Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

The present study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in order to examine the lived experiences of young adult, cisgender women and the development of internalized sexism. Eight participants completed semi–structured interviews focused on their relationships with other women and subsequent views of womanhood. Themes found were (a) womanhood is taught by women throughout the lifespan, (b) women are sexually responsible for men, (c) women are emotional caregivers, (d) there are biological bases of womanhood, (e) women are expected to “do it all,” (f) expectations of women are fueled by media portrayal, (g) traditional femininity is seen as oppositional to the feminist movement, and (h) womanhood is a community. The results of the study found that young adult women hold similar beliefs and attitudes surrounding what it means to be a woman. Additionally, young adult women's perceptions of womanhood are similarly influenced by common external factors that stem from society's sexism and misogyny and lead to behaviors of internalized sexism. 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 Seattle: Clinical Psychology

Although there have been some studies that explore the lived experiences of adults with non-epileptic seizures, there have been limited studies that examine the lived experiences of adolescents and emerging adults with non-epileptic seizures. This qualitative study explored the experiences of emerging adults who had been diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures during adolescence. The study focused on specific interventions utilized in therapy that they found helpful, highlighted what their experiences were throughout their daily lives, and what treatment recommendations were provided. The research will also help guide parents, clinicians, and individuals with NES towards treatment recommendations. Eight participants completed an in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interview. The seven major themes that emerged included the following: Insights into Effective Interventions Learned in Therapy, Mixed Emotions, Complexities of the Family Relationship, Support and Strain in Peer Relationships, Stigma, Experiences in the School Settings, and Therapeutic Experiences and Recommendations.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a critical period characterized by significant psychological, social, and developmental changes. The prevalence of mental health issues for teens and young adults has risen significantly over the past decade, yet there is a shortage of licensed professionals to treat the growing number of transitional-aged youth who are struggling. While mentoring programs exist for lower socioeconomic youth, few programs service affluent adolescents and young adults. Grounded in a comprehensive literature review, this program proposal identifies the unique challenges faced by affluent adolescents and young adults and proposes a unique therapeutic mentoring model to aid this specific demographic. This dissertation explores the efficacy of clinical mentoring programs designed specifically for adolescents and young adults to address their mental health needs and facilitate their journey into independent adulthood. The proposed program incorporates evidence-based practices and theoretical frameworks from developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and mentoring literature. It aims to provide structured support, foster resilience, and promote the development of critical life skills. Key elements include personalized mentoring relationships, promoting healthy coping skills, individuation, and continuous assessment to tailor interventions to individual needs. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the importance of tailored clinical mentoring programs in helping emerging adults launch into self-efficacy. It provides a scalable model that can be adapted for various settings, offering a practical solution to the pervasive gap in mental health care. Through this research, I propose the potential of clinical mentoring as a critical element in empowering young individuals, fostering a smoother transition to adulthood and promoting long-term psychological well-being for the entire family system. This diss (open full item for complete abstract)

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

The prevalence of video game addiction has escalated with the advancement of digital technologies, posing significant psychological and social challenges. This dissertation introduces the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Gaming Recovery and Insight Protocol (E-GRIP), a novel therapeutic approach designed to address the complexities of video game addiction. Grounded in the principles of EMDR therapy and incorporating insights into video game culture, E-GRIP aims to treat individuals struggling with problematic gaming behaviors by integrating their gaming experiences and preferences into the therapeutic process. The E-GRIP methodology extends the conventional EMDR framework by including an in-depth exploration of the client's gaming behavior, character identification, and the utilization of gaming jargon to enhance the relevance and efficacy of the therapy. Through the lens of video game character archetypes and gaming scenarios, the protocol addresses the emotional, cognitive, and somatic components of addiction, facilitating a comprehensive treatment strategy that resonates with the gaming community.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch New England: Marriage and Family Therapy

