Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Internalizing Disorders in High-Functioning Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
AbstractAnxiety and depression are often comorbid with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There is empirical support to suggest that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficacious treatment for comorbid anxiety disorders in youth with ASD. Modifications to CBT for youths with ASD have been made with emphasis on exposure being a critical component. Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of CBT on symptoms of depression in youths with ASD. Modifications to CBT will be outlined in this review, as will implementation suggestions for the clinician practicing CBT with ASD youth. Limitations of the studies investigating this ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - November 18, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Informed Consent in Psychotherapy: Implications of Evidence-Based Practice
AbstractEvidence-based practice in psychotherapy carries widely unacknowledged consequences for ethical clinical practice. Informed consent to psychological treatments is an ethical imperative in clinical practice, and there is an ethical obligation for psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists to provide adequate disclosure to patients about treatments. This is codified within the professional guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Medical Association. Given the APA ’s commitment to evidence-based practice, the objective of this paper is to argue that the provision ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - November 15, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Years of Clinical Experience and Therapist Professional Development: A Literature Review
AbstractThe purpose of this article is to review the effect of years of clinical experience on aspects of therapist professional development. Themes within this specific literature were determined inductively as part of an all-inclusive review. Years of clinical experience were found to be positively associated with increased confidence and perceived mastery in clinical ability, increased flexibility in professional identity and therapeutic orientation, reduced stress and anxiety in clinical practice, and improvements in clinical judgment and decision-making. Although years of experience were found to relate to increased t...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - November 11, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Confronting Patients: Therapists ’ Model of a Responsiveness Based Approach
AbstractConfrontation represents a way of challenging patients in psychotherapy to stimulate change. Confrontation draws attention to discrepancies, for example between elements in a patient ’s functioning. The present study was designed to construct a conceptual model of confrontation used by therapists when trying to address two main questions: what are the risks and opportunities of confrontation and how can these effects be influenced? Fifteen therapists from the Psychotherapy Out patient Clinic of the University of Bern in Switzerland participated in semi-standardized interviews, which were analyzed using qualitativ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - November 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Development of Intensive Motivational Interviewing (IMI) and Modifications for Treating Women with Alcohol Use Disorders
AbstractWomen have greater vulnerability to alcohol problems than men. They become intoxicated after drinking half as much as men, develop cirrhosis of the liver more rapidly, and have a greater risk of dying from alcohol-related accidents. Despite more serious consequences related to their drinking, treatment for women with alcohol use disorders has been understudied relative to treatment for men. Intensive motivational interviewing (IMI) is a recent psychotherapeutic intervention for substance abuse problems that draws on the principles of brief motivational interviewing (1 –2 session). However, the intervention includ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - October 16, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

The Persistent Case of Major Depression: An Argument for Long-Term Treatment
AbstractAccording to psychotherapy outcome literature, treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) yield impressive results. Study after study demonstrates the efficacy of brief, evidence-based interventions for depressed individuals. Nevertheless, MDD continues to exact a devastating toll on modern society. The World Health Organization has identified it as the leading cause of disability worldwide. This reality is surprising given the implications from the academic literature. A historical analysis of MDD treatment suggests that most people with MDD experienced complete remission and enhanced outcomes when long-term, ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - September 21, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Improvements in Depression and Mental Health After Acceptance and Commitment Therapy are Related to Changes in Defusion and Values-Based Action
This study explored whether there was a relationship between two of the main ACT processes (cognitive defusion and values) and levels of depression and distress. Thirty-three participants completed questionnaires at the start and end of their treatment measuring general mental health and distress, depression, levels of cognitive fusion and how much they were living in line with their values and how important their values were to them. Results showed reductions in levels of fusion and increases in values-based action were significantly related to reductions in distress and depression. There was no correlation between change...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - September 2, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Two-Track Differentiation Paradigm in Psychotherapy
AbstractThis paper describes the Two-Track Differentiation Paradigm, an updated therapeutic methodology within psychotherapy. The Two-Track Differentiation Paradigm is based on the assumption that patients habitually regard their problems as one-dimensional and thus tend to become rigid in their attitudes toward these problems. The paradigm suggests a psychotherapeutic process of enriched reframing called Differentiation. This Differentiation between patients ’ negative and positive narratives and perceptions offers them more options and frees them to contend with their problems more effectively. Thus, with the Two-Track...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Exploring Associations Between Therapy Factors and Post-therapy Development After Naturalistic Psychotherapies
AbstractEarlier research on what contributes to long-term outcome after psychotherapy is scarce and scattered. Responding to this, the current study explores potential associations between therapy factors reported as salient by clients in naturalistic psychotherapy and variation in post-therapy-movement. Material from different codes and categories derived from an earlier content analysis was explored in relation to post-therapy-changes on OQ-45. In the first part of the study, two overarching themes (relational aspects and therapeutic operations) were included in a regression analysis of data from 32 clients. In the secon...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - August 7, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Efficacy of Treating Sexual Trauma in a Substance Abuse Residential Program for Women
AbstractThis is a program evaluation of treating sexual trauma in a residential substance abuse treatment program for women. Residents who were seeking treatment for their substance abuse disorder (SUD), also had a history of both childhood and adult sexual trauma. Given the literature supporting concurrent trauma-SUD treatment, the Warrior Renew (WR) protocol (Katz, Warrior Renew: Healing from military sexual trauma, Springer, New York, 2014) was added to the curriculum of Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step groups, relapse prevention, and substance abuse education classes. The WR manual consists of coping skills to address slee...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - August 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

From Puddles to Potholes: The Role of Overvalued Beliefs in Emotional Problems
AbstractThe bygone notion of a “fixed idea” has evolved into an appreciation for overvalued beliefs, automatic thoughts, irrational beliefs, and dysfunctional attitudes and the role they can play in the lives of many clients. Overvalued beliefs are common and can be destructive when they guide the client toward extreme emotio nal reactions, disruptive behavioral patterns or create negative views of self or others. Overvalued beliefs become problematic when they are not aligned with commonly accepted views of reality, they are rigidly maintained despite insufficient evidence, and they create maladaptive self-perpetuatin...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - July 4, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy Improves Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapies in a Man with a Severe Personality Disorder: A Case Report
We describe the case of a man in an advanced stage of AIDS with Kaposi ’s sarcoma. The patient was treated with Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy combined with psychoeducation about pharmacological treatment for HIV. Primary medical outcomes were suppression of viral load, increase of CD4 count and control of AIDS related conditions such as Kaposi’s sarcoma. The primary psychological outcome was reduction of personality disorders criteria. The patient was able to understand what led him to discontinue medication and then later regain full adherence. He achieved suppression of viral load and restore of CD4 count. As r...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - June 15, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Formulation and Treatment of Chronic Suicidality in Patients with Developmental Trauma
We describe how we use this developmental understanding to address chronic suicidality in ongoing clinical treatment beyond management and safety planning, by providing psychoeducational, cognitive, behavioral and affect-focused strategies that serve to enhance the treatment alliance. (Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy)
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - June 9, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

An Uncontrolled Clinical Trial of Guided Respiration Mindfulness Therapy (GRMT) in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
AbstractGuided respiration mindfulness therapy (GRMT) is a manualized intervention that synthesizes a sustained focus on self-regulation of respiration, mindfulness, and relaxation. In our previous publication (in Lalande et al. J Contemp Psychother 46(2):107 –116, 2016) we reported an evaluation of a manual-based GRMT therapist training program for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Here we report the outcomes of the manualized treatment program for depression and anxiety with clients. Forty-two participants with a primary diagnosis of depressio n or anxiety disorder participated in an uncontrolled clinical trial ...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - June 1, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anger Dysregulation with Military Veterans: A Pilot Study
AbstractAnger dysregulation is a commonly reported problem by treatment-seeking military veterans that is associated with a range of negative outcomes. However, there is a paucity of studies examining interventions for anger and aggressive behavior in this population. Theory and empirical evidence suggest Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may be a viable and effective treatment for anger dysregulation among veterans. The present study examined the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an open trial of an ACT group intervention for veterans reporting difficulties with anger and aggressive behavior. Twenty-three...
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - May 22, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research