Use Of Experiential Activities Research Articles

Preparing for Strong Therapeutic Relationships: Creativity in Addictions Counselor Education

ABSTRACT In observation of empirical support and theoretical support for relational and attachment-based interventions in addictions counseling education and research, the authors explore the relational depth model as a potential training model in addictions counseling education. This piece offers training activities for addictions counseling educators targeted at enhancing student capacity and understanding of presence and connection with clients. The authors detail the use of experiential activities to enhance these capacities that include questions for reflection and discussion of application to practice. The authors develop the rationale for this training with a brief review of the relational depth literature and the recent addictions literature regarding research and training in relational factors in addictions counseling. Finally, the authors offer future implications for the addictions counseling education literature including the need for the development and empirical validation of relational training programs in addictions counseling education and practice.

Trainer Fidelity as a Predictor of Crisis Counselors' Behaviors With Callers Who Express Suicidal Thoughts.

The relationship between trainer fidelity during a two-day suicide prevention program for counselors at crisis centers and counselors' behaviors during calls from individuals with suicidal thoughts was examined. The study used two data sets from a randomized control trial of a suicide prevention program delivered by counselors at 17 crisis centers who had previously received training (train-the-trainer [TTT] approach). One data set examined counselors' behaviors by silently monitoring calls (N=764) to the crisis lines, and one assessed adherence to manual content and competence in delivery among trainers (N=34) by coding training videotapes. Multilevel modeling was used to account for nested data. Use of recommended behaviors by counselors was primarily related to trainers' competence in delivery of the program rather than adherence to the program content. Trainer selection for competence may be particularly critical for group-based TTT programs involving experienced counselors and the use of experiential activities.

The effectiveness and promising strategies of obesity prevention and treatment programmes among adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds: a systematic review.

This review aimed to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of obesity prevention and treatment programmes for adolescents from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. A secondary aim was to identify potential successful intervention strategies for this target group. PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library were searched from January 2000 up to February 2016. Intervention studies targeting adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds were included, with body mass index as outcome. Secondary outcomes were other adiposity measures, physical activity, diet, sedentary behaviour and screen time. Two independent reviewers extracted data, coded intervention strategies and conducted quality assessments. Fourteen studies were included: nine obesity prevention and five obesity treatment studies. Two preventive and four treatment studies showed significant beneficial effects on body mass index. Five of six studies (four preventive, one treatment studies) measuring dietary behaviour reported significant intervention effects. Evidence on other secondary outcomes was inconclusive. We found no conclusive evidence for which specific intervention strategies were particularly successful in preventing or treating obesity among disadvantaged adolescents. However, the current evidence suggests that involving adolescents in the development and delivering of interventions, the use of experiential activities and involvement of parents seem to be promising strategies. More high quality studies are needed. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42016041612.

Experiential Activities and Multicultural Counseling Competence Training

Counselor's multicultural counseling competence (attitudes/beliefs, knowledge, and skills) has been highlighted as an important ingredient in creating positive counseling outcomes when the clients are ethnic and racial minorities. The use of experiential activities in general, and games in particular, is presented as a potentially useful strategy to instill and enhance multicultural competence in counselor trainees. Illustrative games and guidelines for implementation are described.

Engagement and Termination in the Classroom:

Just as they have significance in shaping the helping relationship, engagement and termination can play a powerful role in the classroom. This paper describes the importance of attending to beginnings and endings both in practice and in teaching, discusses the use of activity based techniques, and specifically focuses on the use of experiential activities to enhance the engagement and termination processes in social work courses. The criteria for selecting, implementing and evaluating activities are reviewed and seven exercises are described in detail, offering instructors the opportunity to examine creative approaches for their own adaptation and use.