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…

Responds to three response articles and notes in the articles insistence on: importing religion into psychotherapy; serious misunderstanding about the proposed psychology of spirituality; argument primarily by appeal to authority; and imprecision and ad hominem comments. Offers clarifications and suggests that the target article deserves further…

Considers the metaphor of the counseling frame. Describes and analyzes several clinical examples, each illustrating the framework's potential effects on the therapeutic interaction. (Author)

Analayzed transcripts of Three Approaches to Psychotherapy (Shostrom, 1966) for counselor and client representational system predicate use. Although different patterns of predicate use emerged, only limited support for Neurolinguistic Programming theory was found. The findings of different patterns of predicate use were related to convergence and…

Proposes a taxonomy for classifying certain kinds of client self-presentations as defensive and assertive strategies to influence counselors' impressions and behaviors. Describes four assertive strategies (ingratiation, supplication, self-promotion, and intimidation) and one defensive strategy ("facework") along with their short-term…

Examines potential relationships to explore between counseling and philosophy. Posits that philosophy already provides the ground on which counseling stands, and, therefore, if counseling is to strengthen its foundations, it needs to examine where it currently locates itself intellectually, ethically, and culturally. (Contains 11 references.) (GCP)

Reproduces the transcript of one of Carl Rogers' filmed therapeutic sessions with Miss Mun, followed by an empirical and clinical-qualitative analysis. Five task oriented processes are examined in detail: the evocative impact of reflections of feeling; empathic affirmation as a marker of intense vulnerability; focusing reflections; working with…

Many of the difficulties experienced by men in group psychotherapy are inherent in their socialization process that brings about male gender role expectations. The need to be continually competitive, autonomous, unemotional, strong, in control of oneself and of others, dominant, and action-achievement-solution oriented can, unless reframed, work…

Common factors contributing to the effectiveness of psychotherapy have come to be recognized. These include: (1) establishment of a safe, trusting, and supportive relationship; (2) encouragement of clients to engage in activities they had avoided; (3) provision of accurate feedback to clients; and (4) provision of a framework for clients to…

No particular psychotherapy technique or professional training has been found to be superior to others. Rather it is where theory and technique meet and come alive, in the personality of the therapist, that a definitive factor in effective psychotherapy appears. One of the personality variables in the therapist, not explored in the psychotherapy…

Suggests that the Milan systemic approach probably reflects a significant advance in family therapy and possibly in psychotherapy in general. Provides a historical overview of the development of the approach, an articulation of some major assumptions and background theory, and a brief description of the overall pattern of practice. (Author/JAC)

Presents an interview with C. H. Patterson, describing his current views on client-centered counseling. Discusses his perceptions on ways in which client-centered therapy is misunderstood, the possibility of convergences across counseling models, research on facilitative conditions, and the importance of a client-centered perspective on…

In a survey, psychotherapy and clinical fellows indicated that there was little agreement among them with regard to which books are helpful in training clinicians. A minority responded that no books were helpful. Books found most helpful (N=15) are referenced. (Author)

The position that religious thought and spiritual values must be restored to psychology and that clinical-humanistic values are helping to undermine traditional morality is criticized. Commentators argue that human disturbance is largely associated with absolutistic thinking and that psychologists must submit all values to rational scrutiny. (CS)

Discusses use of alternate sessions, regularly scheduled meetings without the therapist, in analytic group therapy and proposes that opinions should be derived from a theoretical formulation, not in place of one. A decision against the use of alternate sessions is presented by delineating basics of psychoanalytic theory. (Author/BEF)