Cost-effectiveness analysis of single-session walk-in counselling.

Background: An increasing number of family service agencies and community-based mental health service providers are implementing a single-session walk-in counselling (SSWIC) as an alternative to traditional counselling. However, few economic evaluations have been undertaken.

Aims: To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of two models of service delivery, SSWIC compared to being waitlisted for traditional counselling.

A comparison of walk-in counselling and the wait list model for delivering counselling services.

Background: Walk-in counselling has been used to reduce wait times but there are few controlled studies to compare outcomes between walk-in and the traditional model of service delivery.

Aims: To compare change in psychological distress by clients receiving services from two models of service delivery, a walk-in counselling model and a traditional counselling model involving a wait list.

Method: Mixed-methods sequential explanatory design including quantitative comparison of groups with one pre-test and two follow-ups, and qualitative analysis of interviews with a sub-sample.

Do therapists' beliefs about sexual offending affect counseling practices with women?

This study explored whether counseling practices with women survivors of child sexual abuse reflect the belief that women do not sexually abuse children. Canadian therapists (n = 164) who work with women survivors of child sexual abuse were surveyed about their beliefs about what constitutes child sexual abuse, who commits child sexual abuse, and their practices regarding inquiries about abusive behavior. A majority self-reported that they ask women and think it is important to ask but most believe that clients will not spontaneously self-disclose inappropriate sexual thoughts or behaviors.

The case for single-session therapy: does the empirical evidence support the increased prevalence of this service delivery model?

Background: A significant increase in the number of walk-in counselling clinics offering single-session therapy (SST) prompted this review of the empirical support for the effectiveness of SST.

Aims: The article is intended to (1) increase practitioners' knowledge of the empirical support for the effectiveness of single-session counselling with client populations typically served in community-based mental health and counselling agencies and (2) identify priorities for future research on SST.

Method: A thorough review of relevant databases was undertaken to locate published studies reporting client outcomes following SST.

Sustaining walk-in counselling services: an economic assessment from a pilot study.

Introducing single-session walk-in counselling services in a counselling agency virtually eliminated a lengthy wait list and reduced costly no-shows for scheduled counselling. A pilot study found that client distress decreased significantly following the single session, and a high proportion of clients were "ready for change." The service diverts clients from using hospitals and family doctors/walk-in clinics and toward using community social services.

Practical ways psychotherapy can support physical healthcare experiences for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Many survivors of child sexual abuse who engage in psychotherapy also experience physical health problems. This article summarizes the findings of a multiphased qualitative study about survivors' experiences in healthcare settings. The study informed the development of the Handbook on Sensitive Practice for Health Care Practitioners: Lessons from Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Schachter, Stalker, Teram, Lasiuk, & Danilkewich, 2009), which is intended to help healthcare providers from all disciplines understand the effect of child sexual abuse on some survivors' abilities to access and benefit from health care.

The case for integrating grounded theory and participatory action research: empowering clients to inform professional practice.

Grounded theory and participatory action research methods are distinct approaches to qualitative inquiry. Although grounded theory has been conceptualized in constructivist terms, it has elements of positivist thinking with an image of neutral search for objective truth through rigorous data collection and analysis. Participatory action research is based on a critique of this image and calls for more inclusive research processes.

Providing dental care to survivors of childhood sexual abuse: treatment considerations for the practitioner.

Background: Adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse frequently find dental treatment difficult to tolerate. Increased understanding of common long-term effects of this trauma may help dental professionals to respond more sensitively to patients who have experienced it.

Methods: The authors recruited 58 men and 19 women with self-reported histories of childhood sexual abuse from social agencies serving this population and interviewed the participants about their experiences with health care professionals, including dentists.

Insecure attachment as a predictor of outcome following inpatient trauma treatment for women survivors of childhood abuse.

The role of insecure attachment as a predictor of outcome was investigated in 134 women who reported histories of child abuse and completed an inpatient program for treatment of traumatic stress. Multiple linear regressions were used to predict the change scores on four outcome measures at discharge and 6-month follow-up. Higher levels of feared loss of the attachment figure independent of demographics, symptomatic severity, and trauma exposure consistently predicted poorer outcome at both post-tests.

Specialized inpatient trauma treatment for adults abused as children: a follow-up study.

Objective: The authors investigated outcome at discharge and at follow-up assessments for adults abused as children who completed a 6-week inpatient program for traumatic stress recovery.

Method: Participants were assessed at admission, discharge, and 3, 6, and 12 months postdischarge on measures of global symptom severity, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and disrupted beliefs. Two wait-list comparison groups were also assessed at two points in time for comparison with the discharge and 3-month postdischarge assessments of the treatment group.

Women survivors of child sexual abuse. How can health professionals promote healing?

Objective: To explore how health professionals can practise in ways sensitive to adult women survivors of child sexual abuse.

Design: Qualitative semistructured in-depth interviews.

Setting: Small and midsize cities in Ontario and Saskatchewan.