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Existential Anxiety and Young People
Get PDFExistential anxiety (EA) is a non-pathological anxiety which results from the confrontation of one's own mortality and its subsequent experiences of death, isolation, identity, freedom, and meaninglessness (Koole et al., 2006; Reed et al., 2021; van Bruggen et al., 2015). EA is an experience which young people seem to have relatively acutely, which can have negative impacts upon their lives. The question guiding this research project has been "What does the literature currently show about young people experiencing existential anxiety?" A narrative literature review was conducted which synthesized nine themes as findings. Additionally, a methodological critique and discussion of ethics of 10 key studies was conducted. This review used the framework of Existential-Integrative Theory. Young people who are confronted with their mortality seem to experience a general discomfort, fear, and questioning about their lives. EA could cause difficulties for young people in understanding others, to make themselves understood, and could struggle to maintain and develop relationships, potentially causing physical isolation and loneliness. EA may cause challenges with identity, self-esteem, and making choices about their futures and identities. EA may also be a source of exhaustion and mood difficulties. It is recommended that counsellors utilize an Existential-Integrative approach to understanding how young people experience EA. Further research needs to be conducted to better understand how EA affects young people and how best to cope with EA experiences. A number of recommendations are provided for clinical applications and future research
Counselling Gay South Asian Canadian Men: An Integrative Approach of Cultural Humility, Intersectionality, and Social Justice-Oriented Practice
No full textThe South Asian diaspora makes up the largest visible minority group in Canada, but this ethnic identity as well as the intersections within are poorly understood in academic literature and research. There is particularly a dearth of research on the intersection of South Asian identity and gay male identity. What is known from current research is that both identities have poorer mental health outcomes than the dominant group. Although professional organizations, such as the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), call on counsellors to practice from a stance of cultural humility and social justice, to attend to the increasing diversity of the Canadian demographic, there is a notable lack of resources to support practitioners. This paper outlines recommendations for practice by outlining a framework that integrates cultural competence, cultural humility, intersectionality, and social justice practice and then applying that framework to the population of gay South Asian Canadian men
The Mental Health Impact of Infertility in Females
Get PDFAcross the globe roughly one out of six people will be diagnosed with infertility, defined as difficulties in conceiving a child. This capstone will explore the mental health impact of female infertility, exemplifying that female infertility is linked to the following negative mental health outcomes, depression, suicide, anxiety, stress and grief and loss. Despite these results, the research was not without its limitations such as a lack of consistent definition of infertility, the exclusion of a major population of females, females with pre-existing medical problems that make it difficult to conceive a child, despite not trying to get pregnant, and the research was limited by their sample techniques in a multitude of ways. Considering these limitations, there are a variety of implications for researchers, doctors and counsellors. Researchers should create a new universal definition of infertility, adapt or create a new conceptualization of infertility that includes females with pre-existing medical problems, and prioritize new research that incorporates a more diverse and inclusive population. For doctors, they should increase their fertility support for females with pre-existing medical problems, as well as reflect on how their chosen definition of infertility may exclude certain females struggling with infertility. For counsellors implications range from incorporating a feminist and narrative lens, prioritizing the exploration of the negative mental health outcomes linked to this condition, to exploring biases and assumptions around infertility
Mental Health Supports for Postsecondary Students: What Students Need and What Institutions Provide
No full textThis thematic literature review analysis indicates that postsecondary institutions can align their mental health services more effectively with student needs by gathering post secondary student feedback. For example, student feedback indicates that students need psychoeducation in coping mechanisms and peer-support groups in mental health topics in addition to access to counselling services to enhance mental wellbeing. Post secondary students need more psychoeducation, starting in high school, to prepare themselves for postsecondary mental health challenges. Also, lowering stigma and improving mental health attitudes on campus can lower barriers for seeking help. Students also need more trust in the quality of mental health services along with advertising the services and shortening wait times. Also, a new young adult psychopathology model was found that institutions are not aware of yet showing that students who have had Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) tend to have higher mental health symptomatology and experiences of discrimination leading to increased risk of poor academic success and poor mental health. The findings also indicate that postsecondary studies worsen student mental health, specifically with substance abuse, sleep problems, stress, anxiety, and depression. Students prefer asking for help from within their close circles, thus educators need more preparation, especially in trauma-informed approaches. Minoritized students struggle more, especially when they have experienced adversity, and they can benefit from targeted mental health peer support and services. Furthermore, institutions are not aware that students welcome more social activities, and other than direct mental health counselling to enhance well-being and social connections, such as organized peer groups and activities such exercise and animal-assisted wellness programs. And finally, as grit and self-determination enhance student well-being and academic success, there is a need for skill-development in these areas
