Harvey Joanning

Implementation of Family-Centered Services Perceptions of Families and Professionals

This study investigated the meaning of family-centered intervention and the extent to which it is being implemented from the perspectives of both professionals and families who participated in developing IFSPs. Practice indicators reflecting three principles of family-centered intervention were developed to evaluate current practices. Findings from semi-structured interviews indicated that professionals have an understanding of the change in focus from child to family; however, there is some incongruence between family-centered attitudes and actual practice. Although families expressed overall satisfaction with services they were receiving, some professionals were clearly more family-centered than others in their practice. Implications for the development of practices to support the family-centered intent of IDEA, Part H, are discussed.

A Parent-Based Description of Residential Treatment

Abstract Past research on adolescents in residential treatment has examined the treatment process from the perspective of the adolescents and/or workers point of view. This article describes the results from a qualitative study on how parents experience the residential treatment process. According to the parents interviewed: parents want to be more involved in making decisions and setting goals concerning their child, special care is needed when two families are involved with one child, family therapy is useful in dealing with family issues and family-staff conflicts, and regular communication is needed between the staff and the parents.

Social role negotiation skills for substance-abusing adolescents: A group model

A group model for therapeutic early intervention (secondary prevention) with nonaddicted adolescent substance abusers is proposed, based on a Social Role Negotiation model of substance abuse integrating concepts form role theory and cognitive developmental theory. The description of the group model, a structured short-term approach, includes a variety of exercises which promote developmental improvement in the essential skills of role-taking, role-making, and definition of the situation. An individualized intervention strategy is proposed for each group member, based on a theory-based taxonomy of substance-related problems. Strategies for using family involvement to support an adolescent group are described.

Use of reading assignments in clinical practice

Abstract This study describes an often used but little studied clinical practice: reading assignments. Specifically examined are prevalence of use, books most frequently used, types of clients and presenting problems, procedures for use, and success and problems encountered. Results are based on a national sample of AAMFT members. A bibliography of most frequently used books is also provided. Systemic interventions in the treatment of families with adolescent drug abusers to attain drug-free behavior were presented in a previous paper (Quinn et al., 1988). This paper describes the latter stage of treatment which is required to stabilize drug-free behavior and promote a more functional family structure with modified interactional patterns. Neglect of these goals by hospital or outpatient treatment settings increases the likelihood of relapse in drug behavior or symptom substitution, such as running away or escalating relationship conflict. Issues discussed include developmental issues around the adolescent...

Family treatment of adolescent drug abuse: transitions and maintenance of drug-free behavior

Abstract Systemic interventions in the treatment of families with adolescent drug abusers to attain drug-free behavior were presented in a previous paper (Quinn et al., 1988). This paper describes the latter stage of treatment which is required to stabilize drug-free behavior and promote a more functional family structure with modified interactional patterns. Neglect of these goals by hospital or outpatient treatment settings increases the likelihood of relapse in drug behavior or symptom substitution, such as running away or escalating relationship conflict. Issues discussed include developmental issues around the adolescent leaving home, marital conflict and balance, aspects of treatment with single-parent or blended families, the peer network, parental drug use, and the restoration or promotion of adolescent autonomy. Clinical illustrations provide documentation of these systemic interventions.

Enhancing Marital Sexuality

This article outlines a sexual enrichment process for couples desiring to improve their sex lives or as a precursor for couples seeking sex therapy. The first part of the article focuses on assessing couple relationships to determine if sex therapy or sexual enrichment is appropriate. The second part describes a program based on Masters and Johnson’s Sensate Focus exercises and is designed to enhance sensuality and enrich sexual behavior. The final section explores common sexual myths that affect couples’sexual experiences.

Towards an Understanding of Religious People's Perceptions and Lived Experiences of Religion and Spirituality: Implications for Marriage and Family Therapists

SUMMARY This paper presents the reader with a systematic description of religious peoples perceptions, of religion and spirituality. Results from 24 Lutheran and Greek Orthodox respondents suggest (a) that religion and spirituality profoundly impact the manner in which religious people view the world, (b) that religious people view religion as more than a human construction, (c) that religious people view religion and spirituality as interrelated and interconnected spheres of experience, and (d) that salient contextual information can be missed when therapists/researchers fail to address religion and spirituality from religious peoples perspectives. Implications for MFTs, and MFT researchers, are also discussed.

Therapist debriefing interviews: Therapist versus ethnographer

The use of debriefing interviews has increasingly been used as an effective means of introducing information into the therapeutic system. Research has demonstrated that these interviews are an important addition to the overall family therapy process. This study describes client/ family experiences of being debriefed by their therapist and a separate debriefer. Results indicated that clients are willing to be debriefed about their therapy experience by either therapist or debriefer. Several imposed domains were discussed by families. These include therapist and debriefer comparisons, preference for debriefer, preference for therapist, experience of being debriefed, and how debriefing could be made better. Domains that emerged from conversational digressions included frequency of debriefing, influence of debriefing upon families, discomfort with communicating negative experiences, client satisfaction with therapy as a result of debriefing, debriefing as therapeutic, and rapport with therapist. Results seem ...

The Therapist-Investigator Relationship in Family Therapy Research

The widely held requirement of therapist-investigator nonequivalence in family therapy research studies is reviewed in light of recent discussions concerning objectivity and social constructionism. Recommendations for an alternative position are offered.

The Strategic Use of Urinalysis in the Treatment of Adolescents in Family Therapy

Recently, a great deal of attention has been focused upon urine screening for possible drug use because of President Reagans “jar wars” proposals regarding federal employees. In therapy with drug-abusing adolescents and their families, the Family Systems team within the Adolescent Drug Treatment Program at Texas Tech University has attempted to create uses for urinalyses that move beyond the issues of use and nonuse of substances to systemically therapeutic strategies that seek to create contextual realities and maneuver system change. This paper outlines theoretical and clinical goals and strategies utilized by our team.