Entries by Jean Rhodes

Predictors of close teacher−student relationships in college: Findings from the Gallup−Purdue Index

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Raposa, E. B., Hagler, M., Liu, D. & Rhodes J. E. (2021). Predictors of close faculty−student relationships and mentorship in higher education: findings from the Gallup−Purdue Index. Annals of the New York Academy of Science. PDF. From the abstract College students’ supportive relationships with mentors—professors, advisors, and other caring adults to whom students turn as […]

Why are some therapists better than others: Implications for mentors

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By Amy Novotney, APA Why are some psychologists better at providing therapy than others? “It’s quite surprising how little research has been devoted to [answering this question], particularly given its importance in psychotherapy training,” says Bruce Wampold, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. But that dearth of knowledge is about to change, thanks to a […]

Findings suggest you can double your effects

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By Jean Rhodes and Kirsten Christensen In a recent study of nearly 2,000 mentors from thirty nationally representative youth mentoring programs operating across the United States, mentors were asked how they spent time with their mentees (Jarjoura et al., 2018). The responses reflected a “non-specific”  approach that emphasized friendship and broad (as opposed to more […]

The Orchid and the Dandelion: An interview with Thomas Boyce

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In his book The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive, Dr. Thomas Boyce, emeritus professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, described the different types of youth he’s treated over his long career. Most, he noticed were like dandelions–able to take things in […]

The kids aren’t all right: Why mentees will be disproportionately affected by the pandemic

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By Jean Rhodes Although COVID-19 appears to spare children from the most serious health problems, marginalized youth are likely to bear the heaviest burdens of trauma and economic fallout. This has serious implications for mentoring programs, which often serve particularly high risk youth. For example, an analysis of the two million young people aged six […]

Social distancing does not mean emotional distancing: Providing comfort during these trying times

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By Jean Rhodes How should parents, mentors, and other caring adults talk to children and adolescents about the growing COVID-19 pandemic? As a mentor, it is certainly appropriate to acknowledge some level concern, and to provide age-appropriate, accurate information that encourages actions that reduce the risk of exposure. But, if children see adults as overly […]