Gill, Carman

LGBTQ+ individuals currently represent 7.1% of the population yet seek mental health services at rates two to four times higher than average, and present with significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress, substance abuse, and suicidality. LGBTQ+ youth have the highest rates of suicidality of any minority group, with a recent poll reporting 22-32% attempted suicide compared to 5% of non-LGBTQ+ youth. These statistics are influenced by discrimination, stigma, and living in a heterosexist society and can lead to psychological distress, identity concealment, internalized homophobia, and stigma-based rejection explained through Minority Stress Theory. LGBTQ+ polls recently revealed an average of 80% identify as religious and/or spiritual. The purpose of this study is to better understand the risks or rewards of the intersecting identities of religiosity, spirituality and being LGBTQ+. In this quantitative non-experimental design study using Pearson’s R correlation, multiple relationships were found among the variables of spirituality, religiosity, age, being non-white, minority stress, and symptoms. of depression, anxiety, and stress. Multiple regression analysis found that spirituality, religiosity, and minority stress predicted 52% of the variance in depression, anxiety, and stress. Finally, a mediation analysis revealed that religiosity was not statistically significant as a mediator between minority stress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, but spirituality was statistically significant as a partial mediator of these effects and, therefore, strong emphasis is placed on the benefits spirituality can have among LGBTQ+ individuals.

The aim of the study was to validate the researcher's new therapeutic intervention, Sign your Feelings, through a four-week randomized control trial (RCT). This intervention involves hearing therapists working with hearing clients. It incorporates (a) discussions about the therapeutic alliance, (b) therapists teaching their clients 36 signs in American Sign Language (ASL) and (c) frequent emotional disclosure as clients learn and practice the signs. This RCT measured the therapeutic alliance and client outcomes, using the Sessions Rating Scale (SRS) and CORE-10 instrument. Eighty adults from 10 U.S. States participated in the study. Sixteen therapists underwent training before administering the intervention, and sessions took place virtually and in-person.
Results did not render statistically significant differences for SRS total scores between the two groups (p =.194). CORE-10 total scores between the two groups were not statistically significant either (p = 0.736). However, results did show a statistically significant negative correlation of r = -.229 (p = .041) between SRS and CORE-10 post-test scores.

The purpose of this research study was to determine the effects of Fostering
Resilience™ (FR), a new integrative relapse prevention group protocol for improving
relapse risk, internalized shame, and psychological well-being in adults with substance
use disorders (SUD). This study also sought to identify any relationship among relapse
risk, internalized shame, and psychological well-being. It is the first study to investigate
the new FR manualized program model compared to treatment as usual (TAU). The FR
model was created based upon direct client experience, the supposition of the intrinsic
role shame plays in SUD, and the corresponding belief in the essential value of
implementing shame reduction techniques for improving treatment outcomes.
Participants were 43 adults with SUD (19 FR and 24 TAU) seeking outpatient treatment.
All participants received the 8-week intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment, with the FR
group receiving 16 sessions of the manualized FR relapse prevention group protocol in lieu of other TAU group options. Assessments were administered pre and postintervention.
Results indicated that the FR treatment group produced a significant reduction in
relapse risk (p = .002, ES = .825), shame (p = .004, ES = .763), and psychological wellbeing
(p = .008, ES = .679) from baseline to post-intervention, while the TAU
comparison group produced a non-significant improvement in relapse risk (p = .209, ES =
.264), shame (p = 055, ES = .409) and psychological well-being (p = .088, ES = .456).
Correlation results indicated highly significant correlations between all the dependent
variables. All correlations dropped post-intervention, although remained significant. The
strongest relationship was found between shame and relapse risk at baseline: ALL (n =
43, r = .880), FR (n = 19, r = .869), TAU (n = 24, r = .908). This preliminary study
establishes support for the new FR model as a beneficial treatment for significantly
improving relapse risk, internalized shame, and psychological well-being in adults with
SUD. It also provides important knowledge and insight regarding the critical nature of
shame and its role relative to relapse risk and psychological well-being in those with
SUD.