Counselling & Psychotherapy Research最新文献

{"title":"The Quest for Cultural Neutrality Within Psychodynamic Therapy: British Born South Asians' Lived Experiences","authors":"Rooksana Patel, Holly Bradley","doi":"10.1002/capr.70102","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70102","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to review the clinical experiences of British-born South Asian individuals in psychodynamic therapy, with a particular focus on cultural adaptation and integration. The goal was to develop recommendations for integrating clients' cultural frames of reference into therapeutic work in order to enhance its effectiveness. British-born South Asians often experience conflicting British and South Asian values, which can lead to feelings of alienation, confusion, and intergenerational conflict. The study therefore explored acculturation, the tension between individualism and collectivism, and the psychodynamic implications of holding two contrasting cultural value systems within the self.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted via Zoom, allowing participants to reflect on their experiences in a familiar and accessible environment. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), which enabled a detailed exploration of participants' subjective experiences and the meanings they attributed to their cultural and therapeutic journeys.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two major themes emerged: (1) culture, and (2) the process of change. Participants described an ongoing struggle to form a cohesive cultural identity and to renegotiate the blend of Indian and British values in ways that felt authentic. Psychodynamic therapy supported participants in gaining autonomy and exploring aspects of the “self” within a non-judgmental and containing space. The therapeutic relationship played a central role in facilitating this process, with participants emphasising the importance of a culturally attuned therapist who could hold the complexities of dual identity, without imposing assumptions or judgement.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants' upbringing significantly influenced their relationships, identity, and capacity for autonomy. Although autonomy was eventually achieved, the tension between the contrasting cultural expectations of British and Indian heritage persisted throughout their lives. These findings highlight the importance of understanding this dual-cultural pressure within psychodynamic therapy, particularly in relation to internal conflict, guilt, and the negotiation of selfhood across differing cultural value systems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Recommendations</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Clinicians shoul","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/capr.70102","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Use of Transactional Analysis in Group Counselling: A Systematic Literature Review in the Indonesian Educational Context","authors":"Galuh Prawitasari,&nbsp;Anita Dewi Astuti,&nbsp;Mulawarman Mulawarman,&nbsp;Muslikah Muslikah","doi":"10.1002/capr.70108","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70108","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines the range of psychological issues addressed through transactional analysis (TA)–based group counselling within educational contexts in Indonesia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, drawing on major academic databases commonly used by Indonesian scholars. Fifteen studies met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings suggest that TA-based group counselling has been utilised to address a broad spectrum of interpersonal and intrapersonal concerns in educational settings, yielding generally positive yet heterogeneous outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>By focusing on an under-represented non-Western context, this review responds directly to limitations identified in previous reviews, including the dominance of English-language literature and the limited empirical attention to school-based applications of TA.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Power of the Mind's Eye: Mental Imagery and Its Role in Social Anxiety","authors":"Ghada A. AlKhodair","doi":"10.1002/capr.70118","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70118","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using a convergent mixed-methods design, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental imagery and symptoms of social anxiety within the context of Saudi Arabian culture.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seventy-three undergraduate students were assessed using self-report questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The integrated mixed-methods results provide evidence for the fact that mental imagery in social situations can elicit anxiety levels comparable to those in non-social contexts, with no significant differences observed between social and non-social situations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The conclusions underscore the pressing need for further exploration of mental imagery concerning mental health within specific cultures. This research has sought to explore these findings as dynamic ideas that evolve over time, rather than static structures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“My World Is Gone”: Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Caregivers of First Episode Psychosis Patients","authors":"Oscar Modesto,&nbsp;Lachlan Beaton,&nbsp;Morgan Nicholson,&nbsp;Caroline Brown,&nbsp;Brooke Short","doi":"10.1002/capr.70114","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70114","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Caregivers of those who have suffered a first episode psychosis (FEP) carry a significant burden, and report high levels of psychological distress, burnout and other emotional and financial difficulties because of the role they play. However, the role caregivers play is crucial to the recovery prospects of someone who has experienced an FEP, and thus, their needs and how they can be supported is of particular importance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This paper sought to understand the caregiver experience, and the needs that they expressed having had that experience. In addition, we explored how these needs might be met, by way of supports and potential structures for delivery of them. To address the aim of this study, a qualitative study of 15 caregivers was conducted.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two key overarching themes emerged within the data. Firstly, caregivers felt that they did not prepare for the caring role and that it had been life changing. Secondly, they reported that they would like more support by way of feeling like they matter, by being upskilled and by being provisioned their own, ongoing support. The study highlights key policy and practice implications for FEP services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results emphasise caregiver recognition and inclusion in the medical team. Ongoing structured psychoeducation, early and ongoing communication with the clinical team, and access to emotional and practical supports for carers, as well as flexible delivery models of these support services, are essential to improve caregiver well-being and optimise recovery outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/capr.70114","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can You Stay With Me? Existential Skills and Attitudes in Relating to Persons With a Persistent Death Wish Related to Psychiatric Suffering: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Sofie Verdegem,&nbsp;Zara Gelders,&nbsp;Jitske Naessens,&nbsp;Elisabeth Vandenberghe,&nbsp;Marie Jaenen,&nbsp;Joris Vandenberghe,&nbsp;Jessie Dezutter,&nbsp;Thijs Vanhie,&nbsp;Siebrecht Vanhooren","doi":"10.1002/capr.70106","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70106","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study explored the therapeutic skills and attitudes mental health care (MHC) workers draw on when engaging with existential concerns in working with individuals with a persistent death wish related to unbearable psychiatric suffering (DWUPS) and examined whether sustained exposure to specialised existential care settings shapes existential responsiveness and relational presence.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A qualitative design was employed, following Elliott and Timulak's descriptive-interpretative methodology. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with two samples: non-specialised (Sample A) and specialised MHC-workers affiliated with Reakiro, a care centre for persons with DWUPS which operates from an existentially grounded, presence-based palliative and recovery-oriented framework (Sample B). Interview transcripts were organised into thematic categories through inductive analysis. Comparative frequency analysis identified specific patterns.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Four core domains characterised MCH-workers' engagement with persons with DWUPS: existential, relational and palliative skills and attitudes, alongside the importance of self-care. Across both samples, participants described personal existential processing, presence, and existentially oriented interventions, relational engagement within the therapeutic space, facilitating connection with significant others and openness to the death wish as central to their work. Differences between samples were secondary and context-related. Specialised MHC-workers showed less hesitation in addressing the death wish, whereas non-specialised MHC-workers more strongly emphasised life-affirming interventions and reported greater ethical and emotional burden.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Working with individuals with DWUPS requires an existentially grounded therapeutic stance that integrates openness to both life and death. The findings highlight the need for clinical training, peer support, and reflective supervision focused on existential presence, relational engagement and dual-track care.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"‘…I Felt I Was Failing’: Australian Therapists' Experiences on the Challenges of Engaging Adolescent Males in Counselling and Psychotherapy","authors":"Sarah Sadiqi,&nbsp;Micah Boerma","doi":"10.1002/capr.70112","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70112","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Adolescent males remain a difficult population to engage in counselling and psychotherapy despite being at a high risk for mental health problems. Limited training opportunities exist to prepare therapists to support this specific population. The aim of this study was to explore the common challenges that Australian therapists face when working with young men to guide future training and intervention.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Semi-structured interviews were completed with 13 Australian therapists, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and social workers, who were recruited through professional association websites and publications. Responses were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Three themes and eight subthemes were developed: (1) therapists' lack of confidence when working with young men; (2) young men as pressured and ill-prepared to attend therapy; and (3) young men's reluctance to ‘open up’ throughout therapy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The challenges provided by Australian therapists align with the broader international literature highlighting young men's reluctance towards counselling and psychotherapy and warrants the need for a concerted research agenda to engage this population. Responses from therapists showed that young men's disengagement and resistance in therapy create challenges for therapists when it comes to building therapeutic rapport and can subsequently stymie young men's continued engagement with mental health services. Recommendations for future research and intervention are discussed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/capr.70112","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Affective Pathway to Cognitive Change: How Depressive Symptoms Mediate Metacognitive Improvement in OCD Treatment","authors":"Metehan Irak,&nbsp;Tamer N. Duman","doi":"10.1002/capr.70110","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70110","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although metacognitive beliefs are recognised as central to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), the mechanisms by which cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) targets these beliefs remain under-investigated. Specifically, the affective pathways linking symptom reduction to metacognitive change are poorly understood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study had two primary objectives: (1) to examine the longitudinal effects of CBT on metacognitive beliefs in individuals with OCD and (2) to explore whether the relationship between symptom reduction and metacognitive improvement is mediated by changes in depression or trait anxiety. A clinical sample of individuals with OCD (<i>n</i> = 60) and a matched healthy control group (<i>n</i> = 60) were assessed. Patients in the OCD group underwent a 10-session manualised CBT protocol. Measures of OCD symptoms (Y-BOCS), depression (BDI), trait anxiety (STAI-T) and metacognitions (MCQ-30) were administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Linear mixed-effects models confirmed that CBT was highly effective, producing significant longitudinal reductions in OCD symptoms, depression, anxiety and dysfunctional metacognitions. Longitudinal mediation analysis revealed that the reduction in OCD symptoms led to an improvement in metacognitive beliefs (specifically uncontrollability/danger and need to control thoughts) through the alleviation of depressive symptoms. In contrast, changes in trait anxiety did not mediate this relationship.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings suggest that while standard CBT effectively reduces both symptoms and dysfunctional beliefs, the mechanism of cognitive change is specifically driven by the alleviation of the depressive burden of OCD rather than a general reduction in anxiety. This highlights the importance of targeting depressive affect to facilitate deeper metacognitive change and sustain long-term treatment gains.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dialectical Behaviour Therapy in Community Mental Health: Associations Between Substance Use, Emotion Regulation and DBT Programme Outcomes","authors":"Jonathan L. Poquiz,&nbsp;Jonathan Huffman,&nbsp;Craig Warlick,&nbsp;Vivek Patel,&nbsp;Juliet Nelson","doi":"10.1002/capr.70113","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70113","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Substance use and emotion regulation are common treatment targets in dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and they may be categorised as a life-threatening behaviour, a treatment interfering behaviour, or a quality of life interfering behaviour. Research examining these constructs in DBT-informed community mental health samples is limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examined substance use, difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS) and programme outcomes (attendance and graduation) among 55 adults from a DBT intensive outpatient programme within a community mental health centre in the United States.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results revealed a statistically significant inverse relationship between substance use at programme entry and the DERS total scale (<i>Hyp-</i>1: <i>r</i> = −0.29, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). No statistically significant relationships were established between the remaining DERS subscales (all other <i>p</i>s &gt; 0.05). In addition, there were no statistically significant relationships between substance use with attendance (<i>Hyp-2</i>: <i>β</i> = −2.17, <i>p</i> = −0.78) and graduation (<i>Hyp-</i>3: <i>β</i> = −0.55, <i>p</i> = 0.40).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Substance use may regulate emotions as a maladaptive short-term benefit with long-term cost. When not influencing life-threatening behaviours, substance use may be identified as a quality of life interfering behaviour as opposed to a therapy-interfering behaviour.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest the importance of assessing substance use and emotion regulation to inform treatment targets.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Holding Out Hope or Holding Back? Student Expectations of Counselling Services in Higher Education in Ireland","authors":"Chiara Seery,&nbsp;Rebecca Maguire","doi":"10.1002/capr.70115","DOIUrl":"10.1002/capr.70115","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Expectations of counselling play a key role in predicting service engagement and therapeutic outcomes, but the nature and associates of student counselling expectations have been underexplored to date. This study aimed to investigate the nature and associates of student counselling services in Ireland among those who had and had not previously engaged with these services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A mixed methods survey of students in Ireland (<i>N</i> = 113) collected data on student counselling expectations and engagement, along with measures of well-being, optimism, social support and attitudes towards psychotherapy. Current and retrospective expectations were compared for those with previous counselling experiences, while hierarchical multiple regression (HRM) analysis explored sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors of expectations. Reflexive thematic analysis examined the nature and change in expectations as captured in open-text responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Attitudes towards seeking professional help significantly predicted expectations (β = 0.488, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with the HRM model predicting 24.8% of the variance in expectations overall. While current engagement with psychological support was positively associated with expectations, there was no significant difference observed between current and retrospective expectations in the group that had previous experience of student counselling. Themes identified varied instances of both positive and negative expectations, which were influenced by both internal and external sources.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings suggest that fostering and maintaining positive, yet realistic, expectations is crucial in providing an effective counselling service while both negative and unrealistic expectations should be managed to ensure beneficial and meaningful therapeutic outcomes for students engaging in an already overprescribed, stretched service.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/capr.70115","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining the Impact of Autism-Informed Integrative Counselling and Coaching on the Workplace Experiences of Autistic Individuals: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis","authors":"Julie (Jules) Sander","doi":"10.1002/capr.70093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.70093","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite increasing awareness and diagnosis of neurodivergent conditions, unemployment remains high among autistic individuals. Research shows that coaching can help address employment issues, while other studies indicate that mental health support is crucial for autistic people's long-term well-being. However, no research examines how an integrated approach to counselling and coaching might support employed autistic individuals, enhancing their well-being and long-term employment prospects. Understanding what has enabled individuals to stay employed or enter the workforce might inform strategies to combat unemployment among this group.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of four autistic individuals who had received an autism-informed approach to therapy, combining counselling and coaching, while employed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Four key themes emerged: (1) Awareness of the work environment's impact on functioning; (2) Enhanced personal understanding through the integrative approach; (3) Counselling and coaching as effective support for workplace well-being; and (4) The role of special interests in sustaining employment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Autism-informed therapy empowers individuals to understand their needs and self-advocate. However, full benefits are realised only in inclusive workplaces. Specific workplace coaching to formulate strategies is useful alongside integrative approaches. Further research is needed on the impact of workplace and job type, including the role of special interests and co-occurring conditions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":46997,"journal":{"name":"Counselling & Psychotherapy Research","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147315558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}