Counseling and therapy on the Internet.

Rapid development of Internet technology has allowed a growing number of individuals and corporations to offer consumers, health care services, or "eHealth," including counseling and therapy. Almost no information exists about such individuals, due in part to difficulties in conducting research over the Internet. An Internet survey solicited backgrounds, communication technologies, and clinical interventions from individual behavioral eHealth care practitioners. Results are discussed regarding legal, ethical, and professional issues related to use of different Internet technologies. Psychologists are urged to give proper attention to empirical research, language, and current standards of practice before attempting to deliver counseling or psychotherapy over the Internet. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Language in autism and specific language impairment: Where are the links?

It has been suggested that language impairment in autism is behaviorally, neurobiologically, and etiologically related to specific language impairment (SLI). In this article, the authors review evidence at each level and argue that the vast majority of data does not support the view that language impairment in autism can be explained in terms of comorbid SLI. The authors make recommendations for how this debate might be resolved and suggest a shift in research focus. They recommend that researchers concentrate on those aspects of language impairment that predominate in each disorder rather than on those comparatively small areas of potential overlap. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment of Depression and Anxiety in East Asia.

This article provides a critical review of the literature on research with self-report measures of depression and anxiety in East Asia. Three trends are noteworthy. First, research on depression and anxiety in East Asia has relied heavily on the use of a limited number of translated instruments. Second, available research suggests that the Asian language versions of these instruments are reliable and valid for use with Asian populations. Third, some subpopulations in East Asia have been studied extensively with respect to depression and anxiety, but there are many regions of Asia where little research literature is available outside of those published in native language journals. The review concludes with recommendations for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Language, society and identity.

Reviews the book, Language, society and identity by John R. Edwards (1985). This book attempts to bring together the main lines of thought on ethnic identity, nationalism, language maintenance, and bilingualism. The book is divided into seven chapters which discuss: the definitions of such concepts as ethnic identity, ethnicity, nationalism, language, and dialect; consideration of language and nationalism; language maintenance and shift; issues of "ethnic revival" and the "new ethnicity; education; language attitudes, behaviour, and research and; the separation of language maintenance from ethnic maintenance. Despite what seem to be numerous reservations, I find that this book has many good features. It does take us a lot closer to an interdisciplinary view on language and ethnicity; it reminds us about the variety of social settings in which language contact (and conflict) plays a role; it brings out many controversial points and supplies arguments from different perspectives for such controversies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Bilingualism, multiculturalism, and second language learning: The McGill conference in honour of Wallace E. Lambert.

Reviews the book, Bilingualism, multiculturalism, and second language learning: The McGill conference in honour of Wallace E. Lambert edited by Allan G. Reynolds (see record 1991-97762-000). Wallace Lambert has been a major figure in Canadian psychology since the mid-1950s. In a publishing career that has spanned almost 40 years, his work has influenced almost every aspect of the psychology of language, in particular the psychology of bilingualism and second language acquisition. This volume offers a fascinating and highly readable retrospect and update on the research and theoretical work of Lambert and his doctoral students, most of whom have also become leaders in their respective fields of psychological inquiry. This is a truly remarkable book. Unlike many edited volumes, all the chapters relate together coherently, and collectively they present a vivid picture of the evolution and current status of the mainstream of Canadian psychological research on bilingualism and cultural diversity. It would make an excellent graduate text in the area of social psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapists’ views on working with bilingual Spanish–English speaking clients: A qualitative investigation.

Through semistructured interviews, language switching in therapy was examined with 9 bilingual Spanish and English therapists. Therapists were asked about how and when they switched from one language to another during treatment, as well as the ways in which their clients’ switched languages. After the use of consensual qualitative research methods (C. E. Hill et al., 2005; C. E. Hill, B. J. Thompson, & E. N. Williams, 1997), the results revealed that therapists used language switching as a mechanism to establish trust, bond with clients, and promote disclosure through the use of specific phrases or specific words; particularly, the use of Spanish idiomatic expressions (dichos) served to engage, redirect, and increase client self-understanding and awareness. Therapists reported that their clients switched from English to Spanish when recounting experiences that involved certain emotions (e.g., anger) and represented themselves differently depending on the language they were speaking. Therapists also reported that their clients switched from English to Spanish to improve communication and to connect with them. Future directions for research and implications for training and practice are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

School readiness among children with varying histories of language difficulties.

