Madiba!

 Thinking of you, Madiba! You are an inspiration!

“We can change the world and make it a better place.

It is in your hands to make a difference.”

– Mandela.

Valuable tears!

Gustav Klimt

Blume-Marcovici, A., Stolberg, R., & Khademi, M. (2013). Do Therapists Cry in Therapy? The Role of Experience and Other Factors in Therapists' Tears. Psychotherapy DOI: 10.1037/a0031384

In a recent survey of 684 American therapists  72% of the sample reported that they had shed tears with their clients in therapy.

Abstract

The subject of therapist's crying in therapy (TCIT) has been virtually ignored in the literature, with only 1 qualitative dissertation and 3 case studies devoted to the topic. This mixed-method survey study explored therapists' experiences with and attitude toward TCIT. Six hundred eighty-four U.S. psychologists and trainees filled out the survey online, revealing that 72% of therapists report having cried in therapy in their role as therapist. Data analysis indicated that the act of crying in therapy has less to do with personality or demographic factors (i.e., Big Five traits, empathy, sex) and more to do with the unique aspects of the therapy itself and the therapist's identity in the therapeutic context (theoretical orientation, clinical experience, affective tone of the session). Clinicians with more experience, who are older, cried more in therapy than novice clinicians, despite lower crying frequency in daily life, suggesting that more experienced therapists feel more comfortable allowing themselves to experience and/or express such emotions in therapy sessions. Psychodynamic therapists reported slightly higher rates of TCIT than cognitive-behavioral therapists despite no differences in crying in daily life. Despite significant differences in crying rates in daily life, male and female clinicians report similar rates of TCIT. Data regarding the relationship between TCIT and Big Five personality traits, empathy, and perceived consequences of TCIT are reported.

Id & Ego battles: Where the wild things are

"The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another

his mother called him “WILD THING!”

and Max said “I WILL EAT YOU UP!” so he was sent to bed without eating anything.

 That very night in Max’s room a forest grew…and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max and he sailed off through night and day and in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are. 

 And when he came to the place where the wild things are

they roared their terrible roars and gnashed

their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws

until Max said “BE STILL”  and tamed them…”  (Sendak, 1963/2012).

SPR in Brisbane

 

Off to SPR conference in Brisbane from the 10th to 13th of July 2013. Going to be some great presentations on research into psychotherapy!

Squiggle training soon!

Winnicott theory @IPCP in July-August 2013....Exciting!

Good reads: Solid basic counselling skills

The Sessions

No-one in particular by Mark O'Brien

let me touch you with my words
for my hands lie limp as empty gloves
let my words stroke your hair
slide down your back
and tickle your belly
for my hands, light and free flying as bricks
ignore my wishes and stubbornly refuse to carry out my quietest desires
let my words enter your mind
bearing torches
admit them willingly into your being
so they may caress you gently
within