Social skills interventions for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are needed as the number of students with ASD are increasing in educational settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate school psychologists' perceptions on the effectiveness and generalization of social skills interventions for students with ASD. Training and confidence of providing services to students with ASD was also examined in the study. A survey was administered to a sample of school psychologists from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). In total, 221 responses were received and 136 of those responders indicated that they have implemented or organized a social skills intervention for a student(s) with ASD. It was found that the majority of school psychologists were implementing, organizing or recommending Social Stories and Pivotal Response Training/Direct Instruction interventions. It was also discovered that Pivotal Response Training/ Direct Instruction was perceived as one of the most effective social skills interventions. Peer mediated interventions were perceived to be better at generalizing social skills interactions outside of training. School psychologists rated their confidence in providing direct/indirect social skills interventions as moderate.

This thesis comprises three main sections: a literature review, research report and a critical appraisal of the research process. The literature review is generic across a number of health professions and begins by placing supervision within its historical context followed by an attempt to clarify our current understanding of supervision. The literature relating to effective supervision is presented, with the supervisory working alliance being identified as potentially one of the most important common factors in the change process of supervision (Ellis, 1991). A review of supervision models suggests that they provide a structure for understanding the roles, relationships, responsibilities and processes integral to the practice of supervision. The review attempts to clarify the current state of supervision training, highlighting the lack of attention that has been paid to the process by which individuals learn to become effective supervisees and supervisors. It is concluded that there is a need for further research in the area of training for both supervisees and supervisors. The research report comprises a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the supervision experiences of six Chartered Counselling Psychologists. The thematic content that emerged indicated a lack of preparation for the role of supervisee and a lack of formal training for the supervisory role. The findings revealed that the participants relied upon self-directed learning, their previous experience and their therapeutic skills to inform their supervisory practice. The findings also highlighted the critical role of the supervisory relationship for both supervisee and supervisor in managing the anxieties generated by this lack of preparation and training as well as in supporting the learning and development of all involved in the relationship. The final section is the researcher’s critical appraisal of the research process.

Objectives: Inclusion of sociopolitical context in therapeutic interventions is under-researched, largely limited to practitioners’ addressing diversity issues in therapy. Relevant studies have shown both trainees and qualified practitioners experience anxiety and discomfort associated with uncertainties about effectively incorporating diversity and sociopolitical context. Although various models exist to aid systematic case conceptualisation incorporating sociopolitical factors, these are not widely used. The majority of relevant literature continues to concentrate on idiosyncratic conceptual models specific to theoretical approaches. This study aimed to discover how qualified practitioners currently conceptualise and incorporate diversity and sociopolitical factors into practice. Design: Given the lack of research available to inform the area, a grounded theory study was conducted as an exploratory exercise. The qualitative approach was adopted to investigate practitioners’ subjective experiences of their current practice. Constructivist assumptions underpinned the approach to the data, leading to use of Charmaz’s (2006) version of the grounded theory approach. Method: Theoretical sampling was used to recruit the 13 participants. Two focus groups and 8 individual interviews were conducted. Analysis: Two models emerged, representing the processes practitioners engaged in to “find a comfortable fit”, and the range of contexts within which the processes took place. Personal and professional dissonance emerged as a central feature of practitioner development. Discussion: The study highlighted the contribution of dissonance and the situated nature of the practitioner as major contributors affecting how sociopolitical issues are conceptualised and addressed in therapy. Further research is needed to clarify how these factors may most usefully contribute to best practice. However, multiple ecological contexts cited as levels of influence add a degree of complexity that will require operationalizing by those wishing to investigate this area in the future.

Background: Stress and burnout is often reported within the ‘human service’ professions. A systematic review aimed to ascertain the prevalence of stress and burnout within clinical psychologists, and the coping strategies utilised by members of this profession. Specifically, the role of clinical psychologists that work with people with intellectual disabilities and behaviour that challenges may, arguably, be particularly challenging, given the risks inherent in behaviour that challenges. Previous work has found that paid and family carers for this population experience substantial levels of stress. However, little is known about the experiences of clinical psychologists who may play a pivotal role in the multi-disciplinary team supporting individuals and their carers. Methods: The systematic review explores the prevalence of stress, burnout and coping in clinical psychologists. An electronic review and hand search of the literature was completed. The quality of all eligible articles was assessed, and themes within the findings were discussed using a narrative synthesis approach. The subsequent empirical article explores the perspectives of 14 female clinical psychologists. Thematic analysis was utilised to derive themes from their interview transcripts. Results: Eight studies met inclusion criteria for the review; findings suggest that a large proportion of clinical psychologists experience symptoms of stress and burnout. Nevertheless, most psychologists also experience high levels of personal achievement in their role. Within the empirical study, two overarching themes were apparent across participants. These included difficult and positive experiences. Participants reported barriers to influencing change and feelings of stress, worry, anxiety, self-doubt and frustration within the role. However, supervision and support from colleagues appeared to moderate difficult emotions. All conveyed a sense of reward within their role. Conclusions: Comparable to other ‘human service’ professionals, clinical psychologists experience symptoms of stress and burnout. With regard to clinical psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities and behaviour that challenges, it appears that supervision and support from colleagues is key in managing difficult emotions. Based on the findings, provisions that are believed to improve clinical psychologists’ experiences are considered.

