In Episode 361 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly explore three vital topics for students and practitioners of counselling and psychotherapy:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', Rory and Ken examine managing isolation in counselling practice, highlighting why counsellors may experience isolation, the impact of emotional labour, and the importance of maintaining professional connections.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with psychotherapist Claire Ratcliffe about the subtle but essential distinction between feeling safe and being safe in therapy, and what this means for clients and therapeutic practice.
• And finally, in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken offer practical guidance on how to reference non-academic resources in academic assignments.

In Episode 360 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', they explore the inevitable ruptures that can occur in the therapeutic relationship - and how recognising and repairing these moments builds resilience and strengthens the alliance.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Ian Long, illustrator and co-creator of the iconic Blob Tree, about the origins, evolution, and global impact of these powerful visual tools in therapy and education.
• And finally, in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken rethink transference in person-centred therapy, offering insight into how these dynamics show up during training and why they matter - even outside of client work.

In Episode 359 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', they explore getting over cancellation guilt, looking at what therapist cancellation guilt means, why it arises, and how to approach it with compassion and professionalism.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Ruth Hill about supporting therapists and clients through perimenopause and post menopause - challenging outdated views and reframing this life stage as one of growth, not decline.
• And finally in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken discuss the phenomenon of doorknobbing - those last-minute disclosures from clients - and how to respond ethically and sensitively in practice.

In Episode 358 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly explore this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', we discuss letting go of the outcome in counselling - why embracing client autonomy matters.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Paula Jones about the Horn Effect and autism - how unconscious bias can shape perceptions of neurodivergent individuals.
• And finally, in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken explore not losing yourself in counselling training - staying authentic while growing through your studies.

In Episode 357 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in Ethical, Sustainable Practice, we discuss what to do when your usual supervisor isn't available. In planning for alternative supervision cover, we explore how to ensure you stay ethical and supported during supervisor absences.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Daragh Mac Loughlin from WebHealer about how to maximise your website presence and build a joined-up online identity across web and social platforms.
• And finally, in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken address a hot topic - should counselling students pay for a placement? With insight from Paul Cullen, they look at fairness, value for money, and what to consider if faced with this scenario.

In Episode 356 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', they explore the sensitive topic of lying in therapy, examining why clients may lie or conceal information through a trauma-informed perspective and how therapists can respond with compassion.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Andrew Kidd about EMDR therapy - what it is, how it works, and why it's considered a cutting-edge 21st-century therapeutic intervention.
• And finally in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken discuss the rising concern of AI and plagiarism in counselling training, including guidance for ethical use and how assessment may evolve.

In Episode 355 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', they discuss the importance of having a clinical will - why it matters, what it should include, and how it upholds your ethical responsibilities.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Ona Clark about the cost of caring - highlighting the emotional, financial, and systemic barriers that many face when training to become a counsellor.
• And finally, in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken explore erotic transference - how to recognise it, work with it ethically, and maintain clear professional boundaries.

In Episode 354 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', we explore the draft BACP Ethical Framework for 2025 - highlighting key proposed changes and what they might mean for practitioners.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Ruth Hill about REBT – Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy – offering clear definitions and practical insights for working with beliefs and emotional responsibility.
• And finally in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken discuss how to navigate personal triggers in counselling training - and why these moments offer powerful opportunities for growth.

In this special edition of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, Rory Lees-Oakes is joined by Dr Liz Nicholl, Qualifications Development Manager at CPCAB, for an in-depth discussion on the newly relaunched Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling.

They explore how the qualification aligns with the SCoPEd framework (specifically Column B), what it offers learners beyond Level 4, and how it supports safe, ethical, and inclusive practice in increasingly complex counselling environments.

In Episode 353 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

• Firstly, in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', we look at where autism meets attachment, understanding autism and attachment difficulties – and how similarities and overlaps in presentation can be misinterpreted and what this means for therapists.
• Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Meg Moss, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the NCPS, about relational safeguards in AI mental health tools – a timely discussion for any practitioner using or considering AI in practice.
• And finally in 'Student Services', our correspondent Sarah Henry joins Rory to make sense of frame of reference – a foundational concept in person-centred therapy.