Therapists Talking Therapy

In this podcast we explore how we develop our roles as we engage with those around us.  We explore how our past can influence how we present ourselves and those around us, how do we know ourselves?  We think about the differences between behaviours and identities.  In this way is there anything that isn't 'relational' - everything is in relation to everything else?  How do we choose between directing a conversation and being 'non-directive'?   We explore how couples, families, groups and tribes develop ways of relating - thinking and feeling - together that is both helpful and unhelpful.

Roles and expectations are explored and the concept of the usefulness of 'truthfulness' and authenticity within a relationship.  We talk about the effect of language and how this can distort the real meaning of what we intend to say.  What happens when a relationship comes to an end and how does a new relationship, with the same person or someone else, develop differently into the future.

Finally we think about our own dependency and how usefully, or not, this plays out.  How does this express itself in the changing process of psychotherapy?   We talk about structure and a space that is agreed with honesty and humour.

This podcast was recorded on November 20th 2020.  

It was this day that Prime Minster Johnson supported his Home Secretary against accusations that she bullied her staff.  This generated thoughts and ideas for us about; the Ministerial Code and its implementation, how do we define bullying, when have we been bullied and even perhaps how we might have bullied others.

We explore how our clients experience bullying and what our role is as therapists given the unique space and time that we have in the therapeutic relationship to explore the context, pressures and roles that we all play at different times.

In this podcast we cast ourselves onto the high seas of debate about how our profession is regulated and how people, patients and clients, make sense of what it is that we actually do.  We skirt around which style of therapy might be better than another and discuss more about meaning of  the words that we use and the interventions that we might choose.

We hope to bring some clarity and pose some questions and wonder if it matters what terms we actually use when it's what happens in the therapeutic relationship that really makes the difference. 

In this podcast we look at bringing the topic of loneliness into therapy.  We talk about the effect of sharing and revealing issues and how secrets might hold a key to the experience of loneliness.  We talk about the fear of something 'sinister' that might lurk in the background of ur loneliness and how having the conversation we believed we couldn't have releases this fear and maybe even allows something else to emerge. 

We talk about the experience of grief and loss and the different kinds of loneliness these can create.  We discuss the staying with the sensations of discomfort without negative judgment and allowing change to happen in a natural and personal way.  We end by talking about connecting and re-connecting and the risks that are involved.

Here is link to Nicholas' blog post: https://www.nicholas-rose.co.uk/counselling-psychotherapy-and-psychology-blog/feeling-lonely-this-week-is-loneliness-awareness-week-2020

In this podcast we explore what is meant by - 'boundaries'.  How do we identify and interpret them?  In the therapeutic context what happens  when they are challenged or violated?  

Some boundaries are outside the context of therapy and yet still influence and even control the therapeutic content and process and yet others are out of conscious awareness and only make themselves known when they are crossed.

How do we manage the obvious boundaries that dictate the practical aspects of therapeutic work, set about negotiating them as the relationship changes and choose to shift them by taking risks that might rupture a boundary all in the name of growth, learning and change?

In the final analysis how do we match our ethical practice with boundaries that hold both us and client safely and yet allow change to happen?

In this podcast, we are joined by Ike Odina and together we attempt to tackle race, culture and our professional practice.   Ike brings his experience of being a British Citizen of Nigerian descent in a Euro-centric profession.

We address a few stereotypical perceptions as well as the effects of history on current social norms and values.  We look at our institutional, organisational and individual responsibilities with regard to the improvement of our current social state of affairs.   

As psychotherapeutic practitioners, we explore how our role in addressing cultural differences and social inequalities is becoming even more apparent, as we continue to provide appropriate safe spaces for people to reflect upon their life stories in relation to others and thus seek to making way for a society where authenticity paves the way to progress.

We identify that our Institutions have no clear leadership and that despite having information not available to Government we remain inconsequential to them.

Our podcast points to some possible reasons for where we are today and more helpfully suggests a direction of travel for the future.

Do feel free to leave your comments at the anchor.fm/martin-nicholas web site or via email at [email protected]

You can read our professional backgrounds here:

Ike Odina

Nicholas Rose

Martin Weaver

In this episode we talk about; our reactions to the Government Alert Levels; how as therapists we are responding to change, how we structure our work in this new world, our sense of trust 'authorities' and in the information that we are presented with and how we feel and act around the wearing of masks.  Finally we reflect on the both the speed and the quality of information that feels as though it is simply being thrown our way.

In this podcast we talk about politics, being political and the concerns of being seen as 'Party Political'.  

How should therapists engage with the world of politics and how do we bring our skills of assessment and observation to the issues of the day; Black Lives Matter, the Coronavirus Pandemic and even (say it quietly) Brexit?

You can read the UKCP's statement on Racial Injustice here: https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/ukcp-news/midweek-mindset/ukcp-statement-racial-injustice/

You can read Anthea Benjamin's article here: https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/blog/the-therapy-community-must-commit-to-anti-racist-practice/

In this Podcast we talk about the endings of therapy.  The decision or recognition that therapy has come to an end can be uncomfortable for client and therapist alike.  To prepare for this possible discomfort there needs to be an acceptance from the start, or somewhere close to it, that the relationship is a time-limited one.  

We explore both the preparation and the conclusion on therapy and how it effects both client or patient and therapist alike.

You can read a blog post on this subject that Martin wrote for the UKCP here.

This is our first podcast and so we introduce ourselves and talk widely about our histories and philosophies of psychotherapy.  We both work in different ways and yet there is much that we have in common.  Over the coming episodes no doubt we'll settle down and cover specific issues and topics. 

In the meantime do join us on our journey of discovery and exploration, argument and challenge and we hope that you will find things for you to agree with, maybe disagree with and hopefully answer some of your questions along the way.

We look forward to your company.