Palo Alto University (PAU) is a private university in Palo Alto, California that focuses on psychology. It was founded in 1975 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology.Palo Alto University offers two undergraduate degree programs: a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Social Action or Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology; four graduate programs: a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology as part of a consortium with Stanford University; and two master's degree programs: an M.A. in Counseling and an M.S. in Psychology. PAU subscribes to the practitioner-scientist training model, a variation of the Boulder scientist-practitioner model, which emphasizes clinical practice along with scientific training.[citation needed]PAU has an interconnected relationship with Stanford University and the Stanford University School of Medicine. PAU maintains its doctoral program in conjunction with Stanford University, often employs its students in Stanford research laboratories, and houses faculty members who teach at both institutions. The chair of the Stanford Department of Psychiatry holds a membership on the PAU board of trustees.A.S.A.S.A.S.D.D.D.D.S.D.D.
Research suggests some individuals with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) have socioemotional deficits, typically characterized as reduced emotion recognition, difficulty with perspective taking, and increased apathy. However, the variability of these deficits across individuals and the pattern of impairments across the spectrum of social cognition have not been quantified in larger samples. The present study used multiple face-to-face and informant-based social cognition, neuropsychiatry, and personality measures to identify socioemotional changes occurring as a result of PSP. Data were collected from 287 individuals: 113 with early-stage PSP (Clinical Dementia Rating scale global score < 2) and 174 older healthy controls (HC). Though there was a high degree of individual variability, on average those with PSP had a pervasive pattern of deficits across tests of social cognition compared to HC, including emotion reading, social inferencing, theory of mind, and identifying and applying social behavior rules. Worse neuropsychiatric functioning was reported on both self- and informant-report measures, including increased depression, apathy, and anxiety. Changes in personality, including reduced conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion, from pre-morbid to current presentation were also found. Our analyses revealed that the social withdrawal typical of PSP is not simply a reflection of apathy or emotion reading deficits, but is directly correlated with the degree of the patient’s depression and self-reported sense of hopelessness. These results reveal more clinically significant socioemotional deficits and personality shifts in early-stage PSP than are generally recognized, and suggest face-to-face testing and informant reports of socioemotional functioning may provide critically important information to guide clinical care.
Past research has emphasized the invisibility of South Asian individuals in psychological research, especially with regard to sexual orientation. Although precolonial South Asia reflected broader acceptance of diverse sexualities, many South Asians today experience significant stigma surrounding sexuality. Little is known about how South Asian individuals view sexual orientation. Thus, the present study aims to bridge this gap in the literature by examining South Asian individuals' understanding of sexual orientation through the lens of South Asian culture. Participants were 57 South Asian individuals residing in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates (M-age = 31.16 years). Participants completed an online open-ended two-question survey asking them about their understanding of sexual orientation both at an individual and cultural level. Using Braun and Clarke's ([2021], Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18[3], 328-352) reflexive thematic analysis methodology, findings highlighted South Asian individuals' experience with the prevalence of heteronormative messages, stigma around sexuality in general, exposure to queer people, and historical context. Our findings expand the existing literature by highlighting ways that South Asian individuals might have experienced and consequently challenged heterosexist and heteronormative messages within South Asian culture. Given the diversity within the South Asian community, particularly across different regions, generations, and cultural contexts, these findings may not be generalizable to all South Asian individuals globally. Future research should explore the impact of specific cultural and generational factors on South Asian individuals' experiences with sexual orientation.
Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms are well-documented health disparities in Latinx migrants, explaining a diverse array of physical and mental health complaints as well as role limitations for both youth and adults. Few studies have examined the influence of the migration journey on PTS in Latinx migrants. We examined the added effect of migration-related predictors, above and beyond general trauma exposure, of PTS in two samples of Latinx migrants with the broad aim of uncovering unique predictors of PTS in this high-risk population. Both studies investigated predictors of posttraumatic distress using information collected about individuals’ demographics (e.g., age, gender, country of birth) and migration journey to the U.S., while controlling for pre-migration trauma exposure. The current studies used one sample of Latinx adult migrants seeking asylum (N = 276) collected at the Texas-Mexico border and one sample of recently immigrated Latinx youth (N = 69) collected at an urban school in the Southwestern United States. Across both samples, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that witnessing or experiencing something frightening during migration (p = 0.009 in youth; p <0.001 in adults) predicted PTS, even after controlling for general trauma exposure. Our results underscore the importance of routinely screening Latinx migrants for migration-related trauma in clinical and community settings. As the U.S. halts asylum processing as part of its sweeping immigration enforcement actions, our findings highlight the urgent need to expand legal paths to entry to prevent migrants from being forced into traumatic and dangerous routes.
Brain health encompasses a multitude of health and lifestyle factors that can reduce the occurrence and severity of dementia. Older Veterans face unique risk factors for dementia, which makes promoting brain health a priority for the Veteran Health Administration (VHA). However, Veterans encounter barriers to implementing these recommendations, such as uncertainty about where to start, minimal personal investment, lack of social support, or negative emotional reactions to cognitive changes. We explain how principles from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can address these barriers and facilitate personal engagement with brain health, and describe a group ACT intervention called Balanced Brain. We used a mixed-method, multiphase approach using clinician interviews to develop and refine the intervention, followed by pilot testing to determine feasibility and acceptability with older Veterans. Six VHA clinicians described barriers and facilitators to brain health promotion and suggested content to include in an intervention. We then recruited 21 Veterans into two group cohorts, collected data on feasibility and attrition, and assessed program satisfaction using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8. Over three-quarters of Veterans attended 75% or more of group sessions, although telehealth connectivity issues were common. Veterans indicated high overall satisfaction with Balanced Brain, suggesting it as a feasible and acceptable intervention for teaching brain health principles alongside ACT coping skills to address psychosocial barriers to health behavior change.
Qualitative research is uniquely positioned to contribute to counseling scholarship by capturing lived experiences, contextual nuance, and the co-construction of meaning between researchers and participants. Despite its alignment with the counseling profession, qualitative work remains underrepresented in leading counseling journals. This article provides a step-by-step guide for writing and publishing rigorous qualitative manuscripts. Core topics include journal selection, crafting introductions, developing literature reviews, and presenting methods with clarity, reflexivity, and transparency. Guidance is offered on establishing trustworthiness through credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. The article further details strategies for data collection, analysis, and findings presentation, emphasizing authentic participant voices and interpretive insights. Finally, the article highlights the need to address implications, ethical authorship, and AI use. Suggestions for responding to peer review are included. By following the best practices outlined in this article, qualitative researchers can increase publication acceptance as well as enhance the accessibility, impact, and ethical integrity of their work. Qualitative research publication helps ensure that diverse counseling research methods inform practice, advance theory, and serve diverse communities.
