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The British Journal of Psychotherapy recently held its 40th birthday conference, which focused on the role of a psychotherapy journal in knowledge exchange and debate. Keynote speakers discussed topics such as the dangers of avoiding disruptive thought in psychoanalysis and the importance of ethics in psychotherapy. Former editors highlighted significant papers from their time, covering subjects like free will, postmodern therapy culture, and the impact of COVID-19 on clinical practice. The conference also included live clinical commentaries and discussions on the future of psychotherapy. Additionally, the text pays tribute to two individuals, Camila Batmanghelidjh and Derek Draper, who made significant contributions in their respective fields. Camila Batmanghelidjh founded Kids Company, an organization that supported traumatized children who had experienced abuse and bereavement. Derek Draper, a former political adviser, transitioned to the field of mental health and became a psychologist and psychotherapist. Both individuals will be remembered for their compassion and dedication to helping others. [Extracted from the article]

Aim Method Findings The experience of being a patient has been regarded as one of the principal means through which psychotherapists' skills and personal qualities have been nurtured. While it has been hard to demonstrate the effects of therapist personal therapy on patient outcomes, qualitative studies suggest that many practitioners regard personal therapy as highly valuable. The aim of this study was to explore the meaning of personal therapy in relation to a broader contextual understanding of therapist life experience and practice.In‐depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 mid‐career therapists and analysed using a hermeneutic, phenomenologically informed thematic approach.Participants typically reported that they had received therapy prior to entering training in order to address symptoms and/or life problems. In addition, many had been in therapy at later points in their life, as part of training programmes. The experience of an accepting and authentic therapy relationship has helped them to become more generous towards others and more able to set boundaries. Expressing vulnerability in a patient role made them feel safer in prioritising presence with their own patients. They also reflected that their therapist became a useful internalised point of reference and that disappointments in their therapies had sensitised them to what can be hurtful for patients. These themes are examined in relation to findings from analyses of how these therapists interacted with their own patients. Implications are discussed for understanding the contribution of personal therapy to therapist development, and in relation to the conduct of therapy outcome research as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document from Drug & Alcohol Review features keynote abstracts from various presenters discussing topics related to emerging drugs, drug use in older adults, decriminalization of drug possession, and harm reduction strategies for anabolic-androgenic steroids. Presenters share insights on the use of novel substances, challenges faced by older drug users, and the impact of decriminalization on public health. The presentations emphasize the importance of informed decision-making, harm reduction, and respectful engagement with individuals who use drugs. The document provides a diverse range of perspectives on drug-related issues from different regions and disciplines. [Extracted from the article]

Background Aim and Objectives Method Findings Conclusions Research on psychedelics centres on two key areas: the action of psychedelics on the brain and the protocol for delivering therapy. There is little research that considers the implications of this novel therapy on the therapist delivering the treatment. This research study sought to explore this.The aim of this research was to explore the considerations for psychotherapists interested in delivering psychedelic therapy. Objectives were to examine the therapeutic conditions needed for effective outcomes, to explore the perceived differences between the practice of standard psychotherapy and psychedelic therapy and to determine the challenges for therapists working in the field.Six semi‐structured interviews were conducted with therapists who work in clinical or retreat settings. Interview transcripts were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis.Three themes emerged that highlight the importance of preparation for effective clinical outcomes, the differences in standard and psychedelic practice and the personal and professional implications for therapists.The results highlighted challenges and revealed the need for clear protocols for integrating psychedelics into psychotherapy practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aimed to explore psychotherapists' attitudes towards new technologies. Understanding the factors influencing their acceptance of technologies is essential to improving the accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of psychotherapeutic care in the digital age. Based on previous research from different fields (e.g., e‐government and mobile applications), we integrated the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT‐T) with the Technology Readiness Index (TRI). UTAUT‐T focuses on one's perception of technology, while TRI emphasizes individual characteristics. Therefore, we regard psychotherapists' attitudes towards digital solutions by analysing factors related to technology and users (psychotherapists). Methods: We conducted an online questionnaire study involving 391 psychotherapists aged 25–66 (M = 40.90; SD = 7.79). Participants completed self‐report questionnaires: UTAUT‐T, TRI 2.0, and a survey measuring technology usage at work. Results: The model explained 30.2% of the variance in actual technology usage and 57.6% in behavioural intention. Both technology‐related and therapist‐related factors affect technology use. Some factors directly influence use behaviour (optimism, ease of use, convenience), while others are mediated by behavioural intention (pressure from others, professional support, therapy quality expectations). Conclusions: Technology‐related and therapist‐related factors influence psychotherapists' use of technology. The study revealed that optimism plays a crucial role in addition to behavioural intention. This insight is vital for implementing new technologies in mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous reviews have examined empirical evidence of the relationship between therapists' internalized relational models, including therapists' attachment styles and Sullivan's notion of introject, and the therapeutic relationship. This review expands upon previous reviews by examining the effect of therapists' internalized relational models on the treatment process (e.g., therapeutic alliance and countertransference) and treatment outcomes (e.g., symptoms and functioning) more broadly. Our systematic search identified 42 empirical studies measuring therapist's internalized relational models, defined as therapist attachment style (i.e., the way the therapist relates to others) and/or introject (i.e., the way the therapist relates to themselves), in relation to therapy process and outcome, including 35 studies on attachment, nine studies on introject and two that examined both constructs. A rigorous quality assessment was conducted; two studies were rated as 'moderate', and 40 were rated as 'weak' in quality. Based on the study findings, it appears that more securely attached therapists may have stronger working alliances and more positive therapeutic processes with their patients. Contrary to expectations, therapist attachment security does not appear to impact treatment outcomes. Therapists who relate to themselves in a more affirming way may have stronger working alliances and better treatment outcomes, but very few studies have addressed this question thus far. More rigorous research, especially on the effect of therapists' introject, is needed. Therapists may consider the potential impact of their internalized relational models on the working alliance and other treatment processes that influence therapeutic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mindfulness, self‐compassion and compassion for others are often studied among clients seeking psychotherapy. Psychotherapists are also at risk of developing psychological difficulties given that the profession is demanding and can put psychological and emotional pressures on therapists. The aim of this study was to examine (a) the