The Greek Referendum Vote of 2015 as a Paradoxical Communicative Practice: A Narrative,Future‐Making Approach

This article adopts a pragmatic‐communicative approach, derived from Gregory Bateson's cybernetic theory, to the Greek Referendum Vote of 2015. Applying this approach, we interpret the Referendum as a double‐bind situation. Our research question is twofold: (1) How do potential Greek voters discursively construct the Referendum? (2) How do they respond to the communicative situation posed? A total of 124 written narratives, “Letters from the Future,” written by 99 participants, were collected during the days prior to the vote. Their letters focused on a desired future situation after a YES or a NO vote outcome. Qualitative analysis showed how the letters were used to appropriate the Referendum query in a unique and deeply personalized manner. Moreover, we identified four types of responses to the ambivalent query: confirmation, rejection, disconfirmation, and meta‐communication. These responses are indicative of the psychological and emotional burden posed by the query and of ways people responded to the query. In conclusion, we reflect on the importance of recognizing the psychological dimension of the vote, the role of narratives from the future for personal and social transformation, and the wider relevance of the proposed future‐making, pragmatic approach to other Referendum situations.     

Les grands magasins de la médecine de Milton Friedman

The coronavirus pandemic has brought back the question in Western countries of the solidity of their health systems. This article discusses Friedman's 1962 piece of work, “Capitalism and Freedom”, and more specifically his presentation based on American occupational licensure. This research insists beyond the complexity of “de-licensing laws” passed for some U.S. health care facilities, on the consequences of a parasitic competition on health care ethics.     

"It's led me astray": How Cognitive Behavioural Therapists experience personal therapy in clinical practice

Personal therapy is considered to be an essential component of most psychotherapeutic training programmes. However, it remains peripheral to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) training courses. We present a subsection of results from a qualitative study that examines how CBT therapists use personal therapy in their clinical practice. Seven CBT therapists who have undergone personal therapy were interviewed. Participants were asked about how they used personal therapy in their clinical practice and their accounts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to identify common themes. This article presents the results of the first master theme, “Personal therapy creates conflict”, which explores a paradox that arises between personal therapy and CBT clinical practice; participants suggest that personal therapy equips them with therapeutic tools that paradoxically hinder their capacity to practice a standardised protocol‐led CBT. Results show that participants found personal therapy created considerable internal conflict, where their use of technical evidence‐based treatment protocols as practitioners was experienced in tension with the relationally oriented therapy they had received as clients. We discuss results in the context of Gabriel Marcel's philosophical insights on the dehumanising effects of technology on human relationships. We conclude with a brief consideration of the current political climate that increasingly privileges short‐term technical solutions to psychological distress.     

Tips to make research teaching and learning enjoyable and productive for counsellors,psychotherapists and their tutors

This article identifies the learning expectations and experiences of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists undertaking higher education awards with specific regard to research activity. Drawing on the current literature and some early findings from focus group research with students, combined with our personal and professional experiences, we identify what contributes to a productive research experience. This is used as a basis to provide tips for both teachers and those new to research to make counselling and psychotherapy research enjoyable and productive. A full research paper is in preparation.     

精诚合一:医学哲学事业的永恒主题

医学哲学事业的价值在于发现并弘扬医学的基本精神。“精诚合一”是医学亘古不变的基本精神。当代医学哲学研究的任务是揭示医学的“精诚合一”特征及其深刻内涵,注重“精”与“诚”的有机结合,批判现实医疗活动和理论研究在“精”、“诚”问题上的片面,弘扬医学的基本精神。     

试论《周易参同契》以“易”为核心的发展变化观

本文尝试从汉易学所主张的“易一名而含三义”义理出发,来考察《周易参同契》所蕴含的易学思想。从“易简”之义看,《参同契》突出了乾坤二卦法象着宇宙天地的生成变化法则及乾坤体性表现为“自然”而无人为的情态。从“变易”之义看,《参同契》主要是借鉴汉易学的“纳甲说”和“十二消息卦说”,来探讨天地判分之后阴阳之气的变通迭更过程。进而法象修仙之秩序或步骤。以及所应注意的火候进退或身体气息变化等。从“不易”之义看,《参同契》以乾坤二卦为体,坎离二卦为用,来比拟宇宙的张设布列之结构及相应变化过程。《参同契》已将《周易》之义理创造性地运用于炼丹的实践当中。     

The Practice of Marriage and Family Therapists with Managed Care Clients

This study examined the practice patterns of Nebraska marriage and family therapists (MFTs) working with managed care cases. The participants' two most recently closed managed care cases were examined to determine the types of cases seen, the process of treatment, and treatment outcome. Results indicated that the therapists saw cases for a median number of six sessions. MFTs worked with a variety of presenting problems and diagnoses. Depression was the most common presenting problem, and the most common DSM-IV diagnosis was adjustment disorder. A comparison of pre- and post-treatment GAF scores indicated that clients' level of functioning improved significantly during the course of treatment.