Kali Psychi, Vol. 4, No. 1 - 2022

KALI PSYCHI

Kali Psychi καλή ψυχή (kalí psychí) — the good mind or soul

A MESSAGE from the DEAN

Dear Friends,

Through the centuries, suffering Christians have discovered something that on the surface makes no sense — and I recommend it to you today. When things are chaotic around you, when you are suffering, if you’ve lost a job or a loved one — praise the Lord!

I don’t mean “praise the Lord” as a cliché; I literally mean to sing praises to God. Raise your voice to the Lord in praise for all the good things that the Lord has done for you, despite the current challenges you are facing. You’ll find the most amazing result is that fortitude — a solidness, an endurance — for your challenge will begin to swell up in your heart.

“You will make known to me the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” — Psalm 16:11

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your refuge.” — Nehemiah 8:10

God inhabits the praises of His people. Praising the Lord when you don’t understand the circumstances is a raw demonstration of walking in faith.

As you go through your own struggles, praise the Lord and experience the fullness of the joy of God’s presence, and then live in that joy of the Lord as your strength!

Selah, Kenyon Knapp, Ph.D., LPC, NCC Dean

Why Get a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology?

GARY SIBCY, PH.D., PSY.D.

Many students studying psychology at the undergraduate level wonder what they can do with their degree. “Why get a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology?” is a common question. The best way to address this question is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a Psy.D., as well as the training provided through the program.

Advantages of Liberty’s Psy.D. program:

› Saves you time — you can earn both a master’s and doctorate in clinical psychology in 5 years, then obtain a license as a clinical psychologist in an additional year.

› Earns you more money — as a full-time, private practice-based, doctoral-level clinical psychologist, you can reasonably expect to earn $150k per year.

› Gives you more options — you can perform a range of psychological assessments from neuropsychological, cognitive, and intellectual for psychiatrists and other health professionals to assist in diagnosing conditions like ADHD, ASD, dementia, and more.

› Allows you to teach — with a Psy.D., you can teach as a full professor in psychology at the undergraduate and graduate level. You can also teach in a Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program.

› Gives your name weight — you’re a doctor in clinical psychology! The title itself carries substantial weight and credibility, opening doors to opportunities in writing, speaking, consultation, supervision, and leadership that may not have been available before.

Disadvantages of a Psy.D. program:

In an effort to be totally transparent, there are a few disadvantages that come with pursuing a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. First, the Psy.D. is an intense and expensive 5 years. A Psy.D. is more like medical school, requiring fulltime enrollment following a highly structured path.

However, the cost of the program is offset by the expanded range of professional opportunities with a higher earning

potential. As noted previously, a full-time, private practice clinical psychologist can expect to earn more than $150k a year.

How is the training experience different from other graduate degrees in mental health?

The Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology prepares you for licensure as a doctoral-level clinical psychologist. The training consists of an organized, sequential program of study, which emphasizes four core areas:

› Discipline-specific knowledge

› Scientific training

› Advanced training in evidence-based psychological interventions

› Advanced training in psychological assessment

You’ll also go through six semester-long practicums that are 200 hours each in various clinical settings through the Lynchburg, Va., area. This provides the opportunity for you to work directly with actual patients in different settings.

You can become a licensed clinical psychologist in 6 years. Imagine this — you complete your undergraduate program in Spring 2022 as a 22-year-old. You immediately start the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in the fall of 2023. By the time you are 28 years old, you can be a fully licensed clinical psychologist, ready to launch your career as a doctoral-level professional prepared to make a difference in the world for Christ!

For more information on our Psy.D. program, scan the following QR code:

Loneliness: The New Epidemic

BLAKE FRASER

During my M.S. in Psychology: Developmental Psychology program at Liberty, I focused my thesis on a very relevant topic in postmodernity — loneliness.

