Effects of therapist response modes in brief psychotherapy.

We examined therapist response modes in 127 sessions of eight cases of brief psychotherapy with experienced therapists and anxious-depressed clients. Response modes had a significant effect on immediate outcome, with self-disclosure, interpretation, approval, and paraphrase being the most helpful response modes. Therapist response modes were then examined in conjunction with therapist intentions and client experiencing in the previous speaking turn, both of which accounted for more of the variance in immediate outcome than did response modes. Large individual differences were found in frequency of use and effectiveness of the response modes for different clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contingent and non-contingent therapist response.

Examines the questions of whether, when, and how it is possible for the therapist not to respond contingently to varying behavior by the patient; also, under what circumstances such noncontingent response is desirable. C. B. Truax's (see record 1966-04313-001) classic study of C. Rogers' contingent behavior is reexamined. Extreme versions of Skinnerian and "humanistic" orientations are criticized, and the question of precisely where the therapist ought to try to exert his influence and where the patient's choices are "none of his business" is addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of thought-listing rating methods.

Compared 3 methods of rating thoughts: self-ratings, rating by experts with thoughts presented randomly, and rating by experts with thoughts presented in context. 107 university students enrolled in rhetoric classes listed their thoughts prior to giving a speech and completed a personal report of confidence as a speaker. Results indicate that all 3 methods of rating thoughts were equal in predictions of speech anxiety and performance. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of patient and therapist evaluations of time-limited psychotherapy.

Obtained empirical data regarding the degree of congruence between therapists' and patients' evaluations of brief psychotherapy on a session-by-session basis and posttreatment and compared these data with predictions derived from J. Mann's (1973) model of the process of brief psychotherapy. 28 17–34 yr old students who were seen in brief psychotherapy (6–22 sessions) by 6 university mental health staff served as Ss. Patients and therapists completed an evaluative questionnaire at the conclusion of each session and at 1–4 wks posttreatment. Sessions were treated as falling into the early, middle or final phase of treatment by dividing the total number of sessions into equal thirds. Without exception, patients' evaluations were higher than those of therapists, both session-by-session and posttreatment. Therapists gave evidence of appreciating this discrepancy but underestimated its magnitude. Results are viewed as largely consistent with predictions derived from Mann's model of brief psychotherapy and as lending support to the model's validity. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measuring response empathy: The development of a multicomponent rating scale.

Describes psychometric data on a new approach to the measurement of the empathic quality of counselor behavior. The Response Empathy Rating Scale (1) divides the empathy construct into a set of components tapping different aspects of empathic behavior; (2) provides greater specification of the construct; and (3) focuses on the empathic qualities of individual counselor responses. Results from 28 counselor/client (undergraduates) pairs indicate good interrater reliability. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Choosing response categories for summated rating scales.

Argues that the selection of response categories for summated rating (Likert) scales is often made arbitrarily; however, the equal interval properties of the response continuum is assumed even though this assumption may in fact, be false. To avoid the problems that unequal intervals might cause, it is suggested that equal interval categories be used. To this end, 3 lists of commonly used categories (agreement, evaluation, and frequency) were scaled, using data from 107 undergraduates. The scale values are presented to aid the researcher in choosing response categories; however, it is suggested that separate scale values be derived for each population sampled. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential helpfulness of counselor verbal response modes.

28 counselor–client dyads (analog sample consisting of 15 graduate students and faculty and 28 undergraduates) and 16 client–counselor dyads (counseling sample) rated the helpfulness of particular counselor responses in just-completed counseling sessions, using Interpersonal Process Recall. In the counseling sample, counselors also rated the helpfulness of the same responses. The responses were measured for type of response made by objective raters, clients, and counselors. Interpretations received the highest helpfulness ratings from both client and counselor. Advisements were rated as slightly more helpful than nonadvisements, and questions were rated as slightly less helpful than nonquestions. However, counselor response modes account for only a small proportion of the variance in helpfulness ratings, which points out the need for research on contextual variables and response mode subtypes. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chance encounters: Unintentional therapist disclosure.

Explores how chance encounters influence the interpersonal relationship for both patient and therapist. Both patient and therapist experiences of the therapist's subjectivity may become accessible and available for analysis. Such encounters may reveal aspects of the interpersonal matrix that were previously defended against. In the chance meeting, the patient has the opportunity to experience the therapist as a separate person or as an extension of the self, as an object available for idealization or devaluation, or as a subject in his or her own right. Likewise, the therapist has the opportunity to experience him- or herself in ways that may be either concordant or discordant with the interpersonal relationship in the consulting room, bringing into focus new aspects of the interpersonal matrix. Case material highlights the challenges created by unintentional disclosure, by exploring the therapist's anxiety about such experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counselor verbal response modes and experienced empathy.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 34(3) of Journal of Counseling Psychology (see record 2008-10749-001). The second paragraph of the author acknowledgement should have read as follows: We thank Ian Spalding for supervision of the session recordings, Liz Colley for programming and advice on data analysis, Richard Shillcock and Jane Oakhill for response mode coding, and Robert Elliott for comments on a draft.] Client and counselor perceptions of empathy at different stages in the counseling process were examined in relation to the verbal response modes used by counselors in 24 client–counselor dyads. Each of 6 counselors (aged 32–58 yrs) at college counseling centers was studied in counseling with 4 clients, of whom 2 were in initial sessions and 2 were in sessions drawn from ongoing counseling relationships. Clients perceived counselors as showing significantly greater empathy during ongoing than during initial sessions, and counselors perceived themselves as showing significantly greater empathy during initial sessions than did clients rating the same sessions. Clients rated counselors using fewer general advisements as more empathic, whereas counselors who rated themselves more empathic used more explorations and fewer reassurances. At the moment-to-moment level tapped by interpersonal process recall, exploration was the only category strongly associated with both client and counselor experiences of empathic communication in both initial and ongoing sessions. (50 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of six mammalian lysophospholipases

