Nixon, Gary
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- ItemFrom authenticity to thick description and externalizing the problem: A turn to narrative therapy in working with people dealing with schizophrenia(International Disability Research Centre, 2000) Nixon, GaryThe author noticed that his existential-humanistic counselling approach with its focus on authenticity and self-actualization seemed to be counter-productive in working with people dealing with schizophrenia issues. This noticing precipitated a turn to narrative therapy with its focus on people telling preferred stories of their own lives, moving towards thick rather than thin descriptions, and recognizing that people are not their problems. A case example of working with a person with schizophrenia issues is given to show how externalizing the problem can free extensive personal resources and strengths in defeating the problem. The author concludes with some personal reflections on his turn to narrative therapy.
- ItemRecent research in the socio-cultural domain of gaming and gambling: An annotated bibliography and critical overview(Alberta Gaming Research Institute, 2000-12) McGowan, Virginia Margaret; Droessler, Judith; Nixon, Gary; Grimshaw, MistyThe purpose of this overview is to systematically identify and critically analyze the relevant scientific, descriptive, and policy-oriented literature in this area with the aim of providing a resource that will inform future research and development in gaming and gambling studies. Accordingly, this review constitutes a source document on gaming and gambling studies produced in the latter part of the twentieth century in English- and French-speaking countries. Studies are included that examine the distribution and patterning of gaming and gambling among population sub-groups; social structural factors influencing those patterns within the context of traditional and emerging norms, values and beliefs; and social impacts of gaming and gambling. Literature produced between 1980 and 2000 in North America, Europe, and non-European Commonwealth countries is included, as well as (in the critical overview) a summary of gaming and gambling among Blackfoot peoples, as recorded in ethnographic studies available through the electronic version of the Human Relations Area Files (eHRAF). A range of studies representing different methods and disciplines were included as this material was found in both published and unpublished (“grey literature”) forms. Materials were included if they were judged by the project team to comprise a significant contribution to the literature in this domain.
- ItemSacred and secular play in gambling among Blackfoot peoples of Southwest Alberta(National Association of Gambling Studies, 2001) McGowan, Virginia Margaret; Frank, Lois; Nixon, Gary; Grimshaw, MistyThis study is concerned with cultural and experiential contexts that give meaning to gambling among Blackfoot peoples of southwest Alberta in western Canada. Using narrative and myth, the authors examined textual materials gathered from ethnographic and historical records, contemporary versions of Blackfoot myths told by tribal Elders, and autobiographies of Blackfoot individuals with a previous history of problem gambling. Social discourses, through which meanings are constructed, were identified in these oral and archival literatures and the lived experiences of Blackfoot gambling. These discourses indicate that sacred and secular aspects of play persist in contemporary Blackfoot gambling. Cultural themes in contemporary gambling practices and themes linked to the colonial experiences of Blackfoot and other First Nations peoples are discussed. The authors conclude that contemporary forms of gambling by Blackfoot peoples remain informed by traditional cultural practices and are influenced by social structural processes, including experiences of colonization. Implications for design of interventions are discussed.
- ItemThe Transformational Opportunity of Embracing the Silence Beyond Hopelessness(American Academy of Psychotherapists, 2001) Nixon, GaryThis paper looks at the problem of world collapse and absolute hopelessness. Typically, as demonstrated by an opening case example, Western psychological approaches encourage a retreat from the abyss of nothingness. Even existential philosophy and psychology which has been preoccupied with the encounter of nothingness and death retreats from the abyss experience into self-created meaning and personal resoluteness. A transpersonal approach is offered as an alternative exemplified by Wilber’s spectrum of development approach. A counselling case study is presented which points out typical problems on the spiritual journey such as spiritual materialism and the dark night of the soul as well as the pivotal opportunity of absolute hopelessness itself. Rather than resurrecting hope in a typical conventional psychology fashion, the acceptance of absolute hopelessness is seen as a paradoxical opportunity of transformation.
