Experiencing relational depth in therapy : What we know so far

This chapter summarises the current research on the experience of relational depth in therapy

The inter-experiential field: Perceptions and metaperceptions in person-centered and experiential psychotherapy

How can we understand the complex nexus of interpersonal relationships from a phenomenological, experiential standpoint? Drawing on theory and research from R. D. Laing's interpersonal phenomenology, social psychology, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy, this paper examines the disjunctions that may arise in people's perceptions of each other, and the highly destructive consequences that such disjunctions can have. It explores the questions of how people perceive, and misperceive, other people's experiences; how people perceive, and misperceive, others' perceptions of their experiences ('metaperceptions'); and the implications that such an analysis has for the practice of person-centered and experiential psychotherapy and counseling

Humanizing psychotherapy

The essence of the humanistic and existential approaches to psychotherapy is a commitment to conceptualizing, and engaging with people in a deeply valuing and respectful way. Hence, within these approaches, there is an emphasis on viewing clients' behaviors as meaningful and freely chosen; and there is also a belief that clients have the capacity to become aware of the reasons for their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Phenomenological exploration is thus a central element of many existential and humanistic psychotherapies, and this requires psychotherapists to put to one side their therapeutic techniques and interpretative assumptions and to listen to clients in an in-depth, non-analytical way. From an existential and humanistic standpoint, however, this valuing of human beings also extends to the psychotherapist's own humanity. Hence, within these approaches, there is an emphasis on the psychotherapists themselves being genuine in the psychotherapeutic encounter, and being willing to meet their clients at a level of "relational depth." Existential and humanistic practices may not be appropriate for all clients and all psychotherapists, but it is concluded that the principles underlying these approaches are of universal relevance to the practice of psychotherapy

Person-centred therapy : myths and reality

Debunks seven key myths about person-centred therap

Between freedom and despair: Existential challenges and contributions to person-centered and experiential therapy

This article explores a range of contributions that existential thinking may be able to make to the theory and practice of person-centred and experiential therapy. It begins with an overview of existential philosophy and the development of existential therapies, and then goes on to look at four aspects of existential theory and practice that may be of particular value to person-centred and experiential practitioners: a phenomenological exploration of freedom and choice; an appreciation of the challenges and limitations of existence; an understanding of human being as fundamentally with-others; and an understanding of human beings as meaning-seeking creatures in a world where there are no given, ultimate meanings. On this basis, the article argues that existential thinking can provide a counterbalance to some of the implicit biases within the person-centred and experiential worlds, and that it can help person-centred and experiential practitioners develop deeper levels of empathy and acceptance with their clients

Scottish secondary school teachers' attitudes towards, and conceptualisations of, counselling

This paper presents the findings of two independent questionnaire studies that examined Scottish secondary school teachers' attitudes towards, and conceptualisation of, school counselling. Seventy-one teachers in a first study, and 33 teachers in a second study, responded to a range of qualitative and quantitative response-format questions that were designed to elicit their feelings and attitudes towards school counselling, and their notions of what counselling was. Results from the two studies confirm previous findings in this area, suggesting that teachers are generally positive in their attitudes towards counselling; valuing, in particular, the independence and expertise of the counsellor. A small minority of teachers, however, were found to hold strongly negative views towards counselling. Teachers also expressed concerns that students might abuse the counselling service, and that the service might not fully integrate with existing guidance arrangements provided by teachers in schools. The study also found that a high proportion of teachers conceptualised counselling in terms of advice-giving

Relational depth in therapy : Training and development exercises

This unpublished paper sets out a series of exercises that trainers can use with their trainees to help them explore, and deepen their awareness of, the experience of relational depth and its relevance to counselling and psychotherapy. A revised and updated version of this paper, specifically orientated towards individual self-development work, has been published in 'Relational Depth: New Perspectives and Developments' (eds. Knox et al, Palgrave, 2013

Therapists' experiences of relational depth: a qualitative interview study

The aim of this study was to explore therapists' experiences of meeting their clients at a level of 'relational depth'. This was defined as a feeling of profound contact and engagement with another, in which the therapists experienced high levels of empathy, acceptance and transparency towards their clients, and experienced their clients as acknowledging their empathy and acceptance in a genuine way. Participants were primarily experienced person-centred therapists, five of whom were female and three of whom were male. Data was gathered through the use of qualitative, unstructured interviews within the broader framework of a person-centred and phenomenological methodology. All interviewees described experiencing moments of relational depth with their clients, and substantial commonalities emerged in their descriptions. These included heightened feelings of empathy, acceptance and receptivity towards their clients; powerful feelings of immersion in the therapeutic work; increased perceptual clarity; and greater levels of awareness, aliveness and satisfaction. At these times, the therapists also experienced their clients as highly transparent; articulating core concerns and issues; and reciprocating the therapist's acknowledgement of them in a flowing, bi-directional encounter. These findings are discussed in relation to recent research on 'presence' and 'flow' and it is proposed that relational depth can be conceptualised as a form of 'co-presence' or a co-experiencing of the person-centred 'core conditions'. Limitations of the study and areas for further research are discussed

A hierarchy of wants : towards an integrative framework for counselling, psychotherapy and social change

The aim of this monograph is to develop an integrated framework for understanding, and facilitating, psychological and social wellbeing. It is based on the assumption that our wants are a core element of our being; and that the pursuit, and attainment, of these is a defining characteristic of psychological health. It is suggested that our wants can be conceptualised as existing in a hierarchy, in which higher order wants are attained through lower order wants; and that psychological difficulties emerge when our means of attaining our highest order wants are either in conflict with each other (horizontal incoherence), or are ineffective within our present context (vertical incoherence). The monograph argues that this framework can be used to conceptualise, and draw together, a wide range of psychotherapeutic theories and practices; with the therapist construed as a facilitator of more synergetic, and more effective, means of want attainment. In addition, the monograph argues that the extent to which people can progress towards, and attain, their wants may be very dependent on the resources available in their particular life-context, such that improvements in psychological wellbeing may require social and political change. To understand how this might happen, it is argued that the present framework can be transposed to the interpersonal plane, with increased synergies in the ways that people strive to attain their wants leading to a more rewarding and fulfilling socio-political context

Counselling in schools: what the research tells us, what we need to find out

Paper presented to the BACP event 'A celebration of school-based counselling', held at the The Pavilion, Llandrindod Wells, Powysin, Wales on Thursday 1 October 2009