Darryl G. Cross

Short- and Long-Term Follow-Up of Clients Receiving Insight-Oriented Therapy and Behavior Therapy.

15 clients (aged 18-55) received short-term, insight-oriented therapy, and 15 received short-term behavior therapy over a 3-mo course of treatment. Pre- and posttreatment measures included the Personal Orientation Inventory and the Truax Current Adjustment Rating Scale. Follow-up was subsequently undertaken (4 mo and 1 yr later) with the same multiple-outcome criteria. Process as well as outcome measurement was conducted. Results show positive change for both therapy types over the treatment program, and follow-up testing indicates that improvement was sustained up to the 1-yr posttest. Process measurement suggested that relational factors may be more influential in determining client change than factors such as type of technique or procedure administered. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental Health Professional and Client Values: Similar or Different?

SynopsisThe Rokeach Value Survey and Rosenthal Moral Values Questionnaire were used to examine similarities and differences in the personal and moral value systems of mental health professionals (N = 454, including psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers) and clients (N = 431, including psychiatric inpatients, and clients of tertiary student counselling centres and o f marriage counselling agencies) within the Australian setting. Multiple discriminant analysis statistical procedures were employed and significant differences emerged between the professional and client groups. Mental health professionals supported values stressing self-direction, mature personal action and a greater tolerance for freedom in the area o f sexual behaviour, while the client group emphasised selfcontrol and restraints on sexual behaviour. In view o f the divergent value stances o f professionals and clients, potential implications for the practice of therapy are raised.

The measurement of empathy: A comment on watson

Watsons (1983) recent study involving the Indices of Discrimination and Communication as measures of empathy highlighted a number of contentious issues meriting discussion. More particularly, these issues relate to the concept of the notion of “characteristi” empathy. Additionally, the paper totally neglected the literature which has previously assessed the two Indices. The present contention is that the Indices cannot be considered as favourably as initially indicated.