Dissertations

Date of Award

Winter 12-11-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Mental Health Counseling, School of

College

Pharmacy and Health Sciences, College of

First Advisor

Janet Hicks, PhD, LPC

Second Advisor

Jenel Cassidy, PhD, LPC-MHSP

Third Advisor

Kenneth Watford, DNP

Abstract

The impact of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is life changing for the women that are on the receiving end. Women survivors of breast cancer suffer a distress in their overall quality of life which includes physical well-being, psychological well-being, social well-being and spiritual well-being. Research has shown that quality of life is of great importance for the wellbeing of women survivors of breast cancer. Supports provided to women include medical interventions, counseling and support groups. When looking at supports for these women, there is a nontraditional form called Casting for Recovery (CfR). This group utilizes a wellness and nature- based retreat that encompasses both medical and psychosocial support for their participants. There has been more research as of late to support nature-based therapy as an intervention for women survivors of breast cancer. This study collected 142 surveys from the Casting for Recovery retreat, where participants answered the Quality of Life Instrument – Breast Cancer Patient Version to measure the physical, physiological, social and spiritual distress levels based on their stage of cancer: early stage, moderate stage, and advanced stage. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) analysis found that there was no statistically significant difference in the stage of breast cancer on physical, psychological, social and spatial distress levels in women with breast cancer following participation in the Casting for Recovery program.

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Available for download on Sunday, July 11, 2027

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