"At the Mercy of Externals: Righting Wrongs and Protecting Kids" deals extensively with adult roles and responsibilities and the damage done when these obligations are not met. David Roberts' FLAGS Model graphically reveals how adults tend to act out emotion-based anxiety and depression, which is rooted in negative emotions associated with a history of abuse and victimization.

A number of lists critical to understanding the FLAGS model enable you to relate to the material on a personal level, and customize the subject matter to your own situation. While much of the focus is on parenting, other types of adult roles are addressed.

Of particular interest is the impact of abuse on kids outside the home or family. "At the Mercy of Externals" offers solutions found through critical thinking and by challenging myths accepted as truth.

Dr. Roberts specializes in working with at risk youth including juvenile offenders and gang members. He views his work as a form of spiritual outreach to misunderstood kids. His concepts are widely accepted and easily applicable to groups regardless of cultural and ethnic differences.

Individuals with schizophrenia and related disorders experience significant functioning deficits in the community. The study of social cognition in schizophrenia has grown rapidly over the past decade, and a consensus has developed among researchers that dysfunction in social cognition may contribute to the severe interpersonal problems that are a hallmark of schizophrenia. This has generated hope that treatments which improve social cognition in this illness may enhance an individual's ability to live a socially engaged and rewarding life.
Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: From Evidence to Treatment provides a firm grounding in the theory and research of normal social cognition, builds on this base to describe how social cognition appears to be dysfunctional in schizophrenia, and explains how this dysfunction might be ameliorated. Composed of contributed chapters written by the top experts in the field, the volume is divided into three parts to address each of these areas. Part I, Foundations of Human Social Cognition, explores normal social cognition in childhood development, adulthood, and across cultures, as well the brain-bases of social cognition and clinical social cognition research. Part II, Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: Descriptive and Experimental Research, discusses social cognition and functional outcome, emotion processing, Theory of Mind, paranoid ideation, social cognition in early psychosis, and the social cognitive neuroscience of schizophrenia. Part III, Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: Treatment Approaches, focuses on findings from current treatment outcome research as well as several leading social cognitive intervention approaches-Integrated Neurocognitive Therapy (INT), Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET), Metacognitive Training (MCT), and Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT). This comprehensive, accessible volume will be invaluable to researchers studying social cognition and psychosocial treatment development in schizophrenia, clinicians working with this patient population, students in social and clinical psychology, nursing, social work and occupational therapy, and medical students.

Protecting children from all forms of abuse and understanding their formative years is on the minds of today's professionals and families. In "At the Mercy of Externals," author Dr. David L. Roberts provides a practical model to successfully guide kids into adulthood.

He introduces his Roberts FLAGS model (or RFLAGS), which explains how we tend to act out emotion-based anxiety rather than face the issues from the past that are often fueling our negative emotions of Fear, Loneliness, Anger, Guilt, and Shame. The model serves as a visual and intellectual way to understand the development of maladaptive behavior, and it is a means of helping us to understand that behavior is not necessarily representative of who we are as a person.

A companion to "Psyche-Soul-ology," "At the Mercy of Externals" advocates a two-step approach to the problems families, kids, and professionals face in various situations and contexts. Roberts uses examples from his dysfunctional childhood, combined with his professional experiences helping at-risk youth, to demonstrate the importance of repairing our lives as adults as a preliminary step to nurturing and protecting children.

Providing insight into the lives of troubled, at-risk, and high-risk kids, "Psyche-Soul-ology" offers a new approach to mentor this segment of the population to produce favorable outcomes. Author Dr. David L. Roberts, a practicing psychologist, presents a model that includes focusing on both the minds of the youths and their souls.

