Addressing the social problems associated with trauma and mental health amongst African Americans in urban environments, this book uses an African-centered lens to critique the most common practice models and interventions currently employed by social workers in the field. Divided into four parts and grounded in traditional African cultural values, it argues that basic key values in a new clinical model for mental health diagnosis are: A spiritual component Collective/group approach Focus on wholeness Oneness with Nature Emphasis on truth, justice, balance, harmony, reciprocity, righteousness, and order Being free from racism, sexism, classism, and other forms of oppression, this African-centered approach is crucial for working with people of African origin who experience daily "trauma" through adverse living conditions. This book will be key reading on any practice and direct service course at both BSW and MSW level and will be a useful supplement on clinical courses as well as those aimed at working with diverse populations and those living in urban environments.

Addressing the social problems associated with trauma and mental health amongst African Americans in urban environments, this book uses an African-centered lens to critique the most common practice models and interventions currently employed by social workers in the field. Divided into four parts and grounded in traditional African cultural values, it argues that basic key values in a new clinical model for mental health diagnosis are: A spiritual component Collective/group approach Focus on wholeness Oneness with Nature Emphasis on truth, justice, balance, harmony, reciprocity, righteousness, and order Being free from racism, sexism, classism, and other forms of oppression, this African-centered approach is crucial for working with people of African origin who experience daily "trauma" through adverse living conditions. This book will be key reading on any practice and direct service course at both BSW and MSW level and will be a useful supplement on clinical courses as well as those aimed at working with diverse populations and those living in urban environments.

This is the definitive practical introduction to a skills-based approach in existential therapy. Accessible for those without a philosophical background, it describes the concrete and tangible skills, tasks and interactions of existential practice. It covers the theoretical background and history of existential therapy, along with taking a phenomenological approach to practice and individual clients. This second edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect recent thinking, and expanded to include: * A new chapter on the applications of existential therapy in wider contexts, such as supervision and coaching. * A new chapter covering professional issues and challenges, such as working in the NHS, engaging with research and the use of the Internet in existential therapy. * A companion website which includes video content, featuring the authors explaining each chapter's underpinning theory, and demonstrating the principles in practice. A much needed resource for trainees as well as experienced practitioners keen to expand their knowledge, the authors make the existential approach accessible to all those who wish to find out what it has to offer.

This book examines the 'therapeutic use of self', and the intertwining of the therapist's professional self and their personal self. Combining practical illustrations and case studies with theory and research, the book explores a number of questions, such as: * What are our personal values and attitudes and how do these manifest in our work with clients? * How do we interact with and impact others, and in what ways might this help or hinder our therapeutic work? * What might we represent to the client as a result of our particular social background, and how might this impact on the power dynamics within client relationships? Learning features include Practical Applications, Research boxes, Case Examples, Critical Reflections, Discussion Questions and Further Reading. This is a must-read for any students studying professional practice, counselling process, ethics, skills, working online/remotely, the therapeutic relationship, and more.

This book combines the research on spiritual ministering with the practice of counseling families. It examines such topics as how to prepare for marriage, how to keep a marriage divorce proof, and how parents influence children, and vice versa. In its quest to discover what makes families thrive, the book addresses and compares best parenting practices and describes interventions that help the development of family ties over a large span of the life-course. It offers guidance to families through several stages of family life: Pre-marital, marital, and raising children and adolescents. It makes clear that what constitutes an effective parent changes over the life course.

Written by an experienced psychotherapist, this book provides professionals in the fields of health and wellbeing with a guide to human relationships with food, and their impact on mental health. Acknowledging how food choices profoundly effect a person's experience in the world, Gerrie Hughes offers knowledge and support around how to understand and negotiate the relationship between food and mind. Chapters offers facts, information and theories on key topics such as self-image, 'good' nutrition, sustainability and rituals. Each chapter uses vignettes, case studies and reflective activities to stimulate thought about the reader's own assumptions and experience and offer approaches to how they might use their expertise with the people with whom they work. Providing an accessible and easy to read guide into the role food plays in our lives, this book will be of interest to a range of healthcare practitioners, including mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists, and counsellors.

Written by an experienced psychotherapist, this book provides professionals in the fields of health and wellbeing with a guide to human relationships with food, and their impact on mental health. Acknowledging how food choices profoundly effect a person's experience in the world, Gerrie Hughes offers knowledge and support around how to understand and negotiate the relationship between food and mind. Chapters offers facts, information and theories on key topics such as self-image, 'good' nutrition, sustainability and rituals. Each chapter uses vignettes, case studies and reflective activities to stimulate thought about the reader's own assumptions and experience and offer approaches to how they might use their expertise with the people with whom they work. Providing an accessible and easy to read guide into the role food plays in our lives, this book will be of interest to a range of healthcare practitioners, including mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychotherapists, and counsellors.

