Teaching integration of psychotherapy models to beginning therapists.

Describes the rapprochement movement within the field of psychotherapy, in which clinicians from all fields and therapeutic persuasions are joining in dialog and learning from each other ways to better serve clients. A synthesis of different approaches, sometimes referred to as eclecticism, and alternatively termed pragmatic blending, characteristically taps 4 theoretical models—psychodynamic, interpersonal, person-centered, and behavioral. It is argued that to reduce perpetuating the myth of separatism, there must be restructuring of the educational processes for training psychotherapists and suggests that since major curriculum changes typically come about slowly, it would be beneficial to look to individual supervision as a forum to communicate rapprochement and to teach skills of pragmatic blending of different models. If respect for integration begins early in the educational process, it will be possible for the next generation of therapists to be freed from the belief that they ought to adhere to discrete models. (58 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical issues in elder abuse reporting: A professional psychologist's guide.

Elder abuse is a concerning issue for professional psychologists, who have legal and ethical obligations to report it. While dramatic cases of abuse are easy to identify, psychologists may struggle with how to respond to more subtle cases of potential abuse. General legal standards for elder abuse reporting are provided, along with ethical guidelines from the APA Ethics Code. Important considerations are discussed in tandem with three fictional vignettes illustrating examples of suspected elder abuse that professional psychologists may more commonly confront in practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of the psychology department clinic in training scientist-professionals.

The role of psychology department clinics in the development of the discipline of clinical psychology is discussed, and an ideological and structural framework for enabling such clinics to facilitate the integration of research and practice is provided. The University of Massachusetts Psychological Services Center is described as an example of a clinic operating within this framework. Several examples of clinical scholarship that have evolved in this setting are offered. Some of the key characteristics of a training clinic subscribing to the objective of training clinical psychologists with scientist-professional ideals and capabilities are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychotherapy with hearing-impaired clients.

Discusses issues regarding communication with hearing-impaired persons in psychotherapy, such as the use of an interpreter or telecommunication devices and the need for an awareness of interactional strategies used by deaf patients. The appropriateness of several personality, intelligence, and projective tests with hearing-impaired patients is reviewed, and the value of a personal history questionnaire is emphasized. It is suggested that in treatment, the therapist must be prepared to modify stereotypes of hearing-impaired persons, theoretical approaches to psychotherapy, and methods of communication. (50 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influences on the career choice of psychotherapists.

Motivations and experiences relevant to the career choices of 56 clinical psychologists practicing psychotherapy were assessed and compared with those from a sample of 53 social psychologists. Clinical psychologists were more likely than social psychologists to have been influenced in their career selections by (a) experiences of psychological distress in themselves and in their families of origin, (b) desires to resolve personal problems, and (c) a wish to pursue opportunities for vocational achievement and professional advancement. However, most respondents did not view problematic histories as central to their choice of career, and the magnitude of difference between the two groups of professionals was small. Results illuminate reasons why individuals choose careers as psychotherapists. Implications for the training of therapists are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self- and other-directed aggression in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients

OBJECTIVE: To examine self- and other-directed aggression in 89 children and adolescents on a psychiatric inpatient unit to determine ways in which aggressive and nonaggressive patients differ and to discover those factors associated with self-directed versus other-directed aggression. METHOD: Three types of data were collected: ongoing observations of aggressive behavior during hospitalization, Child Behavior Checklists completed by a parent or guardian at admission, and patient and family history data gathered from a retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Compared with nonaggressive patients, aggressive patients were more likely to have a history of antisocial behavior, to be victims of abuse or neglect, to have lived in a foster home, and to have had several primary caretakers. Both groups of aggressive patients engaged in three types of aggressive behavior with equal frequency and were strikingly similar on a host of other variables. Only the number of primary caretakers with whom a patient had lived discriminated self- from other-directed aggressive patients; patients who experienced frequent disruptions in caretaking were likely to engage in acts of self-injury during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Whether a particular patient will engage in aggressive behavior during hospitalization can be accurately predicted from preadmission characteristics; however, the manner in which a patient is likely to aggress, i.e., toward others or self, is difficult to predict because of striking similarities between types of aggressive patients. Further investigations are needed to determine how self- and other-directed aggressive patients differ and to elucidate relationships between disrupted, unstable, or inadequate caretaking and aggression, particularly self-injury, in children and adolescents.     

Establishment and administration of a clinical respecialization program.

Describes the development and current status of a postdoctoral respecialization program in clinical psychology. The process of program formulation is discussed, with particular attention given to issues and problems relating to cost, administration, and educational ideology. The difficult process of transition for the respecialization student, who must form a new professional identity, is discussed, and the question of whether such programs are training more clinicians than are needed is considered. Caution is recommended to any clinical program considering the addition of a respecialization subprogram. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thoughts about journeys to integrative psychotherapy.

What a humbling experience to be invited to offer commentary on the papers of such distinguished contributors to the field of integrative psychotherapy. Even the most junior member of the panel has a record of achievement impressive enough to place him in a competitive position for a tenured faculty position. As we read their stories, we have a wonderful opportunity to get glimpses into two decades of change in the field of psychotherapy as seen through the eyes of four colleagues who have been tremendously influential. In my effort to tie together these moving pieces I have looked for the "common factors" that have played out in the stories of these four clinician-scholars. In the pages that follow, I will review these commonalities, which include the following: (a) the role of personal life experiences on the development of an integrative approach; (b) the critical role of a mentor; (c) the challenge of defining one's approach; (d) views about the essential factors in effective psychotherapy; (e) an appreciation for the relationship between research and clinical practice; (f) a commitment to teaching and supervision; and (g) the significance of SEPI in the past, present, and future. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A guide for establishing a practice in police preemployment postoffer psychological evaluations.

This article provides a guide that focuses on ethics and competence issues for psychologists considering a specialization in conducting police preemployment postoffer psychological evaluations (PEPOPEs). The discussion first addresses the importance of relevant training and practical experiences, involvement in pertinent professional associations, and adherence to rigorous standards and guidelines for conducting this specialized form of assessment. The specific components of a comprehensive assessment are then enumerated and discussed. The article concludes with a consideration of ethical dilemmas and challenges involved in this realm of psychological practice, and a vignette highlights some possible pitfalls for psychologists who are insufficiently prepared for conducting PEPOPEs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Current issues in psychotherapy with gay men: Impact of the AIDS phenomenon.

This article addresses the impact of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) phenomenon on psychotherapy with asymptomatic gay men. We discuss specific issues pertaining to psychotherapy with gay men and offer suggestions about how professionals might address these issues in the helping context. We discuss how therapists can help gay clients (a) to develop a positive gay identity, (b) to reevaluate their patterns of socializing, (c) to learn safe sex techniques and develop positive attitudes toward them, (d) to learn new styles of intimacy, (e) to understand the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody test and the implications of testing, and (f) to develop coping strategies for dealing with the loss of loved ones and acquaintances. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)