Personal therapy (PT) is a key component in many psychotherapy training models, with the intention of enhancing self-awareness and therapeutic skills. This study examines the experiences of trainee cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) practitioners who participate in PT and understand how it influences personal and professional dimensions.
Methods
By exploring the trainees' experiences, the study aimed to understand PT's role in CAT training and its impact on their development as therapists, aligning with CAT's focus on meaning-making through reflective dialogue. Seven trainee CAT therapists who had completed their PT participated in semi-structured interviews, centred on the logistics and experiences of PT rather than therapy content. The interviews were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA).
Results
Analysis revealed four key themes: ‘Dilemma—I have to, or I want to’, ‘Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Show me the Right One’, ‘Sailing Through the Sea—Dynamics of Process’, and ‘Reflections’. Findings suggest that PT served as an emotive and transformative learning opportunity, promoting insights into the self (both self-to-other and self-to-self relationships), relational dynamics, the client experience and clinical practice.
Conclusion
Participants reported that while financial, geographical and personal factors influenced their therapist selection, these initial considerations had minimal impact on the overall experience or perceived therapeutic benefit. This captured the broad positive experiences of trainee CAT practitioners, highlighting PT's critical role in professional development. Considerations are given to the importance of PT developing reflective and relational skills essential for CAT practice. Future studies should consider researching elements of diversity, such as culture, ethnicity and gender, to understand its impact on clinical work.
{"title":"‘An Exploration of Self (to Other and to Self) Through Therapist–Client Interactions’: Trainee CAT Practitioners' Reflections on Personal Therapy During Training","authors":"Varshaa Deshpande, Rowan Tinlin-Dixon, Sandhya Java, Shaunak Deshpande","doi":"10.1002/capr.70051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Personal therapy (PT) is a key component in many psychotherapy training models, with the intention of enhancing self-awareness and therapeutic skills. This study examines the experiences of trainee cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) practitioners who participate in PT and understand how it influences personal and professional dimensions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>By exploring the trainees' experiences, the study aimed to understand PT's role in CAT training and its impact on their development as therapists, aligning with CAT's focus on meaning-making through reflective dialogue. Seven trainee CAT therapists who had completed their PT participated in semi-structured interviews, centred on the logistics and experiences of PT rather than therapy content. The interviews were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Analysis revealed four key themes: ‘Dilemma—I have to, or I want to’, ‘Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Show me the Right One’, ‘Sailing Through the Sea—Dynamics of Process’, and ‘Reflections’. Findings suggest that PT served as an emotive and transformative learning opportunity, promoting insights into the self (both self-to-other and self-to-self relationships), relational dynamics, the client experience and clinical practice.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants reported that while financial, geographical and personal factors influenced their therapist selection, these initial considerations had minimal impact on the overall experience or perceived therapeutic benefit. This captured the broad positive experiences of trainee CAT practitioners, highlighting PT's critical role in professional development. Considerations are given to the importance of PT developing reflective and relational skills essential for CAT practice. Future studies should consider researching elements of diversity, such as culture, ethnicity and gender, to understand its impact on clinical work.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145469588","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}
Nurul Aini Mudayat, Rafidah Aga Mohd Jaladin, Amir Asraf Yunus
Objectives
This research aimed to explore and confirm the factors contributing to multicultural counselling competence, as well as to establish the validity and reliability of the multicultural counselling competency scale among professional counsellors in Malaysia.
Methods
The research utilised a survey design, incorporating a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 150 professional counsellors from across Malaysia, selected through simple random sampling. The research instrument used was the Malay-translated version of the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge and Skills Survey—Counsellor Edition—Revision (MAKSS-CE-R). Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS).
Results
Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a three-factor structure, namely awareness, knowledge and skills, comprising 18 retained items. The validated 18-item instrument demonstrated robust reliability and validity, providing a culturally appropriate and psychometrically sound tool.
Conclusion
These findings underscore the novelty of extending this instrument beyond Western contexts and contribute to advancing the assessment of multicultural counselling competence in Malaysia.
