Using Values Clarification in Counseling Settings

Values clarification began as a counseling tool. Raths's famous seven questions about values have their origin in Socratic questioning and also owe a debt to Emerson and Dewey. Numerous strategies have been developed for the learning of values awareness. Counselors have found the clarifying question helpful in individual counseling, and they discovered clarifying strategies useful in individual and group counseling. Furthermore, values clarification has been used successfully to personalize instruction. Finally, the counselor can take advantage of values clarification for personal and professional growth. The question of research in values clarification is addressed. Leona Tyler , in reaction to this article, recalls other techniques for values discrimination.     

Toward a Telic Vision of Human Beings: A Dialogue with Joseph F. Rychlak

Over the past 25 years, Joseph F. Rychlak has developed a unique approach to theory, research, and practice in counseling that he refers to as “rigorous humanism.” His conceptualization of human action is radically different from the mainstream understanding of human beings in scientific theory and research. His position is quite compatible, however, with the views of most practicing counselors. Rychlak's proposals have been instrumental in developing a modified view of science, upon which a research-based understanding of counseling practice can be constructed.     

BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT FOR SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION FOR COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION

This study reports two experiments designed to further our understanding of the effects of systematic desensitization (SD) training on college students. Experiment 1 demonstrates that students who participate in SD report significantly higher self-esteem after doing so. Experiment 2 provides behavioral support for SD. Using Mulac and Sherman's BASA scale, it was discovered that students who successfully completed the SD program exhibited more verbal fluency and less rigidity in their speeches than did those students who were originally as anxious but did not join the program. Also included was the measurement of a student's predisposition towards verbal behavior. Mortensen, Arntson, and Lustig's scale was used to measure this predisposition. The results showed, however, that students in SD did not differ significantly from those who chose not to join SD.     

Alternative Solutions to the Workplace Drug Problem: Results of a Survey of Personnel Managers

The authors conducted a survey of personnel managers to learn more about the prevalence of employee drug use and employer substance abuse programs.     

Women’s weekly relationship functioning and depressive symptoms

In an exploration of the links between relationship quality and depression, the extent to which women’s weekly reports of depressive symptoms vary as a function of same‐week relationship functioning was tested. A sample of 161 married or cohabiting U.S. women completed measures of relationship functioning, mood, and depressive symptoms weekly for 12 weeks. In a series of hierarchical linear models, results of within‐subject analyses indicated that depressive symptoms were negatively associated with same‐week relationship functioning. Weekly fluctuations in mood did not account for these associations. Results of between‐subjects analyses suggested that women low in stereotypical masculinity and in relationships of shorter duration are particularly likely to show increased depressive symptoms during weeks when they experience poorer relationship functioning than usual.     

Stability and change of attachment representations during emerging adulthood: An examination of mediators and moderators of change

Using Bartholomew’s model of attachment (K. Bartholomew, 1990; K. Bartholomew & L. Horowitz, 1991), we explored stability and change of attachment in a group of young adults graduating from university and examined reasons for change of attachment. Consistent with previous research, we found that attachment dimensions were moderately stable; however, several variables predicted change. We explored the effect of changing relationship status and parental divorce on attachment and found that individuals who remained single reported lower stability of avoidance over time. Next, we tested whether distress reported before the transition would mediate stability of attachment. The results provided some support for J. Bowlby’s (1969/1982) proposal that distress would be associated with stability and change of attachment. We found that participants who reported low distress at Time 1 (T1) were more likely to report changes in attachment anxiety than participants who reported high distress at T1.