bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Research Paper - Power and (in)equality in the UK's Armed Forces: Implications for working with ex-military clients
Authors: Stack Camilla 
Published: January 2023

AimsThis study explored British ex-military clients’ experiences of psychological therapy, with a view to informing the practice of those working with this client group, and others from similar set-apart institutions.BackgroundThis research contributes much-needed qualitative findings to a field dominated by quantitative methods, especially given the recent increase in the numbers of serving and ex-military personnel seeking psychological help.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants. Narrative analysis was applied to the transcripts.FindingsParticipants identified with the military long after leaving the armed forces. Perceptions of social hierarchy based on previously held rank and status played a significant role in the negotiation of power and control in therapy. Participants felt disempowered by the withholding of information, whereas therapist selfdisclosure and a relational approach facilitated engagement. Therapy was hindered by the experience of a ‘language barrier’ with civilians, both at the level of verbal communication and at the deeper level of cultural misunderstanding. Participants described a sense not only of separateness from civilians, but superiority to them. The strong belief in a military/civilian divide was accompanied by disorientation, alienation and isolation on return to civilian life. This carried into therapy, where fear of misunderstanding and judgment often led to participants omitting their military experiences.ConclusionPractitioners working with ex-military clients should gain an understanding of military society and culture and appreciate its lasting influence, particularly in terms of power dynamics. They should be sensitive to significant cultural differences between the military and civilian worlds, and watchful for the concomitant risks of misunderstanding and judgment.
Research Paper - A thematic analytic exploration of how counselling psychologists in the UK experience and position themselves in relation to the NICE guidelines
Authors: Hemsley Christine 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundCollective professional identity is dynamic and responsive to the context within which it exists. Thus the current climate of a pervasive medical model as experienced through the imposition of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines (2004) and associated Increased Access to Psychological Therapies is relevant to the profession of counselling psychology. Therefore, the possible professional position and the lived experience of its members, whilst existing in a professional arena that requires professionals to fulfil pre-determined criteria, is of interest to this paper.MethodologyA qualitative design explored the declared position and related experiences of counselling psychologists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine qualified professionals and transcripts subjected to thematic analysis.FindingsThree key themes relevant to the declared position and associated individual experience were discerned in the data, namely: NICE experienced as relevant and affecting counselling psychology; counselling psychology declaring a pluralistic identity in relation to NICE guidelines; and client as focus.ConclusionParticipants described a desire to engage with the NICE guidelines, and pluralism seemed to offer them a valid voice with which to achieve this. Pluralism also functioned to offer greater professional jurisdiction and potential autonomy. Pluralism whilst positive in many ways did also produce professional anxiety for many as they struggled with finding their identity within it. Overall, the proclaimed identity appeared to show a dynamically responsive profession that may influence the psychological arena.
Theoretical Paper: The body, the book and the organisation: Towards a post-structuralist understanding of anorexia nervosa and its treatment in a clinical setting
Authors: Spedding Sam O.C. , Milton Martin 
Published: January 2023

