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Psychotherapy Outcome Research: A Critical Analysis of Current Trends
No full textThe overall effectiveness of psychotherapy has been well documented over the past few decades through a number of empirical studies and meta-analyses. Outcome research has now focused on the overall process of psychotherapy to determine how various interventions affect particular patients. The purpose of this study was to provide a clearer understanding of how psychotherapy functions by analyzing the relationship between the impacts of each session on individuals through a review of dose-response and good-enough level (GEL) studies. The aim of this dissertation was to synthesize the available research on this topic, including the statistical tools and models being used to analyze the data from these studies. In this critical literary analysis, the researcher sought to provide further theoretical understanding of the overall process of psychotherapy. Areas for further development are identified, and directions for future research are provided. Practical and clinical implications are offered to help inform clinical decisions
Ignored: A Practical Theology Inquiry of Korean-Speaking Young Adults in a Transnational Congregational Context
No full textThis dissertation focuses on an overlooked population in the study of Korean American Christianity—Korean-speaking young adults in immigrant churches. Considering that almost all of the literature about the emerging generation in Korean churches in the U.S. exclusively attend to the English speaking generation, this research project raises the question of “How should the Korean immigrant church as a community understand and serve Korean speaking young adults?” In light of this central research question, this study seeks to bring awareness to the hidden younger generation of Korean-speaking young adults, and to suggest a discernment process for Korean immigrant churches in the U.S. to engage in more faithful practices.
The opening two chapters lay the methodological groundwork. With an overarching methodology of practical theology and a qualitative research method, chapter 1 provides a detailed account of the research methodology, including how this study’s field research was conducted. Chapter 2 surveys and evaluates the current understanding of this consistently ignored population from the existing literature.
Chapter 3 expounds upon the results from data collected through a survey of 404 Korean-speaking young adults and 40 in-depth interviews with Korean American pastors. Throughout the discussion of the research findings, this study addresses Korean-speaking young adults’ intersectional struggles (as emerging adults and ethnic minorities), their experiences of loneliness, their transnational perspectives, and their relationships with their church communities.
Based on these findings, chapter 4 proposes an ecclesiology for Korean immigrants and their young people in a transnational context, in conversation with contemporary migration theology. This constructive ecclesiology recommends that the Korean immigrant church as a community should embody these features: people finding their identity and dignity based on the imago dei, beyond national origin or migration status; people experiencing belonging and formation together within the framework of an adoptive family of siblings; and people participating in and contributing to God’s ongoing redemptive work from a missional church perspective.
Finally, chapter 5 suggests some pragmatic ways to move forward. This chapter articulates four necessary transformations for Korean immigrant churches to process and pursue as a community, moving: from a fragmented church structure to an intergenerationally connected community; from a knowledge-based and unidirectional teaching discipleship program to spiritual formation in an adoptive family of siblings; from hierarchical leadership to missional church leadership; and from a self-conceived identity as a traditional immigrant church to a transnational church. This study finishes by proposing Appreciative Inquiry as a simple but helpful way to begin actualizing these changes
Spiritual Formation in an Atomized World: The Necessity of the Church as Family in the Spiritual Formation of Midadolescents
Get PDFThere are many ideas as to how spiritual formation happens in midadolescents. Traditionally, most discipleship programs encourage midadolescents to grow in their faith by participating in youth programs, to read their Bibles, and to pray. This project demonstrates that the church is God’s worshipping community on earth and has been ordained since the beginning of time to be such. While a personal relationship with God is important, so is participation in the family life of the church.
The church over the last few decades has placed all the responsibility of spiritual growth on the shoulders of believers. Faith has become exclusively about a personal relationship with God that is grown through personal devotion to God. Church has then become a place to go to service one’s faith. It has become a collection of individuals who share a common interest but no true need for one another. This mentality has led to the atomization of church ministries. A church’s various ministries, including those focusing on youth, children, women, and young adults, for example, have very little connection with one another.
A sense of responsibility for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ needs to be recovered in the local church. If believers want to fully grow in their faith, they need to be present where Christ is, and Christ is found in the church. Over and over again the church is referred to as the family of faith. Christians are called “children of God,” the “family of faith,” “adopted,” and Paul’s favorite term, “brothers and sisters.” Midadolescents need a family of faith for their spiritual formation. They need older siblings who mentor and care for them as younger siblings. When the church lives into its ontology, it creates the best environment for the spiritual formation of midadolescents
Empowering Young Chinese Fathers in Australia to Experience Spiritual Transformation through Contemplative Disciplines
Get PDFThis doctoral project aims to empower the Christian fathers at West Sydney Chinese Christian Church (WSCCC) to experience spiritual transformation in their busy daily lives. The demands from work and the pressure of living in Sydney, Australia, together with additional family responsibilities, have drained and prevented them from experiencing God on an ongoing basis. To address this need, this pilot project attempts to enable the men to experience spiritual transformation through practicing Christian contemplative disciplines and receiving spiritual direction individually and in a group context.
