Functions of peer mentoring, satisfaction and the “real” relationship in postgraduate psychology education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how a peer mentoring relationship may support provisional psychologists engaged in postgraduate education in Australia. The theoretical lens for this study draws from the real relationship framework and significant events literature. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained via a web survey from a sample of 23 mentors and 41 mentees. Participants had engaged in a one-year peer mentoring program on a volunteer basis. The survey contained measures of functions of mentoring, perceived genuineness and realism in the relationship, and overall satisfaction with peer mentoring. Participants also provided accounts of helpful events, hindering events and open feedback. Findings Perceived satisfaction was significantly correlated with greater genuineness and realism in the relationship. Satisfaction was associated with psychosocial and clinical functions of mentoring for both mentors and mentees, and career functions for mentees only. Qualitative findings indicated that the most helpful events included psychosocial support, mutual understanding and skill development. The most frequent hindering events were logistics/time, lack of structure and mentor technique/activity. Practical implications Peer mentors show great promise for supporting provisional psychologists. Recommendations for higher education providers include providing peer mentors with guidance regarding the importance of psychosocial support, clinical skill development and creating genuine and real relationships. Peer mentor training would also benefit from the inclusion of career development strategies and psychoeducation on transference. Originality/value This study is the first to apply the real relationship framework and significant events analysis to the psychology peer mentoring context.

Significant therapy events with clients with intellectual disabilities

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore significant events in psychotherapy with clients with intellectual disabilities (IDs).Design/methodology/approachFour therapy dyads, each consisting of one client and one therapist, were recruited. Following the brief structured recall procedure (Elliott and Shapiro, 1988), semi-structured interviews focused on helpful events in psychotherapy, using video of particular sessions as a stimulus to help prompt recall of that session.FindingsUsing interpretative phenomenological analysis, five super-ordinate themes were identified: “The Uniqueness of the Therapeutic Relationship”; “Using adaptations to Express Emotions”; “Client Behaviour/Therapist Behaviour”; “Hope and Paternalism”; and “Meaning-Making”. The results provide additional evidence that significant therapy events occur for clients with IDs. Furthermore, the research enabled insights to be gained about the process of therapy for this client group and for exploration of therapeutic factors that may be involved in facilitating a significant therapy event.Research limitations/implicationsThis study highlights the need for therapists to work in such a way as to facilitate significant events in therapy. Whilst this study was a necessary first step, owing to the non-existence of research in this area, the sample size and qualitative design may limit any wider generalisation of the findings.Originality/valueSignificant events have not previously been explored in psychotherapy with clients with IDs. This research could therefore make an important contribution to our understanding of the process of psychotherapy for this client group.

Helpful and Hindering Events in Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Generalized Anxiety

Background: Anxiety disorders are a highly prevalent cause of impairment globally with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) sharing many features with other anxiety disorders. Aims: The present study investigated the helpful and hindering events and impacts for individuals with generalized anxiety who engaged with a supported 6-week online intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT). Method: Participants (n = 36) completed the Helpful and Hindering Aspects of Therapy (HAT) for each session. A descriptive-interpretative framework was used to analyse the data. Results: Helpful events were identified by participants as CBT techniques including psychoeducation, monitoring, cognitive restructuring and relaxation, and found supporter interaction, mindfulness and reading personal stories helpful. The associated impacts were identified as support and validation; behavioural change/applying coping strategies; clarification, awareness, and insight; reassurance/relief; and self-efficacy/empowerment. Hindering events were identified as treatment content/form; and amount of work/technical issues, which led to impacts such as frustration/irritation; increased anxiety; and isolation. Conclusion: The implications of the results, potential future directions of research and limitations of the study are discussed.

Treatment Modalities

In the first part of this chapter the focus is on research comparing the effectiveness (i.e., psychotherapy outcomes) of various treatment modalities: individual, group, couple, and family therapies. In the second section the discussion shifts to focus on research that examines therapy process similarities and differences across the various treatment modalities. The chapter includes a review of the research literature comparing individual, group, couple, and family treatments. Although there are numerous studies comparing treatment approaches (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy vs. psychodynamic therapy), far fewer studies have compared treatment modalities. For treatment outcome differences, a number of meta-analyses examining similarities and differences across treatment modalities are reviewed, summarized, and critiqued. Exploring differences in therapeutic processes involved reviewing, summarizing, and critiquing studies that examined similarities and differences in the character of the therapeutic alliance, helpful events, and therapist behaviors and techniques. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research. Two major approaches to new research are recommended: focus on treatment goals and systemic processes and an increased focus on the therapeutic processes that cut across and differentiate the treatment modalities

Clients' Attributions of Recalled Important or Helpful Events in a Counseling Interview

Clients' causal explanations for recalled important or helpful events between those of early and of late sessions of counseling interview have been examined. We predicted that (a) for clients' recalled important or helpful events, there will be more internal attribution in late than in early sessions and (b) clients' evaluation of counseling sessions would be positively related to their internal attribution of the recalled important or helpful events. Data were generated from 84 sessions of therapy, with 12 counselor-client dyads conducting seven sessions of therapeutic interviews each. Immediately after each interview, clients were requested to recall and explain the most important or helpful events that happened during the session. Clients' causal explanations of the events were analyzed by two trained judges. Results showed no statistically significant differences in frequencies of internal attribution. Similarly, internal attribution did not covary with clients' evaluation of counseling sessions. The implications of the results are discussed.