Becoming Job-Ready? Narratives of Local Welfare-to-Work Programs and Client Experiences Across Differing Economic Contexts in California

Previous research on welfare-to-work exits has focused on individual client characteristics rather than local economic contexts. Drawing on a qualitative comparative case study design, this study enhances our understanding on how welfare-to-work organizational narratives and client experiences of becoming job-ready are shaped across two different economic contexts. In the disadvantaged economic context, a punitive welfare-to-work narrative is operational resulting in clients accepting precarious work. In the more privileged economic context, the individual responsibility narrative dominates as clients struggle to make ends meet. Our findings highlight how regional economic factors shape organizational narratives and impel clients to accept precarious low wage working conditions and unstable housing. Thus, there is a need for alternatives to welfare-to-work, such as unconditional, Universal Basic Income.

The Value of Nature During Psychotherapy: A Qualitative Study of Client Experiences

Nature is considered to have restorative qualities that can potentially improve psychotherapy success. However, little is known about how clients experience nature during psychotherapy. The research aim of this phenomenological qualitative study was to study how clients experience nature during individual outpatient psychotherapy that took place while walking in nature. More specifically we were interested in clients’ inner world experiences. All participants (N = 12) received treatment through licensed therapists for a DSM-5 classified disorder. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. To uncover true lived experiences during these interviews, participants were asked to close their eyes and envision themselves during a psychotherapy session in nature. The verbatim transcripts were coded by means of inductive thematic analysis and the results were member checked. Results showed that nature brings clients closer to their inner worlds. How nature brings this about is unfolded in a conceptual model of lived experience. We argue that psychotherapy can be enriched by considering nature as a supportive environment because bringing clients closer to their inner worlds is of essential value in facilitating successful treatment interventions.

PHYRON: cognitive computing for the creation of an innovative Intelligence Experience Center

<p>This research presents the results of a project called “PHYRON: Cognitive Computing for the creation of an innovative Intelligence Experience Center”, funded by the Basque Government (Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment Department). The project started in April 2019 and it will end in December 2021. Its main objective was to arrange an industrial research about cognitive computing. The main aim was the application of these systems for the development of an Intelligent Experience Center (IExC) to facilitate: i) enrichment of processes, products and services, in general client experiences, ii) automatic generation of technical predictions related to the product and the client behaviour through the exploitation of acquired knowledge, and iii) rationalization and automation of the processes that are involved in the after sale services both at technical and management level. The technological outcome presented in this paper is built using cognitive engines to enable learning from the client experience, and predictive models to anticipate client necessities.</p>

An Exploration of Client Experiences in a Combination of Individual and Family Counseling

Researchers explored client meaningful experiences in a combination of individual and family counseling in this constructivist phenomenological study. The sample consisted of seven participants (three families) who ranged in age from 10 to 51. Participant racial/ethnic identities included two White, two biracial, and two Black. Participant gender identities included five females and two males. Two interviews per client family (one interview following an individual counseling session and another following a family counseling session) revealed the following themes: (a) understanding self and others, with subthemes gaining understanding and acceptance of self, better understanding of each other and how to be with each other, and learning coping skills; (b) setting and working toward goals; (c) processing issues in session, with subthemes counseling is not always what we want, but is maybe what we need, and tension of family versus individual counseling; (d) the counselor; and (e) play.

Integrated treatment of dual disorders in The Netherlands: a qualitative study of client experiences

Purpose Many clients who suffer from severe mental health problems also struggle with alcohol and drug use. And although there seems to be a consensus in most European countries that integrated treatment models (especially the integrated treatment of dual disorder clients model) are best fitted to help these clients, none of these have strong evidence, mostly owing to methodological limitations in the studies. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of why integrated treatment is helpful by conducting in-depth interviews with dual disorder clients who are currently receiving integrated treatment. Design/methodology/approach This study is a qualitative thematic analysis using a timeline tool to elicit participants’ responses. In the interviews, dual diagnosis clients with severe problems reflected on their situation at admission, the care they received in integrated treatment and their opinions on positive and negative elements. The interviews were coded and analysed with MAXQDA. Findings In the analyses of the interviews, this study found three clusters of elements that clients indicated were the most helpful during their treatment and recovery process: trusting and meaningful relationship with the team, components of integrated treatment and organisation of care. Originality/value The findings emphasized the importance of working relationship in the treatment of complex and long-term problems. This has implications for the evaluation of these integrated treatment models which so far mainly focuses on specific interventions.