Content and FocusA brief post-structuralist analysis of recent changes to the criteria for anorexia nervosa in the DSM-5 is presented. These changes are examined in the context of the political and social forces described in existing literature. The main idea that emerges from the analysis is that the creation of diagnostic criteria is a value-driven practice which, in the case of anorexia nervosa, encourages a somatic and controlling clinical approach. A clinical example is then used to illustrate how social and therapeutic discourses might affect therapists and clients in an inpatient setting. A tentative formulation of how post-structuralist theory can be applied in a way which considers how therapist and client are positioned by discourses is also advanced.ConclusionIn the context of the changing diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa, it is concluded that poststructuralist theory can be applied usefully for therapists and clients in inpatient settings. This necessitates a degree of reflexive practice which may suit counselling psychologists well. Such an application may also fit in with and improve understanding of existing therapeutic approaches rather than simply deconstructing them.
Research Paper Post-traumatic growth following bereavement: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Michael Christina , Cooper Mick 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundBereavement research has traditionally focused on the negative sequel of loss. Recently, however, research has begun to focus on the positive outcomes following loss: post-traumatic growth (PTG).PurposeTo synthesise studies which directly examine PTG following bereavement.DesignThis is the first systematic review which synthesises studies into directly examining PTG following bereavement.Data sourcesFrom the 70 published journal articles reviewed from PubMed, PsychINFO, IsiWeb of Knowledge Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer Link, Taylor & Francis online, Sage Journals and Wiley Online Library, only 15 studies were directly examining PTG following bereavement and thus, included in this review.ResultsFindings of this systematic review suggest that PTG can indeed occur following bereavement and that certain factors can act as mediators for such growth to emerge. Key factors are: (1) The age of the bereaved; (2) social support; (3) time since death; (4) religion; and (5) active cognitive coping strategies.ConclusionsFurther research should include comparative-longitudinal studies controlling for maturational growth with non-trauma comparisons, as well as meta-analytic studies designed to examine effect sizes for associations among variables theorised to predict PTG following bereavement. Potential clinical applications include therapists becoming better positioned to recognise when PTG is likely to occur and its mediating factors, in order to more effectively facilitate it.
Research Paper A narrative review exploring the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy
Authors: Beaumont Elaine , Hollins Martin Caroline J 
Published: January 2023

Content & FocusThis narrative review summarises findings of research that has shown use of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) to improve psychological outcomes in clinical populations. This article reviews the research studies that have utilised CFT to treat clients experiencing a variety of mental health issues. The paper begins offering an overview of CFT theory and compassionate mind interventions. A literature search was conducted which included book chapters and articles that discussed compassion focused therapy. Twelve studies were identified which showed significant psychological improvements in clients with diagnosed trauma symptoms, brain injury, eating disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, chronic mental health problems and psychosis, both within groups and during one-to-one therapy. Within the context of the reviewed studies, CFT has shown itself to be an effective therapeutic intervention when combined with approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).ConclusionThe research design of the majority of the studies examined precluded determining the extent of individual contributions that CFT made towards client recovery. Further research that uses more rigorous approaches are required to evaluate more effectively the role CFT plays in clients’ therapeutic recovery.
Invited Paper Community psychological perspectives and counselling psychology
Authors: Kagan Carolyn 
Published: January 2023

Content & FocusCounselling, positive and community psychologies have a lot in common and overlapping values and goals. I outline here the focus of community psychology on those marginalised by the social system and the values and key concepts that underline community psychological praxis. The values of stewardship, justice and community are outlined and their implications for practice drawn out. Key community concepts are discussed, including the emphasis on social change and an action orientation, working with the ecological metaphor, the psychological sense of community, and the idea of new social settings. The four key strategies for change that follow are: the furtherance of critical consciousness; the creation of new forms of social relations or settings; the development of alliances and accompaniment; and advocacy and policy analysis.ConclusionI argue that central to all community psychological work is critical reflection and that synergies can be found in research and practice with greater integration of community, counselling and positive psychology.
Research Paper A pilot randomised controlled trial comparing two positive psychology interventions for their capacity to increase subjective wellbeing
Authors: Miller Richard W. , Duncan Elaine 
Published: January 2023

ObjectivesUK participants (29 female, 26 male) took part in a single blind randomised controlled trial to test whether concentrating on gratitude increased self-reported measures of wellbeing more than concentrating on happiness.MethodParticipants in the two intervention groups were guided by an instructional video and asked to list three items a day in a customised to this study note-pad for a period of 12 consecutive days. They completed a battery of wellbeing measures before and after the intervention. A third group, the control group, completed only the battery of wellbeing measures at pre and post intervals.FindingsA trend of reduced psychological distress was reported between the treatment and control groups. No significant advantage between concentrating on happiness or gratitude was found.
Theoretical Paper Effects of therapists' attachment organisation on the process and outcome of therapy: A review of the empirical literature
Authors: Parpottas Panagiotis , Draghi-Lorenz Riccardo 
Published: January 2023

Content & FocusThe last two decades, in particular, have witnessed an increased interest in the clinical implications of attachment theory in individual adult psychotherapy. By and large, the majority of empirical studies on the importance of adult attachment patterns in individual psychotherapy have focused on exploring the effect of clients’ attachment organisation. The present paper reviewed the existing literature on the effects of therapists’ attachment organisation on the process and outcome of therapy. In particular, 14 known studies were reviewed, exploring how trainee and qualified therapists’, as well as other clinicians’, attachment styles could influence the working alliance, the depth of their interventions, their emotional empathy and psychological mindedness, their countertransference behaviours towards clients and finally the outcome of therapy.ConclusionsFindings from these studies showed that a secure attachment organisation in therapists could positively affect the process and outcome of therapy, whilst an insecure attachment organisation was negatively associated with both process and outcome of therapy. Nevertheless, a few studies provided us with different results. Overall, it can be suggested that the relationship between therapists’ attachment and the process of therapy is not as simple as we assume because other factors may interfere in this relationship.The findings, the methodological characteristics and limitations of the 14 reviewed studies are discussed throughout this paper.
Research Paper Making sense of self-injury: A pluralistic case-study
Authors: Josselin Daphne , Willig Carla 
Published: January 2023

AimsSelf-injury is widely seen as a complex behaviour imbued with highly individual meanings. The objective of this paper was to show how research using a pluralistic qualitative approach could inform clinical practice, by outlining how intricate and at times divergent meanings could be attached to the behaviour in the areas of control, guilt and relatedness.MethodA set of three interviews conducted with a woman with a long history of self-injury were analysed using three different interpretative lenses: interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); narrative analysis; and a psychosocial approach.FindingsCombining different interpretations of the text brought out the participant’s multifaceted understanding of control, guilt and social connection in relation to her self-injuring. The behaviour could be seen as a means of control and a sign that one was out of control; as inducing guilt but not responsibility; as a mode of communication steeped in disconnection.ConclusionWhile adhering to a recognised therapeutic model of the behaviour might be of considerable value to the practitioner, there is much to be gained from a careful exploration of the multiple and at times contradictory meanings attached to self-injury by each individual client.
Theoretical Paper Exploring the effective length of therapy in a healthcare organisation
Authors: Noble Julia 
Published: January 2023

Content & FocusThe effective length of therapy is a current professional issue affecting counselling psychologists worldwide as the demand on resources increases and the availability of resources decreases. A priority of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) is to identify strategies to scale up coverage of key interventions in resource constrained settings, promoting the involvement of service users in their own care and treatment. One often neglected area of therapy which may contribute to achieving these objectives is the length of treatment. This paper examines the evidence evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions of different lengths, and considers the problems associated with clients being prescribed a set number of sessions according to a presenting problem. A relatively recent individualised approach with client input is evaluated, with considerations of how this might fit within counselling psychology philosophy and global mental health policy.
Research Prize Winner
Authors: Cucchi Angie 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundStudies have confirmed a significant comorbidity between eating disorders and self-harm and they linked the presence of self-harm to a more severe and treatment-resistant eating disorder symptomatology. The present study explored a variable believed to be involved in this relationship: mentalising.MethodA cross-sectional, questionnaire-based, between-groups design was employed and a measure of mentalising was compared in individuals presenting with eating disorders and in individuals presenting with eating disorders and concurrent self-harm. Both groups were compared with a control group.ResultsFindings suggested that individuals with concurrent presentations reported less mentalising ability compared to individuals without concurrent difficulties. In addition, both groups significantly differed from the control group.ConclusionsResults are discussed in relation to clinical implications.
‘What helps to keep it under control?’: Studying the experiences of gay/bisexual men who take drugs on a controlled basis when clubbing
Authors: Naidoo Del 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundControlled drug use has been described by previous researchers however few such studies explored the clubbing or gay/bisexual populations. Research into gay/bisexual men’s drug-taking fails to acknowledge the possibilities of controlled drug use. This study takes a qualitative approach to the data in an attempt to explore the phenomenon as it exists.MethodEight men who identified as gay/bisexual and took drugs on a controlled basis participated in semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the data, indicating themes emerging from the participants’ communicated experiences.ResultsAnalysis revealed a significant theme related to control and organisation, depicting how participants maintained a sense of control over their drug use and what helped this sense of control in use. Results show that not all gay/bisexual men’s drug use follows a usage-addiction pattern and that controlled drug use is possible. Participants indicated that they were able to control their drug use through an interaction of personality traits, social factors and self-knowledge.ConclusionThe research enhances the understanding of controlled drug use, especially within the gay/bisexual clubbing sub-culture. Furthermore, it clarifies strategies that could be useful for other drug-taking populations who wish to control their drug use. The cycle of and reasons for the drug-taking behaviour are possible routes for further research.
Combining reminiscence therapy with oral history to intervene in the lives of isolated older people
Authors: Armstrong Catherine 
Published: January 2023

