Research on counsellors in Australia has tended towards workforce surveys that profile association members, and thus, tend to reflect the interests and priorities of counsellors and the counselling profession. However, little is known about what the employment context offers and expects of counsellor positions. This exploratory point-in-time study undertook a content analysis of counsellor job advertisements and categorised the findings into three main areas: conditions, description of the role, and selection criteria. The findings suggest that for counselling roles, employers are less concerned about whether applicants have had specialised counselling training, but that they have tertiary qualifications in cognate disciplines and can undertake a wider range of tasks in addition to providing counselling. Several role requirements specified by employers are not mentioned in contemporary Australian counselling training standards, though most are mentioned in the profession’s scope of practice documents. This research provides counselling educators, counselling students, and counsellor jobseekers data on possible trends of contemporary employment patterns appearing in advertised counsellor positions.
{"title":"More Than Just Counselling: Australian Counsellor Job Advertisement Trends","authors":"Nathan Beel","doi":"10.59158/001c.77591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.77591","url":null,"abstract":"Research on counsellors in Australia has tended towards workforce surveys that profile association members, and thus, tend to reflect the interests and priorities of counsellors and the counselling profession. However, little is known about what the employment context offers and expects of counsellor positions. This exploratory point-in-time study undertook a content analysis of counsellor job advertisements and categorised the findings into three main areas: conditions, description of the role, and selection criteria. The findings suggest that for counselling roles, employers are less concerned about whether applicants have had specialised counselling training, but that they have tertiary qualifications in cognate disciplines and can undertake a wider range of tasks in addition to providing counselling. Several role requirements specified by employers are not mentioned in contemporary Australian counselling training standards, though most are mentioned in the profession’s scope of practice documents. This research provides counselling educators, counselling students, and counsellor jobseekers data on possible trends of contemporary employment patterns appearing in advertised counsellor positions.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"116 3-4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128671189","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}
This article presents a contextual review of the literature on mental health policy in the global and Australian settings. The review constitutes an analysis of, firstly, the relevant global literature on mental health policy and practice concepts and, secondly, the Australian literature on mental health policy with a particular focus on the Better Access initiative. Finally, the review offers an analysis of the most recent Better Access evaluation and concludes by considering future directions for the initiative.
{"title":"How We Got Here: A Contextual Review of the Better Access Initiative","authors":"Adrian Holmes, C. Windsor, C. Douglas","doi":"10.59158/001c.77927","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.77927","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents a contextual review of the literature on mental health policy in the global and Australian settings. The review constitutes an analysis of, firstly, the relevant global literature on mental health policy and practice concepts and, secondly, the Australian literature on mental health policy with a particular focus on the Better Access initiative. Finally, the review offers an analysis of the most recent Better Access evaluation and concludes by considering future directions for the initiative.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"295 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116224518","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}
Chronic pain as an entity presents a challenge across many domains of life. It fails to serve adaptive or physiological functions. Beyond the exorbitant economic burden and strain on our healthcare system, chronic pain takes a heavy toll on the psychosocial and emotional wellbeing of sufferers and their relationships. As a complex biopsychosocial condition, routine treatments can ignore important variables, rendering them insufficient in relieving patient suffering. Research examining psychological management strategies for chronic pain is largely dominated by cognitive-behavioural models of therapy. Psychodynamic psychotherapeutic models have been substantially less explored. Through a relational lens, this theoretical essay explores aetiological influences of chronic pain. Consideration of the intersection of trauma, attachment, and pain then grounds an argument for a psychodynamic approach to chronic pain management.
