Adolescents are often labeled as “resistant” to psychotherapy. Rather than blaming adolescent clients or psychotherapists, this article conceptualizes adolescent resistance as normal behavior emanating from a challenging situation. Based on a developmentally sensitive foundation and drawing from person-centered, motivational, solution-focused, choice theory, cognitive-behavioral, and multicultural perspectives, several practical and evidence-based strategies for managing, reducing, or eliminating ...

Values-based practice is a new skills-based approach to working with complex and conflicting values in health care. In this paper we outline the point of values-based practice (to support balanced decision making), its premise (in respect for differences of values) and the ten elements of the process by which it supports balanced decision making in practice. We ...

Since the term schizophrenia was coined, the disorder has been linked to experiences of self-diminishment. This link calls for theoretical work that helps us understand experiences of diminishment wherein persons find themselves less than they once were but nevertheless able to recognize and describe their diminishment. In response this paper describes how dialogical psychology may help us both understand ...

The cohort of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosed as part of the first wave of what is often referred to as the autism epidemic is rapidly approaching adulthood. This cohort represents only the proverbial tip of the iceberg with some reports noting that 70% of the currently identified individuals with ASD are less than 14-years old. These ...

The attention training technique (ATT) is a cognitive treatment method that is aimed at ameliorating intrusive thoughts in anxiety disorders. To the best of our knowledge, no randomized controlled study has yet been conducted on individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). For the present study, we recruited 80 participants with OCD over the internet and allocated them to an experimental (...

Relativism as an ideal of postmodern informed therapy remains a topic of debate. The thesis that no truth in conversation is privileged over and above another appears to leave the impression that a narrator can shape any preferred version of reality. This has often led to accusations of ideological neglect of issues such as power abuse, and cultural or political ...

The mental health needs of Muslims are considered in the context of their religious and family values, expectations of therapy, intra-group diversity and a hostile post-9/11 environment in the US. SFBT is different from traditional modes of psychotherapy due to its emphasis on minimal self-disclosure, short-term treatment, empowerment and a positive orientation. The review of ...

The intrapsychic mechanism of remission in a forensic psychiatric patient with narcissistic personality disorder and comorbid antisocial features is examined. The positive impact of a therapeutic and academic program on the patient’s development and recovery and correlated increase of true self-love is analyzed and discussed. Real self-love appeared to be associated with stable selfesteem and enhancement of self-...

Recent research literature in the field of personal therapy for psychotherapists shows that therapists claim overwhelmingly positive outcomes with few negative effects (Orlinsky et al., The Psychotherapist’s own psychotherapy: Patient and clinician perspectives. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005). However, there has been little interest to date in the extent to which the personal characteristics of therapists might have a bearing ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 123-124, 2011]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/48071534Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:19:26 GMT48071534James C. Overholserview publication

Scholarship plays a central role in clinical psychology. However, writing for publication and reviewing for journals both require a substantial investment of time and energy. Several recommendations are provided to improve the quality of manuscripts that are submitted for publication. First, prospective authors are encouraged to focus on their own novel and useful ideas that remain clearly focused on psychological ...

Informed by the practice of code-switching or style-switching in linguistics, “bilingual therapeutics” is proposed as the complementary integration of two evidence-based practices in psychotherapy: motivational interviewing (MI) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Unique features of MI and DBT are presented, current research of each practice is reviewed, and their similarities and distinctions are discussed. It is proposed ...

Recent years have seen theory and research in psychiatry and psychotherapy identifying which facets of the psychopathology of personality disorders (PD) should be treatment targets. This paper focuses on four elements: a) impoverished autobiographical narrative/use of generalized memory; b) lack of conscious sense of agency; c) poor awareness of emotions and their triggers; d) loss of fantasy/reality distinction. ...

Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy posits that human life has purpose and that human beings are motivated to discover meaning in their lives. This paper’s objective is to present a case for incorporating meaning into couples therapy as a way of enhancing a clinician’s existing approach. Logotherapy is a potentially useful modality, regardless of the clinician’s theoretical orientation, given its collaborative nature ...

