Examined studies that claim that internals are more successful in nondirective therapy and externals in directive therapy. Deficiencies in the design, statistical analysis, and outcome measures employed in these studies led to the conclusion that only slim support exists currently for the interaction hypothesis. (Author)

Patients described their perceptions of ideal therapist characteristics and subsequently described their own therapist. Data suggest there is consensus on what patients expect in a therapist and also suggest a relationship between how well therapists meet these expectancies and how effective patients consider their therapy. (Author)

Obese females were assigned to a standard behavioral treatment (SBT) group, a group receiving weight control manuals via mail (MMC), or a waiting list control condition. Results revealed superiority of both treatments over control condition. SBT subjects did better than MMC subjects. Weight loss for MMC subjects was minimal. (Author/BEF)

Students with examination anxiety took part in study of effectiveness of two kinds of treatment, structured psychodrama and systematic desensitization, in reducing test anxiety. Results showed that subjects in both treatment groups significantly reduced test-anxiety scores. Structured psychodrama is as effective as systematic desensitization in…

Evaluated therapeutic effectiveness of setting goals in behavioral terms while monitoring subject's progress in attaining these goals. Greater beneficial changes in patient attainment of goals were effected using a structured patient-therapist collaboration on weekly goals. Results indicate the goal attainment model with periodic monitoring is…

Last decade has seen some major impacts of feminism on institution of psychotherapy regarding theories, treatment techniques, and assessment instruments. Changes in attitudes toward women as therapists and as clients have reflected general advances of women's movement. Presented at American Psychological Association Convention, Toronto, Canada,…

Discusses engagement techniques including: (1) techniques enabling therapists to achieve influence with family members or entry into the family system; (2) techniques utilized in teaching the family how to behave in the therapy setting; and (3) tactics therapists may use to manage difficult moments in the session. (Author)

Defines the term "shyness" and provides data regarding its prevalence. Discusses the relationship of shyness to other psychological problems and describes attempts to treat it in brief psychotherapy. The general goal of treatment is to provide patients with a problem-solving approach to interpersonal difficulties. (JMF)

Mentally ill patients engaging in art activities were seen to recover from their illnesses faster than those not so engaged. An art therapy profession has grown as the result of this observation and incorporates a variety of theoretical orientations ranging from highly educational to highly nondirective and analytic. (JD)

Male felony offenders in a live-in treatment center rank ordered curative factor categories similarly to Yalom's well-educated, middle-socioeconomic-class outpatients. Both groups ranked catharsis, group cohesiveness, and interpersonal learning (input) as the three most important categories. The only discrepancy was the ranking of universality.…

A model for a brief, focused group psychotherapy experience for women, led by women therapists, is suggested as an effective means to ease the transition from marriage and to allow a redefinition of the self as a single individual. (Author)

Investigated professional activities of members of the Division of Counseling Psychology of the American Psychological Association. Participants perceived themselves most involved with short-term, goal-directed counseling and program development and least involved with research and working with paraprofessionals. Subjects' interests indicate a…

Recounts the history of cancer treatment to illustrate the long-standing tradition of a holistic approach to the investigation and treatment of cancer, discusses the growing emphasis on holistic cancer treatment and the importance of counseling in such treatment. (Author)

Male and female interviewers who were introduced as expert or nonexpert met individually with undergraduates. Male experts were rated lower in social attractiveness; however, introductions did not affect either perceived expertness or trustworthiness. Reasonably competent therapist behavior may neutralize differential expertness; expertness may…

Results indicated little or no correspondence between self-report scores and behavior in a contrived in vivo setting or between role play and behavior with a sample of college students. Assertion was enhanced in the role play condition, but not in the contrived in vivo condition. (JAC)