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The authors examined the influence of early phase dissociation, interpersonal problems, and retraumatization on the therapeutic alliance at early, middle, and later treatment phases. Participants were 84 female survivors of child abuse (ages 18 to 60 years, 53.6% Caucasian) who were receiving counseling at a university training clinic. Master's‐ and doctoral‐level students provided counseling using integrated relationship and trauma‐based cognitive behavior therapy. Treatment followed a 3‐phase model. The authors used structural equation models to test the hypothesis. In the early and later phases, fewer interpersonal problems significantly predicted a stronger alliance. In the middle phase, fewer interpersonal problems, less dissociation, and more revictimization significantly predicted a stronger alliance. Tasks, goals, and bond contributed significantly to the alliance in each of the 3 phases. Interpersonal problems were consistently the strongest predictor across the 3 phases, whereas tasks consistently made the greatest contribution to the therapeutic alliance across all 3 phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an overview of complex trauma and a case study describing the evidence-informed treatment of a 25-year-old woman with chronic complex trauma symptoms resulting from childhood sexual, physical, and psychological abuse from a caregiver. Treatment followed a relationship-based, cognitive behavior therapy model across 3 treatment phases. Significant reductions in trauma and general distress symptoms occurred from pre- to posttreatment, although firm conclusions about cause cannot be drawn from case studies. Verbatim vignettes illustrate specific interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment (CM) is a major health problem in U.S. society, with 872,000 substantiated cases reported in 2004 and unofficial rates ranging from 2 to 10 million cases per year. Depending on the severity, CM can negatively affect a child's physical, emotional, and psychological functioning and development immediately following an abuse incident or incidents; in severe cases, it can affect adult functioning. The author examines the empirically supported research related to the incidence, consequences, treatment effectiveness, and models of treatment for CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the relationship between sibling structure variables (i.e., gender, number of sisters, number of brothers, sibling spacing, number of siblings, and birth order, all men, and all women siblings) and current relationships with parents and spouse/partners. Participants included 519 adults between the ages of 19 and 59 years. Two separate canonical correlations were conducted. The results for men indicated that being a younger man with an all-male sibling group was related to more intimacy with parents and more intimidation by parents. For women, being an older woman with more brothers and more siblings was related to less intimidation by parents and less intimacy with parents and spouses/partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partner violence is a societal problem that cuts across all socioeconomic and racial/ethnic lines. Approximately 50% to 60% of couples presenting for counseling have reported at least 1 incident of violence in their relationship history. Many counselors are ill equipped to work with partner violence cases. This article provides an overview of partner violence research as it pertains to incidence, partner abuse typologies, etiology/explanation, and treatment. Developmental and integrated models for explaining and treating partner abuse are given particular consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a review and counseling implications for an article titled "Witnessing Parental Violence as a Traumatic Experience Shaping the Abusive Personality" by Donald Dutton. Dutton contends that the early combination of witnessing or directly experiencing violence, shaming, and insecure attachment contributes to the development of abusive personality in males. These individuals experience great difficulty in modulating aggression toward others. In particular, children who witness interpersonal violence have a greater likelihood of becoming partner abusers than do children who are victims of violence. He determined that the pattern of abuse was more adequately explained by a disturbance in character. In particular, Dutton's model owes much to the early work of Lenore Walker who described a pattern of male abusive behavior marked by cycles of increasing tension, acute battering, and contrition (i.e., Cycle of Violence). Unfortunately, the effects of family violence are likely to produce long-term intergenerational cycles of abuse if not treated early. Once a child exposed to family violence has been identified, counselors may consider several necessary levels of intervention: parent-couple, mother-child (children), father-child, sibling, conjoint family, school system, peers, and community.

The authors describe a school prevention program called School Families that emphasizes normal developmental needs of middle school students. In addition, the results of an in-depth qualitative evaluation of the program are presented. The School Families groups comprised middle school students, teachers, and adults from the university and community who meet weekly during the school day to process issues related to academic performance, decision making, self-esteem, and social skills. On the basis of written narratives, individual interviews, and focus-group discussions, the 35 participants (12 middle school students, 14 teachers, and 9 university students) reported that the School Families program largely had a beneficial influence on them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author addresses the possibility of pretreatment change as a viable first intervention for solution-oriented counseling approaches. Using the interview questions and format of Weiner-Davis, de Shazer. and Gingerich (1987). 82 clients were surveyed to ascertain if a change in their problem context had occurred between the time an appointment was made for counseling and the time they come to the first session. The results indicate that most of the clients can identify. desirable pretreatment change with the assistance of a counselor. Bate son's (1979) "difference that makes a difference" and client expectancy are posited as explanations for the client's perceiving pretreatment change as significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the use of family sculpting and choreography in helping a group of university students to achieve a healthy emotional and psychological separation from their families of origin. A case example is presented, along with suggestions for future groups using a similar focus and format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]