National University System Repository
Not a member yet
5119 research outputs found
Sort by
Father-Daughter Attachment: The Evolving Understanding of Fatherhood and Its Relevance in Raising Daughters
No full textParenting today can be a stressful endeavour, yet the literature has demonstrated limited expansion of our understanding of the importance of fatherhood. Gender-specific insights have begun to distinguish specific outcomes for parents and children that support an evolving understanding of the implications of fathering daughters. This paper, therefore, relies on a literature review to answer the question, "What are the implications of our evolving understanding of fatherhood for raising daughters?" This research paper evaluated recent literature and identified an historically negative perception and neglectful social attitude toward the significance of fathers. Through the lens of attachment theory, the researcher found that prioritising healthy and secure father-daughter attachment patterning enhances the social benefits to individuals and families. In addition is the need for better-informed support for future and established fathers to improve the mental health of fathers. Overall, this literature review illuminates our understanding of fatherhood and masculinity as it pertains to raising daughters within an attachment perspective. Equipped with this knowledge, clinicians can promote gender equality in parenting outcomes by advocating for policy changes such as guaranteed and dedicated paternal leave that supplements current maternal and parental leave structures and accommodates flexible work arrangements for fathers. Promoting engaged fatherhood and parenting equality is shown to be especially impactful in marginalised families. Recommended clinical supports include exploration through an attachment lens of abandonment wounds and insecurities while promoting secure relationship patterns for fathers and daughters. A framework for an attachment-focused group support for fathers and daughters is also offered
Continuation of Living: Maintaining Dignity and Quality of Life within the Process of Aging
No full textDignity and quality of life are often regarded as fundamental aspects of human rights. Both are seen to be indicators of what it means to be a human being. Yet, these factors are often overlooked as human beings go through the process of aging and particularly for older adults who rely on caregivers and healthcare system for all aspects of their needs. My capstone project explores the challenges and changes that older adults experience as they age and how the dignity and quality of life become secondary as they go through those challenges and changes. My capstone project offers perspectives from humanistic and person-centered approaches, particularly narrative and dignity therapy, which aims to maintain dignity and quality of life. The final chapter of my capstone will offer a community workshop that aims to inform, educate, and collaborate with community members in supporting and empowering older adults in their lives
Influence of Family Dynamics and Culture on Self-Esteem of Individuals with Depression and Anxiety
Get PDFThe current study examines the role culture and familial structure play in one’s self perception and self-esteem, which in turn influences mental health. Self-esteem is a crucial component of one's identity; it allows one to perceive oneself negatively or positively within oneself and a group of people. As it is understood, self-esteem can be influenced by many factors, such as familial environment, parent-child relationships, and, in some cases, sibling relations. Negative adverse effects - neglect, abuse, poor parent-child, sibling, and family relations - play a role in lower self-esteem and mental health issues. Thus, positive parent-child relations, supportive sibling relations, and a safe and functional familial system lead to higher
self-esteem and better mental health. Past research has understood how self-perception influences self-esteem, built in early childhood, and how certain experiences can affect self esteem. This research paper takes the Cognitive Behaviour Theory perspective into account to explore further and understand how various negative adverse experiences can affect one's self esteem and cause depression and anxiety in individuals within familial and cultural contexts. This paper critically analyses the methodological approach by examining ten studies in depth and including other literature exploring the effects of adverse environments on self-esteem and mental health. The current paper also explores past studies, in which one of the significant findings was the lack of a cultural component in understanding the influences of self-esteem. It was also found that familial and cultural expectation play a role in one' self-esteem and mental health. Other findings regarding the applicability of the study findings in clinical settings -given
the ethical and diverse conditions of individuals who approach therapy- are also discussed
Fostering Prosocial Behaviour: The Role of School Counsellors in Enhancing a Positive School Climate
No full textThis capstone explored concerns regarding student disengagement and behavioural challenges, often amplified by cultural marginalization, socioeconomic disparities, and family adversity. The study delved into the work of developmental psychologists Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby, and examined how early relationships influence a child's attachment style within an educational framework. Moreover, the research explored students' development through the perspective of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, which illuminated the impact of various environments on their growth. Understanding underlying causes of negative behaviours, educators and counsellors can work towards creating a more positive school environment. Research indicated that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may result in various emotional challenges. Conversely, positive social support was crucial in building protective factors for at-risk students, fostering healthier relationships, and nurturing a prosocial school climate. To mitigate the impact of harsh parenting, reinforcing positive behaviours through choice, indirect commands, and positive reinforcement proved indispensable, necessitating collaboration between school counsellors, educators, administrators, and caregivers. The capstone demonstrated that to properly support students who struggle with ACEs, abuse, or trauma, a school counsellor has to foster trust with the student and collaborate with administrators, school staff, and parents; provide professional development on trauma, self-regulation, and executive function for school staff; create a welcoming, inclusive school environment; and establish partnerships with parenting programs to provide referrals as needed
Movement Opportunities in Elementary to Increase Academic Focus
No full textThis is an issue-focused design-based study using action research to propose a design specific for the learning context of the researcher. The study focused on providing movement opportunities in elementary classrooms to increase student focus. Through an analysis of the dilemma and a review of the literature, the researcher proposes to increase the number of minutes elementary students participate in movement in the classroom. The desired outcome is to provide educators with opportunities for their students to explore that fit their individual classroom schedule, and for educators to see an increased focus on academic tasks that take place within the classroom setting
Improving and Integrating Therapeutic Supports for Children Living in Residential Care
