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The present study examined the measurement invariance and latent mean differences of three versions of the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help scale among demographic profiles of men. Results revealed strong invariance for the three scales across all demographic groups. Differences in strict invariance and latent mean differences were identified. Public significance: The Self Stigma of Seeking Help scale has widely been used to investigate barriers and pathways men experience when seeking professional psychological help. The present paper reports results that show that a range of groups of men (based on their race/ethnic group, sexuality, and age cohort) understand the scale in the same way, and thus the scale can be used to compare their scores.

The product of mental health counseling, unlike that of most professions, remains invisible to most people, leaving counselors vulnerable in a competitive market. The author argues that clinicians should recognize the value of, understand, and begin using outcome measures in their work. Research focusing on critical problems in psychotherapy outcome instruments, advances that have been made to counter those problems, areas of consensus among outcome researchers, and practical recommendations for using outcome measures are examined.

Presents a survey of published and private opinions of mental health professionals revealing a previously hidden consensus concerning certain values that enhance mental health: Freedom, Love, Identity, Truth, Universals, Symptom Management, and Work. There was disagreement about the effect of many other values on mental health. (Author/BH)

Identifies psychotherapeutic and professional skills and personal characteristics important for private practice of marriage/family therapy in rural areas. Discusses implications for professional training. Describes private practice in geographically isolated Wyoming community, citing importance of skills in adjunct professional activities, i.e., teaching, public relations, and access to resources outside the community. (LFL)

Invites the American Mental Health Counselors Association to engage more fully in the science as well as the practice of mental health counseling. Reviews current status of research in psychotherapy with emphasis on a persistent divergence between those who identify themselves as researchers versus clinicians. Challenges that premise by examining fundamental processes in each activity. (Author)

Harmful sexual behaviour that occurs between siblings (HSB-S) is thought to be one of the most common forms of intrafamilial abuse. Despite an increase in academic papers, and acknowledgement of the prevalence of the problem, there is still a lack of specific assessment and intervention models. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview on the Assessment, Intervention and Moving On (AIM) HSB-S Practice Guidance. The framework draws on the literature and evidence-based models, as well as clinical practice illustrated by the four-case series summarised. Of the four-case series illustrated in the paper positive outcomes were observed. In addition, the intervention includes the practitioner guiding the family to write a structured narrative which supports them to restore family relationships and find a way of moving forward. This guidance will strengthen practitioner's skills and confidence in working with families impacted by HSB-S and provide hope for them that they can heal from this crisis. This paper provides a preview for the AIM HSB-S Practice Guidance illustrated by a case series. The framework will provide practitioners with a clear approach to assessment and intervention when working with families impacted by HSB-S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counselling and psychotherapy are not common professions that are considered alongside the work of sporting institutions, such as football academies. This paper therefore provides a brief reflection upon the existing research considering the way that such institutions currently engage with the mental health and well‐being of those that they support. In doing so, the world of elite sport engagement is considered before focusing more specifically upon research that has explored how football academies make use of psychological theory and therapy. This paper concludes that counselling and psychotherapy have an important role to play in supporting those at all stages of their football careers. However, delineation with clear roles and boundaries from other professions, such as sport psychology, proves vitally important, and further systematic exploration of this growing area of work is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many mental health practitioners have had or will have the opportunity to work with clients who engage in sex work (CSW). Sex work stigma is pervasive in the general population, and among mental health professionals, including sex and relationship therapists. Such stigma may lead to differential, unfair, and even unethical treatment of CSW. Although there is a clear need for best practice guidelines for mental health practice with CSW, no guidelines have been developed thus far. Therefore, drawing on feminist, multicultural, and sex-positive philosophies, this paper presents ten guidelines that are designed to: (1) address and increase mental health professionals' self-awareness of their own bias about sex work; (2) provide useful information about the multifaceted lived experience of CSW; and (3) offer culturally-appropriate counseling skills and intervention strategies in working with CSW. Acknowledging that multicultural competence is a professional process, rather than an outcome or an end, the guidelines included in this paper are developed with the underlying assumption that all mental health professionals are committed to be sex work-affirming and competent in working with CSW, regardless of therapeutic orientation. The guidelines discussed in this paper are informed by current literature about sex work and