Psy. D., Antioch University, 2025, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

The present study explored the lived experiences of Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) older adults when receiving primary care. The methodology utilized for this study was Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three participants completed individual, semi-structured interviews. The themes that emerged included “Lack of Accessibility to Services,” “Need for Self-Advocacy,” and “Value of Affirming Care from Providers.” These results illustrated the multifarious needs that arise for TGD older adults when accessing primary care. The findings provided recommendations for healthcare organizations, primary care physicians, and other healthcare professionals. Specifically, the recommendations emphasized two key practices for physicians treating TGD older adults: (1) building relationships and (2) adapting to their healthcare needs. The importance of qualitative inquiry was central to the study, aiming to uplift the voices of TGD older adults and highlight their lived experiences when navigating primary care. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, 2025, College of Arts and Sciences

The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of a self-report scale for the screening of bipolar disorder (BD) and its related subtypes. This new scale, named the Bipolar Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire (BMDQ), emphasized the symptoms of bipolar disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V). Given that many people with BD go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, a tool to supplement the diagnostic process is considered imperative. Though self-report measures to screen for these disorders exist, they are not without limitations. The BMDQ was developed with the intent of addressing those limitations and providing clinicians and researchers with a new tool for assessing the dimensions of BD, thus improving the care and treatment of this population.

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2025, Psychology

Late childhood and early adolescence are vulnerable developmental periods with regard to mental health with half of mental health disorders emerging by age 14 (Kessler, 2005). Positive psychology interventions have been found to benefit not only typically developing children but also children at-risk for or exhibiting psychological disorders (Owens & Waters, 2020). This study aimed to determine if a positive psychology intervention focused on gratitude (a gratitude journal) was associated with improvements in aspects of well-being among a youth clinical sample in a residential setting. Participants (n = 25) were youth between the ages of 10 and 15 (MAge = 12.76; 48% female) in a residential treatment center. Participants completed questionnaires measuring positive affect, negative affect, optimism, pessimism, and gratitude at three points (e.g., pretest, posttest, and follow-up). After pretest measures, participants completed a weeklong gratitude intervention in which they completed journal entries about what they were grateful for that day. There were no significant findings from the main analyses, suggesting that the gratitude intervention was not associated with improvements on measures of well-being. There were significant findings from the exploratory analyses suggesting that older participants demonstrated better long-term outcomes with regard to negative affect, while participants who completed more journal entries reported less improvement in gratitude at follow-up. There was a complex relationship between positive and negative affect across the study period. Future studies should further examine issues of developmental fit, delivery, and dosage of positive psychology interventions for youth in residential care.

Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, 2025, Translational Health

Background: Functional overreaches in training are required for an athlete to improve fitness. Overreaching without adequate recovery can lead to overtraining syndrome (OTS), accompanied by increased risk for injuries and illness. There are many varying theories as to the etiology of OTS, and there still lacks an objective diagnostic tool for OTS. Previous research has found that mood disturbance is one of the first signs of OTS. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire has shown promise in literature as a practical assessment tool of stress and mood disturbance in athletes. Purpose: This study used the POMS questionnaire to assess mood state in collegiate cross country athletes and assess the incidence of overtraining manifestations during the competitive season to see if these variables are correlated. This study also gathered a cross-sectional profile of mood state of collegiate cross country athletes. Methods: 15 collegiate cross country athletes participated in a 2-phase study during the Fall 2024 NCAA cross country season. In phase 1, athletes reported their total mood disturbance (TMD) via the Profile of Mood States questionnaire at the midpoint of the competition season. The POMS also provided scores for 7 subscales: anger, tension, vigor, confusion, emotion-related affect, depression, and fatigue. In the week of the national championship, a follow-up survey asked if athletes experienced any running injuries or illnesses during the period since phase 1. Results: Participants (n = 15) had a mean Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) score of 51.5±15.5. Males had a mean TMD score of 50.8 ±14.1, while females had a slightly higher mean of 52.0±17.1, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.776). Underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) reported the highest mean TMD score (55.9±17.6), followed by graduate students (54.3±17.6) and upperclassmen (juniors and seniors; 43.8±10.1). This difference w (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2025, Antioch New England: Marriage and Family Therapy

This research explored how marriage and family therapy graduate programs awaken, develop, and teach clinical intuition. Using criterion-based sampling and snowball sampling, six licensed marriage and family therapists participated in a two-step hermeneutic phenomenological study consisting of individual semistructured interviews and a follow-up focus group. Requirements for participation were licensed marriage and family therapists who were in clinical practice, had experienced the phenomenon of clinical intuition and awakening of clinical intuition, and used clinical intuition in therapy with clients and in systemic supervision with supervisees. The research findings highlighted 14 themes: Reflection of the Experience of Clinical Intuition; Bodily Knowing, Sensing, and Self-Trust; Maturity, Wisdom, and Critical Consciousness; Integration of Theory; Relational Attunement and Connection; the Process of Supervision; Supervisors Use of Self/Parallel Process/Isomorphism; Paradigm Shift; Decolonizing Therapy, Awakening Critical Consciousness, and Attuning to Sociopolitical Factors in Relationships; Challenges; Awareness of Intuition Being Influenced by the Dominate Discourse; the Role Gender Plays; Teaching Intuition Falls Under Teaching Self of the Therapist; Clinical Intuition Is Relational, each of which support and foster the awakening, development, and teaching of clinical intuition in marriage and family therapy graduate programs. Future recommendations consist of creating a critically conscious curriculum to train supervisors how to awaken, develop, and teach clinical intuition to supervisees, and creating a conceptual framework for marriage and family therapy programs to incorporate awakening, developing, and teaching clinical intuition in their graduate programs. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2025, English

By employing the psychological theories and models of Dan P. McAdams and Marsha M. Linehan, this thesis approaches Gillian Flynn's depiction of narrator Camille Preaker's nonsuicidal self-injury in her 2006 novel Sharp Objects. Three chapters, structured according to Linehan's dialectical model as used in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), examine the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis of Camille's self-cutting. By attending to the elements of language Flynn depicts in Camille's behavior, this project aims to recognize the narrative significance of her self-injury according to McAdams' narrative identity theory. Ultimately, this reading of Flynn's novel prompts re-evaluation of how we read self-injury from fiction into individuals' real life stories.

MA, Kent State University, 2025, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Despite its modifiable risk factors, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading global cause of death. Several modifiable risk factors also account for the risk of CVD and the development of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH). Recognizing that poor CVH progresses to CVD, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute issued a Notice of Special Interest calling for initiatives promoting CVH early in the life course. Ideal CVH can be measured through Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics: nicotine exposure, dietary quality, physical activity, sleep, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose. The current study aimed to evaluate ideal CVH in young Black and White men and women by comparing two large national datasets. Given that Black women are at a higher risk of CVD than any other demographic group, we examined differences in race and sex in LE8 scores and individual metrics. We hypothesized that White young adults would have higher LE8 scores than Black young adults. We also hypothesized that Black women would have worse total scores than White women. We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) pre-pandemic dataset to assess LE8 Total scores and used the Young Adult Health Survey (YAHS) dataset to assess self-reported scores for five of the LE8 metrics (LE5). We also evaluated the internal consistency of LE8, the four health factors, and four health behaviors. A total of 1,168 respondents from NHANES and 380 respondents from YAHS were included in analyses. Results from NHANES indicated better LE8 total scores for White participants compared to Black participants, F(1, 25) = 4.83, p = .037. White women had significantly better blood pressure, glucose, BMI, physical activity, sleep, diet, and LE8 total scores compared to Black women. Results from YAHS indicated better LE5 total scores for Black participants compared to White participants, F(1, 376) = 8.28, p = .004, and better scores for men compared to women F(1, 376) = 7. (open full item for complete abstract)

MA, Kent State University, 2025, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