Loneliness, also known as perceived social isolation, refers to a person’s subjective account of their social connectedness with others (Cacioppo et al., 2011). Loneliness is extremely hard to define. For the purposes of this essay, it will be defined as a negative emotional experience that results from perceived deficiencies in one’s social relationships.

Loneliness is a widespread issue, with prevalence rates spanning from 10% to 50% (Beutel et al., 2017; Nyqvist et al., 2017; Mullen et al., 2019). Research suggests adolescents/young adults and older adults display the highest levels (Lasgaard et al., 2016; Victor & Yang, 2012).

While loneliness is far reaching, it is also problematic because of the potential health threats it poses. Specifically, loneliness is related to adverse physical, mental, and social consequences (Park et al., 2020), including strong and temporal relationships with depression, social anxiety, and suicidal ideation (Hutten et al., 2021; Lim et al., 2016; Schinka et al., 2012).

Loneliness is now being recognized as a pervasive public health threat and epidemic (American Psychological Association, 2017).

To better understand a person’s individual experience with loneliness, my research team and I engaged in non-formal qualitative interviews and surveyed literature to discover the leading causal or contributing variables to loneliness among college students. We established 18 contributing variables of loneliness which fit into three categories:

1. Circumstantial variables (e.g., geographic location, conflicting priorities, etc.)

2. Interpersonal variables (e.g., bullying, social media, etc.)

3. Intrapersonal variables (e.g., social anxiety, fear of rejection, etc.)

Once these contributing variables were established, my team and I used the existing UCLA Loneliness Scale and a Student Social Capital Instrument (SSCI) my team and I developed to investigate college students’ levels of loneliness. We also utilized top contributing variables of loneliness with an explicit cognitive processing tool (SSCI) and an implicit cognitive processing tool (concept mapping activity).

Overall, around 20% of the sample reported moderate levels of loneliness, and around 5% reported high levels of loneliness. For the concept mapping rankings, people with higher levels of loneliness ranked social anxiety much higher than people with lower levels of loneliness, while people with lower levels

of loneliness ranked geographic location much higher than people with higher levels of loneliness. Across all levels, bullying/mistreatment was ranked highly. The varying results suggest that people’s individual experiences or perceptions of what drives loneliness vary greatly.

While there is still work to be done, this exploratory study provided a great framework for creating personalized interventions aimed at reducing loneliness in college students. Future studies will provide insight into how college students are defining the contributing variables of loneliness and investigate a novel approach for designing and implementing personalized loneliness interventions.

Above all else, remember that loneliness is a highly individualized experience, and someone around you may be experiencing loneliness, even while being surrounded by others, and understanding what is uniquely contributing to someone’s experience of loneliness is paramount in reducing it.

My Brother Benjamin Has a Disability

In Spring 2022, I took Sociology of Disability, which is a class that helps bring greater awareness regarding those who have an impairment and examines how Christians — and really everyone — should treat people with disabilities (PWDs).

Throughout this course, we examined the reality of being disabled in society and how people’s physical or mental impairments disable them in life. Viewing daily activities from the viewpoint of a person with disabilities helps one to see how physical limitations influence PWDs’ ability to function in society and what is necessary for others to know and to do when trying to help them.

One of the disabilities discussed in class was Fragile X Syndrome — a genetic disorder that shares symptoms with autism and other disorders. Someone with Fragile X doesn’t make enough Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), which is vital for brain functioning and physical development. It causes developmental issues by impairing cognitive and learning abilities.

This was of personal interest to me because my brother was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome when he was a young boy.

Although Benjamin had some odd behavioral issues — barely eating or talking — he consistently engaged in regular activities. It wasn’t until he was 5 years old that he was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome. From then on, his life would be completely different than that of an individual with no disabilities.

It’s hard to detect Fragile X Syndrome by observation alone, which ultimately results in stigmatization and prejudice. For people with Fragile X Syndrome, social norms and cues may be difficult to learn. Physical activities that normally involve society may be challenging as well. Those who aren’t aware of these characteristics may see someone with Fragile X Syndrome as incompetent or lacking basic awareness.

