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The article presents comments on research papers related to psychology. The article on grief counseling by D. G. Larson and W. T. Hoyt explores the research evidence of the negative characterization of grief counseling. But the findings are reported to be based on a student's unpublished dissertation. Two articles on couple therapy by authors S. D. Davis and F. P. Piercy explore the role of both common factors and specific therapeutic model interventions in couple therapy. It cites a framework to interpret and describe the development of change occurs across specific treatments. These papers require therapists to supplement development on helpful common factors with knowledge of some specific models of therapy.

Attending personal therapy sessions is a requirement in many counselling and psychotherapy trainings worldwide. More research is needed to establish why the requirement is essential and what it is intended to achieve. This study focused on the question, what is the rationale for mandated self-development requirements in therapy trainings? From a selective literature search, 19 highly relevant papers were found which formed a sampling frame. The papers included qualitative studies, mixed method reports, review and opinion papers. Research participants across all reports included therapy and psychiatry trainees (N = 1134), and current therapy practitioners (N = 194) totalling 1328 participants. The papers were analysed using Critical Interpretive Synthesis method to devise a synthesising statement. The analysis resulted in a synthesising statement about the rationale for personal psychotherapy during training, and the stated risks of this requirement as reflected in the materials consulted. A strong coherent rationale exists for the recommendation that trainee therapists undertake personal psychotherapy. However, the risks of mandating this requirement present multiple challenges, and the evidence for the intended outcomes of personal psychotherapy undertaken during training is weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors conducted a scoping review of the peer-reviewed literature associated with Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) and Reflecting Team (RT) methods in order to find evidence for their use within skills development in therapist trainings. Inclusion criteria were: empirical research, reviews of empirical research, and responses to these; RT or IPR for skills development in counsellors/psychotherapists undertaking initial training. Six papers were identified (four IPR, two RT), all from the USA. Of the four IPR papers, three were themselves reviews, the fourth empirical paper being of poor methodological quality. There was some evidence that IPR is more valuable in developing reflective practice than in initial skills training. The small number of RT studies, of varying methodological quality, made it difficult to draw any conclusions about the appropriateness of this method for initial skills training. However, the method appeared to have been broadly welcomed by students for its potential to be inclusive and collaborative. The limitations of this current review are acknowledged, and research recommendations made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently there has been an increasing focus on the social justice agenda in counselling and psychotherapy. To ensure that this does not merely function as rhetoric, therapists must consider how to translate their social justice values into action. In this paper we aim to extend current understandings of social justice by foregrounding an emphasis on relational equality and power. We consider the importance of educational settings as a site of social justice action for therapists, and set out the Relational Equality in Education Framework as an illustration of how therapists might work to enhance relational equality in education on micro, meso and macro levels. Such efforts would ensure the social justice work of therapists takes an important shift from rhetoric to action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the question of how counselling psychology might move forward into the future. It argues that, for many counselling psychologists, the defining feature of our profession lies in a humanistic value-base; and that, to move forward, we need to look at how that could be more fully actualised. The paper argues that this value-base is most succinctly expressed in Levinas's concept of 'Welcoming the Other,' and it proposes five ways in which this ethic might be taken forward: developing our capacity to see beyond diagnoses, enhancing our responsiveness, focusing more fully on our client's intelligibility, taking a lead in giving psychology away, and developing our evidence base. The paper concludes by suggesting that the key issue is not the survival of counselling psychology as a profession; but the survival, development and proliferation of this value-base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Individualpsychologie is the property of Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During an out-of-body experience (OBE) a person experiences their center of consciousness from a spatial location that is distinctly different to their physical body. Prior research has suggested that psychologists and psychotherapists may be reluctant to discuss the content of their clients OBE accounts due to a lack of understanding about the nature of these experiences. Yet, other research has highlighted the substantial value of discussing OBEs in the therapeutic process. This paper examines the literature in order to assess the value of utilizing person-centered dialogue and guided visualisation as counselling approaches for working with clients who have had OBEs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic relationship is an important factor in the outcome of psychotherapy, and this has been a factor that underpins the development of counselling psychology. While aspects of therapeutic relationship can be referred to as 'non-specific' components of the therapy, there are different ways of understanding these components. This paper focuses on the 'trust' aspect of the therapeutic relationship. Psychodynamic