{"title":"Psychometric Properties of the Multicultural Counselling Competency Scale Among Malaysian Professional Counsellors: An Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach","authors":"Nurul Aini Mudayat, Rafidah Aga Mohd Jaladin, Amir Asraf Yunus","doi":"10.1002/capr.70050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70050","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This research aimed to explore and confirm the factors contributing to multicultural counselling competence, as well as to establish the validity and reliability of the multicultural counselling competency scale among professional counsellors in Malaysia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The research utilised a survey design, incorporating a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 150 professional counsellors from across Malaysia, selected through simple random sampling. The research instrument used was the Malay-translated version of the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge and Skills Survey—Counsellor Edition—Revision (MAKSS-CE-R). Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a three-factor structure, namely awareness, knowledge and skills, comprising 18 retained items. The validated 18-item instrument demonstrated robust reliability and validity, providing a culturally appropriate and psychometrically sound tool.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings underscore the novelty of extending this instrument beyond Western contexts and contribute to advancing the assessment of multicultural counselling competence in Malaysia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145406992","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}
Emma Freetly Porter, Jesse Owen, Tony Rousmaniere, D. Martin Kivlighan III, Rayna C. Narvaez, Sara Heshmati
Background
Therapists may benefit from continued training to enhance their multicultural skills when working with clients from diverse backgrounds and identities. Although the Multicultural Orientation (MCO) framework emphasises attention to in-session cultural processes and the therapeutic alliance, few studies have examined specific training methodologies that effectively foster these skills. This pilot study tested a deliberate practice–based model to enhance the MCO competencies of therapists-in-training.
Method
Two therapists-in-training were recruited to participate in the study. Prior to receiving any MCO coaching or deliberate practice, they responded to a series of video vignettes portraying counselling scenarios that involved cultural issues. The participants then received four deliberate practice coaching sessions over the course of eight weeks that targeted their MCO skills. They were then asked to respond to a different series of culturally focused video vignettes after completing the MCO coaching. Both participants' pre-training and post-training scores were blindly coded by a team of coders and estimates of cultural comfort, cultural humility and cultural opportunities were calculated and compared at the two different time points. Participants also completed semi-structured interviews to assess their perceptions of the training experience.
Results
Results illustrated that both participants demonstrated improvements across all domains of MCO. Interviews with participants also showed that they found the MCO coaching to be helpful and individualised to their training needs.
Conclusions
Findings provide preliminary evidence that deliberate practice supervision may support the development of MCO-related skills. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
{"title":"Multicultural Orientation and Deliberate Practice Coaching: An Empirically Supported Case Study","authors":"Emma Freetly Porter, Jesse Owen, Tony Rousmaniere, D. Martin Kivlighan III, Rayna C. Narvaez, Sara Heshmati","doi":"10.1002/capr.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Therapists may benefit from continued training to enhance their multicultural skills when working with clients from diverse backgrounds and identities. Although the Multicultural Orientation (MCO) framework emphasises attention to in-session cultural processes and the therapeutic alliance, few studies have examined specific training methodologies that effectively foster these skills. This pilot study tested a deliberate practice–based model to enhance the MCO competencies of therapists-in-training.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two therapists-in-training were recruited to participate in the study. Prior to receiving any MCO coaching or deliberate practice, they responded to a series of video vignettes portraying counselling scenarios that involved cultural issues. The participants then received four deliberate practice coaching sessions over the course of eight weeks that targeted their MCO skills. They were then asked to respond to a different series of culturally focused video vignettes after completing the MCO coaching. Both participants' pre-training and post-training scores were blindly coded by a team of coders and estimates of cultural comfort, cultural humility and cultural opportunities were calculated and compared at the two different time points. Participants also completed semi-structured interviews to assess their perceptions of the training experience.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Results illustrated that both participants demonstrated improvements across all domains of MCO. Interviews with participants also showed that they found the MCO coaching to be helpful and individualised to their training needs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings provide preliminary evidence that deliberate practice supervision may support the development of MCO-related skills. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145366744","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}
Stephanie A. Houle, Niyati Mistry, Sylvia Kolodziejczyk, Stephanie Baker, Danielle Baldwin, Camille Garceau, John Sylvestre, Giorgio A. Tasca
Background
Virtually delivered therapy (VDT) has become increasingly common, with up to 70% of clinicians reporting using VDT in their practice following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the growing evidence of VDT's effectiveness, limited research has examined the impact of working virtually on therapists' well-being and professional lives. Given known associations between therapist well-being and outcomes such as burnout, job satisfaction, and attrition, a better understanding of how VDT affects therapists' professional and personal well-being is vital to advancing the effectiveness of this mode of delivering care. This study uses a qualitative approach to documenting psychotherapists' experiences of VDT and its impact on their well-being and professional practice.
Methods
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 psychotherapists who use VDT in their practices. We analysed transcripts by thematic analysis with an inductive approach.
Results
Three main themes relevant to therapist well-being were identified, each with several sub-themes: (1) personal lifestyle and well-being (lifestyle changes, self-care, increased effort impacting well-being); (2) professional practice (adapting business practices, accessibility to patients, maintaining a professional community, therapists' self-evaluations of their therapeutic effectiveness); and (3) providing therapy (patient factors, therapeutic engagement, process skills, therapeutic interventions, and the use of technology).
Conclusions
Overall, therapists reported both benefits and challenges associated with VDT to their personal well-being and professional lives. Findings highlight ways to improve training, supporting therapists to prioritise physical and emotional self-care, and using technologies to enhance interventions and streamline practices.
{"title":"Therapist Well-Being in the Context of Virtual Care: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Stephanie A. Houle, Niyati Mistry, Sylvia Kolodziejczyk, Stephanie Baker, Danielle Baldwin, Camille Garceau, John Sylvestre, Giorgio A. Tasca","doi":"10.1002/capr.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Virtually delivered therapy (VDT) has become increasingly common, with up to 70% of clinicians reporting using VDT in their practice following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the growing evidence of VDT's effectiveness, limited research has examined the impact of working virtually on therapists' well-being and professional lives. Given known associations between therapist well-being and outcomes such as burnout, job satisfaction, and attrition, a better understanding of how VDT affects therapists' professional and personal well-being is vital to advancing the effectiveness of this mode of delivering care. This study uses a qualitative approach to documenting psychotherapists' experiences of VDT and its impact on their well-being and professional practice.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 psychotherapists who use VDT in their practices. We analysed transcripts by thematic analysis with an inductive approach.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Three main themes relevant to therapist well-being were identified, each with several sub-themes: (1) personal lifestyle and well-being (lifestyle changes, self-care, increased effort impacting well-being); (2) professional practice (adapting business practices, accessibility to patients, maintaining a professional community, therapists' self-evaluations of their therapeutic effectiveness); and (3) providing therapy (patient factors, therapeutic engagement, process skills, therapeutic interventions, and the use of technology).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall, therapists reported both benefits and challenges associated with VDT to their personal well-being and professional lives. Findings highlight ways to improve training, supporting therapists to prioritise physical and emotional self-care, and using technologies to enhance interventions and streamline practices.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145316883","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}
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is linked to challenges such as low career success, relationship difficulties, increased conflicts, and lower life satisfaction, often due to poor distress tolerance and high aggression. Psychotherapy is the main treatment, with medication as a supplementary option. This study investigated the effectiveness of imagery rescripting in reducing aggression and improving distress tolerance compared to medication-as-usual.
Method
The study used an experimental design with pre-tests and post-tests and included a control group. Thirty-two individuals with BPD were matched and assigned to experimental and control groups. Over 5 weeks, the experimental group received one weekly session of mental imagery reconstruction along with medication-as-usual, while the control group only received medication-as-usual.