{"title":"In Conversation With Chronic Pain: An Integrative Framework for Understanding and Treating Chronic Pain","authors":"Gina Kezelman","doi":"10.59158/001c.77932","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.77932","url":null,"abstract":"Chronic pain as an entity presents a challenge across many domains of life. It fails to serve adaptive or physiological functions. Beyond the exorbitant economic burden and strain on our healthcare system, chronic pain takes a heavy toll on the psychosocial and emotional wellbeing of sufferers and their relationships. As a complex biopsychosocial condition, routine treatments can ignore important variables, rendering them insufficient in relieving patient suffering. Research examining psychological management strategies for chronic pain is largely dominated by cognitive-behavioural models of therapy. Psychodynamic psychotherapeutic models have been substantially less explored. Through a relational lens, this theoretical essay explores aetiological influences of chronic pain. Consideration of the intersection of trauma, attachment, and pain then grounds an argument for a psychodynamic approach to chronic pain management.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"152 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116396507","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}
Romantic relationships involving neurodivergent (ND) adults, in particular a subset where at least one partner in the relationship is autistic, present unique dynamics and challenges regarding partnership communication, emotional connection, intimacy, and engagement. To cater for such relationships, adjustments to relationship therapy may be needed. This scoping review aimed to investigate what is known about relationship-counselling approaches for couples in which an autistic profile has been identified, either through diagnosis or self-identification. A lack of empirical research exploring specific relationship-counselling therapies for ND couples was found; moreover, only two of the nine studies reviewed had qualitatively investigated a specific approach. All studies reached consensus on the need for greater therapist familiarity with autism when working with ND couples. Other common recommendations were to avoid viewing autism as a deficit, to approach ND relationships with a cultural lens to facilitate mutual understanding, and to ensure social support for the neurotypical partner of the relationship. Overall, this review found a need for greater empirical research in ND relationship counselling, including follow-up research to test recommendations.
{"title":"Relationship-counselling Recommendations for Partnerships Involving Autistic Adults: A Scoping Review","authors":"Andrea Stafford","doi":"10.59158/001c.77496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.77496","url":null,"abstract":"Romantic relationships involving neurodivergent (ND) adults, in particular a subset where at least one partner in the relationship is autistic, present unique dynamics and challenges regarding partnership communication, emotional connection, intimacy, and engagement. To cater for such relationships, adjustments to relationship therapy may be needed. This scoping review aimed to investigate what is known about relationship-counselling approaches for couples in which an autistic profile has been identified, either through diagnosis or self-identification. A lack of empirical research exploring specific relationship-counselling therapies for ND couples was found; moreover, only two of the nine studies reviewed had qualitatively investigated a specific approach. All studies reached consensus on the need for greater therapist familiarity with autism when working with ND couples. Other common recommendations were to avoid viewing autism as a deficit, to approach ND relationships with a cultural lens to facilitate mutual understanding, and to ensure social support for the neurotypical partner of the relationship. Overall, this review found a need for greater empirical research in ND relationship counselling, including follow-up research to test recommendations.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115547846","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}
This article presents some of the key findings of the author’s doctoral art-based research Seeing Her Stories: An Art-Based Inquiry (van Laar, 2020b), in which she worked with a group of women participants to investigate what can happen when we share our stories through art. In particular, she focuses on how listening deeply to participants revealed the ways in which sharing our stories through art was life enhancing and why this is important in the current changing context of Australia’s mental health service system.
{"title":"Interest, Enablement, Joy, and Meaning: Listening for What’s Life Enhancing About Sharing Our Stories Through Art","authors":"Carla van Laar","doi":"10.59158/001c.77540","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.77540","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents some of the key findings of the author’s doctoral art-based research Seeing Her Stories: An Art-Based Inquiry (van Laar, 2020b), in which she worked with a group of women participants to investigate what can happen when we share our stories through art. In particular, she focuses on how listening deeply to participants revealed the ways in which sharing our stories through art was life enhancing and why this is important in the current changing context of Australia’s mental health service system.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114148417","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}
One of Australia’s leading compassion researchers, Dr. James Kirby employs science and real-world cases to argue that compassion is the most important human motivation to harness in today’s world. Citing the benefits of compassion training exercises for life struggles including self-criticism, shame, grief, parenting, depression, and anxiety, Kirby draws on findings from the University of Queensland’s Compassionate Mind Research Group, of which he is co-director. Debunking the myth that compassion is a soft or weak emotion, he examines fears, blocks, and resistances we and our clients may have to compassion, which he defines as the courageous and wise motivation to turn towards suffering and try to alleviate it. Reviewer Prof. Paul Gilbert, who developed compassion focused therapy, applauds how Choose Compassion: Why it matters and how it works (Kirby, 2022) takes on big themes, such as the inevitability of suffering and loss, and makes them understandable and accessible to readers. Despite climate change, mass extinctions, genocide, wars, and the capacity of humans to be callous and contradictory, Kirby’s message is ultimately one of hope.