theories put the relationship between the client and therapist at the centre of the therapeutic encounter and this relationship is considered to be the vehicle for change. Knowledge of psychodynamic concepts about the therapeutic relationship is crucial for the counselling psychology practitioner to understand what is happening between client and therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper it is argued that becoming a psychotherapist involves learning about the unknown, not so much as a commodity or as something to be acquired but rather in the sense of learning to speak from our unknowing. If learning about the unknown is considered important in being a psychotherapist, what are the best ways of developing such a practice? The unknown can be approached, broadly speaking, in two ways. Some writers attempt to explain the known of the unknown, for example conceptualised as the unconscious whereas others attempt to hold open the question of the unknown of the unknown. It is argued here that experience and experience of the relational is the milieu for the kind of learning associated with both the known of the unknown and the unknown of the unknown. These ways of viewing the unknown are considered by exploring how they emerge in both learning theory and psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2005 the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) commissioned a systematic review of the research evidence related to the impact of supervision on counsellors and psychotherapists, their practice and their clients. This paper reports on some of the findings of this review, specifically from articles published in this area since 1980. Detaile d inclusion and exclusion criteria were agreed. EPPI-Reviewer software was used to organise and analyse the articles that met the inclusion criteria. This article reviews 18 individual published studies. The quality of evidence is variable, but supervision is consistently demonstrated to have some positive impacts on the supervisee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents the outcome of conducting research into the effect on counselling/psychotherapy practice of an absent father in the therapist's childhood. This area of research emerged from a personal interest of the researcher who had both experienced an absent father in childhood and is a practising therapist. The study was conducted employing the heuristic research method as described by Moustakas (1990). Eight co-researchers who met the selection criteria and who were also practising therapists participated in taped individual interviews with the researcher. From transcriptions of the tapes, researcher immersion in the research material and periods of incubation, themes emerged. In relation to therapeutic practice these themes were: endings; working with clients of the opposite sex; over-responsibility; boundaries; waiting and silence; envy; empathy; ethics; supervision; career choices; choices made within a career in counselling and psychotherapy; and training. Each of these is illustrated through documentation of co-researcher narratives together with a composite depiction and creative synthesis of the experiences being researched. Finally, some methodological considerations were documented and potential further research was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the Special Issue on counselling psychologists as scientist-practitioners. The primary goal of the Special Issue is to examine the evolving nature and current status of the scientist-practitioner (S-P) model in counselling psychology from the perspectives of four early career counselling psychologists who illustrate the implementation of the S-P identity in their particular work settings. A concluding commentary by a senior counselling psychologist describes the evolution of the model throughout his career and highlights the role of context in defining scientist-practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors posit that therapists (beginning and experienced) have a propensity for being self-deprecating and critical. Following Bandura's (1977, 1986) theory of perceived self-efficacy, when this becomes reinforced by a supervisor, therapists lose their sense of self-efficacy as a therapist, and their competence suffers accordingly. In an effort to foster improved perceived self-efficacy, the authors apply solution-focused and constructive methods of therapy to the context of clinical supervision. Several case illustrations are presented compromising goal construction and the development of the supervisory relationship, co-constructing competence and confidence, circumventing impasses, the role of teaching and education in supervision, and the potential paradox of evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature‐based therapy is an emerging and rapidly developing field within counselling and psychotherapy, yet there is little published empirical research, or integrated models relating to its practice with Children and Young People (CYP). The present study aimed to explore therapists' experiences of one‐to‐one nature‐based counselling and psychotherapy with CYP, eliciting perspectives on the interaction between nature and the therapeutic process. A reflexive thematic analysis provides preliminary insights into possible mechanisms of action with the potential to inform a longer‐term exploration of whether nature‐based therapy is effective, for whom and why. The study highlights the need to better explore and understand how nature‐based therapy supports relational and intrapsychic change in interaction with developmental processes, to inform construction of coherent and consolidated theory and models for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emotional, social, and mental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is well established. So far little attention has been paid to trainee psychotherapists during this challenging period. This study explores the experiences of trainee integrative psychotherapists, when they had to switch to online psychotherapy via videoconferencing with their clients in the beginning of their internship due to the quarantine. Following the qualitative paradigm six trainee psychotherapists participated voluntarily. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online to investigate in depth their experiences. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed by the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method. Four master themes were identified from the narratives which refer to the quarantine, the challenges of the online framework, being a trainee therapist and the advantages of the online framework. The first three master themes are divided into subordinate themes. Findings were compared and discussed based on the existing literature. The pandemic created a lot of free time, which the trainees dedicated to their studying. Participants were trained to the online psychotherapy throughout the process, as they were unprepared for the sudden change. Most of them presented hesitant with negative attitudes toward online psychotherapy via videoconferencing but over time participants changed. They became more experienced and strengthened their image as therapists. In this process, the supervisor had an essential role. Findings strongly indicate and support the necessity of training online according to the existing literature. [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]

Evidence suggests that working with goals, or goal-based practice (GBP) which is fundamental to several contemporary psychotherapies, can enhance the content, process and outcome of psychotherapeutic work. At present, no qualitative research has explored how psychological therapists experience GBP with their clients. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was selected to explore how eight psychological therapists working in adult pluralistic private practice experienced GBP. Three superordinate themes were constructed during the analysis process. "A pathway through the jungle" highlighted how GBP was variously experienced as aiding the therapeutic partnership by monitoring progress, providing focus and increasing positive affect. "Invalidating the therapeutic journey," where GBP was felt to potentially detract from the client's frame of reference, to jeopardise the therapeutic containment of sessions and increase the client's feeling of failure. Finally, "Maintaining the client-led story," which resembled an antidote to what was experienced as non-humanistic GBP. This involved practitioners preserving time to reflect on their own goals and agendas for their clients and the ways their own psychological processes might be influencing the use of GBP within the therapeutic relationship. Of particular pertinence was therapists' acknowledgement that GBP may function to shield therapists from feelings of failure or frustration, and may be used consciously or otherwise. We argue that approaches to GBP that attempt to determine helpful or unhelpful aspects of GBP in isolation are likely to overlook therapeutic processes which are vital to ensuring that GBP is collaborative and meaningful for the client. Results are discussed regarding wider literature and suggestions for further research are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses a hidden message activity designed for 7- to 11-year-old children who have been dealing with anxiety, academic problems or behavioral issues. She explores incorporating science in therapeutic intervention strategies for children. She also cites the supplies needed, instructions and various uses of the activity which include enhancing engagement of a child in the therapeutic process and establishing an effective relationship between the child and the therapist.

The integrative approach to psychotherapy has been growing worldwide during the last few decades. However, there is very little information about this group of psychotherapists in Argentina. This paper is aimed at finding out more about psychotherapists who use an integrationist framework. Out of a total sample made up of 525 psychotherapists from different major cities of Argentina, 39.8% reported integrating theories in their clinical practice. This result places the integrationist group second as the most important psychotherapeutic trend in this country, behind psychoanalytic psychotherapists (53.1%). In order to get a better knowledge of this group of psychotherapists we focused our attention on the theories being integrated, the main reasons for integrating those theories, certain aspects of their professional education, and their psychotherapeutic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1950s heralded the birth of a new Psychology -Transactional Analysis (TA). It was accused of being a `pop psychology' and the belief was that It would run Its course and sense would prevail as people came back to the mainstays of the Psychology movement at the time. But now, 50 years later, there are more TA practitioners than ever. The founder, Eric Berne, left a legacy of his Ideas and now there are many others who have taken up the banner as TA continues to find new audiences. This is evident In the practices of numerous Organisational Psychologists, Teachers, and Counsellors. This paper looks at one TA concept as evidence In the theory of Relationship Development, based on the model first developed by Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson as a tool for couples counsellors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working with children and adolescents in ally therapeutic setting can be a challenge. Counselors who take on the task of working with this population must have a multitude of skills and tools at their disposal. This article outlines the importance of making counseling experiential for young clients by discussing several creative counseling interventions. This article focuses on the use of props with children and adolescents. Sample dialogue is offered to demonstrate creative interventions that enhance counseling with children and make the work memorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Examines the use of research dissertations for assessing trainees' suitability to practice in the field of psychology and psychotherapy. Principles and practices relevant to psychotherapy; Professionalization of counselling, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis; Aspects of training psychoanalysts and psychotherapists.

