Week 7: Metaphors

Topic: Examine psychological support for using metaphor in language to facilitate change.


In his article, The Law of Metaphors, Thomas R. Hersh discusses very interesting findings on the use of metaphorical language in the field of psychology. He mentions, "something like 97% of all talk about psychological phenomena is metaphor." He discusses the fact that psychological talk likens individuals with objects because there is no other way to describe mental phenomena in an interesting and understandable way. Hersh concludes the article explaining that metaphorical thinking requires imaginative thinking and the knowledge created through metaphorical and imaginative thinking is different than plain physical knowledge.

It seems as though metaphors provide an opportunity for clients to look at themselves in a novel way and create new knowledge of themselves and their ability to handle life on life's terms. With Hersh's mention of the need for imagination, I wonder if clients with broader or more creative imaginations will be more successful or gain the most out of their experiences.

It appears psychologists recognize the benefits of utilizing metaphorical language in therapy. Goodtherapy.org provides information on an interesting therapist training program called "Mining Your Metaphors" by Gina Campbell; "Clean Language and Symbolic Modeling are largely language-based therapeutic processes that engage a client experientially with his/her internalized metaphors to foster clarity, enhance resources, and promote lasting change at the mind/body level." The description highlights the strong bond and trusting relationship that is created with this form of therapy. It mentions how this form of therapy promotes the client as the expert. 

This type of therapist training and other forms of 'metaphor therapy,' appear to provide a wonderful opportunity for the co-creation of meaning by both client and therapist. Like I mentioned before, this element appears critical to successfully facilitating any sort of change in the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of clients. So, how can Adventure Therapists ensure that they have the tools necessary to properly facilitate such experiences? Should Adventure Therapists rely on their own experience or would it be helpful to develop a therapy training program like Gina Campbell's specifically for AT? I definitely feel this is the type of skill where practice makes progress, but how can professionals promote a speedy progression? 


References:

Gass, M. A., Gillis, H. L., & Russell, K. C. (2012). Adventure therapy: Theory, research, and practice. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Goodtherapy.org (2013). Metaphor Therapy- Training. Retrieved from: http://www.goodtherapy.org/training-courses/clean-language-symbolic-modeling-metaphor-therapy.html

Hersh, T. R. Clinical Psychology: Psychological Thoughts. The Law of Metaphors. Retrieved from: http://www.psychological-observations.com/psychological-laws/law-of-metaphors

Week 5: AT Research

Topic: Pick one of the outcome areas of AT research and link them to research in one or more of the following areas: Abnormal, Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive, Developmental, Learning, and Social.

In Adventure Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, Gass, Gillis, and Russell include the results of a few studies that showed a decrease in client substance abuse after an AT experience (2012). The key word here is ‘few’. The authors make it clear that more research with greater significance must be obtained to understand the relationship between AT and clients with substance abuse. With much time and attention, AT researchers will better understand this relationship, the AT elements that impact substance abuse reduction most, and how to best implement this knowledge and form programs that consistently report significant research results.

In chapter 13, the authors mention the “black box effect in AT research.” Essentially, clients enter an AT program, the “black box,” and exit a changed person. It is clear that the client has been transformed, however placing a finger on the exact elements of the AT experience which facilitated the transformation proves difficult.

In a best-case scenario: a client enters a program with a drug abuse problem and exits with the skills necessary to abstain from drugs, live a fulfilling life, and become a positive force in society. 

In a best-case scenario: the AT program providing this experience knows the exact aspects of the experience that facilitated the transformation and knows how to adapt them to other clients to produce positive results time and time again. 

 AT has great potential for clients with substance abuse problems due to the fact that the population with the greatest need for treatment falls in the age range of most AT programs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drug use is highest among people in their late teens and twenties. In 2011, 23.8 percent of 18- to 20-year-olds reported using an illicit drug in the past month (Drug Facts, 2012).”

From much research, the National Institute on Drug Abuse also reports “Principles of Effective Treatment”.  The nature of substance abuse and its effects on the individual are explained in regard to effective treatment. The various principles are easily linked to each of these schools of psychology: 

• Abnormal: 
• Principle 9. "Many drug-addicted individuals also have other mental disorders."