The project firstly identifies the socio-economic and cultural challenges facing the Chinese fathers who live in Sydney. The rise of the internet and social media culture poses further complications and demands upon the already overextended lifestyle. This part will also describe the dynamics of WSCCC and its influence on these men’s spiritual formation. Upon examination, the Christian fathers have exhibited a robust desire for an intimate relationship with God but have often failed to maintain that.
Part Two lays out the biblical and theological foundation for experiencing spiritual transformation through recognizing and living in God’s presence consistently. It articulates an ecclesiology that urges a paradigm shift in WSCCC to embrace contemplative spirituality. There is also a discussion regarding the pastoral theology of spiritual direction and its unique contribution towards godly formation when it is combined with the regular practices of spiritual disciplines.
Finally this study presents a ministry plan informed by the theological investigation, and seeks to introduce, familiarize, and resource Christian men to engage in various contemplative disciplines in the context of a retreat and spiritual direction group. It also outlines the development tools required for all involved. Attention is given to the timing, processes, and assessment tools required for the successful implementation of such an initiative
A Strategy for Members at Jachin Church to Identify and Practice Authentic Forgiveness
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to develop a strategy for members at Jachin Church in Hong Kong to identify authentic forgiveness and to practice it. Conflict and hurt are inevitable in life. To forgive and to be forgiven are crucial to turn conflict and hurt from being life-destructive to being life-constructive. Authentic forgiveness that is biblically based is a divine gift that God offers to humanity, so that hurt can be healed, the cycle of retaliation can be broken, one’s painful past can be released, and impaired relationships can be reconciled. However, forgiveness carries different meanings and expressions within different cultures. Not all kinds of forgiveness that people practice in various cultures are biblically based and equally life-transforming. For example, some forgive by forgetting, some forgive in order to avoid conflict, and some forgive in order to achieve self-healing.
The way many members at Jachin Church perceive and practice forgiveness deviates from authentic forgiveness because of the cultural influence of the Chinese tradition and western individualistic culture. For example, some forgive in order to maintain harmony, but they ignore the truth. Others forgive as a unilateral act of self-healing without reconciling the broken relationship. Authentic forgiveness should comprise genuine repentance, which requires dealing with the issues, and reconciliation, which is a mutual transaction.
This study employs a one-year timeline for implementing the pilot project. It intends to inspire and motivate members at Jachin Church to identify authentic forgiveness and to confront the tendency to trivialize it due to cultural influences. Further, this study also develops concrete steps for those in need to practice authentic forgiveness in order to receive the blessedness that God intends through it. An assessment will be done for the effectiveness of the pilot project before its full launch by the end of 2018
Preoccupied in the Transition to Motherhood: Ana’s Journey Toward Mentalizing
No full textThe transition to motherhood can be a difficult journey for women who have histories of psychological distress stress, physical abuse, stressors associated with immigration. There is limited analysis on the transition to motherhood for preoccupied mothers-to-be who have experienced these significant psychological and physical demands. This case study follows the treatment of a 38-year-old Latina woman through her transition to motherhood as she addresses the psychological effects of posttraumatic stress disorder, relational demands associated with a residential placement, and socioeconomic stressors associated with undocumented immigration and economic stress. A mentalization-based treatment approach entitled Minding the Baby was to address Ana’s difficulty forming relationships with peers and potentially with her child. A focus on mentalization-based treatment intervention in the context of parent-infant psychotherapy was proposed to better enable Ana to form healthy relationships with peers and to lessen her trauma-related symptoms. Ana’s increase in reflective functioning through developing a supportive and productive therapeutic relationship enabled her to better acknowledge and tolerate mental states, including the thoughts and feelings of others, promoting improved engagement in the relationship with her infant and move toward a more secure attachment relationship. Theses interventions also appeared to lessen Ana’s trauma symptoms and insecure attachment and increased more healthy social interactions with peers. Ana’s treatment illustrates the importance of concrete services in using parent-infant psychotherapy and mentalization-based approaches to promote a more healthy transition to motherhood
A Critical Analysis of the Literature on Historical Trauma and African American Women
No full textTraditional trauma psychology theorists and researchers have focused on universal properties of individual trauma and its intrapsychic effects. There is a growing body of literature addressing the impact of culture and the need for an understanding of trauma that is more reflective of communal and marginalized groups. Research that addresses the specific needs and experiences of African American women has also increased. However, the two bodies of literature have not been integrated to support a culturally syntonic understanding of trauma and African American women. In this project, I will review literature on trauma in light of themes from African-centered psychology, paying special attention to three areas: the redefinition of pathology, communal consciousness, and spiritness. I will provide an overview on the history of trauma literature in the field of psychology and explore the value of understanding historical trauma narratives when working with African American women. Culminating in a discussion of how the following dimensions can be integrated in clinical work with Black women: clinician’s critical self-exploration, clinical training and supervision, group therapy, bibliotherapy, and spirituality