Working After Loss: How Bereavement Counsellors Experience Returning to Therapeutic Work After the Death of Their Parent

Research Question ◽

Grief And Loss ◽

Use Of Self ◽

Self Disclosure ◽

Therapeutic Work ◽

Returning To Work ◽

Despite increased interest in the impact of external events on counsellors, surprisingly little has been written on counsellor bereavement. To address the research question: How do bereavement counsellors experience therapeutic work after the death of their parent? Interviews were conducted with four bereaved counsellors who reflected on its impact on their work. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three major themes emerged; how decisions about returning to work were informed by colleagues and supervision; the benefits of returning to work and the use of ‘bracketing’; long-term implications for practice including heightened empathy with clients’ and disclosure of loss. In addition, participants felt they had insufficient guidance regarding fitness to practice. The possible limitations of the study were that self-selection may have introduced an element of bias to the results. These findings support existing literature and also revealed potential gaps in grief and loss training for counsellors and supervisors. A particular training issue for supervisors might be identifying and discussing fitness to practice issues with supervisees. There are also implications for counsellors in terms of the use of self-disclosure in therapy. Suggested further research to explore the use of self-disclosure in greater depth.

Impact of the therapist’s “use of self”

The European Journal of Counselling Psychology ◽

10.5964/ejcop.v8i1.160 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 118-143

Author(s):

Andrew M. Sleater ◽

Julie Scheiner

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Belief Systems ◽

Use Of Self ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Self Disclosure

The aim of this research was to explore the therapist’s “use of self” to gain an understanding of this phenomenon through the participants’ lived experience. A literature review yielded a number of common themes associated with “use of self”: self-disclosure, personality, intersubjectivity, relationality, attachment, belief systems, and embodiment. The study comprised of semi-structured interviews conducted with six experienced and accredited clinicians. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used, as it facilitated the objectives of the research, which were to capture the lived experience of the clinicians, identify common themes, and observe for any new insights. The authors found three superordinate themes in relation to the therapist’s “use of self”, all of which are intertwined: connection, awareness and wellness. The research supports the fact that the therapist’s “use of self” has an impact on therapy. While connection and awareness feature strongly in the literature, the importance of wellness is not highlighted. The authors propose that an obligate symbiosis exists between awareness and wellness.

An Identity Process Theory Account of the Impact of Boarding School on Sense of Self and Mental Health: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction ◽

10.1007/s11469-021-00503-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Frances Simpson ◽

Melanie Haughton ◽

William Van Gordon

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Sense Of Self ◽

Educational Institution ◽

Self Concept ◽

Process Theory ◽

Identity Process Theory ◽

AbstractBoarding schools exist to provide education for children, but this involves the child leaving the family home and residing in an educational institution. Identity Process Theory suggests that such a change in circumstances can threaten the child’s identity, which triggers coping strategies and impacts on the individual’s self-concept during both childhood and adulthood. This study undertook an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with five adults who boarded as children. The focus was on exploring participants’ beliefs in terms of how the boarding experience affected their sense of self. Emerging themes relate to the (i) coping strategies used by participants during childhood, such as amnesia, compartmentalising, compliance and acceptance, and (ii) long-term effects of boarding on identity, self-concept and intimate relationships. Findings also highlight the interplay of factors such as privilege and social class, which were reported as motives for participants’ parents choosing boarding for their children. The study raises important questions about the long-term health impacts of sending children away to board.

Therapists' Experience of Loss: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/om.68.2.a ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

pp. 89-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Konstantinos Kouriatis ◽

Dora Brown

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Therapeutic Work ◽

This qualitative study aimed to explore therapists' experiences of loss. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 therapists and the data were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three master themes emerged from the analysis: (a) the grieving therapist, (b) hindrances in grieving, and (c) the impact of loss on therapeutic work. Therapists talked about their grief and elaborated on how they coped with their bereavement. Hindrances in their grief were reported, emerging both from others' stance and from their own. Participants found that their experience of loss was related to both challenges and advancements in their therapeutic work.