This case series aims to examine the preliminary efficacy, acceptability and feasibility of Family-Based Treatment to promote weight restoration in young adults with anorexia nervosa. Four young adults with sub/threshold anorexia nervosa were provided 11–20 sessions of Family-Based Treatment for young adults with pre-, post- and follow-up assessments. At post- and follow-up, 3/4 ...

The authors report the results of a pilot project to introduce the STEPPS (systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving) treatment program for persons with borderline personality disorder (BPD) to the United Kingdom. STEPPS combines cognitive-behavioral principles and skills training with a systems component that includes family members and significant others. STEPPS was developed to supplement the patient’s ...

Although traditional cognitive behavioral treatments for insomnia have demonstrated efficacy for many individuals with primary and comorbid insomnia, not all individuals benefit from treatment and some experience a subsequent relapse of insomnia. Furthermore, many individuals experience difficulty in implementing the sleep restriction and stimulus control strategies, especially over the long-term. The current article describes ways in which principles from ...

The present study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of a day treatment program for 55 eating disordered (ED) patients using clinical and statistical significance testing. Results indicated a statistically significant reduction on all eating disordered outcomes. With respect to clinical significance testing, analysis of these data indicated that the majority of the individuals in the day treatment program made ...

The emergence of EBT expanded the landscape of good psychotherapy to include clinically relevant science, specificity of clinical process based on comprehensive conceptual/theoretical principles, and the ability to systematically apply and adapt those principles within the complex relational context, in which all family therapy occurs. Yet, EBT has sparked a major debate in the field that is also represented ...

Although traumatic experiences are relatively common, there is wide variability in individuals’ responses to them. This study examined trauma exposure, meaning making efforts (indexed by post-traumatic cognitions), and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTS) in a non-clinical volunteer student sample (N = 631). We further examined the moderating role of gender, the importance of trauma type (interpersonal vs. non-interpersonal), ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 103-104, 2010]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457361Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:19:04 GMT34457361Anne Thériault, Nicola Gazzolaview publication

This study focused on novice therapists’ feelings of incompetence (FOI). FOI are moments where therapists’ beliefs in their abilities, judgment, and/or effectiveness is diminished, reduced, or challenged internally. In order to get at the subtleties of this internal and subjective process, ten novice therapists were interviewed for approximately 90 min using a semi-structured interview protocol. The interviews were analyzed ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 63-63, 2010]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457379Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:19:02 GMT34457379Barry A. Tannerview publication

The use of outcome measurement in psychotherapy practice is briefly discussed, as is Jacobson and Truax’s (J Consult Clin Psychol 59:12–19, 1991) conception of clinically significant change. A more flexible and user friendly application of clinically significant change compatible with clinical judgment is proposed for psychotherapy practice. Examples are given and a free Windows program is described for ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 245-246, 2010]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457360Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:19:00 GMT34457360Peter A. Weissview publication

The present article proposes a method, practiced by the author, to adapt time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP), a short-term individual psychodynamic therapy, for use with inpatient psychotherapy groups. Characteristics of TLDP which suggest the usefulness of such an adaptation, including short-term duration, specific treatment focus, rapid conceptualizations and broad selection of patients, and emphasis on the here-and-...

Social Responsibility Therapy (SRT) aims to increase socially responsible behavior, decrease harmful, abusive behavior and address contemporary issues in harmful behavior-specific treatment. SRT combines evidence-based interventions that use different methods and pathways to increase intervention intensity and therapeutic pressure towards positive change. The strength-based aspect of SRT develops social maturity and emotional maturity as competing factors to ...

This paper describes a trajectory by which an individual achieves expertise in group psychotherapy. Five developmental stages are posited. In the decisional-anticipatory stage, interest is developed in group psychotherapy. In the trainee stage, the individual masters the knowledge base of group psychotherapy and obtains fledgling experiences in a group. In the novice stage, the individual obtains additional experience in ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 183-184, 2010]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457364Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:18:56 GMT34457364C. Edward Watkins Jrview publication

In this paper, five values—diversity, science, education, practice, and spirit—(a) are examined within the professional context of psychotherapy, (b) are presented as forming the foundation of much if not all that is psychotherapy, and (c) are considered as binding values that join us as a community of practicing, theorizing, and researching psychotherapists. Some of the positives of each ...