Therapeutic Relationship has been regarded as a profound element of the psychotherapeutic procedure and crucial for the outcome of therapy. Research evidence so far claims that both therapist's and client's personality can impact the Therapeutic Relationship. Based on the well-researched Attachment Theory there has been some research mostly focused on how clients' attachment patterns can affect the Alliance. Limited research, though, on how therapists experience the Relationship in relation with their Attachment Styles do exist. The current study investigates trainee therapists' experience of the Therapeutic Relationship in the light of their Attachment Style. A qualitative approach was used for this research to investigate in depth the experience of five trainee Integrative psychotherapists who were recruited to take part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and verbatim was divided into superordinate and subordinate themes and analyzed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method. Four master themes were identified. Findings were then compared and discussed according to existing literature. All participants referred to the relevance of Attachment Theory in psychotherapy. They also agreed on the activation of their Attachment Styles during the therapeutic process. The securely attached therapist confirms previous studies on her capability to offer a secure base for her clients. On the other hand therapists with insecure Attachment Styles appeared sensitive in their collaboration mostly with insecure clients. Anxiously attached therapists proved to experience difficulty in the initial stages of the Therapeutic Relationship while the combination of avoidant therapist-avoidant client appeared to be the most demanding one, regarding the concept of trust and relationship ruptures. We suggest that the exploration of trainee therapists' Attachment Styles as well as the study of the Attachment Theory should be added to all Counseling and Psychotherapy curricula regardless the therapeutic orientation because of its contribution to forming positive Therapeutic Relationships. cial use only [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide bereavement is a newly developing field of research in the UK, yet over 6,600 people take their own lives here every year. This heuristic inquiry aims to explore the lived experiences of trainee psychotherapists bereaved by maternal suicide. It examines the lived experiences of the researcher and two participants, with data collected through interviews, dreams and journalling. The findings revealed five themes: 1) It's not just about the suicide, 2) The pain continues – attachment, abandonment and fear, 3) Left with all the unprocessed feelings – "the shit", 4) Trigger after trigger – complicated experiences of psychotherapy training, 5) A catastrophic loss that no one "gets". Implications for the counselling and psychotherapy profession are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to identify social justice competencies from the perspective of psychotherapists engaged in therapeutic practice. Twenty‐five therapists were asked, "What social justice competencies do psychotherapists need?" Responses were analysed using the concept mapping method. Nine participants grouped all unique interview responses into groups. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were applied. The six competency areas identified included community activism, political influence on clinical work, critical consciousness, social responsibility, self‐awareness and personal style. The results were compared and contrasted with the literature. Considerable overlap was noted. The main differences concerned the need for collaboration as an advocacy tactic, as well as local knowledge about the pressing social issues affecting members of the community within which one practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes up a theme in Nietzsche's philosophy and argues that the capacity to take an unconstrained view can be seen to be of great importance in philosophy, and more specifically, in counselling and psychotherapy, and that therefore much thought needs to be given to the cultivation of this capacity in the education of philosophical practitioners. This paper is specifically concerned with the education of psychotherapists and counsellors and how this process can constrain and restrict the practitioner, because it fails to give enough attention to matters that are often termed 'philosophical'. It claims that counsellors and therapists often respond to the constraints--the answers, dogmatism, fixity and being stuck--of their clients with the constraints they have acquired from their training in counselling and psychotherapy, and so are unable to take an unconstrained view with a client, or of psychotherapeutic models and theories. As well as examining some of the seductions of counselling and psychotherapy which makes it difficult for practitioners and students to strive to take an unconstrained view, it outlines a view of education in general and of counselling and psychotherapy in particular that has the cultivation of this capacity as its goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapist countertransference reactions related to the phenomenon of vicarious trauma (VT) can be examined through polarising physiological responses. Through an integration of counselling and neuroscientific perspectives on empathy and traumatic countertransference, in-session somatic reactions are approached as valuable information sources. The VT field's research gaps regarding intersecting sociocultural identities of therapists and clients are centred in the proposed framework to examine hyper personalised and depersonalised countertransference polarisations. Awareness of somatic cultural countertransference and power dynamics is proposed as a way to prevent VT and uphold ethical standards of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: This study addresses the thorny issue of mandatory personal psychotherapy within counselling and psychotherapy training. It is expensive, emotionally demanding and time‐consuming. Nevertheless, proponents argue that it is essential in protecting the public and keeping clients safe; to ensure psychotherapists develop high levels of self‐awareness and gain knowledge of interpersonal dynamics; and that it enhances therapist effectiveness. Existing evidence about these potential benefits is equivocal and is largely reliant on small‐scale qualitative studies. Method: We carried out a systematic review of literature searched within five major databases. The search identified 16 published qualitative research studies on the topic of mandatory personal psychotherapy that matched the inclusion criteria. All studies were rated for quality. The findings from individual studies were thematically analysed through a process of meta‐synthesis. Results: Meta‐synthesis showed studies on mandatory psychotherapy had reported both positive and hindering factors in almost equal number. Six main themes were identified: three positive and three negative. Positive findings were related to personal and professional development, experiential learning and therapeutic benefits. Negative findings related to ethical imperatives do no harm, justice and integrity. Conclusion: When mandatory personal psychotherapy is used within a training programme, courses must consider carefully and put ethical issues at the forefront of decision‐making. Additionally, the requirement of mandatory psychotherapy should be positioned and identified as an experiential pedagogical device rather than fulfilling a curative function. Recommendations for further research are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined therapists’ self-disclosure within early sessions of a naturalistic database of 52 therapy dyads collected at a university counseling center. Therapist orientations and client issues varied. We identified both types and functions of therapist self-disclosure in order to explore how self-disclosures related to therapy alliance and outcomes. Findings indicated that the number of disclosures was not significantly correlated with outcome or alliance scores. Central findings regarding the function of self-disclosures included that disclosures that acted to humanize the therapist were associated with fewer clinical symptoms post-session than disclosures expressing appreciation or encouragement. Also, disclosures that conveyed similarity between the therapist and client were associated with fewer post-session clinical symptoms and interpersonal problems when compared to disclosures that conveyed neither similarity nor dissimilarity. As well, neutral therapist self-disclosures were associated with better client functioning than disclosures that relayed negative or positive information about the therapist. Suggestions are provided for clinical practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study explored the relationship between therapist personality, self-reported lesbian and gay (LG) affirmative therapy competency, and demonstrated LG affirmative therapy competency utilizing an analogue methodology with 212 therapists-in-training. Participants were randomly assigned to review one of four vignettes that varied the sexual orientation and presenting concern of the characters depicted. The experimental design was a 3 (Openness to Experience: Very High/High/Average) × 2 (Gay/Lesbian Vignette) × 2 (Relationship/Adjustment Vignette) factorial with three dependent variables (i.e., case conceptualization ability, LGB affirmative therapy competency, LGB affirmative therapy self-efficacy), and three covariates (i.e., participant sexual orientation, relationships with LGBT individuals, and number of LGBT clients seen). The relationship between self-reported competency (i.e., self-report measures of competency scores) and demonstrated competency (i.e., case conceptualizations of LG vignettes scores) was also analyzed. Individuals with higher levels of openness to experience exhibited stronger case conceptualization ability; however, contrary to the hypotheses, the four analogue groups did not differ significantly. Case conceptualization ability correlated with self-reported LG knowledge competency. Implications for research, practice, and training are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In sketching the position of couples and family therapy and systemic practice in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) we have provided what we can of the development of the contexts of training and practice; the content of some of the theories and their applications; and the external realities within which we currently operate. The UK has a well developed structure for training and practice in systemic couples and family therapy. The history is of enthusiastic adoption of therapies from international sources which are generally then incorporated into an overarching systemic framework. Family therapy in the UK is currently subjected to a variety of pressures but is well regulated and is in a strong position to continue making its contribution to the welfare of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to increase understanding of how energy psychology informs and affects counselling/psychotherapy practice. By undertaking phenomenological interviews with experienced clinicians, the aim was to enrich and expand on the scientific approaches to energy psychology research. Method: This research is based on in‐depth semi‐structured interviews using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Five experienced psychotherapists who are also practitioners of energy psychology were interviewed. Findings: Four main themes emerged from the analysis: energy psychology as a potent intervention that facilitates shifts in emotions, cognitions, behaviours and physiology; the safety of energy psychology techniques; the role of the therapeutic relationship when using energy psychology techniques; and the challenges of integrating energy psychology into the work context, highlighting the need for more complex, systemic models to understand how people experience distress and how change is facilitated. Conclusion: Overall, participants in this study found energy psychology to be a valuable supplement to counselling and psychotherapy. The implications for current practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review considered the literature relating to the use of personal therapy by psychological therapists and trainees in terms of its impact upon clinical practice since the last major review in 1998. The literature suggests that while therapists report that personal therapy benefits clinical practice, there is