273 The Professional Counselor | Volume 14, Issue 3 appropriate. The PERMA-Profiler (Butler & Kern, 2016), a multidimensional scale that assesses the five pillars of well-being, has good reliability and acceptable levels of convergent, divergent, and criterion-related validity with student veterans (Umucu et al., 2020). The PERMA-Profiler may help researchers and counselors assess the well-being of individuals, including veterans, by providing an alternative path to conceptualizing psychological interventions (Umucu et al., 2020). Aim of the Study and Research Questions The primary objective of the present investigation was to assess the efficacy of the MBSP program concerning its impact on the levels of relationship satisfaction, mindfulness, and overall well-being among female survivors of MST. Simultaneously, this study sought to furnish valuable insights into the implementation of practical techniques rooted in mindfulness and character strengths that can facilitate the cultivation of robust and healthy relationships in this specific population. The research questions and hypotheses that guided the study were: RQ1. Is there a positive relationship between the use of the MBSP program and relationship satisfaction in females who experienced MST as measured by the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS)? H1: There will be a positive effect on relationship satisfaction of female survivors of MST after completing the MBSP program. RQ2. Will the MBSP program improve dispositional (trait) mindfulness as measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) in female survivors of MST? H2: The MBSP program will improve dispositional (trait) mindfulness in female survivors of MST. RQ3. What is the effect of the MBSP program on overall well-being in female survivors of MST as measured by the PERMA-Profiler? H3: The MBSP program will improve overall well-being in female survivors of MST. Method Recruitment and Screening Procedures In this research, a multifaceted recruitment strategy was employed, encompassing recruitment flyers, letters, referrals, and social media channels. Targeted areas included military behavioral clinics, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, private practices, and social media counseling groups. Word-of-mouth referrals were also completed. A prescreening phase, conducted by phone or online, featured two questions related to MST experiences, aligning with VA-MST criteria. Upon meeting the inclusion criteria (i.e., female, 18 years of age or older, veteran or active-duty service member, has experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault while serving in the U.S. military), participants then submitted demographic information online. A counselor-in-training (CIT) and Crystal M. Morris (first author and researcher) managed the pre-screening. Qualified individuals underwent a comprehensive trauma history and psychosocial interview led by Morris and the CIT as part of the screening process.
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