Therapy, and integrating trauma-informed approaches in working with populations exposed to ACEs.Item The Difference Between Groups Among the Completion of Underrepresented Students and Interactions with Not-for-Profit Private University Business Operations(2025) Hammes, DanielThe study examined how underrepresented students’ (such as students of color, lower socioeconomic communities, and LGBTQIA+) completion rates are affected by their interactions with the business function of a university. Researching completion rates on this basis addresses an area of student success where there is currently a lack of research. This research examines factors associated with the completion rates of underrepresented students, aiming to provide university leadership with information on variables that may influence these rates. This research purposes to clarify how underrepresented student completion rates relate to interactions with business operations at private, not-for-profit universities, addressing a current research gap. Astin’s (1999) Theory of Involvement and Tinto’s (1975) Theory of Student Departure were the key theories referenced in this study and served as the foundational models for this study. The main question of this study asks, “Is there a possible link, if any, between the interactions of underrepresented students with the university business function systems of a university and the completion of these students?” Responses were collected using an online survey (SurveyMonkey) platform from individuals who are current or former students of two not-for-profit private universities. Following data collection, a quantitative research methodology was employed. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to contrast responses from students with differing levels of interaction with university business operations at a not-for-profit private university. This statistical method was also applied to assess the extent and direction of the association between the two student groups. The study found that underrepresented students had an increased level of interaction with the university's business operations; however, no significant correlation was identified between the underrepresented students' interactions and the student completion rates. The survey found no correlation between the number of interactions with business offices and the completion rate of underrepresented student programs, based on the Mann-Whitney U Test results. Although the study found no direct correlation, opportunities remain to improve the interactions between business functions and underrepresented students.