Consultant Psychotherapist Research Articles

Sitting with uncertainty to create a rich nourishment for clinicians: Developing a systemic family therapy clinic for psychosis in community adult mental health team

PHOTO CREDIT: Priscilla Du PreezSystemic practice can be a rich source of fuel for services, nourishing clinicians and families. To us, systemic thinking supports the creation of space, taking pause, being with and seeing the bigger picture. It is about multiplicity, of idea, of voices, of people and cultures coming together to make sense together. In a culture which is struggling under the weight of austerity, the pandemic and ongoing limitations of practice due to staff shortages and limited resources at a time of extreme demand, we need something to open ourselves and our clients to new possibilities and build trust and safety.This paper will describe systemic family therapy within a secondary care community mental health team. You will hear the voice of Jo, a consultant clinical psychologist and systemic psychotherapist and Funmi, an assistant psychologist in the team. We will discuss decision-making in this work and explore the experiences of the reflecting team, highlighting the value of a systemic approach in secondary adult mental health. The straightest route is not always the most effective or nourishing, sometimes it takes the windy path to get the richest source of progress.

Living Well With Cancer: A Solution-Focused Approach by Dominic Bray

This book is a quick read and is written with humour and humility by Dr Dominic Bray, a British consultant clinical psychologist. It is structured in ten short chapters with most pages having footnotes giving optional extra details for clarity or self-deprecating quips which British readers will recognize as a sign of understated yet assured competence.

WS19.02 ‘Could it be the new meds?’ Clinical Psychology case study reminding us to ask all the old questions in this era of all new modulator medications

Background: Dr Helen Love is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in an UK Paediatric CF service. Following the introduction of modulator medication there have been queries and concerns about possible mental health side effects. The case presented examines and asks do we remember to separate and merge multiple factors that can impact of young people with CF and their mental health.

Tavistock Centenary: the Tavistock Autism service over four decades

An event held in December 2020 explored the rich clinical work and innovative thinking around Autism Spectrum Condition at the Tavistock over the past four decades. Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists Sue Reid and Anne Alvarez describe their early groundbreaking work within the Tavistock Autism Team and Workshop. This work yielded the fascinating clinical observations that there were some children with the condition who made significant gains in therapy, leading to major developments in psychoanalytic techniques for this group. Since then, there has been a continuing influence of psychoanalytical, systemic perspectives on the Tavistock approach to Autism. It is an approach which at the same time is firmly rooted in the research around Autism’s neurodevelopmental basis. Nechama Polak, Clinical Psychologist, provides an account of how the current work of the team has increasingly focused on supporting young adults with the condition, and their parents, whilst Myooran Canagaratnam, Consultant Psychiatrist, describes the Tavistock approach to diagnostic assessment.

Exploring how to deliver videoconference-mediated psychological therapy to adults with an intellectual disability during the coronavirus pandemic

Purpose The novel coronavirus and associated restrictions have resulted in mental health services across the UK having to adapt how they deliver psychological assessments and interventions. The purpose of this paper is to explore the accessibility and prospective acceptability of providing telephone and videoconference-mediated psychological interventions in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Design/methodology/approach As part of a service evaluation, a mixed-methods questionnaire was developed and completed by clients who had been referred for psychological therapy at an adult intellectual disabilities’ community health service in the north of England. All clients were assessed using the Red/Amber/Green (RAG) system by a consultant clinical psychologist for risk and potential suitability for indirect service delivery given their ability and needs. Findings Overall, 22 clients were invited to take part, of which, only seven (32%) were accepting of telephone or videoconference-mediated psychological therapy. Most of the clients were unable to engage in video-conference therapy and therefore, only suitable for phone therapy. This paper presents the remaining findings and discusses the clinical implications and unique considerations for intellectual disability services drawing on the existing literature. Originality/value This is the first paper that the authors are aware of, examining videoconference-mediated psychological therapy in this population. It is hoped the data will be used to help inform practice or policy when using such therapeutic approaches in adults with an intellectual disability.

Digital group developments in Acute Psychology Services

Dr Rachel Atherton,Consultant Clinical Psychologist Scottish National Residential Pain Management Programme (SNRPMP) &Dr Ross Shearer,Consultant Clinical Psychologist Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS) both with NHS Greater Glagsow & Clyde share the practical aspects of moving a pain management group online.

Clinical psychology and Covid: Working in partnership to provide support for staff in Intensive Care

Following an interview with Consultant Clinical Psychologist Sharon Mulhern, Keith Miller writes about her work for a staff support service.