This study tested the hypotheses that (a) persistent language difficulties during childhood would predict lower school readiness and (b) language difficulties present just prior to school entry would predict lower school readiness beyond any effects of persistence. The study involved examining indicators of school readiness collected at kindergarten for children exhibiting various histories of language ability based on language measures collected at 15, 24, 36, and 54 months by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Early Child Care Research Network. Children (N = 1,064) were classified according to whether they exhibited expressive or receptive language difficulties at each time point measured. The relation between persistence and timing of these difficulties to each kindergarten outcome was studied through a common factor approach for categorical outcomes. Persistence of language difficulties was not generally related to kindergarten outcomes. However, a robust effect was found for timing of language difficulties: Children who exhibited language difficulties at 54 months exhibited significantly depressed performance on measures of school readiness. Findings are discussed in terms of current policy and research concerning kindergarten readiness for children exhibiting risk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Illuminating language: A review of Pinker, S. (1994) The Language Instinct.

In The Language Instinct, Steven Pinker has undertaken the daunting task of informing lay audiences about forty years of progress in the study of the psychology of language. Toward this goal, he offers a striking array of incisive, revealing examples and insights about the distinct character of human language. These examples serve more than to inform and amuse us about language: They are interwoven to create Pinker's thesis about one of the oldest themes of modern psycholinguistics: namely, that human beings are uniquely equipped, by virtue of their genetic endowment, to use language. This capacity is Pinker's "language instinct." Further, the reader will be able to grasp these analyses because they are preceded with effective overviews of modern grammatical theories of syntax (chapters 4 and 7), morphology (chapter 5), and phonology (chapter 6). The principles and examples of these chapters provide the infrastructure on which Pinker builds his arguments concerning linguistic universals, language acquisition, neural mechanisms, and evolution. Overall, The Language Instinct will provide experimental psychologists with worthwhile updates of those domains of language research that they do not closely follow, with myriad examples with which to embellish undergraduate lectures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The arbitrariness of the sign: Learning advantages from the structure of the vocabulary.

Recent research has demonstrated that systematic mappings between phonological word forms and their meanings can facilitate language learning (e.g., in the form of sound symbolism or cues to grammatical categories). Yet, paradoxically from a learning viewpoint, most words have an arbitrary form-meaning mapping. We hypothesized that this paradox may reflect a division of labor between 2 different language learning functions: arbitrariness facilitates learning specific word meanings and systematicity facilitates learning to group words into categories. In a series of computational investigations and artificial language learning studies, we varied the extent to which the language was arbitrary or systematic. For both the simulations and the behavioral studies, we found that the optimal structure of the vocabulary for learning incorporated this division of labor. Corpus analyses of English and French indicate that these predicted patterns are also found in natural languages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to play therapy research theme issue.

Play therapy is at a point in its history where outside forces are demanding that we look at ourselves and demonstrate that what we do has empirical value. Many of these outside forces have either ignored play therapy or have questioned, even denied, the capacity of play therapy to produce positive outcomes in therapy and counseling of children. It is from this perspective that the need for a special research theme issue was born. Detractors and supporters of play therapy need to know what the state of the art is in play therapy research, along with ways we can help move play therapy research exposure and credibility forward. Sandra Frick-Helms was invited to guest edit this first in a series of theme issues for the International Journal of Play Therapy. She in turn asked Athena Drewes to join her in coediting this issue because of her wide range of knowledge, skill, and contacts in the therapy and counseling fields. Together, they have compiled an impressive grouping of authors and researchers who offer the reader food for thought and practical tips for research application. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pair counseling: The effects of a dyadic developmental play therapy on interpersonal understanding and externalizing behaviors.

Play therapy has long viewed the promotion of development as a central goal, and the integration of developmental principles into play therapy also has a long history. Pair counseling is a structured form of dyadic play therapy in which two children's play interactions are guided developmentally by the counselor toward greater social maturity. The current pilot study examined the effects of pair counseling with 20 hospitalized children (9 males & 11 females). The boys ranged in age from 8-12 yrs, and the girls from 9-17 yrs. Results demonstrated that reductions in problem behaviors following pair counseling were greatest for behaviorally disordered children and that the effects of pair counseling on reductions in delinquent behaviors were partially mediated by changes in interpersonal understanding. The results suggest pair counseling is a particularly appropriate play therapy modality for aggressive, delinquent, and externalizing children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The many faces of literacy.

Reviews the book, Literacy, language, and learning by D. R. Olson, N. Torrance, and A. Hildyard (1985). Literacy, Language, and Learning has something to offer all students of language. Its breadth is achieved through an interdisciplinary analysis of both written and spoken forms of language. The focus is on the differences between these two language modalities and on the impact, on both society and the individual, of acquiring reading and writing skills. In a very real sense the book highlights the embarrassingly narrow appreciation of language shown by much work in cognitive psychology, particularly the work using an information processing orientation. This book has no lack of breadth, yet offers considerable depth of analysis in many chapters. Arguments are well supported with research and historical findings. The book is not particularly easy to read, but it is worth the effort, in this reader's view. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Words were originally magic.

