333 – Dunning-Kruger Effect in Trauma-Informed Therapy
Autistic Therapists in Practice - The Essential Skill of Academic Referencing
In Episode 333 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly, take us through this week’s three key topics:
- Firstly, in ‘Ethical, Sustainable Practice’ we look at understanding the Dunning-Kruger Effect in trauma-informed therapy and how it can impact professional competence.
- Then in ‘Practice Matters’, Rory interviews an autistic therapist who has chosen to stay anonymous to allow for an open and honest conversation. This discussion is about their lived experience and insights into neurodivergence in the profession.
- And lastly in ‘Student Services’, Rory and Ken look at the importance of referencing in assignments, avoiding common pitfalls, and using digital tools to ensure accuracy.
Dunning-Kruger Effect in Trauma-Informed Therapy [starts at 03:14 mins]
This segment of the Counselling Tutor Podcast is sponsored by
WebHealer.net
- WebHealer are the go-to provider of websites for private practitioners in the UK.
- Established over 20 years, WebHealer offers a non-technical and fully supported service to help therapists grow their private practice.
- Just one customer from your website each year pays for their service.
Go to WebHealer.net and use coupon CT100 for £100 off their "Do it for me" service.
Working with trauma requires ongoing learning, and in this section, Rory and Ken discuss the dangers of overestimating our competence and the need for continual professional development:
- The Dunning-Kruger Effect suggests that individuals with limited knowledge often overestimate their expertise while those with extensive knowledge may underestimate their abilities.
- In trauma therapy, assuming we know more than we do can be harmful to clients, as misinterpreting trauma responses can lead to ineffective or even damaging interventions.
- Ethical practice calls for therapists to engage in continued learning and training to ensure they remain informed and competent.
- Rory shares his personal journey in recognising gaps in his early training, and how expanding his trauma-informed knowledge transformed his practice.
- Investing in training isn’t just beneficial - it’s essential to maintaining ethical and effective care for trauma survivors.
Theory to Practice is sponsored by
Counselling Skills Academy
Learn counselling techniques by seeing counselling skills used in real sessions by qualified therapists.
Real sessions – real-life presentations – real skills.
Autistic Therapists in Practice [starts at 23:13 mins]
In this week’s ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with an autistic therapist about navigating the profession while being neurodivergent.
Key points from the conversation include:
- Breaking stereotypes – Addressing common misconceptions about autistic professionals in therapy.
- Masking and burnout – How masking neurodivergent traits in a professional setting can lead to exhaustion.
- Client relationships – How self-disclosure and a neurodivergent perspective can enhance therapeutic connection.
- Workplace accommodations – The importance of reasonable adjustments to support autistic therapists in practice.
- Neurodivergent therapists can bring unique strengths to therapy, including deep empathy and creative engagement techniques.
Counselling Study Resource:
Assignment Guidance & Study Support for Counselling Students
- Academic Lecture Library - Lectures that cover key theory, skills and professional development linked to your counselling study.
- Assignment Guidance - Complete assignment exemplars and portfolios of work that have been passed by both tutors and awarding bodies.
- Theory Decoded, Skills Mastery and More - Counselling theories and skills are broken down into easy-to-understand ‘chunks’, with clear examples to guide you.
The Essential Skill of Academic Referencing [starts at 50:34 mins]
Accurate referencing is an essential skill in academic writing. In this section, Rory and Ken explore best practices for referencing and common mistakes to avoid:
- Referencing provides credibility and allows others to verify the sources used.
- There are different referencing styles (Harvard, APA, etc.), and it’s important to follow your institution’s guidelines.
- Common mistakes include incorrect formatting, missing citations, and relying on non-academic sources like Wikipedia.
- AI tools and university citation generators can assist in formatting references correctly.
- Ensuring references are listed in alphabetical order and checking if word counts include citations can help avoid unnecessary resubmissions.
- Good referencing strengthens your argument and ensures academic integrity.
Get on-demand Certified CPD that is implementable in your practice
Counsellor CPD Library
- Over 150 hours of on-demand CPD lectures to help you stay current with your CPD ethical requirements
- Support, and be supported, by thousands of other counsellors as a member of the exclusive online community.
- Access your learning anytime you want ... anywhere you choose ... using any device type — desktop or mobile.
Free Handout Download
Dunning–Kruger Effect in Therapy