Aim: Knowledge of the experience of qualified BME clinical psychologists in clinical practice is currently lacking in the research literature. The aim of the current study was to explore the lived experience of qualified BME clinical psychologists currently employed in the National Health Service (NHS). By investigating this under-researched topic, the study hopes to shed light on the impact on clinicians' personal and professional identity of practicing within a profession that lacks cultural diversity. It is hoped that the results of this study will contribute to ongoing efforts to diversify the profession, improve our knowledge of the experience of BME groups in the helping profession and also challenge current misconceptions concerning the BME experience. Method: A mixed method qualitative approach was employed for this study. Repertory grids and semi-structured interviews were conducted with six female qualified BME clinical psychologists who are currently working in the NHS. They had been qualified between three and sixteen years. Their repertory grids were analysed using Idiogrid and their accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Four master themes emerged from the analysis and were supported by the findings from the repertory grids showing that BME clinical psychologists feel that they stand out as different on account of their ethnic difference. The analytic procedure also highlighted how participants have to find a way to negotiate their cultural and professional values whilst also sitting with the uncertainty of their experiences in the profession. The final theme relates to the privilege that participants held in making it as a clinical psychologist. Implications: Initiatives to increase cultural competency and sensitivity need to be addressed by the profession. Efforts to increase ethnic diversity should be followed through to ensure practitioners are not left on the fringes of the profession on account of their minority ethnicity.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T16:34:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROSANE SILVA DE OLIVEIRA.pdf: 257435 bytes, checksum: 930f04b8209408beaa0c5e2e0f8c213a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-10-27 / The central theme of this thesis addresses the practices of hospital psychologists and chaplains in loss by death situations. The thesis purpose is to understand the processes of receiving, caring for and advising carried out by psychologists and chaplains in situations of death; and investigating the similarities and differences between these professionals in their methods of receiving, caring for, and advising in situations of loss by death. The research subjects included 1 Protestant Chaplain, 1 Chaplain Priest of St. Camillo, and 2 psychologists, all of whom work with pastoral care and psychological assistance in hospitals. The qualitative method of investigation used in this research is the Grounded Theory (PIRES 2001) whose data categorization and interpretation considers all verbal content, respecting each word spoken by the subject. The chaplain was interviewed in her office at the university where she works and the other subjects were interviewed in the hospital itself, on which occasion we asked them to speak about their working methods in the hospital setting. Through the results obtained it was possible to verify that there still today is difficulty in dealing with the term death and in defining the concept of death, both in the religious and psychological realm. There is a very strong culture, which surrounds human relations and makes our understanding more difficult, impeding us from mentioning the word death. It was possible to identify divergences in the daily practices of both chaplains and psychologists with respect to the Methods and Techniques, as these become confused at moment of receiving, advising, and giving support to persons that are confronting loss by death. Both chaplains and psychologists said that spirituality is a resource used to confront this loss by death and the suggestions and feelings of those interviewed in relation to their practices was that the professionals need space of expression in order for the their work to become fully integrated, need to provide support to the caregivers, and need to demystify the chaplain s work and the need for the work of the psychologists to be extended to hospital employees. We concluded that through the research carried out there is confusion in the roles or functions between the Chaplain and Psychologist. This confusion puts into question the very professional, role, or techniques of intervention. This suggests that there is a need in the education of these professionals for clarification of information regarding their role when faced with loss by death. / Este trabalho traz como tema central às práticas de capelães e psicólogos hospitalares junto às pessoas em situação de perda por morte. Os objetivos desse trabalho foi compreender os processos de acolhimento, cuidado e aconselhamento que são realizados por psicólogos e capelães nas situações de luto; e investigar as semelhanças e diferenças nas práticas de acolhimento, cuidado e aconselhamento entre esses profissionais nas situações de luto por morte. Foram sujeitos desta pesquisa 1 Capelã protestante, 1 Capelão Padre Camiliano, e 2 Psicólogas, que trabalhavam com acolhimento, cuidado, aconselhamento pastoral e psicológico em hospitais. O método de investigação qualitativo utilizado nesta pesquisa foi a Grounded Teory , que categoriza dados e cuja interpretação é realizada considerando todo o conteúdo verbal, respeitando-se cada palavra dada pelo sujeito. A Capelã foi entrevistada em sua sala de atendimento na universidade onde trabalha e os demais sujeitos foram entrevistados nas próprias dependências dos hospitais, ocasião em que solicitamos que falassem sobre suas práticas de trabalho no contexto hospitalar. Pelos resultados obtidos foi possível verificar que existe ainda hoje uma dificuldade para lidar com o termo morte e para definir o conceito de morte, tanto no âmbito religioso, como no psicológico. Existe uma cultura muito forte, que cerca as relações humanas e que dificulta a nossa compreensão e que nos impede de mencionar a palavra morte. Foi possível identificar divergências na prática diária tanto dos capelães, quanto das psicólogas, em relação aos seus Métodos e Técnicas, pois eles se confundem na hora do acolhimento, do aconselhamento, do apoio dado às pessoas que estão passando pela perda por morte. Tanto os capelães, como as psicólogas disseram que a espiritualidade é um recurso utilizado para o enfrentamento dessa perda por morte e as sugestões e sentimentos dos entrevistados em relação as suas práticas foram que os profissionais necessitam de um espaço de expressão, para o desenvolvimento de um trabalho integrado, para um suporte aos cuidadores, para a necessidade de se desmistificar o trabalho do capelão e da necessidade do trabalho das psicólogas se estender aos funcionários do hospital. Concluímos que através da pesquisa realizada apresenta-se confusão nos papéis ou funções entre Capelão e Psicólogo. Esta confusão coloca em dúvida a própria profissão, atuação ou técnicas de intervenção. Isto sugere que há necessidade, na formação destes profissionais, de esclarecimentos ou conhecimentos sobre sua atuação diante da perda por morte