Exploring the Integration of Play Therapy Techniques and Modalities in Relationship Counselling: Intersections, Crossovers, and Outcomes
No full textThis paper is an exploration of the convergence of play therapy and relationship counselling techniques and how this leads to further understanding and reduced biases in the field of mental health. These explorations and the insights arising from them are derived from various sources examining the application of both therapeutic approaches and their intended outcomes. This will extend to looking at how these two approaches may converge when integrated directly or within similar methodologies (like experiential therapy in relationship counselling). The context of play, connection, and relationship in therapeutic practices is explored from historical to current contexts while also considering intersectional influences and diversity of clients receiving therapeutic services. This paper proposes recommendations for further research and practical applications of an integrated therapeutic approach while critically examining potential biases in the research and from the researcher and readers. Overall, the work presented aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge, providing a foundation for further research and offering opportunities for researchers and practitioners to analyse and draw meaningful conclusions in this ever-evolving field
Calling in the Patriarch: Applying the Male Sensitive Lens to Relationship Counselling
No full textMale-sensitive psychotherapy offers therapists a means to engage in therapy with traditionally masculine male clients through interventions that challenge patriarchal male gender socialization, but also allow men to be more comfortable and less resistant in therapy. Though research finds that a main reason for termination of relationship counselling in heterosexual couples is the male client’s discomfort with therapy or dissatisfaction with the therapeutic alliance, little research has been conducted attempting to turn the Male-Sensitive lens towards couples' counselling. This capstone project surveys the literature surrounding male-sensitive psychotherapy, explores frequently used relationship counselling modalities and provides analysis detailing how practitioners using male-sensitive couples therapy, emotionally focused couples therapy, socio-emotional relationship therapy and Gottman’s sound relationship house can integrate male-Sensitive principles and interventions into couples work
Coming Alongside St. Anthony in the Desert: How Mental Health Practitioners can Best Support Individuals Experiencing Psychosis with Religious and Spiritual Themes
No full textReligious and/or spiritual (R-S) beliefs and practices are often highly important in the lives of those experiencing psychosis. Often, individuals with psychosis will utilize aspects of their R-S beliefs and practices to cope with distressing aspects of their illness, and at the same time, the hallucinations and delusions that accompany psychosis often contain R-S themes. Despite the potential benefits of engaging with R-S beliefs and practices, a lack of R-S competency among mental health practitioners can seriously hinder appropriate assessment and treatment planning. This paper offers practical guidelines for mental health practitioners to effectively support these individuals, recognizing the significance of R-S beliefs and practices in their experiences and recovery
Decolonizing Japanese Canadian Trauma Healing: A Land-based Model for Counsellors
No full textThe aftermath of the incarceration of and colonial and racial harm to Japanese Canadians in 1942 is wounding, generations later. This paper will offer ways to address intergenerational trauma in the Japanese Canadian community from a counselling field perspective using a liberation psychotherapy approach, community conversations, and autoethnobiographical story. A main assumption of this paper is that the ongoing harms of colonialism and colonial approaches to therapy is doing a disservice to the practice of therapy with racialized populations (immigrant, diasporic, mixed-race) and its practitioners. Furthermore, decolonizing a practitioner’s approach to therapy is imperative to work alongside those who experience colonial and racial trauma. This paper also emphasizes how Land-based healing is central to countering the impacts of racial and colonial trauma, spotlighting the work alongside the pre-WWII immigrant-settler identities of Japanese Canadians
The Effect of Filial Piety on Complex Grief
No full textThis capstone project aims to provide the reader with a greater understanding of some of the unique mental health challenges affecting East Asian Immigrants (EAI). In particular, it aims to analyze the role of filial piety in causing and exacerbating complex grief. In exploring the relationship between filial piety and complex grief, this capstone will discuss traditional Chinese beliefs on filial piety, including elder caretaking and end of life rituals. This capstone will also examine current research and understandings of complicated grief as well as barriers resulting from immigration. Finally, this capstone will conclude with a set of recommendations designed to reduce risk of complicated grief for clinicians to utilize when working with EAI
A Phenomenological Perspective on Shakespeare's Dark Lady Sonnets
Get PDFShakespeare's Sonnets 127 to 152, also referred to as the “Dark Lady Sonnets,” explores a complex love interest characterized by descriptions of obsession, lust, and infidelity between the speaker and the Dark Lady. Applying a phenomenological perspective to the “Dark Lady Sonnets” can serve to interpret the intersectionality between the experiences of the characters, the author, and the audience. However, the ambiguity surrounding the Dark Lady allows for an even broader range of interpretations based on the perceived identity of the character. Therefore, a phenomenological analysis of Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady Sonnets,” differentiated by the potential identities of the characters, will provide insight into the intricate and varied interpretation of the sonnets