Mending broken hearts: marriage and survival following cardiac surgery

Marriage has long been linked to lower risk for adult mortality in population and clinical studies. In a regional sample of patients (n = 569) undergoing cardiac surgery, we compared 5-year hazards of mortality for married persons with those of widowed, separated or divorced, and never married persons using data from medical records and psychosocial interviews. After adjusting for demographics and pre- and postsurgical health, unmarried persons had 1.90 times the hazard of mortality of married persons; the disaggregated widowed, never married, and divorced or separated groups had similar hazards, as did men and women. The adjusted hazard for immediate postsurgical mortality was 3.33; the adjusted hazard for long-term mortality was 1.71, and this was mediated by married persons' lower smoking rates. The findings underscore the role of spouses (both male and female) in caregiving during health crises and the social control of health behaviors.     

Healing an Invisible Minority

Abstract

Up to two million gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons have been in a mixed-orientation marriage as have an unknown number of transgender people. Not all partners come out while married. When they do, their heterosexual spouses and children are affected. Straight spouses face complex issues related to sexuality, marriage, parenting, identity, integrity, and belief systems. Children cope according to their age and developmental stage. Since most of the attention is focused on the GLBT persons, their partners are generally overlooked. The Straight Spouse Network (SSN) provides peer support and research-based information to help them cope, heal, and grow in strength, integrity, and understanding, thereby becoming models for their children. Many become advocates for social justice. Counseling by trained therapists knowledgeable about mixed-orientation marriages can assist them and their families to resolve their issues more effectively.     

Healing of genital injuries

Child sexual abuse as well as accidental trauma may cause acute injuries in the anogenital area. Most data on residual findings following genital trauma come from longitudinal studies of children who have been sexually assaulted, undergone surgical procedures, or experienced accidental trauma. Like injuries in other part parts of the body, such injuries undergo a predictable pattern of healing. Most superficial injuries heal without any residual evidence. Deeper injuries, as well as those that become infected or experience repeated disruption, may produce permanent changes. While the presence of such changes supports allegations of prior anogenital trauma, their absence does not preclude the trauma from having occurred.     

Complementary Practices and Herbal Healing

Abstract

As a means of achieving increased levels of health and Wellness, complementary methods such as alternative approaches and medicinal preparations are being utilized to supplement or replace what has been viewed as traditional health care practice. To promote effective, efficient, and comprehensive helping relationships, social workers need to be cognizant that clients are using these methods and products, and how this use can affect the health care services they receive. This article identifies and discusses some of the basic types of alternative practices, herbal preparations, essential oils, and flower essences; as well as, the problems that can result from inadequate knowledge of the use or misuse of these products. In conclusion, emphasis is placed on increasing social work awareness and education in this area.     

Healing is an Unenforceable Order

No abstract available for this article.     

Feeling good about recycled hearts.

The chair of the Massachusetts Task Force on Organ Transplantation sets forth the public policy issues at stake.     

Dualistic hearts: social class, education, different cultures, and lesbian love in desert hearts

Donna Deitch's Desert Hearts, one of the highest-grossing lesbian films ever made, is a groundbreaking and poignant movie about self-discovery and self-acceptance. This article focuses on the societal obstacles-such as vastly different social classes, cultures, and educational backgrounds-that Vivian and Cay must overcome in order to begin their relationship. The article also shows the taboos faced by gays in the 1950s, such as the firing of college professors in that era. The latent lesbian desire of the homophobic Frances, which is rarely addressed in criticism of the film, is discussed in detail.     

A Framework for Healing from Loss

ABSTRACT

Many behavioral problems of youth may be viewed as complications with their grieving. This study investigates defenses which emerge in the face of repeated losses and trauma early in life and proposes a framework for understanding what is happening intra-psychically with youth who have such defenses. Inter-subjective and relational theory, early trauma theory, and social constructionist theory each inform this integrated framework for social work practice. Included is an extended cross-cultural case study of therapeutic work with a Latino youth in a community-based setting. Also included are clinical considerations for working with protective defenses emanating from early loss and trauma.     

Issues of Divine Healing in Psychotherapy

Abstract

Despite Biblical and empirical support for divine healing, there are several barriers to accepting it as an aspect of psychotherapy for many professionals and religious people. Two of the major barriers to the acceptance of divine healing are professional ideologies and theories. These professional stances likely play a critical role in the disinterest in religion and spiritual experiences reported by the majority of professionals that conduct psychotherapy.

Another barrier is the divergent theologies regarding spiritual experiences such as divine healing. Many persons of theistic faith subscribe to theologies that often impede experiences of healing by the Holy Spirit. Finally, the scientific method is often used to address questions about spiritual experiences that are more likely conundrums. However, belief in divine healing ultimately is based on faith.     

