This morning, over breakfast I came across a posting by the British Association for Counselling: “Only 12% of the UK population realise that anyone can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist …People need to know why to choose a therapist who is on a Professional Standards Authority accredited register”. Not unlike the current conservative government which … [Read more…]
Judi & Bernd have participated in a new video explaining the background of the creation of the LDPRT. The video is embedded on the ‘Details of Teaching‘ page, and it also presented below.
The profession, I’d say, is in a mess. This could be said to apply to psychotherapy in general, but, actually, psychosexual and relationship therapy too seems to be somewhat at sea. Decades ago, as a result of the Rugby Conference 1982, counselling and psychotherapy separated out into ‘counselling’ and ‘psychotherapy’, for those who were keen … [Read more…]
“A program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for healing; recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in staff, clients, and others involved with the system; and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, practices, and settings.” (SAMHSA, 2012, p. 4) We … [Read more…]
There has been much in the news lately about Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which I was bestruck by some twenty-five years ago. At the time I was facilitating a group and one member said to me ‘Judi, I think you have had a stroke’ – there was no pain at the time and at that point … [Read more…]
New clients presenting for therapy often expect the therapist to fix their problems, and in an attempt to justify our sessional rates, therapists like myself can be seduced to expertly search for what is missing or broken in a couple’s relationship. So not only do the partners or individuals have their agendas, but we also … [Read more…]
Somehow as therapists we often think we are immortal, will always be of service to our clients and colleagues and then we are confronted with often untimely and premature deaths. Our dear colleague and friend Sarah Collings died, on January 10th of a terrible illness. She had been a stoic in the face of degeneration. … [Read more…]
One of my self-imposed rules in working with couples is that if one partner has an unhealthy relationship with a behaviour, substance or alcohol, that needs to be addressed before we can start work. Recently, I had to face my rigid approach and modify my rule book. Fred and Ginger came to see me. (Can … [Read more…]
When partners present with different sexual wants in their relationship it can get them stuck. It can mean they question the viability of their relationship even if they still love each other, or perhaps be a reason for infidelity. One partner really wants to do this sexually, the other is repulsed by it. A shaming … [Read more…]
Today sees my third decade of involvement with COSRT, our chosen accrediting body – one of several – and I find myself reminiscing about the changes within the profession. “BASMT”, the British Association for Sex and Marital Therapy, has always been one of very few, if not the only specialist body for sex and relationships – as … [Read more…]