Book Reviews, Articles
Book on play is research-based, practical
By New England Psychologist Staff
In “Play and Creativity in Psychotherapy,” Terry Marks-Tarlow, Marion Solomon, and Daniel J. Siegel demonstrate that play can have a significant role in the healing process. Taking the time to relearn how to play as an adult can help build resilience, creativity, and spontaneity for both clients and therapists. As children, it is natural to explore and use play as a way of learning. But as adults, we are supposed to be more serious. We are often overly concerned with how we appear to others, and too often move through life with the logical parts of our brains. Fortunately, it [More]
“Interviewing Children: The Science of Conversation in Forensic Contexts”
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
“Interviewing Children: The Science of Conversation in Forensic Contexts By Debra Ann Poole American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2016 Book on interviewing is `top of the line’ Reviewed by James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D This book is an in-depth examination of forensic interviewing with children, written by a psychologist who specializes in eyewitness testimony and conversational techniques. Her thesis is that “adults usual style of conversing with children is inappropriate in forensic contexts,” causing child informants to speculate, misinterpret questions and answer falsely. The book describes forensic interviewing as a problem solving approach “that will decide which of several [More]
“Emotion-Focused Therapy For Generalized Anxiety”
By Kerry Morrison, Psy.D
“Emotion-Focused Therapy For Generalized Anxiety” By Jeanne C. Watson & Leslie S. Greenberg American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2017 Book provides novel approach to treating GAD Reviewed by Kerry Morrison, Psy.D. According to Watson & Greenberg, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a serious disorder that impairs functioning and quality of life for between 1.9-5.4 percent of the population, primarily women. It is the most common of anxiety disorders, yet is often under-recognized with only one-third of those afflicted getting treatment. GAD can be treatment-resistant with only 50 percent responding to short-term therapy. The remaining clients do not respond or relapse. [More]
Transforming Long-Term Care: Expanded Roles for Mental Health Professionals
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
Transforming Long-Term Care: Expanded Roles for Mental Health Professionals By Kelly O’Shea Carney and Margaret P. Norris American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2017 Book explores long-term care’s challenges, opportunities Reviewed by James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D Historically, mental health professionals, including psychologists, have had limited roles in long-term care settings for older adults. However, geropsychology has become an active discipline and represents solid ground for innovative practice and research inquiry. Written by two psychologists, this book encourages mental health professionals to expand service options within nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings. It provides a [More]
“Managing Therapy-Interfering Behavior: Strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy”
By Kerry Morrison, Psy.D
“Managing Therapy-Interfering Behavior: Strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy” By Alexander L. Chapman and M. Zachary Rosenthal American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2016 Navigation of therapy impasses is focus of ‘helpful’ volume Reviewed by Kerry Morrison, Psy.D. Authors Alexander L. Chapman and M. Zachary Rosenthal address a topic with which many therapists are quite familiar: the clients who just seem to get in their own way and prevent treatment from progressing. These are clients that display excessive talking, have serial crises, arrive late to sessions, “forget” to do homework and “forget” what was discussed at the last session. Any behavior [More]
“Psychoeducational Assessment and Intervention for Ethnic Minority Children”
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
“Psychoeducational Assessment and Intervention for Ethnic Minority Children” Edited by Scott L. Graves, Jr., and Jamilia J. Blake American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2016 Authors compare standards, offer historical perspective Reviewed by James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D Public schools within the United States continue to embrace racial and ethnic diversity among the student population. Notably, there are guidelines for multicultural education which continue to expand and evolve with variable success and research supported effectiveness. This book is one of several publications in the Applying Psychology in the Schools series produced by the American Psychological Association. The purpose of [More]
“Innovative Investigations of Language in Autism Spectrum Disorder”
By Kerry Morrison, Psy.D
“Innovative Investigations of Language in Autism Spectrum Disorder” Edited by Letitia R. Naigles American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2017 Authors provide insights about language’s role in ASD Reviewed by Kerry Morrison, Psy.D. As any clinician can attest, the diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been on the rise for the last 10-20 years. What was once a very uncommon diagnosis for those working with children in outpatient or school settings, has now become a mainstay. Yet, the understanding of the ASD diagnosis and how language fits into it is a hotly debated issue among [More]
Starting Your Career in Academic Psychology
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
“Starting Your Career in Academic Psychology” By Robert J. Sternberg American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2017 Book full of practical advice Reviewed by James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D Psychologist and author Robert J. Sternberg is the perfect person to write a book about starting a career in academic psychology. Currently a professor of human development, he has previously served as a university dean, provost and president. He is active as a researcher and student mentor, has published widely, and was past president of the American Psychological Association. Sternberg wrote this book “for graduate students and postdocs who are just [More]
Trauma-Informed Treatment & Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence
By Kerry Morrison, Psy.D
“Trauma-Informed Treatment & Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence.” By Casey T. Taft, Christopher M. Murphy, and Suzannah K. Creech American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2016 Book examines the impact of trauma Reviewed by Kerry Morrison, Psy.D. Trauma, especially childhood trauma, is life altering. It has pervasive effects on all spheres of functioning and relationship development. Trauma also can hinder therapeutic relationships that attempt to treat interpersonal violence. Models of treatment for intimate partner violence must be trauma-informed and recognize the multitude of ways trauma impacts behavioral change. Trauma-informed care has recently been recognized as essential for treatment of survivors of [More]
Empirically Based Play Interventions for Children
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
“Empirically Based Play Interventions for Children” Edited by Linda A. Reddy, Tara M. Files-Hall, and Charles E. Schaefer American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2016 Book on play therapy filled with advice, direction Reviewed by James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D Play therapy is perhaps the oldest and most popular therapeutic approach with children. Importantly, there are different theoretical models for implementing play interventions, notably client-centered, cognitive-behavioral, family, and psychodynamic, among others. As this book makes clear, most child therapists have traditionally combined interventions without regard to unifying concepts and principles. However, play therapy has been and is often dismissed [More]