The double bind of Black womanhood has been long documented in Black feminist literature. This dissertation seeks to greatly contextualize how Black women experience make sense of, and heal from, sexual trauma given the nature of gendered racism in the United States (U.S). Utilizing a convergent parallel design grounded in Black Feminist Theory and hermeneutic phenomenology, the lived experiences of 98 Black women from across the U.S. were investigated. Regression analyses revealed that the frequency of gendered racial microaggressions and the associated appraisal were not significant predictors of participants' PTSD symptoms. Additionally, PTSD symptoms were inversely predictive of current perceptions of healing and healing progress. A mediation effect of negative alterations in cognitions and mood on the relationship between sexual objectification, specific to Black women, and progress in healing was also evident. Gendered racism did moderate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and perceived healing at the lowest point but not healing progress. The major themes that emerged from the interviews included “Negative Consequences of Sexual Assault,” “Pathways of Healing,” “Barriers to Help and Justice-Seeking,” “Dimensions of Racial-Ethnic Socialization,” and “Dimensions of Gendered Racial Socialization.” Combined, these findings highlight the unique sociocultural and historical context of Black female survivorship and amplify the necessity for clinicians to integrate Black feminist therapeutic praxis to inform treatment assessment, goal, and intervention. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2024, Psychology-Counseling

High levels of discrimination and violence as well as requirements for gender affirming medical interventions lead trans patients to seek out mental health services at high rates. However, mental health providers are underprepared to serve the unique needs of trans patients. Trans patients report a variety of barriers to accessing competent therapeutic services, including trans-specific microaggressions and a dearth of adequately trained providers. All existing instruments that measure trans counseling competence rely solely on provider self-report, despite numerous foundational issues with self-report of cultural competence. This dissertation study represents the initial steps in the development of a measure of trans counseling competence, as reported by patients themselves. An initial list of 98 items was generated through literature review and qualitative focus groups and interviews with trans community members. These items were sent to four content area experts for feedback on item content as well as measure instructions and response options. Substantial edits were made in accordance with expert feedback, and a list of 103 potential items, along with a measure of social desirability and a demographics questionnaire, was presented to participants. Inclusion criteria for the study included age ≥ 18 years, self-identification as trans or gender diverse, at least one prior experience in formal mental health treatment, and the ability to read English. Participants were recruited through social media, University of Akron SONA research systems, and 30 LGBTQ+ centers that agreed to share the survey with their constituents. 402 initial survey responses were recorded; after screening and cleaning the data, 185 participants were retained for primary analyses. Items were removed one at a time based on their performance on a variety of measures, including component loadings and cross loadings, correlations with social desirability, and amount of “not applicable” responses, (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2024, Counseling Psychology

Police culture is based on traditional masculinity ideology and traditional gender beliefs (Silvestri, 2017), and is a male-dominated profession (Ashlock, 2019). As dictated by masculine norms, police officers do not typically disclose struggles with mental health (Demou et al., 2020), and tend to face several barriers regarding seeking professional psychological treatment. This is problematic due to the myriad mental health concerns faced by police officers, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, resulting from work related stress (Demou et al., 202; Papazoglou & Anderson, 2014; Haugen et al., 2012). Police officers experience high levels of self -stigma related to mental health problems (Karaffa &Koch, 2016), andreportlow levels of perceived organizational supportwithin their departments (Tucker, 2015), which may influence their attitudes regarding help-seeking. The aim of the current study was to gain a deeper understanding of the potential contributingmechanisms to the negative help-seekingattitudes consistently foundamong police officers. Using Gender Role Strain Paradigm (Pleck, 1981) as the primary contextual framework, the current study evaluated the role that masculinity ideology, self-stigma, perceived organizational support, and help-seeking attitudes play in police officer distress. Two moderated mediation models with one moderator were used within this study, as well as one mediation model and two moderation models. The current sample consisted of 456 current police officers and results suggested that perceived organizational support plays a significant moderating role in the relationship between masculinity ideology and help-seeking behaviors; such that perceived organizational support weakens the negative relationship between masculinity ideology and help seeking attitudes. The current study also demonstrated that, in general, masculinity ideology is significantly and negatively related to help-seeking attitudes.

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2024, Educational Administration

Inpatient psychiatric facilities utilize two main forms of treatments for their patients; these are medication management and psychotherapy group sessions. Psychotherapy attendance rates at Lincoln Park Behavioral Health is low. This mixed-method action research study set out to understand what engagement techniques affected the attendance rates, the author collaborated with the facilities therapists for a better understanding. The study found that a combination of individual check ins and announcements create a higher group attendance rate.

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2024, Educational Administration

Excellent patient care is the central tenet of most medical centers in the United States. Achievement of high-quality care correlates with the skill level of the professionals employed by the organization: excellent patient care is a product of highly skilled employees. Supporting staff with professional development programs enhances their skill sets to make quality patient care possible. Cardinal University Medical Center (CUMC), Department of Psychiatry engages in a robust training program for medical doctors but does not have a formal professional growth program for master's level psychotherapists. Through critical participatory action research, this study sought to identify tools and practices that would enhance the professional progression of psychotherapists. Specifically, the focus was on school-based psychotherapists in the division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. During this research study, eleven of twenty psychotherapists participated in an initial survey, the data from which informed the development of questions for focus group interviews. Sixteen of twenty school-based psychotherapists participated in four semi-structured focus groups. Utilizing transformative learning and funds of knowledge frameworks, the researcher coded the qualitative data to identify super themes. School-based psychotherapists identified the nature and modality of trainings, connectedness and discourse, and high-quality clinical supervision as the overarching critical components to their professional development. The three resultant themes are foundational for an action plan focused on creating learning communities as the preferred learning method to best support professional progression. In addition to limited formalized learning opportunities, CUMC school-based psychotherapists experience isolation and a lack of connection to their team members. The action plan developed in this study furnishes a method of learning that can potentially deepen team relations and kno (open full item for complete abstract)

DNP, Kent State University, 2024, College of Nursing

The management of dementia is a difficult task in all healthcare settings. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) affect 90% of individuals with dementia. One-third of older individuals living with dementia are regularly prescribed antipsychotic medications to handle dementia-related behaviors. For six decades the FDA has been aware that antipsychotics were being used in nursing homes to sedate residents for BPSD, without dementia being an approved diagnosis. The serious side effects and increased risk of death have led to changes in nursing home policy and regulation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) teamed up with Federal and State agencies and proposed dementia care planning that involves assessing BPSD and utilizing non-pharmacologic interventions. The primary objective of this project is to determine if educating staff in non-pharmacological management of BPSD will reduce antipsychotic medication use. Method This evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project is based on Lewin's Change Theory of unfreezing, moving, and refreezing. Using the PDSA method to move the process forward, a team was established, and a plan of action was developed to reduce the administration of antipsychotics by educating staff in non-pharmacological interventions. Sixteen nursing staff (n-16) were trained over four days in nonpharmacologic dementia care management. A pre-and-post-assessment questionnaire was conducted. Twenty-two resident participant's medications were reviewed by the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and gradual drug reductions (GDRs) were ordered. GDRs are a CMS compliance requirement for nursing homes conducted as standard practice based on the pharmacist recommendations and an important recommendation by CMS in antipsychotic reduction are conducted and documented by the consulting PMHNP. Nursing responses to patients with GDRs who presented with behaviors and antipsychotic dose reduction (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2024, Psychology

With the rising utilization of telehealth since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertain nature of the future of telehealth insurance coverage, assessing patient preference for therapy delivery modality is warranted. While there have been some efforts to examine therapist attitudes towards telepsychotherapy, there has been very little empirical examination of patient attitudes. Patient preference has been implicated as a significant factor in treatment adherence and outcomes. Furthermore, private insurers have already begun rolling back coverages as of 2024 and investigating patient preferences may contribute to ongoing conversations regarding telehealth insurance coverage. This study examined patient preferences and attitudes towards telehealth compared to in-person therapy as well as factors implicated in these choices. Participants (N = 105) evenly preferred telehealth and in-person psychotherapy, and most believed both modalities to be equally efficacious. Perceived stress and functional impairment were revealed as significant predictors of positive attitudes towards telehealth. Additionally, utilizing a delay discounting paradigm, participants demonstrated a stronger strength of preference for telehealth as compared to in-person psychotherapy (t(67) = 4.811, p < .01, d = .79). These findings suggest an inherent value placed on psychotherapy delivered via telehealth, potentially due to comforts afforded by telehealth. These data highlight the complex nature of patient preference and underscore the importance of spending time in session discussing individual preferences with patients. Providers, insurers, and legislators should continue to support telehealth as a primary delivery modality for psychotherapy. Future work may consider expanding on this work in a more symptomatically complex clinical sample.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Counselor Education & Supervision

