Presents a therapeutic model in which the mental-health counselor functions as a play therapist with children who have been sexually abused. The therapy is based on existential, client-centered, and developmental theories and it relieves the emotional distress of sexual abuse through a variety of expressive-play materials. (RJM)

A study of four people enrolled in General National Vocational Qualifications courses shows that career and educational choices are constrained by culture and by issues of status and prestige. Simply giving choices does not address social inequalities, market forces, or status differentials, making GNVQs less empowering than intended. (SK)

Examines dominant features of feminist pedagogy as it is constructed in nursing education; explores the perceived superiority of feminist pedagogy over traditional models of education; and focuses on the problematic rhetoric and conceptions of empowerment. (JOW)

Drama workshops focused on empowerment were used in a master's program, a management certification program, and management development for women academics. Evaluations indicated that strong feelings and reactions were raised and sufficient time must be allocated for debriefing. Precourse preparation is essential. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

A survey of 100 women and 14 literacy teachers/administrators in Tanzania suggests that literacy is considered an abstract value and not a tool for women's empowerment. Women's desire to learn is often frustrated by program content that does not reflect political, social, cultural, and economic realities. (SK)

Discusses student-led parent conferences at Metcalf Laboratory School. Finds that students can learn how to reflect on their learning, evaluate their progress, and communicate this information to their parents in a conference situation. Concludes that students were empowered and that student-led conferences were a good way to use guided…

Sociocultural animation is education promoting democratic values and empowerment for social regeneration. In its participatory approach, social change focus, and use of action research, it shares an agenda with adult education. (SK)

Surveyed United Kingdom business people and secondary school educators working in organizations with a flatter structure about organizational climate, job meaningfulness, communications, work intensity, and personal motivation. Found that old hierarchical attitudes persist and that an investment in changing the culture is required in order to…

The context for health empowerment includes individuals, health providers, and the regulatory environment. Psychological health empowerment consists of perceived control, perceived competence, and goal internalization. In multicultural communities, barriers to empowerment include locus of control, access to health care, and language and cultural…

Little attention has been paid to the overlap of the religious and therapeutic worlds. Spiritual issues can be considered in the context of family dynamics as well as cultural factors, including gender, socioeconomic status, language, geographic origins, and issues of racism and oppression. Discusses two genograms as examples of…

Urges teachers who have replaced teacher-planned and implemented instruction with less effective instruction because of the Ohio Proficiency Tests to recast their teacher role from passive technician to that of proactive decision-maker. (NH)

Describes creative thinking as an underutilized problem-solving skill that can be learned and applied to any situation. Explains how academic librarians can understand, develop, and use their creative thinking abilities and skills in the workplace and discusses library organizational culture, institutional culture, and empowerment. (Author/LRW)

Explains Freire's key concepts: "banking" education, conscientization, dialog, and facilitation. Discusses how Freire's notion of power and empowerment could potentially lead to ideological manipulation serving an educator's agenda. (SK)

This article reviews how the term "self-determination" has been defined and conceptualized, examines misperceptions of the term that may have contributed to the exclusion of people with severe disabilities, and seeks to find common ground to move forward to promote self-determination for people with severe disabilities. (Author/PB)

This paper comments on three preceding papers in the same publication on the general topic of self-determination for adults with severe disabilities. It is concluded that self-determination is based on community relationships more than individual decisions, and that individuals should be valued regardless of whether or not they know what they…