Pub Date : 2019-01-31DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2021.36.2.35
S. Collins
Contemporary ideologies surrounding motherhood do not appear to reflect the experiences of many women. Motherhood is often idealised as a joyful experience, however a large proportion of women experience psychological distress, often receiving a diagnosis of postnatal depression. Current psychiatric systems may not adequately represent mothers’ experiences or reflect the range and complexity of emotions experienced. Most psychological research explores mothers’ emotions through the lens of a medical model, with a focus on depression; the exploration of emotions beyond depression has been under-researched. This study explored the range of emotions mothers experience during early motherhood. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women who experienced post-natal distress; data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results showed a conflict between the mothers’ aspired and idyllic representations of motherhood and their lived experiences; three themes were identified: when idyllic notions of motherhood are not realised; when motherhood is not instinctive; and when prioritising childcare is not easy. Mothers who were unable to live up to the identified notions of motherhood, experienced emotional distress, from resentment and guilt, to feeling broken and insecure. The amalgamation of emotions experienced created a complex emotional landscape they had to negotiate, and their experiences were not represented in the psychiatric categorical systems; they did not identify with having postnatal depression and were left unsupported. This study explored ways counselling psychologists could offer support to this sub-clinical group and viewing their experiences as a normal response to motherhood as opposed to pathologising them.
{"title":"An interpretative phenomenological analysis of mothers’ negative experiences and emotions during early motherhood","authors":"S. Collins","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2021.36.2.35","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2021.36.2.35","url":null,"abstract":"Contemporary ideologies surrounding motherhood do not appear to reflect the experiences of many women. Motherhood is often idealised as a joyful experience, however a large proportion of women experience psychological distress, often receiving a diagnosis of postnatal depression. Current psychiatric systems may not adequately represent mothers’ experiences or reflect the range and complexity of emotions experienced. Most psychological research explores mothers’ emotions through the lens of a medical model, with a focus on depression; the exploration of emotions beyond depression has been under-researched. This study explored the range of emotions mothers experience during early motherhood. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women who experienced post-natal distress; data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results showed a conflict between the mothers’ aspired and idyllic representations of motherhood and their lived experiences; three themes were identified: when idyllic notions of motherhood are not realised; when motherhood is not instinctive; and when prioritising childcare is not easy. Mothers who were unable to live up to the identified notions of motherhood, experienced emotional distress, from resentment and guilt, to feeling broken and insecure. The amalgamation of emotions experienced created a complex emotional landscape they had to negotiate, and their experiences were not represented in the psychiatric categorical systems; they did not identify with having postnatal depression and were left unsupported. This study explored ways counselling psychologists could offer support to this sub-clinical group and viewing their experiences as a normal response to motherhood as opposed to pathologising them.","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49352570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-12-01DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.21
J. Robins, Russel Ayling
Psychological contributing factors in obesity include attachment style and emotion dysregulation. Little is known about the relationship between attachment style and responses to treatment in obesity.This study set out to identify the average weight loss for a group treatment for obesity based on diet changes and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) strategies, investigate whether attachment style predicts weight loss, and explore participants’ experience of the group treatment.52 participants completed an attachment measure at the start of treatment. Body Mass Index (BMI) measures were taken at the start and end of treatment. The average weight loss was calculated and a backwards multiple regression tested whether the five attachment dimensions could predict participants’ change in BMI. Seven of the participants then took part in semi-structured interviews about the experience of the treatment. Transcripts were subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).The average weight loss was 2.2 per cent of the starting body weight. Quantitative findings produced a model which showed that the participants who scored higher on attachment security lost less weight than those with insecure attachments. Qualitative findings centred around four themes regarding the group experience: Dependency; Identification; Comparison to Others; and Negative Aspects of the Group Experience. Participants also described having difficulties with self-soothing, having had unmet needs in childhood, and the experience of recurrent depression.This study demonstrates poor weight loss from group treatments for obesity based on diet changes and CBT strategies. However, it suggests that those with insecure attachment may be better suited to CBT-type courses than those who are securely attached. The qualitative themes offer possible explanations as to why the treatment did not result in significant weight loss and potential reasons for the well documented weight regain following treatment for obesity. The implications are that treatment for obesity should be tailor-made, consider attachment style, and consider the need to attend to emotion regulation.