• Behavioral Neuroscience:
• Principle 1. "Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior."

• Cognitive: 
• Principle 3: "Treatment needs to be readily available."
• When individuals think they may want help, it needs to be available because before long, the individual may reconsider. 

• Developmental: 
• Principle 8: "An individual's treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs."

• Learning: 
• Principle 5. "Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical." 
• Three months or longer is advised for substance abuse treatment.

• Social: 
• Principle 6. "Behavioral therapies—including individual, family, or group counseling—are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment." 

Overall, it is clear that AT research has a long way to go in determining the magic inside the black box. Multiple schools of psychology and respective research need to be in constant consideration and regularly utilized in the ongoing development of AT research and program development. It seems clear that the major difficulty will be determining the most successful practices and treatment programs for varied individuals. Between client factors of age, drug(s) of choice, co-occuring mental health diagnosis, family, education, and other demographics and AT therapeutic factors of instructor, therapist, location, activities, and discussion AT researchers have many variables to take into account and twiddle around with in the black box until the box turns crystal clear.

                                                                                                                  Picture done by me in Paintbrush

References:

Gass, M. A., Gillis, H. L., & Russell, K. C. (2012). Adventure therapy: Theory, research, and practice. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (December 2012). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). Retrieved from: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/principles-effective-treatment

National Institute on Drug Abuse (December 2012). Drug Facts: Nationwide Trends. Retrieved from: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends

Week One: AT Compared

Topic: Compare and contrast the definition of Adventure Therapy with at least three (different) approaches to mental health treatment.


According to Gass, Gillis, and Russell, “Adventure Therapy is the prescriptive use of adventure experiences provided by mental health professionals, often conducted in natural settings that kinesthetically engage clients on cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels.” This definition has three main elements. First, the definition calls for "prescriptive use. . .provided by mental health professionals." This means that AT is utilized by professionals to conduct intentional therapy based on client needs. Second, the adventure activities are "often conducted in natural settings." This is the main unique element that sets AT apart from other approaches to mental health treatment. Finally, AT is meant to "kinesthetically engage clients on cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels." These three elements are the basis of psychology and therapy. AT claims to engage patients thoughts, feelings, and actions through the use of active experiences. As aforementioned, the primary aspect of the AT approach that sets it apart from others, is the utilization of adventure activities as the means to asses the patient and bring about positive growth and change. 

Other approaches to mental health treatment include psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group therapy. Here are definitions of each:

“Psychoanalytic treatment explores how. . . unconscious factors affect current relationships and patterns of thought, emotion and behavior. Treatment traces theses patterns back to their historical origins, considers how they have changed and developed over time, and helps the individual to cope better with the realities of their current life situation” (About Psychoanalysis). 

"Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment that focuses on examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. By exploring patterns of thinking that lead to self-destructive actions and the beliefs that direct these thoughts, people with mental illness can modify their patterns of thinking to improve coping" (Duckworth & Freedman).

"Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time" (Cherry). 

Overall, AT is similar to these treatment approaches do to the fact that they all have the same underlying goal, which is to help the patient grow cognitively, affectively, and behaviorally. Psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious and the past in discovering patterns associated with these three elements. CBT also focuses on these patterns and the negative, destructive connections between the elements. The thing about AT is that it can utilize psychoanalysis, CBT, group therapy, and an array of other treatment approaches but other approaches cannot utilize AT, for then it would be AT. 

References

Cherry, K. (2013). What is Group Therapy? Retrieved from: http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/f/group-therapy.htm

Duckworth, K., & Freedman, J. L. (2012, July). Treatment and Services: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? Retrieved from: http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Treatments_and_Supports&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7952

Gass, M. A., Gillis, H. L., & Russell, K. C. (2012). Adventure therapy: Theory, research, and practice. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

About Psychoanalysis. (2013). http://www.apsa.org/About_Psychoanalysis.aspx#What