scholarly journals BEHAVIOR THERAPY PRINCIPLES, RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 116-121
Author(s):  
Lilian Chemutai Kimaiyo ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Behavior Therapy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Social Workers ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Therapy Approach ◽  
Recent Developments

Psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods through regular interactions (counselling sessions) with clients to help them change behaviour and overcome problems with the aim of improving their well being and mental health. Psychotherapists may be psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers or professional counsellors. This paper examines Behaviour Therapy approach which is one form of psychotherapy available for use by practitioners. It outlines the key ideas of behavior therapy, recent developments in the field and contributions in the field of behavior medicine.

scholarly journals Clinical social work in Aotearoa New Zealand: Origins, practice, and future implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Appleby ◽  
Barbara Staniforth ◽  
Caroline Flanagan ◽  
Clarke Millar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
Clinical Social Work ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Clinical Social Workers ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand

INTRODUCTION: Clinical social work is practised with individuals, groups and families in areas concerned with mental health and counselling for people’s wellbeing. As a field of practice, it has been insufficiently researched and often not understood in Aotearoa New Zealand. This article provides an overview of clinical social work in Aotearoa New Zealand.APPROACH: This is a theoretical article that discusses the development of social work, and clinical social work, in this country; attention is paid to professionalisation debates and registration. There is an overview of the social work training landscape and post-qualifying mental health specialisation options, with a brief discussion about the New Entry to Specialist Practice model for social workers. Theoretical underpinnings of clinical social work interventions are canvassed, including systemic models, recovery approaches, strengths-based models, indigenous models, narrative therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. Four vignettes of clinical social work are presented, before a discussion about the future implications for clinical social work in Aotearoa New Zealand.CONCLUSION: Clinical social workers have a range of knowledge and skills to work with people in mental distress. A challenge is issued to clinical social workers to continue to uphold social work values within multidisciplinary mental health services. The development of a clinical scope of practice in the context of recent mandatory registration for social workers is recommended.

scholarly journals Emotional demands, compassion and mental health in social workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
G Kinman ◽  
L Grant
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Emotional Demands

Abstract Background Compassion, described as the act of providing care based on empathy, dignity and respect, is intrinsic to effective health and social care. Although delivering compassionate care has wide-ranging benefits for service users, more insight is needed into its effects on health and social care professionals. The emotional demands of ‘helping’ work can engender compassion fatigue that may impair well-being, whereas compassion satisfaction and feelings of compassion towards the self could be protective. Aims To examine the effects (direct and indirect) of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and self-compassion on mental health in a cohort of social workers. Methods We used validated scales to measure emotional demands, compassion satisfaction and fatigue, and self-compassion and the General Health Questionnaire-12 to assess mental health. We tested the main and moderating effects of emotional demands and the three facets of compassion using hierarchical regression analysis. Results The study sample comprised 306 social workers (79% female). Participants who reported higher levels of compassion satisfaction and self-compassion tended to report better mental health, whereas compassion fatigue was a significant risk factor for well-being. The models explained 44–53% of the variance in mental health symptoms. We found some evidence that compassion satisfaction and self-compassion buffer the negative effects of emotional demand on mental health, contributing 2 and 3%, respectively, to the incremental variance. Conclusions Our findings suggest that evidence-based interventions are needed to reduce compassion fatigue and enhance compassion satisfaction and self-compassion in social care work. We consider ways to accomplish this using targeted interventions.

Recent developments in suicide prevention among the Indigenous peoples of Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pat Dudgeon ◽  
Christopher Holland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Torres Strait

Objectives: Suicide is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter ‘Indigenous’) population health issue. Over 2015–2016, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Project (ATSISPEP) aimed to identify success factors in Indigenous suicide prevention. Conclusions: For non-Indigenous practitioners working with indigenous clients at risk of suicide, ATSISPEP identified important considerations to make treatment more effective. The start is acknowledging the differences in the historical, cultural, political, social and economic experiences of Indigenous peoples, and their greater exposure to trauma, psychological distress and risks to mental health. These mental health difficulties are specific and more prevalent amongst Indigenous peoples and communities due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation in Australia including a range of social determinants impacting on the well-being of Indigenous peoples today. Working effectively with Indigenous clients also includes being able to establish culturally safe work environments, and the ability of non-Indigenous practitioners to work in a culturally competent and trauma-informed manner. There are also considerations regarding time protocols and client follow-up. Further, postvention responses might be required. Supporting selective suicide prevention activity among younger people (and other groups at increased risk) and community-level work is an important complement to working with Indigenous individuals at risk of suicide.