Reviews the book, Words were originally magic by Steve de Shazer (see record 1994-97917-000). This book is written from both a philosophical and clinical perspective. It deals with the importance of language in psychotherapy. The author sets the foundation relative to language structure, meaning, and therapeutic change modalities in preparation for the discussion of brief problem focused psychotherapy. Case examples from actual therapy sessions are then presented in illustration of therapy process and outcome. The reviewer believes that this book has significant relevancy for current practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling and psychotherapy with Asian-Americans: Review of the literature.

Reviews the existing literature on counseling and psychotherapy with Asian-Americans and discusses research needs and recommendations for future research. Diagnosis and assessment issues include symptom expression, therapist bias, problems with the use of interpreters, and problems with the use of clinical and personality tests. Client variables in counseling and psychotherapy involve the personality of Asian-Americans, language problems, the acculturation process, and counseling expectations. Therapist variables involve therapist bias, training bias, lack of intercultural skills, and culture-specific knowledge. In a discussion of process and outcome, the author reviews empirical studies, clinical case studies, and articles with treatment strategies and recommendations. Research recommendations for each of the areas reviewed are identified. (3 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Conflict and language planning in Quebec.

Reviews the book, Conflict and language planning in Quebec by Richard Y. Bourhis. This monograph, edited by Bourhis, makes a distinct contribution to scholarship in the area of Language Policy/Language Planning (LP) in general, and more specifically, to research in that area within Canada. Work in this area is almost always collaboratively undertaken and involves individuals from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. These trends are evident in the present monograph. The major contributions of this monograph are threefold: first, it leads to a better understanding of the language situation in Quebec; secondly, it describes clearly three of the four major components of LP activities--planning, policy formulation and implementation; and thirdly, authors present an interesting array of methodological techniques not typically used by many LP researchers, by which one can further investigate empirically reactions or responses to language policy change in various settings. The attractiveness of the monograph derives from the interesting and clear account of a major planned social change within the province of Quebec which has had provincial and national implications for concerned Canadian residents, but which more importantly has had immediate implications--at both theoretical and applied levels--for language policy scholars throughout the world. This monograph comprises a welcome addition to the rapidly growing literature which examines the role of language in national development. It provides careful documentation of a fascinating case study of one set of events that have been carefully chronicled by well-trained scholars from diverse disciplinary perspectives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linguistic Isolation?

Comments on the S. Rosenzweig et al article (see record 1963-04105-001), which examined the effectiveness of the foreign language requirements for the PhD degree in psychology. Publication data from American and foreign-language journals are discussed, showing that that European psychologists are familiar with our research but we are not with theirs. The author suggests that one possible way to break out of this isolationism would be that APA journals including American Psychologist give preference to papers discussing research which has not been published in English. Such a step would serve a double purpose: (a) American psychologists would become familiar with, and interested in, research by their non-English-speaking colleagues and (b) they would have an incentive for improving and using their knowledge of foreign languages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lesions of the posterior insular cortex impair water maze performance in the rat

This special issue of Patient Education and Counseling on genetic education and counseling provides an overview of studies and findings in this field. It features a mixture of papers dealing with five different topics related to several psychosocial aspects of genetic education and counseling. Attention is paid to new issues in counseling for hereditary cancer and Huntington Disease. Articles are presented on information recall of counseled individuals, the use and impact of genetic services on counselees (acceptance of testing; knowledge of inherited cancer susceptibility; risks of genetically testing children). Also topics are addressed with respect to the counselor (neutral attitude; understandable language; information recall; satisfaction with the services provided by the genetic counselor). Furthermore, recommendations are discussed for screening practices for women with a family history of breast cancer, and in addition, the effectiveness of genetic counseling is addressed. In conclusion several suggestions for future research are given.     

An essay by Walter Benjamin.

Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) was a philosopher, literary critic, and a translator of Proust and Baudelaire. Benjamin left us a substantial number of writings, including translations, book reviews, literary essays and monographs. In 1935, Benjamin wrote a remarkable essay on the sociology of language. The essay contained an overview of contemporary research into the origin and nature of language. It was remarkable for its scope and breadth of knowledge even when we take into account that Benjamin freely borrowed from the insights in Delacroix’s (1924) classic book on language and thought. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)