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Purpose: In 2021, an opportunity arose to place four counselling and psychotherapy (C&P) students in three care homes across Greater Manchester as part of a 6‐week interprofessional education (IPE) care home scheme. Whilst, due to ethical concerns around confidentiality, the C&P students could not participate in interprofessional activities as intended, they still undertook their clinical placement in the home to provide accessible therapy support for care home staff. This paper aims at reporting on the varied factors that influenced the implementation of C&P student placements in care homes. Methods: At the start and end of their placement, four C&P students were interviewed about their experiences. We draw on data from these eight interviews and two reflective vignettes: one from a C&P student and the other from the C&P programme coordinator (C&PPC). Results: The data were thematically analysed, and two key themes and six subthemes were constructed. They broadly unpack the factors that facilitate and challenge the implementation of C&P student placements in care homes. Conclusion: This paper highlights the value of utilising care homes as placement sites for C&P students. We propose four key recommendations for future practice: (1) it is important to establish clear lines of communication, support and collaboration; (2) a dual‐space supervisory approach supports student learning in this "new" placement environment; (3) preplacement supportive frameworks are important to clarify initial role uncertainties within the care home; and (4) opportunities to provide therapy services should be well defined and referral processes put in place before the student arrives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the concerns of a client diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder about completing outcome measures. He was asked to complete CORE‐10 each time he attended a therapy session with the first author. This paper takes an epistemological position of co‐production, and written in response to the client's concerns, but this is limited by the client's wish and capacity to be involved in the writing up of this article. Implications of his experiences are drawn out for both clients with this diagnosis and more generally for all clients. Recommendations are made to recognise the limitations of measures and how to use outcome measures with more validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of language as power (LaP) in individual therapeutic encounters has thus far been overlooked, and as bilingual therapists have the ability to use more than one language in the therapy room, their experience of LaP is a compelling research area that this paper attempts to explore. This qualitative, inductive, phenomenological study used interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore five bilingual Arabic–English‐speaking therapists' experiences of LaP in the therapeutic encounter. The study identifies two overarching themes: (a) the emergence of identity and power from language and (b) comparisons of power in the English and Arabic languages. Within these themes, the study finds that therapists experience LaP through multiple avenues: self‐disclosure, intersectionality, being transported to different identities and expressions of power and power of expression in Arabic–English. These multiple avenues illustrate the complexity of LaP in the therapeutic encounter. The study sheds light on an underexplored area in psychotherapy, illuminating an important area for psychotherapists and training institutions to consider when working with clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global estimates suggest 5% to 10% of men report experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). However, male CSA is significantly underreported, with men being reluctant to disclose due to vulnerability, stigmatisation, homophobic responses and fearing a loss of masculinity. A lack of research and service provision targeted towards men suggests male survivors of CSA are marginalised. This qualitative study, using a narrative approach, focussed on four adult male survivors of CSA. The aim of the study was to explore their experiences of engaging in counselling and support services for CSA from nonstatutory and voluntary organisations. Face‐to‐face narrative interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was undertaken using a two‐phase approach; first, each narrative was analysed as a whole; second, an across‐transcripts analysis was carried out to identify shared themes and divergences that emerged from the individual stories. In this paper, findings from the second phase of the analysis are presented. Three themes regarding male survivors' experiences of specialist counselling services were identified: "Trust Me, I'm a Doctor," "Trust me, I'm a Counsellor" and "Counsellor or Mother?" This is the first academic study focussing specifically on men's experience of support for CSA in the UK from a service user perspective. Making an original contribution to the knowledge base regarding counselling experiences and the effectiveness of therapy for male CSA survivors, it will help to inform professional counselling services which are likely to come into contact with male survivors of CSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic presents a threat to physical and psychosocial health of individuals. In lieu of the subsequent lockdown and containment measures, helpline counselling becomes a viable method of accessing psychosocial services during the pandemic. The present paper describes experiences of counsellors working with a special COVID‐19 counselling helpline initiated by iCALL, a national‐level technology‐assisted counselling service of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India, which aims to address the psychosocial impact of the pandemic and the lockdown. The paper is based on two focus group interviews held with 11 counsellors during the initial two months of the helpline's functioning. Findings of the study highlight the diverse profile of the callers, with individuals belonging to different strata of society and to marginalised communities. The nature of concerns presented by the callers were often a mix of psychological, relational and practical issues. The resultant distress emanated from an interplay of these factors with the relational contexts, their social locations and social structures the individuals were embedded in. This highlighted the need for conceptualising and responding from a psychosocial lens, whereby interventions involved traditional counselling approaches and strategies for addressing determinants of distress by connecting callers to required ground‐level resources. Counsellors' engagement with this process impacted their professional and personal selves, necessitating the need for structured and continuous training, supervision and support. At a larger level, the counsellors' narratives asserted the need for adopting a psychosocial paradigm for conceptualising and addressing mental health concerns in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grounded theory (GT) is a popular research methodology that has been used in various fields and disciplines. Its researchers face the paradox of their method being grounded in both data and theory, potentially resulting in researcher ambivalence towards existing knowledge and constructing "thin" or "descriptive" theory as a result. In this reflective paper, the researcher uses a case example of theorising the category "improvisation," to explore the deliberate decolonial use of literature in GT. They share detailed examples of inductive coding, analytic memoing and abduction of the category. They describe a paradigm‐changing moment of realisation when they discovered their own colonial thinking towards this category and the subsequent perspective change that occurred when they attempted to "de‐link" from their colonial thinking and apply a decolonialised lens to their category. The work of Black and Indigenous authors enabled the researcher to theorise "improvisation" as a valid, transdisciplinary practice that lies at the heart of both therapy and art making. The researcher concludes that researchers intending to decolonialise their knowledge production should take a critical‐reflexive stance towards existing theory, deliberately seeking out alternate, decolonial ways of knowing, in order to construct more vital, convivial and emancipatory theories. They also offer a decolonial reimagining of therapy as a grounded, responsive, intentional and social improvisational practice, which is co‐created between client and therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: First identified and codified in the late 1980s by Dr Francine Shapiro, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is increasingly recommended as a front‐line response to post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As PTSD is itself becoming understood as a consequence not just of single potentially traumatic events (PTEs) but also of experiences of dysfunctional attachment with primary caregivers in earlier childhood, EMDR therapy is starting to embrace attachment theory, and the need to factor an awareness of developmental trauma into therapeutic treatment. A development of the Standard EMDR Protocol, which builds on this understanding, has become known as Attachment‐Focused EMDR (AF‐EMDR). Although increasingly widely used by EMDR therapists, to date there has indeed been no published research into how AF‐EMDR is experienced in practice by qualified and accredited AF‐EMDR‐trained therapists. This paper aims to begin to fill that gap. Methods: A qualitative approach was employed, analysing semi‐structured online interviews with eight experienced and AF‐EMDR‐trained UK‐based therapists accredited at Consultant level with the EMDR Europe Association. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Three broad themes were generated from thematic analysis, namely perceptions of AF‐EMDR; it is not versus, it is with; and EMDR itself as an innovative approach. Conclusions: The study found AF‐EMDR to be highly appreciated by therapists trained and experienced in this approach. Considering the nature of developmental trauma, the authors propose that core training and supervision in EMDR should allow more room for an explicit focus, in both case conceptualisation and treatment, on clients' early‐childhood attachment histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpersonal processes are a key target in counselling and psychotherapy. It is of paramount importance to sharpen their assessment using integrated methods. Hence, this methodological paper describes how fields of research in psychotherapy and neuroimaging can be integrated into one novel complementary neurobehavioural paradigm that can be applied to enhance our understanding of interpersonal processes in psychotherapy. To illustrate this integration, we present selected data from a pre–post pilot study where the authors assessed interpersonal processes in brief treatment for borderline personality disorder using the core conflictual relationship theme, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and outcome questionnaires. To do so, they measured individual changes in neural activity using an fMRI task pre‐ and post‐treatment where clients gave feedback on the emotional valence of sentences extracted from their own Relationship Anecdotes Paradigm interviews mixed with neutral ones. In this paper, using data from two participants of said study, we discuss how to implement this methodology and what can be achieved in terms of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapy process research focuses on understanding how therapy is conducted by professionals in the field. It is a nascent field of psychotherapy enquiry in India. This paper explores how novice therapists in India perceive their clients, and how this influences the process of therapy. In depth interviews were conducted with ten novice therapists, with less than six years of practice experience, from Mumbai, India. The data was thematically analysed. The data revealed that therapists' perceptions of their clients were defined by socio‐demographic features of age and gender, along with presenting complaints and personal attributes. Participants had defined beliefs about good clients as contrasted with difficult ones. Distinct preferences for particular client types were identified. The antecedents to these beliefs were attributed to the therapist's worldview, their training and the supervision received. These views, and the conceptualisation of the client, influenced the choice of client, the process of therapy and how they proceeded with sessions, and their methods of referral. The data from the study has implications for therapist training, supervision and further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal development (PD) groups are routinely used in the training of counsellors and psychotherapists. Experiences during such group processes are thought to contribute to the development of self‐awareness, a quality seen as crucial for good practice in many therapeutic approaches. However, evidence from trainees suggests that the PD group experience may not be a positive or facilitative one for many. We also do not know how trainees, once qualified, process their PD group experiences over time. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study in which 12 experienced therapists were invited to reflect back upon their PD group experiences during their training. Their experiences of PD groups were invited through semi‐structured interviews and the data analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings show that most participants found their PD group experiences to be challenging, and that for some participants this was a welcome and facilitative experience. However, a significant number of participants had negative experiences in their PD groups, which at the time they felt to be damaging and which remained so in their view at the time of interview. Such experiences included feeling re‐traumatised by recalling and sharing old traumas, feeling afraid of the volatility and punitiveness in their group and feeling overlooked or abandoned by the group facilitator. Nevertheless, all participants had made persistent efforts to process these experiences and had drawn from them what they regarded as valuable learning. Recommendations for counselling and psychotherapy training are put forward in the light of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illuminates some of the journey taken by me, the researcher, whilst completing my doctoral research into the lived experience of epiphanies. The research journey is conceptualised as one of the discoveries into the task of qualitative research to "carry forward" the meaning of human experience, that is, considered "more than words can say." Six participants took part in an unstructured interview aimed at exploring how they made sense of their epiphanic experiences. Following the application of an interpretative phenomenological analysis, an arts‐based representation of the research findings, in the form of found poetry, was chosen to supplement the emerging interpretation. Six found poems are dispersed throughout the paper. The aim is to offer the reader the crucial opportunity to simultaneously engage responsively and rationally with an exploration of the value of found poetry. Moreover, this style of presentation may offer the reader more space and time to notice, observe and reflect on the impact of research poetry as they move through the paper. An evaluation of the utility of found poetry is also offered. By providing an insight into the process of constructing found poetry, it is intended that the merits of its integration within qualitative enquiry are highlighted as successfully being able to bring the meaning of exceptional human experience alive to the reader. Furthermore, the experiential knowledge offered here is considered particularly relevant to professionals working in caring or therapeutic roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The researcher's reflexive use of self forms part of a well-established tradition in counselling and psychotherapy research. This paper reviews that tradition briefly, with particular reference to an approach known as 'practitioner-based research' that has developed from it. In this approach, researcher-practitioners use their therapeutic skills and judgement and thereby enrich their understanding of research participants, themselves and their relationship. Aim The paper aims to contribute to the practitioner-based approach by showing how it can impact on data collection, using an example from a qualitative interview. Methodology A moment of interaction between a participant and a therapy researcher in a qualitative interview is examined, framed within psychotherapeutic intersubjectivity theory. The researcher's reflexive awareness of micro-aspects of the relationship with the participant is reviewed, captured in their language and the split-second daydreams or reveries that arose as they interacted. Findings The authors argue that the approach enhanced this small-scale study by intensifying the researcher's engagement with the participant and enriching her understanding of their relationship and the subject under investigation. Implications The paper highlights the unique value and contribution that this approach offers to therapy research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multilingual clients can benefit from expressing themselves in more than one language in psychotherapy. Yet, research suggests that language switching is typically instigated by clients, although some do not feel empowered to negotiate the language(s). Methods: This paper addresses how language options, from the main therapy language(s) to language switching, were negotiated between client and therapist, as reported by 109 multilingual clients. All participants completed a web survey and five participated in follow‐on interviews. In addition, we reflect on the advantages of the mixed methods approach—particularly with regard to ethics and the explanatory sequential design. Analyses combine descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to elaborate on the trends identified in this international sample. Key Results: Whereas some multilingual clients did not feel inhibited about using languages other than the main therapy language, for others the therapist played an important role in promoting multilingualism in the therapy room. Indeed, a lack of discussion surrounding language use—beyond