Help‐Seeking Behaviors of African Americans After a Loss

We investigated attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, ethnic identity, and complicated grief symptoms among 86 African Americans after they experienced the death of a loved one. There were no significant correlations among ethnic identity, help‐seeking attitude, and complicated grief symptoms. Multiple regression analyses indicated that gender and education level predicted help‐seeking attitude, F(2, 84) = 4.64, p < .05, and that gender, education level, and religious affiliation predicted complicated grief symptoms, F(3, 79) = 3.73, p < .05. We explore the results, implications, and areas for future research. Investigamos las actitudes hacia la búsqueda de ayuda psicológica profesional, la identidad étnica y los síntomas de duelo complicado en 86 personas afroamericanas tras experimentar la muerte de un ser querido. No se hallaron correlaciones significativas entre la identidad étnica, la actitud de búsqueda de ayuda y los síntomas de duelo complicado. Los análisis de regresión múltiple indicaron que el sexo y el nivel de educación pronosticaron la actitud de búsqueda de ayuda, F(2, 84) = 4.64, p < .05, y que el sexo, el nivel de educación y la afiliación religiosa pronosticaron los síntomas de duelo complicado, F(3, 79) = 3.73, p < .05. Exploramos los resultados, implicaciones y áreas para investigaciones futuras.     

Potentially Traumatic Experiences,Academic Performance,and Psychological Distress: The Role of Shame

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of shame associated with previous potentially traumatic experiences, satisfaction with academic performance, and psychological distress among college students (N = 245) in Mainland China. Results indicated that previous experiences of potentially traumatic events were directly related to depressive symptoms and indirectly related through characterological shame and hopelessness. In addition, characterological shame and bodily shame were 2 distinct forms of shame that had unique associations with psychological distress.     

Bereaved African American Adults: The Role of Social Support,Religious Coping,and Continuing Bonds

The present study identified relationships between social support, religious coping, continuing bonds, prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms, and the quality of life among bereaved African American adults (N = 154). Perceived social support and less use of negative religious coping strategies predicted a higher quality of life and fewer PGD symptoms. Also, greater perceived social support, less use of negative religious coping strategies, and less use of continuing bonds significantly predicted fewer PGD symptoms. Implications suggest that the conceptualization of grief and loss for African Americans might include social support, religious coping, and continuing bonds.     

Research in a Shared Traumatic Reality: Researchers in a Disaster Context

Shared traumatic reality (STR) is a situation in which helping professionals and clients are exposed to the same traumatic, life-threatening circumstances in the course of the therapeutic relationship. Based on the findings of studies conducted in a shared traumatic reality, the present article will examine the complex and unique aspects of conducting research in these contexts, and raise questions about the ability of researchers to conduct studies in STR situations. Practical recommendations for dealing with these situations will be offered.     

Psychometric Properties of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory–Short Form Among Chilean Adults

This study evaluated the factorial structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Chilean version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory–Short Form. The participants were 1,817 Chilean adults who had experienced the 2010 earthquake in Chile or other highly stressful events. Confirmatory factorial analysis supported the correlated five-factor structure of the PTGI-SF. A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed measurement invariance across different samples. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlation. These findings suggest that the psychometric properties of the PTGI-SF are adequate to measure posttraumatic growth in the Chilean and Latin American population.     

Grief Therapy: An Experiential Workshop

The authors conducted a workshop at a family therapy conference in South Africa in 1997 to explore the use of healing rituals in grief work. There were two levels involved: First, an experiential workshop, and, second, a metalevel in exploring the use of rituals as a rite of passage to facilitate transitions. A draft of the authors' paper was sent to all participants for their comments, which are included in the text.     

Trauma‐focused CBT with maltreated children: A clinic‐based evaluation of a new treatment manual

The effectiveness of a locally developed trauma‐focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF‐CBT) program for maltreated children with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was examined across different therapists in a child protection clinic setting. An earlier phase of the research piloting the program had provided promising results. This second phase involved two studies evaluating the completed TF‐CBT manual delivered by (a) the developer and (b) other therapists. A single‐case multiple‐baseline design was used to demonstrate the controlling effects of the treatment on PTSD symptoms and child coping. Eight 9–13‐year‐old abused children with PTSD were treated. Positive outcomes support the effectiveness of the TF‐CBT program delivered by both the developer and other therapists. The study design and methodology were robust enough to confirm empirically the clinically beneficial effects and potential for this new program. It was also apparent, however, from study limitations, including missing data for some patients, that there are a number of challenges in carrying out such research in a busy child protection service setting with multiply‐abused patients. This paper considers implications and ways forward for engaging in empirically supported practice as well as future development and research.     

Trauma‐Informed Supervision: Clinical Supervision of Substance Use Disorder Counselors

Substance use disorder counselors are at risk of experiencing burnout, vicarious trauma, and secondary traumatic stress. These phenomena can lead to counselor impairment. The authors describe how trauma‐informed supervision can mitigate the risks of impairment for substance use disorder counselors.     

Healing Together

As part of the World Council of Churches’ pilgrimage of justice and peace, the Just Community of Wo/Men organized the “Walking Her-Story” activity as a gender response. These have remained pilgrim team visits that focus on listening to the stories of wo/men young and old and particularly addressing gender injustice specifically as expressed in sexual and gender-based violence. This article focuses on the process triggered by such stories in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and South Sudan that became the midwife that gave birth to Healing Together – an ecumenical resource for faith- and community-based counselling of those psychosocially wounded by injustice and violence. Rooted in the understanding of mission as healing and wholeness, the stories listened to became a cry for healing and wholeness. The process and product benefited from the richness of my being an ethicist of care nurtured by my ubuntu (communitarian) ethical background, trained in Healing of Memories’ facilitation and as a student of Franklian logotherapy. I worked with survivors of injustice and violence, post-traumatic stress disorder healing facilitators, and church leaders through the council of churches in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan.