This exploratory study describes the variation in how evidence-based practice is understood in educational psychology. The study is comprised of two phases, which were both designed, analysed and interpreted using qualitative methodology. In phase one, twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with educational psychologists from eight services in England. A phenomenographic approach to analysis was applied, resulting in a conceptual framework, representing the variation in understandings of evidence-based practice of a group of educational psychologists. In phase two, two focus groups were conducted with a subset of participants from phase one to elucidate the influence of evidence-based practice on decision-making in practice. A framework approach to thematic analysis showed that practice decisions of educational psychologists are influenced by evidence-based practice according to contextual factors, training and practice experiences and personal characteristics. This study gives insight as to how educational psychologists experience and account for the role of evidence and evidence-based practice in their practice and informs how evidence-based practice might be conceptualised in educational psychology. The findings suggest that evidence-based practice is grounded on personal, internalised beliefs while being contextualised by the demands of specific circumstances. The findings have implications for providers of educational psychology training in terms of the curriculum for evidence-based practice and associated learning outcomes.

This thesis explored the concept of sport injury-related growth (SIRG). Specifically, the mechanisms through which growth occurs and how it may be promoted for injured athletes. Study 1 used a grounded theory methodology to develop a context-specific theory. Aligning with a Straussian approach, data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using open, axial, and selected coding. Findings revealed that the mechanisms of (a) meta-cognition, (b) positive reappraisal, (c) positive emotions, and (d) facilitative responses are what enable SIRG. These mechanisms are influenced by a combination of internal (e.g., personality) and external (e.g., received social support) factors. These factors enable injured athletes to alter their perception of their injury into an opportunity for growth, and it is by drawing upon and mobilizing a variety of these resources that athletes are able to experience SIRG. Dimensions of growth were psychosocial, physiological, and behavioral. Although this study produced a theory that explains the SIRG process, it does not propose specific techniques or therapies that encourage the development of growth. To address this issue, Study 2 aimed to investigate and identify evidence-based interventions that promote growth after experiencing adversity. To achieve this aim, a systematic review was conducted on literature pertaining to the promotion of growth for populations who have undergone a stressful experience (e.g., medical illness). In total, 34 studies were located and obtained that met the preplanned inclusion criteria. Within these 37 studies, three types of interventions were identified: emotional processing, cognitive processing, and combined techniques. The authors of the studies who successfully demonstrated the promotion of growth either identified or suggested that growth occurs through the mechanisms of cognitive restructuring and/or reappraisal. Other important considerations that were identified through this review were the duration and timing of the intervention in relation to the adverse event, and the importance of the intervention meeting the needs of the participants. Although this study offers valuable insight into how growth may be more successfully nurtured, the studies included within this review did not specifically focus on promoting growth for injured athletes. Consequently, Study 3 sought to complement this study by examining the practice-based experiential knowledge of sport psychologists who have worked with injured athletes in an applied manner. In total, 10 sport psychologists were purposively sampled and interviewed. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide and analysed using content analysis. Findings revealed a fluid development framework that consisted of 5 phases: (a) reactionary phase, (b) preparation phase, (c) reflection phase, (d) application phase, and (e) monitoring phase. Within each phase a set of corresponding strategies, skills, and tools were identified that the sport psychologists would utilize to match the needs of the athletes. The sport psychologists also identified a number of personal and environmental factors that either promoted or hindered the development of SIRG. Altogether, this thesis supports and extends research regarding growth and sport injury, as well as offering applied practitioners useful information for promoting SIRG.

The deleterious manifold of juvenile delinquency for victims, offenders, and the general public necessitate effective prevention strategies. Researchers have asserted that one of the most effective ways in which delinquency is prevented is through school-based intervention. Specifically, much attention has been given to identifying the most efficacious evidence-based treatments (EBTs) through an evidence-based practice (EBP) approach. Critics, however, argue that several limitations exist in the EBP process and suggest that a practice-based evidence (PBE) approach may be more sufficient to meet the needs of youth who are at-risk of delinquency. Guided by the Social Development Model, it is broadly the aim of this three-article dissertation to explore the most effective school-based delinquency prevention approaches. Drawing from the EBP approach, the first article mimics a process that practitioners are encouraged to employ. Multiple EBT websites were systematically searched for the most efficacious school-based delinquency prevention interventions. Four interventions met inclusion criteria. These interventions highlighted both strengths and limitations. Out of the limitations from the first article, the second article investigated the extent to which a PBE approach may be an alternative option for youth most at-risk of a delinquent trajectory: being male, from a lower socioeconomic urban community, and primarily minority youth. The article offers the results of a pretest/posttest design with a sustaining school-based intervention that was developed by social workers. The final article reports on the results of a randomized controlled trial that investigated the effectiveness of the first year of the XY-Zone on protective factors among youth at-risk for delinquency. The second and third article revealed promising results and provide preliminary evidence for important next steps. Additional research, with a longitudinal design and larger sample size, is needed. This dissertation suggests that both approaches can inform the other. As globalization and advanced resources continue to springboard awareness of both the problems and solutions to delinquency prevention in schools, it is likely that advancements in the EBP and PBE approaches will give way to the ever-debated research and practice gap growing much nearer than ever before. / text

Aim: Despite the growing trend in offering online therapy to young people this area has received little attention to date. This project therefore aims to systematically explore work in this territory by investigating the types of goals that young people approach online services with, and the challenges and opportunities that online counsellors have experienced when working with them. Methods: Initially 1,137 client articulated goals which were collated by an online youth counselling service in England between December 2013 and July 2014. Secondly, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six online counsellors who have utilised a goal-based approach to therapy with young people. Both data strands were examined by utilising the Grounded Theory Methodology. Results: The goals young people brought into therapy were conceptualized under three core categories: (1) "Intra-personal goals", (2) "Inter-personal goals" and (3) "Goals on Self relating to others". Findings from the experience of online practitioners have provided four further core-categories: (1) "The impact of goals as an ingredient of the online therapy", (2) "The effect of virtual environment working towards goals", (3) "Key themes around youth goals", and (4) "The evolution of a practitioner's therapeutic identity". Discussion: The codified types of goals proved similar to the taxonomy of goals articulated within the Berne Inventory of Therapeutic Goals. Nuances related to the online environment and age group of the clients appeared to be present and are considered. In particular, the concept of goals on "Self relating to others" provided some interesting discussion points on the nature of services provided in both online and face-to-face youth services. The practitioner views echoed the published literature reflecting on the broader experiences of working with therapeutic goals. However the lack of research into the experiences of counsellors working with therapy goals is noted. Further reflection on the findings suggested a four stage working model for goal oriented online therapy. Reflections upon the limitations of the work, implications for therapists, researchers and service providers interested in online therapeutic work are outlined.

The last 3 decades have seen a dramatic increase in the creation and effective use of spiritually integrated therapy (SIT) for a wide variety of client populations and clinical issues. The outcome research on SIT has increased and improved dramatically, yet process research on SIT has lagged somewhat. While valuable, prior process-oriented studies on SIT have used retrospective survey methods and asked about generalized usage rates of predetermined spiritual interventions. Rather than relying on retrospective reports of SIT with clients, there is great value and likely greater accuracy in examining session-by-session usage of SIT with clients and identifying correlational patterns between clinical issues and spiritual interventions. The current study used a descriptive, practice-based evidence approach and analyzed session-by-session process data from a private practice explicitly marketed as offering SIT. After every therapy session, eight therapists at this site completed an in-depth process measure, the Clinically Adaptive Therapist Session Checklist, and reported which clinical issues they discussed and which spiritual interventions they used in session. Findings revealed that therapists discussed self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and religious/spiritual concerns in over half of their sessions. Therapists also endorsed affirming clients' divine worth, encouraged trusting God, encouraged clients to listen to their heart, and encouraged accepting God's love in over half of their sessions. The strongest positive correlations between spiritual interventions and clinical issues were between challenging shame and challenging fear, and emotional orientation (r = 0.664 and 0.648, respectively). The clinical patterns found in this analysis illustrate one way of incorporating spirituality into clinical work. This study highlights the importance of routine outcome/process monitoring systems to help illuminate the process of SIT and contribute to deliberate practice efforts in the field. This study also stimulated discussion on the distinction between SIT and being a spiritually centered therapist.

No description available.

In recent decades, psychologists have increasingly turned to evidence-based practice (EBP) to guide their treatments with clients. Practice-based evidence (PBE) is one type of EBP that allows clinicians to treat their clients in a flexible, but effective way. PBE treatments are those that use information gathered about the client through measures or questionnaires to inform the clinical decisions therapists make in the process of treating the client. The use of PBE in group psychotherapy is increasing and there are many measures that can potentially be used to aid therapists by gathering client information or feedback in the areas of group selection and pre-group preparation, group process, and outcome. The Group Readiness Questionnaire (GRQ) is one measure that was created in the hopes that it could predict which potential group members would benefit from group psychotherapy. The GRQ was designed to capture a potential group member's expectations regarding the helpfulness of group therapy as well as positive and negative interpersonal skills that could affect process within the group. This study tests the ability of the GRQ to predict group process and outcome during the early, middle, and late stages of group while taking the interdependent nature of group data into account through multilevel analysis in an effort to establish the GRQ as a PBE measure. Clients who perceived themselves to be less inclined to participate actively in group settings felt less connected to their groups during the early stage of group, but began to feel more bonded to other group members during the middle stage of group. Group members who had lower expectations of group therapy being helpful to them initially felt less connected to their groups and perceived more conflict within their groups after the initial session. Group members who were less prepared in general for group therapy tended to feel more gradually connected to other group members during the middle stage of group. Group members who were less inclined to participate and self-disclose in group settings as well as ones who were overall less prepared for group tended to be experiencing greater initial distress before starting group therapy. Implications of these findings as well as directions for future research are discussed.

<p>As of June 2020, there were nearly 71 million displaced persons worldwide fleeing their homes due to conflict and war (“Figures at a Glance,” UNHCR, 2020). One of the critical needs following displacement and subsequent resettlement is to address the immense psychological turmoil refugees may have endured. Despite the need for care, refugees often face barriers to accessing mental health care after resettlement, including inadequate translation services, poor provider cultural competence, and difficulty navigating services (Asgary & Segar, 2011). An important aspect in meeting the mental health needs of resettled refugees in the U.S. are the refugee resettlement agencies that help refugees rebuild their lives post-resettlement. Thus, this study focused on the mental health providers working with resettled refugees within refugee resettlement agencies. <a>Through the use of mixed methods, this study collected quantitative and qualitative data across three phases to 1) obtain a greater understanding of the available mental health services within refugee resettlement agencies, 2) examine cultural competence in mental health providers working within these agencies, and 3) identify the culturally competent strategies mental health providers use to improve access to mental health services in this context</a>. The results of this study, including an integration of the data across phases, and a discussion complete with 12 suggestions for mental health providers working with resettled refugees are presented. We hope the results and implications of this study will contribute to our understanding of, and subsequently address, the issues related to mental health service accessibility experienced by resettled refugees.</p>