Nonsexual Relationships Between Psychotherapists and Their Former Clients: Obligations of Psychologists

This article examines the issue of nonsexual relationships between psychologists and their former therapy clients. What little research is available concerning nonsexual relationships with former clients suggests that psychologists have clear reservations about some of these relationships, especially personal ones and intentional social interactions. Relationships immediately following termination are seen as particularly suspect. Drawing on the literature dealing with multiple relationships in general, and sexual relationships with former clients in particular, a number of arguments are made outlining why psychologists should avoid significant nonsexual relationships with former clients for at least some period of time following termination.     

保护性价值观及其对决策行为的影响

保护性价值观(protected values, PVs)是这样的一种观念:它拒绝与其他任何价值相互交易,尤其拒绝与经济价值进行交易[1]。本文对国内外有关保护性价值观及其对决策行为的影响的研究成果进行了详尽考察和评述,在此基础上,进一步提出了管理领域保护性价值观研究的设想。     

Sexual Contact Between Psychologists and Their Former Therapy Patients: Psychoanalytic Perspectives and Professional Implications

Data was analyzed from the semi-structured interviews of 6 heterosexual male psychoanalytic psychotherapists who by self-report had not engaged in a post-termination sexual involvement. The focus of each interview was to elicit the participants' views about sexual contact between psychotherapists and their former therapy patients, as well as their related attitudes towards Standard 4.07 of the APA Ethics Code (1992). The results suggested great disparity of opinion regarding what might constitute acceptable, ethical behavior in this domain. Nonetheless, all the clinicians agreed that the potential for harm resulting from post-termination sexual involvements was great, They all shared the beliefs that transference did not resolve with termination, that professional responsibilities continued after treatment ended, and that power differentials between therapist and patient lingered, perhaps in perpetuity. However, it was determined to be premature to replace the current Standard 4.07 with an absolute prohibition against sexual involvements between therapists and their former patients.     

Psychologists and alcoholic women

Alcoholism among women often has been treated using a model based on research with alcoholic men. Women react differently to alcohol than men both physiologically and psychologically and their drinking patterns are different from men's. Treatment facilities for alcoholism have not been as available for women as for men and treatment must be individualized for the differences between men and women problem drinkers and for the differences among alcoholic women.     

心理学家处方权的历史由来与理论争论

20世纪70年代以来,临床心理学家精神药物处方权就一直成为西方学术界极具争议的问题.支持者们认为,赋予处方权能够充分实现临床心理学的社会价值,有利于临床心理学更具活力地向前发展.反对者们认为,处方权在具体实施当中不仅使培训成本剧增、加重患者经济负担,而且背离心理学的传统理念、增加职业风险与冲突,对于临床心理学及精神病学的发展都将产生负面影响.     

Learning Experiences Contributing to Service-Delivery Competence in Applied Psychologists: Lessons for Sport Psychologists

The purpose of the present study was to compare learning experiences perceived to contribute to service-delivery competence in sport, clinical, and counseling psychologists. Twenty psychologists (11 female, 9 male; 28–70 years of age) participated in semistructured interviews. All participants emphasized the role of client interactions in learning service-delivery processes. In addition, clinical and counseling participants reported personal therapy and supervision as influential experiences. Applied implications for training include (a) regional supervision networks comprising peers and elders, (b) university-based sport psychology clinics, and (c) personal and professional development groups.     

Issues Regarding Confidentiality for Military Psychologists

Federal statutes and military service regulations govern the functioning of military psychologists. Effective July 18, 1988, military psychologists were required to maintain an active state license. The licensing laws of all 50 states cite adherence to the Ethical Principles of the American Psychological Association (APA, 1981a). Potential conflicts exist between federal statutes, service regulations, and ethical principles of the APA. The principal area of conflict may be with confidentiality of information obtained by psychologists from consumers. Thirty active duty Army Medical Department (AMEDD) psychologists were surveyed on current practices regarding confidentality. Twenty-four (80%) responded. Results suggest that most AMEDD psychol- ogists (21 respondents or 87.5%) do not document in writing that they have informed consumers of the limits of confidentiality of psychological infor- mation. Nor do they obtain written permission before releasing information on consumers when requested by unit commanders. Military psychologists are encouraged to advise consumers in writing of the limits of confidentiality of psychological information prior to initiating any professional relationship with a patient.     

