The use of child drawings to explore the dual↔group analytic field in child analysis

Awareness that the child is part of a complex relational system has ensured that all child analysts agree on the necessity of establishing a therapeutic alliance with the parents. Unconscious conflictual dynamics involve the child analyst and include him, from the time of the initial consultation, in an analytic field that is closer to that of a group than to the bi‐personal set‐up of therapy with adults. Through a clinical example, the author hypothesizes that the child’s drawings and play can be viewed as tools capable of mapping the unconscious emotions present in an analytic field that extends beyond the analyst–child couple. Play and drawings can be used in the relationship with the parents not in an explanatory sense, but as a probe with which to explore the universe of unconscious emotions present in the group field. The images or the story of the play used with this particular modality prove to be an attractive pathway that is effective in facilitating the alpha function of each of the members of the group. Furthermore, in this sense, they create the conditions for an occasion through which the parents can become more aware of their own unconscious emotions that have been entrusted to the child and expressed through his symptomatology. The possibility for the little group of subjects involved in a child analysis for oscillation in a dual–group field permits not only a shared experience of knowledge, but also a shared creativity aimed at knowledge of emotional truth (O).     

Occupational Therapy Students' Development of Therapeutic Communication Skills During a Service-Learning Experience

This qualitative study examined the effect community-based service-learning experiences had upon occupational therapy students' therapeutic communication skills and their application of theoretical concepts. After their semester-long course was completed, six students de-identified and voluntarily submitted their weekly reflective journals for retrospective analysis in accordance with Giorgi's strategies (1985 Giorgi , A. ( 1985 ). Phenomenology and psychological research . Pittsburgh , PA : Duquesne University Press . [Google Scholar], 1997 Giorgi , A. ( 1997 ). The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research procedure . Journal of Phenomenological Psychology , 28 , 235 – 261 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). Two analysts identified eight themes: developing trust, establishing boundaries, communication, client-centered care, breakdown of preconceptions, increased self-awareness, power of pride, and power of occupation. Educators are urged to use service-learning experiences to facilitate student interpersonal skill development and integration of theoretical knowledge.     

The Evidence Base for Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: More Systematic Reviews Are Needed

To shape its work, the Research Centre for Occupation & Mental Health is interested in research priorities. Systematic reviews develop an overview of the research available about an intervention, which can provide evidence to underpin practice. They also however, identify gaps in the knowledge base and so are useful for research-prioritization exercises. A rigorous literature search identified only four systematic reviews about occupational therapy in mental health, which suggests that more are needed to underpin practice. This article also explains a six-stage process for conducting a systematic review that can be used by occupational therapists in mental health.     

Innovating With the Model of Human Occupation in Mental Health

This article describes a new approach in a group of National Health Service trusts in the United Kingdom. The assessment and intervention were focused on using the Model of Human Occupation in Mental Health services. An occupation focused assessment and intervention protocol were developed based on the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool Single-Observation Form (MOHOST-SOF). The aim was to develop a guide to treatment and monitoring to support efficient practice while maintaining an occupation and client-centered focus. Implementation has been successful to date.     

A Qualitative Study of Community–University Partnerships That Support Psychosocial Occupational Therapy

Community partner voices are important to understand because they provide the contexts in which occupational therapy (OT) students research community-identified needs and together, create evidence-based occupation-focused programs while developing clinical reasoning skills in a natural context. The purpose of this study is to understand how community partners experienced partnerships that support community-based research in psychosocial settings. This retrospective study explores the perspectives of community partners that hosted OT students for two-semester service-learning project over 3 years. Findings revealed partners value effective communication with faculty and students, spending time observing, listening, and developing meaningful relationships with clients and staff.     

Chapter 7. Conclusion

ABSTRACT

Children who witness domestic violence experience a variety of negative effects. These include maladaptation in the areas of behavioral, emotional, social, cognitive, and physical functioning. The Occupational Therapy Psychosocial Assessment of Learning (OT PAL) is a tool that can be used to evaluate the psychosocial functioning of a student's performance in a classroom environment. Presented is the case study of a child witness of domestic violence and the use of the OT PAL in measuring the psychosocial aspects of his performance in a non-traditional classroom setting.     

Group Session Rating Scale: Preliminary psychometrics in substance abuse group interventions

Background: Although ultra‐brief outcome and process measures have been developed for individual therapy, currently there are no ultra‐brief alliance measures for group therapy. Method: The current study examined 105 clients in group therapy for issues related to substance abuse or with issues related to the substance abuse of a significant other. We tested whether a newly developed group therapy alliance measure – the Group Session Rating Scale would be related to other commonly used group process measures (Working Alliance Inventory, Group Cohesion, Group Climate) and early change (change over the first four sessions of group therapy). Results: The findings provided support for reliability based on Cronbach alphas and test‐retest coefficients. Additionally, the GSRS was a one‐factor measure that was related to other group process measures as well as predicted early change. Discussion: Clinical implications for how to utilise ultra‐brief outcome and alliance measures are provided.     

Method Acting and Gestalt Therapy with Couples

SUMMARY

Techniques taken from Method acting may be useful therapeutic tools and may lend themselves to adoption by Gestalt therapists. Similarities between the goals and procedures of Method acting and Gestalt therapy are described in some detail. The importance and effectiveness of enacted fantasy are discussed, and techniques of Method acting are described in terms of their relation to Gestalt theory. The importance and application of these techniques to Gestalt therapy with couples are discussed.     

Marital Infidelity

SUMMARY

This paper describes die usual course of discovered marital infidelity and its predictable posttraumatic reaction. It contrasts this phenomenon with situations in which the initial reaction to discovery is suppressed, leading to a delayed traumatic reaction. It concludes with suggestions for the treatment of a delayed traumatic reaction, and suggestions designed to sensitize therapists to the possibility of a suppressed reaction to marital infidelity as a possible underlying issue in individual or couples therapy.     

Couple Therapy Interventions for Problems with Extramarital Affairs

SUMMARY

A number of couples request therapy because of relational problems resulting from an extramarital affair. In treating such couples, five phases of cognitive and emotional aspects of problematic affairs have been identified: (1) the start, (2) suspicion and negation, (3) explosion and impulsive reactions, (4) making choices and deadlock, (5) working through. Clients may enter therapy at very different points in these phases. Some come in full crisis, others in the deadlock phase, not being able to decide what to do. A different therapeutic intervention is proposed for each phase.