Ross Crisp

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Ross Crisp is a registered psychologist in Australia with extensive experience as arehabilitation consultant and psychologist. He has published numerous articles on disability and rehabilitation, in particular on the psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation of persons with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. More recently, he has written on the practice of person-centered and experiential psychotherapies in educational and vocational rehabilitation settings, and in relation to trauma and loss. He has also focused on the value of integrating person-centered and experiential psychotherapies with existential philosophies.He is currently a member of the Australian Psychological Society and World Association of Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies.
Phone: 061 0423915523
Address: P.O. Box 1172
Croydon VIC. 3136
AUSTRALIA

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Papers by Ross Crisp

Review of: "Against Integration

Reading Manu Bazzano is often an exhilarating experience. He likes to wield Nietzsche's hammer 1 ... more Reading Manu Bazzano is often an exhilarating experience. He likes to wield Nietzsche's hammer 1 that threatens to smash the reader's favourite, long-held tropes and assumptions. He is a provocateur who challenges therapists who trade in 'certainties and corrective answers' rather than 'the dialectical ambivalence inherent to existence.' 2

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Faust III: Peter F. Schmid’s sidelong glance at psychotherapy

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Jan 23, 2023

Peter F. Schmid’s sequel to Goethe’s Faust imagines Faust’s ‘inner world’ and his aspiration to b... more Peter F. Schmid’s sequel to Goethe’s Faust imagines Faust’s ‘inner world’ and his aspiration to become a psychotherapist of the whole of humankind. It is argued that Schmid’s Faust is a literary text that provides a sidelong glance at psychotherapy since it offers a vision of reality that is primarily a dynamic, dialogical and intersubjective process which leads to shifts in shared meanings. First, I discuss the nature of Faust’s transformation in both Goethe’s and Schmid’s versions of Faust. Second, I refer to Schmid’s characterization of Faust’s ‘inner world’ and the challenges he faces in becoming a psychotherapist. Third, I discuss the dialectics of mutual tension, in particular, of affinity and alienation, in the relationship between Faust and Mephistopheles, the devil. Fourth, I compare Goethe’s and Schmid’s concepts of evil and the extent to which they reflect an inherent aspect of the human condition. Finally, I discuss their understanding of the spiritual dimension of Faust’s transformation in which he attempts to transcend his limitations as a human being and engage relationally in a process of becoming.

Re-visioning the ‘radical purist’ Barbara Temaner Brodley in relation to Gendlin’s process model

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Jul 27, 2020

ABSTRACT Four aspects of Barbara Temaner Brodley’s practice of ‘classical’ client-centered therap... more ABSTRACT Four aspects of Barbara Temaner Brodley’s practice of ‘classical’ client-centered therapy (CCT) are appraised in ways to suggest a rapprochement with the process-guiding experiential therapies that she opposed. First, I discuss her affinity with, and alienation from, these therapies particularly in relation to her conceptions of the ‘empathic understanding response process’ and ‘presence.’ Second, her therapeutic work is analyzed utilizing Gendlin’s process model, particularly in terms of Gendlin’s ‘interaction first’ principle and his process conception of embodied time. Third, I discuss her scientific attitude in relation to her extensive empirical analysis of Rogers’ verbalized empathic responses that informed her distinctive CCT perspective and opposition to Gendlin. Finally, I focus upon the paradox of Brodley’s self-disclosure and therapist-frame responses when she responded to a client’s questions or requests for advice. I conclude that Brodley worked effectively with her clients at a deeper relational level than her theoretical exposition suggests.

Kafka reading Kierkegaard

Routledge eBooks, Sep 28, 2020

Depression and occupational disability in five diagnostic groups: A review of recent research

Disability and Rehabilitation, 2007

To compare the methodologies and results of research across five diagnostic groups in which there... more To compare the methodologies and results of research across five diagnostic groups in which there was expected to be a high prevalence of depression and occupational disability. A review of research published since 1994 was carried out concerning depression and occupational disability in five diagnostic groups: Major depressive disorder (MDD), spinal cord injuries (SCI), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), chronic back pain (CP) and myocardial infarction/coronary artery bypass grafting (MI/CABG). Prospective longitudinal designs were mostly undertaken in MDD studies. Diagnostic interview schedules were utilized in most MDD studies whereas self-report inventories that tend to confound somatic and depressive symptoms were mostly used in CP, SCI, TBI and MI/CABG studies. In longitudinal MDD studies both depression and occupational disability were related to access to enhanced primary care treatment. On the other hand, CP research reported different results concerning the strength of depressive symptoms, cognitive and psychosocial factors in predicting occupational disability. Different trends across diagnostic groups were evident in relation to depression, occupational disability, co-morbidity, socio-demographic factors and psychosocial resources. Co-morbid, socio-demographic and psychosocial factors provide a framework from which to identify those at greater risk of depression and occupational disability. However, more CP, SCI, TBI and MI/CABG studies with diagnostic schedules, prospective designs and longer follow-up are required.

Reply to Murphy (2009): The Vocational Focus in Rehabilitation Continues to be Valued

Australian journal of career development, Oct 1, 2009

Kafka’s “categorical imperative” and his sense of “being and non-being”

Janus head, 2016

In this article, I begin with Kant’s notion of a “categorical imperative” as a framework from whi... more In this article, I begin with Kant’s notion of a “categorical imperative” as a framework from which to discuss the ontology of Franz Kafka’s writing. Since Kant’s moral law is a device for reflecting on our responses to challenging circumstances rather than one that tells us what we should always do in every situation, I draw inferences concerning Kafka’s own descriptions of his sense of being a writer in opposing phenomenal and spiritual worlds. Since Kafka cannot be understood exclusively from a Kantian perspective of autonomous will, I discuss Kafka’s experiencing in terms of the reciprocal interplay of being and non-being, and his awareness of finitude and the possibility of transcendence. I argue for a humanistic-existential vision of the reading of a literary text as an encounter that responds to the alterity of the Other and which, consistent with Kafka’s oeuvre, privileges being faithful to one’s own experiencing.

The person-centered approach and social ethics: a cautionary tale concerning persons seeking asylum in Australia

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, May 22, 2017

ABSTRACT In this article, a rationale for how a person-centered approach (PCA) may contribute to ... more ABSTRACT In this article, a rationale for how a person-centered approach (PCA) may contribute to a constructive practice of social ethics is discussed. As an exemplar of social ethics, I refer to the clinical, moral and political action taken in October 2015 by approximately 400 medical staff at a large public hospital in Australia. Their action, prompted by a perceived threat to their duty of care for a discriminated minority group (of persons seeking asylum in Australia), raises several important issues concerning the practice of social ethics. I will discuss Kant’s emphasis upon the regulatory functions of an autonomous will, and Rogers’ focus on the facilitative conditions for enhancing the innate tendency of individuals and groups to organize, develop and co-exist constructively. Inferences are drawn from the practice of social ethics advocated by proponents of sociotherapy and similar humanistic perspectives.

Consumer Participation in Rehabilitation: An Unresolved Issue

Australian Social Work, Mar 1, 1989

Despite recent trends away from the traditional medical model of service delivery, there appears ... more Despite recent trends away from the traditional medical model of service delivery, there appears to be a continuing reluctance among some rehabilitation professionals to fully enable people with disabilities to co-manage their own rehabilitation programmes. These same professionals may remain unaware that their behaviour discourages their clients from taking greater responsibility for solving problems and achieving goals of living. Contradictions in the beliefs and behaviour of service providers is, at grass roots level, perhaps exemplified by their adherence to formal case-team meetings which exclude service recipients. The need to re-define and alter the format of these conferences is the focus of this paper.

A Person-Centred Perspective to Counselling in Educational and Vocational Agencies

Australian journal of guidance & counselling, Jul 1, 2010

This article focuses upon the application of Carl Rogers&amp;amp;#39; person-centred approach... more This article focuses upon the application of Carl Rogers&amp;amp;#39; person-centred approach (PCA) by educational and vocational counsellors. The discussion of PCA in educational and vocational counselling raises several key issues that have received attention in recent counselling psychology literature. PCA has been criticised for its highly individualistic approach that overlooks relational issues, its limited clinical application, and lack of technical expertise to sufficiently produce change in persons with significant mental and/or mood disorders. Three vignettes are presented to illustrate that contemporary PCA is a less individualistic and more socially contextualised practice than originally formulated by Rogers. They highlight some aspects of the work of counsellors who utilise the primary nondirective components of PCA (congruence, unconditional positive regard, empathy) with directive interventions when requested by clients, who are responsive to their clients&amp;amp;#39; diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, and who are prepared to work within a medical framework.

Can Motivational Interviewing be Truly Integrated with Person-centered Counselling?

Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, Jun 16, 2015

T his article examines whether Motivational Interviewing (MI) can be truly integrated with Carl R... more T his article examines whether Motivational Interviewing (MI) can be truly integrated with Carl Rogers' person-centered approach (PCA) to counselling. While the 'spirit' of MI has much in common with PCA, it is argued that the theory and practice of MI indicates several fundamental differences with PCA that distinguishes the ways that each perspective may contribute to rehabilitation counselling. These differences are discussed in relation to the unique aspects of their underlying assumptions, how they define clients' problems, and how they articulate the role of counsellor and successful outcome. Recent metaanalyses have indicated the beneficial aspects of both approaches. Empirical evidence for the efficacy of both MI and PCA is strong across a diverse range of client groups and health care settings. However, the highly variable effectiveness of both MI and PCA suggests that further process-outcome research is needed. Implications for rehabilitation counsellors are discussed.

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Towards an understanding of the experience of psychosis: the legacies of Rogers and Gendlin

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Apr 3, 2019

In this article, I discuss the continuing relevance of the theoretical perspectives of Rogers and... more In this article, I discuss the continuing relevance of the theoretical perspectives of Rogers and Gendlin for persons with psychosis experience (PE) and practitioners of person-centered therapy (PCT). Persons with PE have indicated in recent surveys and qualitative studies that they experienced a 'turning point' in their lives when they encountered persons who took a genuine interest in them, communicated acceptance of PE, discussed 'voice hearing' in normal language as part of normal experience and conveyed a genuine message of hope. The values and principles of PCT will be compared with those found in cognitive-behavior therapy for psychosis (CBTp) that, like PCT, claims to uphold the recovery-oriented values of persons with PE. Recent claims from proponents of CBTp that it is not primarily a technical therapy that undervalues the importance of human relationships will be discussed. I will argue in favor of a process-oriented therapeutic relationship as opposed to the primacy of cognition advocated in a 'manualized' CBTp. In doing so, I will discuss the distinctive contributions of Rogers, Gendlin and the subsequent work of Prouty, that continue to challenge the dominant biomedical models of service delivery that favor CBTp over other therapies.

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Return to Work after Traumatic Brain Injury

Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 1992

... isolation, especially among those who are unemployed and have few leisure activities (Oddy et... more

Long Term Vocational Adjustment After Spinal Cord Injury: Implications for Occupational Therapists

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Aug 27, 2010

Sixty persons with spinal cord injury were interviewed an average of 11 years after the onset of ... more Sixty persons with spinal cord injury were interviewed an average of 11 years after the onset of disability. They answered questions concerning their sense of identity, knowledge of self and social environment, and ability to cope with vocational decision making and other problems. These questions were part of a standardised scale of Vocational Identity. The results of this study indicate that persons experiencing high levels of well‐being also reported high levels of Vocational Identity. Other variables, which were found to be important correlates of well‐being in a previous study by Decker and Schulz (1985), were also associated with Vocational Identity. Implications for occupational therapists are discussed.

Being person-centered and Heidegger’s sense of “being”: a discussion

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Apr 1, 2015

This article explores the relevance of Heidegger's existential philosophy for personcentered and ... more This article explores the relevance of Heidegger's existential philosophy for personcentered and experiential therapies. Of particular interest is Heidegger's ontological concept of mood/affect in the context of Gendlin's bodily-experiential therapy and how Heidegger's philosophy can enhance our understanding of an authentic potentialityfor-being and the vulnerability and finitude of our existence. The latter part of this article, however, addresses concerns regarding the interpretation of Heidegger's ontological concepts (such as being-with-others, care/solicitude) in relation to the therapeutic attitude of empathy. It is argued that the beneficial role of empathy has been underestimated. On the contrary, it is contended that empathy, understood as integral to a dialogical and genuinely mutual encounter, may facilitate both the client's implicit or pre-conscious experiencing and capacity for self-healing.

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Return to Work after Spinal Cord Injury

Journal of Rehabilitation, 1990

Objectives: To describe the number of people with spinal cord injury who returned to work (RTW) 1... more Objectives: To describe the number of people with spinal cord injury who returned to work (RTW) 1 yr after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and to investigate whether RTW can be predicted from wheelchair capacity at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, after correction for confounders. Design: Prospective cohort study in which 118 subjects with spinal cord injury (age 18-65 yrs) of eight Dutch rehabilitation centers participated. Main outcome measure was RTW for at least 1 hr/wk. The outcome variables of wheelchair capacity were peak oxygen uptake, peak aerobic power output, and wheelchair skill scores (ability, performance time, and physical strain). Possible confounders were age, gender, lesion level, and lesion completeness. Where necessary, corrections were made for education level. Results: Thirty-three percent of the subjects RTW. Peak aerobic power output (persons with a 10-W higher peak aerobic power output were 1.37 times more likely to RTW), ability score (persons with a one-point higher ability score were 2.22 times more likely to RTW), and performance time (an increase, or worsening, of 1 sec on the performance time gave an odds ratio of 0.87, so persons with lower, or better, performance time scores were more likely to RTW) were significant predictors of RTW after correction for confounders and education level. Conclusions: RTW was successful in 33% of the subjects. Wheelchair capacity was independently related to RTW. Therefore, it is recommended to train wheelchair capacity in the context of RTW.

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Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 2005

This revie!w examined the key factors related to vocational outcome (that is, commencement of, or... more This revie!w examined the key factors related to vocational outcome (that is, commencement of, or return to, work after onset of disability) reported in the research literature for six disability groups. Previous reviews of vocational outcome found that most studies differed with respect to sampling procedures, participant characteristics, methodology and variables associated with vocational outcome in, for example, disability groups such as SCI (Crisp, 1990; Trieschmann, 1988), TBI (Crisp, 1992; Sherer, Novack et al., 2002), CP (Crook, Milner, Schultz & Stringer, 2002) and severe mental illness (Tsang, Lain, Ng & Leung, 2000). Since they evaluated the methodological quality of much of the research literature and analyzed the return to work rates for these disability groups, these two aspects will not be the primary interest of this review. Instead, this paper focused upon the dominant themes emerging from those studies that analyzed a range of medical, socio-demographic and psychosocial factors that were related to vocational outcome. It was intended to draw attention to the need for a broader perspective than can be provided by smaller sets of variables to explain or predict vocational outcome. Most attention was paid to the more recent studies with larger samples and sets of predictor variables; and mostly upon the implications for vocational rehabilitation service providers than for researchers. The goal of this review was to identify the important factors that impact upon the employment of people in six disability groups. It was not assumed that the issues common to persons with particular disabilities could be generalized to persons with other disabilities. These groups were selected because of the likelihood that they would provide different perspectives on vocational outcome, and included persons with: spinal cord injuries (SCI), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputations, chronic pain (CP), myocardial infarction/coronary artery bypass grafting (MI/CABG), and severe mental illness, that is, psychosis, bi-polar disorder, long-term major depression or dysthymia. Method A selective rather than an exhaustive literature search was conducted to identify articles from prominent rehabilitation and disability journals, published since 1987, which would locate recurring themes. There were several inclusion criteria: 1. Exclusive focus was on one of the six abovementioned disability groups; 2. Research was well-designed, in so far as the authors clearly described the objectives of the research, sample selection, data collection and analysis; 3. Prospective and retrospective studies, utilizing multivariate statistical analyses, consisted of samples with high generalizability and reliability (e.g., 10 or more participants per predictor variable) as recommended by Crook et al. (2002) and Sherer, Novack et al. (2002); 4. Retrospective studies, utilizing univariate statistical analyses, had samples of 50 or more participants; 5. Predictor variables consisted of socio-demographic, psychosocial and clinical variables; 6. The outcome measure was return to work or employment status after onset of disability. Results Seventy-five studies were included for review. The number of studies selected for review in each of the six diagnostic groups are listed in Table 1. Although there were differences between and within disability groups, and between the methodologies adopted by researchers, it was possible to identify five key factors related to vocational outcome. The most commonly cited predictor variables are listed in Table 2. 1. Severity of disability Return to work was most likely to occur when individuals' residual abilities and pre-injury skills were utilized in relatively less physically demanding employment. This trend was evident in most SCI (e.g., DeVivo, Rutt, Stover & Fine, 1987; Hess, Ripley, McKinley & Tewksbury, 2000; Krause, 2003; Krause, Kewman et al. …

Gender differences in the perceptions of psychosocial experiences reported by persons with disabilities

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Nov 8, 2002

The objective of this study was to describe the subjective experience of living with disability. ... more The objective of this study was to describe the subjective experience of living with disability. Intensive semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 participants who had a disability. Data were collected and analysed with grounded theory methods, and resulted in typological and thematic analyses. Four groups were identified according to their overall sense of well-being, and these groups were referred to as Battlers, Strugglers, Contenders and Optimisers. The Battlers and Strugglers reported the greatest psychosocial difficulties. The Contenders indicated that they were progressing towards achieving their vocational and social goals, and the Optimisers reported satisfaction in social and vocational activities and a high sense of well-being. Dominant gender stereotypes were evident in most of the participants’ self-reports and influenced their perceptions concerning issues related to employment status and social interaction. Issues related to 13 persons with non-English speaking backgrounds were also reported.

