Psychologists, as well as the general public, have recognized the importance of female friendships. Scientists call this bond the tending instinct- a kind of female relaxation response that has salutary effects. Such special attachment shields women from isolation and provides an enhanced sense of wellbeing. Intimate friends can therefore act as sisters of the heart to promote connection, solace, wholeness, and longevity. Moreover, women friends frequently provide emotional, social, physical, and spiritual benefits. Indeed, sisters of the heart constitute an unparalleled bond that encourages women to connect with themselves, with others, and with the world at large. In this book, twelve women therapists, who are diverse in age-- young, middle, and older women; as well as in ethnicity--White, African American, Latina, Asian American, Native American, and multiracial women---examine the psychological and physical aspects of this unique female bonding. Through their narratives we hear their distinctive voices as women and as healers. In this fashion, they reflect on both the functional and dysfunctional dynamics occurring between intimate female friends. Finally, these women therapists examine how their experience with a sister of the heart informed their development as healers, and discuss how they use this special bond in psychotherapy with women. This book was originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy. 'This enlightening, iconic book is for anyone who wants to understand more about the powerful roles of friendships—including challenges--among women that facilitate their ability to survive and thrive. It is special in that the chapter authors are psychotherapists who describe the impact of female bonding, from scientific as well as personal bases. The descriptions are rooted in theory, research, extensive clinical experience and personal lives. Refreshing and much needed, this book will prove useful to professionals as well as any women or men who want to understand the value and salience of female relationships.' Melba Vasquez, PhD, ABPP Past President, American Psychological Association Independent Practice, Austin, Texas

This collection of essays considers the role of spirituality and religion in the lives of American women from various ethnic backgrounds, showing how faith empowers those in populations often marginalized in the United States. Religion and spirituality are sources of strength and resilience for many women, particularly ethnically diverse women. This thought-provoking text examines this psychological trend, exploring the specific ways in which women from diverse backgrounds have benefited from their faith traditions, the various spiritual pathways they have chosen, and the impact of those choices on their lives. Essays in this informative compilation show how women from African American, Latina, American Indian, Asian American, and Caucasian backgrounds recover from difficulties and traumas with the help of their faith. Contributors consider why women are more likely to endorse religious engagement than men; why ethnically marginalized women tap into spirituality for comfort more than any other population; and why many believers embrace religion as a coping mechanism throughout their lives—from adolescence to older adulthood. The work suggests ways for counselors, leaders, and religious figures to utilize this knowledge to bolster the well-being of those they serve.

Courses in psychological distress and disorders are among the most popular courses in psychology programs, and mood and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent disorders covered in these classes and encountered by mental health professionals. Although there are books on mood and anxiety disorders, on particular aspects of them, and on their presentation in specific populations, such works do not provide students new to the field with a comprehensive and accessible ready reference for understanding these disorders with respect to their phenomenology, etiology, and treatment, and through an inclusive lens that consistently considers how these symptoms appear and are construed across cultures, addressing societal factors such as race, culture, equity, and oppression. It is hoped that The SAGE Encyclopedia of Mood and Anxiety Disorders will fill this gap, allowing students and other interested readers to become familiar with past and current approaches and theories and to enhance their understanding of the sociocultural factors that affect how we discuss, approach, and treat these types of psychological distress. As such, consideration of sociocultural factors will infuse the three-volume set. The encyclopedia will consist of approximately 450 entries (essays), arranged alphabetically within three volumes.

Original and thought-provoking, this Research Agenda investigates the many ways in which tourism is gendered. It outlines current thought and directions for future research, looking forward by imagining and challenging the ways that gender will continue to intersect with and impact on tourism, as well as looking back to trace the key developments and contributions in gendered thinking.

A sweeping collection of new essays gathers historical background, theoretical perspectives, and the latest research on integrating work and personal life in a multigenerational workforce. A half-century after the women's movement of the 1960s, women still have not achieved equality in the workplace, in part because the burdens of family still fall largely upon their shoulders. This in-depth review examines legislation, social-science research, and human resources management practices dealing with women's integration of work and life roles. It explores the context and theory that explain new workplace trends and realities, and it offers practical recommendations on how women and companies can cope. The book is based on the premise that to attract and retain top talent and be competitive in the 21st century, employers must redesign their organizations to meet the needs of employees. A sort of "paper mentor" for women, it spells out the myths and realities of combining employment with motherhood and a committed relationship. The expert essays are also a guide for corporations, intended to help them understand the necessity of easing women's burdens—and nurturing their talent—through attention to work hours and to policies that can facilitate the integration of work and life roles.

This comprehensive, four-volume work presents practical, up-to-date recommendations in areas impacting all job applicants and employees, including work/life balance, diversity management, performance, recruitment, training programs, and employee conflict. This four-volume set uniquely integrates legislation, management theories, and social science research to cover a variety of human resource management topics, such as leadership and managerial styles, generational conflict in the workplace, techniques for evaluating employee performance, and workplace violence. In addition, best practices for policies, investigation procedures, and implementing training programs are covered—all information that can result in dramatic improvements in the workplace environment and business success. Every recommendation in this set is reflective of—as well as responsive to— the needs of employees. The overall objective of the work is to provide readers with effective management strategies to work strategically, ethically, honestly, and effectively with people. Additionally, the contents emphasize the importance of gaining an understanding of the strategic influences on managing people—for example, documenting the connections between business and psychological strategies like effective listening.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) feminist visionaries have contributed to a paradigm shift in feminist theory and practice by espousing an intersectional and inclusive conceptualization of liberation. This book honors the journeys and contributions of seven feminist visionaries, who share some of their most formative experiences and challenges that fomented a desire for equity, justice, and collective wellbeing. The transformations to feminism, psychology, psychotherapy, and other areas following their immeasurable contributions are vast and have produced enduring changes. The chapters in this volume also offer their reflections and wisdom about what remains unfinished in service to building an equitable and just society. These deep and critical reflections serve as an excellent resource for anyone seeking to increase their awareness of equity and justice in psychology. Readers will also have a view into how it is that lived experiences inform intellectual and professional pursuits, and vice versa. This book will serve as an exceptional accompaniment to any course aiming to expose students to these indispensable perspectives which are at once personal and, undoubtedly, professional. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy.