From the institute to the ivory tower: The live supervision stage approach for teaching supervision in academic settings

Abstract

In this paper, we describe an experimental academic course on marriage and family therapy supervision. The course, an adapted version of an institute program, was taught in four stages, combined a seminar and a practicum, and culminated with live supervision of live supervision.     

Life and times ofthe israel association for family therapy

Abstract

Given the critical role that workshops play in the education and continuing education of marriage and family therapists, it is essential that attention be turned to evaluating these events. This paper reports on a preliminary investigation into how selected presenter and participant factors influence workshop evaluations. The results suggest that workshop participants generally concur on ratings of workshops, but that their ages and AAMFT membership status influence their ratings of conferences taken as a whole. In addition, presenters were found to have an unexpectedly accurate sense of how their workshops were rated. Future research directions are suggested.     

The measurement of Human Life History strategy

This retrospective essay appraises J. Philippe Rushton’s application of life history to understanding the covariation among human traits in light of subsequent developments in the measurement and latent structure of Human Life History, covitality, and personality. We conclude that Rushton should be recognized for having initiated a theoretically and empirically highly fertile paradigm in human individual differences research.     

Different routes to limited empathy in the sexes: Examining the links between the Dark Triad and empathy

A fundamental observation regarding the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) is that they are all associated with limited empathy. However, little is known about these relationships beyond some basics. In this study (N = 352), we asked three questions. What is the nature of the relationship between the Dark Triad traits and empathy? Does limited empathy account for sex differences in the Dark Triad? Are men and women low on empathy through different personality traits? The Dark Triad traits were all related to low levels of empathy even when controlling for the shared variance among the traits. Empathy rates mediated sex differences in different aspects of the Dark Triad but not others. Low empathy rates were related to narcissism in women but psychopathy in men, suggesting different routes to limited empathy for men and women high on the Dark Triad.     

Psychological wellbeing and the diathesis-stress hypothesis model: The role of psychological functioning and quality of relations in promoting subjective well-being in a life events study

Negative life events are associated with poor wellbeing and mental health outcomes. Following a diathesis-stress model, we tested whether psychological functioning and quality of interpersonal relationships moderated the effect of life events on subjective wellbeing. This study comprised data from a young and middle-aged adult sample (n = 364) drawn from an Australian university-student population. Results indicated that life events were associated with negative but not positive wellbeing outcomes. Perceived impact of life events was a stronger predictor of wellbeing than was the number of life events. Psychological functioning and quality of interpersonal relationships were associated with both wellbeing dimensions but only quality of interpersonal relationships moderated the effect of life events on wellbeing. In conclusion, perceived impact of life events was more strongly related to wellbeing than number of life events. Interpersonal relationships moderate the effect of life events with those reporting higher levels of quality of interpersonal relationships reporting less decrement in negative affect following stressful life events.     

Commentary on Stirling Moorey's and Janet Feigenbaum's papers

Our notions of what constitutes a good therapeutic relationship come from models developed for people with high levels of personal resources who actively choose therapy in preference to other ways of addressing their problems. The context is quite different for those with more severe and enduring mental health problems, when therapy can be one of many interventions being provided. Some of the dilemmas that arise within the therapeutic relationship in such cases can be understood in terms of the therapeutic relationship being conceived of within the dynamics of a dyad, when the actual situation is more akin to a triadic relationship comprising the client, the therapist and others involved in the client's care. Examples of threats to the therapeutic alliance, which I encounter quite frequently in my work, are explored from the perspective of the therapeutic couple within three-person space, as well as from the perspective of the differing, and sometimes conflicting, functions of mental health care. The implications of this for the provision of psychological therapy for people with severe mental health problems within the NHS are then considered.     

"SUBJECTIVE APPROACH TO VOCABULARY” ACQUISITION (OR “... I THINK MY BROTHER IS ARBOREAL!")

This article presents a method and rationale for enhancing verbal learning in a typical reading‐language arts lesson through personal and group generated images and associations.     

A Review of: “Woolfolk,R. L., & Allen,L. A. (2007). Treating Somatization: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach.”

A 5-year old subject was treated for molestation-induced behavior problems consisting of excessive verbal ruminations and concamitant negative emotional responding. Treatment invovled utilization of a modified operant DRO procedure using the subject's mother as primary behavior change agent. Data based observations predicated on home-environment and generalization probe sources demonstrated dramatic reductions in problem behaviors targeted for intervention. Treatment gains remained stable over a 12-month period as indicated by extended follow-up assessment queries.     

A Review of: “Hollander,M. (2008). Helping Teens Who Cut: Understanding and Ending Self Injury.”

Based upon informal observation of adverse effects arising during behaviorally oriented parent-training programs, 119 parents attending such programs answered a structured questionnaire regarding six specific adverse effects. Each of the “side effects” were reported by a substantial portion of the participants. In most cases, the severity of effects was not extreme. The mean number of side effects reported by each parent was 1.70. Based upon these findings, clinicians conducting such parent-training programs are encouraged to provide content material to prevent or ameliorate these adverse effects.