scholarly journals Self-guided mindfulness and cognitive behavioural practices reduce anxiety in autistic adults: A pilot 8-month waitlist-controlled trial of widely available online tools

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 867-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian B Gaigg ◽  
Paul E Flaxman ◽  
Gracie McLaven ◽  
Ritika Shah ◽  
Dermot M Bowler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Online Tools ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour ◽  
Autistic Adults

Anxiety in autism is an important treatment target because of its consequences for quality of life and well-being. Growing evidence suggests that cognitive behaviour therapies and mindfulness-based therapies can ameliorate anxiety in autism but cost-effective delivery remains a challenge. This pilot randomised controlled trial examined whether online cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy self-help programmes could help reduce anxiety in 54 autistic adults who were randomly allocated to either an online cognitive behaviour therapy (n = 16) or mindfulness-based therapy (n = 19) programme or a waitlist control group (n = 19). Primary outcome measures of anxiety, secondary outcome measures of broader well-being and potential process of change variables were collected at baseline, after programme completion, and then 3 and 6 months post-completion. Baseline data confirmed that intolerance of uncertainty and emotional acceptance accounted for up to 61% of self-reported anxiety across all participants. The 23 participants who were retained in the active conditions (14 mindfulness-based therapies, 9 cognitive behaviour therapies) showed significant decreases in anxiety that were maintained over 3, and to some extent also 6 months. Overall, results suggest that online self-help cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy tools may provide a cost-effective method for delivering mental health support to those autistic adults who can engage effectively with online support tools. Lay abstract Anxiety in autism is an important target for psychological therapies because it is very common and because it significantly impacts upon quality of life and well-being. Growing evidence suggests that cognitive behaviour therapies and mindfulness-based therapies can help autistic individuals learn to manage feelings of anxiety but access to such therapies remains problematic. In the current pilot study, we examined whether existing online cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy self-help tools can help reduce anxiety in autistic adults. Specifically, 35 autistic adults were asked to try either an existing online cognitive behaviour therapy (n = 16) or mindfulness-based therapy (n = 19) programme while a further 19 autistic adults served as a waitlist comparison group. A first important finding was that 23 of the 35 (66%) participants who tried the online tools completed them, suggesting that such tools are, in principle, acceptable to many autistic adults. In addition, adults in the cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy conditions reported significant decreases in anxiety over 3 and to some extent also 6 months that were less apparent in the waitlist group of participants. On broader measures of mental health and well-being, the benefits of the online tools were less apparent. Overall, the results suggest that online self-help cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy tools should be explored further as a means of providing cost-effective mental health support to at least those autistic individuals who can engage effectively with such online tools.

Integrating mental health professionals into the care team to better recognize and manage delirium in hospitalized oncology patients.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 83-83
Author(s):  
Joseph Hooley ◽  
Laurel Ralston ◽  
Joel Daniel Marcus ◽  
Carolyn Best ◽  
Diana Karius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Unit Length ◽  
Care Team ◽  
Clinical Social Workers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Order Set