Benjamin faces these prejudices on a regular basis — specifically from those with whom he has had very little contact. In social situations, Benjamin is shy, quiet, and not one to lead discussions. He sometimes makes inappropriate comments or gestures and has outbursts. He loses interest in conversations quickly and gets distracted.

Even the simplest of recurring tasks needs to be written down for Benjamin so they are not forgotten. Our family has adapted to this and provides him a physical list of things he needs to complete throughout the day.

We have also adapted to the surrounding factors that influence Benjamin’s actions. We know how to help Benjamin feel comfortable — we avoid certain activities that may overwhelm him, help him feel welcome in any environment he’s in, and ensure his basic needs are met. As he has gotten older, he is better at carrying on conversations and talking to strangers when introduced.

My relationship with Benjamin is unique in some ways, but also normal when it comes to aspects like sibling rivalry. I may help him pick out his clothes, but he maintains a first-place status in Mario Kart. Ultimately, despite any challenges caused by his Fragile X Syndrome, Benjamin was, is, and will always be my beloved — and often annoying — kid brother who happens to have a disability.

Written with love and Benjamin’s excitement and permission.

Alumni Showcase

HANNAH JACKLIN

Q: Why did you pick psychology as your major?

A: I was considering several different degree tracks prior to coming to Liberty, but after taking AP Psychology in high school, I knew without a doubt that this was the field the Lord was calling me into after graduation. My B.S. in Psychology — Counseling degree includes some of my favorite fields of study while also providing me with a solid, biblical foundation on which I can understand how these elements relate to my faith and express God’s design of human beings.

Q: What has been your favorite class at Liberty?

A: Abnormal Psychology with Dr. Lahikainen. I learned so much from the class, like all the different psychological disorders. Not only that, but I also met friends there that I still have today. We are now in the same master’s program, which has made my transition into graduate school much easier. Dr. Lahikainen has been extremely influential in my academic and personal development and has always inspired and encouraged me. My favorite graduate class this year has been Counseling Techniques with Dr. John Thomas. I feel I’m learning skills I will use later in my practice.

Q: What has it been like to study and work at Liberty in the Department of Psychology?

A: I transferred to Liberty with a year and a half left of my undergraduate degree — I had a lot to learn about Liberty culture. Coming from the West Coast, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I moved to the South. What I almost instantly noticed was the warm and welcoming environment. From my dorm to my classes, I was welcomed with open arms. Something that made my transition easier was getting a job at the Department of Psychology. Not only did this give me an opportunity to be more involved at Liberty, but it also gave me the opportunity to develop beneficial relationships with my psychology peers and faculty, like Dr. Logan and Dr. Knox.

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: My hope is to go on to get my doctorate in a trauma field. I’d like to work with survivors of human trafficking and military personnel suffering with PTSD.

As a counselor, my deepest desire is to help people experience the freedom and mercy that God has given me.

Thus far, Liberty has helped equip me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to achieve the goals that God has placed on my heart.

Q: What advice would you give to first-year psychology students?

A: My advice would be to work hard and learn as much as you can. It will make your transition into graduate school much easier. Above all else, get into a community — whether with your professors or others — with people who can mentor you. Your friends are amazing and definitely needed, but form relationships with those who can invest in and guide you. If you invest in your undergraduate career, it will be an incredible and life-changing experience.

MEDIA MATTERS

THE “MENTAL HEALTHY” PODCAST — Hosted

by Kenyon Knapp

Listen in on deep analysis about how the pandemic has affected us all with a panel of experts on the “Mental Healthy” podcast — available on PodBean, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and more. This will be an exciting six-part series! The panel consists of various guests from around the country who are experts in their fields and have been studying the effects of COVID-19.

You can also listen to Dr. Jack Underwood, assistant professor at Richmont Graduate University, who joins the show to discuss self-love — a compassionate process of developing and practicing self-acceptance and self-care.

