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Where the Wound Began: A Social Constructivist Exploration of Culturally-Adapted Interventions for the Treatment of Substance Abuse in Indigenous Communities
No full textThis capstone project examines the applicability of culturally-adapted interventions in treating the presentation of substance abuse among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Grounded in a social constructivist perspective, this project brings to light the long-lived historical and social factors
that have contributed to these ongoing challenges, reframing addiction as a response to cultural loss, systemic oppression, and intergenerational trauma, and challenging interpretations strictly rooted in pathology and reductionist perspectives. It focuses on Indigenous culturally-adapted
therapies and integrated therapeutic approaches such as land-based healing, storytelling, and the Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing philosophy, highlighting their potential to support cultural wellness and identity reclamation in treatment models. This project also considers the concepts
of cultural safety and cultural competence as essential frameworks for ethically integrating Indigenous healing practices into counselling. Through this constructivist exploration, the capstone emphasizes the importance of culturally-adapted care in addressing substance-related harms and promoting long-term well-being in Indigenous communities
Navigating Social Media and Self-Esteem: An ACT-Based Approach for Adolescents
No full textSocial media is an ingrained part of daily life across all age groups, including adolescents. While it offers benefits such as staying connected with friends and family, access to entertainment and the ability to find information quickly, frequent use has been linked to negative mental health
outcomes. Current research largely highlights the overall impact of social media on adolescent mental health. However, there is a need for deeper exploration into its influence on self-esteem in particular, which is a critical factor in identity formation in adolescence. Understanding how
social media influences self-esteem, particularly across genders, is essential for developing effective therapeutic approaches and better supporting adolescents with this presenting concern. This systematic review examines the relationship between social media use and adolescent selfesteem,
focusing on areas such as body image, social relationships, and mood and well-being. The review also explores how gender influences both the ways in which adolescents engage with social media, and the ways they are affected by it. Finally, this paper proposes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a valuable modality for addressing self-esteem issues in adolescents impacted by social media use. ACT offers a framework for helping adolescent clients develop a healthier sense of self, as well as emotional regulation strategies in the digital age. These findings offer valuable insights for adolescents themselves, as well as aspiring and practicing clinicians, and the field of psychology as a whole. This knowledge can ultimately
support adolescent development in an increasingly online world
Cybersecurity Incidents on the Rise: The Impacts of Human Factors Which Result in Human Error
No full textCybersecurity Incidents on the Rise: The Impacts of Human Factors Which Result in Human Erro
The Role of Nature in Healing Trauma in Youth
No full textThis capstone looks at how being in nature can help young people heal from trauma, especially in school settings. Many youth experience trauma that affects their emotions, behavior, and ability to learn. This project explores different nature-based activities—like walking in the forest, gardening, outdoor adventures, and land-based Indigenous practices—and how these can support students' mental and emotional health. These activities can help youth feel calmer, more connected, and safe in their bodies. The paper brings together ideas from different theories, including how the body responds to stress (polyvagal theory and somatics), how people grow within their environments (ecological systems theory), and how supportive relationships help healing (person-centered and CBT approaches). The research also looks at how schools can include nature-based healing in counseling, especially for students who face big challenges. Indigenous ways of healing, which center land and community, are also recognized as important and valuable. This capstone is based on academic research, personal experience, and real-life work with youth in an alternative high school. It ends with ideas for how schools can use nature to better support students' healing, while being aware of cultural needs and barriers to access
Lingering Effects of Toxic Leadership on Marines: A Qualitative Study
No full textToxic leadership poses a significant challenge within the U.S. Marine Corps, affecting Marines’ well-being and organizational effectiveness. This study aimed to explore the impact of toxic leadership on Marines assigned to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, focusing on its lingering effects and implications for the unit’s productivity and morale. Grounded in the conceptual framework theory of toxic leadership proposed by Semedo et al. (2022) that integrates key concepts such as toxic leadership, organizational culture, and organizational productivity, the study sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Through the examination of experiences and perceptions of Marines, this research aims to contribute to the body of knowledge on toxic leadership in the U.S. military and inform strategies for its mitigation. A qualitative research approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with Marines who have directly experienced toxic leadership. Findings revealed recurring toxic behaviors, including micromanagement, lack of accountability, and deflection of blame, contributing to diminished trust, morale, and unit cohesion. Marines employed various coping strategies such as avoidance, emotional withdrawal, and informal peer support to navigate these challenges. Recommendations emerging from the findings highlight the need for systematic changes in leader evaluation, mentorship programs, and proactive senior leadership engagement. This study emphasizes the importance of reinforcing core values and ethical leadership practices, ultimately aiming to enhance organizational climate, Marine well-being, and operational effectiveness within the Marine Corp
The Eduneering Initiative
No full textThe Eduneering Initiative
The Eduneering Initiative, a guidebook specifically built to support a 3-course OER-funded program at National University by Dr. Torrence Temple, empowers teachers with tools from neuroscience, storytelling, and AI to reclaim student engagement. It emphasizes immersive, emotionally resonant, and cognitively optimized instruction. Central to the program is the “Omnidoc,” a 24/7 digital hub promoting equity through ubiquitous learning. The Initiative advances teacher ideation without dependency, reshaping educators into designers of transformative, accessible, and culturally responsive learning experiences driven by creatively constructed story-based narratives.
Dr. Torrence Temple (Bio)
Dr. Torrence Temple is a 27-year veteran of the classroom with a noted expertise in creative application of narrative-based learning experiences, like his "Boldly Going" unit (which turned his entire science classroom into the bridge of a starship for 5 days), which won the National Science Teaching Award as the best use of technology integration in the country (2004). His list of experiences is vast and unexpected. He also served as a science consultant for the TV series CSI: NY during season 4. During this time, he took part in the story generation process. Dr. Temple challenged the notion of traditional lesson and unit planning, suggesting that our students have outgrown the traditional models that center their design structures around ease of data collection and not the concepts that students find inherently interesting. Following that notion, Dr. Temple designed the internationally acclaimed STEM chemistry program called AREA154: Apocalypse Division, which tore up the traditional chemistry curriculum and its pacing in favor of staging the content in a way that felt meaningful and immediately impactful. While still finding adherence to NGSS standards, AREA154: Apocalypse Division prioritized the narrative over ease of assessment. The result: Prior to AREA154, the average rate of failure for chemistry was up to 40%. Only two years after implementation, the failure rate dropped to just 9%. Dr. Temple completed his doctoral work attempting to illuminate the reasons why the program was so successful. The results of that research became the foundation for the Eduneering Initiative Guidebook and the 3-course intensive that the guidebook supports. Dr. Temple has expertise in a variety of media technologies; he's built websites, directed and edited science fiction movies, acted in Hollywood, has a blackbelt in Krav Maga, can fly airplanes, has worked for covert programs for the government, and has taken all of these experiences to indulge as a master virtual reality experience designer. In what might be his most daring project yet, in collaboration with IXR (Illuminatexr.com), he is attempting to storify and bring to life one of the most difficult courses, one of the most failed courses, in all of high school. Coming soon, A complete year-long course called Algebra: For All Time. Here, the student takes on the role of the legendary "Mu Zah", the one who heals time in an attempt to secure humanity's destiny. It's online, nearly autonomous, AI-assisted, and driven by interactive virtual reality game elements where the student "plays" with the math. Despite the sophistication of the Algebra program, it is still basically a manifestation of Eduneering Initiative ideas and concepts scaled to its upper limits. Dr. Temple was the recipient of National University's Innovation Award in 2025 for his work in the field of artificial intelligence. He's not just an out-of-the-box designer and thinker, but it's been said that Dr. Temple... has no box at all
Exploring The Use Of Generative Artificial Intelligence To Maximize Doctoral Learning Experiences
No full textThere is a disparity in student knowledge & preparedness, particularly among those in DIS9901A. GenAI holds significant potential to aid student learning when used appropriately. AI can present & interact with key concepts in various mediums, reinforcing understanding & engagement. Despite its promise, limited research exists on the use of GenAI in higher education dissertation research & its potential to enhance student engagement & dissertation development success
Beyond the Bell: Creating Learning-Friendly Environments Through Classroom Management
No full textEffective classroom management is essential because it forms the backbone of any successful learning environment. Without it, even the most innovative lesson plans can fail to land. Classroom management creates the structure students need to feel safe and focused. When your classroom operates on a foundation of clear expectations and consistent routines, you remove distractions and foster stability. This, in turn, allows students to channel their energy toward learning and growth
Perfectionism in Social Anxiety
No full textPerfectionism and social anxiety are deeply intertwined psychological constructs that significantly impact individual well-being. This capstone project explores how perfectionistic tendencies—particularly socially prescribed perfectionism, concern over mistakes, and doubts about action—contribute to the development and maintenance of social anxiety. Through an extensive literature review, this study examines theoretical frameworks such as the multidimensional perfectionism model, the perfectionism social disconnection model, and cognitive-behavioural models of social anxiety. Findings highlight the ways in which perfectionism exacerbates fear of negative evaluation, self-monitoring, avoidance behaviours, and emotional dysregulation in social contexts. Furthermore, the project outlines practical counselling strategies that address perfectionism as a mechanism for alleviating social anxiety symptoms. Evidence-based interventions including cognitive restructuring, social mishap exposures, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and self-compassion-based approaches are explored. This work contributes to counselling psychology by proposing an integrative treatment framework and emphasizing the importance of addressing perfectionism as a clinical issue. The capstone also points to a need for further research on culturally responsive interventions and integrated treatment models tailored to Canadian counselling contexts
The Primacy of Emotions – The Secret Force Behind Intelligence
No full textThis book explores the idea that human beings are feeling beings who think, not thinking beings who feel. Historically, intelligence was framed as a product of rational thought, with emotions viewed as separate or even disruptive to cognitive function. However, modern neuroscience challenges this assumption, demonstrating that emotions precede and shape rational thought, influencing memory, learning, creativity, and decision-making. Antonio Damasio’s somatic marker hypothesis illustrates how emotions act as unconscious guides, helping individuals evaluate choices and assess risks. Recent studies confirm that emotional states are deeply embedded in cognition, reinforcing the view that intelligence cannot be separated from emotional awareness