When Less is More: Lessons from 25 Years of Attempting to Maximize the Effect of Each (and Often Only) Therapeutic Encounter

The three main findings of studies conducted by Hoyt, Rosenbaum, and myself during the years 1986–1990 at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, were

• 1 . Single session is the most common length of psychotherapy.
• 2 . The first session in psychotherapy is potentially the most therapeutic and often has the greatest influence on the outcome of therapy.
• 3 . Single session therapy (SST) is the most cost‐effective mode of therapy.

The fact that less is very often better in psychotherapy is by now one of the most validated and consistent findings in evidence‐based psychotherapy research. We now think of it as a very common, very useful way of conducting therapy, employing many different approaches and methods to address a wide range of presenting problems. In retrospect, 25 years later, I believe that the essence of single session therapy is still about being present in each and every session as a whole. The goal has always been to make the most of every therapeutic session, whether seeing a client only once or over a long period of time. In a personal communication in 1978, Haley (in Talmon, 1990) predicted that a ‘single interview could become the standard for estimating how long and how successful therapy should be.’ This article explains why it didn't happen.     

Bad Therapy A Training Technique

This paper describes a new training technique. The therapist, with a role-playing family, is instructed to do “bad therapy” — to make the family worse. Usually the “patients” and observers regard the “bad therapy” as beneficial — in fact, better than before. Several examples are given and a short discussion follows. “When I am good I am very very good, But when I am bad I am better”.     

Evaluating the performance capability of a multi-organization system

A model for evaluating the performance capability of a multi-organization system is introduced. The model is based on hierarchical-modular decomposition of the components which determine system performance up to the level where they can be measured quantitatively, or at least qualitatively, in an objective or subjective manner. Performance measures are obtained by incorporating these components into multi-attribute evaluation functions. The model provides decision makers with a tool for quantitative assessment of performance, identification of bottlenecks, a framework for ‘what-if’ simulation and a mean for conflict resolution during planning. Application of the model to the Israeli Water Resources Development System provides an illustrative example.     

Programmed case material as an aid in teaching ego psychology: A methodology for clinical social work education

Four specific problems inherent in the relationship between the theory and practice of contemporary ego psychology limit the effective transmission of ego psychological concepts and principles in clinical social work education. These problems are further conceived as impeding the student's ability to integrate theory and clinical reality, and ultimately reduce the quality of the student's facility with practical technique. As one approach to these problems, this article presents the rationale and design for a teaching aid utilizing programmed case material and self-assessment modules as a methodology for enhancing the integration of theory and the clinical realities explicated by theory. The programmedCasebook and its implementation are illustrated. The values of theCasebook for classroom learning are discussed, relating the anticipated educational experience to the four specific problem areas outlined.     

SUBURBAN LABOR MARKETS, URBAN LABOR MARKETS, AND GENDER INEQUALITY IN EARNINGS

This study focuses on the role of labor market location in generating gender inequality in earnings. Specifically, the article examines whether suburban versus urban labor market conditions differentially affect gender-based earnings inequality. Tel Aviv metropolitan area labor force data support the thesis that women's tendency to settle for jobs in the vicinity of home is an exchange between economic opportunities and convenience, to avoid conflict with traditional roles. The cost of staying in the suburban labor market is greater for women than men, and suburban exceeds urban labor market gender-linked economic discrimination.     

Promotion according to who or what you know: managers' and workers' perception of factors influencing promotion

This paper presents partial findings of research examining the perceptions of managers and workers regarding promotions in the Israeli high-tech industry. A questionnaire containing a series of factors related to promotion was conducted with 95 workers and 36 managers in an international high-tech corporation's subsidiary located in Israel. The initial findings indicated a high degree of consent between workers and managers that the most important factor influencing promotion was success in projects. While workers and managers gave similar rankings for the most and least important factors influencing promotions, there were substantial differences in the ranking of the other factors. Among managers, education and multidisciplinary knowledge were ranked second and third, whereas among workers, politics and pressure on the supervisor were ranked second and third. The findings are discussed in terms of HRD in the organization.     

Social work in Israel: professional characteristics in an international comparative perspective

This article employs a comparative framework in the analysis of the professional characteristics of social work in Israel. Using the attributes and the power approaches to professions, Israeli social work is analysed according to eight variables: a protected 'trademark', monopoly over social care and delivery of services within state welfare systems, occupational autonomy, length of training and control over training, internal differentiation by levels of expertise and competence, professional organisation, a sanction-backed code of ethics, and material and symbolic rewards. The analysis reveals that Israeli social work has undergone an extensive professionalisation process and that it has characteristics that are not common in other countries. Initial explanations for this process are offered and discussed.     

Managing diverse risks: An integrative framework

Risk is a crucial part of any business and managing risk is an essential function for management. This paper reviews current managerial practice and academic research in managing diverse risks. There are numerous elements of risk, some exogenous to the firm and others that are endogenous. In recent years exogenous elements of risk have increased both in number and complexity, and distinctions have blurred between national and international elements of risks because of the integration across borders of markets, institutions, and political and operational risks. An explicit classification of risks as exogenous and endogenous will focus managerial attention to the changing exogenous elements, to the often ignored endogenous elements, and to the needed integration of managing exogenous and endogenous risks. While there is an increasing body of research examining risk, there is a need to examine exogenous risk elements as systems of risk rather than as independent elements and integrate endogenous elements including behavioral and incentive-related aspects with the systems of exogenous risks. Additionally, international case studies and surveys about risk perceptions and attitudes of managers across different organizations and within levels of organizations will improve our understanding of the diverse risks faced by multi-national corporations.