The purpose of this study is to understand how mental health counselors in private practice conceptualize, approach, and manage productivity, including key strategies and best practices employed through a qualitative study of lived experience. Inclusion criteria for participant eligibility included being a licensed counselor with a degree from a CACREP-accredited counseling program, working primarily in a private practice setting, and with primarily adult clients. Nineteen participants (N = 19) met these criteria and were included in the study. A thematic analysis was utilized by a team of researchers, which resulted in seven primary themes. The primary themes relate to the meaning of productivity in private counseling practice, thoughts and feelings about productivity, process of productivity, goals and values for productivity, productivity challenges and barriers, resource management, and best practices related to productivity. Ultimately, given the diversity of counselor thoughts, feelings, and perspectives on productivity unearthed in the study—ranging from antipathy to struggle to beneficial embrace, as well as the seeming discomfort of talking about the phenomen —it is recommended dedicated attention, fresh discussion, and further research on the topic be pursued.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Counselor Education & Supervision

Supervision is a foundational component of education and training for new counselors. Ensuring provisionally licensed supervisees receive adequate supervision is vital, given the variation in training and experience requirements from state to state. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate three measures of supervisor competence and experience, the Supervision Experience and Supervisory Competence Assessment (version 2; SE-SC), the Generic Supervision Assessment Test (GSAT), and the Brief Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory (BSWAI) for use in the counseling profession within the United States. The instruments were evaluated for reliability and face validity using a sample of 104 provisionally licensed counselors across the United States. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire on personal, professional, and supervision experience characteristics. Next, they were randomly assigned to complete one of the three instruments. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated, and the means for the three instruments were compared using an analysis of variance. The results showed that both supervisor competency instruments were reliable and valid for the counseling profession, with Cronbach's alphas ranging from .84 to .98. The Brief Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory was also reliable and valid (α = .91) as a measure of a component of what makes supervision effective based on the research. It is vital that the counseling profession continue to develop multiple-perspective supervisor competency benchmarking instruments that integrate all five identified supervisor competencies. Moreover, including reverse-coded subscales to identify inadequate and harmful supervision behaviors would increase the efficacy of tools for supervisor competency assessment.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

Suicide is a significant public health concern across the world. It is the second leading cause of death for children and young adults ages 10-34 (CDC, 2016). In 2021, suicide rates were highest among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons, and AI/AN youths had the highest rates of suicide compared to their same-aged peers from other racial and ethnic groups (Stone, Mack, & Qualters, 2021). Historical trauma, or unresolved trauma caused by colonization that gets passed down from generation to generation, has been used as a framework for understanding the high rates of social problems and suicide that plague AI/AN communities. Treating suicide and trauma-related symptoms requires an awareness of the historical factors that contribute to contemporary psychosocial problems. This paper will review the research on suicide risk and protective factors, suicide prevention strategies, and therapeutic interventions. This writer proposes a culturally-tailored trauma-informed treatment program specific to AI/AN youth who are impacted by intergenerational trauma and suicide. The program will build on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), a treatment that has demonstrated effectiveness with children and adolescents who are struggling with trauma symptoms. AI/AN traditional cultural beliefs and practices will be incorporated into the model, with an emphasis on cultural identity and spirituality. This twelve-week group treatment program will be developed for AI/AN adolescents and their families, and the interventions will focus on psychoeducation, skill building, trauma narration, trauma processing, safety planning, and strengthening family relationships. Unique elements of the program include interventions that are specifically focused on preventing suicidality and processing historical trauma. The hope is that this approach to treatment will serve as a guideline for addressing historical trauma related symptoms and suicidality in AI/AN community mental heal (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Counselor Education & Supervision

