https://sphere.acg.edu/jspui/handle/123456789/2286 2026-04-19T08:17:23Z https://sphere.acg.edu/jspui/handle/123456789/2537 Title: A qualitative study on the effectiveness of somatic psychotherapy and its impact on trauma and stress, from the Greek therapists’ perspective Authors: Chatzi, Ippolyti Abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness and impact of somatic psychotherapy (ST) in treating stress and trauma from the perspective of therapists practicing in Greece. The research was significant as it addressed the limitations of conventional talk therapies, which often failed to fully process trauma and highlighted the necessity for a more integrative approach involving the body, mind and spirit. Utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in-depth interviews with three certified somatic psychotherapists were analysed. The findings revealed key themes related to the therapists’ transition from traditional talk therapies to somatic practices, emphasizing that trauma and emotional distress were stored not only in the mind but also in the body, thus requiring a holistic treatment approach. The study identified challenges such as societal attitudes, cultural resistance to therapy, and the gradual adoption of somatic methods in Greece. These results contributed to the growing body of evidence supporting somatic psychotherapy as an effective treatment for stress and trauma, with recommendations for future research to expand empirical studies and address cultural factors influencing the adoption and practice of somatic therapy. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://sphere.acg.edu/jspui/handle/123456789/2531 Title: The effects of long-time sex work on male adult film actors’ personal relationships Authors: Chadderdon, Jason Abstract: Sex work is known as the oldest profession in the world. However, there is a serious lack of information and studies conducted on it. Sex work has been a part of all cultures throughout history. Stigmatization has followed this profession throughout all of this. There is limited research on the needs and lives of sex workers. There is even less information and research on male sex workers. Most studies on male sex workers have focused on HIV/STDs or substance use. This IPA qualitative study is a more personal and intimate look into the lives of four male sex workers. The results of the study revealed four major superordinate themes of sexual evolution, compromising personal relationships, splitting between professional ands private selves and going against stereotypes. These four main themes were broken down into eleven subthemes such as “Intimacy Over Sex,” “Dating Issues,” “Fragmented Identity” and “Positive Experiences.” It was found that acts of emotional labor with clients could be both harmful and helpful for the workers. Most of the participants in this study enjoyed their years as a sex worker which is in contrast to other existing studies which found the opposite, this difference could be related to the gender of the study participants. There is a need for more mental health services for male sex workers and it is suggested that one way to reach this underserved population is by working within their community itself through programs involving peer counseling and more extensive training for practitioners. 2023-03-01T00:00:00Z https://sphere.acg.edu/jspui/handle/123456789/2530 Title: Searching for meaning in coincidences & psychological well-being: Resilience-building or risk-factor Authors: Oikonomopoulos, Antonios Abstract: For some individuals, meaningful coincidences are perceived as “mere” coincidences, while others consistently find meaning and purpose in them. Emerging empirical evidence has suggested a positive influence of the phenomenon on mental health, yet findings are limited and mixed. The present study assessed the capacity of synchronicity experiences to predict psychological outcomes and to explore the potential influence of relevant moderators. 112 participants (65 female) based in Greece completed self-report measures assessing synchronicity awareness and meaning-detection, paranoid ideation, emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), positive and negative affect, spirituality, and life satisfaction. Our results revealed that meaning detection predicted higher levels of positive affect overall, and it was associated with higher life satisfaction for those with average or above average spirituality, and cognitive reappraisal. Gender-specific analyses revealed that for males, via the moderation of higher cognitive reappraisal or lower spirituality, meaning detection predicted paranoid ideation and expressive suppression, respectively. For females, meaning-detection predicted positive outcomes (increased life satisfaction, reduced expressive suppression and reduced negative affect), moderated by cognitive reappraisal. Insights on the interplay of synchronicity experiences, gender, emotion regulation, affect, spirituality, and psychological well-being are discussed, along with the present study’s clinical implications, signaling the need for further research on the phenomenon. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://sphere.acg.edu/jspui/handle/123456789/2529 Title: Putting the other first; Psychotherapists lived experience of Agape in the therapeutic relationship Authors: Tsiros, Ioannis Abstract: This study is concerned with the lived experiences of psychotherapists’ and counseling psychologists’ love (agape) towards their clients. Different theorists refer to the agape as a type of love that is suitable in the therapeutic context. Therapist’s agape could be a necessary and sufficient condition in order for what Bowlby named a secure attachment between therapist and client, a model of relationship that predicts improved therapy outcome. The individual meaning of the therapist’s agape for the client is examined by interviewing five Greek experienced psychotherapists. Major themes include Love in the Therapeutic Relationship, Manifestations of Therapist’s Love , Effects of Love on the Client, Therapist’s Experience of Love, Risks and Dangers of Love and Train to Love. Results are discussed as well as implications for psychotherapeutic practice and further research. 2024-10-10T00:00:00Z