Background: Cannabis is a commonly used recreational drug with several empirically supported medical benefits. However, the literature is mixed regarding the effectiveness of cannabis in reducing symptoms of physical pain. Mental health, and specifically depressive symptoms has been posited to be a potentially important moderator of the relationship between cannabis and pain and may help explain the mixed findings in the literature. Therefore, the current study aimed to document the relationship between cannabis use and pain and assess whether the magnitude of pain relief from cannabis use was higher in individuals with elevated depressive symptoms. Methods: 76 participants (64.5% female; 80.3% White; 88.2% not Hispanic/Latino; 59.2% completed some college; Mage = 22.19 years (SD = 5.69)) who self-reported using cannabis at least once per week were recruited in northeastern Ohio. Mixed linear modeling was utilized to examine the effect of daily cannabis use and depressive symptoms on pain ratings over a one-week observation period, controlling for baseline pain ratings, baseline depressive symptoms, and cannabis use frequency. Sensitivity analyses included examining hours since last cannabis use on pain ratings. Results: It was found that using cannabis on any given day was associated with lower average pain ratings (B= 0.63, 95%CI [0.13-1.12]). The main effect of depressive symptom level was not associated with pain ratings and did not moderate the relationship between cannabis use and pain. Sensitivity analyses did not reveal an effect of time since last use on pain ratings. Conclusions: We found cannabis use was associated with lower reported pain but did not find that depressive symptoms moderated the relationship between cannabis use and pain. Experimental studies exploring the ideal therapeutic dose for cannabis and controlling for route of administration are needed to further inform this research concerning the subjective effects of cannabis. Research utilizi (open full item for complete abstract)

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2026, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

This study evaluated the predictiveness of the WISC-V, NEPSY-II, CPT-3, and CATA when compared to each other in a sample of 272 children aged 8–16. Archival data was analyzed using binary and multinomial logistic regression models to assess concurrent validity of specific subtests and indexes. Participants were grouped by ADHD subtype (inattentive, combined/hyperactive, or no diagnosis), with gender and executive functioning measures included in the models. Findings indicated that lower Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) and executive functioning scores (e.g., Animal Sorting, Response Set) predicted any ADHD diagnosis compared to the no diagnosis group, whereas higher CATA scores predicted lower Inattentive and Combined/Hyperactive ADHD diagnoses. These results support using NEPSY-II, CATA, and CPT-3 for targeted, efficient ADHD assessments over traditional tools like the WISC-V. Streamlining batteries could improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce testing time, and enhance accessibility, particularly for underserved populations.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2025, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

Musculoskeletal injuries and recovery from them play a vital role in both the physical and psychological wellbeing of the public. Existing research has been conducted primarily within the athlete population with rehabilitation from these injuries having a profound impact on the physical and mental health. One of the most frequent psychological responses related to sports injuries is a trauma response, which has been shown to hinder the rehabilitation process and to increase the likelihood for reinjury upon return to play. Embedded within the many inputs to trauma responses to these injuries are psychological distress reactions, in particular fear connected to concern about reinjury. Few techniques utilized to assist athletes specifically address the fear of reinjury response—the most common distress response. Researchers have found that addressing the psychological aspects potentially shortens the required amount of recovery time and increases performance upon returning to play. The current study is a systematic review of psychological techniques used during the rehabilitation phase, exploring those that have been shown to be effective and of applicable and specific use in addressing the fear of reinjury component. Following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), data from 14 studies was assessed for quality using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria. In this review, the mean MINORS assessment score for non-comparative studies was 9 out of 16, and 19 out of 24 for comparative studies. Results showed that imagery, goal setting, and social support were three of the most widely-utilized psychological techniques during the rehabilitation phase from musculoskeletal injuries. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2025, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