people who engage in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a clinical approach to the counseling of distressing subjective paranormal experiences, usually referred to as anomalous or exceptional experiences in the academic field. These experiences are reported by a large part of the population, yet most mental health practitioners have not received a specific training in listening constructively to these experiences. This seems all the more problematic since nearly one person in two find it difficult to integrate such experiences, which can be associated with different forms of psychological suffering. After having described briefly several clinical approaches already developed in this area, we outline the main aspects of clinical practice with people reporting exceptional experiences, in particular the characteristics of the clinician's attitude toward the narrative of unusual events. We then present the core components of a Psychodynamic Psychotherapy focused on Anomalous Experiences (PPAE) based on three main steps: phenomenological exploration, subjective inscription and subjective integration of the anomalous experience. Such an approach, based on a non-judgmental and open listening, favors the transformation of the ontological shock that often follows the anomalous experiences into a potential source of integration and psychological transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portugal is one of the European countries that implemented early protective measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Portugal declared a state of emergency on 18 March, and a set of regional and national preventive public health measures was progressively implemented. Studies on the psychological impact of pandemics show evidence of the negative impact on mental health. Of particular concern are individuals with previous fragility (e.g. personal, family or occupational) and those undergoing life transitions. In this paper, we present a telephone-based psychological crisis intervention that was implemented to provide brief, appropriate, and timely psychological help. This intervention follows standard models of crisis intervention and is structured in five phases and five different intervention modules to take into account the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of specific risk groups. With these support services, we hope to help our community better cope with the immediate impact of the pandemic and to contribute to preventing serious mental health problems in the medium and long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the current evidence base for human givens therapy in the context of mental health. A systematic literature search was conducted from which it is concluded that the evidence base for human givens therapy is currently limited: most evidence proffered is expert opinion supported with brief case studies or anecdotal evidence, with the exception of two descriptive studies both concerning trauma and the rewind technique. This paper calls for further research to be undertaken to examine the effectiveness of human givens therapy and for mainstream mental health, counselling and psychotherapy journals to provide space for healthy debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During psychotherapy assessments clinicians may recognize that some of their injured and traumatized clients may be wrestling with issues related to a lack of forgiveness linked to Moral Injury (MI). This paper presents the Forgiveness Interview Protocol (FIP), a narrative therapy writing-process model for the treatment of Moral Injury, drawing upon the philosophical work of Margaret Holmgren: "Forgiveness and the Intrinsic Value of Persons" (1993) now linked to a variety of evidence-based psychological sources. The FIP utilizes three distinct theoretical and clinical disciplines to arrive at a semi-structured interview intended for mental health counseling, and religious and spiritual care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines the notion that marginalized clients through their socio-cultural and geo-political histories are positioned “outside” the masculine cultural metaphors and conventional theoretical epistemologies of counselling, psychology and psychotherapy. In other words, these minoritized clients are “outside the sentence” of the texts and contexts of therapy. The discursive practice of therapeutic reconstitution and restoration produces a particular set of vocabularies and sentences that facilitate transformation and psychic equilibrium consistent with the process of individuation and self actualization. However, for marginalized groups, such as black and other visible minority, women, deaf, gay and lesbian clients the hegemonic masculine narratives of counselling psychology and psychotherapy only make it possible for these clients to be “outside the sentence”, not just grammatically and metaphorically of the therapeutic project, but in the external reality of how the practice is clinically governed. In other words, the social and cultural marginalization outside the clinic room is in a dialectical relationship with the therapy dyad. For the minoritized client being “outside the sentence” produces the effect of being “inside” another process, i.e., the history of subjugation, domination, diaspora, and displacement. This paper explores this issue and argues that the only way for counselling, psychology and psychotherapy to bring the diversity client “within the sentence” of therapy is to assign and re-inscribe the history, memory and pain of “the Other” voices to the “inside” of the therapeutic space, to interrupt and disrupt the hegemonic masculine narratives, thus transforming “non-sentences” into sentences and paragraphs, and eventually into essays of the discursive subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chat-based counseling hotlines emerged as a promising low-threshold intervention for youth mental health. However, despite the resulting availability of large text corpora, little work has investigated Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications within this setting. Therefore, this preregistered approach (OSF: XA4PN) utilizes a sample of approximately 19,000 children and young adults that received a chat consultation from a 24/7 crisis service in Germany. Around 800,000 messages were used to predict whether chatters would contact the service again, as this would allow the provision of or redirection to additional treatment. We trained an XGBoost Classifier on the words of the anonymized conversations, using repeated cross-validation and bayesian optimization for hyperparameter search. The best model was able to achieve an AUROC score of 0.68 (p < 0.01) on the previously unseen 3942 newest consultations. A shapely-based explainability approach revealed that words indicating younger age or female gender and terms related to self-harm and suicidal thoughts were associated with a higher chance of recontacting. We conclude that NLP-based predictions of recurrent contact are a promising path toward personalized care at chat hotlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of society, psychological health becomes a basic standard for a college student to grow into a qualified person. This study is aimed at using data mining principles and methods to excavate the factors that lead to psychological problems of college students, to purposefully carry out psychological interventions, use visual art design methods to promote college students' psychological health treatment, and build a perfect system of college students' psychological treatment. Based on the theories of data mining, we built a data analysis model, elaborated the data preprocessing method, and applied the Apriori algorithm to analyze the data of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and interpersonal sensitivity symptoms, and various psychological problem attributes extracted the strong association rules and analyzed the results. Take advantage of the corresponding unique school environment and educational advantages, to build a set of mental health education methods suitable for modern college students, and truly enable them to obtain satisfactory psychological interventions in a reasonable art design treatment phase. Based on the above association pattern mining results, a series of preprocessing operations were performed on the data, and then, the Apriori algorithm was applied to discover the potential association relationships among 9 psychological dimension factors of college students, and then, the ID3 decision tree algorithm was used to construct a decision tree and pruning process, from which the classification rules of students' psychological problems were analyzed and discovered. These studies provide some practical reference basis for school counseling work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to summarize research into the tensions associated with medicalization in graduate counselor education in a primarily Canadian context. Counselor education, until recently, has largely embraced pluralistic traditions of practice that are potentially at odds with a medicalized approach to practice. Medicalization here refers to a diagnostic and treatment focus most commonly associated with use of DSM5 diagnostic procedures and evidence-based treatment. Tensions, in this study, refer to competing accountabilities encountered in reconciling medicalized with other approaches to practice. Following a review of relevant textbooks, graduate program websites and curricula, Master’s-level counseling students, counselor educators, and profession leaders were surveyed and/or interviewed regarding how medicalization influenced counselor education, and for how they responded to its influence. Data across all sources were analyzed using the mapping procedures of Situational Analysis, a method useful in analyzing contested phenomena and processes. We report our findings as navigable, negotiable, and dilemmatic tensions shaping the experiences of students and other stakeholders in counselor education. We recommend ways to enable students and educators to navigate and negotiate potential dilemmas associated with medicalizing influences on counselor education. We close by discussing the implications of our findings with respect to practice and training in the UK context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of time, people have been using a range of healing practices to resolve health and mental health concerns. Among these are the traditional healing practices which appear to be growing among immigrant communities in the West, for example, Yoga, Ayurveda, Astrology, Voodoo, Santeria; and, the newer forms, viz., Maat, Morita therapy, Naikan therapy, and many others. These indigenous healing methods seem to address some of the many shortcomings of conventional health care and are practiced in conjunction with, and at times in the place of, modern Western forms. It seems that including two different health care modalities is possible since competing and contradictory cures can be held alongside each other without creating conflict in the client. This paper discusses traditional and cultural healers and healing in non-Western countries and those practices that are engaged with in the diaspora. The paper also considers the use of traditional healing alongside Western counselling and psychotherapy-dual interventions. Finally, the paper explores several strategies that counsellors could undertake when working with ethnic minority clients, particularly those clients who also enter into dual relationships with traditional healers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research endeavored to develop and pilot a system to demonstrate savings to the nation resulting from counseling provided by a national voluntary agency. This paper demonstrates the methodological challenges encountered. A questionnaire was developed, focused on four broad dimensions of clients' lives: Employment & Income, Health, Personal & Social, and Children. The questionnaire was piloted by eight counseling centers, and applied pre- and post-intervention. It proved not always possible to attribute clear savings within the dimensions measured. Direct health-related costs and sick days off work were relatively straightforward. However, for less tangible factors, e.g. personal and social, and children, it was not possible to attribute direct financial amounts to any improvements. The pilot, therefore, attributed savings where possible. Attrition was a major difficulty, with 976 pre-intervention questionnaires reducing to only 159 post-intervention. This paper indicates the challenges of estimating savings to the nation from counseling interventions, and illustrates a flexible flowchart which allows savings and costs to be attributed as and when available. Although no final calculations of savings to the nation are included, it is believed that the learning from the methodological challenges encountered should be useful to other services wishing to assess the financial costs and savings of psychological therapies and counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past several years, there has been a large increase in the number of studies of equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) with children and adolescents. However, due to the diversity of methods, samples, and publication types represented in the literature, it may be difficult for EFP practitioners to synthesize the existing research into useful guidelines and treatment recommendations for patients. This article summarizes and tabulates investigation findings by methods, theoretical underpinnings, and treatment populations. This review of 47 recent publications suggests that EFP is a useful modality with children and adolescents. In the large majority of reviewed papers, benefits were found for a variety of presenting problems and disorders. The most often studied populations were “at-risk” youth and children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. Recommendations for counselors and directions of future EFP research are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is a paucity of research exploring eating disorders (EDs) and academic performance (AP). This study aimed to understand the effect of ED treatment on AP, hypothesizing that students receiving treatment for EDs would have a higher GPA. Participants: The Spring 2010 – Spring 2011 National College Health Assessment data (N = 231,586) was utilized. Methods: Ordinal logistic regressions, controlling for key confounders, analyzed the association between those diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia and GPA. Results: Students diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia and treated with medication and psychotherapy were respectively 1.49 (1.24, 1.80; p <.0001) or 1.35 (1.13, 1.61; p =.0009) times more likely to have a higher GPA (p <.0001) compared to students without EDs. Conclusion: Findings expand the literature on EDs and AP among college students. Additional research is needed to determine whether the combination of medication and psychotherapy is the most effective way to improve AP among students with EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health disorders represent a significant global burden, affecting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Alongside psychotherapy and counseling, pharmacotherapy plays a crucial role in the management of mental health conditions. Pharmacists, as accessible and knowledgeable health care professionals, bring unique expertise in medication management and contribute to the multidisciplinary approach to mental health care. The purpose of this study is to describe the role of the pharmacist within a mental health program, focusing on the specific duties in this position, its benefits, and limitations. Pharmacists are key stakeholders in mental health care, involved in various aspects of patient care, including medication administration, drug therapy management, and patient education. Their comprehensive knowledge of psychotropic medications, their interactions, side effects, and dosage adjustments ensures the safe and effective use of these drugs. Pharmacists collaborate with physicians to optimize medication regimens, considering individual patient factors, such as comorbidities, drug allergies, and potential drug interactions. This collaborative approach increases medication adherence and reduces the risk of adverse events, promoting improved mental health outcomes. They provide essential information about drug effects, possible side effects, and strategies to manage them. Pharmacists address the concerns, misunderstandings, and stigma associated with mental health medications by promoting medication adherence and reducing treatment barriers. Beyond their direct patient care responsibilities, pharmacists contribute to public health initiatives by promoting mental health awareness and advocacy. They actively engage in community outreach programs, collaborating with healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocacy groups to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to mental health services. In conclusion, pharmacists play a key position in mental health care, providing essential services that optimize drug therapy and patient outcomes. Their expertise in psychotropic medications, patient education, and collaboration with healthcare providers contribute significantly to the management of mental health disorders. Future research and policy initiatives should continue to recognize and harness the potential of pharmacists in mental health care to ensure comprehensive and patient-centered approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Psychology / Revista de Psihologie is the property of Romanian Academy Publishing House / Editura Academiei Romane and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the interest in and demand for online platforms that can replace traditional face-to-face activities. Accordingly, metaverses have been increasingly used across society, especially in the Mental health field. This broad use of metaverses is now recognized as a major trend that will drive various industries across healthcare and society. In response to this societal change, this study provides a theoretical framework for understanding and applying metaverses as therapeutic spaces in mental health fields through a conceptualization and characterization of metaverses for a range of technologies and services. The value of metaverses as a human-centered "field of experience" was identified and proposed based on the essential aspect of the user, the human being, rather than from the technology used. According to existing psychotherapeutic theories, four therapeutic concepts for the metaverse were proposed: metaverse as an "average expectable environment" in the developmental and therapeutic categories of the self, a transitional stage for adaptation to reality, a creative space for memory and communication for the self, and an expanded or "surplus" reality. This work is expected to be a useful basis for expanding new psychotherapeutic strategies and methods as therapeutic spaces for maintaining mental health through the metaverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ainsworth developed the four attachment styles by observing children in situations of distress, fear, and anxiety. These are the secure, avoidant (dismissive), anxious-ambivalent (preoccupied) and disorganised attachment styles. They can also be observed when children are in therapy. Method: This literature review includes research that looks at the therapeutic outcomes of children with different attachment styles. I searched electronic databases, books and articles for relevant studies. They were then selected, thematically analysed and arranged in different themes and subthemes according to the research question. Findings: Results show how attachment styles influence the therapeutic process and the psychological health; also, the environment affects the attachment style. Children with an insecure attachment style often benefit from long-term therapy and are then able to have healthier and better relationships after the treatment. Research also shows that attachment styles are not rigid but rather fluid, flexible and include change. Discussion: The relationship between children's outcomes in counselling and psychotherapy and attachment styles is reviewed in this literature review. It entails new perspectives of children's attachment styles and what their relationship is to the therapeutic process. This is crucial for therapists as it supports them in their work with children [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in technology increasingly facilitate data collection in the context of psychosocial and psychotherapeutic care. Such technology-enhanced assessments (e.g. via Internet-based systems and mobile devices) open new perspectives for research into processes related to mental health and well-being. The use of this knowledge for the development and refinement of (online and face-to-face) therapeutic interventions promises to contribute to an optimization of care. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview on how information and communication technologies may be used (a) to improve our understanding of illness development and recovery through longitudinal technology-enhanced assessment of symptoms and behaviors (e.g. outcome monitoring and ecological momentary assessment) and (b) to optimize care for mental disorders by integrating such monitoring assessments in specific interventions (e.g. ecological momentary interventions and supportive monitoring) in face-to-face or e-mental health settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic relationship is an important factor in the outcome of psychotherapy, and this has been a factor that underpins the development of counselling psychology. While aspects of therapeutic relationship can be referred to as 'non-specific' components of the therapy, there are different ways of understanding these components. This paper focuses on the 'trust' aspect of the therapeutic relationship. Psychodynamic theories put the relationship between the client and therapist at the centre of the therapeutic encounter and this relationship is considered to be the vehicle for change. Knowledge of psychodynamic concepts about the therapeutic relationship is crucial for the counselling psychology practitioner to understand what is happening between client and therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes that the provision of online counselling services for young people accessed through their local school website has the potential to assist students with mental health issues as well as increasing their help seeking behaviours. It stems from the work of the authors who trialled an online counselling service within one Australian secondary school. In Australia, online counselling with the adult population is now an accepted part of the provision of mental health services. Online provision of mental health information for young people is also well accepted. However, online counselling for young people is provided by only a few community organisations such as Kids Help Line within Australia. School-based counselling services which are integral to most secondary schools in Australia, seem slow to provide this service in spite of initial interest and enthusiasm by individual school counsellors. This discussion is the product of reflection on the potential benefits of this trial with a consideration of relevant research of the issues raised. It highlights the need for further research into the use of computer-mediated communication in the provision of counselling within a school setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing trend in the West to seek alternative, complementary and traditional healing not only as a reaction to Western biomedicine but also to the mindset of “talking heads” in psychotherapy. Traditional healing aims to restore harmony and balance within the individual through a symbiosis of the body, mind and spirit. Through this process traditional healing offers a holistic conceptualization of wellness and wellbeing, both within the individual, and between the individual