The Sweat Lodge Ceremony for Spiritual Healing

Abstract

Of the many Indigenous ceremonies that have a spiritual component, few are as immediate and powerful in restoring a balance of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well-being as the sweat lodge. Sweat lodges are often incorporated into healing programs that serve Aboriginal people, and are also available to non-Indigenous people. Their appeal across cultural and religious traditions stems from a nondoctrinal view of spirituality. A preliminary study of effect of the sweat lodge ceremony indicated measurable changes in spirituality. Additional analysis of the data suggests that existential coherence among participants increases as a result of the ceremony. The sweat lodge ceremony may help participants to increase their sense of spirituality and connection to each other.     

Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Theoretical Model

Childhood sexual abuse is a prevalent social and health care problem. The processes by which individuals heal from childhood sexual abuse are not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical model to describe how adults heal from childhood sexual abuse. Community recruitment for an ongoing broader project on sexual violence throughout the lifespan, referred to as the Sexual Violence Study, yielded a subsample of 48 women and 47 men who had experienced childhood sexual abuse. During semistructured, open-ended interviews, they were asked to describe their experiences with healing from childhood sexual abuse and other victimization throughout their lives. Constructivist grounded theory methods were used with these data to develop constructs and hypotheses about healing. For the Sexual Violence Study, frameworks were developed to describe the participants' life patterns, parenting experiences, disclosures about sexual violence, spirituality, and altruism. Several analytic techniques were used to synthesize the findings of these frameworks to develop an overarching theoretical model that describes healing from childhood sexual abuse. The model includes four stages of healing, five domains of functioning, and six enabling factors that facilitate movement from one stage to the next. The findings indicate that healing is a complex and dynamic trajectory. The model can be used to alert clinicians to a variety of processes and enabling factors that facilitate healing in several domains and to guide discussions on important issues related to healing from childhood sexual abuse.     

Voices of Healing and Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse continues to occur for a significant number of children, often having deleterious consequences for survivors’ physical and mental health. Research has thoroughly explored various consequences as a result of child sexual abuse, but scholars and practitioners know less about the healing processes from survivors’ viewpoints. Using a constructivist grounded theory design, this study examined perceptions of healing in 10 female survivors of child sexual abuse. Results conclude with a theoretical model of healing, capturing the significance of supportive relationships, internal characteristics, turning points, and sources of active healing. Important sources of active healing include therapy, informal and formal education, compassion and empathy, blame attribution to abusers, and confronting abusers. Limitations and implications for research and practice are discussed.     

Healing from childhood sexual abuse: a theoretical model

Childhood sexual abuse is a prevalent social and health care problem. The processes by which individuals heal from childhood sexual abuse are not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical model to describe how adults heal from childhood sexual abuse. Community recruitment for an ongoing broader project on sexual violence throughout the lifespan, referred to as the Sexual Violence Study, yielded a subsample of 48 women and 47 men who had experienced childhood sexual abuse. During semistructured, open-ended interviews, they were asked to describe their experiences with healing from childhood sexual abuse and other victimization throughout their lives. Constructivist grounded theory methods were used with these data to develop constructs and hypotheses about healing. For the Sexual Violence Study, frameworks were developed to describe the participants' life patterns, parenting experiences, disclosures about sexual violence, spirituality, and altruism. Several analytic techniques were used to synthesize the findings of these frameworks to develop an overarching theoretical model that describes healing from childhood sexual abuse. The model includes four stages of healing, five domains of functioning, and six enabling factors that facilitate movement from one stage to the next. The findings indicate that healing is a complex and dynamic trajectory. The model can be used to alert clinicians to a variety of processes and enabling factors that facilitate healing in several domains and to guide discussions on important issues related to healing from childhood sexual abuse.     

Participation in Spiritual Healing,Religiosity, and Mental Health*

Survey data are used to examine the relationship between religiosity and psychosocial distress among persons in Christian, charismatic (n = 83), “New Age,”“metaphysical” healing groups (n = 93), and a comparison group of medical patients (n = 137). Data partially support the hypothesis that religiosity is an independent predictor of positive mental health. However, the relationships vary by type of healing group, by psychosocial distress indicator used, and by type of religious belief. These findings are discussed within the context of self selection into healing groups, the social causes of distress, and the magico-religious nature of healing groups.     

Healing scents: an overview of clinical aromatherapy for emotional distress

Individuals in emotional distress are often treated with psychotherapeutic agents, but other treatment options exist. One safe and effective adjunct for the prevention and treatment of emotional distress is aromatherapy. This article describes the physiological effects of scent, reviews the research on aromatherapy, presents practical information on the use of clinical aromatherapy for emotional distress, and suggests resources for additional training and education.