Westminster Psychology Professor and Student Present Research

Dr. Kirk Lunnen, assistant professor of psychology at Westminster College, recently presented "A Multi-Perspective Examination of Therapist Self-Disclosure" at the Psychotherapy Research meeting in Utah.

 "The real story is that this presentation was a collaborative project with senior psychology major Brooke Arens," Lunnen said.  "We found that therapists tend to underestimate how much clients/patients want to know about them (the therapists) and underestimate the impact of personal information on the therapeutic process itself."

 "I am excited that my capstone research was accepted as a panel presentation at this meeting," Arens said.  "Dr. Lunnen is my research advisor for capstone."

  The final component of Liberal Studies at Westminster is a senior capstone course, which is at least a four-semester-hour course within the major designed to provide an opportunity for students to evaluate and assess the strengths and limitations of their major field.

 Arens is a daughter of Brent and Beverly Maguire, Erie, and a graduate of Meadville Area High School.

 Lunnen, who has been with Westminster since 2002, earned his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University, and his master's and Ph.D. from Ohio University.

 For more information, contact Lunnen at (724) 946-7203 or e-mail lunnenkm@westminster.edu.

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