The Attitudes and Experiences of Marriage and Family Counselors for Same-Sex Couple and Family Clients: A Qualitative Study

Same-sex marriage and family counselors usually do not have enough experience and training background to help same-sex couples with marriage and family issues. Some counselors may have a personal bias toward same-sex couples due to the absence of same-sex couples and families’ background. Marriage and family counselors provide counseling services to their clients with marriage and family problems and conflicts, resulting in a positive recovery negotiation. The purpose of this study was to understand and investigate the attitudes of marriage and family counselors regarding same-sex couples and families, an area ignored in mainstream marriage and family counseling. Based on 300 surveys and 38 interviews from marriage and family counselors in the United States, the researcher categorized that more than half of the participants expressed negative attitudes against same-sex couples and families, due to cheating, unsafe sexual activities, and domestic violence. Some counselors refused to provide counseling services to same-sex couples and families due to misunderstanding and prejudice. The results suggested that additional in-service professional developments and curriculum reforms are essential to promoting multicultural family structure. Received: 13 September 2021 / Accepted: 25 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Social Issues in Malaysia from the Islamic Perspective

This study discusses the social issues that occurred in Malaysia from the Islamic point of view. This study has taken the descriptive analytical approach by describing issues related to the Malaysian society in the references and sources available to the researchers, as well as analysing them from Western, Malaysian and Islamic attitudes. This study will address the following topics: cultural issues such as sexual orientation and gender identity; ethical issues such as freedom of expression, mixing of the sexes and intimacy among the unmarried; and family issues such as developing the roles of spouses and children’s education during the epidemic. This study also aimed to shed light on these selected issues from the Islamic perspective, as well as to give justified opinions of scholars and researchers in them. Thus, this study reached important results and the most significant of which is: revealing the opinions of scholars and experts and exploring their Islamic attitudes towards Malaysia's approach to dealing with these social issues.

Young People’s Experience of Post-Separation Fathering Where the Father has been Violent to the Mother

<p>My intention in undertaking this research was to examine young people’s experiences of living with their father following parental separation where their father has been violent to their mother. To date there is little knowledge of children’s post-separation experiences of fathering or of the parenting abilities of partner abusive men. This study takes a feminist approach and is informed by scholarship on family issues, childhood studies and the sociology of the child. The study was guided by hermeneutic phenomenology and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Twenty young people aged 18 to 26 took part in the study and face to face interviews were carried out over a one year period. The findings revealed that some fathers were overly punitive in their parenting style with a number of fathers continuing to be physically and/or emotionally abusive to their children. Authoritarian or permissive parenting practices were also identified and a number of fathers were shown to be neglectful, making little effort to bond with their children or provide quality care. In cases where fathers were unable to accept the break-up and move on this was also shown to have an adverse effect on their ability to parent effectively including an inability to co-operate with children’s mothers. In contrast, the majority of mothers were shown to be central to children’s lives undertaking most of the caring responsibilities. Mothers also recognised children’s changing needs as they grew older, encouraged autonomy, and contributed to children’s social development and maturity by trusting their judgement. However, this was not necessarily a protective factor against difficulties that participants have experienced as young adults. A time-share or full-time arrangement was revealed as being the most problematic for children although weekend contact could also pose a risk where pre-separation violence towards children had been severe. The study concluded that a safe outcome for children will require a shift away from a father’s right to contact, emphasising instead children’s right to a life free from abuse.</p>

Young People’s Experience of Post-Separation Fathering Where the Father has been Violent to the Mother

<p>My intention in undertaking this research was to examine young people’s experiences of living with their father following parental separation where their father has been violent to their mother. To date there is little knowledge of children’s post-separation experiences of fathering or of the parenting abilities of partner abusive men. This study takes a feminist approach and is informed by scholarship on family issues, childhood studies and the sociology of the child. The study was guided by hermeneutic phenomenology and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Twenty young people aged 18 to 26 took part in the study and face to face interviews were carried out over a one year period. The findings revealed that some fathers were overly punitive in their parenting style with a number of fathers continuing to be physically and/or emotionally abusive to their children. Authoritarian or permissive parenting practices were also identified and a number of fathers were shown to be neglectful, making little effort to bond with their children or provide quality care. In cases where fathers were unable to accept the break-up and move on this was also shown to have an adverse effect on their ability to parent effectively including an inability to co-operate with children’s mothers. In contrast, the majority of mothers were shown to be central to children’s lives undertaking most of the caring responsibilities. Mothers also recognised children’s changing needs as they grew older, encouraged autonomy, and contributed to children’s social development and maturity by trusting their judgement. However, this was not necessarily a protective factor against difficulties that participants have experienced as young adults. A time-share or full-time arrangement was revealed as being the most problematic for children although weekend contact could also pose a risk where pre-separation violence towards children had been severe. The study concluded that a safe outcome for children will require a shift away from a father’s right to contact, emphasising instead children’s right to a life free from abuse.</p>

Finding a Place for Music Therapy Practice in a Hospital Child Development Service