and his or her environment. Comparative studies on alternative healing practices indicate that many patients/clients often see a mental health professional and a traditional healer concurrently. This paper considers the use of traditional healing alongside Western counselling psychology as a process of dual interventions for clients who engage traditional healing practices alongside psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper it is argued that becoming a psychotherapist involves learning about the unknown, not so much as a commodity or as something to be acquired but rather in the sense of learning to speak from our unknowing. If learning about the unknown is considered important in being a psychotherapist, what are the best ways of developing such a practice? The unknown can be approached, broadly speaking, in two ways. Some writers attempt to explain the known of the unknown, for example conceptualised as the unconscious whereas others attempt to hold open the question of the unknown of the unknown. It is argued here that experience and experience of the relational is the milieu for the kind of learning associated with both the known of the unknown and the unknown of the unknown. These ways of viewing the unknown are considered by exploring how they emerge in both learning theory and psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although much counseling already takes place in the voluntary sector, little is known about the nature of the work being done or about its effectiveness or the training and experience of its practitioners. Given the gap between the demand for and supply of psychological therapies in Britain today, lack of research into the effectiveness of this work could mean that a valuable resource is being under-utilized. This paper describes a study of a large, generic counseling center and, using the CORE monitoring and evaluation system, makes comparisons between its work and that of a number of NHS psychological therapy services. It shows; that it is of at least as complex or severe a nature; and that it is as effective. It also shows that the therapy carried out in this agency is done by appropriately qualified and experienced practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counseling outcomes are often measured in terms of standardized questionnaires. Though efficient for large numbers of participants, this method cannot capture the unique and subtle 'shifts' that clients often report when qualitative methods are utilized. Further, such questionnaires usually focus on the individual, missing the wider social implications of therapy. This paper presents the preliminary findings from a study that utilizes the client's own perceptions of changes in their "Life Space" to establish the significance of their change process. These results are compared and contrasted with a standard outcome questionnaire and the participant's experiences of using the two methods are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of mental health problems in young people with learning disabilities and the disability rights movement provide the background to this paper. The aims are to investigate the inclusivity of counselling; gain insight into inclusive practices; and put forward a model for inclusive counselling practice. Mixed methodology provides quantitative and qualitative data through a survey of counsellors (n = 396) and a series of semi-structured interviews (n = 15). The results produce six indicators of inclusive counselling, which are used to build a model for inclusive counselling practice: proactive approach to inclusion; focus on building relationships; operationalising equal opportunities policies; inclusive initial assessments; adopting flexible and creative approaches to counselling; and training and awareness raising. The implications for research and practice are to acknowledge the exclusive nature of the profession and address the issue of inclusion through training, professional development and further research in the field. The model for inclusive counselling practice is put forward as a tool for auditing existing counselling provision and as guidance for counsellors and policy makers in increasing inclusion of young people with learning disabilities in mainstream counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in neuroscience provide compelling evidence of the significance of our embodiment for our psychic life, and the extent to which subjectivity is both a social and a psychological phenomenon. In thinking about the experiential sense of living in an explicitly female body, I suggest that the connotations of disgust with which menstruation is associated cannot fail to affect women's core sense of identity and subjectivity. As gendered blood, to no small degree separating and defining women, the way that it is consciously and unconsciously represented contributes to the way that difference is experienced by every female. We cannot fail, in part, to become what we are attributed to be. In this paper I have tried to think about the ways in which psychoanalysis appears to mirror a cultural avoidance, which in part it helps to promote, whereby menstruation represents the concealed nature of female sexuality, in contrast to which the phallus continually signifies itself. When acknowledged at all, menstruation is seen as a loss, an incontinence, or an absence (of babies) - a symbol of waste and a break in productivity. I have considered ways in which, and reasons why, images of blood and women can be seen as a sign pointing to a reality against which other variables are measured. Within this paradigm I have attempted to consider ways in which menstruation can be considered to be a metaphor for women's symbolic and real absence, marginalization, fragile status, inarticulacy and misrepresentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surprisingly, far less is known of the manifestations of post-traumatic stress reactions in children than in adults. Research over the past 10 years has begun to describe phenomena very similar to PTSD in adults, particularly