No full textThe purpose of this capstone research is to understand how therapeutic interventions can be strengthened within therapeutic residential care. Children living in therapeutic residential facilities often experience significant mental health and behavioural challenges. Two forms of evidence-based treatment within therapeutic residential settings are program models, which encompass the entire life space of the child (e.g., physical environment, staff, peers, education, recreation), and client-specific therapies (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, etc.). The literature review explored the current evidence base for program models and client-specific therapies in residential care settings. The findings from the literature review reflect that both program models and client-specific therapies are effective in producing positive outcomes for children and youth. However, many of the studies that support the evidence base for residential care treatments lack rigour and quality. This research also identified the methodological implications of the current evidence base and makes recommendations for both future research and clinical practice. The recommendations derived from the findings of the literature review include: 1) the use of trans-diagnostic group therapy in therapeutic residential care settings; 2) including residential care staff in supporting therapeutic interventions where appropriate; 3) implementing standardized intake and outcome measures in care settings; and 4) integrating positive gains made during therapy into the broader milieu environment
Exploring the Connection: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Substance Use Disordrs in Young Adults
No full textThere is a significant connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the development of substance use disorder (SUDs) in young adulthood. Exploring this association is relevant because it aids in the understanding of correlating factors, informs the development of effective interventions, and supports the creation of constructive prevention strategies. The principal objective of this capstone is to offer a comprehensive understanding of the connection between ACEs and SUDs, while empowering young adults to confront challenges, develop resilience, foster hope, and lessen the lasting impacts of ACEs. Furthermore, this capstone presents current research findings and examines the diverse risk and protective factors that may be present in this population. This paper concludes with an infographic primer intended for registered clinical counsellors (RCCs) who may have an interest in working with addiction populations but lack foundational knowledge and uncertainties about how to proceed. The primer includes definitions, recent statistics, valuable local resources, and recommendations for therapeutic interventions
Watching Someone You Love Die: An Integrative Approach For Adolescents Dealing With The Traumatic Impact of Parental Life-Limiting Illness
No full textFacing the death of a parent is inevitable during one's lifetime. Research has primarily focused on grief and bereavement in older adults, leaving the voices of adolescents underrepresented in research studies. One of the main factors for this is tied to social and cultural conditioning. Death has typically been a forbidden topic of discussion in Western cultures and is especially considered a taboo subject for youth. Therefore, the focus of interest and study has been placed on the ill and dying parent, leaving young people's experiences out of the conversation. Adolescents have unique vulnerabilities to traumatic stressors due to age and emotional maturity and their voices need to be considered in research about bereavement. This capstone aims to better inform counselling practitioners on how to support young people ages 13 – 18 in bereavement. This capstone will discuss the benefits of using an integrative approach for adolescents including the application of continuing bonds and meaning reconstruction theory. Chapter three will conclude with a proposed bereavement group using a combination of expressive arts therapy, narrative storytelling, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). May we all become more grief literate to better support our youth in their mourning
Enhancing Therapeutic Outcomes: Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy and Insecure Attachment
No full textThis capstone project critically examines how Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy (ABCT) can address insecure attachment through a comprehensive review of attachment theory (specifically insecure attachment) and the intersections between psychological well-being (PWB) and self-compassion in adulthood. Understanding insecure attachment is crucial for therapists, as it impacts therapeutic outcomes, and because of its profound impact on PWB, interpersonal relationships, and its role in the intergenerational transmission of attachment patterns (Verhage et al., 2016). ABCT was developed to address the gap in compassion-based interventions (CBIs) by considering the specific cultural needs of the Spanish population (García-Campayo et al., 2016). The connection between insecure attachment and psychopathology is analyzed, and suggestions for therapists to consider when adapting the ABCT self-applied manual are made. The development and mechanisms of the ABCT protocol and self-applied manual are explored and analyzed, with a critical examination of the empirical studies on the ABCT protocol. Gaps in the existing research and opportunities for further research are highlighted, including the need for more empirical studies on ABCT and cultural considerations in therapy. Furthermore, recommendations for counselling practice emphasize the importance of a trauma-informed approach when utilizing ABCT in individual therapy. The capstone project concludes with recommendations for therapist training and reflexivity to enhance the effectiveness of ABCT in clinical settings
Enhancing Social and Emotional Skills in Primary Students through Integrated Social-Emotional Literature
No full textThis capstone paper investigates the impact of integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) literature in elementary classrooms on the development of student's social and emotional wellness. In recognizing the critical role of social-emotional learning in early education, this capstone aims to determine whether exposure to literature that emphasizes empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills, can positively influence young learners thus transforming educational environments and setting up students for future success. Through a review of existing literature and research, the findings suggest that incorporating social-emotional literature significantly enhances students' abilities to understand and manage emotions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible and respectful decisions. This paper highlights the benefits of incorporating SEL-focused literature into daily curricula, fostering a supportive and emotionally intelligent classroom environment. Implications for educators and counsellors include strategies for effectively integrating such literature into daily teaching practices to promote holistic student development. This paper contributes to the growing body of evidence that supports the inclusion of SEL in early education curricula and highlights the importance of addressing academic and emotional growth in primary educational settings. As a significant part of this capstone, I have written and included an analysis of a social-emotional-themed children’s book designed to highlight the importance of identifying emotions and providing support for children in this area. This book serves as a practical tool for teachers and counsellors, offering a resource to facilitate discussions about emotions and promote emotional literacy in elementary classrooms