such technical aspects as agreeing the main therapy language—was found to lead to assumptions about therapists' proficiency or the (non‐)acceptability of multilingual language practices. By contrast, metalinguistic discussions which explored process and meaning were welcomed by clients and typically opened up ways to use languages; the study itself was a catalyst for self‐reflection and productive discussions for one interviewee. Conclusions & Inferences: Thus, the research provides further evidence, from clients, that developing therapists' metalinguistic awareness and competence and empowering multilingual clients to share their insights has therapeutic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marte Meo is a video‐based counselling method founded by Maria Aarts in the Netherlands and now in worldwide use (Aarts, Aarts Production, 2008). Marte Meo has been adopted and put into practice by a large and diverse network of trained and certified counsellors across the world. It was invented, developed and spread by a vanguard of practising counsellors who have adapted it to a variety of contexts. This is a classic example of research and theory emerging from and following practice; we first need to synthesise the lessons the practitioners and families have learned. We need to better understand how it is implemented; how it is viewed by its practitioners and recipients; and the extent to which variability in implementation may be an asset or a drawback in the continuing evolution of the programme, and in any eventual attempt to document its effects. Therefore, the present article aimed to address this important and hitherto unexplored research topic of the Marte Meo method in counselling and to describe the current state of use of Marte Meo. How is Marte Meo used and applied in a counselling and therapeutic context? Who uses Marte Meo in professional practice? Which function and which meaning does Marte Meo have in general practice and especially in counselling and therapy? What are typical concerns, goals or areas of application? We report on an ongoing mixed methods research project which began in 2015. This paper focuses on the research methods. We will explain why an integrated exploratory sequential design (Cresswell, 2017) is best suited to our purposes. The exploratory sequential design of the Marte Meo project has five phases: as the first phase, we conducted a systematic literature review, analysing the status of existing research. The staged qualitative research consisted of designing, conducting and analysing semi‐structured interviews with parents and Marte Meo counsellors (phase 2), and then using that analysis to inform the design, the conduct and the analysis of videotaped observations of everyday situations in day‐care centres to examine the process and effects of Marte Meo interaction elements on children (phase 3). Combining these qualitative analyses then became the basis for the development of an online questionnaire that could enable us to collect quantitative data on the current use of Marte Meo in practice by experts (phase 4). This builds into the fifth phase in the final interpretation. One of the key findings of the qualitative parts is that Marte Meo is perceived as advantageous. The experts reported more joy and success in their work. In particular, in the pedagogical context, the daily, resource‐oriented 'Marte Meo view', which was sharpened by the training, seems to be essential, as it enables an awareness of the needs of the interaction partners and the beneficial interaction elements. Moreover, for some interviewees the use of Marte Meo does not seem to be limited to professional practice, but is expressed in a general humanistic attitude towards interpersonal relationships of all kinds. The quantitative survey has confirmed and supplemented these results. On the other hand, we found that Marte Meo is most often used in addition to the systemic approach. A later article will focus more on the findings. This article will conclude with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the research design—concerning this special research project and concerning counselling research in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:While counsellor education becomes increasingly culturally diverse, little is known about international trainees' experiences of training.Objective:The present study explores one aspect of training, namely clinical practice from the perspective of international, non-native speaking trainees. In particular, this paper focuses on the challenges this group encounters when practicing in a second language.Methodology:Semi-structured interviews with four non-native English-speaking trainees were conducted and analysed following the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).Results:Findings suggest that participants encounter practical difficulties related to their non-native/foreign identity in practice, such as problems with articulate self-expression and understanding the client's speech. These difficulties generate anxiety and impact on the trainees' confidence.Conclusions and implications for counsellor training:This study elucidates language as a fundamental aspect of culture, and identifies second language use as a significant source of difference in counselling practice. This paper highlights the need for attention to linguistic diversity and for appropriate support during counsellor education. This will improve international trainees' experiences of training, but also enhance all trainees' understanding of difference, resulting in better service provision for the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The research presented in this paper aimed to explain how psychotherapists in New Zealand attended to religion and/or spirituality (RS) in the therapeutic process. Thirty‐three in‐depth interviews were conducted with 28 psychotherapists throughout New Zealand, exploring their thoughts about RS in psychotherapy. Method and Methodology: Grounded dimensional analysis (a variant of grounded theory), underpinned by symbolic interactionism, was used to collect and analyse data. Findings: The study found that participants made decisions about what belonged to psychotherapy regarding RS based on three perspectives; that psychotherapy is secular, that psychotherapy and RS are inextricably connected, and that psychotherapy and RS intersect episodically. Participants' perspectives influenced their level of engagement of RS material when working with clients. The professional and personal outcomes of this process included expanding practice, maintaining the status quo and being seen to present as "legitimate." Discussion: Deciding what belongs is an iterative process and many participants adjusted their responses when faced with changing contexts and conditions. Implications: This study was significant since it found that it was participants, namely the psychotherapists themselves, who actually decided what belonged at all stages of the process of attending to RS in therapeutic engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Counsellors who work with young people in a range of contexts know that they are not engaging with ‘mini‐adults’. The issues young people bring to counselling are often complex, challenging and wide‐ranging, as adolescents are experiencing times of turbulence and change in their physical, emotional, social and psychological development. This paper focuses on a research project undertaken with five counsellors who work with young people, and asks the question: ‘What works?’ Method: The research project is an in‐depth qualitative study into the counsellor's experience of counselling young people, using a narrative approach. Findings: Four key shared themes emerged: the significance of ‘safety’ in the relationship; building the therapeutic alliance; flexibility and integration relating to theoretical orientation; and the use of creativity. Outcomes: This paper offers counsellors the opportunity to reflect on ‘what works’ and consider the professional knowledge, which underpins their own counselling practice with young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Contemporary psychotherapy research has focused mainly on practitioners' training and education. The impact of training on professional development and the application of therapeutic skills have been the primary foci of the empirical literature. The aim of this paper is to present the experiences of seven family therapy trainees regarding their personal paths toward the development of professional identity as they underwent training in systemic psychotherapy.Method:In-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.Results & Conclusions:Seven themes were identified: The Quest, Developing by Relating, Learnings, Personification of Training, Use of Self, Self-Care and Empowerment, and Reflecting on the Role of the Therapist. The findings are discussed with regard to the development of the ‘therapist as a person’, gaining acknowledgement and autonomy, and the development of a community of therapeutic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper describes a qualitative study focusing on counsellors' perceptions of client progression when working with clients who intentionally self‐harm and the impact this has on the therapist. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were employed and the constant comparative method utilised to analyse the data. Findings: Findings indicate that counsellors experience intense emotions in response to self‐harm including: shock; sadness; anxiety; anger; and frustration. Counsellors also struggled to manage the tension between multiple dualities, corresponding to professional opinions of a seemingly polar opposite nature. Although participants indicated a requirement to work in a client‐led way, they all had either an explicit or implicit agenda for change. These two conflicting states create a tension for a counsellor that is difficult to resolve. In addition there were various views of client progression, yet all participants agreed that progression was not simply about stopping self‐harm. Conclusion: There is a significant impact on the counsellor when working with clients who intentionally self‐harm and the complexity of the phenomenon appears to exacerbate their anxiety. Implications: Further research within the counselling field focusing on the ambiguous nature of the subject may increase understanding, which in turn may contribute to greater therapist efficacy when working with this client group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few published studies have addressed the male experience of alcohol dependency. Aim: This paper seeks to address this deficiency and to highlight aspects of the male experience relevant to the counselling and psychotherapy profession. Methods: Six men in recovery from alcohol dependency participated in semi‐structured interviews. Findings: A grounded theory analysis elicited five core categories, Beginning to Drink, Paying for Gain with Pain, Reaching Rock Bottom, Struggling to Recover and Leading a New Life. Despite the pain they had experienced, participants' narratives were matter‐of‐fact and goal‐oriented. Low self‐esteem was expressed indirectly. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with socialisation models of alcoholism. Counsellors, and the wider profession, must be alert for the male under‐reporting of emotional distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In psychotherapy research we have often neglected to examine the impact of research procedures on therapy process and outcome. Such information is extremely important in helping us evaluate the validity of our findings, increase relevance of research for practice, and choose appropriate methods for future projects. The aim of this paper is to share the experience of six person‐centered therapists, who participated in a longitudinal, systematic study, and present their reflections about the impact of research on therapy process, therapeutic engagement and professional development. Methods: The findings have emerged from semi‐structured interviews that took place after the first, sixth (middle) and last therapy session. In total 18 interviews were conducted. These data were part of a much larger research protocol that included a number of outcome and process measures. Results & Conclusions: The analysis of therapist narratives revealed important benefits for those participating in systematic case study research. The use of Brief Structured Recall methods and qualitative interviewing was an important factor in promoting therapist reflexivity and professional development. The importance of a strong research alliance and the active involvement of the client in the research process is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore therapeutic activities and psychological interventions used by experienced cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic therapists to treat clients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). Method: Twelve in‐depth, semi‐structured, qualitative interviews with psychotherapists, recruited from two British National Health Service (NHS) Departments were conducted. Interview transcripts were analysed using grounded theory. Findings: Therapists from two modalities share the following therapeutic activities and psychological interventions in their work with MUS clients: working together with clients, sensitive, empathic responding and building trust, being flexible with techniques, keeping an open mind and multi‐disciplinary cooperation. They also use modality specific interventions discussed in this paper. Even though participants experienced difficulties in forming alliances with MUS clients early on in their work, they expressed the importance of nurturing hope, empowering and engaging clients in jointly constructing understandings, which helps symptom management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This paper proposes that ethnography and auto‐ethnography can make important contributions to counselling and psychotherapy research. Auto‐ethnography is a recent methodological approach that focuses on the subjective experiences of the researcher. It is informed by anthropology, which encourages the researcher to journey alongside the persons being observed and to make meaning of complex symbolic systems in their lives. Method: Examples from a study of therapeutic processes in a mental health setting for women are examined. Discussion: If auto‐ethnography situates the researcher with the insider's perspective and ethnography is from the outsider's perspective, the researcher is caught 'in‐between' these two approaches. Acknowledging the concept of 'in‐between‐ness' can both cause discomfort and transform the experience of all who engage in the process and enhance the quality of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: This paper reports on a qualitative study looking at the perceptions of clients who use drugs and are on low income. Research suggests that counselling services can experience difficulties in reaching and retaining such clients, and outcomes of counselling can be disappointing. Aim: To learn from clients who had engaged in counselling for over six months what difference it had made to their lives. Method: Grounded theory methodology was used to analyse semi-structured interviews with six participants. Findings: Findings included changes in the clients' internal world, their connectedness with society, their familiarity with counselling, and their perception of the relationship with the counsellor. Factors within the counselling process which helped and hindered change were identified. The study documents how participants were able to use counselling to improve their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adventure therapy is a short-term experiential psychotherapeutic approach that utilises adventurous activities and being in natural environments in order to facilitate therapeutic change in clients. The present paper examines how students with self-reported anxiety and depression experienced participating in an innovative intervention that combined individual therapy with an adventurous outdoor experience. Clients participating in the Adventure Therapy Project received between 10-15 one-to-one counselling sessions prior to the outdoor experience, as well as ongoing counselling following it. Method: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used in order to record and analyse the experiences of three male and three female students who presented at a major UK university student counselling service with self-reported depression and anxiety. Findings: Twelve themes emerged which were categorised into four major domains: enhancing intrapersonal relationships; improving interpersonal relationships; providing an experiential outdoor venue for achieving therapeutic change; offering a secure, personal place for achieving inner healing. The intervention was perceived to improve the ways in which interviewees related towards themselves and other people. Interviewees perceived the counselling sessions as offering a safe therapeutic space within which they could unveil their anxieties and achieve inner healing. Conclusions: Outdoor experiences offer an experiential venue for achieving personal change and, it appears enhance the therapeutic process. Prior and subsequent individual therapy increases the benefits of such experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐awareness and self‐reflection in psychotherapeutic processes have been critical components for effective counselling and psychotherapy. However, little qualitative research in Saudi Arabia has been conducted that aims to explore the therapist's subjective experiences of the self in their professional work. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the therapist's self‐awareness within psychotherapy, by focusing on the therapist's lived experience of self‐awareness and exploring how therapists recognise themselves as an integral component of the therapeutic relationship. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with six experienced and accredited psychologists with at least three years of clinical experience, and the qualitative data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Five superordinate themes emerged from the data; that is, development of the professional self, use of self, self‐oriented, supervision and experience. This study provides an understanding of the therapist's self in psychotherapy, as it shows that self‐awareness is important for therapists to manage their feelings, thoughts and behaviours in meeting with clients and that it is a valuable resource for a therapist to become aware of and reflect upon the process within oneself. This understanding is integrated into the training programmes in counselling psychology, especially in the areas of self‐awareness and personal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second harm is the added psychological distress from an inadequate response by healthcare providers in response to medical errors or neglect. This inadequate response may require patients to seek counselling. The counselling needs of patients who have experienced second harm have received limited research attention. This Q methodology study addresses this gap in knowledge in order to further inform counselling practice. Methods: Participants sorted 42 pre‐determined statements online followed by interviews to establish the rationale for the sorting pattern choices. Data from the online sort were analysed using factor analysis to establish the viewpoints expressed. The interview data added to the interpretation of the viewpoints. Findings: Through a factor analysis, two 'viewpoints' and 11 counselling needs were identified. Nine of these needs were generic to the counselling relationship and two specific to second harm. This study concluded that people seeking counselling following second harm have needs beyond those expected from a general counselling relationship. These included not being blamed for what happened and a need for the counsellor to be able to demonstrate that they are able to understand the impact of harm. Implications for practice: The needs identified in this study as being generic can give counsellors confidence in working with clients that have experienced second harm, knowing that many of the needs identified are not unique. Counsellors can also be confident that those needs that are unique can be understood through extending their knowledge of the topic and listening to those that have been harmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To explore how therapists experience significant events surrounding the fee within a voluntary organisation setting when tasked with sustaining fee payments without financial gain to themselves. Method A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with twelve therapists of varying modalities, practising voluntarily within a counselling organisation. Participants shared a significant event surrounding the fee, their response, the sense they made of it and its lasting impact. Transcriptions were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Findings captured a rich set of experiences that roused powerful tensions involved in a therapeutic consideration of money, grouped into four main areas of impact: Impact from Within, Impact from Outside, Impact on Therapist and Legacy. Belief in its strengthening presence within the therapeutic dyad was in stark conflict with the threat it posed to rupture the relationship and revealed powerful dissonance, impacted further by the complex tripartite dynamic fostered by the organisation. Conclusions Money can be worked with creatively to facilitate movement within therapy. However, this is most often achieved only after therapist and client have tolerated considerable discomfort when money is concretely handled outside the therapeutic space. Less risk of rupture occurs when the fee is contained within the therapeutic relationship, and when responsibility is assumed by the therapist from the outset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people experience estrangement from a family member, which is broadly understood to refer to negative relationships that are characterised by little or no contact. However, little is known about how people cope with family estrangement. To address this gap, interviews were conducted with 46 participants who identified as being estranged from a parent/sibling and/or child and having sought therapeutic support for this experience. The participants were recruited from a UK‐based charity that supports individuals experiencing family estrangement. The participants had a range of experiences of therapeutic support, with most (N = 31, 67%) having paid for private therapy. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, and three themes were generated: (1) finding the missing qualities in estranged family relationships: warmth, validation and safety; (2) speaking the unspoken: addressing the causes and consequences of estrangement; and (3) learning relational skills: improving the relationship with oneself and with others. When the causes of estrangement were addressed in the context of a safe therapeutic relationship, participants learned strategies to improve the relationships they had both with themselves and with others. When participants experienced a cold or unresponsive therapeutic relationship, and the causes and consequences of estrangement were not adequately addressed or understood, counselling was experienced as unhelpful. Individuals who seek therapeutic support for family estrangement have specific needs. Training around these needs and the causes and consequences of estrangement could be beneficial to helping professionals and the clients with whom they work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to gain new insight by exploring the thoughts, feelings and experiences of therapists working with clients who have autism. Three professional talking therapists participated in the study. Unstructured interviews were conducted and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Six main themes and 13 sub‐themes were found which include therapists' validation of autism, how therapists integrated autism when addressing mental health problems, how their personal experiences of autism impacted on their work and how they experienced the situation in which autism emerges during the therapy. Helpful suggestions are made for clinicians, namely, to zoom‐in and zoom‐out of autism, hold the knowledge that people with autism process information differently, incorporate working with trauma, consider disclosing a personal connection to autism and consider carefully whether, or not, to tell a client that they may have autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study explored the experiences of service users of Adult Mental Health and Primary Care services in Ireland in receiving teletherapy during the COVID‐19 pandemic to provide an illustration of these experiences which may inform future applications of teletherapy. Method: Semi‐structured telephone interviews about participants' experiences with teletherapy were conducted, the transcripts of which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Six themes were generated: Early Apprehensions, Adaptations Improving Experiences, The Therapeutic Space, Seeing and Being Seen, Technical Difficulties: The Loss of "The Moment," and The Security of a Pre‐Existing Relationship. Conclusion: Generated themes highlight both the range of experiences that clients can have during teletherapy, and some of the most significant factors which influence these experiences. The quality and effectiveness of teletherapy are often susceptible to factors outside of therapists' and clients' control. In most cases, it may be best considered as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, traditional in‐person services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of "walk and talk" counselling has recently increased due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, concurrent with an increased awareness of the benefits of the outdoors, nature and exercise on mental health. Walk and talk counselling is relatively new and seemingly easy to incorporate for everyday counsellors. However, there is limited previous research on this form of counselling. Aim: This study aimed to investigate how the client experiences walk and talk counselling in a natural outdoor environment. Method: To evaluate the client's lived experience of walk and talk counselling, online semi‐structured interviews with five adult participants in the United Kingdom (UK) were analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method. Findings: The general outlook on walk and talk was positive. There was a feeling of informality, and a relational equalising element, but these aspects did not appear to detract from the professional relationship. There was an appreciation of nature, although there was an element of not noticing it. Timing was more fluid, and there were positive and negative aspects of the outdoor walking. Limitations: A small sample size limits the wider application of these findings. Implications: Further research is required to support further guidelines and training for practitioners. Implications for practice include the consideration of client preferences and a more fluid approach to contracting, a need for increased awareness of physical and psychological safety and a consideration of the relational dynamic when walking outdoors. Conclusion: Walk and talk is a viable alternative to indoor counselling. It proved useful in a pandemic and for clients who would not consider indoor counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of mental health difficulties are high among refugees and asylum seekers who are parents, which makes their family members vulnerable to further negative outcomes such as behavioural problems or withdrawal. Maternal health and responsive parenting can stimulate the well‐being of family members. However, displaced parents may fail to fulfil this role due to their own personal emotional issues. This current study is the first trial that tested the acceptability and feasibility of a remote multicomponent parenting intervention for refugees and asylum seekers: Learning Through Play and EMDR Group Traumatic Episode Protocol. The study was a single‐arm feasibility trial with an embedded qualitative component, and took place in the UK. We recruited caregivers of children under three years of age and offered eight sessions of a remote group Learning Through Play parenting intervention and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (LTP+ EMDR G‐TEP). We administered assessments, including the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, International Trauma Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 and Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, followed by qualitative interviews. Of the 16 participants approached, 14 consented and were eligible to participate. Both qualitative and quantitative results showed the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention based on a recruitment rate of 88% of eligible participants and a 78% attendance rate for all sessions. Participants showed improvements in all outcome measures, an increase in parental self‐esteem and a reduction in mental health symptoms. Findings also suggest that remote interventions are promising as a scalable approach for displaced families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insights gained from lived experience of mental health issues are increasingly utilised in the delivery of mental health services, reflecting a growing recognition of the value of experiential knowledge. Despite this recognition, there is a dearth of literature on the lived experience of counsellors and psychotherapists, and as such, insight into how counsellors and psychotherapists understand and experience their dual patient‐therapist identity is limited. This study explores the role of practitioner‐lived experience in counselling and psychotherapy. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with two counsellors and one psychotherapist, and transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes were identified: (a) identity as a practitioner; (b) self‐disclosure as enhancing therapeutic relationships; (c) importance of supervision; and (d) healing and recovery. This study adds to a growing body of research on the value of experiential knowledge in the production of mental health services, providing insight into how lived‐experience practitioners experience their dual identity within their practice, and how they can be supported in exploring and valuing their experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous surveys examining the routine practice of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) supervision have consistently found that methods utilised by supervisors often drift from expert recommendations. Harmful or ineffective supervision are two potential consequences of practices which overlook one or more of the normative, formative or restorative functions. Given that most of the research to date in this area has used quantitative methods, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the reasons why everyday supervision differs so greatly. One way of achieving this is through exploring the "lived experience" of supervisors and supervisees. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with (N = 10) supervisors and supervisees, and data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes were identified: "inconsistency of approaches," "autonomy" and "the relationship." The findings revealed that supervisors are practicing very differently from one another, despite awareness of expert guidance. There were some indications of supervisory drift, characterised by supervisor resistance to hierarchical structures and supervisee avoidance due to concerns about their safety within the relationship. Conclusion: Further research is needed to better understand how supervision dyads can identify and manage dysfunctional supervision practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent research has suggested that too much self‐control (overcontrol) underpins a range of mental health disorders including certain Axis I mood and eating disorders, and Axis II presentations such as obsessive compulsive personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder. A novel group therapy intervention, Group Radical Openness (GRO), is proposed as a suitable treatment for overcontrol. Aims: To explore whether appropriate participants for the intervention can be recruited; to investigate whether outcome measures are fit for purpose; to determine whether the intervention is suitable and acceptable to participants; and to determine whether GRO shows promise with the intended population. Method: A mixed‐methods design was chosen, using statistical analysis on two primary measures and three secondary measures to assess pre–post outcomes and 6‐month follow‐up. This was combined with descriptive interpretive analysis of client interviews post‐intervention. Research participants were outpatients who attended GRO. The sample (N = 14; 6 females and 8 males; mean age 44.4 years; age range 18–58) attended 26, three‐hour group sessions. Results: Quantitative data were analysed using repeated‐measures ANOVA. Participant scores on the two primary measures, The Five‐Factor Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory—Short Form (FFOCI‐SF) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), yielded significant results that were maintained at 6‐month follow‐up. Qualitative data found that participants reported changes across the three themes that are addressed in the GRO programme. Discussion: This feasibility study found that GRO showed promise as a suitable intervention for individuals who are overcontrolled. Further intervention effectiveness research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current qualitative study aimed to investigate psychologists' experiences of teletherapy throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic, with a particular focus on teletherapy's impact on therapeutic relationships. Method: Fifteen participants, consisting of clinical and counselling psychologists employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, participated in semi‐structured interviews conducted via telephone. Results: Constructionist thematic analysis yielded three prominent themes: (i) psychologists experienced a lack of control over therapeutic boundaries with their clients, such as the setting and time in which sessions take place. Teletherapy also encroaches on psychologists' personal boundaries from having aspects of their home lives becoming associated with clients' trauma; (ii) psychologists have to work much harder to make the connection with clients due to the substantial loss of information, including non‐verbal cues, transmitted across teletherapeutic platforms; and (iii) psychologists themselves feel uncontained from being insufficiently supported by the HSE, which impacts on their ability to contain high‐risk clients via teletherapy. Conclusions: Various aspects of the therapeutic relationship, including therapeutic boundaries between psychologists and their clients, and psychologists' ability to make the connection and foster containment with their clients, were impacted by teletherapy. Psychologists need to feel heard, supported and appreciated to ensure optimal delivery of teletherapy in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a mixed‐methods enquiry into the experience of research supervision among supervisors and supervisees on PhD and professional programmes for psychotherapists and counselling psychologists. What makes constructive versus non‐constructive, unhelpful research supervision on doctoral programmes for therapists? What might supervisors learn from supervisees' experiences of supervision, and vice versa? These questions permeated our online survey (N = 226) which generated 558 comments and 10 subsequent follow‐up interviews analysed by reflexive thematic analysis influenced by narrative research (narrative thematic inquiry). The findings showed, firstly, an unequivocal appreciation of research supervision. In the free text comments, supervisees stressed the value of research experience, empathy and containment. The interviewed supervisees valued trust and broad research knowledge with an exposure to optional approaches. Supervisors emphasised, in turn, the importance of supervisee agency and trust in their own thinking. One particularly illustrative example was when one supervisee described her supervisor as her 'telescope'—helping her to navigate and see far—while a supervisor chose a 'stethoscope' to describe how he regarded it his role to support each student to connect 'inwardly' and build their own relationship with research. The qualitative findings thus suggest a gap in expectations. Common features were, however, also noted, in terms of construing constructive research supervision as 'relational' and based on 'three Cs', namely containment, compassion and clarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents and carers are likely to take on a significant responsibility for managing an adolescent's mental health and well‐being. Accordingly, their perceptions provide insight into the value of an intervention. This study explored parents' and carers' perceptions and expectations of school‐based humanistic counselling, as received by a socially diverse group of young people (13–16 years old) in secondary schools in Greater London, UK. Semi‐structured interviews from 17 parents and carers were analysed thematically. Two superordinate themes were identified: (a) the context of counselling, and (b) the content of counselling, the latter referring to stages of the therapeutic process and its outcomes. Schools were perceived as an ideal environment for the provision of professional mental health support, as it reaches young people in a natural, convenient setting and therefore promotes and/or widens access to universal support, as well as targeted interventions. Parents and carers further emphasised the importance of overall well‐being, academic performance and social relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how changes in clients' and their therapists' perceptions of the therapeutic distance relate to changes in their reported alliance. Alliance is commonly measured using self‐report questionnaires that provide information regarding the partners' bond and collaboration, but do not reflect the interactions or events underlining them. We developed the Observer Version of the Therapeutic Distance Scale (TDS‐O; Egozi et al., 2020) to assess components of the therapeutic relationship, including closeness–distance dynamics, autonomy and engagement. Sixty‐seven clients and their 27 therapists completed the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) and underwent Relationship Anecdote Paradigm (RAP) interviews in which they related narratives about their experiences with each other three times during psychodynamic therapy (after sessions 5, 15 and 28). The clients' and their therapists' narratives were rated on the TDS‐O. Clients' and therapists' decrease in their sense that the partner was too distant correlated with WAI increase, as did therapists' decrease in their opinion that the client was too close. Increases in both partners' engagement was also related to WAI increase. A clinical example of a successful case demonstrates these changes and highlights significant moments that might contribute to positive change. The study establishes the relationship between the alliance and therapeutic distance, and reveals discrepancies in the experiences of clients and therapists. Tracking therapeutic distance has the potential to refine therapists' attunement to their clients' emotional needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify at what time patients with cancer and their relatives want to be informed about and receive psychosocial counselling. Methods: In a multi‐centre prospective study, both users and non‐users of psychosocial cancer counselling were asked to participate in a qualitative interview about their preferences for psychosocial counselling. A second interview was scheduled 3–6 months thereafter. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded according to content analysis. Results: Altogether, 61 patients and 42 relatives participated, resulting in 183 interviews (103 at t1, 80 at t2). Most often, the optimal time‐point for cancer counselling was defined by the participants according to the treatment trajectory, and the most frequently mentioned preferred time‐point was 'as early as possible': at the time of cancer diagnosis (mentioned in 22% of interviews with men and 10% of interviews with women). In particular, men also said that they wanted psychosocial counselling while waiting for test results (5%), at the point of returning to work and/or when under the threat of unemployment (3%). Women especially preferred this support during therapy (4%) and 'when one has the capacity for it' (4%), in terms of time and emotional capacity. Conclusions: Healthcare providers should inform their cancer patients and the relatives about the possibilities of professional psychosocial support early on in the disease trajectory (i.e. at the time of diagnosis) and repeatedly thereafter, especially in times of uncertainty, while ensuring the patients' capacity to process information at each time‐point is taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to remote learning in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic was unprecedented and unanticipated, resulting in professional courses delivering content and conducting skills‐based practice online. For counselling students, placements also transitioned to online, meaning previous skills acquired through face‐to‐face learning required adapting for remote working. This project sought to evaluate UK‐based counselling students' experiences of participating in online role‐play activities. Through purposive sampling, individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed applying thematic analysis. The findings indicated participants identified fundamental differences between planned online content compared to the unanticipated transition they experienced due to the pandemic. Whilst varying attitudes were shared, all participants recognised the value of skill acquisition for future employability and all recommended an element of online practice should be embedded in future course delivery. Whilst limited to a specific sample, key recommendations were identified, including the importance of involving students in course development, recognising the importance of diversifying role‐play practices for skill development and the application of a transitions model to facilitate understanding of the student experience. Though making some progress towards understanding this unique experience, further evaluations conducted with students from different counselling fields and institutions are required to further strengthen the recommendations made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topics of counselling and reconciliation seem controversial in developing countries because of their intrigued relationship. Likewise, the goal and processes are in question across cultures. In this study, qualitative research approach employing a case study method was carried out with deliberately selected elder counsellors in the Oromo community. Data were gathered using interviews and observations in the field. The results indicated that reconciliation is concurrently practised with counselling, which is the most important instrument to manage differences and to calm everyone involved. It serves to maintain peace and stability between conflicting groups and kinship; saves lives and prevents destruction of property; assists in progressing community rules and regulations; and supports family challenges. The research also identified that processes, tools of operation and time to conduct vary between communities. In conclusion, the goal of counselling and reconciliation is to retain peace and stability through thorough discussion, self‐evaluation and redeeming processes. Equally, pre‐ and post‐counselling sessions in reconciliation are useful approaches cohesive with reality and truth‐seeking behaviours to settle disputes in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people report greater dissatisfaction with counselling and psychotherapy services than their heterosexual counterparts. Greater dissatisfaction with these services may result from experiences of microaggressions resulting from a lack of service provider cultural competence. The present study aimed to investigate what culturally competent provision of service means to LGB people through understanding their actual and ideal experience of accessing a counsellor or psychologist. Twenty‐one LGB participants responded to six literature‐driven questions in a semi‐structured interview format regarding their actual and ideal experiences of accessing a counsellor or psychologist. Two themes were developed from the results: the importance of creating a safe space, and modifiable and non‐modifiable service provider traits. LGB participants discussed being more willing to disclose and discuss their sexual orientation in services that created a safe space. LGB participants perceived counsellors and psychologists as more culturally competent if they demonstrated: inclusive intention, awareness of heteronormativity, knowledge about issues impacting LGB people and openness to diversity. Counsellors and psychologists who were younger or LGB were perceived by LGB participants to be more culturally competent. Based on the results, recommendations for counsellors and psychotherapists include recognition of the importance of creating a safe space and demonstrating affirming care to LGB people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Self‐mutilation (self‐harm) is a phenomenon that is increasingly being seen in patients presenting in mental health services in the United Kingdom. This present study aimed to explore the lived experience of South Asian women raised in the United Kingdom and their perspective of 'Izzat', which refers to honour. Method: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 12 women of 'South Asian' heritage. Their accounts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings and discussion: The findings suggest that the concept of Izzat and Asian cultural identity permeated the narratives of all the participants. The results position Izzat as central to cultural discord felt by the women and as a base for some of the discontent that led to self‐mutilating. The analysis revealed five over‐arching themes as the most common factors to self‐harm among South Asian women, which include: (1) The struggle to maintain cultural identity, (2) Experience of loss of control and trauma, (3) Focus on self‐mutilation as a distraction process, (4) Psychological angst as metacommunication of pain, and (5) Enactment of perceived deserved punishment. Our conclusions argue for the importance of understanding the complexity of cultural diversity, introjected cultural expectations, and its impact on the development of trauma and implications for clinical practice. Future research and practice should focus on exploring trauma‐informed methodologies and culturally sensitive approaches in working with those impacted by Izzat and the cultural responsibility of maintaining family honour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments have been urged to adopt real‐time prescription monitoring in order to manage and reduce risks associated with the long‐term use of sleep and anti‐anxiety medications. Given this imperative, accessible psychological interventions for benzodiazepine (BZD) dependency and withdrawal are essential. The aim of this study was to understand how counsellors support clients assessed as suitable for community‐based drug withdrawal services to reduce their BZD use. Six BZD counsellors and two service coordinators were interviewed. Counsellors collaborated with their clients and prescribing doctors to develop individualised taper schedules that were in line with recommended clinical guidelines. Psychoeducation underscored a range of evidence‐based interventions, and a trauma‐informed approach was considered essential in working with clients to reduce their use of BZDs. Continuity in care was affected by the degree of prescribing doctor support for the taper. Counsellors reported that workforce sustainability was enhanced by quality clinical supervision and professional development opportunities. The role of counsellors in providing accessible, community‐based interventions for clients to reduce their use of BZDs was supported. Psychosocial support, combined with a medically supervised taper, has a strong evidence base and implications for client‐centred interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This research examines transactional analysis (TA) psychotherapy as a treatment option for perinatal mental illness, using a qualitative, narrative methodology to listen to the experiences of women who have received it within a private psychotherapeutic setting. Perinatal mental illness has wide‐reaching consequences and is a leading cause of maternal mortality. This research aimed to explore women's experiences of perinatal mental illness; and their experiences of TA psychotherapy treatment to explore its acceptability to female clients. Method: A qualitative, narrative approach was used to facilitate an exploration of women's experiences. Data collection was by free association narrative interviewing (FANI) and a creative methodology, forming a deep, rich understanding of personal perspective, using the visual and the narrative as a co‐creative construction. Data analysis used the listening guide method (LGM) to highlight difference, hear multiple voices in one person's narrative and take notice of temporal movement within the narrative. Findings: The participants found TA psychotherapy to be useful in different formats: couple's, one‐to‐one or group therapy. TA addressed the specificity of illness and was enduring (long‐lasting); the relational dyad was found to be a factor in positive treatment outcomes; TA terms shared with the clients held significance in therapy and within the interview, offering a 'shared' language that was easily understood and clarified the treatment process. Conclusion: Female clients in this study (the participants) found TA psychotherapy useful as a treatment for perinatal mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broad area of psychotherapy research is sometimes subdivided into that which focuses on outcome and that which focuses on process. Research into the active processes of psychotherapy can sometimes be occupied with debates around common versus specific factors. At the same time, within the process literature there has been increasing focus on the qualitative accounts of the service user in therapy and what they found to be significant or useful to them. The aim of this mixed methods study was twofold: first, to identify what elements of a relatively brief CBT intervention contributed to a successful outcome from the point of view of the service user. Participants were recruited at a low‐intensity Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service in the UK; and second, to attempt to frame those results within the common versus specific factor framework. Eight participants (5 males and 3 females) took part in this mixed methods research, which used semi‐structured interviews analysed using thematic analysis and brief quantitative questionnaire completion. Five overarching qualitative themes were identified in the data: three relating to common factors ('Insight', 'Talking' and 'Therapist qualities'); and two relating to specific factors ('Responding differently to thoughts and feelings' and 'Tasks/activities'). Importantly, all participants spoke about the importance of both common and specific factors. The discussion relates the findings back to existing research, highlighting the relative importance of insight within the data set and the participant led focus on talking. Future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This IPA study analyses the effects of creative writing on the emotional well‐being of a group of nine people working in the creative industries. The group attended a series of four creative writing classes and, in addition, volunteered to undertake a programme of four, one‐a‐week, 'Creative Writing for Wellbeing' tasks, using a personal difficulty as a backdrop. Issues presented included bereavement, divorce, domestic violence, rape, body image, personal trust and social isolation. A psychologist was available for participants who experienced emotional difficulty during this programme. Likert scales, weekly reports and semi‐structured interviews were used to chart the emotional journey of participants, all of whom concluded that writing creatively had brought unexpected and significant benefits to their cognitive processing of emotional difficulty and had positively affected their mood and mental well‐being. This has potential implications for low‐cost and accessible mental health treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study explores perceptions regarding counsellors who are also public entertainers, an issue on which there is a dearth in literature and in codes of ethics. For this study, we reviewed three codes of ethics: the 2014 American Counselling Association's (ACA), the 2017 British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's (BACP) and the 2011 Malta Association for the Counselling Profession's (MACP). Method: The research question begged a qualitative approach using individual, audio‐recorded, semi‐structured interviews with twelve participants: six counsellors and six non‐counsellors. Thematic analysis was selected as the most appropriate methods for analysis. Findings: Participants think that counsellors can be entertainers during their free time, but need strict boundaries and ethical responsibility whilst following Rogers' (1957, 1980) person‐centred skills of being non‐judgemental, empathic and congruent. Boundaries, the context of a small‐island community, public life, self‐disclosure, wellbeing and challenges were all major themes elicited. Counsellor participants (CPs) highlighted that there is no guide Maltese counsellors can follow regarding what they can and cannot do in public as public entertainers. Participants noted that in the local context, counsellors need to be careful about disclosing their opinions regarding Politics and political affiliations. Politics seemed to be of particular concern and reflects the local biparty culture often loaded with emotions and very strong opinion and allegiances. Participants also reflected that the status of an entertainer/counsellor can also help publicise the profession in the best interest of wellbeing and the profession. Implications for Practice: Implications for practice include training courses with opportunities for reflection on what counsellors can/not do in public in order to continuously address boundaries; training on social media behaviour; training on specialised ethical issues around being a counsellor/entertainer through continuing professional development sessions; specialised training for supervisors; issues to be address in contacts with clients; and updated codes of ethics/ethical framworks. Conclusion: Recommendations include personal reflection and supervision, training at master's level, continued professional development, revised codes of ethics and ethical guidance by qualified supervisors. This study was a master's dissertation submission, where Karen was the supervisee and Ruth the supervisor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]