This study aimed to compare involuntary and voluntary clients in the establishment of the therapeutic alliance in the context of family therapy. The system for observing family therapy alliances was used to rate the alliance in sessions 1 and 4 from videotapes of 40 families seen in brief family therapy. This instrument has four alliance dimensions. In the first session, results showed that the clients who sought therapy voluntarily demonstrated more alliance-related behaviour than did involuntary clients in all alliance dimensions. In the fourth session, however, only the Engagement dimension showed group differences. Notably, there also were group differences in the evolution of the alliance from the first to the fourth session in the Safety dimension, with the voluntary clients developing this dimension more negatively. The results are discussed in terms of the specific characteristics of involuntary clients, as well as the implications for practice. Practitioner points• Be aware of differing motives, motivations, and degrees of readiness for therapy within the family • Inquire about the amount of pressure experienced by clients, and the source of that pressure, early in the family therapy • Promote and monitor the therapeutic alliance with involuntary clients • Promote a safe context, providing structure and guidelines for safety and confidentiality and helping clients to talk truthfully

The present study seeks to review and integrate evidence from the empirical literature on family dynamics during the emerging adulthood years. Fifty studies were analyzed, resulting in the following research findings: (a) Emerging adulthood is a period of change in family relationships; (b) family systems anchor both individual and family development during emerging adulthood years; (c) reports of family dynamics by parents and children suggest intergenerational differences; (d) feeling "in between" is not only a characteristic of individuals but also a family experience; and (e) individualand family-level sociodemographic indicators shape family dynamics in emerging adulthood. The main challenges for future research entail considering the family as the unit of analysis by collecting data from multiple family members, conducting longitudinal studies to better understand changes in family relationships across emerging adulthood, and focusing on family relationships beyond the parent-child dyad. Research on emerging adulthood has burgeoned since Arnett (2000) first proposed that a new developmental period from the late teens

Based on the six key components of addiction, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) is a widely used instrument to assess Facebook addiction. This study aimed to conduct a psychometric validation in a Portuguese sample of emerging adults (ages 18 to 29 years). The construct validity analyses confirmed the one-factor solution and a statistically significant association found between Facebook addiction and Preference for Online Social Interaction, measured by the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2, warranted the scale criterion validity. Internal consistency was scrutinized using Cronbach's α (α = .87) and stability measured by test-retest (r = .94). Associations between BFAS scores and Brief Symptom Inventory dimensions scores (e.g., interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety) and the GPIUS2 subscale, deficient self-regulation, scores were evaluated. A subsample with higher levels of addiction was analyzed. In summary, the results of the present study support the use of the Portuguese version of the BFAS in both research and clinical milieus. Further implications for research and practice were considered. Keywords Behavioral addiction. Social networking sites. Bergen Facebook addiction scale (BFAS). Portuguese psychometric studies. Emerging adults Social networking sites (SNSs) are a global phenomenon, enjoying an exponential increase in their use (e.g., Facebook, Twitter). Participation in SNSs is currently one of the main activities on the Internet, especially for younger generations (Eurostat 2016; Kuss and Griffiths 2011). In Portugal, the use of SNSs is also extremely popular, being one of the preferred online activities of Portuguese adolescents and young adults (Pontes and Patrão 2014). SNSs constitute virtual communities where users can: (1) create a public or semi-public profile, (2) manage a list of other users with whom they have a connection, and (3) view and intersect their list of connections with those made by other users (Boyd and Ellison 2008). One specific aspect of SNSs is their focus on

RESUMOO presente artigo de revisão da literatura centra-se na temática dos clientes involuntários. Analisaram-se criticamente os trabalhos de autores que: (1) propõem a sua caracterização, designadamente no que respeita ao posicionamento do cliente na situação de ajuda, concluindo-se pela complexidade da sua identificação; (2) conceptualizam o papel dos profissionais de saúde mental, bem como as singularidades da relação terapêutica, destacando a importância da aliança, dos dilemas éticos e da motivação para a intervenção; (3) apresentam os modelos terapêuticos mais utilizados nestas situações, enfatizando-se as terapias colaborativas, e particularmente as centradas nas soluções, como as que melhor promovem o envolvimento destes clientes. Ao longo da pesquisa manteve-se a preocupação de rever obras abrangentes na área do acompanhamento psicológico que simultaneamente evidenciassem ou favorecessem uma perspectiva crítica e complexa sobre o tema. Na organização do artigo procurou-se seguir uma perspectiva diacrónica que mostrasse a evolução da conceptualização e praxis sobre a problemática.Palavras-chave: clientes involuntários; intervenção mandatada; abordagem sistémica pós-moderna. ABSTRACTThe involuntary clients issue is the core of this literature review article. Critical analysis was carried out over the work of authors who: (1) propose their characterization, namely in what concerns the client's positioning in a help situation, leading to a notion of complexity in its identification; (2) conceptualize the role of mental health technicians, as well as the singularities of the therapeutic relationship, highlighting the importance of the alliance, ethical dilemmas and the motivation towards an intervention; (3) point out the therapeutic models mainly used in these situations, emphasizing collaborative therapies, particularly solution focused therapies, as those who better promote the involvement of clients. Reviewing extensive literature on psychological intervention that simultaneously underlined a critical and complex perspective on the matter was a constant concern throughout the research process. The article's structure is outlined diachronically so that the evolution of both conceptualization and praxis on the subject becomes clear.

