From Reliving to Relieving: Using Embodied Imagination to Help Veterans Move Forward
Embodied Imagination (EI) is a psychotherapeutic technique in which a dream or memory environment is reexperienced in a hypnagogic state as a composite of its many perspectives simultaneously. While this method has been employed by mental health professionals to treat trauma survivors, there is scant documentation of its use with combat veterans. This case study focuses on the role of EI in helping a high-ranking Marine work through the stressful memories of war and the indecisiveness that marked his civilian life. Only in the last 6 months of his 2-year treatment could he reveal the recurring intrusive memory and nightmar...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - February 23, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: White, J. L. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Multiple Victimization and Social Exclusion: A Grounded Analysis of the Life Stories of Women
This work explores life stories of socially excluded women who experienced multiple victimization. It seeks to understand the existential dimension of victimization experience, particularly how victims integrate their victimization experiences in their meaning or sense that they give to their existence and their lives. The study included 12 participants who suffered multiple victimization and who were in a situation of social exclusion. Individual interviews were conducted about their life stories, adapted from McAdams interview. The qualitative methodology used was grounded analysis. The results highlighted the focus of t...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - February 23, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Matos, M., Conde, R., Goncalves, R., Santos, A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The Role of Hardiness in Decreasing Stress and Suicidal Ideation in a Sample of Undergraduate Students
Suicide is a serious and growing public health problem, and it remains a serious cause of death in the world; therefore, it is essential to increase our knowledge concerning the etiology of suicide among undergraduate students. Previous studies have shown that perceived stress increases vulnerability to suicidal ideation. However, factors that may explain the association have not been studied empirically. A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine hardiness as a potential mediator between perceived stress and suicidal ideation among undergraduate students. The participants comprised 500 undergraduate students from Ma...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - February 23, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Abdollahi, A., Abu Talib, M., Yaacob, S. N., Ismail, Z. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Systematic Review of Existential Anxiety Instruments
This article is the first to review instruments measuring EA in a comprehensive way, that is, by covering several existential themes. Such instruments might be useful to gain insight in the interrelatedness of the aspects of EA, and application in clinical practice. Four models of EA were reviewed and compared resulting in a working definition. This definition was used to develop a search strategy that, after an initial screening, yielded 532 potentially relevant articles. A total of 78 instruments were identified, most of them measuring death anxiety. Five instruments were included that had a comprehensive perspective on ...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - February 23, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: van Bruggen, V., Vos, J., Westerhof, G., Bohlmeijer, E., Glas, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Vicarious Resilience, Vicarious Trauma, and Awareness of Equity in Trauma Work
This qualitative study examines the coexistence of vicarious resilience and vicarious trauma and explores the inclusion of intersectional identities in trauma work with torture survivors in specialized programs across the United States. A constructionist framework and a method of constant comparison discovered themes that speak about the effects of witnessing how clients cope constructively with adversity, and intersectional identities in social context. The data suggest that trauma therapists can be potentially transformed by their clients’ resilience in positive, but not painless, ways. Choosing to work in the trau...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - February 23, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Hernandez-Wolfe, P., Killian, K., Engstrom, D., Gangsei, D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Features of Posttraumatic Growth Among Victims of the Northern Irish "Troubles": Is It Possible? A Case Study Analysis
In order to examine for features of posttraumatic growth, this preliminary and exploratory study adopted a case study method with three individuals who had endured a traumatic event, as a consequence of the political violence in Northern Ireland. Most of the extant research carried on this topic has focused on the pathogenic effects that result from the conflict. Little is known about whether growth following political adversity in Northern Ireland has occurred or even likely, given the ongoing political violence, which serves as a constant reminder of what has happened before and what may still occur, regardless of the pe...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - February 23, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Simms, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

A Tribute to Arthur Warmoth, PhD
(Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology)
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - November 20, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Criswell, E., Merrill, C. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

In Memorium: Mentor, Friend, "Father" Mark Stern
This article is a slightly adapted eulogy I was invited to deliver on behalf of my dear friend and mentor, Mark Stern, who died on March 11, 2014. It was delivered on March 22, 2014, at St. Paul’s of the Apostles Chapel, 415 W. 59th St., New York City. (Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology)
