Tavistock and Portman E-Prints Online
Not a member yet
2774 research outputs found
Sort by
Therapeutic yoga and psychotherapy for facilitating posttraumatic growth
No full textThere is a growing body of evidence for the effectiveness of yoga as a therapeutic adjunct to talking therapies in complex trauma. O’Rourke provides a theoretical framework for this was well as describing, with clinical cases, the impact the work with the body in a socially connected group can have
Writing trauma: Literary representations of traumatic experience
No full textYoung and Stubley explore the representation of trauma in works of literature, raising the question of whether it is possible to truly know about horrific experiences if one has not experienced them oneself. Also, for those who have experienced them, whether it is possible to symbolize what is arguably beyond representation
‘When I nod my head, hit it’: leadership and followership in the orchestral environment
No full textExpanding on an interdisciplinary event that was part of the Tavistock Centenary celebrations, this paper explores experiences of leadership and followership in the orchestral context. Drawing on a sample of literature from a range of sources exploring organisational life in the orchestra including organisational psychology, music education, social semiotics and sociology, and with reference to psychoanalytic and systems psychodynamics frameworks, the paper makes links between experiences of leadership and followership in the orchestra and work in the NHS
Needing to respond; Responding to need: A thematic analysis exploring Educational Psychologists’ experiences of responding to critical incidents
Get PDFLiterature relating to Educational Psychologists’ (EPs) responses to critical incidents (CIs) is
limited. There is a need for a current overview exploring factors which may impact or affect
how an EP responds to a CI. Therefore, this research aims to explore what influences an EP’s
response to a critical incident. Using a critical realist ontological and constructionist
epistemological position semi- structured interviews were carried out with three practicing
EPs about their experiences of responding to three different CIs. The interviews were
analysed using a thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006) where six themes (The CI, The
Educational Psychologist, Systems, Impacting factors on approach, Responding to needs and
the relational aspect and Post CI- The bigger picture) and 20 subthemes emerged from the
data. Findings are discussed in relation to previous literature and the analysis of the
interviews. Strengths and limitations of the study, outstanding questions and directions for
future research are then summarised. The project concludes with an outline of the
professional implications of the research in relation to the six themes
Narrative therapy and continuing bonds enquiry with refugees and asylum seekers: Bridging the past and the future
No full textRefugees and asylum seekers experience throughout their lives numerous losses of various nature. Treating mental health among these communities is challenging owing to language and cultural barriers. In addition, there are specific stressors associated with migration and settlement to be considered. This paper explores the use of the model ‘continuing bonds’ (CB) in two case studies as a form of enquiry. The authors draw upon social constructionist and narrative ideas to provide an enquiry approach that enables clinicians to understand and respond to the numerous losses of one's culture and relationships as a result of migratory grief. This is an emerging enquiry model based on the authors' work with unaccompanied minors which professionals can make use of in responding promptly and treating mental health difficulties within this population, drawing upon both past and present relationships
Possessed by a cruel God: The damaging effect of an omnipotent internal object
No full textIn most religious belief systems, omnipotence is God’s most important attribute. Mr L’s sense of inadequacy seemed to be strongly connected with the kind of relationship he had developed with his internal objects. His parents divorced when he was a pre-adolescent, but despite that, his father maintained a strong presence in both the nuclear and the extended family while his mother was both more distant and self-effacing. The effect of the introjection of a critical and superior container seemed to have been crippling in terms of Mr L’s development and his oedipal struggles, leading to the formation of an omnipotent and persecutory internal object. A huge part of the personality then capitulates to the control and domination of this infallible and intimidating superego. Thinking independently and critically is prohibited, and the patient protects himself from even more damaging punishments by belittling himself first, before this god-like figure does it
Tales of the unexpected: What needs to be understood by a child psychotherapist when taking up their role working with under-fives in a mental health service? Reflexive thematic analysis of professionals’ experiences
Get PDFThis is a qualitative study which sought to understand professionals’ experience of and views regarding their roles as providers of services and/or personnel serving under-fives’ mental health and wellbeing. The study was prompted by anecdotal controversy regarding views on how under-fives’ mental health and wellbeing needs are met. Fifteen professionals, from a wide range of children’s services, took part in interviews which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. It was hoped that prior controversy could be understood through analysis of dialogue with professionals. Existing research literature, exploring professional experiences, found that they expressed a range of disturbing emotional states in the course of their work encountering distressed under-fives and families. Variations were highlighted amongst inter-discipline/-agency working experiences with mixed perceptions regarding what constituted barriers and/or successes in meeting under-fives’ needs. Some reported that integrated multi-discipline services were best. Others felt it was more about how services or disciplines communicated with each other rather than the level of integration or separateness of team/service organisation. Findings from existing literature presented variations regarding solution ideas. Thematic analysis, using a psychoanalytic lens, was conducted and sought to understand meaning in this study’s data. Results found echoes with existing research selected in the literature review. Similar emotional experiences were expressed and participants conveyed similar mixed views regarding service integration or separateness, and solutions. Unexpectedly findings revealed new controversy which seemed associated with systemic factors and primitive internal states. A notable finding was the portrayal of representations of infants by some participants. These conceptualisations appeared almost concrete in nature and came with ideas regarding how and where they fit into society and/or who might be responsible for their wellbeing. It seemed likely that the unexpected and notable revelations contribute to the original controversy. Findings demonstrated the complexity of the topic and arena: what is at play concretely and what is unconscious, and how difficult this might be to contemplate within the auspices of the field and what might get caught up and/or result in muddles in the work. I gained insight and there were lessons for me and other child psychotherapists. In particular, how child psychotherapist’s and, separately, CAMHS are perceived and/or experienced directly impacts inter-agency/-service working. Further, and importantly, these factors were found to have implications for the infants and families with whom we work, in terms of treatment pathways. Findings demonstrated how infants, colleagues and services are seen, and/or whether they are unseen, is likely to relate to outcomes for infants/families. Findings pose significant and interesting dilemmas for the study locality, seemingly highlighting endemic issues which could benefit from further thinking to aid long-term strategies and planning for the under-fives’ population
Ethical and aesthetic explorations of systemic practice. New critical reflections
No full textIn Ethical and Aesthetic Explorations of Systemic Practice, the four co-authors come together to rhizomatically consider how systemic theories can be reinvigorated in the present day.
This fascinating book uses the ideas and work of renowned anthropologist Gregory Bateson as a springboard from which to examine the fundamental tenets of systemic theory and practice, as well as looking to the work of Deleuze, Guattari, Maturana, Varela and von Foerster. Including contributions from a range of renowned therapists, each chapter examines the guiding principles from a critical perspective, asking questions around the ontology of the therapeutic encounter and the technique of therapy itself.
This revivifying volume will be of interest to systemic professionals, and those looking at how the systemic community can continue to grow and evolve
An exploration of Health and Social Care Practitioners’ work with mental health clients who have no recourse to public funds
Get PDFThis is an exploratory study which set out to examine the practice experience of frontline mental health professionals who provide care for service users who have no recourse to public funds. Considering the multiple layers of vulnerability this client group faces, their needs are unique and more complex than most mental health patients in the general population. The frontline professional is therefore faced with a client whose condition is mediated by a complex mix of debilitating migration experience, mental health and lack of access to welfare support. Using Free Association Narrative method, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews on a sample of 7 frontline professionals with a view to understanding what their practice experiences are while caring for someone who cannot access state welfare benefits because of their immigration status. I also wanted to interrogate the extent to which they are able to deliver high-quality care (Health & Social Care Reg.9, 2014). Findings from this research indicate that frontline professionals face diverse anxiety provoking situations which they defend against. The study also shows that frontline professionals work in emotionally laden environment where they are daily assailed with conscious and unconscious cues projected at them. Diverse hues of emotions were identified ranging from anger to self deprecation, and moral injury. Another finding was that professionals experienced ongoing role conflicts emanating from different stakeholders around the workspace. In spite of all of these, frontline professionals enjoyed significant amount of discretions in their work within the ambit of policies. Another significant finding was that professionals’ perspectives and practice orientations were influenced by other factors like ethnic and professional backgrounds, the work setting and the level of responsibility of the professional within the organisational structure. Paul Hoggett’s writing on Containment and Conflicts by Public Bureaucracies provided the conceptual framework to illuminate the findings