Ecological interventions hold promise for meeting the needs of post-disaster communities, yet little systematic quantitative evidence is available about such programs. This study evaluated the short-term outcomes of participants in the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program, a novel and exemplar ecological intervention for helpers working in post-disaster settings. It is a one week training and support program for helpers working in disaster-affected communities. Changes in the psychological distress of 42 STAR participants, across four STAR sessions, were assessed and identified as primary outcome variables. Knowledge, attitude, and intended practice changes were also assessed, along with perceived support, using a pre (T1)/post (T2) design. These indicators were then tested as possible predictors of participants' changes in distress. An integrity check was conducted on a sample of the seminar modules to assess fidelity to the program manual. Qualitative data were also gathered from follow up visits conducted with two participants. These data were used to help interpret quantitative findings, as well as to plan for future studies of how STAR effects might extend out from helpers into their home communities. Results showed that participants exhibited significant changes in knowledge, attitudes, and intended practices from the beginning of the seminar to the end. Results also showed significant decreases in psychological distress over the STAR week. Regression analyses showed that changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practice, as well as perceived social support during the seminar, explained significant amounts of variance in self reported trauma symptoms at T2. Variance in T2 burnout and compassion fatigue explained by these predictors was notable but not statistically significant due to lack of power. Results suggest that STAR can change knowledge and attitudes of helpers from disaster communities and that participants in this program experience decreases in distress during their stay. The lack of a valid comparison group makes causal interpretations of these findings premature. Findings also suggest that changes in distress are not caused by, or even significantly related to, learning that takes place during the STAR week. The mechanism for distress reduction during the STAR week is an unresolved question. Other significant unresolved questions remain regarding the STAR intervention and ways the present findings can be generalized to ecological interventions more broadly. For example, while the current study suggests important changes occur in helpers during the STAR week, it is of central importance to explore how these changes translate into the disaster-affected home communities. Discussion also focuses on the difficulties involved in conducting systematic research with organizations and helpers whose primary goals are practical or clinical, not scientific. Despite the questions that remain, taken together, results point to the promise of STAR to address the mental health needs of helpers and perhaps eventually disaster communities. / Ph. D.

The purposes of the study were (1) to assess the validity and reliability of Values for Helpers, (2) to determine whether the test would be a usable instrument for analysis of value systems of mental health professionals, (3) to provide information on possible utilization of the test as a measurement tool for assessing the quality of relationship skills of helpers, and (4) to provide information of a heuristic nature for future research with Values for Helpers. To accomplish these purposes, the following questions were examined. 1. What are the relationships between the scales of the Allport-Vernon-Lindzey Study of Values and Values for Helpers? 2. What are the relationships between the scales of the Personal Orientation Inventory and Values for Helpers? 3. What are the relationships between the total scores on Myrick and Kelly's Counselor Evaluation Rating Scale and the scales of Values for Helpers? Conclusions based on the results suggested that (1) there was acceptable reliability for Values for Helpers, (2) the tribalistic and conformist scales of Values for Helpers demonstrated negative convergent validity with the scales of the Personal Orientation Inventory, (3) the existential scale of Values for Helpers demonstrated positive convergent validity with the scales of the Personal Orientation Inventory, (4) the existential scale of the Values for Helpers demonstrated concurrent validity when related to the Counselor Evaluation Rating Scale, and (5) the existential scale of Values for Helpers appeared to exhibit very low predictive validity for counselor success in developing relationship skills and demonstrating positive practicum performance as measured by the Counselor Evaluation Rating Scale.

As leishmanioses constituem um complexo de doenças causadas por protozoários do gênero Leishmania, as quais incluem diversas espécies responsáveis por desencadear formas clínicas distintas. A espécie Leishmania infantum, disseminada no Brasil e na América do Sul, está relacionada com comprometimento das vísceras, principalmente baço, fígado e medula óssea, apresentando alto índice de morbidade e mortalidade. É classicamente demonstrado que uma resposta mediada por linfócitos Th1 e Th17 conferem resistência na LV. Nesse sentido, as vias de sinalização ativadas, bem como os mediadores gerados durante a infecção, podem auxiliar no desenvolvimento da resposta imune protetora. Dentre as citocinas produzidas, destaca-se a IL-1 (IL-1? e IL- 1?) que possui papel importante na geração do processo inflamatório conferindo resistência às infecções fúngicas, bacterianas, e também na leishmaniose cutânea. No presente estudo, nosso objetivo foi determinar o papel da via de sinalização mediada por IL-1R durante a infecção experimental por Leishmania infantum. Nossos resultados demonstram que tanto IL-1? quanto IL-1? são produzidas durante a infecção in vivo por L. infantum, sugerindo sua participação na LV. De maneira interessante, a via de sinalização mediada por IL-1R parece estar envolvida na susceptibilidade ao protozoário, visto que animais geneticamente deficientes para IL-1R (IL-1R KO) são mais resistentes à infecção, apresentando menor número de parasitos no baço e fígado nas fases crônicas de infecção. Ainda, o fenômeno de susceptibilidade foi associado a uma regulação negativa da resposta inflamatória, principalmente acerca de células Th1 e também de Th17. A inflamação neutrofílica também foi alterada em animais IL-1R KO infectados. Foi observado aumento do número de neutrófilos bem como da produção de CXCL1 (KC), mediador quimioatraente para neutrófilos no baço de animais IL-1R KO, XVIII mas sem alterar o perfil de ativação dessas células. Ao determinar a citocina envolvida na regulação do processo inflamatório e consequentemente na susceptibilidade ao parasito, observamos que preferencialmente a IL-1? possui papel na progressão da doença, visto que a deleção gênica de enzimas essenciais para a liberação de IL-1? como Caspase 1/11 não alterou o número de parasitos no baço e fígado. Porém, na ausência de IL-1? foi observado um perfil de resistência associado ao aumento dos níveis de IFN-? e IL-17 nos órgãos alvos da doença. Confirmando o papel regulador, o tratamento com anticorpo monoclonal anti-IL1? em animais selvagens (do inglês wild type - WT) infectados reverteu o fenótipo de susceptibilidade e aumentou a resposta imune adaptativa na LV. Ao determinar o papel de IL-1?, macrófagos IL-1? KO diferenciados a partir de precursores de médula óssea, quando infectados com L. infantum, apresentaram concentrações elevadas de óxido nítrico no sobrenadante da cultura, quando comparados aos macrófagos IL-1R KO ou WT, confirmando um papel regulador da resposta imune efetora à infecção por L. infantum. Os efeitos reguladores de IL-1? parecem ser mediados por IL-10, visto que animais IL-1R KO possuem redução significativa dessa citocina mensurada no fígado durante a 6ª semana de infecção. Em conjunto, no presente trabalho demonstramos que a sinalização via IL-1R, com prevalência da IL-1?, regula negativamente a resposta imune efetora do perfil Th1 e Th17 . Consequentemente, há o comprometimento da migração de neutrófilos para o sítio de infecção e ativação de macrófagos permitindo o escape do parasito e estabelecimento da infecção. / The leishmaniases are a set of diseases caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania, which will lead to different clinical outcomes depending on the specific specie infecting the patient. The specie Leishmania infantum, already spread throughout Brazil and South America, is associated to visceral damage, mainly to the spleen, kidney and bone marrow, presenting high rates of morbidity and mortality. It is classically demonstrated that a response mediated by Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes promotes resistance to VL. Thus, the activated signaling pathways, as well as mediators generated during the infection, can assist in the development of a protective immune response. Among the expressed cytokines, the IL-1 (IL-1? e IL-1?) stands out for its important role in the inflammatory process and resistance to fungi and bacterial infections, and also in cutaneous leishmaniasis. In the present study, our aim was to determine the signaling role via IL-1R during experimental infection by L. infantum. Our results show IL-1? and IL-1? are produced in vivo infection by L. infantum, suggesting your participation in VL. Interestingly, the signaling pathway mediated by IL-1R appears to be involved in susceptibility to protozoal, since the animals genetically deficient for IL-1R (IL-1R KO) are more resistant to infection, presenting fewer parasites in the spleen and liver in chronic stages of infection. Additionally, the susceptibility phenomenon was associated with downregulation of the inflammatory response, mainly on Th1 cells and Th17. The neutrophilic inflammation has also been changed in IL-1R KO infected animals. Was observed an increase in neutrophils and production of CXCL1 (KC) in the spleen of IL- 1R KO animals, but without changing the activation profile of these cells. In determining the regulatory cytokine involved in the inflammatory process and therefore the susceptibility to the parasite, observed that IL-1? preferably has role in disease XX progression, since genic deletion of essential enzymes for IL-1? secretion (i.e.: Caspase 1/11) did not alter the number of parasites in the spleen and liver. However, in the absence of IL-1? was observed resistance profile associated with increased IFN-? and IL-17 in the target organ disease. Confirming the regulatory role, treatment with antiIL1? monoclonal antibody in WT mice infected reversed the susceptibility phenotype and increased adaptive immune response in LV. To determine the role of IL-1?, macrophages from IL-1? KO differentiated from bone marrow when infected with L. infantum showed high concentrations of nitric oxide in the culture supernatant when compared to macrophages from IL-1R KO and WT, confirming a regulatory role of the effector immune response to L. infantum infection. IL-1? regulatory effects appear to be mediated by IL-10, since IL-1R knockout animals have significant reduction of this cytokine measured in the liver during the 6th week of infection. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that IL-1R signaling pathway, with prevalence of IL-1?, negatively regulates effector immune response of Th1 and Th17 profile. Consequently, the impairment of neutrophil migration to the site of infection and activation of macrophages allowing the escape of the parasite and the establishment of infection.

As leishmanioses constituem um complexo de doenças causadas por protozoários do gênero Leishmania, as quais incluem diversas espécies responsáveis por desencadear formas clínicas distintas. A espécie Leishmania infantum, disseminada no Brasil e na América do Sul, está relacionada com comprometimento das vísceras, principalmente baço, fígado e medula óssea, apresentando alto índice de morbidade e mortalidade. É classicamente demonstrado que uma resposta mediada por linfócitos Th1 e Th17 conferem resistência na LV. Nesse sentido, as vias de sinalização ativadas, bem como os mediadores gerados durante a infecção, podem auxiliar no desenvolvimento da resposta imune protetora. Dentre as citocinas produzidas, destaca-se a IL-1 (IL-1? e IL- 1?) que possui papel importante na geração do processo inflamatório conferindo resistência às infecções fúngicas, bacterianas, e também na leishmaniose cutânea. No presente estudo, nosso objetivo foi determinar o papel da via de sinalização mediada por IL-1R durante a infecção experimental por Leishmania infantum. Nossos resultados demonstram que tanto IL-1? quanto IL-1? são produzidas durante a infecção in vivo por L. infantum, sugerindo sua participação na LV. De maneira interessante, a via de sinalização mediada por IL-1R parece estar envolvida na susceptibilidade ao protozoário, visto que animais geneticamente deficientes para IL-1R (IL-1R KO) são mais resistentes à infecção, apresentando menor número de parasitos no baço e fígado nas fases crônicas de infecção. Ainda, o fenômeno de susceptibilidade foi associado a uma regulação negativa da resposta inflamatória, principalmente acerca de células Th1 e também de Th17. A inflamação neutrofílica também foi alterada em animais IL-1R KO infectados. Foi observado aumento do número de neutrófilos bem como da produção de CXCL1 (KC), mediador quimioatraente para neutrófilos no baço de animais IL-1R KO, XVIII mas sem alterar o perfil de ativação dessas células. Ao determinar a citocina envolvida na regulação do processo inflamatório e consequentemente na susceptibilidade ao parasito, observamos que preferencialmente a IL-1? possui papel na progressão da doença, visto que a deleção gênica de enzimas essenciais para a liberação de IL-1? como Caspase 1/11 não alterou o número de parasitos no baço e fígado. Porém, na ausência de IL-1? foi observado um perfil de resistência associado ao aumento dos níveis de IFN-? e IL-17 nos órgãos alvos da doença. Confirmando o papel regulador, o tratamento com anticorpo monoclonal anti-IL1? em animais selvagens (do inglês wild type - WT) infectados reverteu o fenótipo de susceptibilidade e aumentou a resposta imune adaptativa na LV. Ao determinar o papel de IL-1?, macrófagos IL-1? KO diferenciados a partir de precursores de médula óssea, quando infectados com L. infantum, apresentaram concentrações elevadas de óxido nítrico no sobrenadante da cultura, quando comparados aos macrófagos IL-1R KO ou WT, confirmando um papel regulador da resposta imune efetora à infecção por L. infantum. Os efeitos reguladores de IL-1? parecem ser mediados por IL-10, visto que animais IL-1R KO possuem redução significativa dessa citocina mensurada no fígado durante a 6ª semana de infecção. Em conjunto, no presente trabalho demonstramos que a sinalização via IL-1R, com prevalência da IL-1?, regula negativamente a resposta imune efetora do perfil Th1 e Th17 . Consequentemente, há o comprometimento da migração de neutrófilos para o sítio de infecção e ativação de macrófagos permitindo o escape do parasito e estabelecimento da infecção. / The leishmaniases are a set of diseases caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania, which will lead to different clinical outcomes depending on the specific specie infecting the patient. The specie Leishmania infantum, already spread throughout Brazil and South America, is associated to visceral damage, mainly to the spleen, kidney and bone marrow, presenting high rates of morbidity and mortality. It is classically demonstrated that a response mediated by Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes promotes resistance to VL. Thus, the activated signaling pathways, as well as mediators generated during the infection, can assist in the development of a protective immune response. Among the expressed cytokines, the IL-1 (IL-1? e IL-1?) stands out for its important role in the inflammatory process and resistance to fungi and bacterial infections, and also in cutaneous leishmaniasis. In the present study, our aim was to determine the signaling role via IL-1R during experimental infection by L. infantum. Our results show IL-1? and IL-1? are produced in vivo infection by L. infantum, suggesting your participation in VL. Interestingly, the signaling pathway mediated by IL-1R appears to be involved in susceptibility to protozoal, since the animals genetically deficient for IL-1R (IL-1R KO) are more resistant to infection, presenting fewer parasites in the spleen and liver in chronic stages of infection. Additionally, the susceptibility phenomenon was associated with downregulation of the inflammatory response, mainly on Th1 cells and Th17. The neutrophilic inflammation has also been changed in IL-1R KO infected animals. Was observed an increase in neutrophils and production of CXCL1 (KC) in the spleen of IL- 1R KO animals, but without changing the activation profile of these cells. In determining the regulatory cytokine involved in the inflammatory process and therefore the susceptibility to the parasite, observed that IL-1? preferably has role in disease XX progression, since genic deletion of essential enzymes for IL-1? secretion (i.e.: Caspase 1/11) did not alter the number of parasites in the spleen and liver. However, in the absence of IL-1? was observed resistance profile associated with increased IFN-? and IL-17 in the target organ disease. Confirming the regulatory role, treatment with antiIL1? monoclonal antibody in WT mice infected reversed the susceptibility phenotype and increased adaptive immune response in LV. To determine the role of IL-1?, macrophages from IL-1? KO differentiated from bone marrow when infected with L. infantum showed high concentrations of nitric oxide in the culture supernatant when compared to macrophages from IL-1R KO and WT, confirming a regulatory role of the effector immune response to L. infantum infection. IL-1? regulatory effects appear to be mediated by IL-10, since IL-1R knockout animals have significant reduction of this cytokine measured in the liver during the 6th week of infection. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that IL-1R signaling pathway, with prevalence of IL-1?, negatively regulates effector immune response of Th1 and Th17 profile. Consequently, the impairment of neutrophil migration to the site of infection and activation of macrophages allowing the escape of the parasite and the establishment of infection.

Quels sont les facteurs qui peuvent retarder ou accélérer la sénescence? Les chercheurs tentent d'y apporter des réponses à différents niveaux moléculaires, cellulaires et également au niveau des traits d'histoire de vie. Tl est établi que différents facteurs ont un impact significatif sur les patrons de sénescence tels que le continuum lent-rapide, la sélection sexuelle, ou encore la disponibilité en ressources. De façon surprenante, peu d'intérêt a été porté sur l'influence de la socialité sur les patrons de sénescence. L'objet de cette thèse est de combler cette lacune et d'étudier l'influence de la socialité sur la sénescence grâce à un suivi exceptionnel d'une population de marmottes alpines (Marmota Marmota), mammifère hautement social et longévif. En effet, cette espèce est organisée en groupes familiaux, composés d'un couple dominant reproducteur socialement monogame despotique, et de subordonnés des deux sexes. La marmotte alpine pratique l'élevage coopératif. En effet, les subordonnés mâles participent à l'élevage des jeunes, ils sont aussi appelés helpers. Nous avons mis en évidence une sénescence de la taille de portée à partir de 10 ans et du succès reproducteur vers 8 ans chez les femelles dominantes et une sénescence de survie à partir de 6 ans chez les dominants mâles et femelles. Nous avons montré que le nombre de helpers durant l'année de naissance et durant la vie adulte étaient indépendants et augmentaient additivement le succès reproducteur sur toute la vie et la longévité des femelles dominantes. Nous avons apporté la preuve que les helpers présents l'année de naissance avaient une influence sexe-spécifique sur les patrons de sénescence de survie des dominants. En effet, les mâles nés avec des helpers vieillissaient plus vite et plus tôt que ceux nés sans helpers. Les femelles ayant bénéficié de helpers l'année de naissance présentaient une sénescence tardive et moins intense que celles sans helpers. Également, les helpers présents durant la vie adulte retardait la sénescence des dominants des deux sexes et diminuaient son intensité. Les coûts et bénéfices liés à l'élevage coopératif expliquent en partie la variabilité de la sénescence de survie chez la marmotte alpine. Pour finir, nous nous sommes placés à l'échelle interspécifique et nous avons montré que la socialité chez les mammifères retardait l'âge de début de sénescence / What are factors that can delay or accelerate senescence? Researchers are seeking these factors at molecular, cellular and life history traits level. Recent studies have firmly showed that the slow-fast continuum, sexual selection and food availability are factors shaping variability in senescence patterns. Surprisingly, the influence of sociality on senescence has been less investigated. The aim of this thesis is to fill this gap and to study the influence of sociality on senescence thanks to an extensive dataset spanning 25 years of study on free-ranging Alpine marmots (Marmota Marmota), a long-lived and highly social mammal. Alpine marmots live in family groups typically composed of a dominant pair, of sexually mature and immature (yearling) subordinates, and of pups of the year. Male subordinates help to raise pups, they are also called helpers. We showed in dominant females that litter size declined at 10 years of age and reproductive success at 8 years of age. In both sexes, survival was constant with age until dominants were between 6 and 8 years of age and declined markedly thereafter. We also showed that the number of helpers at birth and during adult life were independent and additively increased female dominant longevity and lifetime reproductive success. Moreover, we provided evidence that the presence of helpers at birth and during adult life strongly influenced survival senescence and that this influence was sex-specific. Indeed, females benefiting from the presence of helpers at birth showed a delayed and less intense senescence while males born with helpers showed a earlier and faster senescence. The presence of helpers during adult life was beneficial for both sexes by delaying senescence and decreasing its intensity. Sociality, more specifically cooperative breeding and its benefits and costs associated, is an important predictor of the diversity of survival senescence in Alpine marmot. Finally, we worked at the interspecific level and showed that sociality in mammals delayed the onset of senescence

