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 The Role of Language in Multilingual Counselling(2025-11)This capstone is an exploration of the function of language within multilingual counselling relationships. Language serves as one of the primary modes of communication within talk therapy, rendering it an essential aspect to consider when counsellors and clients are multilingual. Furthermore, language functions within a sociocultural context and is embedded with layers of cultural nuance, while simultaneously being perceived and interpreted both externally and internally. To demonstrate how language operates differently across languages, I have chosen to contrast English and German concepts of anxiety and shame. The research questions under investigation are: Does language shape our experience and perception of emotion concepts, such as anxiety and shame? When comparing English and German concepts of anxiety and shame linguistically, what are the sociocultural impacts? How can therapists approach language in a way that supports effective communication and expression within the therapeutic relationship? In order to help facilitate deeper insight into the function(s) of language in the counselling context, I created the acronym LSTEN, which stands for L: Language, I: Intention, S: Somatic Approaches, T: Translation, E: Embodied Listening and N: Narrative. The findings in the capstone reveal that counsellors and clients can benefit and deepen the therapeutic relationship by exploring the function(s) of language.Item Insecure Attachment and Empathy Deficits in Adults with Childhood Trauma(2025-12-06)Childhood trauma, encompassing various adverse experiences such as abuse, neglect, and disrupted caregiving, has profound effects on emotion regulation, attachment security, and overall social functioning throughout life. This literature review aims to examine the relationships between childhood trauma and its impact on the development of empathy in adulthood. The findings indicate that individuals exposed to traumatic experiences during childhood often exhibit insecure attachment patterns, which hinder their ability to engage in empathic interactions. Specifically, insecure or disorganized attachment styles are shown to disrupt emotion regulation and perspective-taking abilities, which are critical components of empathy. The review describes effective interventions, including emotionally focused therapy (EFT) and attachment-based frameworks, which have demonstrated success in promoting emotional safety and repairing attachment disruptions.Item Therapist-Perceived Barriers to Mental Health Counselling for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: Understanding the Challenges of the Therapeutic Relationship(2025-12-12)This capstone examines the perspectives of mental health practitioners on the challenges of building therapeutic alliances with survivors of intimate partner violence in mental health counselling and how these challenges influence the survivors’ engagement in treatment. From a trauma-informed care framework, this manuscript aims to identify the specific challenges that mental health practitioners encounter when working with survivors, develop an understanding of how they impact treatment participation, and provide recommendations for practitioners to overcome such challenges. The methodology adopted is literature review synthesis and critical analysis. Studies were selected and compiled to determine numerous themes, including practitioner preparedness to work with intimate partner violence survivors, considerations for building therapeutic alliances, specific population considerations, and the influence of practitioner burnout. Trust was found to be one of the most critical factors required for building therapeutic alliances with survivors, and present in almost all themes. The findings of this capstone provide information for mental health practitioners on the challenges and implications of building therapeutic alliances, such that stronger alliances can support positive therapeutic results. Recommendations for building therapeutic alliances are provided, such as demonstrating empathy and empowering clients to contribute to building trust. Finally, this capstone lays the groundwork for future research that contributes to the limited body of literature specifically looking at the perspectives of mental health practitioners, along with quantitative studies to test the efficacy of strategies to build strong therapeutic alliances.Item Experience of Intimate Partner Violence Among 2SLGBTQI+ Victim-Survivors(2025-12-10)The purpose of this counselling psychology research project was to understand the experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) among 2SLGBTQI+ victim-survivors. A thematic analysis approach was used to synthesize relevant qualitative research and produce recommendations for practitioners and researchers to more effectively work with this vulnerable population. Qualitative studies over the last five years were identified using the City University of Seattle library and Google Scholar and a thematic analysis of the literature was then conducted to generate significant themes, while the methodology and ethical competencies of the studies were also critiqued. The thematic findings of the literature review identified the types of abuse 2SLGBTQI+ victim-survivors experience, particularly identity abuse, the consequences of this abuse on their physical and mental well-being, and the strategies this population uses to cope with their pain, particularly distraction. The themes also highlighted the sources of external support this group accesses and their experiences of stigma, discrimination, minority stress, and isolation while attempting to navigate these support systems. Recommendations for practitioners and researchers were made, including increased education on 2SLGBTQI+ experiences and better implementation of affirming care when working with these individuals.Item Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain Management Interventions(2025-12-05)The purpose of this study is to examine how mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), can be integrated within the biopsychosocial model (BPSM), of chronic pain management to improve treatment outcomes, reduce reliance on opioids, and enhance the quality of life for individuals living with chronic pain. Chronic pain is a complex health challenge significantly affecting individuals, families, and healthcare systems, and biomedical approaches often fail to capture its multidimensional nature. A thematic review of literature was adopted as methodology. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies were analyzed. Findings showed MBIs reduced pain interference, enhanced emotional regulation, decreased opioid reliance, and improved quality of life, offering a promising addition to traditional pain management. Overall, the results indicate that MBIs address the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of health, offering a valuable, viable approach to addressing chronic pain. Still, questions remain regarding the sustainability of benefits, the need for larger, more diverse, and longitudinal studies, as well as direct comparisons of MBI delivery formats (in-person, telehealth, and hybrid models). This capstone concludes that MBIs show promise in improving the quality of life for those with chronic pain.
Communities in National University System Repository
Select a community to browse its collections.