Connie R. Matthews

Best Practice Guidelines on Prevention Practice, Research, Training, and Social Advocacy for Psychologists:

Preventive interventions have been shown to successfully aid the development of children, youths, and adults and avert maladjustment in individuals at risk for negative outcomes. Continued scientific advancement of preventive interventions is crucial to further the health of U.S. children, youths, and families. This article presents 15 best practice guidelines on prevention practice, research, training, and social advocacy for psychology. These guidelines articulate clear standards and a framework for moving the profession toward improving the well-being of a greater number of individuals and communities. The guidelines are intended to assist psychologists in evaluating their preparation for engaging in prevention work and in furthering their understanding through increased knowledge, skills, and experience in prevention.

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients' Experiences in Treatment for Addiction

SUMMARY This study examined the extent to which lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients perceived their addiction counselors and treatment programs to be sensitive to issues related to sexual orientation. The experiences they considered most successful were reported as more affirmative than experiences they considered least successful; however, in neither situation were counselors or treatment programs consistently affirmative.

Partner-Related Rehabilitation Experiences of Lesbians with Physical Disabilities A Qualitative Study

The authors interviewed 25 lesbians with physical disabilities about their perspectives on their partner-related experiences. Using phenomenological inquiry, they identified two themes: one, how the disability affected the partnership and, two, treatment as a lesbian couple by rehabilitation professionals. The themes and subthemes are described in detail, and implications for rehabilitation counselors are presented.

Qualitative Analysis of Multicultural Awareness in Training Groups.

This qualitative research study analyzed 122 multicultural process events provided by 35 participants in an 11-week training group. Five substantive categories of multicultural process events were identified: observation of multicultural differences, generalizations based on multicultural differences, discomfort associated with multicultural issues, positive feelings associated with multicultural differences, and multicultural turning points. Observation of multicultural differences tended to occur early in the life of the groups and discomfort associated with multicultural issues tended to occur toward the end of the groups. Implications of the results for trainers are discussed.

Training Group Counselors: The Process Observer Method.

Abstract The literature on the use of process observation is reviewed, and the development and implementation of a process observation system as a training tool is described.

Examining problem drinking and eating disorders from a gendered perspective.

SUMMARY The two studies presented here examined the relationship between problem drinking and eating disorders in college students. Although there was little evidence of a concurrent relationship between the two, there were differences related to gender. In addition, there were differences between women who were and were not sorority members with respect to problem drinking, but not eating disorders. The value of addressing these problems from a gendered perspective is discussed.