Findings
The results indicated that imagery rescripting, along with medication, facilitated a reduction in aggression scores from 103.53 to 86.93 (mean = 16.60, SD = 6.23, p = 0.000) and increased distress tolerance scores from 26.86 to 38.59 (mean = 11.73, SD = 5.37, p = 0.000) in individuals with BPD. Medication alone facilitated a reduction in aggression scores from 104.64 to 85.78 (mean = 18.85, SD = 9.13, p = 0.000). However, unlike the distress tolerance scale, there was no significant difference in the aggression scale between the two groups (mean = 1.14, SD = 3.13, p = 0.717).
Conclusion
The imagery rescripting technique may help individuals with BPD reduce aggression and distress intolerance by addressing the roots of unpleasant emotions. This technique shows promise in enhancing distress tolerance and potentially decreasing self-harming behaviours.
边缘型人格障碍（BPD）与低事业成功、关系困难、冲突增加和生活满意度降低等挑战有关，通常是由于较差的痛苦容忍度和高攻击性。心理治疗是主要的治疗方法，药物治疗是辅助选择。本研究探讨了与常规药物治疗相比，意象处方治疗在减少攻击性和提高痛苦耐受性方面的有效性。方法采用前测和后测相结合的实验设计，并设对照组。32名BPD患者被匹配并分配到实验组和对照组。在5周的时间里，实验组接受每周一次的心理意象重建和常规药物治疗，而对照组只接受常规药物治疗。结果表明，意象处方联合药物治疗可使BPD患者的攻击得分从103.53分降低到86.93分（平均= 16.60,SD = 6.23, p = 0.000），使痛苦耐受得分从26.86分提高到38.59分（平均= 11.73,SD = 5.37, p = 0.000）。单独用药可使攻击得分从104.64降至85.78（平均= 18.85,SD = 9.13, p = 0.000）。与痛苦容忍量表不同，攻击量表在两组间差异无统计学意义（mean = 1.14, SD = 3.13, p = 0.717）。结论意象改写技术可以通过解决不良情绪的根源，帮助BPD患者减少攻击性和痛苦不耐受。这项技术有望提高痛苦承受能力，并潜在地减少自我伤害行为。
{"title":"The Effect of Imagery Rescripting on Aggression and Distress Tolerance in Individuals With BPD: A Clinical Trial Compared With Medication-As-Usual","authors":"Mahdi Vafazadeh, Nour-Mohammad Bakhshani, Zahra Ghiasi","doi":"10.1002/capr.70046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70046","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is linked to challenges such as low career success, relationship difficulties, increased conflicts, and lower life satisfaction, often due to poor distress tolerance and high aggression. Psychotherapy is the main treatment, with medication as a supplementary option. This study investigated the effectiveness of imagery rescripting in reducing aggression and improving distress tolerance compared to medication-as-usual.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study used an experimental design with pre-tests and post-tests and included a control group. Thirty-two individuals with BPD were matched and assigned to experimental and control groups. Over 5 weeks, the experimental group received one weekly session of mental imagery reconstruction along with medication-as-usual, while the control group only received medication-as-usual.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results indicated that imagery rescripting, along with medication, facilitated a reduction in aggression scores from 103.53 to 86.93 (mean = 16.60, SD = 6.23, <i>p</i> = 0.000) and increased distress tolerance scores from 26.86 to 38.59 (mean = 11.73, SD = 5.37, <i>p</i> = 0.000) in individuals with BPD. Medication alone facilitated a reduction in aggression scores from 104.64 to 85.78 (mean = 18.85, SD = 9.13, <i>p</i> = 0.000). However, unlike the distress tolerance scale, there was no significant difference in the aggression scale between the two groups (mean = 1.14, SD = 3.13, <i>p</i> = 0.717).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The imagery rescripting technique may help individuals with BPD reduce aggression and distress intolerance by addressing the roots of unpleasant emotions. This technique shows promise in enhancing distress tolerance and potentially decreasing self-harming behaviours.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145316882","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}
Young people raised in residential care often face attachment challenges that impact their psychotherapy experiences. While research has examined their therapeutic needs, little is known about their experiences of therapy termination—a process potentially reactivating earlier separation experiences. This study explores how clients from residential care backgrounds and their therapists experience the psychotherapy termination process.
Methods
Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with five young adults (aged 21-27) who had spent 3-10 years in residential care and completed psychotherapy and six therapists who had worked with this population. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Six themes emerged: (1) Attachment-Influenced Motivations and Goals; (2) Therapeutic Process as Corrective Attachment Experience; (3) Outcomes Reflecting Attachment Development; (4) Barriers to Therapeutic Engagement; (5) Client Resilience as a Resource; and (6) Termination as a Crucible for Attachment Dynamics.
Conclusion
Therapy termination often activated earlier attachment patterns, with clients displaying preemptive withdrawal, feelings of unworthiness, or occasionally achieving healthy closure. For young people with residential care backgrounds, therapy termination is influenced by early attachment experiences and institutional histories. Therapists should approach termination with sensitivity, emphasise the therapeutic relationship, provide longer-term services when possible, and implement carefully planned endings. These findings contribute to developing more effective termination strategies for this vulnerable population.
{"title":"When Therapy Ends: A Qualitative Study on Termination Processes in Youth With a History of Residential Care","authors":"Munise Tanrıkulu, İ. Volkan Gülüm","doi":"10.1002/capr.70044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Young people raised in residential care often face attachment challenges that impact their psychotherapy experiences. While research has examined their therapeutic needs, little is known about their experiences of therapy termination—a process potentially reactivating earlier separation experiences. This study explores how clients from residential care backgrounds and their therapists experience the psychotherapy termination process.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with five young adults (aged 21-27) who had spent 3-10 years in residential care and completed psychotherapy and six therapists who had worked with this population. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Six themes emerged: (1) Attachment-Influenced Motivations and Goals; (2) Therapeutic Process as Corrective Attachment Experience; (3) Outcomes Reflecting Attachment Development; (4) Barriers to Therapeutic Engagement; (5) Client Resilience as a Resource; and (6) Termination as a Crucible for Attachment Dynamics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Therapy termination often activated earlier attachment patterns, with clients displaying preemptive withdrawal, feelings of unworthiness, or occasionally achieving healthy closure. For young people with residential care backgrounds, therapy termination is influenced by early attachment experiences and institutional histories. Therapists should approach termination with sensitivity, emphasise the therapeutic relationship, provide longer-term services when possible, and implement carefully planned endings. These findings contribute to developing more effective termination strategies for this vulnerable population.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145271785","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}
Stress is prevalent in naval contexts, and resilience enhancement programmes are crucial for protecting against the negative outcomes of stress. Antifragility, which focuses on growth and development through adversity, may offer additional benefits beyond traditional resilience.
Aims
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 3-session Create S.P.A.C.E. antifragility workshop on coping self-efficacy, mental toughness, and psychological well-being among navy sailors, and to assess the contribution of coping self-efficacy and mental toughness to well-being.
Method
A retrospective review of psychometric records was conducted. Participants (n = 183) completed the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale-26, Mental Toughness Questionnaire-18, and Psychological Wellbeing Scale-18 before and after the workshop, with follow-up at 3 months (n = 87). A control group (n = 72) completed the same measures over a similar interval without intervention. Paired t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and hierarchical regression were used in the analysis.
Results
Intervention participants showed significant improvements across all measures post-workshop (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes, maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Coping self-efficacy continued to increase over follow-up (p < 0.05). No significant changes occurred in controls. Coping self-efficacy and mental toughness together explained 59% of the variance in psychological well-being, each contributing significantly after controlling for demographic variables.
Conclusions
The Create S.P.A.C.E. workshop enhanced coping self-efficacy, mental toughness, and psychological well-being, with sustained benefits. These findings suggest its potential as a scalable, culturally adaptable intervention to foster antifragility in military and other high-stress populations.
