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The author challenges the emotional contagion theory and proposes an alternative of emotional autonomy. He critiques how the contagion theory is faulty logic because it assumes different individuals may experience identical emotions, rather than each having their own phenomenological experience even though the outward signs may look similar. A way of ascertaining individual experiences of emotions is suggested, followed by an example of the experiences of pain, before the conclusion that we should adopt within the literature the assumptions of emotional autonomy.

This article seeks to advance our understanding of empty chair work as a therapeutic procedure. What does the empty chair represent and more importantly what is in the empty chair when used in psychotherapy? This article seeks to answer this question. There are also many ways of doing the psychological process of empty chair work without having an actual chair in front of the client. And a multitude of objects and people can be put into the chair. Also a variety of therapeutic uses of the empty chair are described.

It is concluded that redecision therapy is a form of exposure therapy. Whilst redecision therapy has much wider goals than exposure therapy, the Gouldings created a potent form of exposure therapy that forms part of the process of redecision. There is a very large body of research evidence verifying the efficacy of exposure therapy as a treatment for trauma and PTSD especially. This article shows how redecision therapy is an exposure therapy and then how exposure therapy can assist in reintegrating the split off fragments of the personality that are formed in the schizoid process.

Optimising energy use in systems and buildings is crucial to reduce climate change. This paper aims to address the gap in knowledge for pico-hydropower (

This article is an examination of what hard and soft contracts are, how they impact the psychotherapy process differently, and especially how they impact the unconscious and the type of unconscious material each type of contract will tend to elicit. This in turn has considerable effects on what happens in the therapy room. The two types of contracts create a different ambience and climate in which the psychotherapy can occur. This article explains what the two different approaches are and how they can be dealt with by the therapist.

The life script heptagon, developed by the author, is described to show how seven elements, all seven aspects of human personality – behaviour, feelings, thoughts, body holding patterns, habits, beliefs and attitudes, and early decisions – fit together geometrically so that they reinforce and support each other and make it hard for people to change their life scripts. These elements are then related to the ways in which different psychotherapies tend to work with them, and explanations are given of why the geometric nature of the model means that several aspects need to change because otherwise the remaining elements are reinforcing the unhelpful patterns. Editorial Note: This is an example of the saying ‘great minds think alike’ – this version of a heptagon was being developed over several years and the author was unaware that Benedetti, Benelli and Zanchetta (2020) had been developing a similar geometrical shape with different elements. Benedetti et al. were also unaware that the version described in this article was being developed. (Benedetti et al article is in this journal, Vol. 11, Issue 1 at https://doi.org/10.29044/v11i1p13)

This paper examines some of the main writings about deconfusion of the Child in the transactional analysis literature. It seeks to show how each approach defines the goals of deconfusion and the methods by which deconfusion is obtained. In doing this it clarifies the three methods which Berne proposed could be used for such deconfusion. It also attempts to show how redecision therapy adds to the literature on the topic, which to the writer's knowledge has not been done before.

This article is about suicide and relationships. How suicidal thoughts and behaviours can impact relationships for the suicidal person and those around them. This includes relationships between the suicidal person and other suicidal people as well as the suicidal person and others who are non-suicidal. How the suicidal can impact the other and how the other in turn then impacts the suicidal person back. What effects they have on each other in terms of how they think and feel and then how that effects their transactions with each other. More specifically it examines suicide clusters, suicide pacts, suicidality in the therapeutic relationship and suicidality in family relationships.