The Wedging or Strengthening Technique has been modified in Germany and is called the Absorption Technique to create resources to deal with what the client is concerned about in the future, or having stress about working with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in the future, a present trigger or even an intrusive memory. Having clients imagine a strength or skill that would help them during the problem often helps them to reduce their anxiety. Focusing on a specific strength or coping skill may create a wedge of safety or control that will assist clients with the difficult situation in the future. During the Future Phase of the Inverted Protocol for Unstable complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) use the Absorption or Wedging Technique to develop as many different resources for the different issues about which the client might be concerned.

The Absorption Technique for Children is a protocol that was derived from the work of Arne Hofmann who based his work on an adaptation of “The Wedging Technique”. The absorption technique for children is a resource technique that supports children in creating resources for present issues and future challenges such as dealing with a difficult teacher or handling a disagreement with a classmate and so forth. This chapter uses resource installation for stressful situations. It includes summary sheets to facilitate gathering information, client documentation, and quick retrieval of salient information while formulating a treatment plan. The absorption technique, and the constant installation of present orientation and safety (CIPOS) technique, are excellent ways to encourage children to work with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) step-by-step even if they are not prepared to work with the worst issue in the beginning.

Bone marrow failure (BMF) refers to the inability of hematopoiesis to meet the physiologic demands for the production of functional blood cells. BMF can be classified into three categories based on the presumed etiology: idiopathic, secondary, and inherited. This chapter discusses idiopathic and secondary BMF, which is usually called acquired aplastic anemia (AA). It also reviews the most common inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs). The clear differences in clinical management and outcomes in patients with IBMFSs compared to those with acquired AA highlight the need to have a clear understanding of these disorders and how to recognize them.

This chapter describes key steps, with scripts, for the phases of therapy with a dissociative identity disorder (DID) client, and for an eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) session with a DID client. In brief, the method employs the artful use of EMDR and ego state therapy for association and acceleration, and of hypnosis, imagery, and ego state therapy for distancing and deceleration within the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship. It is also endeavoring to stay close to the treatment guidelines as promulgated by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. The acronym ACT-AS-IF describes the phases of therapy; the acronym ARCHITECTS describes the steps in an EMDR intervention. Dual attention awareness is key in part because it keeps the ventral vagal nervous system engaged sufficiently to empower the client to sustain the painful processing of dorsal vagal states and sympathetic arousal states.

This chapter introduces readers to the Active Client Engagement (ACE) model, which includes acquiring information, creating a context for collaboration, and evocation of clients’ strengths and resources. As with the strengths-based principles, each facet of ACE works in concert with and is dependent on the others. Together the three components assist with creating a focus in therapy and strengthening the therapeutic alliance. Additionally, the three aspects of ACE are interventive. The chapter introduces methods for gathering client information and using routine outcome monitoring (ROM). An additional part of this chapter involves ways to match clients’ communication styles. The chapter examines two different processes for gathering information: (a) routine outcome monitoring (ROM) in practice (including feedback-informed treatment [FIT]) and (b) interviewing for strengths. The processes are meant to make early contacts and what follows treatment-wise seamless.

It is paramount for professionals working with bereaved children to provide activities and opportunities for a child to explore his or her grief experience. Activities can provide insight to the professional about the child, their family prior to the death, and how the death has impacted the child’s environment. This chapter describes some things to keep in mind when planning activities for children and provides samples of activities that can be used with children in a support or counseling setting. Activities, by their very nature, facilitate meaning making because they allow the person to be creative, interact with others, or engage in ritual. The chapter presents a few samples of activities used over the years with children for the purpose of meaning making, continuing bonds, problem solving, and perspective building. Activities can also provide structure to the support setting.

In acupuncture, needles are inserted at specific points along the meridians to regulate the flow of this energy and to produce a therapeutic effect. Clinical research shows that acupuncture can reduce many physical and emotional symptoms commonly experienced by cancer patients and thereby improve their quality of life. Some of the symptoms benefited by acupuncture include pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, hot flashes, and xerostomia. Acupuncture studies on the general population have shown that it decreases constipation, insomnia, anxiety, tinnitus, and nocturia. These symptoms are common complaints of the geriatric patient, and acupuncture may provide a safe option to pharmaceuticals for relief in these areas. Acupuncture is generally safe when it is performed by qualified practitioners. Patients should be advised to receive acupuncture treatment from practitioners who are professionally trained, properly credentialed, and experienced in treating cancer patients.

Acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage includes mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) and acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL). MPAL has markers from different linages—for example, both myeloid and lymphoid lineages—whereas undifferentiated leukemia does not have lineage-defining markers. Both of these entities are rare malignancies and together are estimated to comprise 3% to 5% of all acute leukemia cases in both pediatric and adult populations. Because of their rarity, relatively little is known about these types of leukemia, including optimal treatment strategies. Similar to other acute leukemias, 20% or greater blasts in the bone marrow or peripheral blood are needed for diagnosis. Extensive immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular studies should be performed to exclude other types of leukemia. Retrospective series have revealed that those treated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) regimens tend to have a higher CR and perhaps better overall survival (OS) than those treated with AML regimens.