Two experiments were conducted to assess the relative effectiveness of stimulus shaping and "traditional" prompting procedures with six low-functioning retarded children (one-six years old). Stimulus shaping procedures required less training time than to criterion, resulted in fewer errors, required fewer and less intrusive therapist's prompts,…

A survey of Queensland's population in 1993 determined that 24% of the adults were smokers. National data compiled in 1992 indicated that 72% of the drug-related deaths were related to tobacco use. In light of the need for effective smoking cessation approaches, a literature review was undertaken to determine the efficacy of hypnotic and…

Briefly examines existential counseling, behavioral counseling, reality therapy, Gestalt therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, and rational-emotive therapy. (CJ)

The client-worker contract is potentially a dynamic tool that can contribute substantially to the effective outcome of social work intervention. It can be used to clarify objectives and encourage clients to participate in the entire process of intervention. (Authors)

The author suggests eight ways by which a counselor can help a client strengthen his self concept in order to increase the counselor's general effectiveness. (RWP)

Article describes a drug abuse prevention program conducted by school counselors with ninth grade students. While results are mixed, they do give the practicing counselor some direction in which to move. (Editor)

Comments on article by Ray E. Hosford, in same issue. Stresses his feeling that Hosford's total presentation was imbalanced in direction of overemphasis on modeling. (Author/CJ)

Describes the rationale, methodology, and scope of a new form of psychotherapy, Verbal Satiation Therapy, based on assumption that language symbols stand for real objects and events. Verbal symbols may produce emotional responses normally associated with the objects themselves. Verbal Satiation Therapy attempts to reduce the emotional component of…

Compared the effectiveness of behavioral (BT) or physical therapy (PT) for treating chronic low back pain (CLBP), for 13 BT patients and 12 PT patients. Treatments were conducted in a group outpatient setting. Posttreatment results showed general improvement for patients in both groups, but few treatment-specific differences in outcome measures.…

Evaluated the effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) in aiding distressed couples (N=30) and explored the relative effectiveness of cotherapists versus single therapist. Results affirmed the overall effectiveness of BMT. A cotherapy team and a single therapist were equally effective. No differences were found between immediate therapy…

A rationale is presented for using a coping-skills training approach with college students who face important environmental demands. Two case examples of college students suffering from test anxiety illustrate the effectiveness of brief therapy approaches in teaching coping skills. (Author/CJ)

A review of traditional (such as psychotherapy) and behavioral approaches (such as self-monitoring and reinforcement) to obesity treatment of mentally retarded students led to the conclusion that the behavioral orientation was more successful. Implications for initiating such programs include thorough training, voluntary participation, and parent…

Studies dealing with toilet training of severely/profoundly retarded persons are reviewed since the systematic operant approach of N. Azrin and R. Foxx in 1971. Replications are said to be few in number and equivocal in results, although modifications with retarded and nonretarded populations have produced informative and innovative approaches.…

Twenty-nine food service employers were provided with a behavioral description of either a handicapped or nonhandicapped worker and asked to state their acceptance of select training procedures. Results indicated employers differentially accepted the use of some training procedures based upon worker description. (Author/SB)