Heiser, Sophia R

Email Address
ORCID
Disciplines
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Position
Introduction
Research Interests

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    The Art of Flourishing: Integrating Positive Psychology with Art Therapy to Promote Growth from Trauma
    (2020-08-10) Heiser, Sophia R
    This capstone project analyzes potential opportunities for integration between the fields of positive psychology and art therapy in the treatment of trauma. The experience of trauma is widespread: between 60-89% of people will likely experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime (Kilpatrick, Resnick, & Acierno, 2009; Mills et al., 2011; Resnick et al., 1993). Extensive research on trauma over the past few decades has been essential to more deeply understand trauma and recovery. Still, traumatized persons deserve the opportunity to not just survive, but flourish. After reviewing valuable historical information on both fields, four related positive psychology constructs of meaning, posttraumatic growth, optimism, and hope are discussed and practical opportunities for integration are considered. Current and well-researched interventions in positive psychology are reviewed, and a call to action is made to develop a growth-based trauma-informed art therapy approach.
  • Publication
    From Burnout to Wellness: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Shift MidMichigan Health towards a Strengths-based Perspective
    (2020-05-01) Chohan, Kunal; Fetzer, Karen; Heiser, Sophia R; Norman, Seth
    Over half of providers in the healthcare field experience burnout. Burnout syndrome is defined by the prolonged psychological and physiological response to chronic and interpersonal job stressors, and can result in a number of symptoms that negatively affect workplace morale and performance, including physical exhaustion, job dissatisfaction, and feelings of hopelessness. MidMichigan Health (MMH), a division of the University of Michigan Health system that serves nearly 1 million people in Michigan, has created the Provider Wellness and Burnout Council (PWBC) to address issues of burnout within the organization. To build on their initial work, we propose a long-term intervention based on the science of physician well-being, appreciative inquiry, goal-setting, and employee engagement. This intervention is intended to promote well-being among MMH providers through the creation of a clear, robust positive vision for provider well-being that involves all organization stakeholders throughout the development and execution of this vision. In light of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent strain on our nation’s healthcare resources, we have also proposed a short-term intervention for addressing provider well-being by sharing with providers easy, evidence-based resilience interventions.