An approach to supervision in health care settings

This article describes a flexible approach to supervision which allows for the fact that integration may mean different things to different people under different circumstances. In the health contexts described the clinical mix which was found most helpful in the supervisory work combined psychodynamic, Jungian and humanistic perspectives. The application of this particular mix of clinical techniques is demonstrated with reference to the work with two supervisees. It is felt that the methods employed are consistent with the current notions of difference in counselling and psychotherapy.     

Boundaries in the practice of humanistic counselling

The multifaceted concept of boundary is used to describe the ground rules, quality and type of therapeutic relationship in a humanistic form of counselling that develops some of the principles of Carl Rogers and blends them with principles from psychodynamic practice. The concept of boundaries is first discussed in relation to its usages and practical consequences. An analysis of some core principles and assumptions about boundaries that guide the communicative psychotherapy approach of Robert Langs leads into a comparison with person-centred counselling. The aim is to develop a middle path for humanistic practice along more formal lines, involving a more fluid understanding of relationships and precise use of counselling principles. This also involves finding aspects of agreement between the psychodynamic and humanistic styles of working, by omitting some concepts and practices and identifying areas of common ground. Several comments on practice are made by comparing the two perspectives. The concept of boundary enables counsellors of all schools to think about points of similarity and difference. Finally, the notion of boundary itself is critiqued, and intersubjectivity is proposed as a potentially more meaningful term.     

A modified cognitive-behavioral approach to group therapy with the elderly

Group approaches to treatment subsume a wide variety of techniques. The present article describes a modified cognitive behavioral approach as developed by the author for certain groups of elderly clients. This modified approach incorporates principles of cognitive behavioral therapy in combination with humanistic, and developmental perspectives, while leaving room for addressing psychodynamic issues if desired. It is suggested that such an approach is of value where structured group techniques are called for.     

Relational Psychoanalytic Perspective on Couples Psychotherapy

ABSTRACT

This places Relational Psychoanalysis within the pantheon of models of couples psychotherapy in psychoanalysis including those from Freudian, Object Relational, Self Psychology, and Intersubjective Systems Theory. Following a brief overview of key ideas pertinent to Relational Psychoanalysis, the article discusses the author’s Six-Step version of a relational psychoanalytic approach to couples psychotherapy.     

Viktor Frankl and Interactional Group Therapy

Although Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy concepts have been described as a basis for support groups and for small sharing groups, they have seldom been reported in the literature as a basis for the practice of interpersonal group psychotherapy. In this article the author overviews and outlines the treatment elements and dynamics of a Logotherapy approach to interpersonal group therapy. Clinical material is provided to give a flavor of the described treatment approach.     

Client perspectives and uses of psychotherapy

The present paper argues for the importance of studying user perspectives on ongoing psychotherapy. Four approaches to such studies are discussed. It is stressed that studies of user perspectives may allow us to develop a broader and more robust understanding of clients as the primary agents of their own change processes, and that if the studies focus on clients' everyday lives during the course of psychotherapy, they allow us a better understanding of how clients include their psychotherapy, give it a particular significance, fight over it, and transform it as a part of their changing everyday practice in other places than the session. the rationale and design of such a study is presented. It is a study of a small number of family therapies with the present author as a co-therapist. Some preliminary findings from this study are presented.     

Rules Versus Principles in Psychotherapy: Implications of the Quest for Universal Guidelines in the Movement for Empirically Supported Treatments

In this article we briefly review the mission and criteria of the EST movement and several of its criticisms. We question an often-unacknowledged feature of the EST initiative—its foundation in a rule-governed approach to the regulation of psychotherapy—and argue that this approach encounters significant problems that are better resolved through an alternative, principle-based approach. The contrast between these perspectives is illustrated by presenting results of a qualitative research project identifying the implicit principles actually used by expert therapists across psychotherapy orientations to regulate values and interventions within their practice.     

