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Opioid Addiction and Recovery: Examining Neurobiology, Attachment, and the Survival-Stress Response in Relation to Opioid Addiction
No full textThe severity of the opioid crisis in Vancouver has intensified over the last 10 years with increasing numbers of overdose-related deaths. Among people living with opioid use disorder, a disproportionate number are also living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and have high rates of adverse childhood experiences compared to the general population. This paper will explore how attachment experiences, trauma, the survival-stress response and nervous system dysregulation intersects with the use of exogenous opioids to provide a conceptual understanding of opioid use disorder and to give context to the functional use of opioids. The probability of developing patterns of addiction is directly impacted by the experiences of and need for safety and attachment. Attachment exchanges, in which a caregiver is responsive and attuned to infant/child develops the child's implicit sense of self and is the first step in developing their capacity for self-regulation. The experience of responsiveness, safety, and attunement by the caregiver primes the infant for optimal development, a felt sense of safety and worthiness, flexibility in the nervous system, and a greater capacity for social connection later in life. The opposite occurs when there is a lack of responsiveness, attunement and safety; the infant/child is primed to respond to an unsafe or unresponsive environment and forms adaptations to cope with a suboptimal environment. Early attachment exchanges directly impact the body's survival-stress response, the capacity for self-regulation, social connectedness, and the endogenous opioid system. Understanding how opioids interact with the body's survival and social attachment systems and the relevant neurobiology can inform therapeutic interventions used in substance use recovery programs
Effectual Since Time Immemorial Lesson Integration in Social Studies Curriculum
No full textThis classroom action research project was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the new social studies curriculum being piloted in a local school district. The participants were a 4th grade classroom of 26 students. The problem under investigation was whether the new curriculum and suggested supplements were adequate to give students an effective education in Since Time Immemorial curriculum. The new curriculum was applied using online materials and delivered via slideshows, worksheets, and an end of unit project. At the end of the study, students were able to successfully identify that tribal nations have been present in this state Since Time Immemorial and continue to thrive today. Regardless of various challenges faced by the classroom teacher in terms of an overwhelming presence of materials and no clear method in application of curricula, the study yielded positive results
Improving Workplace Mental Health with Psychoeducation-based Manager Training
No full textResearch shows that working aged individuals are statistically more forthcoming with regard to their mental health within the last decade. Unfortunately, the same research also highlights the gap in addressing mental wellbeing in the workplace. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the conversation of mental health has taken a permanent place in the media, especially among the millennial and Z generations. With these age groups making up the bulk of our workforce in the decades to follow, it is imperative that businesses and organizations follow suit to remain relevant and desirable employment opportunities. Through manager trainings that are delivered in person, grounded in connection, and focused on psychoeducation, we can reduce stigma surrounding mental health through vulnerable and courageous leadership and increase communication and wellbeing across businesses and organizations
The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Interventions and Companion Animals for Youth
No full textThis research project reviews the health benefits of companion pets and animal-assisted interventions when supporting the youth population. A discussion on adolescence and the evolution of the human-animal bond will be provided, and an extensive analysis of the physical, psychological, and psychosocial benefits based on recent literature will be shared. The limitations of companion animals and animal-assisted interventions will be examined, and recommendations for future application of a therapeutic setting for youth will be discussed
Unraveling the Thin Ideal: Examining the Intersection of Sociocultural Fatphobia, Diet Culture, and their Impact on Women's Vulnerability to Eating Disorders
No full textThis capstone project investigates the impact of sociocultural perspectives on thinness, body image concerns, eating disorder development, and the glorification of the thin ideal in women. It delves into Western culture's values of thinness and fatphobia, which contribute to disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and size-related stigma in women. The research also aims to understand how these factors contribute to eating disorders and weight stigma inside and outside the counselling room. Western society emphasizes youth and thinness, affecting various aspects of individuals' lives. It reinforces the idea that women's body shape and size directly correlate with their societal worth, leading to the belief that altering their bodies can enhance their intrinsic value and life satisfaction. This pressure leads to women internalizing negative views about their bodies, causing distress and an obsession with conforming to beauty ideals promoted by consumerism and media. Furthermore, the project explores how body size and shape become cultural identities, subjected to stereotypes and discrimination comparable to race, socioeconomic status, and gender. Understanding Western beauty ideals and their influence on diet culture and persistent dissatisfaction with one's appearance is crucial to this exploration. By addressing these issues, this research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of sociocultural factors impacting body image, eating disorders, and the glorification of thinness in women. Its findings can inform society and propose preventive measures to mitigate the negative effects of these sociocultural influences, fostering a healthier, more inclusive environment that promotes positive body image and well-being for all
The Double-Edged Sword of Duality: An Exploration into the Identity Processes for Asian-white Biracial Individuals and the Impact on Self-Conceptualization
No full textAsian-white biracial individuals are one of the fastest-growing racial groups in North America. Biracial individuals have distinct experiences that influence their racial identity, self-appraisal, and subsequently their mental health. Biracial populations have commonly been treated as a homogenous group in psychological literature. It is insufficient to assume that biracial populations are racialized in the same ways, and that self-conceptualization develops similarly. Asian-white biracial individuals face unique identity processes that impact their self-appraisal and mental health. This paper explores the various forms of identity invalidation that Asian-white biracial individuals face and investigates how these invalidation experiences affect self-conceptualization and mental health outcomes. Systemic invalidation, social group membership denial, microaggressions, and identity fluidity are all examined in relation to self-conceptualization. A discussion on cultural humility, multicultural competency, and anti-oppressive approaches in the therapeutic space follows in response to the research themes. This capstone concludes with a proposed resource that builds upon the analysis of the research using a systems and anti-oppressive lens. The resource is a questionnaire for practitioners to utilize in their care for Asian-white biracial clients in therapeutic contexts