The Embodied Brain and Sandtray Therapy invites readers to absorb the magic and mystery of sandtray therapy through a collection of stories. Woven throughout these pages is the neurobiological foundation for the healing and transformation that takes place during deep encounters with sand, water, and symbolic images. Such scientific grounding provides the basis for clinicians to understand how sandtray therapy supports their healing work. In addition to client stories, the authors have also bravely shared their personal experiences, both challenging and rewarding, of being sandtray therapists. Clinicians who are considering becoming sandtray therapists are given an inside peek into the learning journey and its many benefits. Those who are already practicing sandtray therapy will find this book both supportive and affirming.

The Embodied Brain and Sandtray Therapy invites readers to absorb the magic and mystery of sandtray therapy through a collection of stories. Woven throughout these pages is the neurobiological foundation for the healing and transformation that takes place during deep encounters with sand, water, and symbolic images. Such scientific grounding provides the basis for clinicians to understand how sandtray therapy supports their healing work. In addition to client stories, the authors have also bravely shared their personal experiences, both challenging and rewarding, of being sandtray therapists. Clinicians who are considering becoming sandtray therapists are given an inside peek into the learning journey and its many benefits. Those who are already practicing sandtray therapy will find this book both supportive and affirming.

This innovative volume examines the phenomenological, existential and cultural dimensions of grief experiences. It draws on perspectives from philosophy, psychology and sociocultural studies to focus on the experiential dimension of grief, moving beyond understanding from a purely mental health and psychiatry perspective. The book considers individual, shared and collective experiences of loss. Chapters explore the intersections between the profound existential experiences of bereavement and how this is mediated by sociocultural norms and practices. It points to new directions for the future conceptualization and study of grief, particularly in the experiential dimension. Drawing on a range of interdisciplinary perspectives, this important book will appeal to academics, researchers and students in the fields of death and bereavement studies, wellbeing and mental health, philosophy and phenomenological studies.

Captures a snapshot of current international arts therapies practice, from Australasia, South East Asia, United Kingdom and the US. Demonstrates the benefits of arts therapies for clients who have experienced trauma, as well as those with acquired neurological conditions, atypical neurological development, anxiety and depression. Links to neurological research, particularly with trauma, acquired neurological disorders, and non-typical neurological development. An essential resource for practicing arts therapists, as well as students and educators in postgraduate arts therapy courses.

Captures a snapshot of current international arts therapies practice, from Australasia, South East Asia, United Kingdom and the US. Demonstrates the benefits of arts therapies for clients who have experienced trauma, as well as those with acquired neurological conditions, atypical neurological development, anxiety and depression. Links to neurological research, particularly with trauma, acquired neurological disorders, and non-typical neurological development. An essential resource for practicing arts therapists, as well as students and educators in postgraduate arts therapy courses.

Drawing on interviews conducted with Black couples in the United States, this book explores relational resilience and identifies unique adaptation strategies that enable couples to overcome the multigenerational effects of violence and sexual mass trauma from slavery and activates compassionate love in flourishing relationships. By applying Appreciative Inquiry (AI) methodology and family systems theory, the book captures the spiritual, emotional, and sexual dimensions in Black couple systems that gives meaning to their resilient relationships in the context of contemporary America. Within the framework of compassionate love, the book highlights the need for researchers and clinicians to include the broader cultural contexts in their sexual trauma-informed studies and interventions. Using genetic studies and empirical evidence, the volume contributes significantly to discussion around Black relationships and historical trauma and to the broader challenges within race relations in the United States. This book will benefit researchers, academicians, and clinicians with an interest in sexual trauma, marriage, and family therapy, and couples counseling more broadly. Readers will also find this book useful when designing research in Black studies, intergenerational issues, or sexual intimacy.

Includes of telehealth specific to the use of digital tools in therapy Shows readers how to use digital tools can be used in therapy both from a theoretical and foundational perspective as well as from a functional and practical perspective This book is comprehensive: it covers theory, hardware, software, global issues, and specific uses - during COVID and beyond.

Originally published in 1974 Intimacy and Ritual is a sympathetic study of spiritualist activities and their relation to the practitioners' secular lives. The book, in particular, looks at the therapeutic function of spiritualism. Based on the author's fieldwork as a 'participant observer' among spiritualists in a South Wales town, the research covers spiritualists services and meetings as well as interviews with spiritualists in their own homes. The book gives an accurate account of spiritualist doctrines and beliefs about the spirit world. The book postulates that spirit possession always relates to illness and shows how this is often the physical counterpart of social malaise. Throughout the study, spiritualism is seen in terms of the coping techniques and the rewards which it offers its members. The book shows that spiritualism is more highly regarded as a problem-solving source than the formal care-giving organizations, such as psychiatrist hospitals and the social work agencies. Healing activities are interpreted as a symbolic enactment of male and female roles ideally conceived, and spiritualist messages offer symbols and explanations of illness and misfortune.

