The Soul of Therapy: The Therapist’s Use of Self in the Therapeutic Relationship

This paper is based on the premises that the conscious, active and purposeful use of self by the therapist in the therapeutic process is an essential aptitude in establishing an effective therapeutic relationship, and that this therapeutically purposeful use of self can and should be incorporated in the training of all therapists in a explicitly systematic manner. The paper will attempt to identify the contributions of the “what and how” the use of self by therapists contributes to the therapeutic process. First of all, therapists’ use of self is meant to be viewed as a Common Factor as defined by Sprenkle, Davis & Lebow (2009), which is a perspective about the effectiveness of therapy that “asserts that the qualities and capabilities of the person offering the treatment are more important than the treatment itself” (p. 4). Secondly, the use of self by therapists emphasizes developing the skill set of the therapist in the conscious, active and purposeful use of self as is in the moment of the therapeutic engagement with clients, and does so without denying the importance of therapists working to resolve personal issues of theirs that may interfere with the therapist's professional effectiveness. Therapists’ use of self gives particular emphasis to the purposeful use of self as is in therapy’s relationship, assessment and interventions whatever the therapy model (Aponte & Kissil, 2016). Thirdly, the use of self represents an aptitude that can be developed and refined through well elaborated structures for schooling therapists in the therapeutic use of all they bring of their personal selves to the therapy relationship including through the use of their human vulnerabilities as they exist at the moment of empathic engagement with clients.

Comparing Interpersonal Defense Theory and Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy and Their Views of Sharon’s Case

This paper compares the approaches to Sharon’s case presented in two articles that appear earlier in this module, my paper (Westerman, 2021a), which was based on Interpersonal Defense Theory, and the paper by Critchfield, Dobner-Pereira, and Stucker (2021a), which was based on Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT). I begin by considering differences in general between the ways in which these two perspectives approach case formulation. I then turn to comparing the formulations of Sharon’s case based on the two perspectives. Among other things, this part of the paper contrasts IRT’s focus on copy processes and the Gift of Love with Interpersonal Defense Theory’s focus on functionalist processes that involve the temporal organization of the parts of noncoordinating defensive interpersonal patterns. The second half of the paper compares the treatment implications of the two approaches in general terms and as they relate to Sharon’s case in particular. Implications for treatment are discussed regarding both insight-oriented interventions and enacted interventions at the level of therapy relationship processes.

Air bronchogram integrated lung ultrasound score to monitor community-acquired pneumonia in a pilot pediatric population

Aims Chest ultrasound is a non-invasive method for evaluating children with suspected community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We evaluated the prognostic role of change of ultrasonographic (US) air bronchogram in management of CAP in terms of: rate of complicated CAP, change of empiric antibiotic therapy, relationship to defervescence time, and length of hospitalization. Methods Patients with CAP and radiographic evidence of lung consolidation were prospectively enrolled. Chest US examinations were performed within 12 h from admission and after 48 h. A new grading system (USINCHILD score) based on presence and features of air bronchogram was adopted. Results Thirty six patients were stratified into two groups according to the presence of an increase of at least 1 grade of US score (Δ US grade), expression of an improvement of lung consolidation. Δ US grade after 48 h ≥ 1 was associated with an increased risk of complicated CAP (p value 0.027) and a longer defervescence time (p value 0.036). Moreover, Δ US grade ≥ 1 was predictive of a short hospitalization (p value 0.008). Conclusions USINCHILD score could be an innovative biotechnology tool for the management of pediatric CAP. Trial registration number and date of registration NCT03556488, June 14, 2018. Graphic abstract

BT-09 Anhidrosis in neurohypophyseal germinoma treated with CBDCA and VP-16

Introduction: Acquired generalized anhidrosis (AGA) is the disease with non-congenital, non-segmented diffuse sweating dysfunction and is associated with neurological signs and dysautonomia except for anhidrosis. Here we have experienced 2 cases of AGA in the patient with neurohypophyseal germinoma after carboplatin (CBDCA) plus etoposide (VP-16) (CARE) therapy. Relationship of AGA to neurohypophyseal germinomas and their treatment is discussed. Cases: We experienced two young (26 y/o and 27 y/o) female neurohypophyseal germinoma cases of anhidrosis. They received CARE as chemotherapy and whole ventricular irradiation. They showed heat retention 2 to 3 years after initial treatment without recurred germinoma. Because acetylcholine sweating test was negative and skin biopsy revealed normal sweat gland structure, the diagnosis of acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA), idiopathic pure sudomotor failure subtype, was initially made. After steroid pulse therapy, sweat function recovered partially and completely. Discussion: AIGA and germinoma are both rare diseases. So, the present 2 cases have similar clinical settings, that anhidrosis may not be idiopathic but secondary. Affected responsible site of anhidrosis in the present cases is thought to be acetylcholine receptor in the sweat cells. The present cases did not have any known disease with anhidrosis and did not receive any medication which cause anhidrosis written in the statement of the virtues of a medicine. Commonly used drugs in both cases are infusion solutions, CARE and related drugs, hormone stimulating test agents. Recently anhidrosis is reported in a case of cancer of unknown primary tumor site after using CBDCA and PTX. Both of the present cases are used CBDCA, which may cause anhidrosis. Conclusion: CBDCA may attributed to the occurrence of AGA based on hypothalamic vulnerability.

Association between the use of inhaled corticosteroids and pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: A systematic review

: The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease has increased in recent years. It seems that patients with structural lung diseases treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are at risk of pulmonary NTM infection. This systematic review investigated the articles focused on the association between the use of ICS and pulmonary NTM infection. The current study assessed four categories, namely the association between the use of ICS therapy and NTM infections, bacterial factors involved in the incidence of NTM infection in patients undergoing ICS therapy, relationship between dosage and long-term use of ICS therapy in the incidence of NTM infection, and main risk factors of the incidence of NTM infection in patients undergoing ICS therapy. Based on the obtained results of the present study, there was an association between the use of ICS therapy and NTM infections. It seems that ICS increases the risk of NTM infection by 1.8 to 8 times. Accordingly, 40-90% of patients with NTM had a history of ICS usage. Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common bacterial factor in NTM patients undergoing ICS therapy. The relationship between a higher dosage of ICS therapy and increased risk of NTM was confirmed in the majority of the studies. Age, gender, smoking history, and underlying diseases are the main risk factors for the incidence of NTM in patients receiving ICS therapy.

Empathy, Honesty, and Integrity in the Therapist

Empathy, honesty, and integrity are essential concepts to ensure the quality of the therapy relationship and the client’s trust in the therapist. This chapter situates these concepts in relation to the necessary and sufficient conditions for therapy proposed by Carl Rogers in the late 1950s, and particularly in relation to the therapist attitudes of empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. In person-centered therapy (PCT), empathy is a moral, not instrumental, practice that nondirectively protects the self-determination of the client. It exemplifies power with others, avoiding power over others, and facilitating power from within, by providing a conduit for non-possessive love, the active ingredient in PCT. Honesty in PCT involves the sincerity of the therapist’s unconditional empathy and the transparence to be a full person in relation to a client. Integrity refers not only to the disciplined moral practice of empathy, but an extensional, fully functioning maturation.