The Problematic Experience of Players' Mutations Between Clubs: Discovering the Social Adaptability Skills Required

Objective: During their career, most players working in professional team sports move from club to club. These transitions are not always completely successful and could highly impact the route of the players' development. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the psychological processes involved when players encounter problems in adapting from one club to another. Thus, it was the aim of this study to identify the most difficult aspects of these transitions, as experienced by team sports players and the psychological skills that contribute to successful outcomes.Design and Method: The present study included twenty professional basketball players (aged between 20 and 36 years old; Mean = 26.05, SD = 4.12), who had played under different coaches (coach range 4–15; Mean = 8.65, SD = 2.92), and also played for different clubs (range 3–10; Mean = 5.35, SD = 2.08). They took part in retrospective interviews regarding their embedded experiences during club to club transitions. A situated E-approach was used to identify their problematic experiences, the adaptability skills and how they are applied during club mutations.Results and Conclusions: The identification of problematic experiences revealed seven components in relation to coaching (e.g., obeying orders, reduced play time), three components with teammates (e.g., respect), two components with the club (e.g., lack of support), and three components with family/friends (e.g., geographical constraints). Additionally, results indicated that the adaptability skills used during mutation are related to three groups namely mental skills, learning methods, and interpersonal skills. The results provide coaches, players, sports psychologists, and national sport organizations a set of issues for understanding the challenges players encounter when they move from one club to another.

THE ASSIMILATION PROCESS OF PROBLEMATIC EXPERIENCES AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES IN PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR DEPRESSION: COMPARING A RELAPSED AND A NON-RELAPSED CASE

"Over the years, research has demonstrated that psychotherapy is an effective treatment in different psychopathological conditions. However, which are the mechanisms or processes involved in therapeutic change that could explain its efficacy are not yet clear. The Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Model describes change in therapy as a process that occurs through the gradual assimilation of problematic experiences in the self – higher levels of assimilation seem to be associated with a better outcome at the end of therapy. However, little is known about the contribution of this process to the maintenance of therapeutic gains after the end of therapy. In the current study we aimed to explore how the level of assimilation achieved throughout therapy is associated with relapse prevention after treatment. We analyzed two good outcome cases of Emotion-Focused Therapy, previously diagnosed with depression: one case that remained asymptomatic and another that relapsed one year and a half after the end of therapy. The Assimilation of Problematic Experiences (APES) was used to assess the assimilation levels achieved and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was used to assess the intensity of depressive symptoms. Five therapeutic sessions and three follow-up sessions were rated using the APES. The results showed that higher APES levels were associated with lower intensity of symptoms at the end and after therapy termination, being associated with relapse prevention in depression. These results suggest that a complete assimilation of the problematic experiences may help clients to maintain therapeutic gains reducing the probability of relapsing in depression."

A Qualitative Study of Intention and Impact of Ayahuasca Use by Westerners

Ayahuasca has gained the attention of researchers over the past decade as psychedelic-assisted therapy for MDMA and psilocybin have progressed through FDA approved clinical trials. In spite of the increase in research, there are relatively few clinical studies of ayahuasca and little qualitative research on the therapeutic or healing uses of psychedelics in general. The present study included 41 Western participants who were interviewed about their participation in facilitated group ayahuasca experiences (e.g., in shamanic, neoshamanic, spiritual, and religious settings). Participants were interviewed about their intentions for participating, along with the perceived impact of the experiences. In particular, we focused on impacts that participants perceived to be sustained and enduring. We identified an impressive range of beneficial impacts, including improvements in areas that are often a focus of psychotherapy, such as mental health and substance use, health behaviors, interpersonal relationships, sense of self, attitude. Extratherapeutic effects were also observed in areas such as changes in creativity, somatic sensations, physical health/pain, sense of connection to nature, spirituality, and concern for the greater good. Two participants also reported problematic experiences, apparently related to set and setting. Implications for research and practice, along with a humanistic framework for interpreting these findings is provided.

Obstacles in the Process of Dealing With Child Sexual Abuse–Reports From Survivors Interviewed by the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse in Germany

Obstacles in dealing with child sexual abuse (CSA) can hinder survivors in the process of coming to terms with their experiences. The present study aims to identify and analyze factors that may pose obstacles in the long-term process of dealing with CSA. It is part of a larger research consortium “Auf-Wirkung,” funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and was conducted in cooperation with the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Germany (IICSAG). The IICSAG was appointed by the Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues and the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth in 2016. To determine responsibilities, recognize injustice, and further acknowledge the survivors of CSA in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the Independent Inquiry has held 1,303 private sessions with survivors of CSA by Oct. 17th, 2020. The present study focuses on exploring reoccurring problematic experiences reported by survivors in private sessions regarding the long-term process of dealing with experiences of CSA. A total of 30 transcripts of private sessions, conducted by members and appointees of the IICSAG between September 2016 and June 2019, were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Attendants of private sessions described a variety of obstacles, including negative social reactions to disclosure, institutions' unwillingness to elucidate occurrences of CSA within their midst, as well as general financial difficulties, and those linked to redress claims. Manipulative grooming by perpetrators and limited access to adequate psychotherapy were perceived as obstructive by survivors dealing with CSA. In the context of criminal proceedings, survivors reported long durations of court proceedings and negative experiences in connection to credibility assessment. Results will be discussed to better support survivors of CSA in the process of dealing with their experiences in the future.