{"title":"The Effect of an Antifragility Enhancement Workshop on the Coping Self-Efficacy, Mental Toughness, and Psychological Well-Being of Naval Personnel","authors":"Charles H. Van Wijk, Pinky Z. Majola","doi":"10.1002/capr.70043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70043","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Stress is prevalent in naval contexts, and resilience enhancement programmes are crucial for protecting against the negative outcomes of stress. Antifragility, which focuses on growth and development through adversity, may offer additional benefits beyond traditional resilience.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 3-session Create S.P.A.C.E. antifragility workshop on coping self-efficacy, mental toughness, and psychological well-being among navy sailors, and to assess the contribution of coping self-efficacy and mental toughness to well-being.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A retrospective review of psychometric records was conducted. Participants (<i>n</i> = 183) completed the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale-26, Mental Toughness Questionnaire-18, and Psychological Wellbeing Scale-18 before and after the workshop, with follow-up at 3 months (<i>n</i> = 87). A control group (<i>n</i> = 72) completed the same measures over a similar interval without intervention. Paired <i>t</i>-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and hierarchical regression were used in the analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Intervention participants showed significant improvements across all measures post-workshop (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with large effect sizes, maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Coping self-efficacy continued to increase over follow-up (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant changes occurred in controls. Coping self-efficacy and mental toughness together explained 59% of the variance in psychological well-being, each contributing significantly after controlling for demographic variables.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Create S.P.A.C.E. workshop enhanced coping self-efficacy, mental toughness, and psychological well-being, with sustained benefits. These findings suggest its potential as a scalable, culturally adaptable intervention to foster antifragility in military and other high-stress populations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/capr.70043","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145135583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Humanistic approaches to counselling traditionally adopt a nonpathologising stance whereby distress is understood in the context of client subjectivity, rather than standardised diagnostic criteria; yet medicalised language and labels increasingly accompany clients into the counselling room and frame how many people understand their experience. Existing research exploring the influence of psychiatric discourse upon attitudes and approaches of mental health professionals does not include humanistic counselling professionals, despite clear tensions between humanistic and psychiatric paradigms. This study sought to address this gap by exploring the interplay between humanistic counselling practice and psychiatric discourse through the lived experiences of humanistic counselling professionals in Ireland.
Method
Using reflective thematic analysis, this qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the attitudes and approaches of (N = 7) humanistic counselling professionals in Ireland towards psychiatric discourse and working with clients given a psychiatric diagnosis. This research was explored through the lens of critical realism.
Findings
Four themes are reported in this paper: (i) therapist attitudes, (ii) therapeutic approach, (iii) training, knowledge and understanding, and (iv) therapist resistance to psychiatric discourse. Evidence of incongruent, suspicious and pessimistic attitudes among participants towards clients presenting with a psychiatric diagnosis was identified within the data. These attitudes may be shaped by stigma and stereotypes associated with a client's diagnosis. Participants described directive and cautious approaches to working with clients diagnosed with a ‘disorder’, and at times appeared to prioritise management over the meaning of ‘symptoms’. Counselling education may play a role in counsellors' attitudes and approaches to psychiatric discourse. Attempts to resist the dominance of psychiatric discourse in practice were evident throughout the data.
