Christian Pastors’ Perspectives and Insights on the Practice of Family Therapists Referring LGB Clients: Exploring the Role of Religion

Abstract

This qualitative study explored Christian pastors’ perceptions and insights for family therapists who refuse to work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients by consistently referring them. Twenty-one pastors from diverse Christian traditions were interviewed. Thematic analysis identified the following themes related to the pastors’ perceptions of the practice of referring LGB clients: (1) Best Interest of the Client and Therapist, (2) Discriminatory Practice, and (3) No Referrals will be Provided. The following themes represent pastors’ advice for family therapists: (1) Develop a Well-Thought-Out Referral Plan; (2) Be Accountable for Your Own Beliefs; and (3) Engage in Conversations.     

Referral by clergy who counsel older adults

The purpose of this cross sectional study of clergy (N?=?493) was to examine the likelihood of referral to formal mental health providers by those clergy who counsel older adults. Responding clergy completed a brief questionnaire that included information on the amount of counselling they do with older adults, the Attitudes towards Older Adults and Mental Illness (AOAMI) scale, their relationships with mental health professionals, their knowledge of resources for referring people for additional help, and basic demographic data, such as race, age, years in the clergy, and education level. In logistic regression analysis, respondents with more education, those who felt less prepared to provide counselling, and those with more positive attitudes based on the AOAMI indicated that they were more likely to refer, and no differences were found based on their denominational affiliation race, relationships with mental health professionals, or knowledge of resources for referring people for additional help. We believe that public-private partnerships should be formed to help clergy recognise when referrals are appropriate, and to help improve relationships between clergy and mental health professionals.     

School Effectiveness Findings 1979–2002

The London studies of school effectiveness in the 1970s provided evidence that the qualities of schools made a significant difference to pupil progress, after taking account of the characteristics and backgrounds of the pupils at the time of school entry. The purpose of this article is to review the further evidence that has accumulated since then in order to assess how far the findings have been confirmed or refuted, what new questions have arisen and what key challenges remain. The continuing areas of research and debate include school effects on behavioral outcomes, the effects of class size, the importance of parental involvement, the impact of intake mix, peer influences, and level of resources. There has been greater agreement on the many features fostering school effectiveness. However, questions remain on how to bring about desired changes. The paper concludes by drawing attention to 10 largely unanswered questions that matter for policy and practice.     

Evidence of muscular adaptations within four weeks of barbell training in women

We investigated the time course of neuromuscular and hypertrophic adaptations associated with only four weeks of barbell squat and deadlift training. Forty-seven previously untrained women (mean ± SD, age = 21 ± 3 years) were randomly assigned to low volume training (n = 15), moderate volume training (n = 16), and control (n = 16) groups. The low and moderate volume training groups performed two and four sets, respectively, of five repetitions per exercise, twice a week. Testing was performed weekly, and included dual X-ray absorptiometry and vastus lateralis and rectus femoris B-mode ultrasonography. Bipolar surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were detected from the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris during isometric maximal voluntary contractions of the leg extensors. Significant increases in lean mass for the combined gynoid and leg regions for the low (+0.68 kg) and moderate volume (+0.47 kg) groups were demonstrated within three weeks. Small-to-moderate effect sizes were shown for leg lean mass, vastus lateralis thickness and pennation angle, and peak torque, but EMG amplitude was unaffected. These findings demonstrated rapid muscular adaptations in response to only eight sessions of back squat and deadlift training in women despite the absence of changes in agonist–antagonist EMG amplitude.     

Quadriceps-hamstrings intermuscular coherence during single-leg squatting 3–12 years following a youth sport-related knee injury

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of co-contraction as per electromyographic gamma-band intermuscular coherence of the quadricep (Q) and hamstring (H) muscles during single-leg squatting (SLS), and to assess the influence of sex and self-reported knee complaints on the association between knee injury history and medial and lateral Q-H intermuscular coherence.Participants included 34 individuals who suffered a youth sport-related intra-articular knee injury 3–12 years previously, and 37 individuals with no knee injury history. Surface electromyographic signals were recorded from medial and lateral thigh muscles bilaterally to determine the gamma-band (30–60 Hz) intermuscular coherence between medial and lateral Q-H muscle pairs during SLS. Multivariable linear regression (α = 0.05) was performed to investigate the relationship between knee injury history (main exposure) and medial and lateral Q-H coherence (outcome) while accounting for the influence of sex and self-reported knee pain and symptoms (covariates).The median age of participants was 25 (range 18–30) and 67% were female. Q-H gamma-band coherence was present for 60–90% of legs. Medial and lateral Q-H coherence was higher in females compared to males. There was no evidence for an association between medial Q-H coherence, knee injury history, knee pain, or symptoms. There was evidence for an association between knee injury history and lateral Q-H coherence, which was modified by sex such that previously injured males demonstrated reduced Q-H coherence compared to uninjured males.These finding suggest that females demonstrate a more pronounced Q-H co-contraction strategy during a SLS than males regardless of knee injury history. Further, that male who suffered a youth sport-related knee injury 3–12 years previously demonstrate less Q-H co-contraction during a SLS than uninjured males. The mechanisms behind differences in neuromuscular control between males and females as well as previously injured and uninjured males require further investigation.     

我对卒中单元的体会

卒中单元作为卒中治疗的最佳模式,逐渐被临床医生所接受,就卒中单元的概念、特点及我国卒中的现状等多数人所关心的问题进行了分析和探讨,以助于更好的理解。     

建立有中国特色的卒中单元

卒中单元是一种医疗管理模式,它将治疗脑卒中的有效手段集中在一起,让病人在有效治疗时间窗内的到他所需要的最佳治疗,尽可能地使卒中病人恢复神经功能,恢复自我,回归社会。但我国的卒中单元还存在许多问题,需共同努力建立有中国特色的卒中单元。     

元认知训练对不同认知方式小学生应用题解题能力的影响

本研究以小学五年级292名学生为对象,考察了三种思维训练方式(元认知内隐训练、元认知外显训练和一般思维策略训练)对三种不同认知方式学生(场独立型、场依存型和中间型)数学应用题解题能力的影响。结果发现：(1)思维策略的元认知外显训练和元认知内隐训练比一般思维策略训练能蜓有效地提高场依存型、中间型和场独立型三类学生的应用题解题能力：(2)元认知外显训练和内隐训练对于场独立型和中间型学生同等重要。但元认知外显训练更有助于场依存型学生应用题解题能力的提高。成为该类学生的优势圳练方式;(3)在小学五年级．场独立型学生的应用题解题能力明显优于场依存型学生的应用题解题能力。