The Fiscal Effects of Economic Immigration on Subnational Government Finance in Poland

e-Finanse ◽

10.2478/fiqf-2019-0005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 45-58

Author(s):

Marzanna Poniatowicz ◽

Agnieszka Piekutowska

Keyword(s):

Social Policy ◽

Income Tax ◽

Research Question ◽

Personal Income Tax ◽

Government Finance ◽

Subnational Government ◽

Migration Research ◽

The Impact ◽

High Share

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to analyse the effects of economic immigration on subnational government finance (SNG) in Poland. The goal to achieve is to answer the following research question: what are the fiscal effects of immigration on SNG budget revenues and expenditures. To answer this question, logarithmic models were developed. The analysis refers to the years 2007-2016. In this respect, data from Statistics Poland - referring to budget revenues and expenditures of communes, cities of district status, districts and voivodeships - were used. As far as immigration statistics are concerned, data from the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy were used. The results indicate an increase in both revenues and expenditures of SNG as a result of immigration. Such results can be explained inter alia by the nature of migration - research were focused on economic immigration. Results confirm that the level of employment of foreigners is one of the determinants shaping the fiscal effect of immigration. Moreover, the impact of economic immigration on SNG budget revenues and expenditures depends on the structure of this budget. This explains the differentiated results of the analysis of the impact of immigration on SNG in different countries. The positive correlation between immigration and SNG revenues in Poland can be associated with a high share of subnational governments in personal income tax revenues as this tax is one of the main categories of SNG revenues. Furthermore, results show that the impact of immigration on local government budgets in Poland is modest. This confirms the conclusions drawn by other authors (e.g. Auerbach and Oreopoulos), that in the long term, immigration cannot be considered as a potential instrument for resolving fiscal imbalances.

‘This is Killing me Inside’: The Impact of Having a Parent with Young-Onset Dementia

Dementia ◽

10.1177/1471301217702977 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1089-1107 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Helen J Aslett ◽

Jaci C Huws ◽

Robert T Woods ◽

Joanne Kelly-Rhind

Keyword(s):

Service Providers ◽

Parent Support ◽

Young Onset ◽

Roles And Responsibilities ◽

Affected Parent ◽

Young Onset Dementia ◽

The Impact ◽

Depth Interviews

This study explored the experience of young adults having a parent with young-onset dementia. In-depth interviews were undertaken with five participants aged between 23 and 36 years of age and these were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants were found to experience a number of stresses in relation to their parent’s illness, many of which were linked to loss and guilt. Five main themes were identified related to relationship changes, shifts in roles and responsibilities, support for the non-affected parent, support for self and the impact of living with their own potential risk of dementia. These findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature and suggest that individuals with a parent with young-onset dementia have needs which service providers should consider in the wider context of young-onset dementia care.

Use of Self-Disclosure for the Gay Male Therapist: The Impact on Gay Males in Therapy

Journal of Social Service Research ◽

10.1080/01488376.2012.686732 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 78-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Henry W. Kronner

Keyword(s):

Use Of Self ◽

Self Disclosure ◽

Gay Males ◽

Gay Male ◽

Male Therapist ◽

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of exercisers’ use of music during workouts

Psychology of Music ◽

10.1177/0305735619854527 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 030573561985452

Author(s):

Rachel Hallett ◽

Alexandra Lamont

Keyword(s):

Individual Experience ◽

Use Of Self ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Music Literacy ◽

Negative Experiences ◽

Self Identity ◽

Social Positioning ◽

Recorded Data

This study explores exercisers’ use of self-selected music. Ten participants (seven female, three male) aged 26–58 years who exercised regularly took part in semi-structured interviews about their exercise and music use. Interviews explored how they sourced, selected and experienced music during exercise. The recorded data were transcribed and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to identify common patterns while also recognising individual experience. Four themes were identified: Taking control, referring to overcoming internal and external challenges through music; It’s all about me, involving self-identity and social positioning; Exercise-music literacy, concerning musical judgement and technological skills; and Embodiment, concerning body-music-hardware interactions and synchronisation. The results show examples of circumstances under which music provides exercisers with both positive and negative experiences. The findings contribute to understanding of the effects of music in exercise and demonstrate the individuality of preferences and usage.

