Chad V. Johnson

Troubled spirits: Prevalence and predictors of religious and spiritual concerns among university students and counseling center clients

The authors conducted a study of 5,472 university students to identify the prevalence and predictors of religious and spiritual concerns. Approximately 25% of the sample reported considerable distress related to such concerns. Logistic regression analyses revealed that students with considerable distress related to religious or spiritual concerns also tended to be distressed about the loss of a relationship, sexual assault, confusion about values. homesickness, and suicidal ideation. These students were especially likely to seek psychological help when they also had problematic relationships with peers. Among all students who sought help, considerable distress about religious or spiritual concerns was predicted by confusion about values, problematic relationships with peers. sexual concerns, and thoughts of being punished for ones sins.

Enlightened or Delusional? Differentiating Religious, Spiritual, and Transpersonal Experiences from Psychopathology

Psychological diagnosis faces unique challenges when used to differentiate nonpsychopathological religious/spiritual/transpersonal (R/S/T) experiences from those that might evidence psychopathology, particularly considering the diversity of such experiences and the value-laden assumptions inherent in most diagnostic practices. Theoretical and pragmatic problems related to the diagnostic category, Religious and Spiritual Problem, as contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are discussed. Attention is paid to identifying potential biases and errors in using, or failing to use, this diagnostic category, particularly as related to developing culturally sensitive diagnoses. Specific methods, including psychometric approaches, for evaluating R/S/T experiences that may range from healthy to psychopathological are reviewed and recommendations are presented for improving current diagnostic practices and furthering needed research.

A Process-Oriented Group Model for University Students: A Semi-Structured Approach

Abstract University students present several challenges for group therapists in terms of establishing and sustaining interpersonal process groups in college counseling center settings. These challenges may result from a lack of client preparation and/or a mismatch of therapy practices with the unique developmental characteristics of today’s college students. This paper discusses these developmental needs and proposes a model for successful interpersonal group therapy with university students. The proposed model encourages structured activities at the initial and final stages of a process-oriented therapy group to assist leaders and teach the members skills to promote cohesion, skill development, and interpersonal learning. This model may also be used to train novice group counselors how to facilitate here-and-now interactions in group and shape group process.

Taking Action to Stop Violence: A Study on Readiness to Change Among Male Batterers

The Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) predicts that matching interventions with a person’s readiness to change should improve treatment outcomes. This cross-sectional correlational study examined characteristics that affected self-reported readiness to change abusive behavior among a sample of 109 men in a 52-week batterer treatment program. Participants completed measures of anger/hostility, readiness to change, manipulative parenting, and self-esteem. Results indicated that contemplation of the impact of abuse has the highest unique relationship with self-reported taking action to stop violence. Moreover, physical aggression and manipulative parenting account for significant variance in the scores associated with self-reported taking action to stop violence as well. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at moving clients into contemplation, and reducing physical aggression and manipulative parenting styles, may increase the likelihood that batterers will take action to stop violence.

Psychotherapy with troubled spirits: A qualitative investigation

Abstract A consensual qualitative research strategy was used to examine data from interviews with 12 psychotherapists. Therapists were asked to discuss their experiences working with their clients’ spiritual problems. Analyses revealed 4 domains relevant to psychotherapy with spiritual problems: therapist approach/philosophy, assessment of spiritual problems, therapy process, and therapy outcomes. Numerous categories within these domains were identified leading to a several predominant themes for approaching, assessing, and treating spiritual problems. Implications for practice, training, and continued research are discussed.

Voices of Healing and Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse continues to occur for a significant number of children, often having deleterious consequences for survivors’ physical and mental health. Research has thoroughly explored various consequences as a result of child sexual abuse, but scholars and practitioners know less about the healing processes from survivors’ viewpoints. Using a constructivist grounded theory design, this study examined perceptions of healing in 10 female survivors of child sexual abuse. Results conclude with a theoretical model of healing, capturing the significance of supportive relationships, internal characteristics, turning points, and sources of active healing. Important sources of active healing include therapy, informal and formal education, compassion and empathy, blame attribution to abusers, and confronting abusers. Limitations and implications for research and practice are discussed.

Group Activities for Children and Adolescents: An Activity Group Therapy Approach

Historically, group psychotherapy has been successful with children and adolescents. In the 1930s Slavson introduced Activity Group Therapy (AGT) for children and adolescents. AGT provides children with opportunities to express normal and conflicted feelings in an extraordinarily free treatment environment, and to participate in games, crafts, and other activities of interest to these particular age groups. This paper presents an AGT guide for use with children and adolescents in inpatient, outpatient, and school settings.