- ItemDeconstruction, disability, and sex addiction: Embracing the narrative perspective.(International Disability Research Centre, 2002) Nixon, GaryThe disease model of addictions has expanded from its original alcoholism base to include many substances and processes. Twelve step groups have flourished in North America. One area that has rapidly grown in the last twenty years is sexual addiction. The use of the disease model privileges the pathology discourse while focusing on deficits of clients, and ignoring context. A hidden discrimination can take place in which the sexuality of a disabled person is pathologized as "sexual addiction." Deconstructing the label of sex addiction and moving to an experience near approach such as narrative therapy can honor the notion that people are veterans of their own lives and respect the personal resources people have. A case study was presented to highlight the recruitment into the identity of a sex addict of a disabled person and the importance of deconstructing this label. The narrative therapy technique of externalizing the problem was used to show how the "sex addict's" story could be re-authored in an experience near way leading to new possibilities and opportunities.
- ItemUsing Wilber's developmental approach in working with Mary(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2003-05) Nixon, GaryThis is a case review with a slight difference. Mary M. is not a real person. She represents a composite of the "average" woman with gambling problems based on research conducted by Roberta Boughton, Problem Gambling Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, (Toronto, Canada).
- ItemBlackfoot traditional knowledge in resolution of problem gambling: Getting gambled and seeking wholeness(Canadian Indian/Native Studies Association, 2004) McGowan, Virginia Margaret; Nixon, GaryThis paper examines problem gambling and its resolution in an exploratory phenomenological study among Blackfoot individuals. Significant factors in the development and resolution of problem gambling are identified and a hypothetical model suggested. In this model, traditional knowledge provides a coherent and interpretive framework for individuals seeking an integrated identity as a Blackfoot person. This study addresses a significant gap in our understanding of gambling among Indigenous peoples and identifies directions for further research.
- Item"Double trouble": The lived experience of problem and pathological gambling in later life(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2005) Nixon, Gary; Solowoniuk, Jason; Hagen, Brad F.; Williams, Robert J.Objective: The objective of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of older adults who engage in problem or pathological gambling. Method and sample: Older adults who gambled were recruited and were administered two gambling screens to ensure that they met the criteria for problem or pathological gambling. Eleven problem-pathological gamblers were identified and contributed their narratives via in-depth interviews about their experiences of problem or pathological gambling. Results: Several themes arising from the interviews were similar to patterns identified with younger gamblers, yet distinct patterns emerged. Some older gamblers gamble as an opportunity to break away and escape from traditional roles and go to extreme measures to continue their gambling while hiding it from significant others. Conclusion: Despite research suggesting few seniors encounter problems with gambling, this qualitative study suggests that gambling can have devastating consequences. Older adults may have lessened ability and time to recover from these consequences or from hitting bottom.
- ItemHow Financial Planners Can Collaborate with Professional Counselors(Financial Planning Association, 2005-04) Taylor, Terra D.; Bernes, Kerry B.; Gunn, Thelma; Nixon, GaryFinancial planners are dealing with more than just money. Clients are increasingly seeking the advice of financial planners for financial situations that are intrinsically interwoven with personal and psychological issues. Some financial planners may feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of personal issues, while others may feel that they do not have the time to effectively deal with these issues. This paper examines the melding of financial concerns with personal issues and how they subsequently lead to the need for referral and collaboration between financial planners and psychologists.
- ItemIn Pursuit of Physical Perfection: Weight Lifting and Steroid Use in Men(Zone of Excellence, 2006) Bardick, Angela D.; Bernes, Kerry B.; Nixon, GaryThis study used a qualitative method to examine eight men’s motivations for weight lifting and steroid use. Results indicated that these men desired self-improvement, but their goal of obtaining the ideal masculine body became all-consuming and impeded their social and occupational functioning. Complex cognitive, interpersonal, mental health and personality issues became evident. In-depth assessment, accurate case conceptualization, and creative and individualized counseling or treatment are recommended for helping these individuals reach their goal of self-improvement in a healthier manner.
