Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-58).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-84).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-75).

Thesis (Ph. D. (Psychology))--Rhodes University, 2005. / Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Humanities).

Thesis (doctoral)--La Salle University, 2005. / ProQuest dissertations and theses ; AAT 3227730. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-37)

The overall objective of this study was to delve into the intricacies of the therapeutic process and the therapeutic relationship from an attachment perspective. A single retrospective child case study was conducted, which entailed the construction of a narrative synopsis of the process. The hermeneutic approach of a Reading Guide Method was applied, and through a repeated re-reading of the narrative, pertinent themes emerged that shed light on therapy as a process in motion. Specifically, the motion of the therapeutic process manifested through a scrutiny of the therapeutic relationship in view of the participant’s attachment style. The results of this study revealed the capacity of the participant to move away from an avoidant and somewhat ambivalent organisation of defences by virtue of establishing a secure base and exercising her faculty for emotional and self-expression. Accordingly, it can be established that in view of psychotherapy from an attachment perspective, the seemingly imperceptible vicissitudes of change are indeed appreciable.

No description available.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / The present study investigates a modus operandi for doing therapy with the sedative-hypnotic/opiate drug abuser with borderline or narcissistic tendencies. Definitions of the latter are based on the work by Kernberg and Kohut respectively. Unstable patterns of attachment in infancy and childhood are thought to contribute to a sense of lack or deficit in the drug abuser. This lack or insufricient structuralisation is associated with compulsive dependency on an external obj ect , in this case, the sedative-hypnotic or opiate drug. In order to wean the drug abuser off his drug, it is proposed that, initially, the therapist needs to take over the function of the drug which is to act as a sUbstitute for psychic structure. In other words, the therapist becomes a self-object for the drug abuser until such time as he is sUfficiently structuralised and relatively tree ot the compulsion to drug. The nature of the selt-object' transference and the therapist's role therein are explored in this thesis.

No description available.

Research has yet to identify any characteristics of clients, therapists, or treatment dyads which consistently identify those clients most likely to drop out of treatment. A frame of reference which may prove useful in identifying such clients is the social psychological construct of selfmonitoring. This theory proposes that individuals involved in any social encounter differ from each other in their approach to constructing a relevant self-presentation. High self-monitors emphasize matching their behavior to situational cues while low self-monitors match their behavior to perceived internal values and traits. The present study demonstrates the effects that selfmonitoring styles of therapists and clients have on the effectiveness of a therapeutic intake interview and the client's decision whether or not to return for treatment. Additionally examined are the effects of therapist selfmonitoring style on theoretical orientations toward psychotherapy. The hypothesis that pairings of high self-monitors would be most effective is tested by Chi-square and found to be nonsignificant. Using the Chi-square test, low self-monitoring therapists are found to endorse a single approach to therapy and to strongly endorse the psychoanalytical orientation. Low self-monitors are found to be eclectic in approach. Satisfaction with the interview is examined using ANOVA. Results are nonsignificant with the exception that low self-monitoring therapists are more satisfied with the intake interview than are high selfmonitoring therapists. Finally, within-cell Pearson correlations are examined to measure agreement about satisfaction between therapist and client. Pairs of high self-monitors show the highest rate of agreement. Implications for further research in this area are discussed.