The term ‘scientist-practitioner’ has never been defined in clear or objective terminology. Detailed criteria may help to guide new generations of clinical psychologists to live by the ideals of the Boulder model. Ten criteria are proposed for evaluating the scientist-practitioner in clinical psychology across three domains: scholarship, clinical practice, and the integration of science and practice in psychology. ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 61-62, 2010]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457383Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:18:53 GMT34457383Robert D. Friedbergview publication

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 181-182, 2010]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457342Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:18:52 GMT34457342Roger P. Greenberg, Elizabeth Davis Goldman(Citations:2)view publication

Psychotherapy and antidepressant medications are the two preeminent treatment choices for depression. This article puts each of these treatments into perspective by presenting an overview of what is currently known about their effectiveness either singly or in combination. Discussion of placebos, common factors among therapies, relapse rates, depression severity, patient treatment preferences and exaggerations in pharmaceutical advertising provide guidance for ...

In the present study, potential MMPI-2 predictors of psychotherapy outcome were examined in a community clinical sample of 51 patients seeking treatment at a university training clinic. Results indicated that particular MMPI-2 scales (L, F, Pd, Pa, Sc, Trt) were the most predictive of initial levels of patient distress, whereas three other clinical scales (Hs, D, Hy) were ...

The delivery of psychological services has become more differentiated and more specialized over the last three decades. The newest, and perhaps potentially most significant, direction for psychology is the drive toward prescriptive authority for appropriately trained licensed psychologists. This direction is more an outcome of the overall changes in the role of psychology in health care than a particular usurpation ...

Sexual side effects of antidepressant medications are far more common than initially reported, and their scope, quality, and duration remain poorly captured in the literature. Antidepressant treatment emergent sexual dysfunctions may decrease clients’ quality of life, complicate psychotherapy, and damage the treatment alliance. Potential damage to the treatment alliance is greatest when clients have not been adequately informed of risks ...

The STAR*D (Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression) project was the largest and most extensive trial of antidepressants ever conducted. The study used state of- the-art methods to treat real patients coming to a hospital or psychiatric clinic for relief from depression. Because the first antidepressant is often ineffective for most patients, a sequence of drug treatments targeting ...

A conceptual frame of reference called The River is presented for training of beginning psychotherapists. Using metaphors, trainees are taught specific tools (Equipment) and to identify salient features of the therapy process (Topography) by means of a series of metaphors for the process elements of timing and of level of intervention. Student therapist feedback indicated that this model facilitated learning ...

Psychology has been fractionated from mainstream healthcare delivery and this schism has resulted in huge costs to psychologists and our intended customers. Psychology has also been naïve economically. The authors suggest three revolutions: (1) for clinical psychology to be better integrated into the healthcare delivery system; (2) for psychologists to better understand healthcare economics and business; and (3) for psychologists...

Psychologists who have historically focused on relationships have tended to underestimate the radical nature of human relationship. A “serious” or an ontological relationality would change the nature of psychotherapy. We describe this change in a discussion of two approaches to relationship, weak and strong relationality. We argue that weak relationality, the general conception of relationship in mainstream psychology, does not ...

Although dysfunctional beliefs about gambling outcomes among problem gamblers have been well-established, there is less known about whether specifically treating such beliefs is necessarily more effective than other therapeutic approaches. In the present study, brief, homogenous treatments for problem gambling (i.e., cognitive, behavioral, motivational, minimal intervention) were compared to each other. Each intervention was based on approaches empirically ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 209-210, 2009]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457352Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:18:30 GMT34457352Edwin L. Herschview publication

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 211-212, 2009]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457354Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:18:29 GMT34457354Troy W. Ertelt, Joanna M. Marino, James E. Mitchell, Kathy Lancasterview publication

Compulsive buying disorder is a condition characterized by repeated episodes of unnecessary, excessive purchases. These behaviors are frequently accompanied by negative mood states that are reduced by compulsive buying. Those with compulsive buying disorder are also observed to have a number of highly comorbid disorders. This clinical presentation creates a complex set of symptoms of which clinicians must be mindful ...

