The National University System Repository exists to increase public access to research and other materials created by students and faculty of the affiliate institutions of National University System. Most items in the repository are open access, freely available to everyone.
Recent Submissions
Item From Screens to Souls: Parasocial Relationships, Mental Health, and Therapeutic Practice(2025-12)Parasocial relationships (PSRs) have become increasingly common. Although they remain under-explored in therapeutic practice, they have meaningful psychological functions. This capstone explores the development, benefits, and risks of PSRs through three theoretical lenses: Attachment Theory, Object Relations Theory, and Social Development Theory. I review the current literature that indicates PSRs can provide companionship, emotional regulation, identity exploration, and a sense of belonging, particularly for individuals experiencing loneliness or relational challenges. At the same time, research shows that PSRs can contribute to negative impacts such as unhealthy media use, body image concerns, social comparison, emotional distress during “parasocial breakups,” and blurred boundaries intensified by the newer interactive digital platforms. I will highlight the importance of recognizing parasocial bonds as a normal part of development. PSRs can offer important insights into clients’ attachment needs, internalized relational patterns, coping strategies, and identity formation. Recommendations highlight psychoeducation, CBT-informed approaches, improving media literacy and ways to manage loneliness while supporting clients in developing balanced offline connections.Item Experiences of shame among women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood(2025-11-15)This counselling psychology research project examines the main question: How and in what ways do feelings and experiences of shame show up for women prior to being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, and how have chronic feelings of shame shaped their view of self and impacted their well-being throughout their development? To answer this question, a synthesis of the current and relevant research is conducted within this study as well as a presentation of the clinical recommendations needed to support this population therapeutically and within future research. Themes are created through a deductive thematic analysis of the literature, and a critique of the studies' methods and ethical approaches is conducted. Themes are found and highlighted such as the prevalence of shame experiences for women with latediagnosed ADHD throughout their development, the isolation and distress of chronic shame, and the infiltration of shame within multiple aspects of the women's lives were found. Additionally, shame seems to be the internalization of years of external judgment, character blaming, and ostracization for behaving outside of the gender and neurotypical norm. Mental health clinicians and researchers are recommended to be aware of and reflective upon this silent but common phenomenon within their work. It is advised that energy and effort it directed towards addressing the of experience of chronic shame in women with ADHD through researching and utilizing empirically supported treatment and diagnosis to curb the negative impacts shame can have on female-identifying individuals.Item The impact of delayed diagnosis on the self-perceptions of women with late-diagnosed ADHD: A review of recent literature and theoretical implications(2025-11-18)Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been widely underrecognized in women due to the misconception that it primarily affected male children. Consequently, many women remain unaware of their neurodivergence for much of their lives, internalizing shame and self-blame for their difficulties. Growing awareness on gender differences in ADHD presentation has led to an influx in women being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, yet limited research has examined the role late diagnosis has on self-perception. This review seeks to answer the following question: How does a delayed ADHD diagnosis impact the self-perceptions of women with ADHD? A qualitative thematic analysis of peer-reviewed studies was conducted using academic databases, prioritized research that explored women’s lived experiences with late-diagnosed ADHD and its effects on self-concept, stigma, masking, and internalized ableism. Findings revealed that a diagnostic delay significantly impacts women's self-perceptions, leading to low-self-esteem, ongoing struggles to meet gendered and societal expectations, the use of masking strategies to conform to neurotypical norms, and the internalization of ableism and stigma that reinforce negative self-identities. However, receiving a diagnosis can serve as a transformative experience, enabling self-compassion, identity reconstruction, and empowerment, particularly when supported by neuro-affirmative approaches. The review concludes that clinicians can support late-diagnosed women with ADHD by implementing gender-responsive, neuro-affirmative approaches that promote positive identity reconstruction, self-understanding, and acknowledgement of strengths. Future research should examine intersectional factors including race, culture and socioeconomic status to inform more inclusive and equitable mental health practices.Item Exploring horticultural therapy for neurodivergent populations across the lifespan(2025-10)In this capstone I explored the therapeutic possibilities of horticultural therapy (HT) for neurodivergent populations, specifically autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A systematic literature review was conducted of three topics as themes: Benefits of Horticultural Therapy; Understanding Neurodivergent Needs; and Horticultural Therapy Across the Lifespan. The primary research question of this project was: How can HT be adapted to effectively promote social, emotional, and cognitive development for neurodivergent individuals, with attention to autism and ADHD? I hypothesized that HT interventions designed with sensory regulation, executive functioning, and group format accessibility in mind would yield benefits related to emotional wellbeing, social learning, and attention. The methods included a systematic review and thematic synthesis across roughly forty peer-reviewed articles, meta-analyses, feasibility studies, and applied program reports. There was no collection of original human-subject data. The literature reviewed indicated that HT reduces anxiety, depression, and stress across populations, improves executive function and attentional capacity related to ADHD, and promotes social connection and cooperative learning among autistic participants. The research reviewed also indicated that both indoor and telehealth models produced enhanced accessibility to programming, and participation was influenced by both cultural and ecological contexts. This indicates that HT is an adaptable and inclusive intervention that can and does accommodate neurodivergent needs. This study contributes to counselling practice by offering evidenced-based recommendations on how to design accessible, neurodiversity-affirming HT programs. As an application of this research, a 4-session workshop was developed to demonstrate a way of translating these findings into practice.Item Queer shame & collective healing: Trauma informed shame sensitive group therapy(2025-11-20)This capstone explores queer shame as a relational affect situated within the collective body, shaped by minority stress and sustained by systemic oppression. Empirical research finds shame to be central to queer community health, linking external stigma to internal psychological distress through affective, relational, and physiological pathways. The guiding research question asks: How can trauma-informed, shame-sensitive group therapy interventions be designed to support 2SLGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming clients in metabolizing queer shame and fostering collective resilience? The literature review examines queer shame across two related domains: the mental health impacts of internalized stigma, identity concealment, and chronic invalidation; and trauma-informed and shame-sensitive frameworks. By situating shame within intersecting systems of oppression and recognizing its protective as well as harmful functions, the review underscores the need for interventions that are culturally responsive, identity-affirming, and collectively oriented. Building on this foundation, the capstone proposes an eight-week trauma-informed and shame-sensitive group therapy intervention designed to support 2SLGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming clients in understanding and metabolizing shame, restoring relational safety, and cultivating collective resilience, belonging, and resistance.
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