ENGAGING COMMUNITY IN A CYCLE OF PRAXIS

This study employed an action research model known as the community wellness cycle of praxis in research with culturally diverse community members from the St Albans region (Melbourne, Australia). The major aim of the study was to gain a theoretical and pragmatic understanding of well-being from a multicultural perspective. In order to meet this aim, a qualitative study was designed to find out (1) What are the community ideals; needs; and strengths of residents of St Albans, and (2) What actions can be undertaken to improve the well-being of the community? The research involved focus groups with a total of 29 Anglo, Maltese, Vietnamese and Italian community members. The first research question was addressed by asking community members systematically about positive and negative aspects of personal, relational and collective well-being. The second research question was addressed by asking community members to generate ideas on what could be done to improve well-being and by identifying issues of concern that emerged throughout the research. The issues identified by participants offer a rich picture of community ideals, strengths and needs, as well as possible actions that could improve personal, relational and collective wellness in St Albans.

Cette étude utilise un approche de recherche action connu sous le nom du cycle de bien-être de praxis de recherche avec des membres culturellement varies dans un banlieue de Melbourne (Australie). Le but principal de l’étude était de comprendre théoriquement et pragmatiquement bien-être dans d'une perspective multiculturelle. Dans ce perspective étude qualitative a été conçue pour identifier (1) ce que sont les opinions des groupes diverses; leurs besoins et leurs atouts, et (2) de quelles actions peuvent être entreprises affin d améliorer le bien-être de ces groupes? La recherche a utilisé 29 Anglo-Australiens, Maltais, Vietnamiens et Italiens. Les premières questions ce sont posées a propos des aspects positifs et négatifs de bien-être individuel et collectif. Ensuite des questions ont été demandé à propos des idées sur ce qui on pourrait être fait pour améliorer le bien-être et en identifiant leurs soucis. Les soucis identifiées par les participants offrent une image riche des images et des représentations leurs atouts leurs, aussi bien que les actions qui pourraient améliorer le bien-être individuel et collective.     

Coping with parental loss because of termination of parental rights

This article addresses the process by which children and adolescents cope with severe acute stress of parental loss from causes other than divorce or death. Participants were 60 children and adolescents from a residential treatment facility. Most had experienced neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, and their parents had their parential rights terminated. Measures of symptomatology indicated that children reported low levels of depressive symptoms, whereas caregivers reported the children were experiencing significant psychological problems. Children used avoidant coping strategies more often than emotion-focused coping strategies, which, in turn, were used more than problem-focused coping strategies. Results are discussed in terms of helping children cope with parental loss.     

COUNSELING BATTERED WOMEN FROM FUNDAMENTALIST CHURCHES*

In addition to the emotional, physical, and economic issues that all abused women face, battered women from fundamentalist churches have religious issues that need to be addressed. While therapists usually leave discussion of such matters to the clergy, in the case of domestic violence, the fundamentalist clergy is likely to be unsupportive or to even unknowingly endanger battered women because of their legalistic attitudes about marriage and sex roles. It is, thus, imperative that the professional counselor understand these issues and be willing to discuss them. This article explains five teachings of fundamentalist churches, explores how they help perpetuate violent relationships, and offers suggestions to therapists on how to speak with clients about these issues.