Explores significance of new reference groups for maintenance of self-esteem from standpoint of Berger's sociology of knowledge. Argues from Berger's perspective that even extremely powerful experiences of self-acceptance are in desperate need of ongoing "plausibility structure" to reinforce new sense of self. Describes implications for…

Proposes a model that identifies four elements contributing to coping that can be disrupted by disability and the type of intervention that each affected element may require: restoring or replacing assets and skills; reintegrating the self-image; reformulating goals; and restructuring the environment. Discusses functions of rehabilitation…

Presents theoretical integration of recent contributions to psychological intervention literature as they relate to consultation. Describes synthesis under rubric of Functional Outcome Analysis. Describes methods of assessing intervention costs and benefits and their distribution. Describes quantification of intervention efficiency and potential…

Notes that feminist psychospiritual model of therapy can be used in working with clients who value spiritual dimension. Presents history, philosophy, and work of Women for a New World, multidisciplinary team of women representing psychology, religious education, and arts. Uses examples from developmental history of retreat-workshop paradigm and…

Notes that, although preventive counseling has been purported to be defining characteristic of mental health counseling throughout its history, literature review suggests that prevention rarely has been emphasized in training process or mental health counseling practice. Suggests some explanations and remedies for disparity between preventive…

Notes that many authors on the subject of marriage and family therapy supervision point to the fact that the quality of relationship between supervisor and supervisee is crucial to the process. Identifies key elements in this relationship and introduces a theoretical framework for understanding those elements based on the principles of ethical…

Defines behavioral medicine as multidisciplinary field that combines research methods from behavioral and biomedical sciences. Examines the role of behavior theory in behavioral medicine. Uses new advances in basic research on learning to illustrate that findings from behavioral science have implications for the field of contemporary behavioral…

Presents atheoretical short-term marital therapy model in which treatment is limited to six to eight sessions and focuses on special problems raised by couple and on couple's capacity to react positively to clinical suggestions. Describes highlights of therapy model: homework assignments, negotiation of conflict issues, communication training, and…

Places concept of developmental tasks within cultural context, discussing role of "cultural-developmental" tasks in development and modification of adolescent's social-cognitive functioning and the respective roles of both individual and contextual-environmental factors in production of competencies. Outlines theory including individual's activity…

Postulates new way of describing identity development process under oppression using optimal theory. From this optimal worldview, oppression is perceived as self-alienating and yielding a fragmented sense of self, based upon devaluation by self and others. Describes optimal theory as providing new inclusive model of identity development. Describes…

Reconceptualizes issue of racial identity development so that it is not just limited to issue of oppression and provides beginning framework for conceptualizing ethnic identity development that can be used for members of both minority and majority ethnic groups. Presents propositions leading toward development of theory of ethnic group identity…

Examines four major assumptions about change (accommodation, hope, truth, divine agent) which undergird Christian counseling. Discusses assumptions' application for therapy and research. Argues lack of careful assumptive reflection among theorists of Christian therapy leads to numerous pragmatic and scientific difficulties, including dearth of…

Presents introduction to, and practical aspects of, two consultation theories to help school counselors improve their current approach to consultation. Three major theoretical perspectives in school-based consultation are identified (mental health consultation, behavioral consultation, and process consultation), and overviews of the mental health…

Claims multimodal therapy has proven successful with problems that are generally considered "difficult" and when the prognosis is often guarded. Reviews research on multimodal therapy; concludes additional research is underway. (ABL)

Notes that studies on transition to parenthood and parent-infant relationship have investigated role of father. Sees family systems perspective focused on triadic and family-of-origin effects in early parenthood. Introduces object relations theory and self-psychology, which permit development of concept of psychic parental coalition, seen as…