Transference, Countertransference and Projection Origin of the Concept of Transference Viennese psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud first identified the phenomenon of transference in 1901, when he worked with a client called Dora. In hindsight, he realised that the reason she had not completed treatment with him was that he had failed to recognise that she saw him […]

Stockholm Syndrome A counsellor will at some point engage a client who is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Abusive relationships and domestic violence situations are everyday examples where Stockholm Syndrome may be hiding. Also known as trauma bonding, effective counselling is essential in addressing this psychological condition. In this online CPD for counsellors article, we will

Sexual Abuse Preparing Yourself Sexual abuse is a very heavy and difficult topic to hear about from a client. To cope with this, we need to be resilient, and to protect ourselves from being damaged by what we hear. In its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, the BACP (2018: 11) defines resilience as ‘the capacity

Working with Clients Who Self-Harm Intervention for Self Harm In order to start working with clients who self-harm, and to present interventions for self harm, we first need to understand what self harm is. The NHS defines self-harm as follows: ‘Self-harm is when someone intentionally damages or injures their body. It’s usually a way of

Models of Mental Health The World Health Organization defines ‘mental health’ as: ‘a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.’ There are various different

Meeting Course Criteria What Criteria Are The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘criterion’ (the singular form of ‘criteria’) as ‘a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided’. This is accurate in the context of counselling courses, as your work is judged (marked), and a decision made about whether you’ve passed. What Tutors Are

Loss and Bereavement CPD for Counsellors As a counsellor, you are likely to have clients who bring loss and bereavement to a session. This article covers loss and bereavement CPD for counsellors looking to work with grief. You will learn: The theory of loss and bereavement How attachment style effects loss Four tasks of mourning

Loss and Bereavement in Children and Young People Ethical Considerations The Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (BACP, 2018: 16) states: 27. Careful consideration will be given to working with children and young people that: a. takes account of their capacity to give informed consent, considering whether it is appropriate to seek the consent of

Codependency Nature of Codependency When people are codependent, they need approval from others in order to feel safe and worthy; this results in displaying compulsive behaviours in order to gain other people’s approval. For example, a codependent person might feel they have to arrive absolutely on time, to be in a certain place or to

History of Attachment Theory It was British psychiatrist John Bowlby (who worked at the Tavistock Centre, London) who originally introduced the idea of attachment styles at the end of World War II, in the 1950s. Bowlby was commissioned by the World Health Organization to research what happens when children are taken away at an early