Objective: To enhance understanding of the role that social problem solving (SPS) plays in community integration following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Study Design: Regression analysis. Participants: Forty-five adults with TBI participating in higher level outpatient cognitive rehabilitation and 15 uninjured adults. Main Outcome Measures: Measures of community integration, problem-solving ability, and SPS self-appraisal and performance. Results: Individuals with TBI demonstrated poorer problem-solving as measured by both neuropsychological and SPS methods; however, the largest effect size was observed for SPS self-appraisal. Only SPS self-appraisal predicted a significant proportion of the variance in community integration. Conclusions: It is important to assess brain-injured persons' confidence in their ability to cope with problems. A focus on objective test scores alone may lead to underdetection of disabling problem-solving deficits.

This study sought to determine the relationship between counseling systems stages and counselor effectiveness as measured by Carkhuff's accurate empathy scale. A total of 97 advanced undergraduate and graduate students taking their first interview skills course were rated for stage of conceptual functioning using Harvey's This I Believe Test. At the completion of the training program, audiotapes of actual counseling interviews were rated for level of empathic responding. Conceptual theory predicts that individuals at lower stages of conceptual functioning will not be as effective in responding empathically as individuals at higher levels of conceptional functioning after experiencing similar training programs. The results of the study conformed to theoretical expectations in that there were markedly significant differences between and among conceptual stage groups. Implications for counselor training are discussed.

This study examined the association between sensation seeking, impulsivity, and drunk driving. Results showed significant differences in sensation seeking and impulsivity among 160 individuals convicted of impaired or intoxicated driving and individuals who had never been arrested for driving while under the influence/driving while intoxicated offenses.

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We assessed the relation between conceptual system functioning and expectations about counseling and extend earlier research in 2 ways: (a) Client expectations are linked to a stable personality dimension, and (b) the conceptual system, rather than the conceptual level, model provided the theoretical rationale. Implications of these extensions are discussed. Measures of client conceptual stage and their expectations were taken immediately prior to initial meetings with counselors. Multivariate analysis of variance and discriminant analysis of data from 60 clients revealed theoretically consistent separation between the 4 stages of conceptual functioning on 2 dimensions of expectations about counselor characteristics, attitudes and behaviors. The need to consider the influence of conceptual functioning in counseling process research is supported.