This book provides a vivid insight into working with a client who is a survivor of child sexual abuse. Using dialogue, it traces the counselling relationship between three fictitious characters: the client (Jennifer), her counsellor (Laura) and Laura’s supervisor (Malcolm).

It illustrates the person-centred approach and relates it to how memories can surface and the impact this can have on the client and the counsellor. It provides deep insight into the counselling relationship and the counsellor’s use of supervision, highlighting discussion points throughout to aid in training and reflection.

It is essential reading for all who work with people who have suffered sexual abuse in childhood.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders in Young People is a state-of-the-art guide for parents based on enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E), one of the most effective treatments for eating disorders and recently adapted for adolescents. Part I presents the most current facts on eating disorders. Part II provides parents with guidance on how to support their child's recovery. The book will be of interest to parents of teenagers with eating disorders treated with CBT-E and also for clinicians using CBT-E with young patients.

* Offers strategies for individuals and relationships of diverse ethno-racial cultural backgrounds. * Provides innovative tools which consider the impacts of acculturation, minority status, intersectionality and minority stress on sexual health and dysfunction. * Helps clinicians to broaden their awareness and build their professional capacity. * Chapters include key terms, critical questions for the reader, case studies, and suggested further reading. * It is the very first of its kind and will be a significant contribution to sex therapy, marriage and family therapy, and couples counselling.

* Provides detailed guidance on how to implement trauma-responsive educational practices for use with justice-impacted persons in a classroom setting * Meets the growing need for trauma-informed teaching skills that results from expanded offerings of post-secondary courses to correctional populations * Offers lessons gleaned from decades of experience by a master educator who has taught a spectrum of learners with high trauma burdens

* Brings to light the many and varied experiences of facilitating play therapy with groups of children across challenging environments, multiple settings, and treatment populations * The book has three main sections - o Specific types of contemporary play therapy used in groups (such as Legoplay (TM), Animal Assisted Play Therapy, Social Skills Training, etc.) o Specific Settings where group play therapy is being implemented (online/digital format, school, hospitals, clinics, and residential treatment centers) o Special populations (military families, crisis intervention, sexual abuse, children of divorce, post-adoption, and utilizing body work in treating trauma) * Beneficial to students who are new to play therapy or professionals who have been working in the field and are interested in exploring different perspectives and experiences of facilitating group therapy using play therapy across a variety of settings, populations, and treatment models

* Brings to light the many and varied experiences of facilitating play therapy with groups of children across challenging environments, multiple settings, and treatment populations * The book has three main sections - o Specific types of contemporary play therapy used in groups (such as Legoplay (TM), Animal Assisted Play Therapy, Social Skills Training, etc.) o Specific Settings where group play therapy is being implemented (online/digital format, school, hospitals, clinics, and residential treatment centers) o Special populations (military families, crisis intervention, sexual abuse, children of divorce, post-adoption, and utilizing body work in treating trauma) * Beneficial to students who are new to play therapy or professionals who have been working in the field and are interested in exploring different perspectives and experiences of facilitating group therapy using play therapy across a variety of settings, populations, and treatment models

Understanding Your 7 Emotions explains how emotions help us to respond to the world around us and are fundamental to our existence. The book provides a detailed understanding of the main human emotions - fear, sadness, anger, disgust, guilt, shame and happiness - showing how to live with them and how to resolve problems with them. Each of the seven chapters also includes an 'emotional trap' to highlight what happens when we get stuck responding in unhelpful ways and explains how to get out of the trap. Grounded in emotion science and cognitive behavioural therapy, the book provides a powerful alternative to mental health diagnosis. Examples and exercises are provided throughout to help apply the ideas in everyday life and achieve health and happiness. This easy-to-read guide will help anybody who is interested in emotions or is struggling with common mental health problems to better understand how emotions work and improve their own and others' mental health and emotional wellbeing. It will also be an invaluable resource to those working in the caring professions.

Has a special focus on Agile environments. Combines research and evidence with practical experience. Addresses how to work with common problems including groupthink, conflict and resistance to change, and how to handle the ending of a group.

Perspectives on a Young Woman's Suicide is a unique and updated analysis of a diary left behind by "Katie," a young woman who took her own life. By drawing on clinicians, researchers, survivors of suicide loss, and those closest to Katie, this book delves into common beliefs about why people die by suicide and into the internal worlds of those who do, as well as ethical and moral questions surrounding those deaths. Several contributors discuss Katie's suicide from the perspective of recent theories of suicide, including Joiner's interpersonal theory and Klonsky's three-step theory. Two contributors who have lost a child to suicide look at Katie's diary from their perspective, one of whom discusses whether it is truly possible to prevent suicide. Finally, Katie's sister reveals her reactions to this project and her ex-boyfriend shares his account of her death. This book is a vital addition to the library of any researcher, academic, or professional interested in suicide and suicide prevention.