On 14 and 15 July, three doctoral candidates from North America will defend their doctoral thesis in the field of mental health and organizational psychology at the University of Twente. All three theses have been written by people with extensive practical experience who follow the line of ‘participatory action research’, which focuses on bringing together knowledge from the academic world and professional practice. Supervising professor Celeste Wilderom of the University of Twente explains “We are very proud that two prominent professors – husband and wife Kenneth and Mary Gergen – will take part in the doctoral defence of these students via Skype.”
The three doctoral theses, which are explained in brief below, follow the logic of social constructionism. This involves establishing a dialogue with all stakeholders from the research field in order to seek out new opportunities for professional practice, building on the recognized strengths within a community of practitioners. This approach to research is not new to the social sciences. Under the name ‘participatory action research’, it is an approach that has been experiencing a strong revival over the last three decades.
Kelly Swauger
Kelly Swauger is a University of Twente PhD student from Salisbury, North Carolina, USA. She is the Chief Nurse of Acute Care at the Salisbury Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In her research "Reconstructing Nurses' Relationships with Older Patients," Swauger explored how nurses can communicate with older patients such that independence, a sense of increased control, and competency are promoted. Swauger hopes to use her work to impact relationships between older patients and nurses that is grounded in I-Thou relationships (Buber, 1958) where mutuality and honesty prevail rather than I-It where the person is used as an object in need. She believes that when older patients feel valued and honored, nurses can open the door to healing, inspiration, and self-determination.
Shelly Bonnah
Shelly Bonnah is a University of Twente PhD student from British Columbia, Canada. She is a Clinical Director with Interior Community Services and an Associate with the Centre for Response-Based Practice. In her research proposal “Children’s Responses to Violence,” Bonnah demonstrated the ever-present resistance and capacities of young people through their micro interactions with perpetrators. Victims of violence always respond and resist, at all ages. Through this work, there is interest to further integrate an analysis of the oppression of children in many of the assessment and therapeutic models commonly used. Evidence of their capacity to act, care, and reflect as spirited beings can be found through their responses and resistances to violence, broadly defined. We can take children’s resistance seriously, not as symptoms of mental illness but rather as clear signs of mental wellness.
John “Lafe” Coppola
John “Lafe” Coppola is a PhD student, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and a partner at Warren Street Family Counseling Associates.In his research proposal: “Stealing Minutes: A Tri-Study of Reconstructing Self-Care for Mental Health Professionals,” John describes how the majority of approaches to self-care in the mental health field seem to revolve around activities that take place outside of the work environment or on supervision and policy level approaches. Using social constructionist and narrative principles, he created, implemented, and studied a series of workshops focused on intra-day approaches to self-care. His research may benefit therapists, educators, and other helping professionals in reducing stress in the workplace through providing simple and effective tools to use with clients, students and others.
Kenneth and Mary Gergen
Professor Mary Gergen has been head of psychology education at the University of Philadelphia, and her husband, Ken Gergen, is currently research professor at the very prestigious Swarthmore College (with a G(rade) P(point) A(verage) higher than Harvard), where he has been teaching for several decades (after having thaught at Harvard first). Their work is known and used all over the world, and has been acknowledged with numerous awards (prizes, honorable degrees, in both Europe and the USA).
Further details
The doctoral degree ceremonies will be held on 14 and 15 July in Room 4 of the Waaier Building at the University of Twente. The thesis supervisors are Professor C.P.M. Wilderom (Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences) and Professor S. McNamee. Times and dates per candidate: Swauger (14 July, 14.45), Bonnah (14 July, 16.45), Coppola (15 July, 16.45). For further information, members of the press should contact Martine van Hillegersberg.
