Explores the extent to which use of mediation contributes to community involvement in child welfare. Describes a model of mediation used in four Canadian cities; discusses whether mediation enhances community involvement; and compares mediation with other child-protection processes. Provides a case example illustrating ways communities can become…

Postvention actions are commonly employed after completed suicides and suicide attempts but can be adapted to assist affected family members in dealing with other types of crisis. The authors adapt a postvention model to be applied to systemically working with families who have a member engaging in self-injurious behavior. Recommendations for…

To meet the need for emotional support for family members of terminal patients, a weekly group session was established on a cancer unit. The group has allowed family members to share fears, concerns, and doubts as well as receive support from other individuals experiencing similar traumatic situations. (Author)

The nature of crisis states, developmental characteristics of the older family, and reemergent family conflicts are each explored as they affect family mobilization in times of crisis. Specific recommendations are offered for minimizing barriers to effective family crisis work. (Author)

This article presents a method for family crisis intervention. The goal is extended from restoring the crisis bearing unit to its pre-crisis level of coping to a basic restructuring of maladaptive pre-crisis behaviors. It is aimed at general behavior change as well as resolution of the immediate situation. (Author)

Presents rationale for therapy, from assessment through psychotherapy, with suicidal elderly patients. Describes process including attention to situational and family components, crisis intervention, general treatment principles, and application of these principles to individual, group, and family therapy. Emphasizes intensity and complexity of…

This fact sheet points out that knowledge of the process of grief (defined as one's own personal experience of loss) and ways of helping individuals and families cope with their loss experiences can be an invaluable asset to crisis nurseries and respite care programs and their service providers. The fact sheet lists the emotions of grief, and…

This guide is intended to familiarize therapists with the scope of marital difficulties and the range of techniques found useful in dealing with them. While it is tempting to think that proven techniques can be matched to specific marital problems, the literature cautions that predicting outcome in therapy research depends not only on the…

The goals of the SHANTI Project are: To offer direct community services consisting of counseling and companionship for patients and families and grief counseling for survivors of a death; to provide professional training and public education; and to conduct substantive research to evaluate the project. Case material is presented. (Author)

This article describes the Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program (CSATP) in San Jose, California. Based on the theory and methods of Humanistic Psychology, the program provides counseling to sexually abused children and their families. (SB)

Examines the problems and issues encountered when counselors endeavor to help those who have lost a loved one. (HMV)

Experience with 73 cases has shown the value of Transient Structured Distance as a maneuver in marriage therapy. While the TSD is a radical form of intervention with risks of anxiety reactions, homosexual panic, or divorce, it has proved effective with difficult forms of acute or chronic marital disharmony. (Author)

Describes a treatment program for couples who mishandle anger or are physically abusive. The treatment endorses the elimination of demonstrations of anger and elaborates upon ways to identify preliminary anger cues. Abusiveness is unacceptable. Methods to improve problem-solving skills and to enhance overall enjoyment of the relationship are also…

Over the time period from 30 to 60 days, spouses increased their tendency to reciprocate both irritating and rewarding behaviors. Implications for identifying couple risk factors and initiating early family intervention are discussed. (Author/NRB)

Severe weight loss, psychological problems, and failure in school of a hearing 10-year-old boy led to crisis intervention by a psychiatrist/social worker team during 6 months of successful conjoint family psychotherapy for the boy, his deaf parents, and hearing siblings. (LC)