LifeRAFT, a helping skills training model for undergraduate paraprofessionals, addresses training needs for applied psychology skills for undergraduate psychology majors. LifeRAFT draws from three empirically supported psychotherapy treatments to introduce counselling theory and encourage helping skill progression. Trainees learn practical helping…

This report describes the self-reported training needs of advisors to self-advocacy groups for people with mental retardation in the United States. The results of a telephone survey of 90 advisors indicate that because of time, financial, and interest issues, training opportunities for advisors need to be time sensitive, inexpensive, and…

This empirical study tested the effects of a systematically-designed training program to help medical students develop empathetic responses to patients and to attend not just to disease symptoms. Results indicate the success of the program. (Editor/LBH)

This manual was developed to facilitate the initial training of a group of pre-retirement peer counselors and to introduce them to the basics of helping for clients facing pre-retirement issues. An introduction explains the use of the manual and urges users to complete suggested exercises when reading the manual. The next section lists learning…

Chaired by Bernard G. Guerney, Jr., this program on the development and evaluation of helping skills training included the following presentations: (1) "The Development of a Helping Skills Program" (Steven Danish); (2) "Paraprofessionals Assess the Training Program" (Barbara Wakshul); (3) "Research Conducted on the Training of Basic Helping…

Retention of verbal helping skills by human service worker trainees who had completed the Danish and Hauer (1973) training program earlier was explored. Trainees (N = 26) engaged in three helping interviews--before training, immediately following training, and seven months later. High skill levels at posttraining were generally not maintained at…

It was hypothesized that structured training would cause an increase in the ability to discriminate helpful counseling conditions and a shift toward the internality dimension of locus of control. Results indicate that changes in counseling skill and personality orientation may be effected in very brief but structured training programs. (Author/PC)

This article describes the goals and methods of training facilitators of consciousness-raising groups in an undergraduate sex roles course. (Author)

This article describes several cautions and recommendations in regard to the use of skill-training programs. Whether the value of skill training is being overestimated is explored through a discussion of the process of skill training, skills vs. self as instrument, and perceptual psychology. (Author)

Frequency measures were based on the first 30 minutes of audiotaped interviews with clients, taken at the end of prepracticum, during practicum, and at least three months after training. Data indicate males make more responses overall than do females. Training of specific skills is affirmed. (Author)

This study determined the effects of using structured learning techniques to train lower socioeconomic emotionally disturbed children and adolescents (N=40) in verbal behaviors. Posttraining results indicated significant effects for the experimental treatment on subject acquisition of interview initiation and interview responsibility. (Author)

Adult counselors can benefit from applied skill training to increase their effectiveness as helpers. This article outlines an eclectic training model developed to train paraprofessional counselors. It then describes three major training approaches in use today, and makes some comparisons among the four training models. (Author)

A problem with current methods for teaching and evaluating interpersonal skills is addressed: the failure to include a wide range of behaviors reported in the literature as contributing to patient dissatisfaction and noncompliance. A comprehensive interpersonal skills training program and pretest-posttest evaluation are described. (Author/LBH)

The development of a classification system for analysis of specific verbal marital communications utilizing videotaped Stimulus-Modeling procedures is described. Findings reveal specific marital verbal behaviors can be operationalized and reliably measured. The results indicate the need to combine modern technology with modeling procedures in…

Presents an exercise for training beginning therapists, as well as adaptations of the format. The basic exercise consists of role playing where the client in a therapy session speaks a language not understood by the therapist-in-training. This exercise assists students in becoming more cautious and curious in the co-creation of meaning in therapy.…