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Recovering From Abuse: A Comparison of Three Paths

Steven L. Baumann

The article compares and contrasts three approaches that Nurses may implement in assisting patients who are recovering from abuse.  The article compares some of the philosophical underpinnings of a traditional psychiatric model, a spiritually based model, and a human becoming model.

1. Describe briefly the three philosophical approaches noted in this article, the traditional psychiatric model, the spiritually based model, and the human becoming model.  What are their similarities and their differences?
2. Based upon your knowledge of counseling theories, can you identify counseling theories that align with each of these philosophical approaches to human change?
3. When comparing counseling theories, what criteria do you find valuable in assessing the effectiveness and applicability of a theory to a counseling client and presented concern?

Short-Term, Linear Approaches To Psychotherapy: What We Now Know

David N. Elkins

The article summarizes a recent meta-analysis that challenges the effectiveness of short term, linear approaches to psychotherapy.  The author suggests that these approaches be embedded in broader, more complex theoretical framework, such as humanistic-existential therapy.

1. Describe the main points of the article that support that short-term, linear approaches to psychotherapy do not fully address a client’s emotional pain or the context of that pain. 
2. What is your reaction to the author’s description of the client’s presenting problem as a “surface problem”?  In your opinion, what counseling theories most effectively explore beneath the “surface problem”?
3. Near the conclusion of the article, the author puts forth several recommendations for emerging professionals and students in counseling and psychotherapy.  How can you incorporate these recommendations into your own training program and experiences?  Are there any missing areas within these recommendations that you would add?