little evidence of direct benefit to clients. Furthermore, the literature has so far failed to provide a comprehensive model that is able to explain how therapy might impact on clinical and reflective practice. The findings of this review are cross-referenced to develop a theory that attempts to explain the development of reflective practice through therapy and consider the implications of this for teaching and training therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a discussion, from a counseling perspective, based on Sue Eusden's (2011) "Minding the Gap: Ethical Considerations for Therapeutic Engagement." The author comments on the various levels and boundaries at which counselors might have to mind the gap, the necessity of risk taking, and how the art of minding the gap makes for ethical enactment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I explore the historical background and context to the theoretical eclecticism described by the participants interviewed for a research study. The initial aim was to test the relevance of the vicarious traumatisation (vt) or vt literature with a group of sexual abuse therapists. The participants interviewed were all working as sexual abuse therapists in group and individual practices, many of whom worked in the field before there were well articulated theories of trauma assessment and treatment in the 1970s and 1980s. With the available theory, they actively developed their own unique frameworks for practice and became pioneers in the field. The findings of this research suggest that the practitioners' reference to diverse sources of theory is both a resource and protective factor which, when synthesised, is drawn upon to support the day-to-day work of sexual abuse therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Significant events research represents a specific approach to studying client-identified important moments in the therapy process. The current study provides an overview of the significant events research conducted, the methodology used together with findings and implications. Method. PsychInfo database was searched with keywords such as significant events, important events, significant moments, important moments, and counselling or psycho- therapy. The references of the selected studies were also searched. This process led to the identification of 41 primary studies that used client-identified significant event(s) as a main or secondary focus of the study. These were consequently reviewed with regard to their methodology and findings. The findings are presented according to type of study conducted. Results. The impacts of helpful events reported by clients are focused on contributions to therapeutic relationship and to in-session outcomes. Hindering events focus on some client disappointment with the therapist or therapy. The group therapy modality highlighted additional helpful impacts (like learning from others). Perspectives on what is significant in therapy differ between clients and therapists. The intensive qualitative studies reviewed confirm that the processes involved in significant events are complex and ambiguous. Studies show that the helpful events may also contain many hindering elements and that specific events are deeply contextually embedded in the preceding events of therapy. Conclusions. Some studies suggest that helpful significant events are therapeutically productive although this may need to be established further. Specific intensive studies show that the clients' perceptions in therapy may differ dramatically from that of the therapist. Furthermore, the relational and emotional aspects of significant moments may be more important for the clients than the cognitive aspects of therapy which are frequently stressed by therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Having a Spring clean or moving on provides an opportunity to turn out and re-examine the treasures from the past. Whether they have been proudly on display or tucked away in an attic, these treasures need to be re-assessed to see whether they are still as valuable as they were once thought to be, are no longer of any use or desperately important, need to be left behind or rescued and cleaned up to take with us on our journey into the future. Sometimes in a dark and rarely visited corner, lies a treasure of great worth that may have been overlooked. This presentation examines the treasures we started out with to see if they are still worthwhile, what has become our junk, what might be re-cycled and given away to someone else, and what we cannot go on without but must preserve at all costs. Our history as counselling psychologists contains all these kinds of treasures, some of which are no longer fit for purpose and some will be seen as indispensible. The presenter of this talk will not decide and define what these are but will propose some ways for each of us to make our own evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The starting point for many counselling approaches is a goal both clients and counsellors agree upon. This is particularly the case in the social constructionist approaches (solution-focused, narrative, and collaborative language systems) to counselling where particular emphasis is given to language use and conversational practice. In this study, 12 clients were seen by counsellors trained in these counselling approaches for single session lifestyle (i.e. non-clinical) consultations. The consultations were videotaped and passages where goal-articulation occurred were analysed using conversation analysis. As well, both clients and counsellors were independently asked to review such passages in which they had participated, to retrospectively comment on their experiences in these passages. The results speak to often taken-for-granted conversational practices and conversational resources used that can help in optimising the goalarticulation process in ways that satisfy both counsellors and clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness may be described as paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally to the unfolding of experience (Kabat-Zinn, 1994). The influence of this Buddhist concept on Western psychology has skyrocketed in recent years, mainly through mindfulness-based client interventions. However, attention is increasingly being turned to the influence of mindfulness on the