Racial Healing in the Church: The Usefulness of the Interpersonal Process in Therapy Model

Racial disunity is a major challenge facing the Christian church. This article examines psychological factors that contribute to and maintain both racial disunity and racial unity through the lens of the Interpersonal Process in Therapy model (Sullivan, 1968; Teyber & Teyber, 2017). It looks at how early interpersonal relationships in childhood influence interpersonal relationships as adults and how the therapeutic relationship as a healing influence can be applied to racial healing as adults. Spiritual factors that contribute to and maintain racial disunity and racial unity are also discussed. Understanding that it is the relationship that heals, specific strategies such as understanding the impact of racism, lament, confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation are presented (Morrison, 2019; Tisby, 2021). The hope is that we will be able to achieve racial healing in the church and that we will understand and realize that we can heal the racial divide in the church and other Christian institutions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Excerpt: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder precipitated by exposure to a traumatic event or a series of events. This event is usually experienced by an individual. However, PTSD can also develop as a result of observing or hearing of a traumatic event occurring in someone else\u27s life (such as a relative or a close friend). PTSD was introduced as a disorder in 1980 in the DSM-III. The DSM-Ill-R\u27s condition for diagnosis was the experiencing of a traumatic event that was outside the range of usual human experience. However, in DSM-IV, the focus is not so much on the nature of the event as it is on the individual\u27s response to the event and his or her vulnerability to developing the characteristic symptoms

Neuropsychological Assessment

Excerpt: Clinical neuropsychology is primarily concerned with how expressions of behavior are affected by brain dysfunction (Lezak, 1995). A neuropsychological assessment consists of a series of systematic clinical diagnostic procedures used to determine the extent of behavioral or cognitive deficits after a person sustains brain injury or damage (see Brain Injuries). It initially involves a clinical interview in which detailed information about the patient\u27s history, premorbid functioning, and factors surrounding the precipitation of the dysfunction or damage are gathered. Often a mental status examination is then performed, in which a brief assessment is made of appearance and behavior, speech and communication processes, thought content, cognitive and memory functions, emotional functioning, insight and judgment, and orientation (Gregory, 1996)

Chapter Four of Overcoming Adversities: Resilience in Rural Southeastern Montana

The current study evaluated the amount of adverse childhood experiences the employees of St. Labre Indian School, St. Charles Mission School, and · Pretty Eagle Catholic School (collectively called St. Labre) experienced, along with their religious functioning, and current levels of resilience. We will examine childhood adversity, spiritual wellbeing, and resilience, in turn, and then will address overall conclusions

The Effect of Congruent Religious Orientations and Problem Solving Styles on Marital Satisfaction in Religious Couples

This study explores the effect of congruent religious orientations, religious problem-solving styles, and marital stress on the marital satisfaction of religious couples. Based on social exchange theory, couples who were congruent in their religious orientation were expected to evince higher marital satisfaction when compared with couples who endorsed incongruent religious orientations. Moreover, this congruent orientation was expected to mediate marital stress. Congruent styles of religious problem-solving were also predicted to mediate marital stress. More specifically, couples who employed a collaborative approach to religious problemsolving were expected to demonstrate higher marital satisfaction than couples who employed other styles of religious problem-solving. Results confirmed that marital stress was inversely related to marital satisfaction. Intrinsic religious orientation and religious problem solving styles also predicted marital satisfaction for husbands and wives, even after controlling for social desirability. The results provided some support for the hypotheses

Healing Thyself: What Barriers Do Psychologists Face When Considering Personal Psychotherapy and How Can They Be Overcome?

Most mental health professionals seek personal psychotherapy at least once in their careers (Phillips, 2011), and at a much higher rate than the general population (Norcross & Guy, 2005). While one-fourth of the general adult population has received mental health services, three-fourths of mental health professionals have done so (Bike, Norcross, & Schatz, 2009; Norcross & Guy, 2005). A wealth of studies have explored why psychologists have sought personal psychotherapy — often for the same reason that the rest of the world seeks therapy, such as coping with loss, dealing with depression or anxiety, or struggling with a personal crisis. However, more research is needed about the potential barriers that psychologists may experience when considering such treatment. In this article, we discuss the research exploring why psychologists may benefit from psychotherapy and report on the findings of our own national survey, which explored independent practitioners\u27 perceived barriers to psychological care

Ethics and Multicultural Contexts: Understandings and Applications

This article focuses on the interaction of ethics with multicultural understandings of people and practice. We explore the place of biblical narratives, and their usefulness and application to understanding diversity and our work in multicultural contexts. Biblical stories suggest that diversity reflects an enduring aspect of God\u27s kingdom, the continued presence of sin, and an arena for divine intervention and restoration. We also examine some of the ethical dilemmas that arise when applying ethical codes to clinical work with people from multicultural backgrounds. These include multiple relationships, informed consent, self-disclosure, and worldview perspectives. We use case examples to illustrate some of the dilemmas and propose changes that need to be made to bring resolution to the dilemmas. We hope that readers will better understand how ethics can be applied to om work both multiculturally and cross-culturally

Exploring Resilience: Strengths of Trafficking Survivors in Cambodia

Western literature provides an array of information regarding resilience within at-risk youth. Resilience research within non-Western contexts, and more specifically with exploited youth, is more limited. Despite exploitation, some youth develop a hardy ability to overcome adversity, allowing them more mastery over their environments and even increased psychological steadfastness. This project involved exploring the protective factors of resilience and psychological functioning in Cambodian youth, specifically a group of 24 survivors of sexual trafficking and another group of 24 rural youth without reported exploitation. The ages of participants ranged from J 3 to 22 years, with the average age being 15.62 years [standard deviation (SD=2.68)]. Results indicated resilience constructs (mastery and relatedness) correlated with psychological functioning (anxiety and depression), as expected. The sense of relatedness was moderately associated with age. Also, as predicted, the trafficked young women demonstrated more resilience and less pathology. Consistent with previous research, earlier trauma is believed to inoculate survivors of trauma against further stress, mobilize them to better confront adversity and reduce psychological disruptions. Understanding these issues can help in understanding the relationship between resilience factors and psychological functioning as well as the strengths of many trauma survivors. Their strengths are particularly useful for developing effective treatment protocols for traumatized youth from non-Western backgrounds