The emerging narrative approach to counselling and psychotherapy

An important recent development within counselling and psychotherapy has been the emergence of narrative perspectives on theory and practice. The task of the counsellor is viewed as that of assisting the client to 're-author' parts of their life-story. The origins of this approach within psychology and social science are discussed, and the central elements of a narrative approach to counselling and psychotherapy are identified. A brief case-study illustrates some of these themes.     

Existential psychotherapy and the therapeutics of activism*

This paper considers the socio-political perspectives of Sartre, de Beauvoir and Fanon and their relationship to existential psychotherapy practice. It argues that their existential analyses of oppression must play a greater part in informing existential psychotherapeutic practice and pedagogy. In this current neo-liberal political age, in which therapy is increasingly being utilised as a form of psychological coercion and mystification, an understanding of the structures and systems of alienation and oppression that construct experience must translate to a broadening therapeutic concern beyond individual to social change. The author suggests that engaging with a politics of alienation and actively responding to the oppressive social conditions which generate distress and marginalisation should be intrinsic to existential psychotherapy practitioners and their representing institutions.     

The psychology of leadership revisited: An overview

An overview of the concept of leadership as it appears in social psychology, psychoanalytic theory and group psychotherapy is presented. In the absence of a generally accepted global view of leadership, social psychology has produced limited-domain theories with relevance to group practitioners. Following Freud's early contribution on the subject, psychoanalytic investigators have neglected the subject of group psychology, and with it of leadership, until very recently. Within group psychotherapy some promising research and theorizing have emerged, but there is a need to distinguish between the roles of group leader and group therapist in both theory and practice.This paper was presented at the 1979 Annual Conference of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society.     

We Have Failed

SUMMARY

This article explores the changing nature of the psy-chotherapeutic world in relationship to the values crisis evident in our lack of reaction to the Gulf War. It attempts to examine the underlying valuelessness of the new post-modem psychotherapeutic systems with special attention to the impact of that changing value structure on humanistic psychotherapy, the mental health community and the significance of this shifting as it relates to the Gulf War. The author examines these philosophic systems that underlie various post-modern approaches and their challenge to universal humanism and humanistic values. Finally the reader is encouraged to reassess the underlying value base of their therapeutic, methodological, and philosophical systems.     

Humanistic Psychology at York University: Retrospective: Focus on Clients' Experiencing in Psychotherapy: Emphasis of Radical Reflexivity

A retrospective is given of the contributions by York University psychologists to humanistic psychology as it is expressed in the theory, research and practice of humanistic psychotherapies. These contributions are contextualized in the history and mission of the University. Attention is then turned to the author's qualitative research on the client's experiencing in psychotherapy and the main understanding coming from it, namely that clients are aware of their self-awareness and are agential in terms of this capacity, called radical reflexivity. Implications of radical reflexivity for client-centered/experiential therapists' reduction of the person to an organism and for the psychotherapy practice and research are derived.     

Geschichte der Psychotherapierichtlinien

This article gives a historic overview of the 40 years of development of the Psychotherapy Guidelines of the National Committee of Social Health and Insurance (SHI) Physicians and Sickness Funds. Further some ?myths“ of psychotherapy are corrected. Finally, a short outlook on future perspectives is given.     

Didaktische Überlegungen zur Ausbildung psychodynamischer Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten

This article outlines some basic ideas on the question of how psychoanalysis and psychotherapy can be taught at universities as well as in training institutes. The author begins by supporting the thesis that in academia the experiential self-examination aspect of psychoanalysis is often neglected. The following thoughts on didactics then rely mostly on methods based in the humanistic traditions of gestalt therapy and psychodrama. Experience-focused approaches to teaching psychodynamics start with lived experiences and then lead on to a theoretical understanding of the concepts in question. The author concludes by presenting concrete teaching plans for the topics crisis and suicide in order to illustrate the practical implications of the previously developed theses.     

Self‐Awareness Revisited: Reconsidering a Core Value of the Counseling Profession

The construct of self‐awareness is highly valued by the counseling profession. However, the foundational assumptions that support this construct have not been systemically examined and critiqued. The author provides an overview of self‐awareness in light of humanistic, psychoanalytic, and postmodernist ideologies. The author concludes that the construct of self‐awareness should be replaced by self‐storying. Implications of self‐storying for counseling practice are discussed.     

PASTORAL PSYCHOTHERAPY: IS IT UNIQUE?

Proponents and practitioners of pastoral psychotherapy hold to the idea that it is a unique form of psychotherapy. Little empirical or procedural evidence seems to exist to substantiate that viewpoint. Indeed, the data suggest that pastoral psychotherapy is a close kin to secular psychotherapy, not only in practice, but in the opinion of those who seek it out for help. This article takes the viewpoint that pastoral psychotherapy should be unique and attempts to show how it can be. The author stresses that it is ordination that makes pastoral psychotherapy unique, because the ordained pastor is both a theologian and a representative of the church. These two elements provide unique “lenses” for doing psychotherapy. To the extent that these lenses are not being used, the author issues a challenge to pastoral psychotherapists to bring this uniqueness to the forefront.     

The family interactional perspective: a study and examination of the work of Don D. Jackson.

This article presents an overview of the primary contributions of the late Don D. Jackson. It analyzes and attempts to unify the central concepts of what the first referred to as "conjoint family therapy." Emphasis in upon the theoretical components leading to the development of a behaviorally oriented, nontransference, focused-treatment format, labeled by the author as "family interactional psychotherapy."     

The Worldviews of Healing Traditions in the East and West: Implications for Psychology of Religion

This article will compare the worldviews of psychotherapy traditions in Eastern and Western culture, particularly the therapeutic factors and principles indigenous to the Chinese culture. The author will first define the meaning of culture and psychotherapy from a postmodern anthropological approach. By referring to history and literature in the study of cultural psychology, a comparison will be made between the value systems lying behind therapeutic methods used in the East and West. This includes the worldviews on the body and mind, the self, mental health, relationship, community, healing, and spirituality. Lastly, a famous Chinese legend will be used as an example to illustrate how worldview differences between the East and West determine the goals and process of psychotherapy. It is hoped that psychology of religion would be sensitive to the underlying worldviews across different cultures, without imposing its definition of “mental health” and method of “healing,” as different religions embody different cultural traditions as well. It is argued that whether spirituality or religion is helpful to the wellbeing of local people, it should be defined by the local persons and expressed in their mother tongue. Hence a psychology of religion for Chinese people should respect its customs of healing and particular set of worldviews.     

Supervising Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy: Needs, Possibilities

The competency movement within professional psychology, evidence-based practice concepts, and the trend toward incorporating psychological services as a component of an integrated care approach within health care settings are major developments in the changing landscape of psychotherapy practice that have important implications for psychotherapy supervision. This article examines each of these developments as they relate to conducting psychotherapy supervision from a humanistic-existential perspective. The current status of supervision guided by a humanistic-existential framework is described, followed by exploration of needs and possibilities for the future evolution of the supervision approach in light of developments in the field.     

Mental Health Matters

Abstract

This article discusses the epistemological biases and therapeutic risks of overly-medicalized and deterministic approaches to women's psychological problems. Constructivist and feminist perspectives are used to illuminate the essentially political enterprise of naming psychological distress, and to argue the necessity of feminist theories of psychotherapy. These too, however, must be critically examined for deterministic assumptions which emphasize pathology or victimization, thereby limiting recognition of women's agency, and capacity for resistance and change. One alternative model is Adler's Individual Psychology. This humanistic approach is neither medicalized nor deterministic, assumes human freedom and pur-posefulness, emphasizes the dialectic interaction of the individual and society, and is philosophically committed to gender equality.