While pregnancy during adolescence is declining, research on the topic continues, particularly regarding: the reasons teenagers become pregnant and choose parenthood; their experiences as teen parents; and near-term outcomes for themselves and their children. The focus of this dissertation has received little study: how the experience of having been a birthing parent in adolescence continues to affect the personal experiences of individuals in midlife, if it does at all. Eight individuals between the ages of 30 and 43 who gave birth as teens were interviewed, and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to identify how they interpreted and made meaning of their experiences. Nine themes emerged from the data regarding teen birthing parents: the necessity to mature early can lead to positive outcomes; parents and their children may carry labels; parents fall out of sync with their age-peers; shame and distress can lead to disconnection, sometimes followed by healing and rebuilding of connections; biological fathers continue to have an impact on the lives of parents through their children; immediate responses by the parents of teens to the pregnancy can have a lasting impact; parents may develop narrowed and pragmatic approaches to achieving their goals; parents may develop exceptionally close bonds with their children; family stressors can contribute to teen pregnancy, and pregnancy can in turn contribute to family stress. Contextual factors and outside stressors, such as adverse childhood events, race, religion, and socioeconomic status, were found to have affected participants' experiences, both in becoming pregnant and in their lives moving forward. Although teen pregnancy is not a medically defined trauma, participants reported feeling traumatized, and also reported feelings, cognitions, and actions that suggest posttraumatic growth. Therapists may benefit clients who were teen parents, or their children, by providing trauma-informed care and assist (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2025, Psychology

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often co-occurs with anxiety disorders (Hollocks et al., 2019) and understanding the co-occurrence can lead to improved support for autistic individuals. Cognitive rigidity and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) have potential connections to ASD and anxiety (Rodgers & Ofield, 2018), and South and Rodgers (2017) published a model linking cognitive rigidity, IU, and other factors that could maintain anxiety in ASD. The current study tested a pathway from South and Rodgers' model connecting cognitive rigidity, IU, and anxiety in autistic college students and a comparison group of neurotypical college students. A multiple regression model was used to test if IU mediated the relationship between cognitive rigidity and anxiety in both samples. Mediation was not supported in the ASD group, however, mediation was supported in the neurotypical group. Additionally, exploratory analyses did not support situation-specific IU mediating cognitive rigidity and anxiety in the ASD group or neurotypical group. The current study demonstrates that in a sample of neurotypical college students, IU explains part of the association between cognitive rigidity and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, IU contributed to a larger portion of the association in relation to cognitive symptoms of anxiety compared to physiological symptoms. The results can be used to improve supports for college students who struggle with anxiety. Although significant associations were not found within the ASD group, the current study contributes to the literature regarding cognitive rigidity's contribution to anxiety in autistic individuals.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2025, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), the self-perceived decline in cognitive abilities, is recognized as a preclinical marker for neurocognitive disorders (Jessen et al., 2014). Understanding the contextual factors informing SCD experience remains a research priority in this domain. At-risk older adults have heritable markers associated with dementia. Chronic exposure to embedded ageism burdens allostatic load (AL) and exacerbates epigenetic risk for cognitive decline (Levy, 2022; McEwen, 2020; Miller et al., 2021). The current qualitative study explored how ageism shapes the lived experience of SCD among at-risk older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, all doctoral level clinical practitioners, aged 60 to 79 and analyzed using thematic analysis, guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC). Findings revealed that ageism pervades three ecological domains—intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systemic—¬contributing to emotional distress, behavioral restriction, and reduced healthcare engagement. The present study extends the current literature on this topic by identifying ageism as a socio-cultural determinant of perceived cognitive health, shaping the outcome trajectory. The findings underscore the need to address ageism through clinical interventions and systemic reforms. Such strategies to reduce AL burden, through reduction of stigma and promotion of preventive healthcare engagement, may delay or even prevent onset of dementia among at-risk older adults. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and Ohio LINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2025, Psychology

Family accommodation, which involves family members of anxious children changing their routines, behaviors, and plans in order to reduce the children's anxiety, is a well-established correlate of child anxiety. Accommodation also relates to functional impairment and treatment outcomes for anxious children. There is minimal research on what predicts family accommodation itself. Some research reveals that, in addition to child anxiety, parental anxiety and concerns about their child relate to the use of accommodation. However, this research has primarily assessed maternal factors in isolation from other caregivers. Family systems theory emphasizes the importance of studying the dynamic and interactive nature of the family system in order to understand how individuals and relationships inform one another within it. Thus, in a primarily White, middle-class sample of 113 mother-father parenting dyads and their children, the current study assessed the interaction between maternal and paternal anxiety and concerns in the prediction of maternal family accommodation. Maternal anxiety predicted both maternal concerns and family accommodation. However, maternal concerns did not serve a mechanistic role in the relation between maternal anxiety and accommodation. Further, the relation between maternal anxiety and maternal family accommodation was eliminated when fathers had low levels of concern about their child. Lastly, there was tentative evidence that when fathers have high levels of anxiety, maternal anxiety no longer predicts maternal concerns or family accommodation. These results suggest that intervention and prevention programs for child anxiety would benefit from including both mothers and fathers in child anxiety treatment, and specifically addressing parents' own anxiety and concerns about their children in addition to their accommodating behaviors.

