Search Results

Keywords: migration, santé mentale, sociétés plurielles, différence culturelle, métissage, diversité, relation de soin

In the context of academic training for social educators in Vienna, increasing emphasis is being placed on supporting the development of core competencies with a focus on forming a detailed appreciation of the client’s situation — “case understanding”. The method of Work Discussion described in this article is based on a psychodynamic theory founded in the psychoanalytic tradition. It enables seminar groups to reflect on, and think in a differentiated manner about, interactions and relationship dynamics between people in psychosocial fields of work. The article introduces key ideas on the professionalism of social pedagogical professionals and explains common theories of professionalization in this research field. Using the example of Work Discussion, I elaborate characteristics of psychodynamically oriented professionalization in academic education and training for social work professionals. The final part of the article is a discussion of how psychodynamically oriented professionalism could facilitate a transformation in professional practice.

Keywords: work discussion, psychoanalysis, professionalization, social work

The story of becoming a parent is often couched in the language of desire built on fantasies. And although such idyllic accounts tend to conceal much more difficult stories about becoming parents, nevertheless assisted reproductive technology has given new hope to many couples experiencing infertility. In the course of our work as professional psychologists, we recorded the reflections of young women between the ages of 15 and 25 who were conceived using assisted reproductive technology. To understand how the circumstances of their conception impacted their narrative identity, we adopted a clinical approach that involved having these young women share their life narratives, starting with their conception stories. Based on our clinical observations, the article explores a five-stage method for facilitating narrativity, consisting of the interview process, projective mechanisms, the creation of an autobiographical timeline, and, finally, the act of writing a life story. This multifaceted approach makes it possible to address the impact of conception stories on narrative identity from both a diachronic and synchronic perspective. Finally, we conduct a theoretical and clinical assessment of this promising methodology, which primarily aims to give young people the tools and support they need to share their life narratives in the context of therapy sessions—a process likely to promote better mental health through more harmonious identity development.

Keywords: narrativity, narrativité, clinical psychology, psychologie clinique, maternal, maternel, medically assisted procreation, conception médicalisée, francophony, francophonie

AbstractThe efficacy of a new cognitive-behavioral group program to help discontinuation of benzodiazepines (PASSE) was evaluated by comparison to a group receiving only social support. Both programs lasted 20 weeks commencing with a preparatory period of one month and then tapering continually during 16 subsequent weeks until discontinuation. Forty-eight participants (24 in each condition) with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder took part in the study. These two active conditions were compared with a separate group of 41 people receiving standard tapering with physician counselling only. The results post-treatment supported the hypothesis that those receiving either of the two active treatments succeeded better in discontinuing benzodiazepines than those receiving the standard treatment. Among those completing the two active programs there was no difference in outcome between the social support and the cognitive behavioral (PASSE) group. However, when the rate of dropout was considered, the cognitive-behavioral group proved significantly superior than the social support group. The results suggest that a cognitive-behavioral program can help people wishing to discontinue benzodiazepines to psychologically tolerate the immediate effects of discontinuation.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has become very prominent among adolescents in middle and high school settings. However, little research has evaluated the role of the school environment in the behaviour. This study examined whether indices of school trust and perceived safety were predictive of NSSI behaviour. Results indicate that these variables allow us to more accurately identify participants who engage in NSSI. Students who report being bullied and threatened, and who have less trust in specific members of school staff are more likely to engage in NSSI.

Keywords: soutien social, résilience, écologie sociale, jeunes, recherche de soutien social, soutien social reçu

The death of the mind can be felt as an experience of an existential void, in other words the absence of meaning with regard to life as a whole. Three experiences of existential void are reported herein and analyzed from a psychological and philosophical point of view. Each of them reveals in its own way that the mind lives through and is constructed by only the meaning it imparts to beings and things, and that this meaning is entirely fulfilled only inasmuch as the person consents to go beyond his or her limits by entering into relationships devoid of any turning in on oneself with other beings and, in particular, with the Source of being.

Keywords: vide existentiel, mort spirituelle, sens à la vie, existential void, spiritual death, meaning to life