{"title":"Choose Compassion: Why It Matters and How It Works (2022) by James Kirby. University of Queensland Press. ISBN: 9780702265648","authors":"P. Gilbert","doi":"10.59158/001c.74361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.74361","url":null,"abstract":"One of Australia’s leading compassion researchers, Dr. James Kirby employs science and real-world cases to argue that compassion is the most important human motivation to harness in today’s world. Citing the benefits of compassion training exercises for life struggles including self-criticism, shame, grief, parenting, depression, and anxiety, Kirby draws on findings from the University of Queensland’s Compassionate Mind Research Group, of which he is co-director. Debunking the myth that compassion is a soft or weak emotion, he examines fears, blocks, and resistances we and our clients may have to compassion, which he defines as the courageous and wise motivation to turn towards suffering and try to alleviate it. Reviewer Prof. Paul Gilbert, who developed compassion focused therapy, applauds how Choose Compassion: Why it matters and how it works (Kirby, 2022) takes on big themes, such as the inevitability of suffering and loss, and makes them understandable and accessible to readers. Despite climate change, mass extinctions, genocide, wars, and the capacity of humans to be callous and contradictory, Kirby’s message is ultimately one of hope.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"48 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128097052","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}
Research shows the detrimental effects of rumination on individuals’ cognitive performance. However, there is limited research regarding rumination interference on task performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between rumination and cognition and explore if its impact is better described by Baddeley’s working memory model or Borkovec’s cognitive avoidance theory of worry. A laboratory experiment was conducted comparing three ruminative valence groups (negative, neutral, and positive). The aim was to explore individuals’ performance on a verbal and visual free-recall task and determine interference effects. Task scores pre- and post-rumination were collected from 69 university student participants and two 3 × 2 ANOVAs were conducted. The results suggest rumination may not interfere with individuals’ verbal and visual task performance, indicating the link between rumination and cognition may not be as significant as previously suggested. Furthermore, the results suggest that Baddeley’s model is a better description of rumination impacts on task performance compared to Borkovec’s theoretical model.
{"title":"The Impact of Ruminative Thinking on Verbal and Visual Task Performance","authors":"Melissa L. Johnman, M. Boschen","doi":"10.59158/001c.73835","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.73835","url":null,"abstract":"Research shows the detrimental effects of rumination on individuals’ cognitive performance. However, there is limited research regarding rumination interference on task performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between rumination and cognition and explore if its impact is better described by Baddeley’s working memory model or Borkovec’s cognitive avoidance theory of worry. A laboratory experiment was conducted comparing three ruminative valence groups (negative, neutral, and positive). The aim was to explore individuals’ performance on a verbal and visual free-recall task and determine interference effects. Task scores pre- and post-rumination were collected from 69 university student participants and two 3 × 2 ANOVAs were conducted. The results suggest rumination may not interfere with individuals’ verbal and visual task performance, indicating the link between rumination and cognition may not be as significant as previously suggested. Furthermore, the results suggest that Baddeley’s model is a better description of rumination impacts on task performance compared to Borkovec’s theoretical model.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"242 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124031229","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}
This paper reports a tabletop role-playing campaign developed in a child protection counselling context. The campaign was written by 12-year-old “Oliver” (a pseudonym) in collaboration with his counsellor and then played through with members of his family. The paper provides the background to the study, incorporating the theoretical context, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), narrative play therapy, and the position of the counsellor as both a co-creator and dungeon master. It outlines the collaborative process of creating a TTRPG campaign, and then as the primary intention, presents a faithful retelling of the campaign undertaken. The paper further provides clinical reflection on symbolism evident in TTRPGs and the campaign presented. Finally, it presents therapeutic outcomes to highlight the impact of this intervention and support the role of TTRPGs in a therapeutic context. The campaign investigates themes of displacement from home, siblings working together to overcome obstacles, exploring dungeons, overthrowing evil scientists, retrieving lost possessions, and, ultimately, returning home.