Stressful life events can increase the risk for developing a variety of physical disorders and emotional problems. A biopsychosocial approach can help mental health professions to better understand and more effectively treat disorders that are related to severe negative life events. Biological approaches focus on suppressing emotional reactions, usually through a reliance on psychopharmacological interventions. Psychological approaches usually focus on ...

This article reviews existing research pertaining to antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, and their combined efficacy in the treatment of clinical depression in youth. Based on this review, we recommend that youth depression and its treatment can be readily understood from a social-psycho-bio model. We maintain that this model presents an alternative conceptualization to the dominant biopsychosocial model, which implies ...

Contributors to a theme issue were invited to address two questions: (a) What revolution would you like to see in the field of psychotherapy? (b) What makes it revolutionary? That is, how and why is it revolutionary? In a spirit of helping contributors do their job, an attempt is made to clarify the meaning of a revolutionary new idea in ...

Several novel therapeutic approaches are explored around a brain-based premise. The conceptual platform is Baltes’s holistic “Bio-cultural Co-constructivism,” which situates humans in their environmental and biological settings. Rehearsal and habit are at the core of this approach, which leads to gene-expression and obviates the need for the construct psyche. Clinics are viewed as confessionals for ...

The case is that, with regard to revolutionary new ideas, the field of psychotherapy (a) has a glaring absence of indicators of open-mindedness; (b) is distinctly and conspicuously closed-minded; (c) this closed-mindedness is extreme, and differentiates the field from many other fields; and (d) the field is essentially barricaded against knowing that it is so conspicuously closed-...

This article proposes four revolutions in psychotherapy. The first revolution invites therapists to focus on building client’s strengths rather than patching up weaknesses. The second revolution proposes a technique of translating symptoms into gifts. The third revolution invites therapists to consider alternative goals of psychotherapy other than returning the client to previous levels of functioning. Finally, the fourth revolution challenges ...

Journal: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 145-146, 2009]]>http://academic.research.microsoft.com/Publication/34457311Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:18:21 GMT34457311Piero De Giacomo, Luciano L’Abate, Francesco Margari, Andrea De Giacomo, Wanda Santamato, Rita Masellis(Citations:2)view publication

After a brief exposition of Elementary Pragmatic Model about changes in dyadic interactions, the validity and clinical usefulness of the model was evaluated with a newly created test, called SISCI-Sentences. This test is composed of 90 Sentences with strong psychological impact. Administration of this test to non-clinical and clinical participants produced statistically significant differences between the choices of ...

Using more precise methodology, the current study investigated expectations of psychotherapy duration for specific disorders. Duration expectations were obtained for young adults and compared to those obtained from psychotherapists as reported by Lowry and Ross (Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training 34:272–277, 1997). Results revealed that expected duration for young adults by disorder was quite similar to the psychotherapists, ...

The majority of the empirically validated interventions for relational distress focus primarily upon improving behavioral functioning, particularly couples’ communication patterns in conflict situations. However, although communication is highly predictive of relationship distress and later divorce, research on the effectiveness of premarital and marital interventions based on communication training has shown limited results. Therefore, although the skills-based approaches can be ...

Psychodynamic group therapy offers many opportunities for members to identify, understand, and change the underlying problems, which lead to their aggressive behavior. In addition, group therapy can help to improve the members’ interpersonal relationships. The “Coping with Aggression” is comprised of three groups. A psychodynamic group of assaultive men made up the first group. The second group consisted of two ...

Teaching communication techniques to couples is a common way for therapists to begin treatment. In many cases, couples then use these newly acquired skills to express negative or even hostile information to each other, sometimes doing more harm than good to the relationship. Based upon years of clinical experience with hundreds of couples in treatment, this article presents the idea ...

We describe a number of ways in which two major components of client uncertainty, namely, self-concept clarity and intolerance of uncertainty may either facilitate or impede change in psychotherapy. Clients with low self-concept clarity find it much more difficult to clearly identify and understand their problematic thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; thus slowing down their progress through the various ...