83 Background: Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality, length of hospitalization, and distress. The prevalence of delirium in cancer ranges from 10% to 30% in hospitalized patients and up to 85% in terminally ill cancer patients. Rates of delirium on Cleveland Clinic’s inpatient oncology units were lower than expected. Our goal was to integrate mental health professionals into the care team to assist with better recognition and management of delirium. Methods: Education was developed for a range of caregivers, including physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers. It was facilitated by a psychiatrist, psychologist, and clinical social workers, and included proper identification of both hyper- and hypoactive delirium through use of the Brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM) and use of a delirium order set to treat and manage patients identified as positive for delirium. An important component of this education included a proper assessment and comparison of patients’ current mental status compared to their true baseline prior to hospitalization. Additional integration directly into the care team included participation of the psychiatrist, psychologist, and clinical social workers into each team’s multidisciplinary rounds to facilitate discussions around delirium and its appropriate management, and separate targeted rounding which included one-to-one education with front-line caregivers. Results: During the first year of integration, substantial improvements were noted. The percentage of patients identified as positive for delirium through bCAM screening increased from 3.4% to 15.8% after 12 months, and utilization of the delirium order set increased from 11.1% to 58.3%. Additionally, the average nursing unit length of stay (LOS) for delirium-positive patients decreased by more than 2 days compared to baseline. Conclusions: Integration of mental health providers into the care team to assist with recognizing and managing patients with delirium and to provide direct education to front-line caregivers has helped to rapidly improve delirium identification and management for oncology inpatients.

Religion and psychiatry: recent developments in research

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 262-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold G. Koenig ◽  
Faten Al-Zaben ◽  
Tyler J. VanderWeele
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Religious Involvement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARYThe evidence base on the relationship between religion and mental health is growing rapidly, and we summarise the latest research on the topic. This includes studies on religious involvement and depression, bipolar disorder, suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, personality disorder, chronic psychotic disorder, marital/family stability, social support and psychological well-being. We also review a relatively new topic in psychiatry, moral injury, which often accompanies PTSD and may interfere with its treatment. We describe a theoretical model that explains how religion might affect mental health and briefly discuss its applications in clinical practice, including a discussion of religiously integrated therapies for depression, anxiety and other emotional problems. Overall, studies indicate that religious involvement often serves as a powerful resource for patients, one that can be integrated into psychiatric care. At times, however, religion may impede or complicate treatment. This article will help clinicians determine, on the basis of the latest research, whether religion is an asset or a liability for a particular patient.

scholarly journals Trends in mental health system transformation: Integrating youth services within the Canadian context

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Halsall ◽  
Ian Manion ◽  
Srividya N. Iyer ◽  
Steve Mathias ◽  
Rosemary Purcell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
Developmentally Appropriate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Youth Services ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
International Knowledge

The current mental health services system in Canada is fragmented and transitions between the youth and adult mental health systems have been identified as needing significant improvement. Integrated Youth Services (IYS) are designed to be adaptable and developmentally appropriate as well as to promote seamless transitions, including during emerging adulthood. This article provides an overview of recent developments in Canadian mental health system transformation to promote the integration of services and the holistic promotion of youth well-being. We offer an overview of the current state of knowledge related to best practices in IYS in Canada and highlight areas for future development. We also introduce Frayme, a Canadian-based international knowledge translation platform designed to connect organizations working in the youth services system to accelerate the implementation of IYS.

A Phenomenological Study of the Office Environments of Clinical Social Workers

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie K. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Social Workers ◽  
Psychotherapy Practice ◽  
Office Space ◽  
Therapy Room ◽  
Client Behavior ◽  
Office Environments ◽  
Insight Into

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning and uses of the office space among licensed clinical social workers in private practice. Background: Previous research suggests the importance of the office space in clinical practice in regard to therapeutic alliance, client behavior, and the well-being of the therapist. However, therapist offices contain much variation in design. This study looked further into specifically how the therapy room is important through the perspective of the licensed clinical social workers in order to identify common themes. Methods: Seven licensed clinical social workers in private psychotherapy practice were interviewed in their offices. Phenomenological research methods were used to explore and analyze their experiences. Results: While the offices contained many physical differences, the intentions behind the designs were similar. Three themes emerged regarding how participants used and designed their spaces. First, participants used their offices to provide care for clients and themselves. Second, participants used their spaces to communicate therapeutic messages and to reveal and/or conceal aspects of themselves. Third, participants also used their space in direct practice. Conclusion: This phenomenological study provided insight into the importance and use of the psychotherapy office space. These findings may be helpful for therapists designing or redesigning their own practice spaces.

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