Date of Award

5-2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

William Buhrow, Psy.D

Second Advisor

Mary Peterson, Ph.D

Third Advisor

Jeri Turgesen, Psy.D

Abstract

Approximately one in five adolescents between ages 12 and 18 suffer from at least one diagnosable mental health disorder. Health professionals have referred to the current rising need for mental health treatment as an epidemic. Current approaches to meeting the rising psychological needs of adolescents are proving to be insufficient. Emotion regulation has been identified as a key element in lowering levels of psychological stress, yet many adolescents have inadequate emotion regulation skills. A particularly appropriate modality to train adolescents in the skills necessary to regulate distressing emotions, may be psychoeducation, an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that provides training and information that allows individuals to better understand and cope with stressors. This study hypothesized that a group intervention model of psychoeducation will increase students’ abilities to regulate their emotions. To test this hypothesis, 500 local high school athletes were given a screener on perceived ability to regulate their emotions. They then engaged in five, brief, Dialectic Behavior Therapy psychoeducation sessions, and a post screener following the final session. The results showed significant improvement in awareness of emotions and increased ability to engage in goal directed behaviors.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS