Surveyed alcoholism counselors (N=284) to determine whether the disease concept of alcoholism precludes acceptance and use of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in alcoholism treatment. Results suggest that SFBT may be feasible for alcoholism treatment and that endorsement of the disease concept is compatible with the principles of SFBT. (EMK)

Argues that biographical films and videos of American composers may be used for the psychotherapeutic inducement of joy, when their music was positively linked with significant people and events in the patient's past. Illustrates this using "Deep in My Heart," a 1954 film based on the life of composer Sigmund Romberg. Discusses Romberg's other…

Outlines a model of the development of therapists' theoretical orientation and clinical practice, based on the integration of data from 161 Portuguese therapists with the extant literature. Indicates that therapists from different persuasions appear to emphasize different variables. Indicates clinical experience plays a central role, and…

Responds to C. Aaron McNeese's (1995) article, "Family Social Work Practice: From Therapy to Policy." It encompasses the long-standing debate in social work over micro- and macro-level approaches to problem solving, commonly referred to as the "cause-function" debate. The struggle to minimize adverse effects of diversity has…

Traces the history of psychological therapies, including behavior therapy and humanistic therapies that challenged the initially dominant psychoanalytic model. Examines the development of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and the British Confederation of Psychotherapists, as well as other developments, such as psychotherapeutic studies…

States that the techniques of mental imagery can help adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse access the inner wisdom necessary to identify, understand, and creatively address issues from the past and develop new and healthier patterns of thinking and behaving. Documents the innovative ways psychosynthesis uses mental imagery with this client…

Discusses the use of stories as metaphor in therapy. Outlines the themes of the story of "Dracula," presenting five primary and three subthemes of the story which characterize parasitic relationships. Offers a case study illustrating these themes and demonstrating the therapeutic value of this metaphor. (SR)

Humanistic psychotherapies for disturbed clients, including client-centered and existential-phenomenological treatments, are reviewed. It is concluded that humanistic treatments are effective and provide a good conceptual framework for working with disturbed clients. (Author/MKA)

Describes a poetry group developed for older adults with functional mental health problems, based at a day hospital in the United Kingdom. Evaluates the group's effectiveness using both quantitative pre and post measures and qualitative feedback. Finds that all group members enjoyed the group, and that its benefits seemed to lie on a continuum…

Describes meta-analysis, including criticisms; reviews its use in resolving disagreements regarding the results of research in psychotherapy, school funding, and medicine. (Contains 43 references.) (PKP)

Examines approaches and resources for training psychotherapists in cross-cultural empathy, suggesting that it provides the therapists with a coherent and familiar means of maintaining affective receptivity in the therapeutic encounter with clients while making use of a repository of information about clients' cultures. (EV)

While research has focused on the difficulties faced in adapting to life following the experiences of a traumatic event, limited research has examined positive legacies of incorporating a traumatic experience into life posttrauma. This study uses quantitative and qualitative data (N = 218) to examine the effect that trauma severity and social…

This paper reports how consultative work with teachers can be supported by the use of letters. Letters were written by an educational psychologist (EP) after a consultation meeting with a teacher. Features of therapeutic letter writing and solution-focused brief therapy were used to increase the collaborative intent of the letters. Follow-up…

In this column, the author focuses on the ways that family counselors can use solution-based therapies (solution-oriented and solution-focused) to work with families with adolescents in individual and/or family therapy. The theoretical foundation for solution-based therapies suggests techniques that help families focus on solutions and not remain…

Many forms of adventure therapy, in particular wilderness therapy, rely on challenges in the outdoors to achieve objectives of client change. While nature is drawn on as a medium for therapy and healing, some adventure therapists give nature little if any mention when it comes to explaining therapeutic success. The dominant paradigm in psychology…