Ethics and Confidentiality for Psychologists in Academic Health Centers

Psychologists in academic health centers (AHC) face important ethical issues including confidentiality when working with a multidisciplinary team, sharing of information through the electronic health record, obtaining informed consent in a fast-paced healthcare environment, cultural competency in the medical setting, and issues related to supervision and training. The goal of this paper is to describe ethical issues for psychologists in AHCs in the context of case examples, and to consider ethical decision-making tools to enhance clinical care. Considerations for best practices in integrated care settings will be discussed, and the APA Ethical Standards will be referenced throughout.     

Social Psychologists and Social Psychology

Abstract

(Witkin, H. A., Hertzman, M., Machover, K., Meissner, P. B., &; Wapner, S. Personality Through Perception. New York: Harper, 1954. Pp. 571.) Reviewed by Murray H. Sherman.     

Cultural Considerations for Psychologists in Primary Care

Many health concerns in the United States (e.g., diabetes) are routinely managed in primary care settings. Regardless of the medical condition, patients’ health is directly influenced by factors such as healthcare providers and cultural background. Training related to how behaviors influence health, coupled with training on how cultural diversity intersects with mental health, allows psychologists to have the relevant expertise to assist in the development of primary care behavioral health interventions. However, many psychologists in primary care struggle with how to integrate a culture-centered paradigm into their roles as behavioral health providers. This paper provides an introduction on how three culture-centered concepts (providers’ cultural sensitivity, patient–provider cultural congruency, and patients’ health literacy) can be applied in primary care using the Five A’s Organizational Construct and a model of cultural competence. In addition, the paper includes a section on integration of cultural considerations into consultation and training and concludes with a discussion of how the three culture-centered concepts have implications for health equity.     

Obesity in America: Implications for Clinical and Health Psychologists

The number of individuals classified as overweight and obese is increasing at alarming rates and these conditions are associated with numerous psychological and physiological health problems. Within this epidemic, there is an increasing need and demand for psychologists and other mental health professionals to participate in the care of patients with obesity, both in assessment and treatment domains. The current paper provides a review of the status of the obesity epidemic, including psychological comorbidities and treatment approaches. Throughout this review, we highlight and discuss the important roles and impact psychologists can have. These roles include serving as members of multidisciplinary obesity treatment programs, conducting assessments for bariatric surgery, and treating related psychiatric disorders, such as depression and disordered eating. Other considerations, such as weight gain associated with psychiatric medications, and directions for future involvement of psychologists in addressing the obesity epidemic are also discussed.     

Prophetic Words for Psychologists: Particularity,Ethics and Peace

This essay seeks to consider the implications of the prophetic voice of Abraham Joshua Heschel. We argue that Heschel’s work offers important correctives to some of modern psychologies’ universalizing and reductive assumptions and activities. Specifically, we show that Heschel argues for an anthropology characterized by particularity, with a unique emphasis on the person’s standing in relation to God. Relatedly, we show how Heschel’s understanding challenges us to recognize that ethics is to precede ontology. Lastly, this primacy of ethics leads to a prophetic challenge toward becoming people of peace, systemically as well as individually. We conclude by applying Heschel’s admonishment to recent, specific activities of injustice and violence within the field of psychology. Heschel’s arguments are reviewed in a spirit of ecumenism, to pursue the ends of peace as a profession and as a society.

An Interactional Approach for Pharmacopsychologists and Psychologists: Gender Concerns

A knowledge base of culturally sensitive psychotropic pharmacotherapy is encouraged to help patients receive accurate diagnoses and beneficial treatment. Research is best informed if the complexity of individuals is directly addressed beyond main effects in research designs. The interactions of age, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, and cultural practices, as well as medication effects, need to be studied. Reporting data with distinctive characteristics exhibited by different ethnic-gender subgroups provides rich information with which psychologists can treat patients more effectively as well as ethically. Conceptual models of prescribing need to include perspectives of the whole person. An interactional model is one model that would address physiological, psychological, and sociocultural dimensions.     

Family Therapy Training: Academic and Internship Opportunities for Psychologists

Institutions that train psychologists in psychotherapy skills have generally neglected the family approach. This article provides information on both university departments of psychology and psychology internship facilities that include family therapy training in their programs.