{"title":"A call to include attachment-based concepts in tailored treatments for obesity","authors":"J. Robins, Russel Ayling","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.21","url":null,"abstract":"Psychological contributing factors in obesity include attachment style and emotion dysregulation. Little is known about the relationship between attachment style and responses to treatment in obesity.This study set out to identify the average weight loss for a group treatment for obesity based on diet changes and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) strategies, investigate whether attachment style predicts weight loss, and explore participants’ experience of the group treatment.52 participants completed an attachment measure at the start of treatment. Body Mass Index (BMI) measures were taken at the start and end of treatment. The average weight loss was calculated and a backwards multiple regression tested whether the five attachment dimensions could predict participants’ change in BMI. Seven of the participants then took part in semi-structured interviews about the experience of the treatment. Transcripts were subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).The average weight loss was 2.2 per cent of the starting body weight. Quantitative findings produced a model which showed that the participants who scored higher on attachment security lost less weight than those with insecure attachments. Qualitative findings centred around four themes regarding the group experience: Dependency; Identification; Comparison to Others; and Negative Aspects of the Group Experience. Participants also described having difficulties with self-soothing, having had unmet needs in childhood, and the experience of recurrent depression.This study demonstrates poor weight loss from group treatments for obesity based on diet changes and CBT strategies. However, it suggests that those with insecure attachment may be better suited to CBT-type courses than those who are securely attached. The qualitative themes offer possible explanations as to why the treatment did not result in significant weight loss and potential reasons for the well documented weight regain following treatment for obesity. The implications are that treatment for obesity should be tailor-made, consider attachment style, and consider the need to attend to emotion regulation.","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41491207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-12-01DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.66
C. Richards
{"title":"The Personal is Political: Stories of Difference and Psychotherapy","authors":"C. Richards","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.66","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.66","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44805423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-12-01DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.47
Katarzyna S. Adamczyk
Working at relational depth is considered to be one of the pillars of an effective intervention within person-centred approach. So far, the literature has been mainly focused on the description of the phenomenon. However, there has been little evidence explaining how the therapists can enhance their ability to work at depth. This paper seeks to add to a growing body of literature on the factors that can contribute to the development of the therapist’s ability to work at relational depth.The case study is based on a systematic analysis of the therapy sessions’ recordings, the client and supervision notes, and the researcher’s reflective diary. The analysis was aimed to track down the development process of relational depth. This was achieved by identifying critical incidents from the therapy sessions and matching these with the incidents from the therapist’s personal therapy and supervision.The findings from this case study suggest that the therapist’s ability to work at relational depth can be developed through the expansion of the therapist’s self. The more parts of the self the therapist is able to employ during a therapeutic encounter, the greater the potential they have of being able to work at relational depth with their clients.The results point to the crucial role of the therapist’s growing self-awareness (expansion of self) and self-acceptance in the development of their ability to work at relational depth. The theory of configurations of self and accurate symbolisation is used to discuss these findings.
{"title":"The impact of expanding the self on the ability to work at relational depth","authors":"Katarzyna S. Adamczyk","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.47","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.47","url":null,"abstract":"Working at relational depth is considered to be one of the pillars of an effective intervention within person-centred approach. So far, the literature has been mainly focused on the description of the phenomenon. However, there has been little evidence explaining how the therapists can enhance their ability to work at depth. This paper seeks to add to a growing body of literature on the factors that can contribute to the development of the therapist’s ability to work at relational depth.The case study is based on a systematic analysis of the therapy sessions’ recordings, the client and supervision notes, and the researcher’s reflective diary. The analysis was aimed to track down the development process of relational depth. This was achieved by identifying critical incidents from the therapy sessions and matching these with the incidents from the therapist’s personal therapy and supervision.The findings from this case study suggest that the therapist’s ability to work at relational depth can be developed through the expansion of the therapist’s self. The more parts of the self the therapist is able to employ during a therapeutic encounter, the greater the potential they have of being able to work at relational depth with their clients.The results point to the crucial role of the therapist’s growing self-awareness (expansion of self) and self-acceptance in the development of their ability to work at relational depth. The theory of configurations of self and accurate symbolisation is used to discuss these findings.","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49490711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-12-01DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.4
Pawel D. Mankiewicz, J. O'Leary, Olivia Collier
Despite an emerging number of studies investigating service users’ experiences of receiving cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp), no studies to date have focused on individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP). Available research in FEP indicates that young people may delay seeking professional help due to having negative expectations of therapy and upholding unhelpful attitudes toward such treatment, which delays uptake to early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services in the NHS. The present study attempts to address the apparent gap in existing knowledge and explores expectations and experiences of receiving CBTp among EIP clients with FEP.Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with nine participants with FEP who had received CBTp in a London-based EIP. Researchers had the flexibility to focus on the identified areas of service user experience and explored their reflections on the received therapy. Questions related to prior expectations and the actual experience of participating in such therapeutic treatment.Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged, including: service user’s prior expectations; therapeutic alliance; challenges of CBTp; and application of CBTp to achieve change.Although some negative assumptions preceded the commencement of therapy, optimistic expectations were also voiced. Overall, participants reported largely positive experiences of receiving CBTp in relation to both the process of treatment and qualities demonstrated by their therapists, despite experiencing some challenges related to achieving change. Central importance of functional therapeutic alliance in CBTp was indicated, based on which major therapeutic gains were achieved, even in spite of, at times, pre-existing worrisome expectations.