This study examines the lived experience of the perinatal population to understand how they can be supported from the lens of different ecological systems and what counselors can do to better serve people with uteruses during their perinatal experience. Furthermore, this study aims to utilize an inclusive framework for capturing the perinatal experience of people with uteruses and to explore barriers and facilitators to care through an ecological systems framework. Fifteen participants who have experienced infertility, conception, pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, stillbirth, and postpartum were recruited through various means throughout the United States. Thematic analysis was used, with semi-structured interviews and photovoice, to gather and analyze participant narratives through oral and visual means in two phases. The first phase resulted in eight themes: (1) social and cultural influences, (2) navigating transitions and changes, (3) support networks and resources, (4) discrimination and stigma, (5) advocacy and empowerment, (6) mental health and well-being, (7) interactions with medical systems, and (8) impact of systems and policies. The themes identified in phase two were: (1) meaning making, (2) the emotional impact of perinatal experiences, (3) navigating roles and identities, (4) pressure and expectations, (5) advocacy and empowerment, (6) social support and community, (7) prevalence of infertility and miscarriage, and (8) challenges in healthcare. Implications of this study indicate a need for collaborative, interdisciplinary communication among providers interacting with the perinatal population and perinatal mental health competency training. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2024, Counselor Education (Education)

The need for mental health resources in universities has seen a rise after the pandemic. Students have encountered various issues related to the transition and adjustment from online to in-person classes. Additionally, students in general have been known to have issues related to stressors of transitioning into adulthood and navigating their new life and relationships. This calls for increasing awareness amongst college counselors, counseling supervisors, and counselor educators to understand these issues and work towards combating the upcoming challenges that students face. A lot of these issues arise from students being harsh to themselves for not being able to accomplish as much as some of their peers. Constant comparison with others leads to feelings of guilt and shame towards oneself which in turn leads to a negative view of self along with symptoms of depression, and anxiety. A lot of these issues can be reduced by understanding and applying the concepts of self-compassion. Hence, it is important for college counselors, counseling supervisors, and counselor educators to be able to teach self-compassion techniques to their clients and students. While self-compassion can help students to accept themselves for who they are, it can also help them to understand how others share similar experiences. This can assist students to feel less isolated and more connected to their peers, which could also lead to newer friendships and connections. Feeling connected to others could lead to better experiences in college while preparing the students for a successful transition to adulthood. For college counselors, counseling supervisors, and counselor educators, practicing self-compassion themselves could lead to lower chances of burnout and a better understanding of boundaries. Through this study, I accomplished three objectives: (1) explored the relationship between self-compassion and flourishing, and satisfaction with life in undergraduate students, (2) explored the relatio (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch New England: Marriage and Family Therapy

Navigating parental biases within White affluent homes assumes family dynamics as yet unexplored within family therapy praxis. This dissertation examines parental biases directed toward domestic laborers employed in affluent White homes and how these biases might affect the parent-child relationship and the emerging values of children in these homes. Research from other fields demonstrates that domestic laborers experience social bias within the workplace; what this highlights is the likelihood that children in these settings are navigating unspoken subtleties of racism and classism in the context of developing socio-emotional maturity and family relationships. The first article within this dissertation critically reviews relevant literature to illuminate for the reader the lives of children in the care of domestic laborers in affluent White families. Themes from this review discussed in detail include social hierarchy and the symbolic boundaries of race and class, narrative cloaks to racial and class biases, parental attitudes about race and class and the effects of these on the socialization of their children, and the significance of the relationship between the child and the domestic laborer in the home. The literary review portion of this dissertation succeeds in emphasizing the value of continued research on this underexplored context of racial and class tension and the nuanced interactions that affect family relationships and the socialization of affluent White children. The second article within this paper incorporates evidence from two rounds of data collection–an open-ended questionnaire and a Likert scale questionnaire–surveying a panel of White adults (n = 9) who grew up in affluent White households employing domestic laborers. Items endorsed by participants within the study reveal that parents' views on race and class affect the parent-child relationship and the children's emerging values about race and class. The findings indicate that perceptions of (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 0, Counseling Psychology

