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Within the framework of the current drive to transform psychology in South Africa, this paper highlights "other" axes of identity that are arguably largely overlooked within the field. The conversation exposes the discipline of psychology – specifically within the South African context – and its many unexamined assumptions concerning "expected" identities of psychologists – specifically, those along heterosexual and able-bodied lines. By engaging in an autoethnographic conversation, the two authors, both "other", practising psychologists – one queer, one disabled – share and reflect on some of their experiences of feeling othered in their chosen profession. Drawing on parts of queer theory, critical disability literature, as well as the theoretical framework of biopolitical power, we start to make sense of our experiences of difference, deviance, and defiance. How the field of psychology marginalises "other" psychologists, and the impacts on those who bear the oppressions, is exposed; and a conversation is begun in which the discipline's assumptions around compulsory forms of identity – straight, not disabled, among others – are disrupted in productive ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on sexual abuse indicates low rates of inquiry by mental health professionals. This study explores early career psychologists' experiences of inquiry into their clients' sexual abuse histories. Twelve Australian psychologists participated in semi-structured interviews with transcripts analyzed using thematic analysis. The vast majority of participants reported that they did not routinely inquire about sexual abuse with barriers including not knowing what to do, discomfort, stigma, and fear of negative outcomes. Participants asserted that their university training in sexual abuse inquiry was inadequate. Findings emphasize the need for the development of an evidence-based framework for sexual abuse training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethics reflects the moral principles upon which most professional practices rest. It forms the basis to do good, to do no harm, to respect others, and ensure justice. The purpose of this study was to investigate ethical dilemmas experienced by 20 clinical psychologists in Ghana. Semi-structured interviews were used to investigate ethical dilemmas faced in professional practice. Using thematic analysis, the reported dilemmas included third-party involvement, (sub-themes: Therapy with Minors, Marital Disclosures, Source of referral, Duty to Warn), Dual relationships (subthemes: Collegial Relationships, Power Differential in Relationships), Cultural competence, and Policies and practices. The findings showed that although some of these dilemmas are universal, others arise (e.g., cultural competence) from the general cultural context of Ghana and the professional culture within which clinical psychologists are socialized. Recommendations to assist clinical psychologists address ethical dilemmas in Ghana and implications for the development of ethical regulations in the country are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary trauma, which is also often referred to as secondary traumatic stress, vicarious traumatization, and compassion fatigue are the negative consequences that occur when an individual hears about the traumatic experiences of another person. Certain professions who are exposed to hearing about traumatic experiences are at an increased risk of these difficulties. Psychologists are one such group, and the aim of the current systematic review was to investigate the prevalence of and variables associated with these concepts in psychologists. The following databases were searched as part of the review: PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria required that psychologists were qualified and involved in therapeutic work. Eight articles were extracted for narrative synthesis. The articles indicated that psychologists are not typically meeting the clinical threshold for the various concepts of interest, although a single representative figure could not be determined for this cohort. Potential reasons for this are discussed. An exception to this finding was observed for psychologists working directly with trauma, as difficulties resulting from the concepts of interest were indicated within this cohort. A key finding was the paucity of research that exists on this topic. Limitations and implications of the findings are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidentiary support for the treatment of panic disorder. Specifically, interoceptive exposure (IE) has been found to be a critical component in the research literature. International studies have suggested that psychologists often avoid undertaking IE or do so in ways not consistent with evidence-based practice. This study investigated whether this was true within an Australian and New Zealand context. A sample of 164 participants was included in an analysis of treatment modalities employed, exposure therapy implementation practices, use of other arousal reduction strategies and psychometric measures, negative beliefs regarding exposure therapy, general risk orientation, and self-reported actual treatment outcomes. Results revealed a wide variety of treatment models and implementation of exposure therapy techniques, influenced by widespread negative beliefs about exposure therapy which were significantly positively correlated with lower success rates in treatment outcomes. The findings highlight the need for further research into the quality of current training methodologies, supervision practices, and ongoing professional development standards for exposure therapy techniques in the Australian and New Zealand contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on qualitative interviews with four Danish psychologists and employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study explored psychologists' understandings about the good life and how these influence the participants' clinical practice. The study found that the participants were quite aware of how their conceptions of the good life play a role in their work. Good life understandings that influenced therapeutic practice were quite similar amongst participants and were largely characterized by traits often associated with good mental health. Themes identified were: "Everyday well‐being," "presence", and "taking care of oneself and others," and subthemes were "contact with the self," "awareness of the good things in life," "connectedness," "to mean something to others," "coping with distress," and "compassion for oneself and others." Among participants, these good life conceptions had a similar influence on different areas of their practice in terms of how the participants understand their clients' issues, which impacted what they talk to their clients about, and what they seek to achieve with the clients in therapy. Therefore, the good life conceptions influenced the methods, techniques, personal behaviors, and therapeutic approaches used to provide good and effective therapy. Another finding was that participants' clinical experiences also seemed to impact their good life conceptions. The interpretation of the participants' experiences represented a hermeneutic model suggesting that the participants' good life conceptions and their clinical practice experiences might inform and reinforce each other in a continuously expanding overlap. The actual nature of this interaction and its implications are relevant for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does working with suicidal patients become easier with time? A representative national survey of 375 psychologists (72% women, Mean age 44 years) showed that years of experience (r = −.13, p =.01) and frequency of contact with suicidal patients (r = −.15, p =.004) correlated only weakly with perceived difficulty. Thematic analysis of respondents' descriptions of difficult suicide-related situations on an open survey-question yielded four themes: Unreachable patients, choosing between therapy and security, therapist's boundaries and empathy with death-wishes. We conclude that improved confidence in coping with suicidality may require specific training rather than simply years of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the extent to which telehealth placements are feasible for developing perceived competence as a psychologist and are an acceptable training modality for provisional psychologists. Fifteen provisional psychologists who undertook a postgraduate placement using telehealth completed an online survey. Acceptability and attitudes towards future telehealth service provision were assessed via Likert scales and open-ended questions. Feasibility was assessed via comparison using Wilcoxon Rank Signed tests of pre- and post-placement self-efficacy using the Psychology Counsellor Self-Efficacy Scale. Open-ended questions were analysed using content analysis. Participants reported high satisfaction with the telehealth placement. Perceived self-efficacy improved between pre- and post-placement on all competencies except for research. Students reported that a telehealth placement enabled them to improve in all areas, with particular benefits including rapport building, therapeutic questioning, and management of safety and ethical concerns. Challenges of a telehealth placement included assessing mental status, isolation from peers, and technical difficulties. Students reported positive attitudes towards future use of telehealth. Telehealth appears to offer an acceptable, feasible and valuable training experience for developing competence for provisional psychologists. Undertaking a telehealth placement may help prepare clinicians for future use of telehealth, especially in relation to ethics and risk management. What is already known about this topic: (1) Psychologists typically report a reluctance to utilise telehealth and uptake has remained low prior to COVID-19 despite changes in Medicare. (2) Limited training in telehealth, especially around ethical issues and managing risk, is a key barrier to telehealth utilisation amongst psychologists. (3) Only very limited research has examined the use of telehealth placements in tertiary training, despite the need to pivot to telehealth placements during COVID-19. What this topic adds: (1) This study highlights that telehealth placements are both feasible and acceptable for developing competence and skill in trainee psychologists. (2) Telehealth placements equipped provisional psychologists with enhanced skills specific to telehealth service provision including managing ethical and safety concerns online. (3) Provisional psychologists who completed a telehealth placement reported an intention to utilise telehealth in future service provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment is critical to health service psychology and represents a core area of coverage during doctoral training. Despite this, training practices in assessment are understudied. Accordingly, this study utilized a national sampling of students (n = 534) enrolled in an American Psychological Association-accredited health service psychology doctoral program with substantive training in clinical or counseling psychology. We asked trainees to rate their competency for instruments in which they had training. We examined trends in training experiences, including both theory-based education and applied clinical opportunities, and explored differences in instrument training trends across program type (PhD/PsyD) and program discipline (clinical/counseling). Results of this study suggest a general convergence with professional practice trends in terms of instrument coverage, less clinical training, and exposure compared with didactic methods and generally small differences across program type and discipline in perceived competence and instrument exposure. Implications for training and education in psychological assessment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Rationale: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which causes impairment of the motor functions in the upper and lower limbs and bulbar muscles with a median survival time is three years from the first appearance of symptoms. There is massive psychological impact on health professionals to persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hence the work leads to multiple challenges and stressful and demanding situations with high risk of experiencing diminished personal well‐being including burnout, moral distress, and compassion fatigue. Aim: To investigate reflections and perspectives from health professionals working within palliative rehabilitation for elements of importance in relation to job satisfaction. Methods and Materials: The design was qualitative and based on the phenomenological‐hermeneutical methodology by Paul Ricoeur's interpretation theory. Data consisted of two semi‐structured focus group interviews with a total of 12 specialized health professionals: Nurses, Psychologists, Physicians, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Social workers, working within a hospital setting of specialized palliative rehabilitation for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their families. Results: The analysis revealed insight into four themes: fundamental drive, working conditions, value of collegiality and work‐life balance. Fundamental drive was deeply rooted in the professionals' sense of having a meaningful job. Working conditions such as self‐management were important for job satisfaction as were good collegial relations. Finally, a good balance between working life and private life was considered important for job satisfaction. Conclusion: Our study indicates that work within the field of palliative rehabilitation is experienced as enriching and beneficial under the right circumstances and in an appreciatory working environment. We found elements like autonomy, mastery, purpose, collegiality, and work‐life balance to be of great importance. Our findings can help guide managements and health professionals in other palliative rehabilitation contexts to ensure satisfied employees and to optimize the quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate barriers to utilisation of cancer rehabilitation by querying a large sample of various professionals in health care with a comprehensive set of barriers. Methods: We developed a questionnaire comprising 55 barriers to utilisation of cancer rehabilitation and administered it to four different types of medical, care and social work experts involved in the referral to cancer rehabilitation. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted and the extracted factors were ranked by mean values. Additionally, ANOVAs were calculated to test for group differences. Results: Our sample (N = 606) consisted of 249 physicians, 194 social workers, 105 nurses and 55 psychologists in Germany. We identified seven barrier‐dimensions: low appreciation of rehabilitation by professionals, insufficient coordination, insufficient application procedure, rehabilitation requirements not met, patients' unfulfilled demands, patients' social responsibilities and patients' coping style, with the latter being rated as the most obstructive thereof. Furthermore, we found statistically significant group differences for six of these factors with small‐ to medium‐sized effects. Conclusion: Our results support previous publications implicating the patients' coping style as a barrier. We furthermore found evidence for barriers relating to processes and organisational issues, thereby expanding on the scope of patient‐oriented publications. Suggestions for improving patients' health services accessibility are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 lockdown in the Netherlands. Method: Five psychologists, who were affiliated with three intellectual disability services, participated in this descriptive qualitative study. Overall, they recorded 22 audio messages during the period under examination, which were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: (a) Working from home; (b) Adapting to the new reality; and (c) Advising and coaching support staff. Conclusions: This study provides critical insights into the experiences of psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 lockdown. These insights can help policymakers and practitioners to prepare for either a potential second wave of COVID‐19 or a future pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors Harvey and Koocher (2021) have published a rejoinder--"Learning to Paddle Against the Current: A Response to 'Moving Upstream in the Post-Hoffman Era: When Ethical Responsibilities Conflict With the Law'"--in which they assert that Conrad's (2019) article "overlooks important facts and documents, leading to uncritical repetition of unsupported conclusions" (Harvey and Koocher, 2021, p. 643). In this reply, we provide relevant background and review evidence regarding the key points raised, including controversy surrounding the American Psychological Association's (APA) Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS); developments in APA's policies relevant to United States (U.S.) war-on-terror detention and interrogation operations; the Hoffman Report, an APA-commissioned independent review that found serious fault with the response of APA leaders to reports of psychologist involvement in detainee abuse; and the history of APA's Ethical Standard 1.02. We conclude that not only policy reforms but also vigilance against backsliding will be necessary for APA to achieve a broad, ethics-focused reorientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent article in this journal, "Moving Upstream in the Post-Hoffman Era: When Ethical Responsibilities Conflict With the Law," (Conrad, 2019) provides an imbalanced viewpoint regarding the American Psychological Association's (APA's) evolving policies on interrogation of alleged