Describes a contracting workshop for couples which is designed to strengthen their relationship. The counselor helps the couple make explicit and implicit agreements and rules by which the relationship operates. Through experiential exercises, minilectures, and group work, the couple's style of communication and decision making skills are…

Describes a program for working with drama students in groups and examines qualities of actors' lives as well as professional issues for them. Recommendations are made for counselors working with actors in a university setting. (Author)

This study provides information to assist counselors in helping girls with career exploration. Peer social modeling, reinforcement, and practice of modeled behavior can help girls explore traditional and nontraditional careers and learn decision making. (JAC)

Describes the Systems Marriage Enrichment Program which was developed from the systems concepts of circular causality, the identification of predictable interaction patterns, and the adaptive and homeostatic mechanisms. Presents a protocol process consisting of five phases with goals and techniques. (Author)

Self-help groups of elderly persons (N=42), who had been blind for several years, met by phone for short-term problem solving and discussion of coping methods. Results indicated task-centered assignments helped the majority meet their goal of decreasing feelings of hopelessness and increasing social activities outside of the home. (Author)

Summarizes research relating to the use of bibliotherapy in elementary schools and offers suggestions for further use in school guidance and counseling. Research suggests counselors might use bibliotherapy to help children develop or change attitudes and promote positive mental health. Proposes it is useful with both individuals and groups. (JAC)

Low-achieving freshmen students (N=96) were required to participate in an eight-week counseling/study skills program. Analysis of variance compared experimental and control groups on quarterly and cumulative grade point averages (GPA) and credit completion ratios (CCR). The intervention did not influence GPAs or persistence in college, but did…

The Rational Thinking Group experience, based on cognitive restructuring exercises, significantly increased the self-concept of adolescent participants. In addition, the experience was effective in increasing scores on the behavior, anxiety, and happiness, and satisfaction scales. (Author)

The results of this study support the use of trained volunteers in systematic controlled activities with prisoners. On the institutional measures, prisoners who participated in discussion groups with trained volunteers showed more positive change than did prisoners exposed to untrained volunteers. (Author/CS)

Although group counseling is available to students, there have been few follow-up studies to determine if this counseling approach is effective. A study to obtain follow-up information from junior and senior high school students who had participated in group counseling during elementary school is described. (Author)

Tests the effects of DUSO and HDP on children's school attendance. The study seems to indicate that these programs can have significant effects on school attendance. In addition, the study provides some information about which facets of the multimodal model influence school attendance. (Author)

A weight reduction and control program was developed for 11 obese trainable mentally retarded (TMR) students (11-21 years old) by the school counselor. The gradual reduction of weight over time demonstrated that it is possible for TMR students to learn self-help skills related to diet. (Author/SBH)

Model of group counseling was thought to provide therapeutic atmosphere in which disruptive students have opportunity to gain responsibility for effective and active involvement in their educational experience and psychological development. Results indicate process helped disruptive students acquire thinking and behavior patterns to interact more…

Summarizes the design and effects of a group therapy project using videotape feedback with seriously disturbed adolescents. Offers anecdotal evidence that the feedback facilitated the correction of the participants' distorted body images, low self-esteem, lack of capacity for self-observation, and poor peer relationships. (SS)

Examines theoretical aspects of projective identification and suggests procedures for processing projective identification in group counseling and therapy. Discusses projective identification and related defense mechanisms, systems and boundaries, and scapegoating. Some of the stages in processing projective identification include the relationship…