Within the context of psychological counsellors and therapeutic encounters of psychotherapists, clients may reveal illicit fantasies where it is unclear whether he or she is acting out his or her illicit fantasies. Using web-based survey methods to collect qualitative data, I explored therapists' decision-making when clients disclose illicit…

The aim of this article is to explore loss experiences within a counselling and psychotherapy training arena, an environment that effects individual change. We use an auto-ethnographic case study format and data in the form of photographs, hybridised client material, journal entries and commentaries in order to reflexively consider loss material.…

Current research on therapist self-disclosure suggests that not all therapy skills have been successfully adapted when working with clients from diverse backgrounds. Using semi-structured interviews, nine therapists were asked about the ways in which they use self-disclosure with their clients and the ways in which they refrain from revealing…

Many authors have proposed the existence of common principles of counselling and psychotherapeutic change. However, little is known about how practitioners use these change principles. A sample of 373 Czech psychotherapists and counsellors participated in an online survey and rated their use of 10 psychotherapy change principles in their practice…

The therapist's mind can wander to daydreams, fantasies and preoccupations: mental events termed "reveries" in this study. As therapists attend to the current of their thought in the therapeutic encounter, the question of how to approach their reveries can arise. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with nine qualified…

As health-related mobile apps have proliferated in recent years in USA and Australia, counsellor opinions were solicited to aid development of therapeutic apps. After being informed of the therapeutic potential of time and location-based reminders, 33 drug and alcohol counsellors from New Zealand and Australia answered an anonymous online survey.…

In this article, we consider the ethical issues arising from training counsellors in "Counselling for Depression" in the UK. We describe Counselling for Depression (CfD), a competency-based approach to counselling accredited by the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) agenda in the National Health Service in the UK. We…

Working with suicidal clients is perceived to be demanding and anxiety provoking for psychotherapists. This investigation explores what it is like for psychotherapists who work with suicidal clients, particularly as within the prevailing culture there is an increasing focus on strategies aimed at suicide prevention. Five themes were identified…

The article addresses the question of whether the practice of mandatory personal therapy, followed by several training organisations, is justified by existing research and evidence. In doing so, it discusses some implications of this training requirement from an ethical and ideological standpoint, raising questions of import for training…

This study aimed to explore the experiences of a group of counsellors regarding working with clients who engage in self-harming behaviour, in order to gain an understanding of what it is like to work with this client group. A series of six individual, semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out, which were then transcribed and analysed…

Explores the experience of psychotherapists (N=100) working with suicidal patients. Findings indicate that suicidal patients can evoke intense feelings within the therapist. Commonly mentioned responses include feelings of hopelessness and helplessness and a sense of failure. Outlines measures vital to the support of therapists and discusses the…

Discusses the relationship of boundaries to other measures of personality, to dreams and nightmares, to clients' occupations and interests, and to the conduct of psychotherapists and counselors. Explores how some boundary violators have thin boundaries and are unable to maintain clear distinctions between the client's needs and their own needs.…

Reviews some of the ethical issues that emerged during a study of 25 adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Discusses some cases where boundary issues became problematic; also discusses the dilemmas faced in working within a person-centered, qualitative approach. Examines considerations of counseling researchers and their trainers when…

Examines transference issues over a nine-month period between a white, female counselor and a black, male client. Attempts to show the positive effects that may come about through a non-ethnic- and non-gender-matched, counselor-client dyad and subsequent benefits to clients of counselor similarity and difference. (RJM)