Intended Date of Award
2025
Degree Name
Doctorate in Management and Public Service (DMPS)
Chair
Dr. Kris Norman, PhD
Vice-Chair
Dr. Jeannie Entenza, PhD
Committee Member
Cyndie Cunningham, LCSW
Abstract
Abstract
Leadership in healthcare is difficult when dealing with human contact in its most raw and vulnerable way. Leadership in behavioral health is just as challenging as direct practice practitioners tend to be the ones who move up into these roles. This study will exam “Identifying factors that promote successful leadership and challenges that cause barriers to having successful leadership in behavioral health.” This includes soft and hard skill knowledge, growth opportunities and the strengths and struggles in moving into leadership roles in this industry.
The study is based on phenomenological research to gain an understanding of the individual experience of those that have been in a leadership role in behavioral health. The hermeneutic circle is used to continue to revise interpretation of these experiences as more information, knowledge and understanding continue to enfold. (Peoples, 2021). This was done through a recorded interview of nine participants who have been in behavioral health leadership for at least 1 year. Through their individual experiences, themes of skills they had going into leadership, those they felt were not prepared for, what makes a good leader, things to learn from and challenges for new leader were identified. There were several recommendations that came from these themes from this research for emerging leaders, current behavioral health leaders and future research opportunities in leadership in behavioral health.
Recommended Citation
McCoy, Rebecca, "Leadership in Behavioral Health" (2025). School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations. 42.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hsb_all/42
Committee Signature Page
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations
Included in
Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Community Health Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Nonprofit Studies Commons, Organization Development Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons