bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Philosophical Underpinnings of Counselling Psychology
Authors: van Deurzen-Smith Emmy
Published: January 2023

Because I have so little time in which to tackle such a basic and important issue I shall limit myself to sketching the fundamental contradictions and pitfalls that are to be found underneath the smooth presentations of this new discipline of counselling psychology. It seems to me all the more important to take this opportunity to ask some pertinent questions and challenge some of the preconceptions around the aims and objectives of counselling psychology as it will be tempting for most of us to launch headlong into the professionalization of the field in order to achieve credibility. In making these few remarks I shall therefore speak from the perspective of the philosopher as defined by Wittgenstein in his Philosophical Investigations, where he declares that “the work of a philosopher consists in assembling reminders for a particular purpose” (Wittgenstein, 1953). My purpose will be clear in a minute.
Methodological Paper: Making methodological choice in qualitative counselling research
Authors: West William
Published: January 2023

Content and Focus

In this paper I explore the vexed question of how we choose a suitable methodology when undertaking qualitative research in counselling psychology. Drawing on computing I put forward an algorithm in the form of a set of questions to help make the decision. These include the volume, quality and analysis of the expected data, and the role of the researcher and researcher’s own data within some of the commonly used methodologies. Finally I suggest that it is well worth slowly repeating these decision making processes, (iteration) until the outcome is clear.
Editorial What is a systematic review?
Authors: Hanley Terry , Cutts Laura
Published: January 2023

Content & Focus

This Special Edition of Counselling Psychology Review is focused on systematic reviews. Whilst considering the topic for the editorial to begin this Special Edition, we considered one overarching question to be of fundamental importance to attempt to tackle: What is a systematic review? We decided to have this as the focus of the editorial in part as a result of discussions with colleagues (both trainee and qualified psychologists) whose awareness of the answers to the following questions proved limited: What is a systematic review?; Why are they conducted?; and What does one look like? Following a brief introduction focused on the history and context surrounding the systematic review, we have, therefore, aimed to address each of these questions in turn. To end this initial section of the editorial, we provide readers with a check list of possible sections contained within a systematic review. The aim of this is to hopefully elaborate on the definitions and the discussions already considered, in order to help the reader more clearly understand what a systematic review really is. Following this we provide an overview of the seven papers incorporated into this Special Edition. Five of these provide very practical examples of the factors noted below in action while two provide further methodological reflections around the use of such research designs.
Theoretical Paper The ethical considerations of counselling psychologists working with trauma: Is there a risk of vicarious traumatisation?
Authors: Iqbal Amirah
Published: January 2023

Content & Focus

This paper will discuss the importance of professional and ethical guidelines for both Qualified Counselling Psychologists and Counselling Psychologists in Training when working in the field of trauma. It will also explore some of the challenges therapists may face when taking these guidelines into account. This paper will present a case vignette on how vicarious traumatisation may present, as well as how it may affect therapists before moving on to discussing how for some people trauma can lead to vicarious resilience. This paper questions if it should be compulsory to introduce trauma awareness courses prior to psychologists working with trauma survivors or within professional training programmes and concludes with suggestions of how therapists may prevent and/or manage vicarious trauma including the importance of self-care.
Research Paper
Authors: Maureen McIntosh , Skyes Catherine
Published: January 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to understand the older adults’ subjective experiences of the therapy process.

Methods

Nine older adults aged 68 to 82 years old volunteered to talk about their experiences of receiving Psychological Therapy within a secondary care service. A Constructivist Grounded theory method and unstructured interviews were used to capture their retrospective accounts.

Results

The Grounded Theory analysis revealed categories and themes which produced a theory that explained the process of therapy for these older adults. The data yielded a core category of ‘moving towards equanimity’, which included four main categories (also 19 sub-categories): (1) sensing continuity and discontinuity within an ageing ‘self’, (2) embodying an awareness of an ageing changing ecology, (3) cultivating a therapeutic relationship, and connecting with wholeness and a new perspective (see figure 1.0).

Conclusions

The core category can be understood as contributing to the participants changing and regaining emotional stability, mental calm and balance. The therapy process moved them towards equanimity by bringing the story of the ‘self’ to a unified whole (Polkinghorne, 1991). A good working alliance allowed the older adult to re-integrate the ‘self’, so that their balance and sense of ‘continuity’ could be renewed (Williams, 1984, p.178). This research provides a rich narrative which strengthens theory and ‘clinical practice links’ (Llewellyn & Hardy, 2001, p.14) and could be used as a procedural approach to look more closely at the therapy journey (Smith & Grawe, 2003). Examining process in therapy and the meaning for older adults positions the client in ‘their social and cultural settings’ (Katz & Mishler, 2003, p.35). It also ‘gives voice’ (Willig, 2001, p.12) to individuals who can often encounter difficulties with being heard.
Counselling psychologists’ experience of the death of a terminally ill client: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Palmieri Francesca
Published: January 2023

Backgrounds/aims:

Counselling psychologists’ experiences of the death of a terminally ill client are substantially under-researched even though they are well positioned to work in this area and previous literature indicates that this might be an important area. The present study has aimed to explore how counselling psychologists make sense of their lived experiences of client death. Two subsidiary aims were to explore what drew counselling psychologists to work with terminally ill clients, and to explore their experiences in terms of personal and professional growth.

Method:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven counselling psychologists who had experienced the death of a terminally ill client. Their accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), a qualitative methodology that attempts to illuminate the lived experience of a phenomenon among a small sample of individuals.

Findings:

Three main superordinate themes emerged from the data: (1) Working within the dying space (working when the client outcome is death); (2) Heightened emotional arousal (the raw emotions of working with the existential crisis of death); and (3) Dynamics between professional and personal identity (conflicting aspects of the two identities).

Discussion:

This study suggests that counselling psychologists experienced challenges in the complex dynamics between their personal and professional identities, such as ethical dilemmas about whether to attend a funeral and how to set boundaries. Future research could usefully investigate intrinsic motivation to work in this field to support the recruiting of counselling psychologists to work in this area.
Reflections on supporting the resilience of a social care workforce through an ACT-based intervention
Authors: Supple Sarah , Snell Amber , Doorn Katie Aafjes-van , Liu Alina , Kamsteeg Céline
Published: January 2023

The Suffolk Family Focus Psychology Service have evaluated an ACT-based group to support resilience of the Suffolk County Council’s Children and Young Peoples’ Service workforce. This paper shares reflections on the challenges of setting up, running, and evaluating such a group, discusses the construct of ‘resilience’ in Social Care and thinks about the implications for future interventions and research.
The impact of the Mellow Parenting programme on later measures of childhood verbal IQ
Authors: Allely Clare S. , Puckering Christine , Mills Maggie , Cox Anthony D. , Evans Janneke , Maddox Hilary
Published: January 2023

Aim(s):Development of language is one of the most remarkable and pivotal achievements in early childhood with the majority of children learning to talk by the age of three years. Good language development has major social and academic advantages. Poor language development puts them at an increased risk of behaviour problems, psychiatric disorders, and later educational failure. However, as many as 20 per cent of parents in the UK have concerns over their children’s speech and language development. Early childhood is the most effective and cost-efficient time to ensure that all children develop their full potential.

Method/Rationale:The present study investigated the impact of an evaluated parenting programme, Mellow Parenting, delivered when the child was aged between 3 and 5 years on verbal IQ using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), and compared the findings to a control group who experienced Care as Usual in nearby nurseries.

Findings:The Mellow Parenting programme resulted in a 7.89 point increase in verbal IQ by the target group, sustained over 18 months, using the WPPSI. No such effect was seen in a contrast group, who experienced Care as Usual in nearby nurseries. The programme aims to help them make changes in their relationships including increasing positive parent-child interaction.

Conclusions:The present study found that the group intervention, contrasted with Care as Usual in neighbouring family centres, resulted in a clinically significant improvement in the children’s verbal IQ of a magnitude to enable them to enter the school system with age appropriate verbal skills.
‘Only the wind hears you…’ The experiences of Pakistani girls in a primary school: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Rizwan Rubia , Williams Antony
Published: January 2023

The experiences of Pakistani pupils at school are little documented. This article introduces findings from an interpretive phenomenological study that investigated the experiences of a group of Year 6 pupils from a Pakistani cultural background. The interest in exploring the Pakistani experience is timely, as tensions within the current social context have led to the emergence of the term ‘Islamophobia’ (Sheridan, 2006). While the meaning and usefulness of the term islamophobia remains contested, the rising everyday use of such a term reflects a context in which young Pakistani schoolchildren develop a sense of self and seek a sense of place in 21st century Britain.

Semi-structured interviews were carried out with four female primary school pupils from Pakistani backgrounds from Year 6, aged between 10 to 11 years old from the same school. The narratives were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis found seven super-ordinate themes: the emotional experience of learning; the cultural impact of the school curriculum; the importance of enduring friendships; the impact of the segregation between communities; the impact of gendered power struggles; the impact of bullying; and the impact of cultural identity.

This paper reports a particular focus on how experiences of school intersect and are interwoven with other aspects of the lives of young people such as peer relations, home environment and community culture, which are all important in shaping and developing the children’s sense of who they are. The research has highlighted the potential of young people to express themselves and share views and experiences that can be further investigated in order to discover and create methods of organising together to challenge forms of oppression. Implications for service planning and educational psychologists are discussed.
Performing Blackness: Disrupting ’race’ in the classroom
Authors: Abdi Muna
Published: January 2023

This paper looks at the experience and performance of ‘race’ in the classroom, through the narrative of a young Somali man; Ahmed. The paper explores the notion of Blackness and primarily draws on Fanon’s (1967) work on the ‘doubled’ self, Althusser’s (1971) ‘interpellation’, and makes some reference to Judith Butler’s (1990) work on ‘subjection’, to examine the function of racial performativity in the classroom. The paper examines the role of White privilege in the construction of imposed ‘Blackness’ in the classroom, and through an analysis of Ahmed’s narrative, disrupts the racialised discourses of the classroom.
Developing digital approaches for adolescents and young adults with autism and learning disabilities: Tools to facilitate access and shared decision-making
Authors: Bates Karla , Morgan Hannah , Crosby Emily , Nurse Keisha , Flynn Alison , Stern Didi , Baronian Roupen , Kennedy Emma-Kate
Published: January 2023

Aims:Digital living is now an integral part of many children and young people’s (CYP) everyday experience. Practitioners who work with them are increasingly focused on effectively deploying technology to help those with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. Throughout all aspects and phases of work, practitioners must adhere to legal and professional best practice standards in involving service users, person-centred working and in enhancing accessibility for all.

Methods:Measures introduced to reduce the spread of Covid-19 triggered significant service delivery change in a specialist multi-disciplinary child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) team. The majority of assessment and intervention work moved to an online audio and web conferencing platform. A shared decision-making approach was developed to support service user understanding of online appointments and to giving informed consent, in line with the i-THRIVE Framework for system change (Wolpert et al., 2019). Three Guides were developed and distributed ahead of online appointments: written, easy-read and video.

Findings:Data collected within a Quality Improvement (QI) framework indicated that the Guides supported practitioners to prepare service users, as well as themselves, for digital working. The Guides supported service access, collaborative decision-making and increased CYP autonomy. Their introduction also led to conversations about equity and cultural responsiveness, as well as serving as a model for the development of aids to support shared decision-making for autism diagnostic assessments.

Limitations:This paper outlines the first phase of the QI project with a small participant sample and requires further engagement with service users to review the use of Guides and shared decision-making decision aids.

Conclusions:Digital approaches present new possibilities and are rapidly changing service delivery across CAMHS. The importance of involving service users in shared decision-making when developing digital practices must be held in mind as part of this change process.
What are the experiences and practices of educational psychologists when working with and supporting autistic, gender-diverse children and young people?
Authors: Allen-Biddell Dean , Bond Caroline
Published: January 2023

Aims

Research into the nature of educational psychologist (EP) practice when supporting autistic, gender-diverse children and young people (CYP) is within its infancy. This study explores the experiences and practices of five EPs with applied knowledge of work in this emerging area.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted and a reflexive thematic analysis carried out to develop themes.

Findings

Findings highlight distinct areas of practice and challenges faced by participants. In particular, this study highlights the uncertainty and complexity of work in this area with a specific focus upon the intersectionality of autism and gender diversity. The nature of direct work with CYP and support for inclusive schooling practices are also explored alongside current gaps in educational psychology practice in this area.

Limitations

Given the aim of this study to provide an exploratory entry point into the practices of EPs working with this population of young people, the researchers did not aim for representativeness. Therefore, subjective participant experiences cannot be assumed to reflect those of all EPs with applied knowledge in this area.

Conclusions

Implications for research and practice are discussed including the development of resources and guidance within educational psychology services to support practitioners in their work in this area. A discussion of the need for EPs to utilise their knowledge of intersectionality when working with the uncertainty of dual identity casework is provided alongside reflections about the nature of EP work in supporting schools to further develop their inclusive practices.
Systemic practice with older people: Collaboration, community and social movement
Authors: Clayton Mandy , Fredman Glenda , Martin Eleanor , Anderson Eleanor , Battistella Stefania , Johnson Sarah , Milton Alison , Rapaport Penny
Published: January 2023

‘If it doesn’t start personal, it does not start. But if it ends personal then it ends.’

(Pancho Arguelles, 2007)
Reflections on the PSIGE Conference
Authors: Borries Belinda
Published: January 2023

Three local psychologists who received a bursary contribution towards their attendance at the conference from South West PSIGE, provide their different perspectives on their experiences of the event below. They identify both personal and professional reflections, commenting on the aspects of the days which stood out to them.
The Emergence of Clinical Psychology in Britain from 1943 to 1958 Part II: Practice and Research Traditions
Authors: Hall John
Published: January 2023

This paper considers the range of practice and research traditions in clinical psychology that developed in Britain from 1943 to around 1958, and the contexts in which they arose. The earliest and for many years the largest identifiable tradition was that of mental hygiene and child guidance, influenced by the educational background of many psychologists. Three different groups worked at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, representing the influence of Hans Eysenck, Monte Shapiro, and those working at the Medical Research Council Social Psychiatry Unit. A number of the principal investigators at the last Unit (Jack Tizard and Neil O’Connor) worked in the learning disability and autism fields, and so collaborated with the Clarkes at Epsom and Herbert Giinzburg in Birmingham. The two other adult mental health traditions, of the Crichton Royal at Dumfries, and the Tavistock Clinic in London, illustrate very different approaches to both training and practice in this field. The neuropsychology field, led by Oliver Zangwill from Cambridge, was the only other client-group speciality identifiable at that time. Many psychologists worked away from these centres, and the story of this period is of slow development away from London, with more diverse research activity than is often assumed. The influence of key protagonists is discussed, including the role of different groups of doctors in promoting clinical psychology. Opportunities for further and more critical research in this field are outlined.
To Care or to Understand? Women Members of the British Psychological Society 1901–1918
Authors: Valentine Elizabeth R.
Published: January 2023

This paper presents initial data on the sixteen women who were elected to membership of the British Psychological Society between its formation in 1901 and the dramatic expansion of membership in 1919. Born in the second half of the nineteenth century, they came predominantly from middle-class backgrounds. The proportions that married and/or had children, though low by current standards, are higher than those for women academics in general during this period. Most sought further qualifications after their first degree; half were awarded doctorates (again a relatively high proportion). They showed flexibility and diversity in their career paths. They were productive as authors and some at least received due recognition for their work. The most striking feature of the sample is the high proportion (almost half) employed as lecturers in teacher training colleges or university departments of education. This underlines not only the relative accessibility of university teaching as a profession for women in the early twentieth century but also the key role that departments of education played in providing employment opportunities for women in higher education prior to the development of university departments of psychology in Britain.
Rhetorical Aspects of the Contention about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Authors: Pilgrim David
Published: January 2023

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been promoted, in recent years, as the treatment of choice for mental health problems. However, its ascendency has also met with opposition, especially from clinical psychologists unconvinced by its merits. In this article, an explicit link is offered between the history of British empiricism and the emergence of CBT as a professional orthodoxy. After this link is made then a form of rhetorical inquiry is used to explore why that orthodoxy is currently controversial in the context of the professionalization of British clinical psychology. The rhetorical credibility of CBT rests upon notions of simplicity, objectivity and scientific evidence. However, its critics draw attention to its naivety, its lack of respect for diverse needs and its theoretical confusion and inadequacy. This contention is exemplified by the proposals from, and criticisms of, a multi-disciplinary report on ‘depression’, which has underpinned a policy shift involving increased access to psychological therapy in Britain.
Paediatric Bipolar Disorder: Myths, Realities and Consequences
Authors: Burston Daniel
Published: January 2023

Despite a forty-fold increase in the prevalence of the diagnosis of paediatric bipolar disorder in the last decade, the evidence on behalf of its existence is flimsy at best. Nevertheless, child psychiatrists and doctors are using this diagnosis to justify the unprecedented use of multiple pharmacological agents –polypharmacy– with children whose brains are still unformed, despite the fact that these same drugs, which often have dire side effects on adults, have never been tested on children. A historical overview of the emergence of this diagnosis provides considerable grounds for scepticism, and suggests that its popularity derives from the fact that we are seeking individually calibrated chemical solutions to what are in fact systemic social problems.
The ‘Parson’s Clinic’: Religion and Psychology at the Interwar Tavistock Clinic
Authors: Lockhart Alastair
Published: January 2023

Edward Mapother dismissed the Tavistock Clinic as the ‘Parson’s Clinic’, an epithet which has some, but no particular, basis in the personal and institutional strands linking the Clinic to Christian religiosity, though the Clinic’s association with religion as presented in mainstream newspapers may explain the nickname’s pertinence. The prima facie integration of psychology and religion that was achieved at the Clinic, however, went deeper than personal factors or media coverage suggest. It had a working theoretical basis in a metaphysical framework which was inherited from philosophical idealism (and personalism in particular) via the psychologies of James Ward, G.F. Stout and William McDougall. The Tavistock practitioners, notably Hugh Crichton-Miller and James Arthur Hadfield, achieved the integration of psychology with religion by using a specifiable metaphysical system as a mediating discourse.
Bliss in that dawn: The beginnings of operant psychology in the UK
Authors: Dickins David
Published: January 2023

Although the first research in the UK to achieve what amounted to operant conditioning (Grindley, 1932) was published in the same year as Skinner’s pioneer publication no similar procedure seems to have been carried out in Britain until Hurwitz founded an operant laboratory at Birkbeck, (then Birkbeck College), University of London, in the early 1950s, presumably inspired by his meeting with Skinner in 1951, and their subsequent friendship. It certainly was an import from America, fortified by local solutions for providing suitable control equipment. The author was a student of Hurwitz at Birkbeck (1957–1961) and was researching (1961–1964) close by at University College (UCL). There follows a largely biographical account of how operant conditioning, initially mostly in rats, spread around universities in the UK. Many of the people concerned, and others not mentioned, shared their ideas at meetings of the Experimental Analysis of Behaviour Group (EABG) that informally sprang up in the early 1960s, initially without funding or its own journal. In coordination with the later emergence of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA) and its associated journal (European Journal of Behaviour Analysis) the organisation of the EABG has become established in Bangor, and holds regular biennial meetings at University College, London, alternating with those of the EABA in other parts of Europe. The EABG continues to attract many foreign attendees, including from the US, but some of its earlier enthusiasts no longer attend, whilst those attending mostly see themselves as Behaviour Analysts, reflecting changes both in the theory and practice of operant psychology. While operant technology remains a useful tool for those seeking a broad biological and authentic evolutionary understanding of behaviour, the philosophy of operant psychology as an all-encompassing approach to behavioural science has proved divisive.
Super-vision, extra-vision or blind faith? A grounded theory study of the efficacy of coaching supervision
Authors: Passmore Jonathan , McGoldrick Susan
Published: January 2023

Objectives:Coaching supervision has become the dominant model of reflective practice in the UK. This study sought to explore coach and supervisor perceptions of supervision, and critically observe supervision practice.

Design:The study utilised an observational design and semi-structured interviews.

Methods:The study involved an observation of a coaching session, which was filmed, followed by interviews with the participants. This data was transcribed. In the second part of the study a series of semi-structured interviews were undertaken with coaches and supervisors. The data was transcribed and analysed using Grounded Theory methodology until saturation was achieved. The transcribed data was combined in the development of a theoretical framework for coaching supervision.

Results:The study outlines a number of perceived benefits of the coaching supervision process. These outcomes include: raised awareness, coaching confidence, perseverance, sense of belonging, increased professionalism and the development of an ‘internal supervisor’. The research also highlighted the need for a greater understanding of what coaching supervision involves for coaches.

Conclusions:The paper questions the dominant mindset that supervision is the only intervention for reflective practice and argues for multiple models of continuous professional development, alongside calling for further research to identify the benefits from alternative model of CPD within coaching.
Using signature strengths in pursuit of goals: Effects on goal progress, need satisfaction, and well-being, and implications for coaching psychologists
Authors: Linley P. Alex , Nielsen Karina M. , Wood Alex M. , Gillett Raphael , Biswas-Diener Robert
Published: January 2023

Objective:In recent years there has been a growing interest in research related to the use of strengths. Although results from past research have consistently suggested that the use of strengths is associated with higher performance and greater well-being there is, as yet, no clear theory describing how using strengths might contribute to greater well-being or goal progress. The objective of the current research was to test a model of how strengths use may support performance and well-being through an extension of the self-concordance model of healthy goal attainment.

Design:We test a repeated measures cross-sectional model in which using signature strengths is associated with goal progress, which is in turn associated with the fulfilment of psychological needs, and in turn well-being.

Method:Participants were 240 college students who completed measures of psychological strengths, need satisfaction, well-being, goal progress and goal attainment at three time points over a three-month period.

Results:Our results demonstrate that strengths use is associated with better goal progress, which is in turn associated with psychological need fulfilment and enhanced well-being.

Conclusions:Strengths use provides a key support in the attainment of goals, and leads to greater need satisfaction and well-being, providing an extension of the self-concordance model of healthy goal attainment. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
An invitation to personal construct coaching: From personal construct therapy to personal construct coaching
Authors: Stojnov Dusan , Pavlovic Jelena
Published: January 2023

Strong efforts have recently been made in various therapeutic approaches to adapt their clinical procedures and become more suitable for working with healthy and high achieving persons. The main argument of this paper is that Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) stood for a coaching psychology long before the term ‘coaching’ gained popularity. Therefore, a move from Personal Construct Therapy (PCT) to Personal Construct Coaching (PCC) represents a move towards its roots, rather than adaptation to new market demands. In this paper, the main principles of PCC are elaborated and a general framework for practitioners is provided. The paper includes a discussion on key metaphors of the role of the coach and the coachee, the coaching relationship and the reconstruction as a coaching goal. Stages with supporting techniques in PCC are proposed as procedures for reconstruction of personal and organisational stories. In concluding reflections we contemplate upon the benefits of a personal construct psychology framework for coaching.
Signalling a new trend in executive coaching outcome research
Authors: de Haan Erik , Duckworth Anna
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

This contribution argues for a new way of studying executive-coaching outcome. The argument accepts that we are not likely to get rigorous data on coaching outcome from well-designed clinical trials in the near future, and assumes a degree of effectiveness that is based upon the first indications and the more rigorous studies that have been undertaken in psychotherapy. Assuming a moderate degree of effectiveness has afforded a concerted effort amongst researchers to identify the ‘active ingredients’ which predict the effectiveness of executive coaching.

Design/Methodology:

This article contains a detailed overview of the quantitative studies of executive coaching undertaken to date. It covers both the body of evidence which we believe substantiates our key assumption of general effectiveness and some early research findings resulting from using that assumption. It also gives a brief overview of the findings of the more rigorous randomised control trials in psychotherapy outcome. Altogether we believe we have demonstrated that there are sufficient parallels between the new path of coaching outcome research and the well-trodden path of psychotherapy research to enable the exploration of ‘active ingredients’ research in executive coaching.

Results:

By combining the early results in coaching research described in this paper and the overview of meta-analysis studies in the parallel field of psychotherapy, we have been able: (1) to show that – although the effect sizes in coaching are generally found to be smaller than in psychotherapy – it is safe to assume that executive coaching is generally an effective intervention, and: (2) to use that assumption as a basis for further coaching research. We have used this assumption ourselves to carry out research into the ‘active ingredients’ of effective coaching and to design a new research programme on a scale that has not previously been possible.

Conclusions:

It is time now to be creative and pull together the limited resources for research we have in coaching psychology. As a profession we should make the most of this opportunity to discover how we might improve our service to our clients.
Born to be me… who am I again? The development of Authentic Leadership using Evidence-Based Leadership Coaching and Mindfulness
Authors: Kinsler Laura
Published: January 2023

The following paper explores the construct of Authentic Leadership. More specifically it considers pathways to Authentic Leadership development, proposing Evidence-Based Leadership Coaching (EBLC) coupled with mindfulness training as an appropriate approach. While the definition of Authentic Leadership is still being debated amongst academics, what is argued here is that self-awareness and self-regulation are key pillars of Authentic Leadership. EBLC and mindfulness, provide opportunities to enhance self-awareness and self-regulation. They encourage the choice of more self-concordant goals and thereby help a leader align to a more authentic way of being. Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) is used to demonstrate how EBLC can achieve this. Finally it is argued that a company-wide commitment is required to create an ‘authentic organisation’ where a company’s espoused values are aligned to its employees and customers experience.
Discussion paper: Blurred lines: When do we become ‘real’ adults?
Authors: Leech Kate
Published: January 2023

Increasing numbers of young adults are now living at home with their parents. But what psychological effects may this be having? This paper discusses the potential psychological impacts of living at home during these years on identity formation, completion of traditional life events and self-esteem.
Workshop review: Peer review: The nuts and bolts 13 May 2016, Sage Publishing House, London, UK
Authors: Aquino Maria Raisa Jessica (Ryc) , Whitelock Victoria
Published: January 2023

This article summarises and reflects on a peer review workshop hosted by Voice of Young Science and Sense about Science held in Sage Publishing House, London (UK) in May 2016. As editors of the Quarterly, we found this a very informative workshop, and hope that by sharing our experiences, postgraduates will have an increased awareness of peer review, learn a thing or two about the peer review process, and how to begin developing this part of your personal academic profile.
Discussion paper: The importance of psycholinguistic databases for research with children: The case of HelexKids, a Greek word database for children
Authors: Terzopoulos Aris R.
Published: January 2023

Psycholinguistic research with children requires child-specific word databases, as adult word databases are not appropriate for a number of reasons. While some child-specific word databases do exist, they are not available in all languages. This article describes the development of a child-specific word frequency database in Greek. This database, named HelexKids, provides standardised values for word frequency, dispersion and contextual diversity. HelexKids is freely available online for all researchers and educators to use. The advantages of using child-specific databases in research with children and future directions for further development of this database are discussed.
Hints and Tips: The practicalities of planning a research visit during your PhD
Authors: Michelini Giorgia
Published: January 2023

Undertaking a research visit to a different institution provides an excellent opportunity for PhD students to get in touch with new perspectives and research environments. Yet fitting a research visit within doctoral studies may seem like a daunting task, which requires much organisation and planning. This article will focus on why and when students should spend part of their PhD visiting another institution, and give a few practical tips on how to arrange and make the most of this experience.
Hints and Tips: Practical tips for the recruitment and testing of older adults
Authors: Atkinson Amy
Published: January 2023

Research using older adults (typically defined as individuals over 65 years of age) is vital in many areas of psychology. The collection of data from this age group can be rewarding, but also presents unique challenges. This article provides top tips for individuals planning on conducting research with older adults for the first time. This includes the importance of being patient, informative and willing to make adjustments when necessary.
Discussion paper: Inclusive Masculinity Theory: Review and interview with the founder
Authors: Morales Luis Emilio
Published: January 2023

Inclusive masculinity theory (IMT) is a theoretical framework developed by Professor Eric Anderson to understand the cause and implications of liberalising attitudes on males gendered expression. Focal to inclusive masculinity theory is the concept of homohysteria ‐ a multifaceted phenomena that describes a society where homophobia regulates men toward hypermasculinity. In this article, I explain the history behind the construction of masculinities in the US from the late 19th century in periods of homoerasure, high cultural homohysteria, and declining homohysteria. Then, I explain the way by which declining homohysteria is leading to increased emotionality, physical tactility, and acceptance of bisexuality, among straight men in several western contexts. Finally, I interview Professor Anderson about his theory, criticisms of it, and future directions for research.
Could energy drinks be a cause of mental health problems, low academic attainment, and disruptive behaviour?
Authors: Richards Gareth
Published: January 2023

Caffeinated energy drinks have become a cause for concern, with mainstream media accounts relating their usage to undesirable outcomes. My doctoral work aimed to investigate the efficacy of such claims by determining whether energy drink use predicts stress and mental health problems, disruptive behaviour, and low academic attainment. The research took a novel approach by investigating the use of these products both in isolation and in combination with other dietary variables (e.g., cola and chewing gum consumption, breakfast omission). The results suggest that energy drink use is associated with undesirable outcomes in young consumers, and that such relationships could be causal.
To Master or not to Master? Reflections on completing two Master’s degrees
Authors: Smith Jan
Published: January 2023

Personal reflections and assisting others have characterised many of my experiences to date. As a postdoctoral researcher and current Health Psychologist in Training, I decided to reflect on my experiences of completing a MSc in Health Psychology and a MSc in Research Methods in Psychology in order to help and inspire others. I hope that reflecting on my journey will offer some pearls of wisdom for those considering MSc study.
Healthy body and mind: Tips for postgraduate students chained to their desk
Authors: Armstrong Beth
Published: January 2023

Do you spend days chained to your desk without being productive, find it hard to squeeze exercise in to your day or live off chocolate bars and coffee? I have found myself doing all of these, and it was turning into a habit. To kick-start a healthier and more productive routine I asked Mindfulness blogger, Jen Mak who ‘geeks over being productive’ and personal trainer, Eddie Pike to provide some tips on how we can ‘eat, sleep, research, repeat’ while staying happy, healthy, productive and sane(..ish).
Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy (PACT): Research into practice
Authors: Jones Katy
Published: January 2023

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) can now be identified as early as eight months and early interventions such as Pre-school Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) are recommended. The importance of early intervention and the relevant research is highlighted and the current plans to evaluate PACT as a preassessment intervention in North Wales are discussed.
An overview of the load theory of selective attention and cognitive control: How well does the model account for cross-cultural differences?
Authors: Doneva Silviya P.
Published: January 2023

The present discussion focusses on the strengths and limitations of one of the leading theories in the attentional literature – Lavie’s (2004) theory of selective attention and cognitive control. It has gained particular popularity as it solved the ‘early’ versus ‘late’ debate on when attentional selection takes place. However, despite being influential, some findings in the selective attention literature conflict with what the model proposes. This is particularly true when the theory attempts to explain cross-cultural variations in selective attention. The present discussion outlines several reasons to account for the latter, and introduces an alternative model to Lavie’s (2004) theory.
Digit ratio (2D:4D) and beliefs in superstitions, conspiracy theories and the paranormal
Authors: Richards Gareth
Published: January 2023

The 2D:4D ratio is calculated by dividing the length of the second finger by that of the fourth, and is sometimes employed as a proxy indication of prenatal sex hormone exposure. The current study investigated associations between 2D:4D and beliefs in superstitions, conspiracies, and the paranormal, in a sample of 211 university students. Although no significant relationships emerged, positive correlations between 2D:4D and paranormal and superstitious beliefs have previously been reported in the literature, implying that high levels of prenatal oestrogen and/or low levels of prenatal testosterone may be implicated in their development..
Rocks don’t think! A reflection on interdisciplinary studies from a geologist studying psychology
Authors: Gibson Hazel
Published: January 2023

For some interdisciplinary researchers, the gap between your original subject (the one you studied as an undergraduate) and your new one can seem insurmountable at first. As a geologist who has started studying cognitive psychology as part of my PhD, I understand this gap in a very personal way. However, in the course of my studies I have found that, far from being a stumbling block, combining these two very different subjects has given me a better understanding and appreciation of both. This article is based on my reflections of being an interdisciplinary researcher, and the challenges and advantages that it brings.
Women in science – but what will I wear?!
Authors: Silverstein Priya
Published: January 2023

The focus of many ‘women in science’ events and workshops is often on the low percentage of women in higher positions in academia (e.g., assistant and full professors). However, little recognition is given to the issues that may affect these observed differences. For example, the difference in ‘femininity’ required for different academic roles. Here I describe and discuss personal experiences of the benefits and challenges of being female that I have faced in different psychology-based roles. It is then argued that these kinds of experiences may ultimately impact upon career progression for women in science.
From BSc Psychology to DPsych Health Psychology: An unplanned journey of eight years
Authors: Khan Ilham
Published: January 2023

My decision to enrol onto the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (DPsych) course was preceded with uncertainty and confusion as I did not plan to study to this level. Nonetheless, it has been incredibly rewarding. Currently in the third year of my DPsych studies, I reflect on the eight-year journey which began in my undergraduate years. I hope to offer insight into the challenges I faced along the way and strategies I used to manage them as a doctoral student, a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and an NHS healthcare professional.
Adapting and validating questionnaires
Authors: Moon Zoë
Published: January 2023

Modifications to validated questionnaires are often necessary in order to ensure they are relevant and applicable to a specific population. This article describes the steps needed to modify and validate questionnaires. First, researchers must understand the target population and identify areas requiring modifications. These modifications should then be tested in a think-aloud study, which may lead to further amendments to the questionnaire. Once the items have been finalised, researchers should ideally test the validity and reliability of the scale as the revised version may not hold the same psychometric properties as the original scale.
Seeing through (and making the most) of your first year of a PhD
Authors: Jenkins Sarah
Published: January 2023

Applying for the PhD, succeeding at interview, securing your place, receiving the introductory pack- it all seems to happen quickly, right up until you step into the university building and the realisation of the challenge ahead dawns on you! In this article, I outline some of the advice I would have given myself during the ups and downs of life as a first year PhD student.
BPS Annual Conference 2016 Review
Authors: Mitha Karim
Published: January 2023

I had the privilege of being awarded a BPS Postgraduate Bursary to attend the BPS Annual Conference in Nottingham in April 26-28 2016. For me, this was a wonderful opportunity to not only present some of my work related to mental health and stigma in Muslim diasporic communities, but also to get a sense of the cross-section of research being conducted across the various psychological disciplines. I was amazed by the wide variety of topics, panels, and attendees from all over the UK, and, indeed, from different corners of the world! The conference, spanning three days, was a whirlwind of activity including plenary lectures, breakout sessions with multiple talks straddling different themes in psychology, as well as a signing ceremony of a new memorandum of understanding between the BPS and its New Zealand counterpart!
The psycholinguistics of synaesthesia: What can we learn from studying synaesthetes?
Authors: Mankin Jennifer L.
Published: January 2023

In recent decades, synaesthesia – a condition characterised by a ‘joining of the senses’ – has grown in popularity as a subject of research. As the field expands from describing the condition to applying it to other areas of human cognition, a fundamental assumption must be addressed: Are the experiences of synaesthetes generalisable to non-synaesthetes as well? This article argues that not only can synaesthesia provide useful insights into the general functioning of language, but it is a useful and promising tool to investigate a variety of outstanding scientific questions.
Slipping through the cracks: Do some women with anorexia nervosa have unrecognised autism spectrum disorder?
Authors: Westwood Heather
Published: January 2023

Interest in the link between anorexia nervosa (AN) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has intensified over the past three decades, with attempts to estimate prevalence of ASD in AN and understand the neuropsychological similarities between the two disorders. Despite previous research suggesting an over–representation of ASD in AN, research to date has proven inconclusive regarding the exact nature of the relationship between these seemingly different conditions. This article aims to synthesise current understanding and research into this complex relationship, highlighting the ongoing work in this area.