Graduate Programs in Psychology

Pepperdine Applied Research Center

Positive Psychology Research Center

In Dr. Hall's Positive Psychology Dissertation lab, teams of three doctoral students and their master's student research assistants explore and have explored several interest areas involving the PARC research database, including: therapists, clients and supervisors' use of strengths in assessment and psychotherapy and post-traumatic growth, coping, resilience, social support, cultural worldviews, religiosity/spirituality and humor in psychotherapy with diverse populations, including those exposed to trauma, violence and maltreatment.

• Hope, Coping and Meaning Making Team - Graduated 2010:
  
  • A qualitative analysis of client expressions of meaning in psychotherapy, as seen from a positive psychology perspective - Alexander Bacher, Psy.D.
  • A content analysis of client hope in psychotherapy sessions - Stacie Cooper, Psy.D.
  • A content analysis of client coping in psychotherapy sessions - Josina Grassi Moak, Psy.D.

    

• Trauma Discussion Team - Graduated May 2011:
  • Repairing ruptures within the context of trauma discussion to trainee therapists: Relationship to therapeutic alliance - Karina G. Campos, Psy.D.
  • Understanding the association between the timing and depth of discussion of traumatic material and the stages of change - Lauren DesJardins, Psy.D.
  • Examining the occurrence of verbal and non-verbal positive emotional expression during discussion of interpersonal trauma in psychotherapy: A case study - Whitney Dicterow, Psy.D.

• Posttraumatic Growth Team - Currently analyzing data:
  • How trainee therapists in the initial sessions of therapy respond to clients’ expressions of traumatic experiences. Howells, Christopher
  • Exploring ways in which trainee therapists address autonomy when working with culturally diverse clients who have experienced trauma: A qualitative analysis of an aspect of posttraumatic growth theory. Khatchadourian, Ani
  • Examining trainee therapists’ use of Calhoun and Tedeschi’s recommended counseling strategies for facilitating posttraumatic growth in psychotherapy: A qualitative analysis. Renee Sloane
• Threats to Physical Integrity Team - Prelims Scheduled Aug. 2011
  
  • On humor and healing: A qualitative analysis of trainee therapists’ responses to expressions of humor in clients who have experienced trauma. Rebecca Dragosits
  • Expressions of cultural worldview in psychotherapy with clients who have experienced trauma: A qualitative study from a terror management theory perspective. Christopher Ogle
  • Trainee therapists’ responses to expressions of social support: A qualitative analysis of psychotherapy with clients who have experienced threats to physical integrity. Celine Hunt
  Those who work with the PARC database have been joined in the lab by other students exploring issues related to positive psychology and forensic psychology, including:

• Dumain (Huh), Kathy. The relationship between optimism and runaway behavior in adolescents in the juvenile justice system.
• Predolin (Carusone), Jennifer. A positive psychology approach to understanding police officers' stress experiences and coping strategies: A qualitative investigation.
• Tangeman, Keegan. Self-efficacy in incarcerated male adolescents.

Presentations and Publications:

1. Tangeman, K., & Hall, S. R. (2011). Self-efficacy in incarcerated adolescents: The role of family and social supports. Child & Youth Services, 32 (1), 39-55.
2. Khatchadourian, A., & Hall, S. R. (2010, Oct.). Addressing autonomy when working to promote posttraumatic growth with culturally diverse psychotherapy clients. Poster presentation accepted at the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Convention, Culver City, CA.
3. Sloane, R., & Hall, S. R. (2010, Oct.). Examining Trainee Therapists’ use of Calhoun and Tedeschi’s Recommendations for Facilitating Posttraumatic Growth in Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Analysis. Poster presentation accepted at the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Convention, Culver City, CA.
4. Predolin (Carusone), J. & Hall, S. R. (2008, October). Understanding police officers' stress experiences and coping strategies. Poster presented at the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Conference, Los Angeles, CA.
5. Carusone, J. G., & Hall, S. R. (2006, August). A positive psychological approach to understanding police officers' stress experiences and coping strategies: A qualitative investigation. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, New Orleans, LA.
6. Anderson, C. (2005, July). Spiritual coping among adolescents in treatment for sexual abuse. Paper presented at the Faculty Scholars Conference, Malibu, CA.