This is the second of our Graduate Webinar episodes where we speak to the runner-up of the Martin Kitterick Award. This award is given to a fourth-year BSc thesis judged to be of very high quality with relevant and contemporary knowledge that deserves to be shared with the wider profession. This is a recording of a live event that was held recently for PCI students and alumni. I was delighted to be joined by faculty lecturers Colm Early and Ramesh Ramsahoye for the discussion. Our guest speaker is Lynn McGovern, and her thesis is titled 'Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Orthorexia: A Qualitative Exploration'. Orthorexia is not an official diagnosis, but it is defined as an obsession with healthy eating. It can be hard to identify, as it generally does not focus on calorie intake and can take many forms. However, it is extreme and can have serious health impacts. We explore how disordered eating can present, the impact of social media, and the need to be very clear on your role in a larger team of support to work with someone with this kind of presenting issue. Lynn also gives us insight into the challenges of picking a research topic and her approach to research and writing through a lens of curiosity. Lynn McGovern is a psychotherapist and psychologist currently practicing in Naas. Her first study on orthorexia ("The experience of orthorexia from the perspective of recovered orthorexics") was published in 2021, and the material from her 2024 thesis will also be published in the academic literature. Having experienced orthorexia herself, Lynn is very passionate about this topic and would love to see it recognised as an official eating disorder. Her other areas of interest include neurodiversity, relationship issues, including domestic abuse, nervous system regulation, and chronic illness. You can connect with Lynn at www.lighthousetherapy.ie or on Instagram @lighthousetherapy_Ireland.

Welcome to our Graduate Webinar episode. This is a recording of a live event held for PCI students and alumni recently, where we invited the winner of the Martin Kitterick Award to discuss their research with us. The award is given to the BSc Year 4 research thesis, which is judged to be of a very high standard, with knowledge to contribute to the wider profession. This year's winner was Eoin Shanahan with the thesis titled 'Exploring the Impact of Psilocybin on the Psychotherapeutic Experience'. This is a very relevant topic, and Eoin approaches it with great care to explore the opportunities, the risks and the questions we don't yet have answers for. He aimed to humanise the data and make it more accessible for both clients and therapists. Eoin is a PCI graduate and works in private practice in Lucan. Please see his Instagram account 'woundedhealerireland' by clicking here. Please click here to read Eoin's thesis. A special thank you to PCI College faculty members Carol Gregg and Philomena Clarke, who hosted this event.

Today, we are discussing the role of assessment pre- and post-therapy with John Wills. John outlines the many reasons he actively uses evidence-based assessment tools in his client work. These include identifying and prioritising presenting issues and symptoms, informing case conceptualisation, measuring risk and measuring progress. We discuss how these tools can be used collaboratively and in an empowering way with clients. We also discuss a specific assessment type, the Hogan Personality Inventory, which John offers to clients who are coming to the end of their therapy. This can help clients to increase self-awareness and compassion and support themselves in challenging future situations. John is a psychologist and CBT practitioner, specialising in anxiety disorders. He has a keen interest in the role of personality disorders in clinical presentations. John is a faculty lecturer and year head with PCI College and works with schools in the area of cyberbullying and wellbeing.

In this episode, we explore what it means to be a child and adolescent psychotherapist. We look at how it can be different from adult psychotherapy in terms of its theoretical framework and practical application with clients. This also highlights how knowledge of working with children and adolescents can actually strengthen your work with adults. We examine some aspects of this work which people who don't work in the area may thing are challenging and highlight the essential role of training in this area. Sorca McGrath is the Programme Leader of the Masters in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy with PCI College. She is a psychotherapist, play therapist and supervisor. She is Vice Chairperson of the Irish Association of Psychotherapy and Play Therapy's national executive committee and is a member of Disability Psychotherapy Ireland. She specialises in the use of creative psychotherapy approaches with neurodiverse people and in attachment and trauma work. Philomena Clarke is a faculty lecturer and Academic Team Leader with PCI College. She is an accredited therapist working in private practice and with adolescents in both an education facility and a community youth reach setting. She trained as an integrative therapist working with adults, couples and adolescents. She is currently completing a Master's in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy with PCI College to further enhance her work.

In this episode, we have a panel discussion on the topic of EDI in counselling and psychotherapy with my guests Jim Hutton, Ray O'Neill, Ejiro Ogbevoan, Ravind Jeawon and Jude Coughlan.

The panel guests have a wealth of lived experience and knowledge in this area, with several being members of the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy's EDI Committee. We explore the formation and activities of the EDI committee which includes organising a yearly conference, organising networking events for clinicians, liaising with the IACP Journal and training providers. We highlight the vital role of power in therapy and how therapists need to be aware of it and actively managing it with their clients. We acknowledge the rapid changes happening globally and in Ireland, along with the fear and discomfort that can come with that, and EDI topics generally. However, we end on a hopeful note that recognises the need for self-compassion and curiosity as we grow and work through the complex layers we each have around EDI issues as humans and therapists. 