PHD, Kent State University, 2025, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences

The present study sought to describe characteristics of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) among children who completed a feeding evaluation through an outpatient, multidisciplinary feeding clinic and were evaluated by pediatric psychology. This study aimed to identify the proportion of children diagnosed with ARFID, symptom presentations, psychological and neurodevelopmental comorbidities, and weight status among children with ARFID. In addition, the present study examined associations among symptom presentations, psychological and neurodevelopmental comorbidities, child problematic mealtime behaviors, and child body mass index. Children (2-12 years of age) and one parent/legal guardian per child were included in the present study, using archival data. Families completed an initial evaluation for child feeding difficulties within a freestanding children's hospital. Evaluations that did not involve the presence of pediatric psychology were excluded from the study. Child data were retrieved from the electronic medical record, including height/weight, demographic and diagnostic information, and parent-report Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale. Of N = 363 children who completed a feeding evaluation involving pediatric psychology, 289 (79.6%) children were diagnosed with ARFID by psychology. Most children with ARFID (M age = 6.03, SD = 2.52) were White/Caucasian (83.0%) males (73.0%). Fear of aversive consequences was identified in 65.7% of children, lack of interest in 15.2%, and sensory sensitivity in 65.7%. Twenty-seven percent had comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 17.0% attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 12.1% generalized anxiety disorder. Children had underweight (8.0%), healthy weight (64.0%), and overweight/obesity (28.0%). The odds of having ADHD increased by 111% (OR = 2.11, 95% CI [1.0, 4.46]) for children with lack of interest. There was a significant association between ASD and child problematic mealtime be (open full item for complete abstract)

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2025, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of the current research on scrupulosity, a subtype of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors related to religious and moral concerns. The dissertation identifies key similarities and differences from OCD, and directs focus to thematically related yet unsubstantiated theoretical work in psychology that helps elucidate the core features and etiological factors of scrupulosity as differentiated from other OCD subtypes. The study addresses the critical dearth of research on scrupulosity, aiming to fill significant gaps in the literature regarding its historical context, varied presentation and prevalence in different cultural contexts, and potentially effective treatment approaches to address better the needs of a significant number of people worldwide. Beginning with an exploration of historical conceptualizations from the 2nd through the early 21st centuries, the dissertation traces the recognition of scrupulosity and recommendations for treatment across various cultural traditions and major world religions including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity, from both Protestant and Catholic sources, as well as non-religious belief systems. It highlights notable historical figures who exhibited scrupulous behaviors contextualizing them with a modern psychological lens. As the leading theologians of their faiths, they often ironically v advised its treatment from their own experience as the most influential theologians of each of their faiths. These historical writings still have wisdom to impart today. The history of scrupulosity is, in many ways, a history of religion across time and culture, as well as of the birth and first 150 years of psychology itself. Key schools of psychological thought are explored for relevance to developing contemporary evidence-based treatments. Due to few qualitative or quantitative studies on scrupulosity compared t (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2025, Psychology