Context and focusThe population of the UK and western Europe is ageing. With a more mobile workforce, the number of older people with little contact with close family is increasing. Charities working with isolated and lonely older people need interventions that facilitate contact with this population. Older people often resent the concept that they need charity, and respond better to initiatives valuing their knowledge and skills, without patronising them. Oral history researchers want to reclaim the hidden voices of the elderly population before their memories are lost. These voices and memories can be recorded for the future, and shared with the rest of society. Cultural and social changes taking place over a life span are often significant. As Boden and Bielby (1986) described reminiscence: ‘These long past slices of life are frequently used interactively to contrast “the way it was” with “the way it is”’. Using such techniques bringing together isolated elderly with school children makes both groups feel included, valued and part of a community. This is supported by evidence from Duffin (1994), who found that older female participants felt validated by being viewed as social historians. Intergenerational activities designed to allow participants to share experiences and wisdom, and to discover similarities and differences across the generations, are especially rewarding.ConclusionsThis interdisciplinary literature review summarises evidence indicating that intergenerational reminiscence therapy can be used to improve the wellbeing of isolated older people and suggests avenues for future study.
Autoethnography: A methodological chat with self
Authors: Egeli Cemil 
Published: January 2023

There is paucity of counselling psychology literature which explores the experience of people coming from a mixed cultural background. The literature available focuses on developmental theories and cultural competencies of practitioners but all too often fails to capture the peculiarities and particularities of the mixed experience. It also has a tendency to focus on ethnic, racial and cultural labels which are not always useful or helpful for people.This paper explores autoethnography as a methodology with which to research the mixed cultural experience. It aims to highlight the importance for the counselling psychology professions of reflexive and subjective research with regards to studying and understanding people’s experiences of mixed culture.It examines the methods and processes used by a researcher in the data gathering, analysis and explication of their own subjective research. It reveals some of the difficulties encountered and ethical decisions which had to be made during the research. In keeping with the ethnographic and creative approach it is written as a self-diaologue and hopes to give the reader a sense of how the research was undertaken.It concludes that autoethnography can highlight the complexities of the experience of people operating between or on the edge of cultures and can bring greater understanding and awareness to counselling professionals who will then hopefully be better enabled to help people.
Neuropsychotherapy as an integrative framework in counselling psychology:The example of trauma
Authors: Ward Tony , Delrue Nicolas , Plagnol Arnaud 
Published: January 2023

PurposeThis article sets out to describe the neuropsychotherapeutic perspective, and to illustrate its application to psychotherapy through the example of trauma.MethodsA number of recent publications which present different aspects of the neuropsychotherapeutic perspective are discussed. How such perspectives might help our understanding of trauma is then considered. The authors illustrate the points they seek to make through the description of four recent cases which arose in the clinical work of the middle author.Results/findingsIt is suggested that a number of dilemmas which are evident in the trauma literature, for example delayed onset and lack of universal susceptibility, can be explained through the comprehensive integrative framework offered by the neuropsychotherapeutic approach. In particular, notions of representational space can explain why some clients struggle to integrate traumatic memories into their elaborated long-term memory structures.Discussion/conclusionsThe neuropsychotherapeutic perspective seeks to make use of principles and findings from neuroscience to inform research and practice in psychotherapy. Given the current prominence of neuroscience within psychology, this may be a theoretical framework to which many counselling psychologists are able to relate. It is suggested that such an approach could be very fruitful in helping us to conceptualise the issues and processes which arise in psychotherapy. It may allow researchers to make novel and detailed predictions about client issues such as trauma, leading to productive avenues for future research.