Episode Links:

IACP EDI Committee https://iacp.ie/edi-committee 

IACP Guidelines for working with adult autistic clients https://iacp.ie/Guidelines-for-Counsellors-and-Psychotherapists-working-with-Adult-Autistic-Clients

Black Therapists Ireland https://www.blacktherapistsireland.ie/ 

Today we are discussing the topic of suicide as an issue we may encounter in our client work. I am joined by Shane Morrow and Aisling Reidy for this important discussion. Shane is an integrated therapist working from a cognitive base and has been working as a counsellor since 2005. He has worked with schools in Northern Ireland and in the community, including Lifeline, the crisis intervention telephone service. Shane is a faculty lecturer with PCI College, as well as Year Head for years three and four. Aisling is an accredited therapist and supervisor with a wide range of training. This includes an MA in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, a Postgraduate Diploma in Supervision and Reflective Practice, suicide intervention training and mindfulness. She is also a qualified yoga teacher. Aisling works in private practice in Galway, is an associate lecturer with PCI College and runs educational programmes in the HSE's National Counselling Service. In this episode, we explore the practical reality of working as a therapist with the issue of suicide after our core training. Shane and Aisling share personal and professional examples from their own lives. These examples show that suicidal ideation and behaviour can be viewed as a spectrum. We are all on that spectrum and can move along it, in both directions, at various stages of our lives. It is also important to remember that we may meet clients in pre-contemplation, in active crisis or after a suicide attempt. These are distinct phases and require different responses. We discuss useful theoretical and practical approaches to working with suicidal clients. Both Aisling and Shane emphasise the importance of a strong support network for the therapist in this work. We hope you find this discussion useful in your own practice.  

In this episode, Margaret welcomes Ray Tonge. Ray is a humanistic and integrative psychotherapist with over 19 years of experience and has been a faculty lecturer at PCI College for the past 7 years. Throughout his career, he has developed a keen focus on exploring the body and the unconscious within the therapeutic space. He is particularly interested in recognising ingrained holding patterns within the body and how these patterns can be shifted through observation and movement.

Based in  Dublin, Ray works with individuals and facilitates groups, workshops, and experiential personal development courses, drawing from Humanistic, Gestalt, Psychodynamic, and Integrative Body Work approaches, including bioenergetics. His work aims to help clients cultivate greater physical awareness and develop tools to enhance their freedom and control over psychological, emotional, and physical responses to life’s challenges. Fully accredited member with IACP, IAHIP and ICP. Read more about the training Ray is involved in. https://ippireland.com/training-psychotherapy-the-body-within-the-therapeutic-relationship-new.php'

In this episode, we are exploring the range of ways in which therapists can use technology including the provision of sessions as well as organisation and payment systems, administration functions for notes and homework tasks and communication with clients. We talk about the issues which need to be considered when making the decision to use any type of technology, both for the therapist and client. These include practical, legal, ethical and financial aspects. The importance of conscious decision-making around the why or why not is highlighted, as well as the need for ongoing reflection.  

I was delighted to be joined by a panel of PCI Associate lecturers for this fascinating discussion. Sharon Manifold is an integrated therapist and clinical supervisor. She currently works online in private practice and has several years experience of working with people of all ages and life stages in a variety of group and individual settings. Sean Lonergan is a CBT therapist with over 14 years experience of working with adults in the UK and Ireland, in person and online. He is also a CBT clinical supervisor. Craig Barry is a psychotherapist and supervisor working in private practice. He also facilitates the Aware bipolar programme and works with various EAP programmes. Linda is a psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer, working with individuals, couples and groups in therapeutic and corporate settings. 

I am delighted to be joined by Jody Day and Robin Hadley to discuss the topic of working with childless and child-free clients. Jody is the founder of Gateway Women, the global support and advocacy network for childless women. She is a psychotherapist, has Ted Talks on the topic and has written a book called ‘Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children’. Robin Hadley is an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and a founder member of the campaign group Ageing Without Children. He has conducted a range of research about childless men and has written a book called ‘How to be a Man? Male Childlessness – A Life Course Interrupted’.

In this episode, we discuss what pronatalism is and the impact of these pro-birth and reproduction attitudes and policies on those who can’t or don’t want to have children. We explore the many ways people in these situations might need the support of therapy e.g. to work through disenfranchised grief, as well as dealing with feelings of isolation and stigma. We also explore how therapists themselves need to be aware of internalised pronatalism and how this might impact their work. Please see the following links for more information on this topic:

https://gateway-women.com/ 

https://www.robinhadley.co.uk/ 

The Are Kids For Me Podcast link - https://open.spotify.com/show/0pisu2SafDohhsqxnh6MhZ?si=cfa1fe3e146c4dcf 

Welcome to a new season of episodes of Therapists Talk Therapy. We start off with a discussion about ageism with my guest, Dr. Teresa Graham. Teresa works in private practice as a Counselling psychologist. She is a certified mediator and works as a Humanist celebrant. She is an associate lecturer with PCI College. We discuss what ageism is and how it can impact older people’s mental health and engagement with therapy. Teresa highlights the different narratives around this topic e.g. the wellness and beauty industry, the medical model and the housing crisis. These narratives influence overt behaviour and covert attitudes. They can also be internalised by older people leading them to feel incompetent and vulnerable. Teresa encourages us to reflect on and challenge these narratives. I hope you enjoy this episode.