Although the burden caused by mental illness is reportedly highest in low-and middle- income countries (LMICs), a majority of the scientific literature on the etiology of OCD is based on individuals residing in high-income countries (HICs). The primary objective of this study was to address the inadequate representation of research from LMIC contexts in OCD literature by exploring unwanted intrusive thoughts and OCD among emerging adults in India. First, we used qualitative methods to explore the characteristic features of intrusive thoughts experienced by emerging adults in India. Second, we quantitatively assessed the relation between unwanted intrusive thought misappraisals and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and examined the influence of gender identity, religiosity, and inclusion of others in one's definition of self as possible moderating factors. Based on thematic analysis, we identified 37 codes which were organized into five broader domains: i) content of unwanted intrusive thoughts, ii) understanding of unwanted thoughts, iii) frequency and impairment, iv) coping strategies and help-seeking, v) social support. Regression analyses showed that misappraisals of unwanted intrusive thoughts were a significant predictor of obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. Gender identity, religiosity, or the inclusion of others in one's definition of self did not moderate the relation between unwanted intrusive thoughts and obsessive-compulsive symptoms severity. However, there was a main effect of gender identity on obsessive-compulsive symptoms severity. These results contribute to the overall conceptual understanding of unwanted intrusive thoughts among urban, middle-class emerging adults in India, with implications for clinical practice and future research.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2025, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

Young adults in college experience significant rates of mental health difficulties. The mental wellness of young adults has shown to have a substantial link to future success, health, and well-being. Individuals with marginalized sexual and gender identities (SGM) often hold additional mental health difficulties due to having identities that typically defy society's assumptions and expectations, and these assumptions/expectations are presented to youth from a young age. The distress experienced by SGM individuals can often be relational in nature due to living in and relating to a heteronormative, cisgender society that stigmatizes and oppresses SGM individuals. University Counseling Centers (UCC) typically have limited treatment approaches with stricter time-limitations as compared to other clinical settings. This provides rationale to conduct research on approaches to psychotherapy in UCCs for SGM individuals. Cultural and social contexts are crucial in understanding SGM identities, and therefore, relational cultural therapy (RCT), and its integration of interventions for multiple theories is suggested due to combining relational and cultural factors. However, this dissertation also provides a critical discussion of the use of psychotherapy approaches, regardless of theoretical orientation, in working with SGM individuals who present with distress in UCCs. The intertwining areas of social justice, diversity, intersectionality, and ethics are addressed. This is a policy position paper with reviewing, analyzing, and reporting findings from the existing research on SGM clients engaged in UCCs to provide recommendations to better inform services and American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

Trauma-informed care provides a framework for health care providers to more effectively treat their patients who have a history of trauma (Hamberger et al., 2019). Upon reviewing the literature, there is a paucity of research on trauma-informed care in the dental field. This research performed a needs assessment to determine if trauma-informed care is being implemented into the curriculum at a specific dental school, SUNY Buffalo. This research also inquired about residential dentist and faculty attitudes toward trauma-informed care being implemented in the dental field. Two short, original surveys were administered to residential dentists who recently graduated from the University of Buffalo Dental School and dental faculty members at the University of Buffalo Dental School. Open- and closed-format questions were used, generating recommendations based on the open-ended responses and the descriptive analyses of the closed-format responses. The results suggested that faculty members and recent graduates had positive views toward trauma-informed care, with uniform support for inclusion of trauma-informed care into dental curricula, but with varied recollections of whether it was currently being taught. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education, Cleveland State University, 2024, Levin College of Public Affairs and Education

The current literature regarding the complex experiences of Black students pursuing advanced degrees is insufficient. Moreover, previous research has used a deficit-based lens by focusing on barriers that Black students experience rather than their resiliency and strength. This study utilized a critical phenomenological qualitative methodology to explore the lived experiences of Black doctoral psychology students enrolled in predominately White institutions (PWIs), regarding their encounters with racism and racial trauma. Furthermore, this study was guided by the radical healing framework, which aims to explore how Black students can thrive within racist and oppressive environments, to explore potential healing from various racialized harms. A sample of 12 doctoral students [female (n=7), male (n=3), non-binary (n=2)], who identify as Black, African American or having African ancestry were interviewed for inclusion in this study. Data was analyzed via a critical phenomenological approach (Guenther, 2019), resulting in 10 emergent themes (Williams, 2008). These themes include the following: persistent racialized encounters, perpetual traumatic experiences, required resiliency, exorbitant emotions, intersectionality, simultaneous hypervisibility and invisibility, cumulative comradery, intentional intransigence, analytical awareness, and obstinate optimism. Implications are discussed for research, as well as for education and training.