A Qualitative Study of Intention and Impact of Ayahuasca Use by Westerners

Ayahuasca has gained the attention of researchers over the past decade as psychedelic-assisted therapy for MDMA and psilocybin have progressed through FDA approved clinical trials. In spite of the increase in research, there are relatively few clinical studies of ayahuasca and little qualitative research on the therapeutic or healing uses of psychedelics in general. The present study included 41 Western participants who were interviewed about their participation in facilitated group ayahuasca experiences (e.g. in shamanic, neoshamanic, spiritual, and religious settings). Participants were interviewed about their intentions for participating, along with the perceived impact of the experiences. In particular, we focused on impacts that participants perceived to be sustained and enduring. We identified an impressive range of beneficial impacts, including improvements in areas that are often a focus of psychotherapy, such as mental health and substance use, health behaviors, interpersonal relationships, sense of self, attitude. Extratherapeutic effects were also observed in areas such as changes in creativity, somatic sensations, physical health/pain, sense of connection to nature, spirituality, and concern for the greater good. Two participants also reported problematic experiences, apparently related to set and setting. Implications for research and practice, along with a humanistic framework for interpreting these findings is provided.

WHEN NETWORKS FAIL: ISOLATION AND INDEPENDENCE AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING

In the coming decades, the population of adults over 65 in the US will increase dramatically. Many older adults live at or below the poverty level, and the growing lack of affordable housing combined with fixed incomes promises to increase the number of older adults facing combined housing and health challenges. Despite their vulnerability, little is known about the lived experiences of older adults aging in place in public housing. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 27 older adults at two public housing sites in Austin, Texas to gain an understanding of their thoughts on health, aging, home, community, and problem solving. We conducted interviews in Spanish (n=10) and English (n=17) with 16 female and 11 male interviewees with a mean age of 71.7 years (range 65-85 years). We systematically coded transcribed interviews and used grounded theory to analyze the data. Participants described feeling isolated due to language barriers, cultural perceptions about neighbors, and previous problematic experiences with neighbors leading to intentional isolation for safety. Some, however, spoke of how they acted as community connectors or responded to connectors in the community in ways that reduced their isolation. Participants framed individual problem-solving and personal choices as central to health and wellness. Our findings suggest a way forward for housing authorities, communities, and health systems working together to provide services to these adults. Incorporating their points of view and even co-creating interventions to enhance their health and well-being will make these interventions more successful and welcome.

Pain talk in palliative care: A qualitative analysis

Aim Using the method of Conversation Analysis (CA), this study aims to demonstrate how the palliative care provider uses different types of interactional practices to address patient’s pain concerns. Background The delivery of palliative care services could be facilitated through effective communication. The method of conversation analysis is effective in improving communication skills. Conversation analysis, used in other healthcare settings, also is a useful way to explore the interactional details between palliative care providers and terminally ill patients. Method The data showed in this study are obtained from 2 videotapes of provider-patient interaction in palliative care settings. The videos and the initial transcript of them are collected from the Alexander St website http://ctiv.alexanderstreet.com, an educational resource presenting a large collection of psycho-therapeutic videos. The data is analyzed using the method of conversation analysis. Results In this study, an illustrative analysis is demonstrated to show the potential of conversation analysis for research on pain talk in palliative care. It has been shown that conversation analysis could contribute to unfolding the interactional details regarding “pain talk” in palliative care settings. Specifically, CA could provide a detailed a description and interpretation of the conversational practices used to construct palliative care provider participation in delivering pain talk. In addition, CA could also demonstrate the interactional resources by which patients disclose their experiences of physical and spiritual pain to the palliative care provider and the way how the palliative care provider responds to patient’s problematic experiences. Conclusion This study identifies five types of interactional resources which are used to deal with patient’s pain concerns in palliative care setting. A conversation analytical study of pain talk in palliative care could provide a turn-by-turn description of how the palliative care provider communicates with the terminally ill patient in terms of pain concerns. The findings in this study could inform how the palliative care provider initiates, delivers and develops a pain talk with the terminally ill patient effectively.