Laura Hensley Choate

College Women Eating Disorder Diagnostic Profile and DSM-5

Abstract A consistent diagnostic profile describing college women with eating disorders has been well established in the college health and mental health literature. This diagnostic framework traditionally has been associated with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision1 Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified category. In this article, the authors discuss implications of the recently revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition2 eating disorder diagnostic categories for the existing college women eating disorder profile.

Interpersonal Group Therapy for Women Experiencing Bulimia

Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is a chronic disorder that results in a high degree of psychological impairment for many women. This article presents a description of Interpersonal Therapy for Group (IPT–G), an evidence-based approach for the treatment of BN. The author presents a rationale for the use of IPT–G, an outline of the group model, and provides considerations for using IPT–G in clinical practice.

Group Work with Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Neglect: A Psychoeducational Approach.

In this article, the authors describe a psychoeducational group model for adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect. The model is specifically designed to assist group members to receive support and validation, to identify the effects of abuse on present functioning, and to learn new life skills.

Screening for College Student Problem Drinkers: The Role of the Student Affairs Professional.

Heavy drinking continues to be a nationally recognized problem on college campuses. This article describes how student affairs professionals play a pivotal role in identifying and referring these students for relevant services. A five-step model for alcohol screening, advising, and referral is described using motivational enhancement strategies.

Teen Court Counseling Groups: Facilitating Positive Change for Adolescents Who Are First-Time Juvenile Offenders

Teen Court is a promising type of diversion program offered to adolescents who have been arrested for first-time misdemeanors, serving as a voluntary and effective alternative to the juvenile justice system. Diversion programs that use group counseling as a mandatory component of sentencing demonstrate initial success in reducing recidivism rates in national outcome studies. In this article, the authors provide a description of 1 Teen Court counseling group model, offer pilot evaluation data, and highlight the implications of implementing Teen Court counseling groups for group counselors.

Depression in Girls During the Transition to Adolescence: Risks and Effective Treatment

Girls experience an increased risk for depression as they transition to adolescence, with rates of depression tripling for girls between the ages of 12 and 15. Further, while there is no gender difference between boys and girls prior to age 12, by age 13 girls are twice as likely as boys to experience an episode of depression. Because of this increased level of risk and striking gender differences in rates of depression, the purpose of this article is to (a) examine biopsychosocial risk factors which increase girls’ vulnerability to depression and which contribute to gender differences during early adolescence; (b) consider assessment and diagnostic issues for depression in girls, and (c) discuss effective treatment options, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal therapy (IPT).

Negotiating Contradictory Cultural Pressures: A Treatment Model for Binge Eating in Adolescent Girls

Todays adolescent girls experience sociocultural pressures and life stressors which result in negative mental health outcomes, including binge eating. The purpose of this article is to present a model of psychotherapy for adolescent girls who engage in binge eating. The components in this model include: (a) Feminist Therapy to emphasize client empowerment and the importance of sociocultural context in understanding girls’ concerns; (b) Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help clients to eliminate dieting and to cope with pressures for attaining the beauty ideal; (c) Dialectical Behavior Therapy to assist clients in coping with emotions; and (d) Interpersonal Therapy to help clients improve relational transitions and disputes.