Psychotherapy of a preschool cancer survivor: Promoting mastery and understanding

The prolonged and invasive treatment common to cancer therapy protocols may lead to precocious defenses which impede the future development of preschool-aged cancer survivors. Focal play therapy offers the young cancer survivor a chance to understand and master the cancer experience. At present there are no accounts in the literature of the psychotherapy of young cancer survivors. This paper presents a detailed account of the therapy of a preschooler who survived a brain tumor, emphasizing the child's perspective on the cancer experience and an intervention approach which stresses mastery of developmental impasses, rather than psychopathology.     

Identifying male college students' perceived health needs, barriers to seeking help, and recommendations to help men adopt healthier lifestyles

Seven focus groups at a university campus were formed to identify college men's health concerns, barriers to seeking help, and recommendations to help college men adopt healthier lifestyles. Content analysis was used to identify and organize primary patterns in the focus-group data. Results of the study revealed that the college men were aware that they had important health needs but took little action to address them. The participants identified both physical and emotional health concerns. Alcohol and substance abuse were rated as the most important issues for men. The greatest barrier to seeking services was the men's socialization to be independent and conceal vulnerability. The most frequently mentioned suggestions for helping men adopt healthier lifestyles were offering health classes, providing health information call-in service, and developing a men's center. Implications of the results are discussed.     

Strategic planning in the Thomas Cook group

Until Midland Bank took control of Thomas Cook in 1972 there were only rudimentary accounts in the Group and no systematic attempt to budget its operations. An immediate priority was to establish an effective finance function and the first planning activities of the Group were centred in this area. At the beginning of the annual planning cycle a Group Strategic Conference at Board level and a Group Planning Conference determine strategies and many territories follow this latter meeting with their own regional conference to discuss Plans, which are finalized and consolidated by computer into the Group Plan, to be ready for the start of the financial year.