terrorist detainees in the context of conflicts between ethics and law. The article overlooks important facts and documents, leading to uncritical repetition of unsupported conclusions. This response calls for the application of critical thinking (Hitchcock, 2018). Using well-documented examples and historical data, this article seeks to move the public dialog on the APA "Independent Review Relating to the Ethics Guidelines, National Security Investigations, and Torture" toward greater accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of American adults attend musical theater annually, and many productions address psychological themes, such as mental illness, substance use disorder, and suicide. Almost no empirical research has examined the potential role of attending and/or participating in professional musical theater as a means of stimulating discussion and increasing awareness around the topic of mental illness, both for the actors and audience members. Fifteen professional theater actors and/or directors were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling. Semistructured interviews explored how musical theater with psychological themes can be impactful for the production team and audience members, and the potential benefits and roles of a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) for the actors and audience. Principles of consensual qualitative research guided the analyses. Five overarching themes emerged in the interviews, including the impacts of musical theater on the audience, actors' experience of doing musical theater with psychological themes, actors' commitment to an accurate portrayal of mental illness in characters, roles BHCs could play in productions, and characteristics of effective BHCs. Consistent with recent calls for psychologists to serve their communities, this study highlights an opportunity wherein psychologists may form relationships with and support local professional and nonprofit theaters. Numerous specific ways in which BHCs could assist both actors and audience members surrounding shows with psychological themes are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity of healthcare professionals to tolerate uncertainty is of increasing research interest since it may reduce anxiety associated with managing complex health problems. Psychologists experience a high degree of uncertainty in their role. This longitudinal study examines changes in tolerance of uncertainty and confidence in case formulation among provisional psychologists as they progress through the early stages of training. Methods: Participants were 88 trainee psychologists from three postgraduate programs who completed surveys over three time points. In addition to measures of tolerance of uncertainty and confidence in case formulation the surveys included exposure to an ambiguous client vignette followed by a measure of state anxiety. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated significant increases in confidence in case formulation and confidence in response to the vignette over time. Hierarchical multiple regression indicated that state anxiety at time 2 was predicted by changes in tolerance of uncertainty in client care when time 1 state anxiety was controlled. The final model accounted for 31.2% of variance in participants responses. Conclusion: There is a need to better understand the educational and training activities that facilitate changes in confidence and uncertainty tolerance so they might be more effectively integrated into training programs. What is already known about this topic: As with healthcare fields more broadly, working as a psychologist involves a high degree of uncertainty. Postgraduate psychology curriculum does not include tolerance or management of uncertainty as a specific learning competency however indirectly provides strategies that promote uncertainty tolerance. Studies on medical trainees have reported that managing uncertainty becomes easier over time. No studies have examined changes in trainee psychologist's ability to tolerate uncertainty as they progress through their training. What this topic adds: Confidence in case formulation increases over the early stages of postgraduate psychology training. Participant's anxiety when responding to an ambiguous vignette at time two was predicted by changes in tolerance of uncertainty in client care, even when time one state anxiety was controlled. There is a need to better understand the educational and training activities that facilitate uncertainty tolerance and confidence in case formulation, so they might be more effectively integrated into training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Australia ages there are increasing opportunities for psychologists to contribute to the wellbeing of older adults. These clients have particular vulnerabilities that need to be considered when dealing with ethical issues. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of how Australian psychologists manage ethical dilemmas when working with older adults. Eighteen psychologists participated in semi-structured interviews during which they provided 30 cases which were identified as suitable for analysis. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using interpretative content analysis. The 30 case studies included a range of residential situations and professional settings. The findings indicated that: (1) Ethical dilemmas presented by psychologists reflect the ethical principles of respect, dignity and propriety, (2) Many considerations are taken into account by psychologists when deciding how they manage ethical dilemmas, and (3) Elder abuse is a challenging and prevalent ethical issue for psychologists. This study demonstrates that psychologists use a sophisticated process of ethical decision making when working with older adults and provides a new resource for research and training psychologists in applied ethics. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Australia has an increasing older adult population. (2) Currently most psychologists have limited experience working with older adults. (3) Client's age impacts on psychologists' attitudes and behaviours. What this topic adds: (1) In this study psychologists provided cases from their clinical experience that highlight the complexity of working with older adults. (2) When managing ethical dilemmas psychologists are mindful of the tension that exists between respecting client autonomy and acting in the client's best interests. (3) Elder abuse is a challenging and prevalent issue for Australian psychologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges encountered by sport psychologists operating within elite and professional sports teams have arguably been inadequately considered (Nesti, 2010). It has been suggested that this may be due to the inaccessibility of elite team environments (Eubank, Nesti, & Cruickshank, 2014; Nesti, 2010). The purpose of this research was to examine the challenges facing practitioners who operate in elite environments and to illuminate how these were experienced. Qualitative interviews with six experienced applied sport psychologists were conducted and a narrative themed analysis undertaken. Four main themes emerged as most prevalent and meaningful: challenges to congruence, a broader role: managing multiple relationships, the influence of elite sport cultures, and surviving and thriving were presented in narrative form. Practitioners provided experiential insight into how specific challenges were understood and dealt with, and how they are able to provide an effective service while managing themselves and the demands of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite limited evidence, children with neurodevelopmental and psychological disorders may be having dietary interventions incorporated into treatment. Little is known about psychologists' role in influencing these decisions. Australian psychologists working with children (N=60) completed the Nutritional Competence Tool, and questions exploring psychologist attitudes, self-reported competence and practices associated with the use of dietary interventions for children presenting for psychological treatment of psychological disorders. Most respondents reported positive attitudes towards dietary interventions. Incorporating dietary interventions into clinical practice was common, with 56.7% reporting they would be likely to recommend one or more dietary interventions pre-specified for one of the conditions explored. Participants were most likely to endorse the use of dietary interventions for children presenting with oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder or other behavioural problems. Despite training in evidence-based practice, some registered psychologists have positive attitudes towards dietary modifications in the treatment of children with psychological conditions, and may be susceptible to recommending dietary interventions, regardless of the limited evidence base. The conditions for which recommendations were most likely, as well as diets most commonly recommended had hallmark features of "fads", raising several ethical concerns. Further research should determine how widespread this practise is. Key Points What is already known about this topic: Dietary interventions do not have a robust evidence-base in treating psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders. Children often receive dietary modification to aid the amelioration of symptoms of psychological and neurodevelopmental disorders. Limited research suggests that psychologists may be contributing to the use of complementary and alternative treatments. What this paper adds: Some psychologists have positive attitudes towards dietary interventions for a range of psychological disorders in childhood. Some psychologists report that they are likely to recommend dietary interventions for children presenting for psychological treatment. Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder were the conditions most likely elicit information about dietary interventions or recommendations to consider a dietary interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participants were 181 sport performance professionals (SPPs); 92 reported being sexually attracted to their athlete-clients (ACs), though few SPPs sought supervision regarding such attractions. In regards to specific behaviors, approximately half reported discussing personal matters unrelated to their work, whereas far fewer had engaged in sexual behaviors with their ACs, such as discussing sexual matters unrelated to their work, and caressing or intimately touching an AC. Common nonsexual boundary crossings (NSBCs) included consulting with an AC in public places, working with an AC at practice, and working with an AC at a competition. Sexual attractions exist and NSBCs occur, thus SPPs need to be trained in these issues to be able to successfully navigate them. Lay summary: About half of the sport psychology professionals (SPPs) reported being sexually attracted to an athlete-client (AC). Typical boundary crossings included: consulting with an AC in public and private places and travelling with ACs. Therefore SPPs' should be ethically trained and seek supervision to effectively work with such attractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to describe the development and evaluation of an 11-session patient safety and quality improvement curriculum for first-year child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. The curriculum uses the Learning from Defects tool which teaches fellows how to conduct an analysis of a safety event they have encountered in their clinical work. The Learning from Defects tool provides a structured approach to address adverse clinical events and identify system failures by providing a framework to determine what happened, examine why it happened, implement interventions to reduce the probability that a similar event will recur, and evaluate whether the interventions were effective. Six fellows participated in the curriculum during their protected didactics time. Curriculum evaluation included an assessment of fellows' knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward patient safety and quality improvement before and immediately after the curriculum, and 6-months later. Immediately upon completion of the curriculum, fellows reported more confidence and comfort with patient safety and quality improvement-related tasks in their clinical practice. Fellows reported a positive perception of the curriculum related to their learning objectives and utility in the future career. At the 6-month follow-up, the majority of fellows continued to work on their Learning from Defects project and endorsed the intention to participate in patient safety and quality improvement work in the future. This study provides preliminary support for implementing this patient safety and quality improvement curriculum utilizing the Learning from Defects tool in child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship programs. The Learning from Defects tool offers a practical way to teach patient safety and quality improvement skills that potentially can be generalized to future clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018 I wrote an auto‐ethnographic paper about my relationship with Open Dialogue and how it helped me restore my interiority after a commitment of technique‐oriented Post‐Milan therapy. I attempted to document this as an emergent writing style, inviting you into my own momentary world (ing). This current paper serves as a second assemblage, one that surprised me, revealing itself fully this week, focusing instead on Matter, and how the post‐humanist commitment to radically different 'systems' has led to new inchoate relations between my body, that of other species and actors. and caused me to associate further into the rhythms of the seasons, both ecological and in the lives of the families I work with as a therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical supervision is a functional competency for health service psychologists, but how supervisor competency develops through coursework is not yet well understood. This study is the first to investigate the state of supervision training in American Psychological Association (APA) accredited school psychology doctoral programs. Descriptive results of a survey of course instructors (N = 23) and a systematic qualitative analysis of syllabi (N = 15) are reported, with a focus on characteristics of course instructors; course content and instructional methods; and the alignment of syllabi with APA (2015) supervision competency domains (i.e., their coverage, and evaluation). Findings indicate that instructors had limited supervision training and syllabi focused on clinical supervision but also issues specific to supervision in school psychology (e.g., systems-level change in schools, and the multifaceted school psychologist role). Only some syllabi indicated applied supervision practice opportunities, with few techniques to support these experiences. Coverage of the APA (2015) supervision competency domains of Diversity; Professionalism; and Professional Competence Problems were limited in their coverage and evaluation. Implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To understand how the social patterns about death influence end‐of‐life care from the perspective of healthcare professionals. Design: A qualitative study according to the theory of Glaser and Strauss. Methods: A purposeful sample of 47 participants with different roles (nurses, physicians and clinical psychologists) were involved in four focus groups and 17 interviews in 2017–2019. Responses were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using computer‐assisted qualitative data. Results: A core category 'the theory of social patterns about death' emerged, which is explained by three categories: the culture of concealment and stubbornness towards death, the effort and internal work to make death a part of existence, and the influence of the social patterns of coping with death on end‐of life care and healthcare professionals. Our results suggest that social coping with death is affected by a network of concealment and obstinacy towards death. Conclusion: Recognizing death as part of life and thinking about death itself are social coping strategies. Although healthcare professionals occupy a privileged place in this process, the culture of concealment of death influences end‐of‐life care. Impact: The social process that leads to the loneliness of the dying in our days has been theorized. However, social acceptance of death also influences healthcare professionals' attitudes towards death. Thus, healthcare professionals' own attitudes may affect the end‐of‐life care given to dying individuals and their families. The social patterns of death may contribute to the healthcare professionals' negative attitudes towards death. The concept of dignified death has been linked to the notion of humanization of healthcare. Death should be approached from a more naturalistic perspective by healthcare professionals, healthcare and academic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The 2020 coronavirus pandemic required many psychologists to rapidly transition to telehealth services to reduce virus exposure. Telepsychology services expanded quickly in Australia. This article seeks to provide simple and practical recommendations for clinicians who are changing their practice. Method: A narrative literature review focusing on psychologists' concerns regarding telehealth-facilitated psychology or telepsychology was undertaken. Results: Research literature and guidelines from peak professional bodies such as The Australian Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association, inform two sections of the article: Common Concerns about Videoconsultations and; Practical Considerations for Effective Videoconsultations. Telepsychology, has numerous benefits, especially during emergency situations. However, concerns regarding efficacy, therapeutic alliance, and the digital divide have contributed to psychologists' unwillingness to use telepsychology. Evidence suggests that efficacy and therapeutic alliance is comparable between telepsychology and in-person services. Simple evidence-based adjustments to therapeutic practice can optimise videoconsultations and increase the effectiveness of telepsychology. Despite the rapid change to videoconsultations, evidence suggests that Australian psychologists need not be concerned about clinical efficacy or therapeutic alliance related to telepsychology. However, it is acknowledged that transitioning to telehealth models of care is disruptive. Conclusion: This paper can assist clinicians in selecting appropriate clients for telepsychology, increase effectiveness and mitigate risks. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Research supports the clinical efficacy and establishment of therapeutic alliance related to telepsychology services and highlights that concerns regarding the digital divide need to be evidence-based, not based on assumptions. As outlined in this paper, it is important to consider client suitability and ethical considerations prior to delivering telepsychology services. The adaptations to psychological techniques, as highlighted in this paper, can increase the effectiveness of videoconsultations. What this topic adds: An examination of common concerns related to videoconsultations including: efficacy, therapeutic alliance and the digital divide. A practical evidence-based checklist for pre-therapy videoconsultation considerations. An evidence-based checklist of practice adaptations that can increase effectiveness in videoconsultation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay discusses the relationship between film and psychological trauma from the perspective of the history of science. It examines how the psychological sciences were influenced by image technology, primarily after the two world wars. Taking a closer look at the development of film production and mental imagery experiments as cultural and scientific institutions, this essay examines the challenges psychologists began to face when the paradigm of the trauma film was established in the pursuit of positivist evidence informed by mechanical objectivity. Over the past century, psychological trauma have been explained through the lens of psychiatric sciences and literary critics. However, they were not evenly emphasized and experimental psychology became the mainstream institution to manage trauma in clinical settings. This essay argues that explanations of trauma in the past century have been interdisciplinary. The limitations of trauma-related brain sciences could be ameliorated by re-emphasizing narratives explored in films produced for artistic or moral, rather than scientific, purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To survey the use of alcohol, and its correlates by mental health professions in China, a nation where there is rapid increase in alcohol consumption and problems. Methods As a part of a large-scale, nation-wide online survey of healthcare professionals, we collected demographic variables and other health-related variables anonymously. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C) was used to collect data on alcohol use. Results 13,980 mental health professionals completed the survey (4382 doctors, 9339 nurses and 259 clinical psychologists), representing 64% of the total targeted. Respondents were predominantly female (75.1%). Alcohol consumption was reported by 41.8% of participants (by 53.9% of doctors, 36.2% of nurses and 40.5% of clinical psychologists). Based on the cut-off scores of the AUDIT-C (≥3 for women and ≥4 for men), 7.5% were classified as probable alcohol misusers in the past year, and the rates were 10.2% in doctors, 6.3% in nurses and 5.8% in clinical psychologists. Multiple logistic regression showed that male sex (OR = 3.772; CI = 3.206–4.439), being a doctor (OR = 1.259; CI = 1.052–1.506), being divorced or widowed (OR = 1.979; CI = 1.467–2.666), having an associate degree or less (OR = 1.809; CI = 1.040–3.147), working in Northeast China (OR = 1.538; CI = 1.281–1.848) and the habit of smoking (OR = 3.345; CI = 2.280–3.967) were significantly associated with alcohol misuse. Conclusions Alcohol use and misuse were relatively common among mental health professionals in China, and male sex, being a doctor, with lower education, working in Northeast China and cigarette smoking were significant associations. Awareness and interventions are recommended to promote healthier use of alcohol in this professional group, especially among risk subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is a gap in the literature regarding the experiences of newly qualified Clinical Psychologists (NQCPs) working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the National Health Service (NHS). This paper aims to explore three aspects of newly qualified Clinical Psychologists' experiences: their transition and development; working in multi-disciplinary teams located in large organisations; and support and coping in the role. Design/methodology/approach: Seven participants each engaged in one semi-structured interview, and an interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted. Findings: Three super-ordinate themes emerged from the analysis: A big jump, the transition from trainee to NQCP; The support of home comforts, old and new; and Acknowledging and desiring ongoing development. Originality/value: Implications and recommendations for both Clinical Psychology training programmes and NHS employers are discussed, to support the development and wellbeing of this staff group, and in turn the clinical population they serve. These include gradually increasing caseloads on training, a staggered workload at the outset of the transition, and CAMHS teams ensuring appropriate supervision for NQCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatic psychology is a powerful tool to address clinical dissociative disorders. Somatic modalities offer interventions to manage intense effect, offer corrective experience and build a coherent self-narrative. Using physical movement helps facilitate safety, strength and connection in dissociative disorder treatment. Clinicians can facilitate somatic regulation of dissociated experience by using somatic-based interventions with clients, therefore helping patients to re-pattern traumatic experiences and maladaptive coping strategies. Using case study examples from this author's in-office experience treating patients with dissociative disorders using movement, this paper will address how bringing movement interventions into the treatment room addresses integration of psychological and physical systems. It will also discuss the foundations of somatic psychology and outline how somatic processing is important to the integration of insight and reconnection with the client's sense of self as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The primary aim of this research was to explore the relationship between burnout and depression among Australian psychologists, and to investigate the role of self-compassion in this relationship. Method: A sample of 248 psychologists (average 41 years old; 81.1% female) currently working in Australia completed an on-line survey including measures of burnout (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory), depression (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), and self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form). Results: In total 69 psychologists (27.8%) met criteria for burnout, while 42 (16.9%) reported at least mild depressive symptoms. Burnout and depression were significantly associated with each other (r =.44), while negative medium associations were found between self-compassion and burnout and depression (r =.48), respectively. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed self-compassion moderated the relationship between burnout and depression; psychologists with high levels of burnout and low to moderate levels of self-compassion reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The current results indicate that self-compassion may act as a protective factor against the effects of depression and burnout. Given elevated burnout and depressive symptoms reported by Australian psychologists, the development and promotion of self-compassion focused self-care practices for psychologists may be beneficial and warrants further research. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Burnout and depression are highly prevalent among psychologists. Self-compassion is associated with enhanced psychological health and well-being. Self-compassion can buffer against negative states. What this topic adds: Psychologists who are more self-compassionate experience lower levels of burnout and depressive symptoms. For psychologists with high levels of burnout, the practice of self-compassion can significantly lower the severity of depressive symptoms experienced. Self-compassion may be a useful self-care tool to reduce psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The ability to tolerate uncertainty has been identified as a necessary capacity in healthcare workers. This study aims to explore experiences of uncertainty and coping among practicing psychologists. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 participants. A critical realist approach was employed and thematic analysis utilised. Results: Participants identified perceived causes of uncertainty which included, complex and risky clients, lack of therapeutic engagement and ethical dilemmas. Participants experienced primarily negative physiological, emotional and cognitive responses to uncertainty. Coping behaviours included seeking supervision, focusing on oneself, focusing on client-related activities, and avoiding clients associated with uncertainty. Experiences of uncertainty were noted to change over time. Conclusions: This paper supports the need to better understand how psychologists can be supported to manage uncertainty and its effects on professional practice. The role of training and supervision models in promoting strategies to support psychologists' tolerance of uncertainty is highlighted. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: The phenomenon of "uncertainty tolerance" as it relates to healthcare professionals is the focus of an expanding body of research, and has been linked with level of stress and risk of burnout in medical trainees. The importance of uncertainty tolerance has been identified in practicing psychology literature. Psychology practice frequently involves the challenges or probability, ambiguity, and complexity. There is a dearth of empirical studies specific to how practicing psychologist's experience and respond to uncertainty, and how this may change over time. What this topic adds: The experience of uncertainty was very common within this practicing psychologist group, suggesting it is a significant workplace challenge and/or stressor for practicing psychologists. Participants in this study experienced primarily negative physiological, emotional and cognitive responses to uncertain clinical situations. Participants reporting using supervision to cope with uncertainty and that their experiences of uncertainty changed over time. Recommendations regarding the role of supervision in supporting psychologists in their experiences of uncertainty, and the need for training programs to provide professional socialisation to uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to derive an empirically based definition of cultural sensitivity (CS) using psychologists as participants. In Study 1, nine psychologists were interviewed and asked how they conceptualized CS. Based on the results from Study 1, a survey was created for Study 2 and completed by psychologists (n= 142). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine if the conceptualizations of CS derived from Study 1 were a good fit. In Study 1, three emergent themes were identified regarding how psychologists conceptualized CS: awareness, cultural case conceptualization, and idiographic sensitivity. Results from Study 2 supported CS as a three-dimensional construct. Findings did not suggest that psychologists conceptualized CS as discrete group categorization. Shifts in immigration patterns, legislation, and societal trends indicate that a shift is needed whereby clients are viewed as individuals as opposed to as members of the cultural group to which they belong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses that the pandemic that the SARS-COV-2 virus has unleashed in its wake has impacted all our lives, disrupting long established habits and reorganizing work routines and priorities professionally. It mentions tat this is professional version of the adaptive challenges faced by so many of our fellow citizens who encounter disruption to their working lives.

Psychologists working with persons with vision impairment face unique challenges in providing psychological services, including mental health care and cognitive assessments. While existing competency guidelines for general disability and rehabilitation psychology are relevant to working with persons with vision impairment in many ways, specific competencies are needed. Previous psychological research into the provision of therapy for persons with vision impairment has focused mainly on communication and intervention strategies and lacks input from the vision-impaired community. This qualitative study, grounded in disability, rehabilitation psychology, and competency frameworks aimed to identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for psychologists working with persons with vision impairment. Through triangulating responses from both registered psychologists (N = 10) and persons with vision impairment (N = 5), a thematic analysis identified 29 competencies under six major themes, including: Expertise, Impact, Approach, Collaboration, Assessment, and Flexibility. Competencies were discretely categorized as knowledge, skills, or attitudes. This study provides data that may be used as the basis for more rigorous research into identifying areas for vision impaired-specific competency-based training in undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional psychology curricula. Whilst competencies for disability and rehabilitation psychology already exist, the competencies for psychologists working with persons with vision impairment require updating, informed by both practitioners and clients with vision impairment. These competencies include: knowledge of eye conditions and pathologies; knowledge of the variation in impact of vision loss; general knowledge about vision loss and normal lifespan development; and, the ability to assess the specific impact of vision loss on the individual. Other skills and attitudes, such as oral communication skills and relaying hope and optimism, whilst necessary for all therapeutic encounters, may require particular modification when working with vision-impaired persons. Educators responsible for professional postgraduate courses in psychology should ensure that training incorporates an understanding of the need to modify approaches for particular groups of clients, such as those with vision impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research has identified that workplace bullying is a significant problem within health care, with health-care trainees at particular risk. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of workplace bullying from the perspectives of trainee clinical psychologists. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 14 trainee clinical psychologists recruited from British universities participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The analysis generated four main themes: workplace bullying "activating threat responses", the process of trainee clinical psychologists "making sense of bullying", "difficulties navigating power within the system" when experiencing and reporting bullying and "finding safety and support" within and outside of work contexts. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first known study of workplace bullying specifically within clinical psychology. The research has implications for guidance for training institutions and professional bodies associated with trainee mental health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of infectious disease outbreaks on mental health among health care workers is wellestablished. Minimal research has focused on health care trainees' well-being, especially during unprecedented events such as the 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Trainees are vulnerable to inherent power and resource differentials, which may exacerbate stress. The present study used a mixed methods approach to examine mental health symptoms, perceived safety, and ongoing and desired support among a national sample of psychology interns, psychology intern and postdoctoral trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 400). Participants reported clinically elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants working on-site who felt that their health or safety was at risk reported more anxiety symptoms. Most common workplace safety concerns included inadequate protection against risk and face-to-face patient care requirements. Trainees desired more support, better communication, more remote work and telehealth options, and flexibility in training requirements. Themes also emerged related to supervisor pressure and disregard of trainees' concerns. Results have significant implications for the training environment and quality of patient care. Increased support of psychology trainees is vital during the current and potential future public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored how psychologists and psychiatrists working in Australian youth mental health services constructed their professional identity, and whether and how implementing Open Dialogue transformed this. Nine clinicians (psychologists, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists) were interviewed after completing Open Dialogue training. Interviews were subjected to discourse analysis. First, two general pre‐existing discursive professional identity positions were constructed: (i) psychiatrists rhetorically distancing themselves from the medical model as 'fixers' of mental illness; and (ii) psychologists and psychiatrists rhetorically embracing their personal identity. Second, participants' responses about implementing Open Dialogue revealed opportunities and discomforts, including: (i) dialogical approaches offering psychiatrists an alternative identity to 'fixers'; and (ii) dialogical approaches generating discomfort at the risk of exposing participants' own vulnerability. Participants' professional identities comprised contrasting positions. Practitioner points: Clinicians' professional identities comprised contrasting positionsClinicians constructed their professional identities by othering themselves from perceived dominant professional paradigmsClinicians incorporated dialogical approaches into existing clinical work after being exposed to Open DialogueClinicians identified Open Dialogue as offering opportunities to construct alternative professional identitiesClinicians appeared uncomfortable with dialogical approaches in situations of high risk within risk‐averse settings [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With high levels of burnout, turnover, and secondary traumatic stress, the well-being of the behavioral health workforce was an area of concern prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. How the COVID-19 crisis has impacted social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other behavioral health professionals is unclear but should be examined. A brief survey evaluated the impact of the pandemic on the well-being of 168 behavioral health clinical and administrative staff serving in an urban behavioral health center in the United States. Staff experienced several personal and organizational-related challenges related to work–life balance, emotional distress, and organizational communication. Nevertheless, staff found an abundance of positive experiences when engaging with clients. Supportive, positive feedback and statements of appreciation from clients, colleagues, and supervisors helped staff to feel at their best. The well-being of behavioral health staff may be facilitated by consistent and supportive communication at the team, supervisory, and organizational levels and by involving staff in planning agency policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the participating psychologists' experiences with compassion fatigue, and to identify individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors and strategies perceived as contributing or protecting in relation to compassion fatigue. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with eight psychologists (three men and five women) with more than five years of experience in clinical practice. The interviews were analyzed with thematic analysis, generating five themes. These were organizational and task specific factors which the participants felt contributed to their compassion fatigue ("mission impossible" and "emotional strain"), experiences of compassion fatigue ("consequences"), interpersonal factors that were perceived as contributing or protecting ("interpersonal factors"), and individual factors that were perceived as protecting ("shielding and strengthening factors"). It was found that all of the participants had experienced negative impact of compassion fatigue on their personal lives. A large quantity of patients, and complex patient cases, as well as high expectations on the psychologists were experienced as contributing factors. Collegial support, an empathetic boss, a high degree of agency at work, and fulfiling activities outside of work were experienced as protecting against compassion fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the causal beliefs about schizophrenia of non‐psychiatric doctors and whether differential belief in biogenetic vs. psychosocial causes influences doctors' views about treatments and prognosis. Design and methods: Three hundred and five non‐psychiatric doctors working in outpatient community centres completed the 'Opinions on mental disorders Questionnaire' after reading a clinical description of people with schizophrenia. Results: The factors most frequently reported as causes of schizophrenia were heredity (65.2%) and use of street drugs (54.1%). Seventy‐five per cent of participants endorsed both one or more biological causal factors and one or more psychosocial causal factors. Of the 264 participants who expressed their opinion about the most important cause of schizophrenia, 53.8% indicated a biogenetic cause. Fifty‐two per cent of respondents thought it 'completely true' that drugs are useful in schizophrenia, and 33.9% thought it 'completely true' that people with schizophrenia must take drugs all their life. Participants stating that the most important cause was biogenetic more frequently recommended a psychiatrist and less frequently a psychologist. Compared to doctors who indicated a psychosocial cause as the most important one, those who indicated a biogenetic cause were more sceptical about recovery, more confident in the usefulness of drugs, and more convinced of the need of lifelong pharmacological treatments in schizophrenia. Conclusions: These findings suggest the need to provide some doctors with training on the multiple, interacting causes of schizophrenia and the efficacy of the broad range of available treatments. The education of health professionals regarding stigma and its effects on clinical practice is also needed. Practitioner points: Viewing schizophrenia as mainly due to a biological cause is associated with greater confidence in the usefulness of drugs, higher belief in the need for lifelong pharmacological treatments, and greater prognostic pessimism.Belief in a biologically oriented model of schizophrenia may lead doctors to underestimate the value of psychologists.Prognostic pessimism among doctors may negatively influence clinical decisions, the information doctors provide to their clients, and clients' own beliefs about their chances of recovery.Belief in the need for lifelong pharmacological treatments in schizophrenia may lead doctors to resist drug withdrawal in case of severe side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a heuristic framework that links several key aspects of the psychological models of John Bowlby, Heinz Kohut, and Murray Bowen, generating insight into an underlying set of isomorphic patterns in the shaping and reshaping of the self. This theoretical matrix of interlocking perspectives can facilitate our understanding of the formation – and promote the transformation – of selves as they engage within their familial and social worlds. The first section introduces some of these three authors' key theoretical and therapeutic contributions and provides our rationale for linking some of their ideas and intervention strategies. The second section offers a brief review of earlier attempts at partial integration of these theories and describes the distinctiveness of our proposal. The third section outlines our proposed heuristic framework, which identifies some of the underlying structural similarities in the formation of the self, described in different ways and with varying emphases by these three scholars. Finally, we briefly explore some of the implications of the model for producing clinical insights into distinctive pathways for the transformation of the self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this 2020 SCP Presidential Address amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and global uprisings against anti-Black racism, Anneliese Singh reflects on the potentialities of liberation for all counseling psychologists in every setting in which they labor. In doing so, she invites the embodiment and practices of liberation as a key value of counseling psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bias toward those with mental disorders is pervasive and consequential. We examined bias at the level of mental representation. Clinicians (comprised of graduate students in training and their supervisors; N = 34) and laypeople (comprised of undergraduate students; N = 64; Mage = 18.58; 75.0% female-identified) completed a reverse correlation procedure to generate images of their mental representations of people with stigmatized mental health conditions (i.e., schizophrenia, suicide, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]). Compared to laypeople, graduate student clinicians and supervisors generated more positive representations of all mental health conditions. However, relative to their representation of ADHD, graduate student clinicians' and supervisors' representations of suicide and schizophrenia were dehumanizing, cold, and threatening. These representations were as negative as those of laypeople, which were undifferentiated and uniformly negative. Graduate student clinicians' and supervisors' representations of suicide were especially negative and occasionally more negative than representations of schizophrenia. Although graduate student clinicians' and supervisors' mental representations of psychopathology were both more positive and complex than those of laypeople, their relatively negative mental representations of severe psychopathology suggest they may harbor subtle biases against some stigmatized mental health conditions. The negative evaluations of graduate student clinicians' and supervisors' mental representations of suicide attempters suggest that suicide is still stigmatized among potential care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageism is a problem in aging societies. Clinical psychologists and undergraduate psychology students have shown negative attitudes toward older adults. However, no specific measure against ageist myths in the psychotherapeutic context is available. This study aims to develop and present the psychometric properties of the Ageist Myths about Psychotherapy Questionnaire (AMPQ). These issues were examined by surveying 222 psychology graduates at higher education institutions about their attitudes and behaviors concerning psychotherapy with older adults, negative stereotypes toward aging, and attitudes toward dementia. Using principal components analysis, 10 items were retained and one factor was obtained with an acceptable reliability index. Significant associations were found between the AMPQ and negative stereotypes toward aging, and attitudes toward dementia. Results revealed that universities and colleges with psychology programs have an ageist bias. Implications for college formation in aging, and older adults with mental health problems, are discussed and presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using our professional experiences with natural disaster relief, as well as existing theory, the authors introduce an equity-oriented framework – Social Justice Disaster Relief, Counseling, and Advocacy. We then present the case of the 2017 Northern California wildfires using responses from 259 individuals who were living in the region of the Northern California wildfires – the most destructive fires in California state history. We collected qualitative and demographic data on each participant 3 months after the fires ended. Qualitative data included detailed written reflections to a prompt from each participant in response to an online questionnaire. A thematic analysis using open, axial, and selective coding was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the context, circumstances, and outcomes of recurring themes, concepts, categories, and their relationship to core themes. Results reveal six themes including: loss and displacement; physical and psychological impact; exploitation; social inequities against vulnerable communities; community strengths and support; and the need for support and services. The themes highlight essential directions for Counseling Psychologists working with survivors of a natural disaster. We offer recommendations for training, theory, counseling, and research, as a means for supporting and advocating for clients psychologically, socially, and emotionally in the context of a natural disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited Australian research investigating health practitioner knowledge and/or confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Method: Ninety-three health practitioners from four professional groups (primary health practitioners, psychologists, mental health practitioners, and alternative therapies) completed a 34-item online survey comprising questions designed to identify participant knowledge of disorders described in the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities and the Therapy Confidence Scale-Intellectual Disabilities. Results: Participants demonstrated low knowledge of symptomology and were "moderately confident" to "confident" working with people with IDs. Whilst professional group showed a significant main effect on confidence levels, post-hoc analysis did not detect significant differences between the individual professional groups. Conclusions: Australian participants demonstrated confidence, but low knowledge, in treating individuals with IDs. The development of training to address deficits in practitioner knowledge of symptomology, assessment, and assessment-based communication is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different forms of reading and writing can have therapeutic effects and therefore beneficially are incorporated into mental health care. In Swedish mental health care such incorporation is not established but the field is gaining increased interest. In this study, five psychologists in Swedish mental health care who incorporate reading and writing in their clinical work were interviewed about how they incorporate such activities and how they perceive reading and writing in terms of patient recovery. An Interpretative Phenomenological analysis resulted in the following themes: New perspectives, The psychologists' perceptions, Shared symbols, Freedom to express oneself, and Safety through structure. The results show a need for flexibility in clinical work; since unique individuals express themselves in different ways, practitioners should be encouraged to offer patients opportunities for creative expression. It is suggested that reading and writing need to be established as valid and easily identifiable interventions in Swedish mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the UK, wide‐ranging efforts have been made to enhance citizen access to psychological therapy. Clinical psychologists are key providers of and gatekeepers for therapy. This article is concerned with how clinical psychologists foster access (or not) to psychological care. More specifically, it interrogates how psychologists manage, and make decisions around, patient referrals. Following a referral, psychologists must resolve an uncertain situation: should they accept a referral and continue with an assessment? Thereafter, they must decide whether a patient is suitable for their service – and for therapy more generally. Certainty is synthesised against a backdrop of sometimes powerful pressures to meet service targets. Taking cues from medical sociology and science and technology studies (STS), this article interrogates some of the uncertainties around access to psychological therapy, and how decisions made by clinical psychologists involve negotiations of patient, service and professional ontologies. To do so, it draws on interviews with 40 psychologists across England and Scotland. The paper spotlights a professional group that is often absent from or only dimly lit within sociological observation and analysis: clinical psychology. Through attending to the discourses of psychologists, I extend conversations about uncertainty through a distinctive case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Psychologists find it difficult to balance their clients' and society's interests when these interests differ from each other, such as when their clients pose a risk of harm to others. Society's increasing preoccupation with harm makes their task even more difficult. The first aim with this article is to determine the reactions of those who make, enforce, and use law to address society's concerns and how they impact on psychologists. The second aim is to propose how the profession can assist psychologists deal with the competing demands prompted by these reactions. Method: A legal‐ethical analysis was used to identify the reaction of governments, the judiciary, and investigators, followed by a proposal setting out how the profession could assist psychologists respond to the reaction of these entities. Results: Society sets high privacy standards, but has paradoxically simultaneously been weakening its protection of aspects of individuals' privacy. Governments, the judiciary, and investigators for instance expect psychologists to play a more active role in protecting individuals, property, and the public from harm. This makes it difficult for psychologists to determine how to balance their clients' and society's interests while maintaining their trust. The situation requires the profession to help psychologists manage these challenges. Conclusions: The profession and psychologists run the risks of losing the trust of society and/or the public or sections thereof if they do not find the appropriate balance between these societal expectations and their clients' autonomy and privacy. The profession can and should assist psychologists manage this challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]