1. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
Dissertation
Passeddissertationdefense 03/19/15
Due to my theological backgroundIaminterestedinhow one’sspiritual/religiousunderstandingcan
supportor detract frompeople’scopingabilityinrelationtostress, depression,grief,andanxiety.
The Experience of Surrender in Cancer Survivors Participating in
Psycho-Spiritual Integrative Therapy
Fewinterventionsincorporate spiritual andpsychological dimensionsintotreatmentsforpeople with
cancer. Psycho-SpiritualIntegrative Therapy(PSIT) incorporatesbothdimensionsintotreatment.An
importantcomponentof PSIT,spiritual surrender,couldbe instrumental inaperson’smovementfrom
distresstowell-being;however,investigationsregardingthe experience of spiritual surrenderremain
sparse.The researcheruseda social constructivismparadigminthisqualitative multiplecase study
researchmethodof archival data consistingof interviewsandsurrenderquestionnairesof 12
participants.Thismethodologyacknowledgesdiversitybetweenandwithincasessupportingthe
delineationof findingsamongthe cases.The researcherselectedthese participantsbecause they
reportedspiritual surrenderexperienceswithrichdescriptionsfromwhichthe researcherexploredthe
question:Howandinwhat diverse waysdid12 cancer survivorswhoparticipatedinaPSIT8-weekgroup
interventionexperience spiritual surrender?Seventhemesemergedfromthe analysisof the cases:(a)
psychological barriers,(b)self-acceptance,(c) religious/spiritual background; (d) transformative short
and long-termeffects;(e) Divinityof me; (f) culture andspirituality; and(g) unique experiencesof the
Divine.Psychological barriersprohibitedthe surrenderprocessfor2 participants.Self-acceptance
supported9 participants’surrenderprocess.Participantswithareligious/spiritualbackground,who
were able tointegrate the skillslearnedinthe PSITintervention,reportedtheirsurrenderexperience to
be positive forboththe short-termandlong-term.