Interview with Caroline Cochrane, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychology Services NHS Borders

Interview with Caroline Cochrane, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychology Services NHS Borders

A day in the life of a consultant clinical psychotherapist

A day in the life of a consultant clinical psychotherapist

Anxiety in adults with autism: Perspectives from practitioners

BackgroundAutism is a neurodevelopmental condition, characterized by differences in social communication and social interaction as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviours (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Research has suggested that 50% of adults with autism meet criteria for an anxiety disorder diagnosis (Russell et al., 2013). Despite a call for multidisciplinary insights (White et al., 2018), few studies have included perspectives of practitioners in this field. MethodWe conducted interviews with eight practitioners (6 Clinical Psychologists, 1 Consultant Clinical Psychologist and 1 Nurse Practitioner) who work with adults with autism and anxiety on a regular basis. ResultsVia thematic analysis, four key themes were identified: 1. Modifications to psychological therapy 2. Thinking outside the box 3. Continued support 4. Issues with anxiety measures. ConclusionModification of standard anxiety interventions are common in practice but the course and nature of these modifications are inconsistent and may depend on practitioner experience. Practitioners may consistently have to think inventively in order to best serve adults with autism and anxiety. Current anxiety measures could be improved in order to accurately gauge anxiety, specific to adults with autism. These findings are discussed in relation to practice and future research.

The Memory Wars in England: A Personal and Professional Experience

The term “false memory syndrome” originated in America in 1992 and spread to the UK in 1993. In the context of the success of the women’s movement in focusing on domestic abuse and then child abuse, the term was seductively softer than calling a victim a liar. Working with abuse survivors in the U.K. at that time, the author witnessed the process whereby, if this scientifically non-existent syndrome was to be publicly accepted, then the anger had to be directed elsewhere. It went, via the media, who are not held back by professional codes in the way a clinician is, to the professionals, especially psychotherapists, who had heard the allegation and therefore must have caused it. The author shows how the success of this anti-professional campaign, aided and abetted by disinformation and denial, affected work with abuse survivors ever since then. Psychoanalysts and psychotherapists who had previously worked in confidential privacy now found their work was being attacked and clinicians working in public service were subject to all kinds of reporting procedures if the allegations involved children. The author describes her own experiences of this. A paradigm shift led to both greater transparency and awareness of trauma but also more directives over treatment protocols. The author was working in the National Health Service (NHS) as a Consultant Psychotherapist when these attacks began. Although her work in revealing the level of sexual abuse experienced by children and adults with an intellectual disability was praised, the moment she reported from a piece of clinical work that involved allegations of ritual abuse, personal media attacks began that have continued ever since. The author warns that whenever society declares that a particular kind of abuse is never possible (as it sounds so bizarre), paedophiles are the only ones who benefit.

As a therapist, how should I grieve after a patient's suicide?

Lucy Maddox, consultant clinical psychologist and writer, part of the Avon Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) committee, author of Blueprint: how our childhood makes us who we are.

Proven Strategies for Engagement, Effective Change and Enduring Risk Reduction with Offenders

Research indicates that at least 70% of offenders reach criteria for personality disorder other than antisocial and, due to the closure of mental health hospitals world-wide; there are an increasing number of offenders with mental illness located in prisons. To fully assess and reduce the risk an offender poses and to try to remediate that risk, the underlying drives to offend must be understood and addressed. To do this an offender must be genuinely engaged. It is suggested that this is in part due to having poor attachment histories and no internal model of a healthy attachment. This paper is written by a consultant clinical and forensic psychologist with a long standing proven record of establishing and running services for and working therapeutically with men with mental health issues with outstanding results in risk reduction alongside and by an expert by experience who has in-depth personal insights into the both the processes needed for effective engagement and change. It describes useable strategies as to how to successfully engage offenders and how to develop a healthy and reparative therapeutic relationship. It describes the importance of a collaborative clinical formulation to aid the development of a coherent narrative and of an emotionally present and engaged therapist. The need to work on both victim and offender issues to bring about real change and risk reduction is elucidated throughout.

Learning Disability Special Interest Group, Berks, Bucks, Oxon and Northampton Region event: Starting conversations about autism spectrum conditions

This article provides a summary of a workshop led by Dr Sarah Helps, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist, examining narratives around autism spectrum conditions, and thinking about how we use these accounts in our conversations with families in our clinical work. This event was supported by the Faculty.

Inflammatory projective identification in fundamentalist religious and economic terrorism

This paper contains the reflections and thoughts of the author, a psychoanalyst and consultant psychotherapist who through his work with violent patients at the Portman Clinic, and later as a specialist consultant with migrants, asylum seekers and political groups has developed some understanding of lone attackers and terrorist behaviour. He uses psychoanalytic theories such as inflammatory projective identification to understand how people can become inflamed through their experience of exploitation, economic and political hegemony, and loss of identity, so that they turn to violent evacuations into others. This violence toward the other is also reflected he says in western economic policy which has also been violent toward those who have been exploited through colonialism and more recently an unfettered market driven economy. This provides the drive to grievance and hate that can be so easily exploited by unscrupulous fundamentalist regimes.

Enhancing the desistance trajectory in prison: Commentary on McMurran and Delight's (2017) 'Process of change in an OPD pathway prison progression unit'.

