This paper discusses three serious cognitive-emotive errors clients make when they are confronted with situations that block their important goals and how to act against self-defeating errors and move on to greater mental health and self-actualization. Three of the main ways in which clients think, feel, and act against their best interests are:…

Anorexia nervosa has received considerable attention lately because of its increased incidence, potential danger, and resistance to treatment. A review of the literature on anorexia nervosa suggests that, although it is characterized by complex interrelated psychological and physiological processes, it is often conceptualized and treated in…

Until recently, most of the emphasis on the understanding of sex roles has focused on how sexist attitudes and sex role stereotypes affect women. Often times men are the objects of stereotypical thinking, which results in certain assumptions about masculinity that can prove to be self-defeating and destructive to relationships on all levels. Male…

Self-efficacy theory proposes that beliefs about behavior are important variables to consider in the study of behavior change. The belief that an individual is capable of executing behavior and that the execution of such behavior will result in the desired outcome must be present for behavioral and psychological change to occur. This theory may…

This report presents theories in counseling not merely as abstract thoughts, but as beliefs and proposed procedures to follow in helping a client when he/she has difficulties coping with life. Four main counseling theories are then described: (1) Client-Centered Counseling (Carl Rogers); (2) Rational-Emotive Therapy (Albert Ellis); (3) Reality…

Paradoxical techniques in counseling consist of directing clients to practice the symptom which is causing them psychological distress. Both impression management theory and reactance theory have been advanced to explain the efficacy of such techniques. To examine the effectiveness of paradoxical techniques according to impression management and…

The Conflict Tactics Scale questionnaire on marital violence was administered to 29 alcoholics and their wives at entry to, and 1 year after, completing a behavioral marital therapy (BMT) treatment program. In the year prior to BMT, prevalence rates of any violent act, of minor to moderate violent acts, and of severe violent acts were five to six…

Although long-term treatments have successfully reduced or eliminated the binging and purging of bulimia patients, there is a critical need for effective short-term treatments since many bulimics are college students who are not available for lengthy treatment. Seven female university students participated in an eight session individual…

A self control therapy program for depression was held over a 10-week period for 104 women, aged 18-60. The therapy focused on behavioral and cognitive objectives, increasing both activity levels and positive statements about self. To investigate the effectiveness of the program after a 6-month period, 71 of the women (approximately 70 percent of…

Two current approaches to the conceptualization and treatment of depression have received considerable attention from the scientific community. The cognitive approach (Beck) posits that depression derives from negatively distorted beliefs that must be challenged in the context of cognitive therapy until they are replaced with positive and…

The efficacy of behavioral weight loss programs has been systematically evaluated during active treatment and at follow-up intervals. Despite repeated calls for more comprehensive assessment of change, other sources of information about change in behavior, nutritional habits, and thinking patterns are often neglected. These studies examined the…

This paper discusses paradoxical interventions, considering some of the structural variations among paradoxical techniques found in the treatment literature and in general, and highlighting clinical and ethical issues that are pertinent to the application of paradoxical techniques. The structuring of the theraputic paradox is discussed including…

Thirty-six students at a continuation high school were identified as predelinquents and selected as subjects on the basis of their poor attendance and academic records. Pretreatment and posttreatment data were collected on the following variables: attendance figures and academic credits. Following preliminary assessment, the subjects were randomly…

The greatest focus in alcoholism treatment research today is matching client to treatment. Consistent with this research direction, this paper describes a survey completed by members of Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) regarding their assessment of AA as a treatment. It looks at the self-reported behaviors of AA members and compares these actions with…

After nearly a decade of empirical studies on the effectiveness of various types of psychotherapy, Beck's cognitive/behavioral therapy apparently remains the most effective psychotherapy for depression. However, because of the complexity and the mixture of cognitive and behavioral modification in Beck's therapy it is impossible to test Beck's…