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

The Benefits of a Grief and Loss Program With a Unique Technological Intervention

The grief process, difficult for anyone, is especially challenging for children and adolescents because they integrate loss differently from adults both in terms of cognition and emotion (Webb, 2011). Studies have found that bereaved children and adolescents are at high risk for depressive symptoms, anxiety, somatic complaints, and academic difficulties, compared with children and youth who are not grieving (Cohen & Mannarino, 2004; Dowdney, 2000). It is therefore important to provide effective intervention. While researchers have found age-appropriate and developmentally relevant strategies that help children and adolescents navigate the grief process (Rosner, Kruse, & Hagl, 2010; Sandler et al., 2010), additional data-based studies to explore optimal therapeutic services for these youth can provide new choices. This chapter contains a review of existing developmentally based models used to conceptualize children\u27s grief processes and a discussion of empirical studies concerning child and adolescent adaptation to loss, with a special focus on our recent study of a novel technological intervention. The chapter also includes a discussion of directions for future work

Barriers to Psychologists Seeking Mental Health Care

Professional psychologists provide help to people in need, but how freely do psychologists seek psychotherapy themselves when facing personal challenges and struggles? What obstacles make it difficult for professional psychologists to seek psychotherapy? A survey of 260 professional psychologists (52% response rate) was conducted to investigate the frequency of various stressors impacting professional psychologists and the barriers they experience in seeking mental health services. Though none of the stressors were rated with particularly high frequencies, burnout was identified as the most frequent problem. Difficulty finding a psychotherapist and a lack of time were identified as the greatest obstacles to seeking psychotherapy. Practice and training implications are discussed as well as future research directions

Just What Is Christian Counseling Anyway?

Professional psychologists may be asked about Christian counseling services and wonder how to best respond. Given the diversity of methods and worldviews that might be considered Christian counseling, it is important for psychologists to understand some of the major approaches used. Biblical counseling, pastoral counseling, Christian psychology, Christian ministry, and other approaches are described briefly, and in each case implications for professional psychologists are offered. Collaborative efforts are likely to be productive when interacting with certified pastoral counselors and Christian psychologists, and ministry approaches may provide supplemental resources for psychotherapy with Christian clients. Ethical issues are considered, and a 5-step model for responding to questions about Christian counseling is offered

The effect of carbon and nutrient loading during nursery culture on the growth of black spruce seedlings: a six-year field study

Abstract We tested the effects of exponential nutrient loading and springtime carbon loading during nursery culture on the field performance of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.). Seedlings were grown from seed with a conventional, fixed dose fertilizer (10 mg N seedling À1 ) or an exponential nutrient loading regime (75 mg N seedling À1 ). The following spring, seedlings were exposed for two weeks to either ambient (370 ppm) or elevated levels of CO 2 (800 ppm) and then planted in the field; seedling growth was followed for the next six years. Exponential nutrient loading increased seedling height, stem diameter and leader growth, with the largest increases in height and leader length occurring in the first three years after outplanting. Carbon loading increased seedling height and leader length, but only in seedlings that had been exponentially nutrient loaded. A combination of carbon and nutrient loading increased shoot height 26%, stem diameter 37% and leader length 40% over trees that received neither treatment. These results demonstrate that the growth enhancement seen under exponential nutrient loading is maintained under field conditions for at least six years. Carbon loading just before outplanting was a useful supplement to nutrient loading, but was ineffective in the absence of nutrient loading

Spiritual Formation among Doctoral Psychology Students in Explicitly Christian Programs

How does training in an explicitly Christian doctoral program in clinical psychology affect students\u27 faith development? Two studies are reported that consider students\u27 locus of control, spiritual perceptions, and religious behaviors over the course of training. The first study involved 157 students from 5 doctoral programs who completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of an academic year. A number of changes were reported from the beginning to the end of the year, including increased internal locus of control, decreased awareness of God. decreased church attendance, and decreased ratings on the importance of religion. A number of differences between cohorts were also observed, with flrst-year students affirming more spiritual attributions, religious problem-solving, and religious behaviors than students in other cohorts. The second study included 140 first- and second-year students from 4 doctoral programs. Changes were reported over the academic year, including increased disappointment with God and fatigue, and decreased church attendance, personal prayer, and importance of religion. No differences between first and second-year students were observed. Various possible explanations are offered for these findings, including eroding of faith, enhanced self-efficacy, rearraging faith, and fatigue

Decreased serum cell-free DNA levels in rheumatoid arthritis

Purpose: Recent studies have demonstrated that serum/plasma DNA and RNA molecules in addition to proteins can serve as biomarkers. Elevated levels of these nucleic acids have been found not only in acute, but also in chronic conditions, including autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to assess cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels in sera of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to controls. Methods: cfDNA was extracted from sera of patients with early and established RA, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients (RRMS) and healthy subjects, and its concentration was determined by quantitative PCR using two amplicons, Alu115 and β-actin205, corresponding to Alu repetitive elements and the β-actin single-copy gene, respectively. Serum DNase activity was measured by a single radial enzyme diffusion method. Results: Reduced levels of cfDNA were observed in patients with establi

2016 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of early arthritis

Objectives: Since the 2007 recommendations for the management of early arthritis have been presented, considerable research has been published in the field of early arthritis, mandating an update of the 2007 EULAR recommendations for management of early arthritis. Methods: In accordance with the 2014 EULAR Standardised Operating Procedures, the expert committee pursued an approach that was based on evidence in the literature and on expert opinion. The committee involved 20 rheumatologists, 2 patients and 1 health professional representing 12 European countries. The group defined the focus of the expert committee and target population, formulated a definition of “management” and selected the research questions. A systematic literature research (SLR) was performed by 2 fellows with the help of a skilled librarian. A set of draft recommendations was proposed on the basis of the research questions and the results of the SLR. For each recommendation the categories of evidence were identified, the strength of recommendations was derived and the level of agreement was determined through a voting process. Results: The updated recommendations comprise 3 overarching principles and 12 recommendations for managing early arthritis. The selected statements involve the recognition of arthritis, referral, diagnosis, prognostication, treatment (information, education, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions), monitoring and strategy. Eighteen items were identified as relevant for future research. Conclusion: These recommendations provide rheumatologists, general practitioners, health professionals, patients and other stakeholders with an updated EULAR consensus on the entire management of early arthritis