RESEARCH WEEK AWARD

The Spring 2022 Research Week Team was honored to win 1st place in the Undergraduate Applied Poster Presentation and 1st place in the Undergraduate Applied Oral Presentation at Liberty University’s Research Week. Congratulations to Dr. Brian Kelley, faculty sponsor; Blake Fraser and Abigail Taber, graduate student leaders; and Anessa Reid, April Xu, David Blackwell, Jessica Minervini, and Sophia Swiatek, undergraduate team members/ presenters!

Their project, “An Analysis of Loneliness and the Contributing Variables Among College Students,” sought to better understand and define the experience of loneliness among college students. They developed a novel loneliness instrument, which was designed to measure how lonely someone is and the potential drivers of that loneliness, and implement a concept mapping tool to explore the top contributing variables of loneliness using implicit cognitive processes.

This research builds a foundation for developing personalized interventions to reduce loneliness among college students!

STUDENTS OF THE YEAR & OUTSTANDING YOUNG INVESTIGATOR

Congratulations

Outstanding

Outstanding

to the following students for winning this year’s awards!

Students of the Year: Brittney Grupe and Hannah Mullins

Investigator of the Year: Kinsey Painter

NEW BOOK RELEASES

Kellen, K. (2022). Book: Counseling Women: Biblical Wisdom for Life’s Battles. B&H Academic.

Kelley, B. (2021). Book: Drug Abuse Across the Lifespan: A Biopsychosocial Approach. Kendall-Hunt.

Knox, J. & Childress, J. (2022). Book: Deconverted: The Destruction of the Contemporary Church. Wipf and Stock.

FACULTY NEWS AND NOTES

Barker, G., Volk, F., & Peters, C. (2021). Article: Cultural influences on burnout: A Swedish–American comparison. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 14(2), 181-200.

Barker, G., Volk, F., Hazel, J. S., & Reinhardt, R. A. (2021). Article: Past is present: Pathways between childhood sexual abuse and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

Boatner, J., Ford, K., & Davis, J. (2021). Presentation: Country as client: Promoting multicultural humility and self-awareness through study abroad. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Atlanta, Ga.

Boatner, J., Johnson, H., & Shaler, L. (2021). Presentation: Embodying inner resources to prevent counselor burnout in the COVID-19 era. Christian Association for Psychological Studies.

Boatner, J., Johnson, H., & Shaler, L. (2021). Presentation: Re-imagine wellness: Building resilience after a pandemic. Christian Association for Psychological Studies.

Daniel, D., Deacon, M., & Kimball, P. (2022). Presentation: Lessons learned: Ethical challenges and strategies for teaching group online. Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference. New Orleans, La.

Daniel, D., Deacon, M., & Kimball, P. (2021). Presentation: Using broaching to illuminate and examine counselors in training religious/spiritual values in counselor training. Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference.

Deacon, M., Daniel, D., & Kimball, P. (2021). Presentation: Student or participant: Ethical considerations for conducting research in the classroom. Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference.

Evans, C. (2022). Article: Adlerian play therapy during COVID-19: Practical considerations and examples. Journal of Individual Psychology, 78(2), 188–201.

Guidry-Davis, R. (2022). Presentation: Insights to the strong black woman schema. Bridging the Cultural Awareness Gap. Lynchburg, Va.

Guidry-Davis, R., Moffett, N., & Volk, F. (2021). Presentation:

The strong black woman and increasing understanding of racial identity: A strengths-based approach. 65th Annual TCA Professional Growth Conference. Texas Counseling Association. Galveston, Texas.

Haroon, Z., Iftikhar, R., Kim, J. J., Volk, F., & Enright, R. D. (2021). Article: A randomized controlled trial of a forgiveness intervention program with female acid attack survivors in Pakistan. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 1–12.

Hull, K. (2022). Book: Neurodiverse older teens and young adults in teleplay. In J. Stone (Ed.), Play Therapy and Telehealth: Foundations, Populations, and Interventions (pp. 156–169). New York: Routledge/Taylor and Francis.