relationship between mindfulness, self‐compassion and compassion for others and (b) whether self‐compassion will mediate the effects of mindfulness on compassion for others. Method: This was a cross‐sectional study conducted among a sample of 152 psychotherapists registered with the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy in Ireland. Results: Our analysis found a significant relationship between mindfulness, self‐compassion and compassion for others. Mediation analysis showed that the indirect effects of mindfulness on compassion for others was through self‐compassion. We entered age and gender into our model, but they had no impact on the mediated relationship. Conclusion: Findings from this study provide preliminary support for a proposed sequential model, suggesting that mindfulness enhances self‐compassion, which, in turn, can improve compassion for others. Psychotherapists and psychotherapy bodies are recommended to utilise strategies that can improve psychotherapists' mindfulness skills, such as the mindfulness self‐compassion programme and compassion‐focussed therapy, and their capacity for self‐compassion, which can contribute to their ability to develop compassion for the client. Given the limitations of the design of the study, future longitudinal research will enable us to document the directionality of the effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Counsellors and psychotherapists working with trauma experience constant exposure to clients' adverse events, placing their well‐being in jeopardy. The pivotal role of empathy in maintaining their well‐being is underscored, given the imperative for these professionals to sustain empathetic engagement with clients. However, prior research has solely focussed on other helping professions. Methodology: This study employed semi‐structured interviews to explore the subjective experiences of 14 psychotherapists and counsellors in trauma‐informed settings regarding the role of empathy and its implications for well‐being. Reflexive thematic analysis was utilised to analyse these data. Results: Three main themes were identified from the analysis: Empathy is crucial, empathy as a risk factor and empathy can be regulated and developed. Conclusions: The study's findings reinforce previous research and provide new insights into empathy's development and management in the context of professional trauma work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The dominant literature on wounded healers assumes that the healer must be healed of one's wounds to be an effective therapist and that countertransference, moments in therapy when a healer's wounds are activated, must be successfully managed. Lacking in the literature is an understanding of the internal dynamics of wounded healers as they navigate moments of countertransference. Veering away from a unitary and static view of the self, we argue for a shift in how we understand wounded healers using the lens of a multiple and dynamic self. Through Herman's dialogical self‐theory, we conceptualise the wounded healer as having multiple selves—the wounded self (WS) and the therapist self (TS). Each self is an I‐position with its own unique voices and narratives. Method: Through in‐depth interviews with Filipino self‐identified wounded healers, we examine the internal voices of the WS and TS during moments of countertransference, as the WS meets the client's wounded self. Findings: Results show that the participants' characterisation of their WS, or where they are in their journey of healing or recovery, shapes their countertransference experience. Participants with recovered WS channelled the voices of calm recognition and differentiation. Voices of identification, re‐experiencing and differentiation surfaced among participants with recovering WS. Participants with emerging WS transitioned from a voice of not knowing to a voice of identification. Conclusion: Being aware of and listening to the voices of the WS alongside the TS is key in navigating countertransference. The implications of a dialogical understanding of wounded healers in clinical practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clients presenting as suicidal have been widely recognised as one of the most challenging presenting issues for psychotherapists and counsellors. There is a wealth of literature exploring risk assessment, collaboration, goals, tasks, methods, shared decision making and client preferences employed in therapy with this presenting issue. Yet, no literature explicitly explores combining these approaches or provides a framework that integrates them. Working with actively suicidal clients as a pluralistic psychotherapist and counsellor (PCP) has not been thoroughly examined to date, even though this framework and philosophy for therapy combines many of the aforementioned approaches. Therefore, it is imperative that ways of working safely with this presenting issue, for both the client and the practitioner, are explored and researched through the lens of PCP. Objective: To interpret and explore pluralistic psychotherapists' and counsellors' experiences of working with actively suicidal clients to find what might be added to the body of knowledge. Methods: A qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis of PCP with actively suicidal clients was conducted via four semi‐structured recorded interviews. Four participants were recruited purposively. Four themes and two subthemes were identified and explored. Discussion: The findings showed PCP to be a robust holistic approach to actively suicidal clients that is safe for both client and practitioner. Furthermore, the results point towards the need for further research into the idea that PCP is useful when working with actively suicidal clients in line with recommended best practice from the client's perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mental health suffered during the COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown in Scotland. While there was limited availability for face‐to‐face counselling, online counselling was available via telephone, videoconference, email, one‐to‐one chat and group basis. Existing research has failed to examine inter‐modality comparisons of client experiences of online counselling during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: Scottish participants (n = 94) who received online counselling during the COVID‐19 pandemic completed an online survey using quantitative methodology, which explored their experiences of one of five online counselling modalities measured by two reliable scales: the Working Alliance Inventory‐Short Revised and factor one of the Satisfaction with Therapy and Therapist Scale. Additional exploratory analysis investigated whether age, gender, choice of online counselling modality and pre‐COVID‐19 pandemic familiarity with online counselling affected these outcomes. Results: Working alliance and satisfaction outcomes were positively correlated. No significant differences between working alliance and satisfaction scores were found between the five modalities. Female participants, and those who received their preferred choice of counselling modality, had significantly greater working alliance than those who did not. Conclusion: These findings provide insights to clients and practitioners about the variety of synchronous and asynchronous online platforms that can facilitate good therapeutic outcomes. The importance of participant choice of counselling modality was reiterated. The broader implications of the findings and the future direction of a hybrid online and face‐to‐face counselling model were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Impact Message Inventory‐Circumplex (IMI‐C) is a two‐dimensional measure of patient‐induced countertransference. Surprisingly, in a replication study of its circumplex structure, Hafkenscheid and Timmerman could retrieve a third dimension, in addition to the basic dimensions of Affiliation and Control. They tentatively interpreted this preliminary third dimension as representing 'reactance' (oppositional and uncooperative patient behaviours), with 'active' and 'passive' as polarities. This provisional interpretation was no more than plausible and was partly speculative. Therefore, a more systematic empirical approach to the meaning embedded in the third dimension is required. The present empirical study tests the hypothesis that the preliminary third dimension might represent aversiveness rather than reactance. A panel of IMI‐C users (N = 100) independently judged all 56 items of the instrument in terms of the general (i.e., without taking a specific patient in mind) emotional undertone enclosed in the item formulations using a forced choice three point scale format: 'positive emotional undertone' (+), 'neutral' (o) and negative (aversive) undertone (−). Overall, IMI‐C users appeared to evaluate the formulations of items constituting the preliminary third dimension as intrinsically more aversive (negative emotional connotation), compared to the group of IMI‐C items not included in this preliminary third dimension. However, the original octants of the IMI‐C could be discriminated in terms of aversiveness as well. Anyhow, clinical interpretations of IMI‐C profiles may benefit from an examination of the aversiveness component, enclosed within the items and octants themselves, irrespective of the specific patients judged with the instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increased attention has recently been paid to the well‐being and flourishing of patients in psychotherapy. This study investigated the occurrence of positive affect (PA) and strength‐based behaviours within psychotherapy sessions contrasting positive versus neutral imagery instructions. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Seventy‐eight sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy involving 26 patients (69.23% female; Mage = 40.31) treated by 13 therapists were selected. PA and strength‐based behaviours of patients and therapists were coded on a minute‐by‐minute basis with the Resource‐Oriented Microprocess Analysis. Each session started with a brief mental imagery instruction. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling. Results: Mild levels of PA were very common, whereas stronger expressions were occasional, especially at the beginning and end of sessions. Strength‐based behaviours were employed in one‐fifth of the videos analysed. Therapists in the positive imagery instruction showed more strength‐based behaviours in the beginning phase of sessions, p < 0.05. The two imagery instructions significantly differed in the session trajectories of PA, p < 0.05. A quadratic trend with higher initial values and a sharper decline in PA were found in the positive instruction, whereas the neutral instruction showed a flatter trend. Conclusion: Patients and therapists experience PA and discuss strengths in psychotherapy sessions despite patients' distress. The positive imagery instructions potentially induced a positive focus at baseline for therapists but had a negligible effect on the subsequent session progression. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03767101 (registered December 6, 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has failed to consistently show that therapists facilitate better client outcomes as they gain more experience. The present study was designed to examine changes in early client retention over the course of extended periods of time among 2591 therapists in private practice. Naturalistic data collected between 2018 and 2022 was extracted from a technology‐enabled practice‐research group (PRG). Therapists displayed an increase in client dropout rates as they gained more experience on the PRG. Additionally, larger caseloads on the PRG were associated with lower increases in client dropout over time. Finally, therapists working with clients paying higher out‐of‐pocket fees (e.g., co‐pays) had higher increases in client dropout over time. These findings provide additional evidence supporting the distinction between clinical experience and expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies delving into the personal and professional experiences of psychotherapists working with children and adolescents who have been sexually abused are scarce and mostly cross‐sectional. Aim: The present qualitative longitudinal study aimed to describe the narratives that therapists construct about their personal and professional experiences of working with children and/or adolescents who have been victims of sexual aggression during different moments of the psychotherapeutic process. Method: Eight psychologists were interviewed and asked about the psychotherapy of 12 cases they were developing. These cases were of children and adolescents who had been sexually abused. Each participant was interviewed at different moments of the cases' psychotherapy (6 months into the process, 12 months into the process and once more at the end of therapy for those who received therapy for longer than 12 months). A total of 34 interviews were conducted and studied through narrative analysis. Results: Three major themes involving the personal and professional experiences of psychotherapists emerged: regarding the patient and their family; regarding the institutional context; and regarding the personal/professional experience. Also, identified and analysed convergences and divergences that appear within these themes at different points in the participants' interviews are highlighted. Discussion: The findings suggest that therapists manage to navigate the most complex and distressing aspects of each intervention case in the earlier moments of the psychotherapeutic process and later are likely to have an emotional connection with pleasant or satisfactory elements in their work and are likely to end treatment with an appreciation for the learning experiences they have had working with challenging cases and a sense of amazement at the resources and resilience of the children and adolescents they work with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: A significant body of research has found a positive association between a healthy diet and good mental health, and between an unhealthy diet and poorer mental health. Despite this, nutritional education and methods of intervention remain largely absent from psychotherapy training and practice, and mental health professionals worldwide report poor nutritional literacy. This study aims to explore how therapists understand and view diet and nutrition in the context of mental health, and whether, and how, they use this knowledge with clients. Methodology and Methods: This qualitative study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach when collecting and analysing the data. Participants were from throughout Ireland, with recruitment taking place via an email call for participants. A brief pre‐interview conversation ensured respondents fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Six integrative/pluralistic psychotherapists were interviewed about their views and understanding of nutrition in relation to mental health and psychotherapy, as well as about their training, supervision and their use of diet‐related interventions with clients. Findings: Four master themes were identified: "therapist experiences and beliefs," which relates to how participants experienced and viewed nutrition on personal and professional levels; "meanings associated with food and nutrition" by therapists, and their perception of the meanings their clients placed upon food; "boundaries and barriers" that therapists experienced or perceived when it came to discussing nutrition with clients; and "the silence around nutrition in psychotherapy," in terms of its absence from training, supervision and peer discussions. Discussion and Conclusions: The study highlights the importance and meaning that individuals place on nutrition for mental well‐being, while also highlighting its absence from training programmes, supervision sessions and discussions with peers and within the wider profession. The study further indicates potential boundary issues and ethical concerns as a result of the disparity between training/supervision and client needs/therapist practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Telepresence may play a fundamental role in establishing authentic interactions and relationships in online psychological interventions and can be measured by the Telepresence in Videoconference Scale (TVS), which was validated only with patients to date. This post hoc study aimed to validate the Italian version of the TVS with mental health professionals. Method: The Italian TVS was included in an online survey, whose primary aim was to assess the experiences of Italian psychologists and psychotherapists with online interventions during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic and was filled in by 296 participants (83.4% females, mean age = 42 years old). Results: Exploratory factor analysis supported the original factor structure only partially because the scale 'Absorption' (i.e., the feeling of losing track of time), as it was formulated, did not measure telepresence. Correlations were also explored between the TVS scales and some survey items pertaining to intimacy and emotional closeness to patients, comfort and positive as well as negative experiences with online