Theories, theoretical orientation, and theoretical dimensions: Comment on Poznanski and McLennan (1995).

J. J. Poznanski and J. McLennan's (see record 1996-07039-001) article helpfully integrates research on a topic of considerable importance. Their derivation of two second-order "factors" (analytic-experiential and objective-subjective), as well as five more specific factors, in theoretical orientation is particularly helpful. In this comment, I seek to clarify how therapists' preferences for certain techniques relate to theoretical orientation. Reasons for the slow pace of research on multi-item self-report measures of theoretical orientation are suggested, as is an alternative measurement approach to that recommended by Poznanski and McLennan. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to special issue.

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of two powerful, and seemingly contradictory, visions of what most fundamentally causes change in psychotherapy. One of these visions emphasizes the primacy of therapist technique. According to this viewpoint, it is the specific methods used by the psychotherapist that account for, by far, most of the variance in treatment outcome. This viewpoint is seen most notably in what have been termed the empirically supported treatments (EST) and evidence-based practices (EBP) movements. The second vision instead focuses on the patient-therapist relationship and so-called therapist-offered relationship qualities as the sine qua non of therapeutic effectiveness. Advocates of this viewpoint underscore research on the importance of relational qualities such as the therapeutic working alliance (or cohesion in groups) and therapist-offered conditions. While acknowledging the value of both visions noted above, this special issue of Psychotherapy is based on the notion that what matters most in psychotherapeutic treatments is the interplay of the two, of techniques and the therapeutic relationship. Technical factors and relational factors are indelible elements in each and every psychotherapy encounter, and the articles in this special issue explore and seek to uncover why this is so. The articles, in addition, seek to describe the complex ways in which technique and relationship interact with one another in different treatments, at different points in treatment, and in conjunction with still other variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quality of counselors' intake evaluations for clients with problems that are primarily vocational versus personal.

Compared the quality of 15 doctoral-level counselors' written evaluations following an initial interview with 113 17–36 yr old college students whose problems were judged to be primarily vocational, personal, or a mixture of the two. Overall, quality of intake evaluations was lower for vocational than for personal problems. Counselors' interest in doing intakes, studying the results of interest inventories, and doing vocational personal counseling related to the quality of their intake evaluations in various ways. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of counselor attire in an initial interview.

Examined the effect of counselor attire on clients' state anxiety, willingness to self-disclose, and preference to be counseled by the counselor seen in the study. Clients were 50 female undergraduates seen at an initial interview, and counselors were 3 male doctoral students in counseling psychology. Counselor attire was fixed at 3 levels: traditional (coat and tie), casual (sport shirt and slacks), and highly casual (sweat shirt and jeans). Clients experienced significantly lower anxiety with counselors in casual vs highly casual attire, although no differences emerged between traditionally and casually attired counselors. Client report of her own typical dress was a crucial moderator. Those whose attire was typically casual manifested the most positive reaction to traditionally attired counselors, whereas those whose dress was typically highly casual exhibited the most positive reaction to casually attired counselors. Contrary to expectation, client dogmatism did not moderate the effects of attire on the dependent variables. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-actualization in a marathon growth group: Do the strong get stronger?

Examined the effects of a weekend marathon on the level of self-actualization of 20 male and 8 female college students 1 and 4 wks after their group experience. The relationship between ego strength and extent of change in self-actualization during a marathon was also studied. Comparison of pre- and posttest scores on the Personal Orientation Inventory and Barron Ego-Strength scale indicate that, in general, the group experience did increase self-actualization and the effects persisted through the 4th wk afterward. The possibility of a sleeper effect is discussed, and hypotheses are offered regarding conditions necessary for such groups to be effective. Ss' initial level of ego strength was unrelated to changes in self-actualization. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Countertransference and empathy: The complex relationship between two divergent concepts in counseling.

Examined the relationship of 20 male counselor trainees' empathic ability (the Barret-Lennard Relationship Inventory) to measures of countertransference behavior and countertransference feelings toward 20 undergraduate female clients. It was expected that empathic ability would be negatively related to the manifestation of countertransference behavior, operationalized as the withdrawal of personal involvement, but positively related to self-reports of openness to countertransference feelings. Empathy was found to be negatively related to countertransference behavior with seductive female clients but not with hostile or neutral clients. Counselor empathic ability was positively related to counselor reports of openness to countertransference feelings. Findings suggest, however, that there was a limit to how often countertransference feelings could be experienced in a given counseling session without spilling over into countertransference behavior. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Describing the face of transference: Psychodynamic therapists' recollections about transference in cases of successful long-term therapy.

This study used the consensual qualitative research method to address questions about therapists' perceptions of transference in long-term therapy: How does transference operate? How is transference dealt with and resolved? What problems do therapists encounter with transference? Eleven dynamically oriented therapists were interviewed by phone about a successful case in which transference was an important part of treatment. On the basis of therapists' recollections, findings suggested that transference operated in a complex manner in terms of source, valence, themes, and the events influencing it; therapists used a wide range of techniques (nonanalytic and analytic) to deal with transference; working alliance, real relationship, and client emotional insight importantly influenced the resolution of transference; and a variety of countertransference reactions and mistakes were encountered when dealing with transference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subjects, designs, and generalizations in the Journal of Counseling Psychology: A comment on Scherman and Doan.

Responds to A. Scherman and R. E. Doan's (see record 1985-16260-001) indication that the Journal of Counseling Psychology (JCP) is primarily concerned with academic environments. The present author, who is editor of JCP, underscores the journal's interest in increasing the variety of the papers published and suggests reasons for low submission rates of papers based on nonuniversity samples. It is also argued that the issue of what kinds of limitations authors should note concerning generalization is more complex than implied by Scherman and Doan. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Editorial introduction.

This editorial discusses the Special Section on New Psychotherapy Treatments. The articles in this section each present individual studies of new psychotherapeutic treatments or literature reviews of research on such treatments. These studies do not meet what currently is viewed as the methodological gold standard for treatment outcome studies in our field. Instead, they generally represent beginning efforts at studying new treatments. They reflect the kinds of studies and reviews that have great heuristic potential, and they also ought to be of value to the psychotherapy practitioner. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Appreciating similarities and valuing differences: The Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale.

Universal-diverse orientation was defined as an attitude of awareness and acceptance of both the similarities and differences that exist among people. A 45-item scale developed to measure the construct was administered to 4 separate samples (ns?=? 93, 111, 153, and 135). Internal consistency and retest reliability for the Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale (M-GUDS) ranged from .89 to .95. The M-GUDS significantly correlated in theoretically predicted ways with measures of racial identity, empathy, healthy narcissism, feminism, androgyny, homophobia, and dogmatism (the last 2 correlations were negative). The M-GUDS displayed discriminant validity by failing to correlated with Scholastic Achievement Test Verbal Scores, although mixed results were obtained with social desirability. In summary, the data suggest considerable reliability and initial construct validity for the M-GUDS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)