Lysophospholipases participate in the regulation of the levels of lysophospholipid, compounds with pleiotropic biological effects. Lysophospholipases were purified from a macrophage cell line (WEHI 265.1), a myelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60) and peripheral blood eosinophils. WEHI 265.1 cells contain three lysophospholipases 28, 27 and 110 kDa as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 110 kDa lysophospholipase also exhibits phospholipase A2 activity and appears to be identical to a previously described 110 kDa phospholipase A2. Similarly, the HL-60 cells have three lysophospholipases, the largest again a 110 kDa enzyme with phospholipase A2 activity and the smaller are 20 and 21 kDa. The low molecular mass lysophospholipases have distinctive chromatographic properties and amino acid compositions. However, the two low molecular mass enzymes from a given cell type are not radically different, e.g., 15 of the 20 amino acids of the C-terminal sequences of the HL-60 enzymes are identical. A single lysophospholipase, approx. 15 kDa, is a major eosinophil protein. This enzyme is different from those described above.     

Contrasting interpersonal orientations in hypnosis: Collaborative versus contractual modes of response.

Tested 36 susceptible and 36 insusceptible Ss to examine the effect of markedly contrasting styles of interpersonal orientation of the hypnotist on their responsiveness. Ss were allocated to a 2 * 2 factorial design that varied group identity (real or simulating) and nature of test setting (contractual or collaborative). The collaborative setting attempted to promote much franker and more open communication between S and hypnotist than the traditional contractual setting. Results indicate that context of testing had an appreciable effect on Ss' attitudes toward the hypnotic situation, but little effect on their objective performance on routine test items. Hypnotic Ss were more willing than role-playing Ss to engage in dialogue with the hypnotist. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mixed standard rating scale: A consistent system for numerically coding inconsistent response combinations.

A revised system for numerically coding mixed standard scale (MSS) response combinations is proposed, and the psychometric implications of the new system are examined in the context of a comparative empirical study. The MSS ratings and graphic scale ratings obtained from 18 police supervisors for a total of 92 police patrol officers suggest that the proposed system does not substantially alter the findings of such comparative studies. The data further suggest that contradictions in the literature regarding the relative psychometric strengths and weaknesses of MSS ratings are probably not a function of the coding system originally proposed by F. Blanz and E. E. Ghiselli (1972) for translating MSS responses into numerical ratings. Adoption of the revised system is nevertheless recommended on the basis of (a) anticipated reliability increments and (b) greater "face validity" of the coding system, thereby rendering the MSS format potentially more acceptable to raters and ratees. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of playfulness: A neglected therapist variable.

A 28-item Playfulness Scale for Adults was developed to measure a general predisposition to play. The scale, administered to 104 male and female university students, evidenced high internal consistency (alpha?=?.90). A factor analysis yielded 5 factors: (1) Fun-loving; (2) Sense of Humor; (3) Enjoys Silliness; (4) Informal; and (5) Whimsical. The scale's construct validity was supported by a correlation of .62 with the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale. The researchers discuss implications of the playful personality construct for play therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of ape and monkey modes of problem solution.

A series of 4 experiments investigated the mode (hypothesis or stimulus-response association) of problem solution by various primate species on a modified discrimination-reversal task. The procedure in Exp I was identical to that of an experiment by D. M. Rumbaugh (see record 1972-02524-001) in which Ss were first trained to criterion on a junk-object discrimination problem (A+B–). Following 1 standard reversal trial (A-B+), in 2 of the 3 postreversal conditions, a novel stimulus replaced either the initially correct or the initially incorrect stimulus, which thereby obviated the need either for extinction to A or for counterconditioning to B. As did the talapoin monkeys in the Rumbaugh study, rhesus and stumptailed monkeys solved the problem associationally. As a direct test of hypothesis usage by apes and monkeys, Exps II and III manipulated the level of ape and monkey prereversal problem mastery by varying the prereversal criterion. Once their postreversal performance had stabilized, both orangutans and macaques evidenced hypothesis-based responding, but the ape and monkey response strategies were based on qualitatively different relational cues. Exp IV demonstrated that the macaques in Exp I showed associational learning exclusively only because the amount of exposure to the task was insufficient to foster hypothesis usage. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client choice of therapist: Rationale and implications.

Reviews present arguments supporting the right of clients to choose their own therapist. The research on client choice and related issues is presented and some implications of implementing choice procedures are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Externalizing lupus: A therapist/patient's challenge.

Coping with a serious and chronic illness poses unique challenges for individuals in helping professions. What techniques and resources can be used to help the helpers? A narrative framework using the process of externalizing the problem is presented as a potentially useful approach for psychotherapists experiencing a serious illness. The author describes her own experience with lupus and offers recommendations for therapists struggling to balance their professional responsibilities with their own personal needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Observational rating scales: Supplementary comments.

Comments on the article by Carlson and Grotevant (see record 1988-17683-001). Carlson and Grotevant's article in this issue provides an excellent and thoughtful overview of observational rating scales as applied to entire family units. Although originally viewed as "clinical" in nature, and lacking in respectable scientific rigor and precision, these assessment devices now have become a useful and flexible approach to the complicated process of family assessment. Notwithstanding the authors' scholarly discussion of issues in utilizing these methods, and their critical review of existing rating formats, I wish to raise three points for discussion: The first concerns the relationship of micro- to macroanalytic procedures, the second focuses on reliability, and the third raises a troubling theoretical issue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)