- ItemThe Counterfeit Hero’s Journey of the Pathological Gambler: A Phenomenological Hermeneutics Investigation(Springer, 2006-07) Nixon, Gary; Solowoniuk, Jason; McGowan, Virginia MargaretThis research study sought to interpret and strove toward understanding the lived experience of 13 pathological gambler from an archetypal–mythic perspective. Through a phenomenological hermeneutics inquiry, 11 clusters of themes were illuminated. These themes highlighted a three stage mythical journey that elucidated how gambling began as regular pastime, but ended in failure in regards to becoming extraordinary and financially secure. Thus, resulting in extreme gambling behaviors such as psychological distress, family disintegration, and self-effacement. Clinical implications from this inquiry suggest that understanding pathological gambling from a archetypal–mythical perspective not only encapsulates our current paradiagms of thought about gambling, but may offer a more a holistic approach to understanding the pathological gambler as it sets its theoretical tenets in a cultural, historical, and psychosocial world.
- ItemImpacting attitudes towards gambling: A prison gambling awareness and prevention program(Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2006-08) Nixon, Gary; Leigh, Gordon; Nowatzki, Nadine R.Research indicates that approximately one third of prison inmates meet the criteria for problem or pathological gambling (Williams, Royston, & Hagen, 2005). However, despite this rate being among the highest of all gambling populations (Walters, 1997; Shaffer & Hall, 2001), there appears to be a lack of prison gambling awareness and prevention programs. This study sought to develop, implement, and evaluate one such program at the Lethbridge Correctional Facility in Alberta, Canada. Forty-nine inmates completed a six-session program over 18 months. Gambling screen results revealed a significant increase in cognitive error recognition, and attitudes towards gambling became significantly more negative. The program did not render any significant differences in math skill score, Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) score, or past-year South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) score. Changes in the past-year frequency score approached significance. This study suggests that programs of this kind can be effective for inmate populations, particularly in changing attitudes towards gambling.
- ItemIntroducing the Hero Complex and the Mythic Iconic Pathway of Problem Gambling(Springer, 2008) Nixon, Gary; Solowoniuk, JasonEarly research into the motivations behind problem gambling reflected separate paradigms of thought splitting our understanding of the gambler into divergent categories. However, over the past 25 years, problem gambling is now best understood to arise from biological, environmental, social, and psychological processes, and is now encapsulated under the biopsychosocial model. While, the biopsychosocial model brings a great degree of understanding regarding the etiology and process becoming a problem gambler, it is clear that further research is needed to improve theoretical perspectives that identify causal trajectories that underlie gambling related problems amongst sub-groups of problem gamblers. One line of research that has gone understudied with respect to exploring such causal paths is the Mythic Iconic Pathway of problem gambling. Such a pathway conceptualizes gambling pathology as a life-world phenomenon that arises within an individual who filters perceptions of the self and world through a hero’s complex. Thus, this paper will outline the Mythic Iconic Pathway, including its phenomenological processes, and describe the key therapeutic insights and implications to consider when adopting such a novel approach toward understanding and treating the problem gambler. Keywords Problem gambling - Biopsychosocial - Mythic - Icon - Hero’s journey
- Item"Being the Best," One Man's Experience with Steroids: An Interview with Josh(2008) Bernes, Kerry B.; Bardick, Angela D.; Nixon, GaryThis article describes one man’s experience with weight lifting and steroid use. Men may engage in heavy weight lifting and steroid use in order to change their bodies, possibly developing behaviours associated with eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia. Previous research has examined the risks associated with steroid use and exercise abuse, however, very little research has used qualitative methodologies to investigate men’s actual lived experience with this phenomenon. The purpose of this article is to present the transcript of an interview with a man who is currently weight lifting and using steroids to gain an insiders perspective into his lived experience, and demonstrate how a qualitative methodology may add depth and richness to our understanding of this phenomenon.
- ItemNondual psychotherapy: letting go of the separate self contraction and embracing nondual being(Paradoxica: Journal of Nondual Psychology, 2009) Nixon, Gary; Sharpe, NancyThis article summarizes the pivotal task of moving into nondual awareness by seeing through the veil of the separate self. Formerly this nondual state was understood as the final stage in an arduous journey of ego-transcendence; but nondual psychotherapists are now recognizing this nondual state as readily available to clients as part of the therapeutic process. The first author recounts his own journey of seeing through the illusion of the separate self and embracing nondual awareness. Following this, he presents a nondual psychotherapy case study describing the process of a client having an awakening experience – the letting go of her egoic separate self in the moment – and her subsequent realization that surrendering is not a one-time event but an ongoing process.
