Node-link mapping and psychological problems - Perceptions of a residential drug abuse treatment program for probationers

The current study examined program perceptions of 367 probationers admitted to a 4-month residential drug abuse treatment facility that focuses on gro up counseling. Prior research has shown that many individuals within the cr iminal justice system have both psychological and drug abuse problems, and that they often have limited success in drug abuse treatment programs. The current study examined whether the benefits of node-link mapping, a visual representation counseling technique that is especially beneficial in group counseling environments, would extend to individuals,vith psychological pro blems. Probationers were randomly assigned to mapping-enhanced or standard counseling. Those residents who had higher levels of psychological problems (based on a global indicator of psychological problems), and who received mapping-enhanced counselling, had more favorable perceptions of their couns elors and fellow community members over time than their counterparts who re ceived standard counseling. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reser ved.