psychologist and the therapeutic encounter. The present article reviews the research in this area to date, which has been largely descriptive, though controlled empirical investigations are beginning to emerge. The review highlights a number of methodological limitations to such research, and advocates increased methodological rigour and more nuanced analyses of the role of mindfulness in therapeutic outcomes, along with continued qualitative research. The literature reviewed would appear to indicate that mindfulness cultivates many of the qualities that characterise strong therapeutic alliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative research study, focusing on the learning and change of two trainee therapists over a nine-month period, was conducted by the trainees themselves. In collecting and analysing their data, the researchers made use of the heuristic methodology, to which some of the principles of the co-operative inquiry methodology were added. The findings shed light on some of the ways in which trainee counsellors and psychotherapists might learn through their work with clients, the forms and contexts in which this learning may arise, and how the learning might affect the trainees. The findings additionally highlight some of the possible benefits of engaging in research for trainee counsellors and psychotherapists, in terms of their roles as practitioners. These include positive changes in the ways in which they work with clients, and changes in the ways they think about their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the clinical use of therapeutic transference across various schools of psychotherapy, there have been relatively few empirical studies of this phenomenon, none of which has examined transference with a non-pathological population. In this study, the core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT) method was used to examine the manifestation of therapeutic transference in the first three sessions of 22 counselling contracts with high-functioning individuals. Factor analyses of the wish (W) and response of other (RO) components of the CCRT indicate a complementary pattern of relating in which the therapist is idealised and others are devalued. Within the response of self (RS) component, clients exhibited a concordant relational transfer whereby they had a negative response to both the therapist and others. Additionally, control issues emerged in the W component for significant others and in the RS component for the therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counselling psychologists have affirmed their allegiance to the scientist-practitioner (S-P) model through all of the discipline's major conferences in the United States of America, and the philosophy has been critical to training across the globe. Despite the centrality of this training approach to counselling psychology's identity, no comprehensive overview of the field's history with the model has been undertaken. A review spanning sixty years describes the evolving relationship between the S-P model and counselling psychology and also points to historical and current challenges within that relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientist-practitioner training philosophy has a strong connection with the field of Counselling Psychology. Although many practitioners are committed to this model of training while completing their graduate education, the professional identity is not always easy to actualize in the workplace. The author discusses how she has maintained her scientist-practitioner identity in practice settings and how doing so has enhanced her work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientist-practitioner model is a critical element of counselling psychology's identity, but its relevance and the effectiveness of its implementation in graduate programs have been questioned in recent years. A counselling psychologist who works as an undergraduate educator describes relatively recent training as a scientist-practitioner and efforts to maintain that identity in her professional work. These efforts are considered within the context of the professional literature, concerns about the model, and recommendations for improved execution of the training philosophy. Specific strategies for developing and thriving as a scientist-practitioner are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the existence of humor in counseling from the perspectives of several leaders in the field. Specifically, the last 5 authors describe some of their thoughts and experiences regarding the emergence of humor in counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on therapy sessions of patients coming from families who are either Nazi victims or perpetrators. Patients turn to coping mechanisms, such as denial and minimization, distancing, and understanding and differentiation. Patients find it hard to come to terms with the guilt of their Nazi descendants. During therapy sessions, patients do not know where to begin or what questions to ask. It is worth looking into the patients' family history during the therapy for it may open up hardened emotional zones.

From 1993 until 1999 the author undertook a qualitative doctoral research project into the transition of New Zealand social workers from salaried agency employment to private practice (van Heugten, 1999). This private practice was almost exclusively in psychotherapy and counseling. During semi-structured interviews in which a range of topics was covered, respondents were asked what part they thought their life history had played in their decision to become social workers and to become private practitioners. Respondents talked about their parents' political perspectives, their own educational experiences, religion and spirituality, and immigrant status. Many respondents disclosed traumatic early life experiences. Analysis of narratives revealed the prevalence of a perception of being outsiders; of viewing and responding to significant situations differently from other people. Whilst respondents struggled with a pervasive sense of personal and occupational marginalization, they also recognized that their capacity to adopt an outsider perspective made a positive contribution to their practice as social workers and as psychotherapists or counselors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]