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - November 20, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Schneider, K. J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Enlightened Governance: Tributes to California State Senator John B. Vasconcello May 1932-May 2014
(Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology)
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - November 20, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: O'Hara, M., Abzug, R. H., Barfield, G. L., and Others Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The Ultimate Resistance
Although resistance takes many forms, this article elucidates the primary source of resistance in psychotherapy as well as the fundamental resistance to leading a fulfilling life. The ultimate resistance to change, in both cases, originates in the anticipatory fear of arousing existential angst. To varying degrees, most individuals retreat from life and adopt defense mechanisms in an attempt to avoid reawakening suppressed feelings of terror and dread they experienced as children in early separation experiences, and, in particular, when they first learned about death. As clients dismantle their defenses during therapy and ...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - November 20, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Firestone, R. W. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Person-Centered Spiritual Maturation: A Multidimensional Model
Person-centered spiritual maturation has conceptual and historical roots in my work with Carl Rogers, as a staff member of the Person-Centered Approach Project. It is a person-specific process of psychospiritual development that can be mentored in communities where belief systems and cultural identities are diverse. It enables individuals to deepen engagement with contemplative practices from spiritual traditions that hold personal salience, while building inclusive, respectful communities. This multidimensional model emerges from three decades mentoring person-centered spiritual maturation with university students in the ...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - November 20, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Kass, J. D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The Poetics of Parent-Son Encounters Following Negative Parental Reactions to the Disclosure of Gay Identity
The disclosure of gay identity is considered an important step in the process of gay identity development. However, disclosure—especially to parents—is stressful for sexual minority individuals. Research suggests that most parents respond negatively to the news of their son’s gay identity, and that such negative reactions pose significant risks to that child’s well-being. In this article, the author presents selected findings from his dissertation research, a poetic inquiry into the lived experience of facing negative parental reactions to the disclosure of gay identity. The article begins with a re...
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - November 20, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Machado, S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Reclaiming Instinct: Exploring the Phylogenetic Unfolding of Animate Being
This article explores the historical circumstances that led to the rejection of the concept of human instinct. It then turns a critical eye to a number of presuppositions that continue to equate instinct with preprogrammed genetic mechanisms. An expanded and holistic understanding of instinctual life that includes the subjective reality of the organism is then explored. It is suggested that such an expanded account may be a valuable and necessary theoretical tool for broadening our understanding of human psychology as intimately connected to its evolutionary past. (Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology)
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - November 20, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Malkemus, S. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Travel as Qualitative Method: Travel in Psychology's History and in Medard Boss' Sojourn to India
This article details the history, possibility, limits, and ethics of cross-cultural travel as a qualitative method in psychology. The article provides a brief overview of the ambiguous relationship between psychology and culture and develops an account of the history of travel methods in psychology. It then analyzes an exemplary case of travel research involving Medard Boss’ sojourn to India and his encounters with Indian sages. This article argues that the history of psychology is, in many ways, a history of the exiled, the dispossessed, and the traveler (e.g., Freud, Fromm, Fanon, Jahoda, Rogers, Jung, and others)....
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - September 11, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Desai, M. U. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Fostering Community: Explicating Commonalities Between Counseling Psychology and Humanistic Psychology
This article focuses on three specific common characteristics: strength-based approaches, qualitative methodology, and multiculturalism. In contrast with the prominence of the medical model, both domains work from a holistic understanding of the person. Additionally, most of the development and progress within qualitative research methodologies has taken place in counseling and humanistic psychology. Third, these areas of psychology value culture, context, and members of underrepresented groups. Finally, suggestions are provided for future communication and collaboration. (Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology)
Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology - September 11, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Miller, A. D., Nash, T., Fetty, D. G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research