interventions. Conclusion: The TVS may be a useful tool to measure physical and social telepresence in online interventions, both in patients and in professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined therapists' dispositional empathy profiles and how they differ based on professional and personal characteristics. Method: A total of 376 clinicians was recruited for this study. Dispositional empathy was assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Profiles were generated using latent profile analysis. Predictors of profiles were assessed with multiple self‐report questionnaires measuring demographic and professional characteristics, romantic attachment styles, five‐factor personality traits and vulnerable narcissism. Results: A four‐profile solution was retained with the following proportions: rational empathic (20%), disengaged/detached (10%), empathic immersion (35%) and insecure/self‐absorbed (35%). Overall, few relationships were found regarding demographic and professional characteristics. In contrast, significant relationships were found between profile membership and personal characteristics, including avoidant and anxious attachment, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, intellect/imagination and vulnerable narcissism. Conclusion: The findings show that differences in therapists' empathic dispositions are linked to personality dimensions. Implications for psychotherapy research, practice and training are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Psychotherapist and the Professional Complaint: The Shadow Side of Therapy" is an edited collection of essays that provides critical perspectives on professional complaint processes in psychotherapy. The book explores the experiences of therapists who have received patient complaints, highlighting the emotional impact and potential harm to their professional reputations. It argues for the need to reform the current legalistic and adversarial processes for handling complaints, suggesting restorative justice and the alignment of professional bodies' complaints processes under a single disciplinary center. However, the book's focus on therapists as victims of false complaints raises ethical challenges and neglects the potential for therapists' own aggression and narcissism. It also lacks a thorough examination of social power structures and their impact on patients' ability to make valid complaints. Overall, the book emphasizes the need for a deeper exploration of the shadow side of the psychotherapy profession and ongoing issues related to social power structures. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the book "Unshrinking" by Kate Manne, which examines fatphobia and its intersection with misogyny and racism. Manne argues that fatphobia is a social system that unjustly ranks fatter bodies as inferior, leading to discrimination and prejudice in various aspects of life. The book also explores the impact of fatphobia on physical and mental health, as well as the historical origins of fatphobia in racism and slavery. The author suggests that psychoanalytic thinking should incorporate Manne's work to challenge the patriarchal gaze on women's bodies and address the prejudice and pathologizing of fatness. [Extracted from the article]

Data on the use of silence from a therapist's perspective remain limited. This study aimed to develop an understanding of psychotherapists' use of silence in clinical settings. Practising psychotherapists were interviewed about their experiences of silence, and a constructivist grounded theory approach was adopted to arrive at a substantive theoretical understanding of psychotherapists' silence. A grounded theory analysis supported the construction of a theory conceptualised into four main categories: conditions (evolving disparity, rendering relationships and minding the gap), cornerstones (sensitising silence, productive comforting, productive discomforting and temperature gauging), consequences (deepening the treatment) and considerations (timing and silently experiencing). Silence is intersubjective and effective in clinical settings, and the results of the current study indicate that silence is powerful and ambiguous and is best used later in treatment when a strong therapeutic alliance is in place. Individual comfort and the needs of the client were found to be more significant than any single modality or theory. Silence is used to create a space in which treatment can be deepened through the presence of a therapist and mutual introspection. This study recommends a greater focus on a contemporary use of silence during the training and education of psychotherapists, and the importance of free association should be addressed earlier in clinician training. This theory requires further exploration of patients' experiences to establish their correspondence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain insight into the lived experiences of psychotherapists transitioning to private practice during the COVID‐19 pandemic. With an ever‐expanding need for targeted and accessible mental health care, it is vital to understand this phenomenon and how it impacted patient access and care, and the providers themselves. Eighteen licensed psychotherapists were interviewed and their responses highlighted meaningful professional and clinical implications. As a result of the participant interviews, three major themes were identified: (1) the unknown related to COVID‐19, (2) ease of transition and (3) work–life balance. Eleven additional subthemes emerged. Results suggested that psychotherapists had various personal and professional stressors exacerbated by the pandemic, along with a desire to balance work and life, manage the changes brought on by the pandemic, and gain or retain autonomy in their professional careers. Ultimately, the results of the study point to some shared experiences among psychotherapists, potential issues of access to psychotherapy, issues related to career satisfaction among psychotherapists, as well as some important areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at identifying conceptions of Brazilian psychotherapists about "religion," "religiosity" and "spirituality." This is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach. Twenty‐four psychotherapists from two cities, one in the state of São Paulo and the other in the state of Minas Gerais, with a mean of 10.54 years in clinical practice, participated in the study. The participants completed a semistructured interview, and the data were organised through content analysis. It was identified that the participants have vague or incomplete knowledge about these concepts and their differences when comparing the Psychology and Health literature. This seems to be justified by the historical–scientific social context of the training process and by the fact that they do not always attribute real importance to the theoretical precision of these terms in clinical management with their patients. The absence of more precise definitions and discussions of these concepts and terms can increase the chances of the issue being neglected or infrequently addressed in sessions. This can affect the performance, the bond with the patient and the behaviour itself in sessions. [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]

This research explores the experiences of bilingual therapists whose first language is not English and who are therefore working in English as a second language, with native‐speaking English clients. Existing literature suggests that the therapeutic relationship is inherently unbalanced, with the therapist constructed as the more powerful. This is particularly true of psychodynamic therapy—the researchers' own modality—in which the therapist withholds self‐revelation. However, the power balance can shift in the client's favour, particularly if they hold knowledge about their therapist. Our research focusses on how bilingualism as an inherent self‐disclosure might result in shifting the power in the therapeutic dyad when the client is perceived as the more competent native speaker. This research aims to contribute an alternative to the prevailing view that linguistic difference is merely challenging. Qualitative semistructured interviews generated narrative transcripts from six participants, which were analysed thematically. Three themes emerged, demonstrating how the therapists experienced their difference in terms of power shifts: my difference is an inherent vulnerability; my difference is a tool; and my difference is unspoken. When experienced as a vulnerability, therapists' bilingualism results in a power struggle. Working with this vulnerability can facilitate the alliance and create a sense of equality. This brings bilingualism as a tool into focus. Almost all participants experienced a lack of recognition of this aspect of their diversity in training and supervision. Most participants acknowledged that it remained unspoken between them and their clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent mental health disorder which is characterised by high levels of morbidity. Most individuals with OCD do not receive adequate psychotherapeutic intervention. Research suggests that taboo intrusive thoughts are less likely to be recognised as OCD in comparison to more recognisable forms. Stigma attributions are higher for individuals with taboo intrusive thoughts. The aim of this study is to examine psychotherapists' capacity to recognise different forms of OCD, their recommendations for psychotherapeutic intervention, and stigma attributions towards clients with OCD symptoms. Methodology: Five hundred fourteen psychotherapists in Ireland were randomly assigned a vignette describing a client with different OCD presentations—paedophilia, aggressive, religious, homosexuality, contamination and symmetry. Participants gave their interpretations of the presenting symptoms, their therapy recommendations and rated their confidence in their responses. Perceived dangerousness and willingness to work with the client were also investigated. Results: The taboo intrusive thoughts vignettes were significantly less likely to be recognised as OCD than the contamination and symmetry vignettes. Participants attributed greater levels of stigma to clients with aggressive and paedophilia intrusive thoughts. Recommendations for evidence‐based therapies were low. Participants who recognised OCD were significantly more likely to recommend an evidence‐based therapy. Confidence was a poor predictor of OCD identification and evidence‐based therapy recommendation. Conclusions: The results suggest a lack of awareness of certain types of OCD presentation amongst psychotherapists, the meaning of the symptoms and of evidence‐based psychotherapeutic interventions for OCD. The implications of this, and possible applications of these results, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) is a brief, evidence‐based psychotherapy tailored for patients with advanced cancer that has not yet been implemented routinely in Dutch cancer care. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, sustainability and effectiveness of CALM in different clinical settings in the Netherlands. Methods: In 2019 and 2020 a multi‐center, intervention‐only study was performed in three Dutch cancer care settings. Professionals were trained to provide CALM under supervision. Patients diagnosed with advanced cancer were included and filled out questionnaires to measure depression (Patient Health Questionnaire‐9), death anxiety (Death and Dying Distress Scale), and anxiety (hospital anxiety and depression scale‐anxiety) at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The Clinical Evaluation Questionnaire was used to assess acceptability of CALM at 3 and 6 months. Results: Sixty‐four patients (55% of the eligible patients) were included in the study and 85% of the included patients received 3 or more CALM sessions. Of the 24 trained therapists, 15 (63%) started providing CALM. Two years post‐study, CALM was provided in each center by a total of 19 therapists. On average, patients perceived CALM to be at least somewhat helpful. A significant decrease in severity of depression (p = 0.006), death anxiety (p = 0.008), and anxiety (p = 0.024) was observed over time. Conclusions: This study shows that CALM therapy is feasible, acceptable, and sustainable in three Dutch cancer care settings, although not all predefined feasibility criteria for therapists were met. CALM can be effective in decreasing feelings of depression, anxiety, and death anxiety in patients with advanced cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Therapeutic boundaries are limits to appropriate behaviours within a therapist–client relationship (e.g. related to accepting gifts, self‐disclosures, therapist neutrality and advocacy). Therapeutic boundary considerations are fundamental in the care of refugees and asylum seekers. Research on the experiences of therapists navigating such boundaries is sparse and warrants further exploration. The aim of this qualitative systematic review was to thematically synthesise literature regarding therapists' (psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors) experiences of implementing flexible therapeutic boundaries with refugee and asylum seeker clients and determine how such applications have been helpful for therapeutic interventions. Method: Six databases were searched. Following full‐text screening, 21 papers were included in the analysis. Boundary theory underpinned the analysis. Results: Three major themes were developed: (i) Changes to Therapeutic Practice & Therapeutic Intervention, (ii) Re‐Conceptualisation of Therapy as 'Clinical Political' and Re‐Conceptualisation of Therapist Identity and (iii) Careful Monitoring of Personal Boundaries—Not becoming 'Hardened' or 'Haunted'. Papers described how, when used in a reflective, considerate way, flexible therapeutic boundaries can strengthen the therapist–client alliance and positively impact therapeutic interventions. Many therapists acknowledged making conscious efforts to re‐conceptualise therapeutic work with refugee and asylum seeker clients from advocacy standpoints. However, systemic constraints, and lack of guidance, made this difficult to navigate and contributed to therapist burn‐out. Conclusions: Boundary considerations manifested as interpersonal, structural and cultural changes to practice. These have implications for clinical practice and developing guidelines on boundary practices with refugees and asylum seekers. Future research should explore promoting therapist well‐being and training needs for therapists supporting this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sense of control is an integral part of well‐being. Studies have reported on the connection between loss of control and psychological symptoms. However, loss of sense of control has not yet been studied from the perspective of psychotherapists. Methods: This study had three research objectives: to find out how psychotherapists define loss of sense of control, whether they consider loss of sense of control to play a role in the start of psychological symptoms, and, if so, in what cases. Lebanese psychotherapists were interviewed and the data were then analyzed using frame analysis. Results: The analysis revealed two definitions for loss of sense of control and conflicting views on whether it plays a role in the onset of disorders. Problems within relationships and stress were the most mentioned examples of loss of sense of control. Conclusion: The findings shed light on psychotherapists' diverse opinions and explanations regarding the role of loss of sense of control in the development of psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative exploration of the experience of psychoanalytic psychotherapy complemented the quantitative evaluation of mental health and life functioning improvements in the Melbourne Study of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Twice‐weekly treatment was offered to adults for 2 years by the private sector Glen Nevis Clinic for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, established by the Victorian Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists as a subsidized, low‐cost community service over 8 years. This paper is the second of two presenting the qualitative arm of the study, involving in‐depth narrative interviews with patients and psychotherapists. Analysis of 143 transcripts further contributes to evidence of the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance of psychoanalytic psychotherapy in a community setting. The first qualitative paper reports themes concerning patient expectations of psychotherapy and perspectives of both patients and psychotherapists on the experience and benefits of the treatment. This paper reports what was perceived by participants as facilitative or challenging for therapeutic progress, illuminating how experiences of the nature of psychoanalytic psychotherapy may have affected the Implementation, Effectiveness and Maintenance of the program. The most notable facilitative factors emerging were the exploratory, insight‐oriented nature of the work, elements of the patient‐psychotherapist relationship, and the frame of the treatment. Challenges were also often seen as inherent to Effectiveness; however, proposing the frame of 2‐year treatment, as both an expectation and a limit, probably inhibited program Reach, Adoption and overall Implementation. The limitations and strengths of the qualitative arm of the research, together with implications for further investigation, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naturalistic, longitudinal Melbourne Study of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy was conducted in a subsidized community clinic established by the Victorian Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists as a demonstration project operating over 8 years. It offered lower SES adults twice‐weekly psychoanalytic psychotherapy for 2 years. An independent research program used the RE‐AIM planning and evaluation framework to investigate the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance of the service. Complementary quantitative and qualitative methodologies studied mental health and general‐life functioning outcomes and underlying processes of treatment. Two papers present the qualitative arm of the research, exploring the lived experience of the psychotherapy, reported contemporaneously and retrospectively by patients and psychotherapists. This first paper details the qualitative design and methods employed. In‐depth semi‐structured narrative interviews during psychotherapy, upon completion at 2 years, and at an additional 8‐month follow‐up point for patients, were conducted. Analysis of the narrative transcripts of 143 participant interviews revealed themes regarding patient expectations of treatment and the perceptions of both patients and psychotherapists of the long‐term psychoanalytic psychotherapy experience and its benefits. Narratives thus provided evidence of the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance of the service. The findings enrich understanding of the effective processes underlying the outcomes of the quantitative arm of the study reported separately. The second qualitative paper presents the findings concerning participants' experiences of facilitative and challenging aspects of the treatment, as well as the implications of the qualitative findings overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outcome research highlights the importance of the therapeutic alliance for the outcome of therapy. Meta‐analyses suggest that in family therapy, the therapeutic alliance is even more important than in individual therapy. In family therapy, however, the alliance is more complex than in individual therapy. Through empathy, authenticity and hopefulness the therapist can contribute to an effective alliance. Sometimes during the session, a therapist may experience strong emotions that are in tension with his/her therapeutic aspirations of empathetic listening, authenticity and hopefulness. A therapist might experience boredom instead of curiosity, irritation instead of acceptance, shame instead of authenticity. There is need for some kind of emotion regulation to protect the alliance. Furthermore, as some authors suggest, the therapist's emotions – even the emotions that are first glance seem harmful to the alliance – may also be useful for the therapist. Several case stories illustrate the different ways in which family therapists can deal with their emotions in the session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on personal family therapist evolution of 30 years and how I have moved between first‐ and second‐order positions in how I work, challenge and make progress in the therapy room. With increasing confidence and experience, I have found myself in a position of "knowing" in therapy and of sharing the knowledge and beliefs I have with families, in a variety of ways. The first‐ and second‐order paradigms have many definitions (Anderson & Goolishian, Family Process, 27, 1988 and 371; Hoffman, Family System Medicine, 3, 1985 and 381) and mine concern the space between knowing and not‐knowing, between collaborative and directive therapy, and how to use these ideas in therapy. I explore aspects of this including ways of challenging, embedded questions, the move from questions to statements, and differences in responses. The essence throughout is that good therapy relies on good relationships, that skillful challenge is welcomed by families, detail is the enemy of therapeutic endeavor, and that embracing our expertise again can be a valuable asset in therapy. I contend that many experienced therapists follow similar practices but this is seldom talked about in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT) was developed to help and support concerned significant others (CSO) of people with, for example, alcohol use disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate therapists' experiences of working with CRAFT and their experiences of the CSOs receiving CRAFT. The study has a qualitative design and is based on three focus group interviews with 17 therapists. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis revealed six themes and four subthemes: Concerned significant others—A special group; Help prior to CRAFT—Offering information and a shoulder; CRAFT as a new and specific method (The toolbox of CRAFT, Formats for delivering CRAFT, Introducing a diary as homework and Implementing self‐help material—Alone or in combination with sessions); Moving from a lack of structure to structure; Change in CSOs from the therapists' point of view; and Change in the therapist's role (Dilemmas—Personalising the intervention). The therapists were generally satisfied with the method and found it easy to adapt to. Moreover, working using a manual was more structured than they were used to and increased feelings of working professionally with the CSOs. Specifically, most therapists found the self‐help book useful and indispensable in their work with CRAFT, but also agreed that it could not be used as a stand‐alone intervention for most CSOs. The therapists' experiences are relevant for implementation of manualised, structured approaches and group‐based interventions more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to report dissatisfaction after accessing a counselling or psychological service. Greater dissatisfaction may result from therapists who focus on psychopathology without considering cultural context. Research has demonstrated therapists' cultural competence (attitudes, knowledge and skills) may influence effective service provision to LGB people. Counsellors and psychologists (N = 10) were interviewed to determine the sources of information influencing the cultural competence and LGB cultural competence practices used by therapists in their clinical practice. Three themes were developed from semistructured interviews: (1) the importance of multiple sources of cultural competence; (2) applying cultural competence improves the therapeutic process; and (3) ensuring visual cues of affirmation are affirming, not pathologising. Theme 1 highlighted that initial professional training, cultural competence training and lived experience could be triangulated to assist therapists in improving their cultural competence. Theme 2 highlighted that cultural competence improves the therapeutic process by ensuring therapists can demonstrate affirming attitudes, knowledge about LGB people and culturally affirming skills to work effectively with LGB clients. The final theme explored the need for therapists to create an inclusive space for LGB clients. Recommendations for improving clinical practices and tools to enhance cultural competence are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective coping strategies can protect against the adverse effects of stress. This study investigated self‐compassion's ability to predict approach and avoidance coping in psychology, counselling and psychotherapy practitioners (PCPPs) during COVID‐19, and whether this differed between genders. To date, no research has investigated this relationship, despite positive associations being drawn in other populations. Three hundred and nineteen PCPPs completed an online survey including the Brief COPE and Self‐Compassion Short Form. Self‐compassion significantly predicted greater use of approach coping and reduced use of avoidance coping. The predictive ability of self‐compassion was slightly better in female practitioners. Self‐judgement arose as a prominent subscale of self‐compassion across genders, increasing both approach and avoidance coping. Implications for future research and practice are discussed, concerning barriers to self‐compassion and the requirement of therapeutic programmes and psychoeducation as a prerequisite for effective coping strategies in the PCPP population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study explored the current knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices regarding psychedelics among mental health professionals in California, where state legislation to decriminalize psychedelics has been proposed. Method: Two hundred thirty‐seven mental health providers (74% female; mean age 54; 83% White; 46% psychologists) completed a 37‐item online survey between November 2021 and February 2022, disseminated through local and state‐wide professional organizations in California. Results: Providers endorsed limited knowledge about the risks and benefits of psychedelic use (M = 4.7 and 5.4, respectively, with 10 = high knowledge) and inadequate knowledge to counsel patients on use (45%). Gaps in knowledge related to psychedelic drug scheduling and current use in clinical research were identified. Providers expressed support for additional psychedelic research (97%), approval of recreational (66%) and medical (91%) psychedelic use, belief in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics (89%), and concerns about safety (33%) and potential psychiatric risks (27%). Results indicated that most providers discuss psychedelic use with patients (73%), yet many do not feel comfortable addressing the effects of use (49%). There were significant correlations between knowledge and attitudes towards psychedelics (r = 0.2, p =.006; r = 0.31, p <.001) and attitudes and clinical practices (r = 0.34, p <.001). Conclusions: Findings suggest that providers are interested in psychedelic‐assisted treatments and hold favourable attitudes towards the therapeutic use of psychedelics yet lack the knowledge to appropriately counsel patients, highlighting the need for additional provider education about psychedelics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to capture therapists' experiences of delivering therapy throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic and how this experience impacted therapeutic alliance. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on the responses to three surveys distributed to all UKCP members. The qualitative and quantitative analyses found significant variability in therapists' feelings regarding the transition to online therapy, with overall perceptions continuing to be divided similarly throughout the nine months surveyed. While qualitative data highlighted positive perceptions of online therapy for some, quantitative results showed that most did not find online therapy to be as effective as face‐to‐face therapy. The pandemic and subsequent shift to online work had significant implications for therapists, including navigating unfamiliar changes to the therapeutic space resulting from experiencing a shared crisis, and holding the frame in relation to boundaries of safety. In the wake of the pandemic, as things shift increasingly towards a hybrid model of delivering therapy, it is important to reflect on what can be learned from this transition and how this influences future therapeutic practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to understand the need to have directions and goals in order to organize a therapeutic path. After having considered the common aspects of strategic therapies, the authors—both representing the Milan School of Boscolo and Cecchin—explain the unavoidable use of a strategic attitude and its evolution, from the adherence to the Palo Alto model, to Tomm's (1987) proposal, to considering strategizing the fourth guideline of the Milan Approach. We then discuss the utilization of strategizing in the present times. Does it make sense to speak of directive or nondirective psychotherapists now a days? The answer is that if we take a second‐order positioning—which is the attitude that distinguishes therapy from a common chat among friends—we are inevitably and contemporarily both directive and nondirective. An example from the botanical field is offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As social media continues to grow in popularity, many people have become accustomed to publishing information about themselves and others on the web. In this context, it is arguably harder than ever for therapists to keep their personal and professional lives separate. There is little research to help practitioners navigate this. Aims: This research aimed at investigating the effect on the therapist and the therapeutic relationship in cases where clients obtained personal information about their therapist online and subsequently disclosed that information during a session. Methodology: Semistructured interviews were conducted with six participants and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Participants were interviewed twice, with the second interview taking place 8 weeks after the first. Participants were qualified mental health professionals who had experience of a client disclosing personal information about them that had been obtained online. Findings: Four superordinate themes emerged: (1) tension in peacetime, (2) breach of defences, (3) weapons and (4) the aftermath: renegotiation with client and self. These represent the struggle experienced by participants and follow the journey from pre to postdisclosure. The analysis identified feelings of vulnerability and shame, which made it difficult to navigate the therapeutic relationship. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the experience can positively impact the therapeutic relationship, despite challenges. Nonetheless, fear continues to cloud this topic, prompting an avoidance among therapists, supervisors, training organisations and professional bodies. The implications of this study are not concerned with preventing the encounter but rather with preparing for the eventuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing psychotherapeutic competencies is an essential part of psychiatric training. All Core Trainees at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) saw a patient for psychodynamic psychotherapy until 2020. Due to the pandemic, all face‐to‐face appointments at the LYPFT Medical Psychotherapy Service were paused from March 2020. Patients could choose whether to continue therapy remotely or defer therapy. Supervision was also moved to a remote format. Face‐to‐face therapy sessions resumed from August 2020, with new infection control procedures. This project aimed to establish doctors' experience of training in delivering psychodynamic psychotherapy at LYPFT during the pandemic. A two‐step methodology was used: an online survey including qualitative and quantitative analysis of the impact of the pandemic; and semi‐structured interviews with thematic analysis. The online survey had a response rate of 68%. Four patients deferred therapy; the mean deferral length was two months. Ten respondents had sessions cancelled due to infection/self‐isolation. Thirteen respondents (commencing therapy pre‐pandemic) delivered therapy face‐to‐face (without personal protective equipment [PPE]). During the pandemic five respondents delivered therapy via phone, six face‐to‐face with PPE. Thirteen were concerned about attaining psychotherapy competencies. Thematic analysis of the interviews identified three main themes (with subthemes). Challenges of delivering therapy during the pandemic were identified, as well as areas of good practice and opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following text the Austrian health system will be presented as well as its current model for training psychoanalysts. In Austria, everyone has an equal right to health insurance, no matter whether they are working or unemployed, on maternity leave or legally approved as refugees. With regard to psychotherapy, 24 psychotherapeutic modalities are currently recognized by the Austrian health care system. Patients can rely on a partial or full reimbursement when they engage in psychotherapy, no matter what modality they choose. Most training institutions and universities have walk‐in clinics where the general public and students can make their first contacts with psychotherapy. There are also psychoanalytic clinics, specifically tailored towards women, children and refugees at very low or no cost to them. If a patient can obtain a Kassenplatz at a psychoanalyst, s/he can benefit from long‐term therapy that is largely refunded by the Austrian State insurance company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the interplay between psychodynamic psychotherapy and other approaches to psychotherapy in mental health services in Israel, describing the history of psychotherapy approaches, education and training, current dilemmas and service examples. Israel has a system of universal healthcare, education and social care which includes mental health services for all citizens and permanent residents. Mental health services and interventions are provided by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, social workers, clinical criminologists and creative arts therapists. Despite being public, accessibility is undermined by long waiting times, inequitable geographic distributions and cultural‐linguistic barriers. The interplay between approaches is clearly visible in public mental health services. Many therapists are trained primarily in psychodynamic approaches and receive psychodynamic‐oriented supervision. However, public services often cannot provide suitable conditions for psychodynamic oriented psychotherapy, and the therapists are required to adjust their interventions to treatment plans, reimbursement and reporting. This paper describes in detail two programs that implement psychodynamic approaches in the medical and education systems respectively. The first is "Lkol Nefesh" ("for every soul") that provides long‐term intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy for individuals suffering from severe mental disorders. The second is the system of creative arts therapies delivered in schools that provide psychotherapy as part of special education services. The paper concludes with a discussion of the influence of the spirit of time on psychotherapy, and the opposite tendencies evident in the state of affairs of psychodynamic psychotherapy in Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even in well‐delivered treatments, a significant proportion of patients with severe diagnoses will not achieve sustained remission. For example, research demonstrates that in Bipolar II disorder, while psychological interventions combined with pharmacotherapy yield much better results than pharmacotherapy alone, relapse rates remain very high. In this article, we show the successful treatment of Mrs. C., who was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder and fell into the non‐responders. The treatment integrated a novel approach grounded on a cognitive‐behavioral theory with a systemic perspective. The psychotherapist, the psychiatrist, and a family therapist composed the teamwork and delivered the treatment in three phases. In the first phase, the psychotherapist conjointly with the psychiatrist aimed at reducing symptoms. In the second phase, the psychotherapist and the family therapist addressed the dysfunctional relationship patterns that negatively reinforced emotional dysregulation. Finally, in the third phase, the aim was to consolidate the achievements, changes, and good outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Australians are requiring mental health care, including families, leading to long wait times in order to access support. Walk‐in therapy reduces barriers to mental health support services by providing support at the time that families seek help. This paper presents a proof‐of‐concept study investigating the acceptability and short‐term effectiveness of an online walk‐in family therapy service, Walk‐in Together (WIT). Part 1 of the paper describes the experiences of 44 family members from 22 families who presented to a public family therapy clinic for a virtual walk‐in family therapy session. The session was conducted by a team of three experienced family therapists. Family members' experiences were sought pre‐session, post‐session, and at 6 weeks follow‐up via survey and interview. Part 2 of the paper explores therapist perceptions (n = 7) of the WIT approach, through thematic analysis of semi‐structured interview data. Post‐session feedback showed 85% of family members found WIT to be helpful and 50% were optimistic about their future as a family after their WIT session. Six weeks post‐session it was revealed that WIT supported planning for families in equipping them to move forward with 88% of family members reporting that they knew what to do after the session. All therapists uniformly experienced the model as offering a timely and beneficial service, suitable for diverse presentations and constellations of families. These preliminary results suggest the significant utility of this WIT intervention as a well‐received and helpful service for families, who valued the easy access and rapid therapeutic response afforded by the online, walk‐in delivery model. This proof‐of‐concept paper suggests the potential for further development and growth of WIT, as well as other mental health support services using a walk‐in, telehealth model to meet the rising demand for therapeutic support for families in distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitsun was surprised that these pictures evoked extreme reactions. Perhaps less well known is that throughout his career as a psychologist Nitsun has also been a painter, exhibiting and selling his work to an enthusiastic audience. Morris Nitsun is well known as a consultant psychologist, psychotherapist and group analyst; his publications include the seminal work I The Anti-Group i , published in 1996, I The Group as an Object of Desire i (2006) and I Beyond the Anti-Group i (2015). This "artist's matrix" gave Nitsun the impetus to create more pictures in anticipation of the next group exploration. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify self‐organised dynamics in sessions with dialogical patterns (i.e. reflective interactions of self‐states associated with psychological change) within long‐term psychotherapy. One of the hallmarks of self‐organisation is the presence of an Inverse Power Law (IPL) in the frequency distribution of relevant events, which reflect better adaptation to internal and environmental changes, produced by psychotherapy. Methods: A case study of successful psychotherapy (44 weekly sessions) with a patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the therapist was conducted. The expressions of the subjectivity (i.e. voices) in the patient and therapist were identified through the Model of Analysis of Discursive Positioning in Psychotherapy (MAPP). State Space Grids (SSG) identified sessions that presented dialogical patterns acting as attractors (8 sessions) and those with non‐dialogical patterns acting as attractors (12 sessions). Finally, Orbital Decomposition (ORBDE) produced statistics of self‐organisation in both groups of sessions and the degree of fit to an IPL. Results: Both groups of sessions presented an acceptable fit to the IPL distributions (R2 =.853 and.938), and statistics placed them in different self‐organised regions. Conclusions: Although dialogical patterns are an emergent property of therapy, their structure is similar to sessions of other types, in that dynamic processes occur in them that can be empowered in patients to consolidate psychological change. The nonlinear and emergent character of these self‐organised processes and their clinical implications for activating the patients' psychological resources are discussed. [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]

Background: Humankind is facing extraordinary existential uncertainties. Therapists are mobilised with urgency in response to the emotional and psychological needs of clients at the onset of the COVID‐19 global pandemic. At the same time, individuals and communities have been and are ever‐increasingly impacted by the seemingly inexorable climate and biodiversity crisis, yet the response of the profession is negligible. Objective: To explore therapists' experiences of climate change, particularly the dialectic between the 'personal' and the 'professional' and its implications for professional practice. Method: Eight therapists participated in semi‐structured, qualitative interviews. Verbatim transcripts and emergent themes were then subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) using a pluralistic theoretical frame including existential, psychoanalytic and psychosocial thinking. Results: It was found that therapists' personal experiences of climate change were complex and profound, as were their clients'. Therapists' sense of feeling ill‐equipped to support clients in the climate crisis was indicated. Conclusion: Findings suggest it is imperative that professional bodies and training institutions provide leadership and guidance to therapists that enables them to support clients, and themselves, facing potentially dire climate crisis realities. The present study points to a need for professional practice and the work with clients 'in the room', therapeutically, to incorporate attention to existential concerns and unconscious processes, by necessity underpinned by therapists' self‐awareness of their own processes existing in parallel with the clients'. This study also strongly indicated the need to conceptualise clients and therapy itself within social, economic, cultural and political contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]