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 Impact of Individualism and Collectivism on Psychotherapy: Is Therapy in North America Individualistic? Exploring the Infusion of Collectivism Into Therapy Practices(2024-10) Chu, TongWestern societies, especially in North America, predominantly emphasize individualism, which prioritizes autonomy, independence, and self-reliance. This cultural orientation, embedded within counselling and psychotherapy, may inadvertently exacerbate issues such as social isolation and mental health challenges. In contrast, collectivism—valuing community, interdependence, and group harmony—offers an alternative framework that promotes stronger social connections and potentially more holistic approaches to mental well-being. Through an extensive literature review and critical analysis, this research highlights the limitations of individualism-centric therapy models and advocates for the integration of collectivist principles to create more culturally responsive and inclusive therapeutic practices. The study examines both the positive and negative aspects of individualism and collectivism on mental health outcomes and offers practical recommendations for incorporating collectivist values into therapy. By proposing a culturally informed therapeutic framework, this project aims to foster more balanced and effective mental health interventions, particularly in multicultural contexts where diverse cultural needs must be met. This approach seeks to bridge the gap between individualism and collectivism, ultimately contributing to more holistic and community-oriented mental health care.Item Impact of Childhood Trauma on Romantic Relationships(2024-06-30) Birkett, SierraThis capstone project explores the impact of childhood trauma on adult romantic relationship dynamics through the lens of attachment theory. By examining how early relational experiences shape emotional and psychological development, the study underscores the profound influence of childhood trauma on neurobiology, altering brain structures and functions related to stress and emotional regulation. These neurobiological changes can impair cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and executive function, while emotionally and psychologically, trauma can lead to depression, PTSD, substance-use disorders, and borderline personality disorder. This research highlights the significant challenges that childhood trauma poses to adult relationships, particularly in areas of emotional dysregulation and social cognition, which complicate conflict management. Additionally, individual attachment patterns contribute to complexities in trust, communication, and intimacy within couples. To address these issues, a workshop for couples is proposed, focusing on understanding the impact of childhood trauma, enhancing awareness and empathy, developing healthy coping strategies, and strengthening relationship bonds through the application of polyvagal theory. This capstone provides valuable insights and practical tools for counsellors, mental health professionals, and couples where one or both partners have experienced childhood trauma, aiming to foster healthier and more resilient romantic relationships.Item Exploring the Effectiveness of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples who Experience Infidelity(2024-10-08) Brad, AlexandraInfidelity, defined as a relationship with a third party that violates the trust within the partnership which in turn breaks the exclusivity agreement made within the partnership, is an issue within relationships that many counsellors can struggle to work with. This capstone explores how emotion focused therapy (EFT) can help couples working through infidelity. EFT combines the principles of attachment theory by creating emotional awareness and breaking maladaptive emotional schemas. This capstone’s literature review provides a deeper understanding of EFT, attachment theory, and interventions used in counselling. As well, this capstone provides ethical considerations of the principles and codes that counsellors adhere to when working with couples or individuals. This capstone highlights the implications for the counselling field, including the need for training, cultural competence, and best practices when working with couples.Item Integrating Wellness: Alleviating Burnout in Counsellors in Training through the Indivisible Self Wheel of Wellness and Compassion-Focused Therapy(2024-10-08) Chandra, SherinaThis capstone explores the rising concern of burnout among counsellors-in-training and the need for a comprehensive approach to address it within graduate programs. Burnout, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced self-efficacy, can profoundly affect trainees' well-being and the quality of care they provide to clients. Through a literature review, this paper examines the contributing factors to burnout, including academic pressures, clinical challenges, and personal stressors. Then, it investigates the potential of the Indivisible Self Wheel of Wellness, its second, and third-order domains, and Compassion-Focused Therapy as holistic frameworks to mitigate burnout and promote wellness through identifying self-care strategies and self-compassion. Recommendations for integrating wellness practices into counsellor training programs that discuss ethical standards to maintain well-being and minimize impairment and emphasize the importance of early intervention, structured supervision, and a supportive training environment are discussed.Item Nature-Based Art Therapy (NBAT) for Trauma(2024-09-26) Williams, JeanineNature-based art therapy (NBAT) is an emerging and integrative therapeutic approach offering possibilities for trauma care and treatment (Berger, 2010). Critical aspects of NBAT include using natural materials for art creation, facilitating art therapy sessions in outdoor settings focusing on multidimensional connections between clients and therapists, as well as art and nature as co-therapists (Berger, 2020). Mindfulness mechanisms in NBAT can reduce bodily stress hormones and enhance emotional expression to indicate this novel modality as a possible method to mitigate common trauma responses (Baker et al., 2018; Wardle, 2023). This literature review explores seminal theories and current research on nature-based therapies, art therapy, and NBAT applied to trauma care. This literature review additionally explores cultural perspectives and accessibility implications of NBAT, including strengths and limitations of current NBAT theories, research, and practices. This capstone aims to advocate for ethical care and safety during NBAT integration into trauma care and in future research. The research question for this capstone is: How does nature-based art therapy (NBAT) support individuals with trauma?