{"title":"The Wand in the Well: A Tabletop Role-Playing Campaign in a Child Protection Context","authors":"G. T. Ryan","doi":"10.59158/001c.73811","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.73811","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reports a tabletop role-playing campaign developed in a child protection counselling context. The campaign was written by 12-year-old “Oliver” (a pseudonym) in collaboration with his counsellor and then played through with members of his family. The paper provides the background to the study, incorporating the theoretical context, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), narrative play therapy, and the position of the counsellor as both a co-creator and dungeon master. It outlines the collaborative process of creating a TTRPG campaign, and then as the primary intention, presents a faithful retelling of the campaign undertaken. The paper further provides clinical reflection on symbolism evident in TTRPGs and the campaign presented. Finally, it presents therapeutic outcomes to highlight the impact of this intervention and support the role of TTRPGs in a therapeutic context. The campaign investigates themes of displacement from home, siblings working together to overcome obstacles, exploring dungeons, overthrowing evil scientists, retrieving lost possessions, and, ultimately, returning home.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130023357","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}
Rather than continuing the standardised “protocol-for-psychological disease” approach of the last few decades, process-based therapy (PBT) centres the client and the processes which are most helpful for their particular needs. Regardless of what type of therapy a practitioner uses, PBT focuses on personalising evidence-informed interventions. This revolutionary training manual offers the practitioner useful examples, case studies, tools, tables, and worksheets. Reviewed by one of the world’s top scientists, Learning Process-Based Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Targeting the Core Processes of Psychological Change in Clinical Practice is written by PBT’s founders.
{"title":"Learning Process-Based Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Targeting the Core Processes of Psychological Change in Clinical Practice (2021) by Stefan G. Hofmann, Steven C. Hayes, and David N. Lorscheid. New Harbinger Publications. ISBN: 9781684037551","authors":"J. Ciarrochi","doi":"10.59158/001c.73352","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.73352","url":null,"abstract":"Rather than continuing the standardised “protocol-for-psychological disease” approach of the last few decades, process-based therapy (PBT) centres the client and the processes which are most helpful for their particular needs. Regardless of what type of therapy a practitioner uses, PBT focuses on personalising evidence-informed interventions. This revolutionary training manual offers the practitioner useful examples, case studies, tools, tables, and worksheets. Reviewed by one of the world’s top scientists, Learning Process-Based Therapy: A Skills Training Manual for Targeting the Core Processes of Psychological Change in Clinical Practice is written by PBT’s founders.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122941470","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}
Climate change-related distress (CCRD) is a salient discourse, with contemporary resources for addressing CCRD currently dominated by positivist ideology. Such resources are problematic as they instil individualistic notions of behaviour change to combat climate change and CCRD, oversimplifying the problem and shifting focus away from systemic power imbalances and injustices that overwhelmingly contribute to climate change and CCRD. Addressing CCRD should involve a shift from an individualistic focus to collaborative conversations and frameworks that have the capacity to consider inherently complex issues of cultural and epistemological diversity. One such framework that incorporates non-pathologising understandings of CCRD is the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF). Critical use of the PTMF to describe and support experiences of CCRD can be relevant for marginalised communities as it centres political, social, and relational contexts and assists in the cocreation of meaningful narratives while addressing systemic power imbalances and injustices, thus making way for collective action and empowerment processes for marginalised communities disproportionately affected by anthropogenic climate change.
{"title":"Climate Change-Related Distress Within the Dominant Mental Health Paradigm: Problems, Pitfalls, and a Possible Way Forward","authors":"Rana R. Kökçinar","doi":"10.59158/001c.71204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71204","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change-related distress (CCRD) is a salient discourse, with contemporary resources for addressing CCRD currently dominated by positivist ideology. Such resources are problematic as they instil individualistic notions of behaviour change to combat climate change and CCRD, oversimplifying the problem and shifting focus away from systemic power imbalances and injustices that overwhelmingly contribute to climate change and CCRD. Addressing CCRD should involve a shift from an individualistic focus to collaborative conversations and frameworks that have the capacity to consider inherently complex issues of cultural and epistemological diversity. One such framework that incorporates non-pathologising understandings of CCRD is the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF). Critical use of the PTMF to describe and support experiences of CCRD can be relevant for marginalised communities as it centres political, social, and relational contexts and assists in the cocreation of meaningful narratives while addressing systemic power imbalances and injustices, thus making way for collective action and empowerment processes for marginalised communities disproportionately affected by anthropogenic climate change.","PeriodicalId":394035,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115834156","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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