{"title":"‘That hour served me better than any hour I have ever had before’: Service users’ experiences of CBTp in first episode psychosis","authors":"Pawel D. Mankiewicz, J. O'Leary, Olivia Collier","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.4","url":null,"abstract":"Despite an emerging number of studies investigating service users’ experiences of receiving cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp), no studies to date have focused on individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP). Available research in FEP indicates that young people may delay seeking professional help due to having negative expectations of therapy and upholding unhelpful attitudes toward such treatment, which delays uptake to early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services in the NHS. The present study attempts to address the apparent gap in existing knowledge and explores expectations and experiences of receiving CBTp among EIP clients with FEP.Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with nine participants with FEP who had received CBTp in a London-based EIP. Researchers had the flexibility to focus on the identified areas of service user experience and explored their reflections on the received therapy. Questions related to prior expectations and the actual experience of participating in such therapeutic treatment.Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged, including: service user’s prior expectations; therapeutic alliance; challenges of CBTp; and application of CBTp to achieve change.Although some negative assumptions preceded the commencement of therapy, optimistic expectations were also voiced. Overall, participants reported largely positive experiences of receiving CBTp in relation to both the process of treatment and qualities demonstrated by their therapists, despite experiencing some challenges related to achieving change. Central importance of functional therapeutic alliance in CBTp was indicated, based on which major therapeutic gains were achieved, even in spite of, at times, pre-existing worrisome expectations.","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46388311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-12-01DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.37
Manuela Untanu, Raymond Dempsey
It is an ethical imperative that practitioners recognise and understand the different factors that may contribute to our work with ethnic minority clients (BPS, 2018; HCPC, 2016). Previous research provided conflicting views regarding the key factors for practitioners working with people from ethnically diverse minorities to support Positive Therapeutic Outcomes (PTO). This study aimed to explore the experiences of counselling psychologists in the UK working with people from ethnic minorities, and to find the strengths and limitations the practitioners encounter when working with ethnically diverse clients.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants, and data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).One superordinate and three subordinate themes emerged: reported limitations and ways to overcome them (institutional disparities; lack of multicultural training; multicultural awareness)Findings suggest the presence of common elements that contribute to PTO with people from ethnic minorities. Consistent with previous research the study shows that participants experience barriers to their practice which might affect the efficacy of therapeutic outcomes with ethnic minorities.ethnic minority; diversity; therapeutic outcomes; IPA.