Although it is not a professional requirement, research shows that some Trainee Clinical Psychologists (CPs) access PT (PT) whilst training (Nel, Pezzolesi & Stott, 2012). CPs' practice is moving towards the Reflective-Scientist-Practitioner Model, therefore identifying ways that CPs may develop reflective skills is required. Most other therapeutic trainings have PT as a requirement (Malikiosi-Loizos 2013), which is suggested as a method of developing reflective skills (Lavender, 2003; Wigg Cushway & Neal, 2011). Little research has investigated the use of PT by Trainee CPs. The current study explored processes by which 12 Trainee CPs experienced their own (PT), and how these processes related to their development whilst training. Participants were interviewed using single, semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using Constructivist Grounded Theory (Charmaz, 2014). Two models were constructed, these described participants' decision to access PT mediated by anticipating or experiencing distress and learning about the self through PT. Participants seemed to develop and learn about themselves in three domains; 1) Learning about me: Personally; 2) Learning about me: Professionally; and 3) Learning about me: Being a client. I understand this development occurred through the continuous process of participants taking a dilemma to PT, reflecting upon the dilemma, and thereby acquiring a different understanding of themselves. These experiences apparently permit participants to integrate personal attributes into their professional identities and to model positive experiences from their own therapy in their practice. The results support PT as a method of developing competencies required within the Reflective Practitioner Model, implying that the use of PT for Trainee CPs should be considered within professional training. Furthermore, participants described emotional struggles during training which they perceived, according to professional discourses, to be unacceptable. This implies that evaluating formal and informal support systems for Trainee CPs is essential.

No description available.

O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender como psicólogos porto-alegrenses estão vivenciando as tarefas evolutivas do desenvolvimento de carreira inerentes ao estágio de estabelecimento, de acordo com a teoria de Donald Super. Além disso, buscou-se verificar as diferenças percebidas entre a realização das tarefas do desenvolvimento de carreira de psicólogos com relação ao tipo de vínculo empregatício, seja ele público, privado ou autônomo e, também, conhecer como os profissionais relacionam a atual conjuntura sócio-econômica na inserção do psicólogo no mercado de trabalho. Foram entrevistados 15 trabalhadores psicólogos (12 mulheres e 3 homens) com idades entre 30 e 38 anos, escolhidos de modo a contemplar a forma de seu contrato trabalhista (público, privado ou autônomo). A entrevista considerou as tarefas do desenvolvimento de carreira que dizem respeito ao estágio de estabelecimento: estabilização, consolidação e progresso. Os dados coletados foram analisados qualitativamente. Os resultados apontaram seis categorias relacionadas ao estabelecimento de carreira dos psicólogos participantes: a rede de relacionamento, o processo desenvolvimental, a realização profissional, a legalização do vínculo de trabalho, a preocupação com o desempenho e a busca constante por qualificação. / The objective of this study was to understand how psychologists from Porto Alegre are experiencing developmental tasks of career establishment stage, according to Donald Super’s theory. In this research there were interviewed 15 psychologists (12 women and 3 men) aged between 30 and 38 years old, chosen to reflect the form of their labor contract (public, private or autonomous). In addition, we attempted to verify the perceived differences between the tasks of the career development of psychologists regarding the type of employment relationship, whether public, private or autonomous, and also know how professionals relate to current socio- economic configuration in the placing of psychologists in the labor market. The interview included career development tasks related to establishment stage: stabilization, consolidation and progress. Data collected were analyzed using qualitative research methods. The results showed six categories associated with participant’s career establishment: relationship network, developmental process, professional achievement, work contracts’ legalization, performance concern and constantly seeking qualification.

Aim of this thesis is to look at the problematics of function of the school psychologist on primary school and show how the school psychologist get on with individual teachers. School psychology, pedagogic psychology and their history will be explained in the theoretical part of the thesis. Then we look at the history of function of the school psychologist on primary school in the Czech republic and Slovakia. We look at its cooperation with other entities - parents, students or other institions. Practical part of this thesis consist of interview with school psychologists and teachers. The aim is to analyse relations between them and determine whether is a school psychologist respected figure.