Criminal Behaviour and Mental HealthVolume 27, Issue 3 p. 273-276 Special Issue Article Enhancing the desistance trajectory in prison: Commentary on McMurran and Delight's (2017) ‘Process of change in an OPD pathway prison progression unit’ Nikki Jeffcote, Corresponding Author Nikki Jeffcote nikki.jeffcote@nhs.net orcid.org/0000-0002-2348-5245 Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bracton Centre, Bracton Lane, Dartford, DA2 7AF UKAddress correspondence to: Dr Nikki Jeffcote, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bracton Centre, Bracton Lane, Dartford, DA2 7AF, UK. Email: nikki.jeffcote@nhs.netSearch for more papers by this author Nikki Jeffcote, Corresponding Author Nikki Jeffcote nikki.jeffcote@nhs.net orcid.org/0000-0002-2348-5245 Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bracton Centre, Bracton Lane, Dartford, DA2 7AF UKAddress correspondence to: Dr Nikki Jeffcote, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bracton Centre, Bracton Lane, Dartford, DA2 7AF, UK. Email: nikki.jeffcote@nhs.netSearch for more papers by this author First published: 05 July 2017 https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2040Citations: 1Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume27, Issue3Special Issue: London Personality Disorder Pathways PartnershipJuly 2017Pages 273-276 RelatedInformation

The clinical development of the London pathways partnership.

Criminal Behaviour and Mental HealthVolume 27, Issue 3 p. 265-268 Special Issue Article The clinical development of the London pathways partnership Jackie Craissati Dr, Corresponding Author Jackie Craissati Dr Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Director, Psychological Approaches CIC craissati@me.com orcid.org/0000-0002-4208-9897 Address correspondence to: Dr Jackie Craissati, Psychological Approaches CIC. Email: craissati@me.comSearch for more papers by this author Jackie Craissati Dr, Corresponding Author Jackie Craissati Dr Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Director, Psychological Approaches CIC craissati@me.com orcid.org/0000-0002-4208-9897 Address correspondence to: Dr Jackie Craissati, Psychological Approaches CIC. Email: craissati@me.comSearch for more papers by this author First published: 05 July 2017 https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2034Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume27, Issue3Special Issue: London Personality Disorder Pathways PartnershipJuly 2017Pages 265-268 RelatedInformation

Collaborative and Indigenous Mental Health Therapy: Tātaihono – Stories of Maori Healing and PsychiatryWiremuNiaNia, AllisterBush and DavidEpston, Routledge, New York2016ISBN: 978‐1‐13823‐030‐9, PB, 184 pages.

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family TherapyVolume 38, Issue 1 p. 187-188 Book Review Collaborative and Indigenous Mental Health Therapy: Tātaihono – Stories of Maori Healing and Psychiatry , Wiremu NiaNia, Allister Bush and David Epston, Routledge, New York 2016ISBN: 978-1-13823-030-9, PB, 184 pages. Clive Banks, Clive Banks banks@actrix.co.nz Ngati Porou and Pakeha, Consultant Clinical Psychologist: Ora Toa MaurioraNZCCP FellowSearch for more papers by this author Clive Banks, Clive Banks banks@actrix.co.nz Ngati Porou and Pakeha, Consultant Clinical Psychologist: Ora Toa MaurioraNZCCP FellowSearch for more papers by this author First published: 22 March 2017 https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1208Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume38, Issue1Special Issue: Family Therapy and SpiritualityMarch 2017Pages 187-188 RelatedInformation

Pushing at the edges in uncertain places: Jos Twist in conversation with Bernadette Wren

Bernadette Wren is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Systemic Psychotherapist and Trust-wide Head of Psychology, working at the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Bernadette first worked at the Tavistock GIDS back in the 1990s before leaving to work in a more ‘general’ clinical team and to teach therapists and researchers. Bernadette has also worked at Great Ormond Street hospital with young people with eating problems. Bernadette returned to the GIDS in 2011. The following is an edited version of a conversation between Bernadette and Jos Twist who is also a Clinical Psychologist at the Gender Identity Development Service.

Costrutti e relazioni Intervista a Harry Procter

H. G. Procter, PhD, Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Harry Procter is Visiting Professor at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. He conducted his doctoral research in the early 1970’s at the Department of Mental Health, University of Bristol, on applying Personal Construct Psychology to family processes and beginning the development of a Systemic Constructivist approach to family therapy. After training as a Clinical Psychologist in Nottingham, he worked in Adult and then Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Somerset before retiring from the NHS in 2004. Currently, he is involved in supervision and teaching in a number of countries and is continuing to develop Constructivist applications to relational and organizational contexts. He has published over 40 papers and chapters covering a variety of topics including family therapy for children and adults with mental health and learning disabilities, schizophrenia, autism, hypnotherapy, reflective practice, formulation and the philosophical background to his approach. He has edited two volumes of papers of Milton H. Erickson for Paidos Publications, Barcelona, and is currently co-editing a volume of papers presented at the International Congress on Personal Construct Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, July 2015. Recently he has been researching the work of Charles S. Peirce whose work provides a fascinating meta-framework for looking at and understanding constructivist approaches. Two recent chapters for the new Handbook of Personal Construct Psychology address Relational Construct Psychology and PCP, Society and Culture. He has developed various types of Qualitative Grid, which are user-friendly methods of displaying the construing of members of groups and families, tracing their different positions and charting change over time.