among young adolescents. This paper will briefly review recent research and will describe our own experiences working with children who survived the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry disaster. Attention will be paid not only to the reactions of the children, but also to the reactions of their families, and to problems experienced subsequently at school. An account will be given of two therapeutic groups run in parallel for children and parents. It is concluded that children, at least in the 8- to 16-year age range, show problems very similar to adult PTSD, but that these will not be picked up by commonly used screening instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of "walk and talk" counselling has recently increased due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, concurrent with an increased awareness of the benefits of the outdoors, nature and exercise on mental health. Walk and talk counselling is relatively new and seemingly easy to incorporate for everyday counsellors. However, there is limited previous research on this form of counselling. Aim: This study aimed to investigate how the client experiences walk and talk counselling in a natural outdoor environment. Method: To evaluate the client's lived experience of walk and talk counselling, online semi‐structured interviews with five adult participants in the United Kingdom (UK) were analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method. Findings: The general outlook on walk and talk was positive. There was a feeling of informality, and a relational equalising element, but these aspects did not appear to detract from the professional relationship. There was an appreciation of nature, although there was an element of not noticing it. Timing was more fluid, and there were positive and negative aspects of the outdoor walking. Limitations: A small sample size limits the wider application of these findings. Implications: Further research is required to support further guidelines and training for practitioners. Implications for practice include the consideration of client preferences and a more fluid approach to contracting, a need for increased awareness of physical and psychological safety and a consideration of the relational dynamic when walking outdoors. Conclusion: Walk and talk is a viable alternative to indoor counselling. It proved useful in a pandemic and for clients who would not consider indoor counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black women face significant stressors that impact their emotional and mental health. Counselors have a unique opportunity to provide culturally responsive and affirming counseling that works toward the liberation of Black women from oppression, marginalization, and psychological distress. However, there is not a current theory that specifically addresses the nuances of Black women's experiences, focusing especially on the vital relevance of religion and spirituality. To that end, we propose an integrated model of Relational Cultural Theory and Womanist Theology. This article provides an outline of the proposed model, suggestions for therapeutic application, and considerations for counselors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The experiential and reflective nature of psychotherapeutic training is not always captured in undergraduate psychology teaching, therefore, there is a need for educational strategies that provide opportunities for deeper understanding of the therapeutic process. Objective: This article evaluates one such strategy—A Book Club, to support the understanding of psychotherapeutic practice and mental health in Psychology undergraduate students at a private university in Dubai, UAE. Method: Psychotherapy-related books were assigned as prior reading each month, which were then discussed in the group meetings facilitated by clinically experienced Psychology lecturers. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with students and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four primary themes were generated—(1) Diversity in perspectives, (2) Autonomous learning environment, (3) Reality orientation, and (4) Sparking self-insight. The results highlight that Book Clubs are useful in fostering deeper conceptualizations of the therapeutic relationship, visualizing future careers in psychotherapy, and promoting self-awareness among students. Conclusion: Discussions centred around books can provide students with discourse opportunities that enhance students' interpersonal skills and improve student engagement. Teaching Implication: Book clubs can be a useful platform for teachers to help students connect the knowledge that they have previously acquired in the classroom with real-life experiences of psychotherapists described in books. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insights gained from lived experience of mental health issues are increasingly utilised in the delivery of mental health services, reflecting a growing recognition of the value of experiential knowledge. Despite this recognition, there is a dearth of literature on the lived experience of counsellors and psychotherapists, and as such, insight into how counsellors and psychotherapists understand and experience their dual patient‐therapist identity is limited. This study explores the role of practitioner‐lived experience in counselling and psychotherapy. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with two counsellors and one psychotherapist, and transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes were identified: (a) identity as a practitioner; (b) self‐disclosure as enhancing therapeutic relationships; (c) importance of supervision; and (d) healing and recovery. This study adds to a growing body of research on the value of experiential knowledge in the production of mental health services, providing insight into how lived‐experience practitioners experience their dual identity within their practice, and how they can be supported in exploring and valuing their experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]