A companion to "At the Mercy of Externals," also by Roberts, this edition provides a practical guide for social services personnel who work with troubled kids. Offering appropriate and specific case examples, "Psyche-Soul-ology" addresses everything from myths to misperceptions relative to issues of psychological development, sexuality, addiction, criminality, and intelligence, all mixed with proven approaches that maximize efforts to reach and guide kids successfully into their respective and subjective futures. This guide revisits the RFLAGS Model and introduces the codes of ethics, codes of conduct, and the concept of moral development and responsibilities that are needed to shape our value systems and the way we prioritize things in our lives.

"Psyche-Soul-ology" provides the resources and practical techniques to take kids and adults out of the bondage to external factors and gives them the internal perspective needed to successfully move forward in life.

Impairments in social functioning are among the hallmark characteristics of schizophrenia. These deficits predict relapse rate and may be independent of better-studied symptoms such as hallucinations. Additionally, studies indicate that social functioning is one of the most important domains for individuals with schizophrenia, many of whom consider social functioning to be a key area of unmet need. Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a group psychotherapy for individuals with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Social cognition refers to the thinking processes that people use to navigate the social world. Deficits in social cognition hinder people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses from living meaningful, socially connected lives. The SCIT Clinician Guide provides comprehensive instruction for mental health professionals to enhance social cognition and promote rewarding social lives for their clients. SCIT is appropriate for adults suffering from psychotic illness and who have interpersonal difficulties as a result. SCIT is particularly appropriate for individuals with symptoms of suspiciousness and paranoia. The authors summarize the rationale and theoretical underpinnings of SCIT, distinguish it from other treatments for psychosis, provide an overview of the intervention, explain the links between the intervention activities and the underlying theoretical model, and describe SCIT implementation session-by-session. SCIT is a 20- to 24-week group-based treatment that can be delivered by mental health clinicians of all levels in a wide range of community and hospital settings. SCIT uses exercises, games, discussion formats, and interactive social stimuli to target and improve specific areas of social cognitive dysfunction, and includes user-friendly tips and handouts for clients. It also provides web access to a library of videos, images and slide shows that are used to bring the SCIT training sessions to life.

This is a five volume set combined into 1 book. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and the book includes all of my theories and program guidelines relative to high risk kids and families.

"Psyche-Soul-ology: An Inspirational Approach to Appreciating and Understanding Troubled Kids" is a companion text to "At the Mercy of Externals: Righting Wrongs and Protecting Kids, 2nd Edition." Dr. Roberts presents a spiritually based application of his theories and the Roberts FLAGS Model detailed in his first book. His use of the term Psyche-Soul-ology focuses on the importance of addressing both the minds and souls of troubled kids. Of utmost importance is the need to look beyond the obvious external behaviors and problems of every kid, making an effort to see who they truly are relative to their unique potential for redirecting their lives. By looking into each kid it is possible to discover their uniqueness and encourage them to understand who they are intended to be, rather than who they are becoming.

Dr. Roberts stresses the importance of complicating factors serving as obstacles to the progress of low income, disadvantaged kids. He focuses heavily on professional ethics and the need for both extreme compassion and full competence when working with troubled kids and their families. Both of these books are vital for parents and professionals if we are to fight against social injustices associated with poverty and other complicating factors.

"At the Mercy of Externals: Righting Wrongs and Protecting Kids" deals extensively with adult roles and responsibilities and the damage done when these obligations are not met. David Roberts' FLAGS Model graphically reveals how adults tend to act out emotion-based anxiety and depression, which is rooted in negative emotions associated with a history of abuse and victimization.

A number of lists critical to understanding the FLAGS model enable you to relate to the material on a personal level, and customize the subject matter to your own situation. While much of the focus is on parenting, other types of adult roles are addressed.

Of particular interest is the impact of abuse on kids outside the home or family. "At the Mercy of Externals" offers solutions found through critical thinking and by challenging myths accepted as truth.

Dr. Roberts specializes in working with at risk youth including juvenile offenders and gang members. He views his work as a form of spiritual outreach to misunderstood kids. His concepts are widely accepted and easily applicable to groups regardless of cultural and ethnic differences.