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Counselling Without Walls: Facilitating a Path to Healing Through Nature-Based/Ecotherapy and the Human-Nature Relationship
No full textThe world is experiencing a dual crisis: increased human suffering marked by increasing rates of what are known as mental health disorders and mounting environmental distress typified by climate change events. The interplay between these crises necessitates an exploration of the role nature-based/ecotherapy can play in reducing suffering and offering a healing path for humans and nature. Although evidence suggests an increase in nature-based/ecotherapy interest and the value of the human-nature relationship, there has been a shift away from the original intent of a reciprocal relationship and a lack of understanding on how to implement nature into therapeutic practice. The literature explored suggested a gap in ethical and reciprocal practice, as well as a lack of buy-in from counsellors and clients. A personal connection to a place/experience in nature, and a deep understanding of the interrelated web of all things demonstrate avenues to facilitate a reciprocal human-nature relationship which reduces suffering for both and increases interest in incorporating nature into therapy as a healing modality. From these findings an ecologically ethical framework and an experiential workshop for counsellors was created
Self-Esteem and Social Media
No full textSocial Media use is so common and frequent that it may be safe to assume that no reader of this paper would argue against such a statement. While social media existence and use are a relatively new phenomena, historically speaking, their impact and position in the zeitgeist of modern living are unimpeachable. Social media has become more than a digital neighbourhood or a way to stay in-touch with others, though these are still within its scope. Social media is now the vehicle for commerce, politics, entertainment, public discourse, news and more. However, there is growing concern about the ways social media use is impacting users, including reports of increased anxiety, poor self-esteem and a distorted sense of oneself online versus in the real world. This capstone reviews some of the ways social media impacts self-esteem and the development of self
Trauma Informed Practices: Using the ARC Model
No full textMany children and youth experience trauma in their childhoods. Often the students' trauma symptoms present in their classrooms as unacceptable or defiant behaviours. Educators are inundated with information and advice on how to work with difficult students but most of the time practical strategies are lacking. This may overwhelm teachers, while students to not receive the support they need. The goal of this capstone is to provide educators with the skills, strategies, and activities to support students with trauma. To accomplish this, I have thoroughly researched the ARC model of Attachment, Regulation, and Competency. Firstly, I provided an in-depth look into how educators can form secure attachments with students. Secondly, I examined how to build regulatory skills through helping students identify, manage, and communicate their feelings and emotions, Thirdly, educators learnt how to build competency skills in students so students can learn how to problem solve and recognize their strengths and successes to start understanding and coping with their trauma. Finally, I included a workshop for middle school educators to support students through building attachment, regulatory, and competency skills
Yoga as an Adjunctive Treatment for Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
No full textComplex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a debilitating condition, exhibiting complex trauma symptoms frequently observed in survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Traditional treatment approaches have limitations in holistically addressing the multifaceted challenges of C-PTSD and IPV-related trauma. This narrative literature review aims to evaluate the existing evidence supporting the use of yoga as an adjunctive therapy in treating complex trauma and female IPV survivors. A comprehensive search was conducted across 11 electronic databases yielding randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, qualitative studies, meta-analyses and statistical reviews, and case studies. Included studies examined the impact of yoga on psychological measures, including assessing PTSD and C-PTSD, as well as participant-reported growth and healing themes. The review reveals that trauma-based yoga interventions, particularly trauma-sensitive yoga (TSY), demonstrate promise in improving mental, emotional, and physiological outcomes, including growth beyond symptom reduction. The findings suggest the need for a larger quantity of higher quality empirical research to validate the long-term effectiveness of yoga as an adjunctive treatment for C-PTSD in IPV survivors across a variety of demographics. Implications for clinical practice and future research directions are discussed