Within-person variation in security of attachment: a self-determination theory perspective on attachment, need fulfillment, and well-being.

Attachment research has traditionally focused on individual differences in global patterns of attachment to important others. The current research instead focuses primarily on within-person variability in attachments across relational partners. It was predicted that within-person variability would be substantial, even among primary attachment figures of mother, father, romantic partner, and best friend. The prediction was supported in three studies. Furthermore, in line with self-determination theory, multilevel modeling and regression analyses showed that, at the relationship level, individuals' experience of fulfillment of the basic needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness positively predicted overall attachment security, model of self, and model of other. Relations of both attachment and need satisfaction to well-being were also explored.

Measuring treatment outcome and client satisfaction among children and families.

As the delivery and reimbursement methods for mental health services change rapidly, measuring treatment outcome and client satisfaction has become critical. This article describes a case example of a treatment outcome and client satisfaction assessment program at the Children's Health Council, a private nonprofit agency affiliated with Stanford University that provides comprehensive mental health services to children and families in Palo Alto, California. Approximately 300 families receive mental health treatment per year at the agency. The simple and inexpensive program presented herein can be used and modified by other mental health professionals and agencies struggling to develop satisfactory treatment outcome and client satisfaction evaluation programs.