The authors examine eating disorders through the conceptual framework of relational cultural theory (RCT). Taking into account the importance of relationships and connection, it is suggested that RCT may be a useful lens for conceptualizing and working with people who are experiencing eating disorders. Ways that RCT can be applied to enhance…

The experiences of disabled people suggest that ableism insidiously and invasively impacts upon the practice of counselling and related therapies. This article critiques a particular account of psychotherapy with a child with the label of autism to illustrate how ableism can disrupt the process of empathy and negate the therapeutic experience. In…

Richard Bandler and John Grinder developed neuro-linguisitc programming (NLP) after observing "the magical skills of potent psychotherapists" Frederick Perls, Virginia Satir, and Milton Erikson. They compiled the most effective techniques for building rapport, gathering data, and influencing change in psychotherapy, offering them only as…

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…

Outlines tenets of multimodal therapy (MMT) and argues for its cost-effective yet comprehensive value as a brief psychotherapy model. Describes MMT as an integrated, seven-modality model of personality and provides clinical examples of its use. Argues that MMT approach will be an important future alternative to more expensive, time-consuming, and…

Suggests ingredients in the therapy relationship that are common to all interventions. Examines similarities and differences in how the relationship works within the three dominant approaches to therapy to restimulate research and theory. (JAC)

The results indicate that under special conditions providing prior information to the client concerning the directive nondirective character of interviewer behavior during the initial diagnostic interview influences client satisfaction, leads to client mediated changes in interviewer behavior, and increases the probability that the client will at…

Used previously collected free-associative interviews to investigate ways in which the Experiencing and Free Association Scales might overlap. Positive and significant correlations were found. Similarities and differences of the two scales and the implications of the results are discussed. (JAC)

Studied whether it is possible to identify distinct and theoretically meaningful differences between cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy. Six videotapes of actual therapy sessions in each treatment mode were used. Analyses of results suggests that relatively naive raters working from taped samples can detect clear procedural…

This article provides mental health counselors with information about the prevalence and course of adolescent depression, other empirically tested treatments for adolescent depression, an explanation of Interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A) treatment protocol, and results of outcome studies on the effectiveness of IPT-A. Suggestions…

The effectiveness of four methods of group psychotherapy was compared: interpretive there-and-then, interpretive here-and-now, these treatments in combination, and problem discussion (attention placebo). Clients' experiences were less consistently positive in the here-and-now group and tended to be more consistently positive in the combined group…

Discusses how Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) includes some basic postmodern ideas and can be practiced with important caveats and cautions that keep it open-ended, flexible, and relativist. Describes how REBT shows clients how their conscious and unconscious absolutistic philosophies lead to much of their dysfunctional feelings and…

Provides a brief reaction to Albert Ellis's "Postmodern Ethics for Active-Directive Counseling and Psychotherapy," which appears in this issue. Offers a condensed review of what has led up to Ellis's article. Pays special attention to the phrase "and/also" in relation to its implication for theory building and practice. (RJM)

Presents history of eclecticism as counseling point of view. Describes emerging eclecticism as promising counselor role. From theory and observation eclectic creates own evolving view of behavior change. Comments by E. J. Shoben, Jr. follow. (CJ)