Provides an overview of bipolar disorder, including a discussion of diagnostic indicators, etiological theories, and psychopharmacological treatment. Examines treatment implications for mental health counselors, including role in psychiatric liaison, individual counseling, marriage and family therapy, and vocational counseling. (Author/ABL)

Calls clinical hypnosis valuable treatment modality that deserves to be more widely used by social workers. Presents overview of hypnosis, distinguishing between directive, Ericksonian, and permissive hypnosis. Presents characteristics of hypnotic trance and differing capacities of individuals in trance. Describes how permissive hypnosis is used…

Discusses use of reward and punishment as reinforcers, then considers when reward-punishment model does not seem to elicit predictable results. Discusses need to go beyond simple explanation of reward and punishment and to consider other, more subtle forms of motivation. Specifically addresses issues of identity and conformity. (NB)

Examines the four existential realities of isolation, meaninglessness, death, and freedom as a framework for understanding Dante's "Divine Comedy." Argues that studying this text and its metaphors offers an enriched understanding of the dilemmas of human existence which can refine the understanding of the therapeutic relationship.…

This report presents a dialectical model of identity development which is based on observations of how the self evolves within the context of feminist/transpersonal therapy. Developmental stages which are identified include fusion (Stage I), differentiation (Stage II), and integration (Stage III) of the Child (asserting) and Parent (nurturing)…

Discusses anorexia nervosa in terms of symptoms, characteristics of patients, family relationship, and modes of treatment. Suggests that a combination of psychological and medical treatment is more effective than behavior modification. (JAC)

Present an overview of the field of poetry therapy, discussing definitions, goals, applications, theory, and method (describing a typical session). Notes that this report was originally submitted for testimony on Capitol Hill. (SR)

Summarizes recent stage model of psycho-religious functioning developed to help psychotherapists work with religious material in clinical practice. Presents case study illustrating clinical work with young woman in transitional stage of development. Depicts entanglement of client's spiritual struggles with her emotional and interpersonal…

Reviews literature on suicide and terminal illnesses. Examines suicide rate for persons with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Explores physical and psychosocial factors that may contribute to decision by person with AIDS to commit suicide. Applies Siegel's criteria for rational suicide to case of person with AIDS. Examines role of…

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…

Describes ways of operationalizing clinically significant change, defined as extent to which therapy moves someone outside range of dysfunctional population or within range of functional population. Uses examples to show how clients can be categorized on basis of this definition. Proposes reliable change index (RC) to determine whether magnitude…

Demonstrates low probability that nonequivalence will produce erroneous inferences in small samples. Sees probability of erroneous inference in absence of true treatment effect as generally no greater than nominal Type I error rate. Seems unlikely that small samples have biased inferences drawn from past psychotherapy outcome research. Cites other…

Examines the place of poetry within five major schools of psychotherapy. Presents the process of self-creation as a final common pathway for poetry and therapy. Applies specific principles of poetry therapy to schizophrenic patients. Concludes with an identification of key issues pertaining to the role of the therapist and the field of poetry…

This book covers those areas of pharmacology that are of importance and interest to the psychotherapist. The 1st chapter introduces the various types of drugs. The 2nd chapter presents an overview of pharmacology and its principles. The 3rd chapter reviews aspects of the human body of importance to understanding the workings of psychotropic drugs.…

Describes a newly developing mode of problem-oriented brief therapy. The systemic therapy model emphasizes the interactional context of clients' problems and represents an efficient intervention paradigm. (Author/JAC)