- ItemIntroducing transpersonal phenomenology: The direct experience of a sudden awakening(Paradoxica: International Journal of Nondual Psychology, 2009) Solowoniuk, Jason; Nixon, GaryThis paper introduces a transpersonal approach to conducting phenomenological research with the emphasis on illuminating a first person account of a sudden awakening. Although within Eastern cultures awakening is typically understood as the purposeful undertaking of spiritual or religious practices toward transcending the ego, liberating the self, contacting the divine, or becoming consciousness itself, the unsuspecting Westerner who suddenly finds himself or herself without a self may not have the reference to ground such a radical shift in identity. This was the case for the first author in this study. Through our transpersonal inquiry (i.e, dwelling and beholding, noetic reduction, noumenal parsing, and recognition) we were led to understand that a sudden awakening can involve psychological upheaval, terror, mental collapse, a search for balance and integration, and an understanding of how to trust existence in the absence of a permanent self-orientation.
- ItemSurrendering at the end of the line: embracing absolute hopelessness and total failurehood in nondual psychotherapy(Paradoxica: Journal of Nondual Psychology, 2010) Nixon, GaryThis article reviews how the nondual seeker comes to the point in the journey in which he or she realizes that the end of seeking is called for but instead begins to seek the end of seeking. As the experience of desperately coming to the end of the line intensifies with no resolution, the experiences of the rot, absolute hopelessness, and embracing total failurehoood, can set the stage for a spontaneous giving up and letting go. In this surrender, the death of the separate self occurs, and the person can come to a place of seeing that “this is it,” it is all available right here, right now, and has been all along. A nondual psychotherapy case study illustrates the point that an invitation can be made by the nondual therapist to the client to simply rest in this state of nothing to do and nowhere to go. The temptation to run from this state, which we have been avoiding our whole lives, can be monumental. Resting in this desperate state of nothing to do can be a vital opportunity to see through the illusion of the separate self, and to know that reality has always been available, right here, right now.
- ItemGambling and problem gambling in North American Aboriginal people(University of Manitoba Press, 2011) Williams, Robert J.; Stevens, Rhys M. G.; Nixon, GaryThe purpose of this paper is to review what is known about gambling and problem gambling among Aboriginal peoples of North America. The focus is primarily on current gambling practices, and on health and social issues rather than economic ones. The first part of this paper provides a brief review of historical aspects of Aboriginal gambling. The second part reviews the current situation with specific reference to the meaning of gambling for Aboriginal people, current patterns of gambling behaviour, and the prevalence and causes of problem gambling within this population.
- ItemBungee jumping in the abyss: Working through issues of the mind, heart and guts after awakening(Paradoxica: Journal of Nondual Psychology, 2011) Nixon, GaryIn this article, challenges after awakening are considered. While being in the awakened flow can be very captivating, we see issues of the mind, the heart, and the guts may still emerge that need to be worked through. The mind can fixate on the witness state or attach itself to nothingness or to the concept of awakening. These fixated positions, beneath which lay the dark emotions of the heart, must be recognized, openly embraced and collapsed. By burning through the stories around these emotions, we can reclaim our openness of the heart and our ability to come from a place of love rather than from the illusion of the separate self. Connecting with all at a gut level, we can be in a place of let go, no longer grasping at self survival as we embrace existence in each moment.
- ItemBungee jumping in the abyss: working through issues of the mind, heart and guts after awakening(2011) Nixon, GaryIn this article, challenges after awakening are considered. While being in the awakened flow can be very captivating, we see issues of the mind, the heart, and the guts may still emerge that need to be worked through. The mind can fixate on the witness state or attach itself to nothingness or to the concept of awakening. These fixated positions, beneath which lay the dark emotions of the heart, must be recognized, openly embraced and collapsed. By burning through the stories around these emotions, we can reclaim our openness of the heart and our ability to come from a place of love rather than from the illusion of the separate self. Connecting with all at a gut level, we can be in a place of let go, no longer grasping at self survival as we embrace existence in each moment.