Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Lisa Van Getson, APRN, DNP, FNP-C

Second Advisor

Susanne M. Cutshall, APRN, DNP, CNS

Third Advisor

Michelle Ullery, DNP, APRN, CNP

Abstract

Unresolved trauma can result in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can affect a

woman’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Women presenting to the primary clinical setting with symptoms or a diagnosis of PTSD are commonly prescribed medications and psychotherapy. Medications and psychotherapy address emotional and mental health but fail to address the woman’s spiritual and physical health. Primary Health Care Providers need to be aware of possible complementary therapies that would be beneficial to their patients with PTSD that would address the spiritual and physical aspects of the disease process. Traumatized women tend to ‘wear’ the identity given to them by their abuser, which hinders the woman in their healing process. This project aims to see if the implementation of Holy Yoga as a complementary therapy would be a viable treatment option for women with PTSD. Holy Yoga is the practice of physical poses and breath work while meditating on God’s Word. A particular focus was on creating Holy Yoga sessions that spoke to who God says they are to develop new neuropaths. Two 45- minute Holy Yoga sessions were held at an urban primary care Christian counseling office and were overseen by a licensed sponsor therapist. A total of 17 women attended the Holy Yoga sessions, and 16 out of 17 women enthusiastically stated they felt Holy Yoga would be an excellent addition to their PTSD treatment. Jean Watson’s concept of Caring plays an integral part in the overarching theme of this scholarly project.

Identifier

SC 11.DNP.2023.McKinney.J

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