An essential element in successful psychotherapy involves helping clients become more creative in their approach to their problems. While Otto Rank, one of the pioneers of psychoanalysis, loosely alluded to this as a fitting goal, it was the inventor of psychodrama, Jacob L. Moreno, MD (1889-1974), who made this an explicit objective of the…

Crisis intervention is a role that fits exceedingly well with counseling psychologists' interests and skills. This article provides an overview of a new crisis intervention model, the Integrated Problem-Solving Model (IPSM), and demonstrates its application to a specific crisis, sexual assault. It is hoped that this article will encourage…

School counselors may be in the best position to identify troubled students and intervene before an act of school violence occurs. Current education literature challenges school counselors to expand their knowledge of social, environmental and family dynamics and the influences of those dynamics on student violence. This article will (a) introduce…

This paper illustrates the construction, delivery, and processing of therapeutic stimulus metaphors in couple or family therapy. An introduction to the therapeutic metaphor discusses the uses of metaphors in therapy to denote a likeness between a client and another object or person, and to avoid client resistance. The usefulness of metaphors in…

Describes writing process of student-authored books, I Am the Author Books (ITAB), designed to move children through therapeutic process by assigning them to be experts in their own problem areas. Describes process of creating ITAB by narrating actual book guided by one of the authors working with fourth grade girl whose preschool-age sibling had…

Used a standardized simulation to identify problem-solving styles in mental health treatment planning tasks. Experienced counselors (N=34) and trainees (N=34) examined case files and wrote summaries and treatment plans for each case. Results showed problem-solving similarities for the outpatient case but differences for the inpatient case. (BH)

The reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) encourages the use of problem-solving prereferral approaches and permits local education agencies to use 15% of federal funds for early intervention services for students who have not been identified as needing special education but who need additional academic and…

This paper presents an experimental group model developed for counseling mentally retarded couples. The selection of the group counseling format is explained, group composition and eligibility requirements are described, and initial assessment of individuals and couples is presented. Preliminary sessions, geared toward orienting the couple to the…

A systematic method for effective consultations between school psychologists or counselors and teachers of children with behavior problems is offered. The approach, consisting of problem definition, observation, review with the teacher, and follow-up activities, serves to help organize and focus the consultation process and ensure follow-through…

This paper outlines a technique for enhancing the effectiveness of careers thinking by identifying and challenging tacit beliefs about career success. These beliefs can be understood as social scripts, i.e. cognitive structures that simplify common decision scenarios. An important contribution of careers counselling is to enable clients to…

Now in a revised and updated second edition, this highly practical guide provides innovative strategies for resolving academic and behavioral difficulties by enlisting the strengths and resources of students, parents, and teachers. Extensive new case material illustrates the authors' creative approach to building solutions and "busting problems"…

Many different strategies and skills for anger management intervention have been tried and tested. Some of the most empirically supported interventions are cognitive-behavioral interventions including relaxation coping skills, cognitive interventions, behavioral coping and social skills training, and problem-solving skills training. This digest…

Just as counseling approaches designed for individuals have their theory-specific techniques, family counseling approaches also have theory-specific interventions and strategies. Whatever presenting problem the family brings to counseling, one or more of four essential components (communication, problem solving, roles and boundaries) is typically…

Physical and social loss which accompany aging are often believed to promote dependency upon family, social services, and health care providers. Clinicians frequently complain about dependent clients and patients who leave the clinician feeling worn out, or worse, burned out. Very few publications have defined or addressed this problem identified…

Violent behaviors increasingly provide the basis for psychiatric hospitalization. This study targeted a group of high-risk psychiatric inpatients with a recent history of violence. A solution-focused treatment approach was used in conducting two ongoing weekly therapy groups. Patients were encouraged to reflect upon occasions where they…