The aim of the Narrabundah Companionship programme was to provide young children ("Kids") from deprived cultural backgrounds with opportunities to learn appropriate social behaviours by pairing them with older students ("Companions") for activities involving social interactions. Unlike the typical work of the School Counsellor, which tends to be problem centered and crisis oriented, the Companionship programme is seen as a preventive activity which uses "peer helpers" as a means of extending the outreach services of the School Counsellor. The effects of this programme on the Companions, rather than on the Kids, was the focus of this study. The purposes of the present investigation were: a) to identify characteristics of A.C.T. secondary college students who volunteered to be Companions; b) to identify appropriate Companion selection procedures; c) to assess the effects of communications skills training on an initial group of Companions in comparison to late-entering Companions who did not receive such training; d) to assess the drives and sentiments which motivated college students to volunteer for the programme and to ascertain any changes in those drives and sentiments which might occur during the programme; e) to determine whether the Companionship experience influenced a change in vocational preference toward a career in social service; and, although not the major thrust of the study, f) to assess the effects of the Companionship experience on the Kids' social adjustment. After pilot programmes in 1978 and 1979, the present study was undertaken during Terms One and Two, 1980. Thirteen A.C.T. secondary college students volunteered to become Companions. Eleven A.C.T. primary school students and one junior secondary school student were selected to participate as Kids in the programme. Prior to active participation, volunteers completed the Kuder Preference Record - Vocational (Kuder) and the Motivation Analysis Test (MAT). The teachers of the Kids assessed them using the Bristol Social Adjustment Guide (BSAG) and completed a brief questionnaire to aid the Researcher in his pairing of Kids with Companions. The Companions attended six (1 1/2 hour) sessions of a communications skills training programme adapted from the Peer Counselling Student Training Course (Varenhorst & Hamburg, 1972). Based on perceptions formed during the training period, the Companions then rated each other using the Group Assessment of Interpersonal Traits (GAIT) developed by Goodman (1972). The Researcher also made a subjective ranking of each participant in relation to his perception of the individual's potential to be an effective Companion. Contrary to expectation, only two new Companions joined the programme at the beginning of Second Term. The Companionship activities terminated after two school terms, at which time all Kids were reassessed by their teachers on the BSAG and post-measures on the Kuder and MAT were completed for those Companions remaining in the programme. Four Companions who had left the programme before the termination of activities had completed these measures at the time of their withdrawal . The results of the present investigation included: a) Significantly more females than males volunteered to become Companions, and their family birth-order position as last-born was highly significant. b) The results of the ratings for potential effectiveness as a Companion on the GAIT and on subjective ranking by the Researcher produced a highly significant correlation (.01 level), indicating that either method of selection is appropriate. c) Because only two new Companions joined the programme at the start of Term Two, it was not possible to adequately compare the effects of training versus no training. d) As a group, there were two significant changes in the motivations of the older students. There were increases in MAT scores measuring the drive "Narcism-Comfort" and the sentiment "Sweetheart- Spouse," significant at the .05 level. e) The results of the initial administration of the Kuder revealed that volunteers already had a high preference for careers in social service areas. There was no significant change in this orientation following participation in the Companionship programme. f) The second administration of the B3AG revealed no significant changes in the teachers' perceptions of the Kids' social adjustment. The Companionship programme is considered to have been beneficial to both Kids and Companions. Although there were no statistically significant changes in the Kids in the short term of this study, it appears likely that there is potential for long term benefits. Several of the relationships are continuing on an informal basis. Companions spontaneously expressd the enjoyment and personal growth they had derived and their willingness to participate in the next programme. Some parents of Kids were enthusiastic in their evaluations and have sought to keep in touch with the Companion. The Companionship programme is seen to have been a valuable preventive programme in community mental health.

In this essay the purpose is to show my readers some of the emotions that professional helpers may experience in their daily work. The result is based on interviews with two helpers who works with people that have a variety of problems. Problems that these helpers are facing can for instance be alcoholism/drug abuse/homelessness/psychic illness or a combination of some of these problems. The questions I´m seeking to answer is; How does these helpers look at their own role and the relationship to their clients, and how do they feel about the group of people they are working with? I will also display some experiences regarding the influence from the society and it´s responsibility towards these people. Some of the result show that these two helpers creates very different relations to their clients, and that it can be understood through their different sets of goals. We can also notice that both believes that some of the citizens reaction towards this group of people, could depend on fear and a lack of knowledge. / Den här uppsatsens syfte är att visa för läsarna några av de känslor som professionella hjälpare upplever i sitt dagliga arbete. De frågeställningar som jag arbetat efter är; Hur ser hjälpare på sin egen roll och deras relation till klienterna, och vilka tankar har de kring denna grupp av människor som de arbetar med? Jag vill även visa på några av de erfarenheter som dessa hjälpare har gällande samhällets påverkan och ansvar mot dessa människor. Denna uppsats baseras på intervjuer gjorda med två personer som båda arbetar med människor som har varierande problem. Sådana problem kan till exempel vara alkoholism/drogmissbruk/psykisk sjukdom eller en kombination av problem. En del av resultatet visar att de två hjälparna skapar mycket olika relationer till sina klienter och att detta skulle kunna förstås genom deras olika målsättningar i arbetet. Vi kan även se att båda informanterna tror att en del av allmänhetens reaktioner på denna grupp av människor skulle kunna bero på rädsla och brist på kunskap.

<p>In this essay the purpose is to show my readers some of the emotions that professional helpers may experience in their daily work. The result is based on interviews with two helpers who works with people that have a variety of problems. Problems that these helpers are facing can for instance be alcoholism/drug abuse/homelessness/psychic illness or a combination of some of these problems. The questions I´m seeking to answer is; How does these helpers look at their own role and the relationship to their clients, and how do they feel about the group of people they are working with? I will also display some experiences regarding the influence from the society and it´s responsibility towards these people. Some of the result show that these two helpers creates very different relations to their clients, and that it can be understood through their different sets of goals. We can also notice that both believes that some of the citizens reaction towards this group of people, could depend on fear and a lack of knowledge.</p> / <p>Den här uppsatsens syfte är att visa för läsarna några av de känslor som professionella hjälpare upplever i sitt dagliga arbete. De frågeställningar som jag arbetat efter är; Hur ser hjälpare på sin egen roll och deras relation till klienterna, och vilka tankar har de kring denna grupp av människor som de arbetar med? Jag vill även visa på några av de erfarenheter som dessa hjälpare har gällande samhällets påverkan och ansvar mot dessa människor. Denna uppsats baseras på intervjuer gjorda med två personer som båda arbetar med människor som har varierande problem. Sådana problem kan till exempel vara alkoholism/drogmissbruk/psykisk sjukdom eller en kombination av problem. En del av resultatet visar att de två hjälparna skapar mycket olika relationer till sina klienter och att detta skulle kunna förstås genom deras olika målsättningar i arbetet. Vi kan även se att båda informanterna tror att en del av allmänhetens reaktioner på denna grupp av människor skulle kunna bero på rädsla och brist på kunskap.</p>

We examined the effects of deliberate practice (DP) in teaching motivational interviewing (MI) helping skills to 45 upper-level undergraduate students in a semester-long course using an experimental crossover waitlist design. Students participated in a three-hour MI skills workshop focused on open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS) and engaged in ongoing practice throughout the semester. Students video-recorded four skill demonstrations involving real-life changes with a volunteer client, addressing behavioral change. Pre- and post-workshop video recordings were analyzed to evaluate changes in reflective listening skills and the overall consistency of using MI OARS skills. The results revealed significant increases in reflections-to-questions ratio, consistency in using MI OARS skills, and decreased use of statements that were inconsistent with MI. Additionally, students reported increased learning and self-efficacy in using MI skills. These findings suggest that integrating DP into undergraduate courses enhances the frequency and proficiency of MI-helping skills among undergraduate students preparing for the helping professions. The practical implications extend to preparing students for graduate programs or careers in the helping professions. Public Significance: This study highlights the potential benefits of incorporating DP with MI in undergraduate courses. By using experiential methods to introduce students to MI and its principles, this approach may lay the foundation for developing greater confidence and a solid foundation for building advanced helping skills as novices prepare to enter graduate programs in the helping professions.

No description available.