Conclusion
Findings of this study suggest that psychiatric language may threaten the integrity of humanistic counselling practice through incongruent attitudes, focus on ‘fixing’ and pessimism among therapists when clients are viewed in terms of psychiatric ‘disorder’. The results of this paper invite therapists to reflect critically upon their relationship with psychiatric discourse. This includes consideration of the influence of any taken-for-granted knowledge of psychiatric ‘disor
{"title":"How Does Psychiatric Diagnosis and the Language of ‘Disorder’ Shape Humanistic Counselling Practice? A Qualitative Reflexive Thematic Analysis","authors":"Ashley Morgan, Stephen McCoy","doi":"10.1002/capr.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Humanistic approaches to counselling traditionally adopt a nonpathologising stance whereby distress is understood in the context of client subjectivity, rather than standardised diagnostic criteria; yet medicalised language and labels increasingly accompany clients into the counselling room and frame how many people understand their experience. Existing research exploring the influence of psychiatric discourse upon attitudes and approaches of mental health professionals does not include humanistic counselling professionals, despite clear tensions between humanistic and psychiatric paradigms. This study sought to address this gap by exploring the interplay between humanistic counselling practice and psychiatric discourse through the lived experiences of humanistic counselling professionals in Ireland.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using reflective thematic analysis, this qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the attitudes and approaches of (<i>N</i> = 7) humanistic counselling professionals in Ireland towards psychiatric discourse and working with clients given a psychiatric diagnosis. This research was explored through the lens of critical realism.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Four themes are reported in this paper: (i) therapist attitudes, (ii) therapeutic approach, (iii) training, knowledge and understanding, and (iv) therapist resistance to psychiatric discourse. Evidence of incongruent, suspicious and pessimistic attitudes among participants towards clients presenting with a psychiatric diagnosis was identified within the data. These attitudes may be shaped by stigma and stereotypes associated with a client's diagnosis. Participants described directive and cautious approaches to working with clients diagnosed with a ‘disorder’, and at times appeared to prioritise management over the meaning of ‘symptoms’. Counselling education may play a role in counsellors' attitudes and approaches to psychiatric discourse. Attempts to resist the dominance of psychiatric discourse in practice were evident throughout the data.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings of this study suggest that psychiatric language may threaten the integrity of humanistic counselling practice through incongruent attitudes, focus on ‘fixing’ and pessimism among therapists when clients are viewed in terms of psychiatric ‘disorder’. The results of this paper invite therapists to reflect critically upon their relationship with psychiatric discourse. This includes consideration of the influence of any taken-for-granted knowledge of psychiatric ‘disor","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038062","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}
Melissa McRae, Carolyn Gordon, Greg Stocks, Roberta Babb
Objectives
This study aimed to gain a better understanding of Black clinical psychologists' experiences of career progression in the United Kingdom (UK).
Design
A qualitative design was employed. This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research design.
Methods
One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted online to explore 11 Black clinical psychologists' experiences of career progression.
Results
Using the IPA process, three themes emerged: (1) ‘Working five times as hard to get half as far’, describing participants' experiences of having to work above and beyond to access the same opportunities as their White colleagues; (2) ‘A Psychologist who happens to be Black or a Black Psychologist’, reflecting participants' experiences of being othered and confronting the pressure and responsibility of being Black in a White-dominated profession; and (3) a catalyst to moving forward, highlighting interpersonal and intrapersonal sources of support that contribute to workforce well-being and positively influence career progression.
Conclusion
The findings provide vital insight into participants' experiences of both barriers and facilitators to career progression throughout their professional careers. In addition, the research highlighted the need for training courses, organisations and NHS Trusts to demonstrate commitment to providing equitable career development opportunities.
