The adaptation of cognitive behavioural therapy for adult Maori clients with depression: A pilot study

A semistructured cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for depression was adapted for use with Maori adult clients with depression. Adaptations were developed in consultation with an advisory group consisting of Maori clinical psychologists and kaumatua with experience working in mental health services. The programme was piloted with 2 participants who were clients of a Maori mental health service. The programme builds on a more traditional CBT treatment programme by integrating concepts such as whakatauki, whanaungatanga, whanau involvement, and whakapapa into the therapeutic context. Despite limitations the results demonstrate considerable promise. Depressive symptoms increased substantially in both cases and both clients reflected positively on the adaptations incorporated into therapy

Adolescent stress: a multi-ethnic Asian perspective

The purpose of this study was to examine gender and ethnic differences in adolescent stress in a non–Western context; multi-ethnic Malaysia. A Malay language version of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire was administered to 300 adolescents aged from 13 to 17 years (Mean = 14.4 years). There were no statistically significant differences between genders or the three ethnic groups (Chinese, Indian, and Malay) across the 10 subscales. There was a significant gender x ethnicity interaction for the school performance subscale with Indian boys reporting significantly higher stress. Gender and ethnic differences were evident at the item level with boys reporting higher stress than girls on 12% of the items. For 27 (47%) of the items on the scale the most frequent response was not at all stressful (or irrelevant to me). Discussion highlights the importance of further research on adolescent stress in the Asian context and acknowledges that Western cultural understandings of stress are not necessarily or inevitably the same as that found in Asian cultures

Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study

A41 Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study In: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 2017, 12(Suppl 1): A4

Rehabilitation Professionals and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

The rehabilitation professional is expected to be proficient in a wide range of skills and knowledgeable across several dimensions, not the least of which are the conceptual models and in many cases the processes of counselling itself (Biggs & Flett, 1995). There are many theoretical and practical models of counselling available, but I seek today to present a critical discussion of a relative new-comer to the realm of psychotherapeutics, Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT). It is not the purpose of this discourse to convince you that SFBT is the ‘way to go’ but rather to provide you with knowledge of a potentially useful tool that may be applied in everyday practice. To this end I will cover as best I can in the time allowed, the theoretical underpinnings of the ‘solution-focus’, the phenomenon of brief therapy, the techniques, effectiveness and limitations of SFBT, finally a consideration of the role of such an approach in rehabilitation settings

Perspectives on vocational rehabilitation: A New Zealand analysis

Although both geographically isolated and lightly populated, New Zealand provides its citizens with vocational rehabilitation services of internationally quality. Recent restructuring of public agencies have enabled service funders and service providers to be clearly delineated toward more appropriate and effective outcomes for consumers of rehabilitation and disability services. A number of structural and organizational issues arc discussed and a description of some typical services provided. Ongoing consultations and appropriately targeted and funded research are suggested as important future strategies to maintain quality services in New Zealand