326 – Ambiguous Loss

Virtual Reality in Therapy – Vicarious Trauma

In Episode 326 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week’s three topics:

• First up in Ethical, Sustainable Practice: Understanding ambiguous loss, its complexities, and how it presents in therapy.
• Then in Practice Matters: Rory speaks with Nina Solomons about the innovative use of virtual reality in therapy.
• Lastly, in Student Services: Rory and Ken discuss a critique of the person-centred model, addressing its strengths and limitations.

Ambiguous Loss [starts at 03:07 mins]

In this week’s Ethical, Sustainable Practice, Rory and Ken explore ambiguous loss – a type of grief where the person or thing is physically absent but psychologically present.

The main points from this section:

• Examples of ambiguous loss are children leaving home for university, missing person cases, and emotional loss due to illness or addiction.
• Grief in ambiguous loss can be difficult to process as there is no clear endpoint or closure.
• Clients may experience unresolved emotional states such as yearning, self-blame, or confusion.
• Ambiguous loss can be unseen both by the individual and by others.
• Types of ambiguous loss:
  • Physical absence without closure (e.g. a missing loved one).
  • Emotional loss, such as the gradual loss of a person due to conditions like Alzheimer’s or addiction.
• Clients may have difficulty coming to terms with the loss due to the lack of closure.
• This emotional complexity requires thoughtful therapeutic approaches focusing on acceptance and resilience.
• Working with ambiguous loss in therapy:
  • Mastery: Helping clients regain control over their lives despite the absence.
  • Acceptance: Encouraging acceptance of the loss.
  • Resilience: Supporting clients in their healing journey through understanding and accepting their grief.
  • Connection and Hope: Encouraging connections with others who have experienced similar losses and nurturing hope for emotional growth.

Virtual Reality in Therapy [starts at 30:00 mins]

In this week’s Practice Matters, Rory speaks with Nina Solomons about how virtual reality (VR) is transforming therapy, offering clients a safe space to express their thoughts and emotions.

Key points from this conversation include:

• VR allows clients to create a personal space where they can express emotions and process difficult topics.
• Therapists can remotely observe and engage with what the client creates in VR, offering a dynamic approach to emotional expression.
• Clients can use VR to build visual metaphors that help them externalise complex emotions, aiding in trauma processing or exploring relational issues.
• Creative methods such as drawing or building in VR can help clients uncover hidden emotions or suppressed memories.
• The therapist can control aspects of the session, ensuring safety and comfort for the client.
• VR in therapy provides a creative outlet for clients to express their thoughts, especially those with difficulty articulating complex emotions.
• VR can also support clients with PTSD, anxiety, and trauma by providing an environment that allows them to face their fears and work through emotions.

Vicarious Trauma [starts at 52:16 mins]

In this section, Rory and Ken discuss vicarious trauma, how it can affect counsellors, and how to recognise and manage it.

Key points include:

• Vicarious trauma occurs when a counsellor or helper is affected by the trauma they hear about from clients.
• Even brief mentions of traumatic events can trigger strong emotional reactions or past experiences in the therapist.
• It’s important to be aware of the signs of vicarious trauma, such as feeling emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, or experiencing distress related to the trauma you hear about.
• Therapists and helpers can also be vicariously traumatised when they imagine themselves in the client’s situation.
• Coping with vicarious trauma:
  • Use grounding techniques such as square breathing to steady the nervous system.
  • Engage in physical movement to help the body release stress.
• Supporting others with vicarious trauma:
  • Recognise the signs in colleagues and offer support when necessary.
  • Encourage self-care practices and professional development to mitigate the impact of vicarious trauma.

Links and Resources

Anomie – Creating Safe Spaces in VR

Anomie Demo Video

Anomie Testimonials

Counselling Skills Academy

Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision

Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide

Counsellor CPD

Counselling Study Resource

Counselling Theory in Practice: A Student Guide

Counselling Tutor Shop

Facebook group

Website

Online and Telephone Counselling: A Practitioner’s Guide

Online and Telephone Counselling Course