Aguilar, Rosana M.

Clausen, June Madsen

Foster Care Research Group

Lemley, Breniel Q

Rhodes, Audrey

English

University of San Francisco

The University of San FranciscoUSF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library |Geschke CenterPsychology College of Arts and Sciences2013The Impact of Open Ended Psychotherapy withAdults Formerly in Foster CareAudrey RhodesUniversity of San Francisco, aerhodes@usfca.eduBreniel Q. LemleyUniversity of San Francisco, bqlemley@usfca.eduRosana M. AguilarUniversity of San Francisco, rmaguilar@usfca.eduJune Madsen ClausenUniversity of San Francisco, clausenj@usfca.eduFoster Care Research GroupFollow this and additional works at: http://repository.usfca.edu/psycPart of the Psychology CommonsThis Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Arts and Sciences at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library |Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Psychology by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ GleesonLibrary | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact repository@usfca.edu.Recommended CitationRhodes, Audrey; Lemley, Breniel Q.; Aguilar, Rosana M.; Clausen, June Madsen; and Foster Care Research Group, "The Impact ofOpen Ended Psychotherapy with Adults Formerly in Foster Care" (2013). Psychology. Paper 10.http://repository.usfca.edu/psyc/10.                           .                           . . The Impact of Open Ended Psychotherapy with Adults Formerly in Foster Care BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE RESULTS DISCUSSION RESULTS Audrey Rhodes, Breniel Lemley, Rosana M. Aguilar, and June Madsen Clausen, Ph.D. University of San Francisco •  Former foster youth who began treatment as adults experienced significant reduction in depression and anxiety over the course of a one year treatment.  •  Non-significant trends suggest a decrease in sleep problems, substance use/abuse, and improvement in patients’ relationships with peers, each of which often presents obstacles for former foster youth trying to function in society while attempting to cope with past traumas.  •  Emotional development improved overall, which suggests that these young adults may be more able to cope with their past, and have improved mental health capacity in the future.  •  Limitations of the current study include small sample size, potential bias of therapist informants, and lack of a comparison group. Future research should include interviews with adult patients in order to allow comparison between therapist and patient reports.   RESULTS Parameters of Treatment •  Average Duration: 1.19 years  (SD = 1.15 years) •  Frequency: 42.9% once per week, 57.1% once  every other week. Measures Semi-structured telephone interviews including questions about therapist and patient demographics, patient symptoms, treatment progress, and treatment approach.  Procedure • Initial Telephone Interview with therapists at the start of treatment. • Exit Telephone Interview with therapists after termination of treatment.                 METHOD Patient Demographics (n = 7) • Mean age = 21.11 years (SD = 2.52 years) •  100% female METHOD Clinician Participants (n = 7) •  100% female •  Mean age = 54.79 years (SD =9.99 years) •  71.4% White; 14.3% Asian/Pacific Islander; 14.3%  Multiple Ethnicities •  M= 14.21 years clinical experience (SD= 9.21 years) Changes in Treatment Outcomes   Start  of Treatment End of Treatment   Symptoms n Mean SD Mean SD sig. value Depression 7 .3595 .9511 .1429 .3780 .005 Anxiety 7 .4041 1.069 .3086 .8165 .017 Problems with Current Living Situation 6 .3073 .7528 .4014 .9832 .076 School Problems 7 .2020 .5345 .0000 .0000 .078 Substance Use/ Abuse 6 .4944 1.2111 .3333 .8165 .175 Dissociative Symptoms 7 .4738 1.254 .2857 .7559 .200 Sleep Problems 7 .5216 1.380 .2020 .5345 .220 Suicidality 7 .5654 1.4960 .1429 .3780 .231 Self Injurious Behavior 7 .4286 1.1334 .2857 .7559 .356 Eating Problems 7 .5533 1.4639 .2020 .5345 .356 Risk Taking 7 .4738 1.2536 .3688 .9759 .356 Problems with Family of Origin 7 .4286 1.134 .5084 1.345 .356 Transiency 7 .1428 .3779 .0000 .0000 .356 Anger Problems 4 .7500 1.500 .5000 1.000 .391 Learning Problems 7 .2974 .7868 .4286 1.134 .788 Psychotic Behaviors/ Thoughts 7 .1428 .3779 .1428 .3779 1.000 Sexual Behaviors 7 .5714 1.519 .4286 1.134 1.000 Peer Relationship Problems 7 .3595 .9511 .2857 .7559 1.000 Symptom Scale:  1=None, 2= Mild, 3= Moderate, 4= Severe, 5=Extreme L.M.F.T. 2 29% L.C.S.W 1 14% Psychologist 4 57% Clinician Licensure White 1 15% African American 4 57% Hispanic 1 14% Multiple Ethicities 1 14% Patient Ethnicity 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 Psychodynamic Family Systems Humanistic Cognitive Behavioral Psychoanalytic Other N=5 N=5 N=4 N=4 N=3 N=2 Number of Responses Therapist Approaches to Treatment Moderate Developmental Delays 29% Mild Developmental Delays 14% Development within Normal Range 57% Developmentally Advanced 0% Therapist Rating of Emotional Development at Start of Treatment Moderate Developmental Delays 0% Mild Developmental Delays 43% Development within Normal Range 43% Developmentally Advanced 14% Therapist Rating of Emotional Development at Termination of Treatment • Young adults who emancipate from foster care demonstrate emotional instability as a result of their experienced maltreatment, the trauma of subsequent removal from their homes, and the instability and uncertainty of the foster care experience. • Former foster youth demonstrate high rates of  mental health problems, typically do not receive appropriate mental health interventions, and are often homeless, unemployed, unexpectedly pregnant, and incarcerated. • Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of psychotherapy with adults in the general population; however, little is known about  effective treatments for young adults formerly in foster care. • The current study explored the impact of  open-ended, relationship based treatment provided to adults who were previously in foster care. Treatment was delivered by licensed clinicians through a national non-profit organization that provides pro-bono mental health treatment to current and former foster youth with one therapist “for as long as it takes”. 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 Neglect Parental Inability to Caretake Physical Abuse Emotional Abuse Positive Toxicology Voluntary Placement N=4 N=4 N=2 N=2 N=2 N=1 Number of Responses  Reasons for Entry Foster Care Research Group Department of Psychology (415) 422-5321 fcrg@usfca.edu Contact Information 

The Impact of Open Ended Psychotherapy with Adults Formerly in Foster Care

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The Impact of Open Ended Psychotherapy with Adults Formerly in Foster Care

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