Body Psychotherapy (BP) was developed based on deep understanding of the mind-body connection and focuses on the body as the primary means to influence psychological experiences (Heller, 2012; Rohricht, 2009). BP has several advantages over traditional talk psychotherapy but because it has been historically marginalized (e.g., Chan et al., 2011; Young, 2006, 2008), therapists or trainees usually have minimal exposure to BP in their formal graduate training and need to invest a considerable amount of personal resources in outside training if they desire to practice BP. Such an investment is hard to make without knowing that BP is likely to be a good fit for them. Therefore, the current study explored what predisposes a therapist to a good fit with BP by conducting Narrative Inquiry, through which stories are told, analyzed, and retold to reflect the impact of one's past experiences on their later actions (Polkinghorn, 1988, 1995), into BP practitioners' experiences of becoming BP practitioners. Four BP practitioners participated in this study and the narratives of their journey were reconfigured primarily based on what they shared in their oral history interviews. Certain personal attributes emerged from these individual narratives as likely having predisposed them to feeling aligned with, satisfied with, and competent in BP. These intrinsic qualities encompass being somatically resourced, having a holistic worldview, being spiritual, being intrinsically motivated, being open-minded, and having high growth initiative. These attributes are largely shaped by their natural inclinations, the social environment in the US between the 1960s and 1990s, and personal experiences with loving relationships, suffering, and spirituality. The interplay among these personal attributes, personal experiences, and the legacy of the countercultural movement might have contributed to BP practitioners' commitment to BP. The implications for practice and research are discussed.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Psychology

Cognitive behavioral therapy for depression (CBT) is the most widely studied psychotherapeutic treatment for depression. After questions about its comparative efficacy, a considerable secondary focus for researchers has been how the treatment works and for whom it is most effective. The question of for whom this treatment works has often focused on pretreatment client characteristics that might predict treatment outcome. Investigating how CBT achieves its effects has often been examined using different methods to try to identify mechanisms of the treatment. One potential mechanism is the acquisition of CBT skills, and one way to conceptualize skill acquisition is through improvements in skill quality. In a recent trial, our team evaluated the role of skills in CBT by experimentally manipulating skill acquisition, through a set of treatment procedures designed to enhance skill development. In this study, 150 adults with major depressive disorder were randomized to receive either skills-enhanced CBT or standard CBT for 12 weeks. In the present analyses, I aimed to test whether treatment (CBT-SE versus CBT) led to differential improvements in skills. I also evaluated whether the treatments were differentially effective as a function of clients' baseline skills. Finally, I investigated whether the relationship between treatment and outcome was mediated by CBT skills. Compared to CBT, CBT-SE produced greater improvements in the quality of CBT skills, with the difference being larger in magnitude among more severely depressed clients. Baseline skills did not moderate the effect of treatment on outcome. Further, when examining partially concurrent change over the course of treatment, skill quality significantly mediated the effect of treatment on outcome. Overall, these findings suggest that one's baseline skills may not be especially important in determining whether a greater focus on skill enhancement is related to improved outcomes. However, our results also suggest tha (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 0, Psychology

The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a CBM-I intervention at reducing social anxiety symptoms with individuals who experience subclinical levels of social anxiety. Participants meeting criteria for subclinical social anxiety symptoms (n = 56) were randomly assigned to complete the CBM-I intervention or a control activity; social anxiety symptoms and state anxiety symptoms were measured pre and post. Participants in the CBM-I intervention had a statistically significant greater level of social anxiety symptoms than the control group, F(1, 54) = 4.77, p = .03. There was no significant interaction between intervention type and time. Exploratory analyses examined if prior psychological treatment impacted the effectiveness of the CBM-I intervention. Participants with no prior psychological treatment who engaged in the CBM-I intervention experienced a statistically significant increase in social anxiety symptoms, F(1, 26) = 4.71, p = .04. The current study is one of the first to examine the effectiveness of a single session CBM-I intervention in reducing social anxiety symptoms in individuals who experience subclinical social anxiety. Although there were no significant changes in social anxiety symptoms in all participants who engaged in the CBM-I intervention, there were interesting findings from an exploration of participants who did not have past psychological treatment. Several possible explanations rooted in the expectancy violation theory can account for the current findings; however, several questions still remain on the effectiveness of a CBM-I intervention at reducing social anxiety symptoms in individuals who experience subclinical social anxiety.