Interactive Journaling as a Clinical Tool

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Miller

Spoken language is the primary medium of counseling and psychotherapy. The therapeutic value of written language has also been studied extensively, both to provide self-help information and to elicit personal reflection. Interactive journaling (IJ) is a guided writing process that combines both of these functions. It has differed from usual therapeutic writing in two ways: (a) by integrating the presentation of treatment-relevant information in graphic-enhanced text to engage the reader, and (b) by offering frequent structured opportunities for the client to respond to and integrate material being presented. This article provides a description and the first review of research on IJ as a clinical tool. Experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations support a link between IJ and behavior change. Research on motivational interviewing offers evidence-based guidelines for structuring IJ materials to elicit language favoring change, as well as testable hypotheses linking writing processes with outcomes. Implications for counseling practice and research are considered.

Dementia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 924-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
HuiChen (Rita) Chang ◽  
Hui-Wen Chien

Objective To explore as a pilot study the effects of group reminiscence therapy upon depression of people living with dementia within dementia-specific day care centers. Method A unique pre-test-post-test, quasi-experimental design counterbalanced with a qualitative grounded theory video analysis of facial expression and behavior was used to measure the effects of group reminiscence therapy. The study recruited 21 participants in total from two dementia-specific day care centers. Results The findings highlighted improvements in depression, communication, and positive mood after group reminiscence intervention. The results also showed that participants scored higher on average during the Chinese New Year and marriage reminiscence activities compared to the other activities, revealing the subject matters extraordinarily significance. Conclusion This study provides evidence supporting the proposition that undertaking a cultural focus reminiscence therapy may produce significant psychosocial improvements for a person with dementia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-302
Author(s):  
S. D. Suryani ◽  
M. Amin ◽  
F. Rohman

This study intends to analyze the influence of the research-based monograph book as a learning resource to improve pre-service teachers’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior towards the environment. This study is a quasi-experimental study using the Nonequivalent Control Group design. The research sample is 67 pre-service biology teachers using Cluster Sampling. Data were collected using environmental literacy instruments and analyzed descriptively and using the ANCOVA test. The results of the ANCOVA test showed that there was a significant effect on the use of the monograph book on environmental literacy. Knowledge domain obtained 0.047, attitude domain 0.186, and behavioral field 0.986 This research concludes that using the monograph book in learning affects aspects of ecological and environmental knowledge. Nevertheless, it has not had a significant effect on parts of attitude and behavior.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Cmar ◽  
Michele C. McDonnall

Early work experiences predict future employment for youth with visual impairments, particularly when youth find jobs independently, but research has not supported the efficacy of sponsored work for this population. The most effective work experience programs include additional components such as job search assistance, and job search interventions are effective at improving employment outcomes. Thus, we conducted a quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of adding job search training to a summer work experience program with 42 youth with visual impairments. Intervention group youth significantly increased job search knowledge and behavior compared with comparison group youth, and both groups increased in job search self-efficacy. Although additional research is needed, this study provides initial evidence of the job search program’s effectiveness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1232-1238
Author(s):  
Annette E. Richard ◽  
Elise K. Hodges ◽  
Martha D. Carlson

Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has focused on differentiating children with ASD from neurotypical children. However, many children presenting with concern for ASD are ultimately diagnosed with language disorder (LD). This study aimed to identify differences in parent-rated development and behavior among children ages 2 to 5 years presenting with concern for ASD who were diagnosed with either ASD or LD. Children with ASD were rated as more socially withdrawn and more delayed in social development and self-help skills than those with LD. Parent-rated developmental delays were positively correlated with scores on an autism screening measure and with social withdrawal and pervasive developmental problems among children with ASD. Among those with LD, parent-rated social and self-help development were positively correlated with social withdrawal and attention problems. Thus, parent ratings of social withdrawal and development of social and self-help skills may facilitate differential diagnosis of ASD and LD in children ages 2 to 5 years.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver C. Robinson ◽  
James D. Demetre ◽  
Jordan A. Litman

During periods of developmental crisis, individuals experience uncomfortable internal incongruence and are motivated to reduce this through forms of exploration of self, other and world. Based on this, we inferred that being in a crisis would relate positively to curiosity and negatively to a felt sense of authenticity. A quasi-experimental design using self-report data from a nationally representative UK sample ( N = 963) of adults in early life (20–39 years), midlife (40–59 years) and later-life (60+) showed a pattern of findings supportive of the hypotheses. Three forms of curiosity (intrapersonal, perceptual and epistemic D-type) were significantly higher, while authenticity was lower, among those currently in crisis that those of the same age group not in crisis. Crisis was also related to curiosity about particular book genres; early adult crisis to self-help and spirituality, midlife to self-help and biography, and later life to food and eating.


2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 2-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rina Alcalay ◽  
Robert A. Bell

The strategies and practices employed in 50 community-based nutrition and physical activity interventions are reviewed from the perspective of a four-stage social marketing model. Goals and objectives established at the research and planning stage were infrequently grounded in data and theory. At the strategy design stage, concept/message pretesting was uncommon. Most campaigns disseminated material products through several channels and activities. At the implementation stage, community members were regularly enlisted as collaborators and a majority of campaigns identified sustainability as a long-term goal. In the evaluation stage, summative research was most often based on quasi-experimental methods. Self-reported knowledge and behavior effects were often assessed; morbidity and mortality campaign effects were rarely considered. Suggestions are offered for improving the design and execution of future interventions.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 655-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty L. Gabriel ◽  
James J. Forest

Amount of agreement among readers about the relevant information in a self-help psychology book was measured to assess whether readers' choices are unique or overlapping. 15 men and 14 women attended two 1-hr. sessions in which they read and marked relevant information in the first 60 pages of a self-help psychology book. Comparison of the amount and pattern of marking across pages and lines on five specific pages showed that there was a statistically significant amount of agreement on which pages contained relevant ideas and which lines contained important concepts. There were no differences between men and women.


2003 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 929-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Forest ◽  
Kevin Del Ben ◽  
Stuart B. Toews

It was hypothesized that text marking in self-help psychology books would indicate that readers agree on which pages and lines contain relevant information. Previously owned copies of two self-help book tides ( n = 48, n = 38), all with marked text, were collected from second-hand book stores and scored for line and page marking. Chi-squares for goodness-of-fit yielded significant differences between observed and chance agreement in marking behavior. Intraclass and KR-20 correlations were significantly different from zero, suggesting that readers agreed on what information was relevant and irrelevant. Actual users of self-help books may have similar standards because of cultural values, social group relations, or common problem experiences.


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