<p>This exegesis examines the beginnings of a music therapy practice at a hospital Child Development Service (CDS) in New Zealand, looking at the issues involved in setting up this practice during a student placement over a period nine months. The research is an exploratory case study (Yin 2009) which aims to identify issues through secondary analysis of clinical documentation, using thematic analysis to code and analyse the clinical data. Five core issues were revealed which included: working with team members, interacting with the children's family, issues in the implementation of the intervention, reflections on the student's experience and working within hospital policies and procedures. A case vignette is used to describe an example of arising issues and important factors when working with team members and family. The results of the study suggest that service development is a complex process, showing the importance of collaboration within the multidisciplinary team and involving family members in sessions. In terms of beginning a new music therapy practice in this specific setting, it was found that music therapy was filling a gap in what the child development team could provide. It was also found that there are several factors to consider when establishing a paid position within the service. It is important to create a balance between working within the medical framework philosophy of the hospital and providing a holistic and an empathetic level of care for the families. The project aims to inform other music therapy practitioners and students beginning or establishing work in new settings.</p>

Finding a Place for Music Therapy Practice in a Hospital Child Development Service

<p>This exegesis examines the beginnings of a music therapy practice at a hospital Child Development Service (CDS) in New Zealand, looking at the issues involved in setting up this practice during a student placement over a period nine months. The research is an exploratory case study (Yin 2009) which aims to identify issues through secondary analysis of clinical documentation, using thematic analysis to code and analyse the clinical data. Five core issues were revealed which included: working with team members, interacting with the children's family, issues in the implementation of the intervention, reflections on the student's experience and working within hospital policies and procedures. A case vignette is used to describe an example of arising issues and important factors when working with team members and family. The results of the study suggest that service development is a complex process, showing the importance of collaboration within the multidisciplinary team and involving family members in sessions. In terms of beginning a new music therapy practice in this specific setting, it was found that music therapy was filling a gap in what the child development team could provide. It was also found that there are several factors to consider when establishing a paid position within the service. It is important to create a balance between working within the medical framework philosophy of the hospital and providing a holistic and an empathetic level of care for the families. The project aims to inform other music therapy practitioners and students beginning or establishing work in new settings.</p>

The Formation of Subsequent Entrepreneurial Intention: Happiness Matters

Subsequent entrepreneurial intention is a good predictor of serial entrepreneurial endeavors which facilitate the sustainability of economic growth. Previous research has investigated the influence of economic outcomes on continuous engagement in entrepreneurial activities. However, despite frequent calls by scholars, limited attention has been given to the psychological factors that could explain how economic performance influences intention. This study aims at answering some of these questions, including whether entrepreneurs are willing to continue creating new ventures after achieving positive economic feedback from their current business, and what the psychological drivers are behind such intentions. Borrowing insights from the field of positive psychology, this study develops a framework to understand the role of the performance of a firm and happiness in the subsequent intention formation process, testing the mediated moderation effect using data collected from 1019 entrepreneurs in China. The results show that current firm performance significantly enhances subsequent entrepreneurial intention, while the relationship is mediated by the happiness of the entrepreneurs. Family cohesion attenuates the influence of firm performance on happiness, which shows that for entrepreneurs, family issues play an important role in their mental state. The theoretical and practical implications of the framework are also discussed.

Psychotherapy in Old Age: Older Adults’ Sexual Distress Concerning Their Sexual Well-Being

Age and sexual difficulties show a relevant influence in older adults’ sexual well-being (SWB). The objective of this study was to assess sexual issues that affect SWB, revealed by older adults in person-centered therapy, using qualitative research. Interviews with 38 older participants, aged 65 to 82 years, living in the community were submitted to content analysis. Eight main themes emerged from the results of the content analysis: Partner unavailability, family issues, physical changes, worries about hygiene, sexual dysfunctions, fear of physical abuse, and sexual transmitted diseases. This study was relevant towards identifying the sexual issues older adults feel regarding their SWB, as shared in therapy. Older adults referred their greatest issues to be partner unavailability, sexual dysfunctions and physical changes due to aging.

Women Vision of Higher Education Opportunities in Kazakhstan

Education has become an important mechanism in the goal of gender equality achievement. For many decades, access to education was one of the key issues for women. These days it is an issue of not only developing countries but of developed ones as well. Women have become more active in higher education, especially in achieving master degree or PhD. This is due to that public policies are directed at the improvement of the structure of higher education. It includes promotion of human resources diversification among academic staff. This article studies the vision of women regarding higher education. What is the importance of it? This is especially carrier opportunities in higher education. It also discusses carrier opportunities for women in other fields, which has influence on women desire to continue their education. What influence does it have on private life? Higher education also covers state of selfdevelopment, personal improvement and family relationships. The study was provided under the framework of social behavior communication change, which includes four key factors of social behavior. There was conducted a semistructured interview among women. For the interview analysis, Dedoose software was used. According to the results of the study, there have been identified two main factors, which have a great Impact on women participation in higher education. These factors are cultural standard family issues. Major outcomes of higher education for women: potential realization, promotion of women rights. This determines the importance of social behavior in the development of a policy, development of laws and regulations.

The New Dad: The Career-Caregiving Conundrum

This chapter draws mainly from “The New Dad” studies, a decade long research series done by the Boston College Center for Work & Family which studied the changing role of primarily college-educated, white-collar fathers working in large US-based corporate settings. The series explored the experiences of these fathers on a wide range of issues including their transition to fatherhood, work roles, definitions of success, attitudes on paternity leave and caregiving, and work-family issues.