{"title":"Black Clinical Psychologists' Lived Experiences of Career Progression in the United Kingdom","authors":"Melissa McRae, Carolyn Gordon, Greg Stocks, Roberta Babb","doi":"10.1002/capr.70041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70041","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to gain a better understanding of Black clinical psychologists' experiences of career progression in the United Kingdom (UK).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A qualitative design was employed. This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research design.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted online to explore 11 Black clinical psychologists' experiences of career progression.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using the IPA process, three themes emerged: (1) ‘Working five times as hard to get half as far’, describing participants' experiences of having to work above and beyond to access the same opportunities as their White colleagues; (2) ‘A Psychologist who happens to be Black or a Black Psychologist’, reflecting participants' experiences of being othered and confronting the pressure and responsibility of being Black in a White-dominated profession; and (3) a catalyst to moving forward, highlighting interpersonal and intrapersonal sources of support that contribute to workforce well-being and positively influence career progression.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings provide vital insight into participants' experiences of both barriers and facilitators to career progression throughout their professional careers. In addition, the research highlighted the need for training courses, organisations and NHS Trusts to demonstrate commitment to providing equitable career development opportunities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/capr.70041","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca Suganthi Davidar, Divya Ballal, Santhosh Kareepadath Rajan
<div> <section> <h3> Background</h3> <p>Incidents characterised by betrayal, abandonment, or emotional neglect within a romantic relationship can profoundly impact relational functioning and lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms in both partners. Although in-person therapies, such as Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), have shown promise, the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering EMDR online to address attachment trauma remain underexplored.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Aims</h3> <p>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an online EMDR couple protocol in reducing trauma-related symptoms, improving conflict resolution strategies, and increasing willingness to forgive among couples with a history of attachment trauma. Subgroup analysis was carried out based on gender, partner roles (offending and injured), and types of conflict (single incident and complex). A secondary aim was to determine if gains were sustained at a one-month follow-up.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>Participants were 34 individuals (17 couples) presenting with attachment trauma, with a subjective unit of disturbance score over 5. Couples received a two-phase online EMDR intervention comprising individual and conjoint sessions. Pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up measures of post-traumatic stress (Impact of Events Scale), conflict behaviours (Romantic Partner Conflict Scale), and offence-specific forgiveness (Marriage Offence–Specific Forgiveness Scale) were collected. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyse changes over time, with follow-up <i>t</i>-tests examining gender and role differences.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Participants demonstrated significant reductions in intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal, and overall trauma impact, with improvements largely maintained at 1-month follow-up. Conflict styles, notably compromise and submission, showed statistically significant positive shifts. Forgiveness scores improved through reductions in resentment avoidance. No significant gender, partner role, or type of conflict differences emerged, indicating uniform benefits across subgroups.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusion</h3> <p>Findings suggest that an online EMDR couple protocol can effectively alleviate trauma-related distress, enhance constructive conflict resolution, and facilitate forgiveness in couples with attachment trauma. EMDR is equally beneficial for both offending and injured partners, as well as complex and single-incident conflicts.<
{"title":"Treatment of Attachment Trauma: Effects of an Online EMDR Couple Protocol on Trauma Symptoms, Conflict Resolution, and Forgiveness","authors":"Rebecca Suganthi Davidar, Divya Ballal, Santhosh Kareepadath Rajan","doi":"10.1002/capr.70042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70042","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Incidents characterised by betrayal, abandonment, or emotional neglect within a romantic relationship can profoundly impact relational functioning and lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms in both partners. Although in-person therapies, such as Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), have shown promise, the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering EMDR online to address attachment trauma remain underexplored.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an online EMDR couple protocol in reducing trauma-related symptoms, improving conflict resolution strategies, and increasing willingness to forgive among couples with a history of attachment trauma. Subgroup analysis was carried out based on gender, partner roles (offending and injured), and types of conflict (single incident and complex). A secondary aim was to determine if gains were sustained at a one-month follow-up.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants were 34 individuals (17 couples) presenting with attachment trauma, with a subjective unit of disturbance score over 5. Couples received a two-phase online EMDR intervention comprising individual and conjoint sessions. Pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up measures of post-traumatic stress (Impact of Events Scale), conflict behaviours (Romantic Partner Conflict Scale), and offence-specific forgiveness (Marriage Offence–Specific Forgiveness Scale) were collected. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyse changes over time, with follow-up <i>t</i>-tests examining gender and role differences.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants demonstrated significant reductions in intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal, and overall trauma impact, with improvements largely maintained at 1-month follow-up. Conflict styles, notably compromise and submission, showed statistically significant positive shifts. Forgiveness scores improved through reductions in resentment avoidance. No significant gender, partner role, or type of conflict differences emerged, indicating uniform benefits across subgroups.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings suggest that an online EMDR couple protocol can effectively alleviate trauma-related distress, enhance constructive conflict resolution, and facilitate forgiveness in couples with attachment trauma. EMDR is equally beneficial for both offending and injured partners, as well as complex and single-incident conflicts.<","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"25 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990799","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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