This study aimed to compare therapists' observable behaviors to promote alliances with involuntary and voluntary clients during brief family therapy. The therapists' contributions to fostering alliances were rated in sessions 1 and 4 using videotapes of 29 families who were observed in brief therapy. Using the System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances, trained raters searched for specific therapist behaviors that contributed to or detracted from the four alliance dimensions: engagement in the therapeutic process, an emotional connection with the therapist, safety within the therapeutic system, and a shared sense of purpose within the family. The results showed that when working with involuntary clients, therapists presented more behaviors to foster the clients' engagement and to promote a shared sense of purpose within the family. However, in the fourth session, the therapists in both groups contributed to the alliance in similar ways. The results are discussed in terms of (a) the therapists' alliance-building behaviors, (b) the specificities of each client group, and (c) the implications for clinical practice, training, and research.

Os resultados alcançados são encorajadores da utilização da versão portuguesa do SOFTA-o na investigação, prática clínica e formação, treino e supervisão de terapeutas.

This case study compares the narratives of a pathological gambler and his spouse concerning family, marital and individual matters. It does so through identifying each of the key players' narratives individually (analysis of self-report questionnaires) and interactively (couples therapy sessions analysis). The results show that the gambler has a rather more positive view of gambling-related issues than does his spouse, and this fact is most apparent when it comes to marital and family issues. The gambler's perspective is less positive when it comes to non-relationship issues (financial and professional issues). A few hypotheses are put forward to explain these results and these are summarized in three effects: denial, idealization/guilt relief, and disappointment/retaliation. Some implications for clinical practice are also identified, such as the need to set therapy objectives which are truly shared by both members of the couple, as well as guidelines for future research, such as studies focused on gender differences. Keywords: gambler and spouse perspective, family, marital and individual variables RésuméCette étude compare les récits d'un joueur pathologique et de sa conjointe concernant des questions familiales, conjugales et individuelles. La démarche a consisté à cerner chaque récit individuellement (analyse de questionnaires d'auto-évaluation) et en interaction avec l'autre (analyse de séances de thérapies de couple). Les résultats indiquent que le joueur a une perception plus positive des problèmes liés au jeu que sa conjointe et que cette caractéristique est plus marquée lorsqu'il est question des enjeux conjugaux et familiaux. La perception du joueur est cependant moins positive lorsqu'il est question d'enjeux non relationnels (enjeux financiers et professionnels). Les quelques hypothèses proposées pour expliquer ces résultats peuvent être résumées par les trois effets suivants : le déni, l'idéalisation/le soulagement de la culpabilité, la déception/les représailles. L'étude signale également les conséquences des résultats dégagés sur la

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of alliance dimensions and involuntary versus voluntary referral status on the therapy outcomes in family therapy. The first and fourth sessions of 29 therapeutic processes with involuntary and voluntary families seen in family brief therapy were rated with the System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances . This instrument evaluates four dimensions of the therapeutic alliance (Engagement in the Therapeutic Process, Emotional Connection with the Therapist, Safety within the Therapeutic System, and Shared Sense of Purpose within the Family). The outcomes were measured with the Goal Attainment Scaling (Kiresuk, Smith, & Cardillo, 1994). The obtained results highlight two main conclusions: (a) There were no differences in the outcomes between involuntary and voluntary families and (b) in the fourth session only, there was a significant effect of "Safety within the therapeutic system" and "Shared purpose within the family" on the outcomes, namely, those alliance dimensions that are unique for conjoint therapy. Important clinical implications are discussed concerning the therapeutic work with involuntary families.