{"title":"Reported factors for practitioners working with diverse ethnic minority clients to support positive therapeutic outcomes: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis","authors":"Manuela Untanu, Raymond Dempsey","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.37","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.2.37","url":null,"abstract":"It is an ethical imperative that practitioners recognise and understand the different factors that may contribute to our work with ethnic minority clients (BPS, 2018; HCPC, 2016). Previous research provided conflicting views regarding the key factors for practitioners working with people from ethnically diverse minorities to support Positive Therapeutic Outcomes (PTO). This study aimed to explore the experiences of counselling psychologists in the UK working with people from ethnic minorities, and to find the strengths and limitations the practitioners encounter when working with ethnically diverse clients.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants, and data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).One superordinate and three subordinate themes emerged: reported limitations and ways to overcome them (institutional disparities; lack of multicultural training; multicultural awareness)Findings suggest the presence of common elements that contribute to PTO with people from ethnic minorities. Consistent with previous research the study shows that participants experience barriers to their practice which might affect the efficacy of therapeutic outcomes with ethnic minorities.ethnic minority; diversity; therapeutic outcomes; IPA.","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46851125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-08-20DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2021.36.1.7
S. Prior
Written by an experienced psychodynamic therapist, this paper likens one’s narrative of becoming a therapist to an ancient palimpsest manuscript, where layer is built upon layer, yet traces of earlier texts keep coming through. Dipping into his personal archive of writings on this theme, the author revisits earlier constructions of his narrative, appraising them from his current perspective. Moving between past and present, personal experience and theory, clinical practice and research, this paper builds a rich, densely woven narrative account of becoming a therapist, while interrogating the process through which such a narrative is constructed and the purposes it serves. It concludes with reflections on the insights gained through the process of this inquiry, acknowledging the significant ontological and epistemological shifts that have occurred in the author’s approach to both asking and answering the question ‘What brings me here?’
{"title":"A palimpsest narrative of becoming a therapist","authors":"S. Prior","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2021.36.1.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2021.36.1.7","url":null,"abstract":"Written by an experienced psychodynamic therapist, this paper likens one’s narrative of becoming a therapist to an ancient palimpsest manuscript, where layer is built upon layer, yet traces of earlier texts keep coming through. Dipping into his personal archive of writings on this theme, the author revisits earlier constructions of his narrative, appraising them from his current perspective. Moving between past and present, personal experience and theory, clinical practice and research, this paper builds a rich, densely woven narrative account of becoming a therapist, while interrogating the process through which such a narrative is constructed and the purposes it serves. It concludes with reflections on the insights gained through the process of this inquiry, acknowledging the significant ontological and epistemological shifts that have occurred in the author’s approach to both asking and answering the question ‘What brings me here?’","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46939707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2018-06-01DOI: 10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.1.46
R. Bedi, K. Christiani, Julie A. Cohen
In response to the little information available about the characteristics of counselling psychology students in Canada and their impact on the future of the specialization in Canada, 52 student members of the Canadian Psychological Association’s Section on Counselling Psychology (representing a 26 per cent response rate) were surveyed using an adapted version of a questionnaire to survey counselling psychologists in Canada.Results indicated that, in most ways, the characteristics of Canadian counselling psychology students resemble those of current counselling psychologists but some differences emerged that point to a future with an increasing female-male practitioner gender gap, more non-heterosexual counselling psychologists, and a slight growth in humanistic/person-centred theories being used.The field will likely continue to be characterized by heterosexual female counselling psychologists of European descent, who practice primarily from either a theoretically-integrative standpoint or cognitive-behavioural theory, who intervene largely through individual counselling or psychotherapy, and almost entirely only in the English language. The results of the study are examined with respect to understanding gaps in training, professional identity, and the apparent distancing from the historical roots of the profession. The limitations of the study are noted and avenues for future research are outlined. Some comparisons with the field in other regions of the world, like the UK, are also provided.
{"title":"The next generation of Canadian counselling psychologists","authors":"R. Bedi, K. Christiani, Julie A. Cohen","doi":"10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.1.46","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.53841/bpscpr.2018.33.1.46","url":null,"abstract":"In response to the little information available about the characteristics of counselling psychology students in Canada and their impact on the future of the specialization in Canada, 52 student members of the Canadian Psychological Association’s Section on Counselling Psychology (representing a 26 per cent response rate) were surveyed using an adapted version of a questionnaire to survey counselling psychologists in Canada.Results indicated that, in most ways, the characteristics of Canadian counselling psychology students resemble those of current counselling psychologists but some differences emerged that point to a future with an increasing female-male practitioner gender gap, more non-heterosexual counselling psychologists, and a slight growth in humanistic/person-centred theories being used.The field will likely continue to be characterized by heterosexual female counselling psychologists of European descent, who practice primarily from either a theoretically-integrative standpoint or cognitive-behavioural theory, who intervene largely through individual counselling or psychotherapy, and almost entirely only in the English language. The results of the study are examined with respect to understanding gaps in training, professional identity, and the apparent distancing from the historical roots of the profession. The limitations of the study are noted and avenues for future research are outlined. Some comparisons with the field in other regions of the world, like the UK, are also provided.","PeriodicalId":36758,"journal":{"name":"Counselling Psychology Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46490642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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