Relatives’ Experiences of Frontal-Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/1049732312466294 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 156-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Jan R. Oyebode ◽

Paul Bradley ◽

Joanne L. Allen

Keyword(s):

Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Mutual Relationship ◽

Communication Problems ◽

It Impacts ◽

Social Settings ◽

Planning Ability ◽

In this article we address how relatives of people with frontal-variant frontotemporal dementia (fvFTD) experience the illness and how it impacts their lives. We interviewed 6 participants and carried out interpretative phenomenological analysis. We report on 11 themes that reflect distinctive challenges. Five themes relate to witnessing bizarre and strange changes: changed appetites and drives, loss of planning ability, loss of inhibition leading to social embarrassment, risky behavior, and communication problems. Four relate to managing these changes and two to the impact on the person and his or her relationships. Relatives must live with unusual changes in the person with fvFTD and the stigma this carries in social settings. They learn to act assertively for their relatives and put effort into promoting quality of life, using strategies adapted for fvFTD. Relatives grieve the loss of the person with fvFTD and their mutual relationship, but nonetheless find sources of solace and hope.

How do women with secondary breast cancer experience telling their adolescent children about their diagnosis?

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316648484 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (9) ◽

pp. 1223-1233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leonie Lalayiannis ◽

Nicky Asbury ◽

Graham Dyson ◽

Amanda Walshe

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Primary Cancer ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Cancer Experience ◽

Secondary Breast Cancer ◽

This study investigated how women with secondary breast cancer experience telling their adolescent children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at least 1 year prior to the interview. Seven women, who had at least one child between 12 and 19 years old living at home at the time of diagnosis, were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis for an in-depth understanding of women’s experiences. Women found that it was easier to tell their children of their secondary breast cancer diagnosis compared to their primary cancer. However, they talked about the impact the diagnosis had on their family.

Stress as Experienced by People with Dementia: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Dementia ◽

10.1177/1471301217713877 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1427-1445 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Barbara K Sharp

Keyword(s):

Sense Of Self ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Self Worth ◽

And Coping ◽

Study Participants ◽

Person With Dementia ◽

Health and social care research on stress in dementia has predominantly considered the stress experienced by family and professional carers. Focus on the person with dementia has frequently laid emphasis on the impact of stress-related behaviour on others and how such behaviour might be ‘managed’. This paper describes a qualitative study which gives voice to people with dementia on the subject of stress and responds to the need for a better understanding of stress as it is experienced by people with dementia themselves. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted on data collected from a purposive sample of people diagnosed with varying types of dementia from across Scotland. Discussions across five focus groups consisting of 21 participants with dementia in total generated data which was audio and video recorded, and analysed thematically. Five key themes emerged, described in the participants’ own words, which were: (1) ‘Something’s torn, your life’s torn’; (2) ‘Families can bring stress’; (3) ‘It’s the stress of living with dementia’; (4) ‘A whole new set of rules’; and (5) ‘It’s our lives and we’ll get it under control ourselves’. These themes reflect experiences of loss, challenges to one’s sense of self, relationship dynamics, living with the symptoms of dementia, learning to do things differently and establishing coping mechanisms that provide control. Study participants illustrated individual potential for adapting and coping with some of the most stressful aspects of living with dementia, challenging assumptions of inevitable fixed decline and progressive vulnerability to stress. Participants describe a process of recovery in their perceptions of self-worth, purpose and value in life following diagnosis.