Personal Responses to Traumatic Brain Injury: A Qualitative Study

Disability & Society, 1993

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study of ten persons with traumatic brain injury... more This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study of ten persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) based upon a series of in-depth interviews conducted over a period of 12 months. Data was analysed with procedures similar to those utilised by grounded theory and ethnographic researchers, and resulted in a typology that reflected different experiences of living with TBI as

The long-term adjustment of 60 persons with spinal cord injury

Australian Psychologist, Mar 1, 1992

Abstract This study utilised the constructs employed in Schulz and Decker's (1985) study of t... more Abstract This study utilised the constructs employed in Schulz and Decker's (1985) study of the long-term adjustment of 100 middle-aged and elderly persons who had lived with spinal cord injury (SCI) for an average of 20 years. In a major departure from that study, a relatively younger group of persons with traumatic SCI was interviewed an average of 11 years after onset of disability. They answered questions concerning perceived control, health status, social support, satisfaction with social contact, and, in addition, recent life events. Three standardised instruments, the life satisfaction and depression scales utilised by Schulz and Decker, and a vocational identity scale were used to measure adjustment. Although the respondents reported mean levels of adjustment that were similar to those of Schulz and Decker's older group, they reported a greater degree of social support and perceived health status than the older group. Otherwise, the results confirmed Schulz and Decker's conclusions concerning the ...

Review of: "Against Integration

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Faust III: Peter F. Schmid’s sidelong glance at psychotherapy

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Jan 23, 2023

Re-visioning the ‘radical purist’ Barbara Temaner Brodley in relation to Gendlin’s process model

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Jul 27, 2020

Kafka reading Kierkegaard

Routledge eBooks, Sep 28, 2020

Depression and occupational disability in five diagnostic groups: A review of recent research

Disability and Rehabilitation, 2007

Reply to Murphy (2009): The Vocational Focus in Rehabilitation Continues to be Valued

Australian journal of career development, Oct 1, 2009

Kafka’s “categorical imperative” and his sense of “being and non-being”

Janus head, 2016

The person-centered approach and social ethics: a cautionary tale concerning persons seeking asylum in Australia

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, May 22, 2017

Consumer Participation in Rehabilitation: An Unresolved Issue

Australian Social Work, Mar 1, 1989

A Person-Centred Perspective to Counselling in Educational and Vocational Agencies

Australian journal of guidance & counselling, Jul 1, 2010

Can Motivational Interviewing be Truly Integrated with Person-centered Counselling?

Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, Jun 16, 2015

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Towards an understanding of the experience of psychosis: the legacies of Rogers and Gendlin

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Apr 3, 2019

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Return to Work after Traumatic Brain Injury

Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 1992

... isolation, especially among those who are unemployed and have few leisure activities (Oddy et... more

Long Term Vocational Adjustment After Spinal Cord Injury: Implications for Occupational Therapists

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Aug 27, 2010

Being person-centered and Heidegger’s sense of “being”: a discussion

Person-centered and experiential psychotherapies, Apr 1, 2015

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Return to Work after Spinal Cord Injury

Journal of Rehabilitation, 1990

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Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct 1, 2005

Gender differences in the perceptions of psychosocial experiences reported by persons with disabilities

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Nov 8, 2002

Personal Responses to Traumatic Brain Injury: A Qualitative Study

Disability & Society, 1993

The long-term adjustment of 60 persons with spinal cord injury

Australian Psychologist, Mar 1, 1992

Kafka reading Kierkegaard: Always in a process of becoming

Re-visioning Existential Therapy, 2021

I will discuss the extent to which Kafka was receptive to the spirit of Kierkegaard’s existential... more I will discuss the extent to which Kafka was receptive to the spirit of Kierkegaard’s existential-phenomenology. I will explore three aspects of Kafka’s reading of Kierkegaard, beginning with Kafka’s comprehension of Kierkegaard’s, and his own, ontological condition of anxiety and despair. Second, I will focus on Kafka’s ethical dilemma. Kierkegaard’s insights raised questions for Kafka which prompted him to articulate his own sense of alterity; for example, in response to Kierkegaard’s rendering of Abraham’s proposed sacrifice of his son Isaac, he re-imagined Abraham’s ethical dilemma in ways that mirrored his own concerns regarding the cultural and socio-historical influences that constrained his freedom within the phenomenal world.Finally, apropos the counter-tradition (as defined by Bazzano & Webb, 2016), I will discuss Kafka’s fraught, uncertain subjectivity, his distrust of religious-socio-political rationalism, his (and Kierkegaard’s) experiencing of temporality contra to a traditional linear conception of time, and his reading of Kierkegaard’s Christian perspective that endorses the truth of subjectivity and the passion of faith which enables a person to endure despair.

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Ross Crisp

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