Johnson, H., & Boatner, J. (2021). Presentation: Collaborative care: Coordinating services with community partners to promote client wellness. All Ohio Counselors Conference (AOCC). Columbus, Ohio.

Johnson, H., Boatner, J., & Warren, S. (2021). Presentation: Integrative psychotherapy to increase client resilience, manage stress, and create a healthy alliance between mind, body, and spirit. Christian Association for Psychological Studies. Kelley, B. (2021). Book: Substance Abuse Across the Lifespan: An Integrated Approach. Kendall-Hunt.

Kim, J. J. (2021). Presentation: Forgiveness perceptions: Is forgiveness beautiful yet difficult? Christian Association for Psychological Studies International Conference. Kim, J. J. (2021). Presentation: The effects of a forgiveness bibliotherapy for nursing students with an interpersonal hurt. Forgiveness Symposium. Lynchburg, Va.

Kim, J. J., Volk, F., & Enright, R. D. (2021). Article: The validation of the Enright Self-Forgiveness Inventory (ESFI). Current Psychology, 41, 7604–7617

Kimball, P. (2021). Article: Ethical decision making when values are involved: A case study. Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC): Fall 2021 Newsletter.

Kimball, P. & Tyre, Y. (2021). Presentation: How we modified the Six Hats of Thinking to support the learning and application of basic skills: What our CITs thought. Association for Creativity in Counseling Conference.

Kimball, P., Ford, K., Kuba, S., Brooks, S.C., & Blackwell, S. (2021). Presentation: The effect of mentorships on professional identity development for counselors in training: Initial impressions of the data. Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors Conference. Atlanta, Ga.

Kimball, P., Hauswirth, K., Davila, Z., & Phillips, L. (2021). Presentation: The clash of professor and supervisor: Ethical dilemmas surrounding the various roles with counselors in training. Law and Ethic in Counseling Conference.

Kimball, P., Kirk, K., & Vernam, J. (2022). Presentation: Lessons from the lived gatekeeping experiences of new counselor educators. Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference, New Orleans, La.

Kirk, K., Kimball, P., & Vernam, J. (2021). Presentation: Navigating psychological safety and gatekeeping in the counseling profession. Virginia Counseling Association Annual Conference.

Kirk, K., Kimball, P., Phillips, L., & Takacs, T. (2021). Presentation: Dear student/supervisee, please be honest, but not too honest: Psychological safety and gatekeeping in counselor education. American Counseling Association (ACA) 2022 Conference and Expo. Atlanta, Ga.

Kirk, K., Vernam, J., Kimball, P., & Lashua, B. (2021). Presentation: “Do I have to take the research course?” Creating a growth mindset in research abilities for graduate counseling students. Association for Counselor Educators and Supervision (ACES) Conference. Atlanta, Ga.

Knox, J. (2021). Article: Built on the rock of faith: Models of faith in turbulent time. Faith and the Academy, 6(1).

Knox, J. (2021). Book: A Lexicon of Religious Facts and Figures. Kendall-Hunt.

Lakin, A. & Kimball, P. (2021). Presentation: Character identification and mindset: An experimental design using Disney’s “Finding Nemo.” The Association for Creativity in Counseling Conference.

Lashua, B. & Kimball, P. (2021). Presentation: The ethical mandate for counselor wellness: Addressing Counselors in Training (CIT) self-care. Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference.

Lorbeer, C. (2021). Article: Do academic medical centers manage according to their own research? Academia Letters, Article 3122.

Lorbeer, C. (2021). Presentation: Culture centered integrated health for underserved populations. Keynote address at 39th Annual Conference on: Mental Health and the Black Community. Jacksonville, Fla.

Moitinho, E. (2021). Presentation: Change your mind = Change your future: Powerful techniques to change your thinking. Liberty Club Sports. Lynchburg, Va.

Moitinho, E. (2022). Presentation: Effective stress management strategies for busy faculty. 2022 Conference on Teaching Excellence. Lynchburg, Va.

Moitinho, E. & Moitinho, D. (2022). Presentation: The dream home: How to create an intimate Christian marriage. Church Planter Marriage Retreat: Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia. Lynchburg, Va.

Sapp, T. N., & Jones, M. (2022). Article: Navigating suspected ethical violations by peers: Practical steps to an ethical response. Counseling Today.

Shaler, L., Boatner. J., Johnson, S., & Atkins, K. (2021). Article: The experiences of college sophomores who know they need help but do not seek counseling. American Counseling Association. Shaler, L., Johnson, H., & Boatner, J. (2021). Presentation: Embodying inner resources to prevent counselor burnout in the COVID-19 era. American Mental Health Counseling Association. Shaler, L., Johnson, H., Boatner, J., & Johnson, S. (2021). Presentation: Reimagine wellness: Building resilience after a pandemic. American Association for Christian Counseling World Conference. Orlando, Fla. Silvey, J. & Boatner, J. (2021). Presentation: Considerations in setting up virtual groups: From consent to termination. Virginia Association for Specialists in Group Work (VASGW).

Vernam, J., Paulson, B., Falkenstien, B.D., Bohecker, L., & Edwards, N. (2022). Article: Determining cross-cultural mentorship readiness in counselor education and supervision programs. Teaching and Supervision in Counseling, 4(1).

NEW FACULTY/STAFF APPOINTMENTS

Keny Felix – Assistant Professor, Department of Counselor Education & Family Studies

Mary Beth Fogarty – Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work

Raquel Guidry-Davis – Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work

Kaitlin McIntosh – Assistant Professor, Department of Counselor Education & Family Studies

Bethany Poplin – Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work Cynthia Thompson – Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work

The DEPARTMENT of COMMUNITY CARE and COUNSELING

Trains individuals to be thoroughly competent professionals in the practice of agency and pastoral counseling, supported by a Christian worldview.

For more information: (434) 592-4049 | DCCC@liberty.edu

The DEPARTMENT of COUNSELOR EDUCATION & FAMILY STUDIES

Trains individuals to be thoroughly competent professionals in the practice of agency and counseling, supported by a Christian worldview, and meeting CACREP accreditation requirements..

For more information: (434) 592-4049 | Counseling@liberty.edu

The DEPARTMENT of PSYCHOLOGY

Provides students with the knowledge and skills required for the development of a biblically-integrated, evidence-based understanding of human psychology through practical application and research.

For more information: (434) 592-4038 | Psychology@liberty.edu

The DEPARTMENT of SOCIAL WORK

Develops Christ-centered social workers who are equipped with the skills, values, and knowledge to humbly lead in advancing the well-being of individuals and communities all around the world.

For more information: (434) 582-7570 | LUOSocialWork@liberty.edu

Kali Psychi (The Good Mind or Soul) is published for all faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of Liberty University’s School of Behavioral Sciences, and it is delivered through email and published online. We want to hear from you! Please let us know about the good work that you are doing in behavioral sciences and in the world as Liberty University community members, graduates, and professionals! Interested in contributing to the next issue of Kali Psychi? We welcome any relevant news, press releases, publications, or potential feature articles from faculty, students, or alumni.

Dr. Raquel Guidry-Davis is the incoming editor for Kali Psychi. She is excited to continue the work started by Dr. John Knox and looks forward to working alongside the School of Behavioral Sciences (SBS) faculty, staff, and students to highlight the impact of SBS at Liberty and across the world. Dr. Knox’s commitment to Kali Psychi and diligence in drafting the Fall 2022 edition are greatly appreciated.

For more information and to make contributions to upcoming editions, please contact the content editor, Dr. Guidry-Davis, at reubanks1@liberty.edu and note “For Kali Psychi” in email communications.

Training Champions for Christ since 1971