Janette Graetz Simmonds

“There's a deeper level of meaning as to what suffering's all about”: experiences of religious and spiritual growth following trauma

Some survivors of trauma report experiencing beneficial changes in self-perception, relationships, and philosophy of life, and positive changes in the realm of existential, spiritual, or religious matters. The purpose of the present study was to examine participants’ phenomenological experiences of spiritual and religious posttraumatic growth (PTG). Transcribed data from semi-structured interviews with 10 women, self-identified as Christian, who had experienced spiritual or religious growth following various trauma were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results indicated how religion provided a framework that assisted participants to incorporate life changes, and to find meaning in their suffering. The most salient themes identified in relation to religious and spiritual PTG included: process of spiritual and religious growth, strengthening of religious and spiritual beliefs, and personal and spiritual growth and healing. Participants’ trauma and associated distress prompted a process of questioning and meaning-making that facilitated deeply experienced personal and spiritual growth, and was related to intrinsic religiosity.

Therapist perspectives on the therapeutic alliance with children and adolescents

Bordins pan-theoretical conceptualisation of the therapeutic alliance identifies three underlying, interdependent components: bond, task and goal. In the research reported here, therapists’ perspectives of significant contributions to the therapeutic alliance with children aged 2–5 years, 6–11 years and adolescents aged 12–17 years were investigated. Sixty three questionnaires regarding alliance conceptualisation, therapist, parent and child contributions, alliance barriers and demographic information were completed. Five therapists were also interviewed about their development and maintenance of the therapeutic alliance with children. Personal conceptualisations provided by participants highlighted the collaborative nature of the therapeutic alliance, with prominent themes emerging of alliance bond, parental alliance, therapist resources and therapist self-awareness and well-being. Therapist empathy and cultivation of trust were valued by therapists as bond contributions. Parental support and commitment to the therapy was rated as the most significant parental contribution. Interview accounts highlighted the importance of therapist understanding, reassurance and support extended to the parents.

Spiritual well-being, burnout and trauma in counsellors and psychotherapists

Burnout represents a potential risk for counsellors and psychotherapists in their work with distressed clients. In the research reported here, the relationship between spiritual well-being and burnout was explored, with attention paid to clinicians’ perceptions of trauma. Eighty-nine Australian counsellors and psychotherapists (71 females and 18 males) completed a demographic survey, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale. It was found that existential well-being accounted for some of the variance in MBI subscale scores, and buffered the effect of trauma on emotional exhaustion. In addition, clinicians who reported high levels of existential well-being reported being better able to avoid emotional exhaustion when working with severely traumatised clients.

Psychologists' and counsellors' perspectives on prolonged grief disorder and its inclusion in diagnostic manuals

AbstractIntroduction: In this research, proposed criteria for what has been termed ‘Prolonged Grief Disorder’ (PGD) (more recently termed, ‘Persistent Complex Bereavement-Related Disorder’ (PCB-RD) in the proposed DSM-V), were presented to psychologists and counsellors. Method: Participants were asked about their views on the ‘disorder’ and whether they considered its inclusion in diagnostic manuals was justified. A total of 185 participants, (147 psychologists, specialist and general, and 38 counsellors) responded to an online survey (part of a larger research project), concerning their attitudes, choices and activities regarding bereavement therapy. In this part of the research, therapists’ perspectives about pathological grief, the recognition of PGD and its inclusion in diagnostic manuals were explored. Fifty-nine participants took the option of adding written remarks to the survey to expand on their opinions regarding PGD. Results/Conclusions: Tentative support for the inclusion of PGD in diagnostic ...

Help-seeking and paranormal beliefs in adherents of mainstream religion, alternative religion, and no religion

This study explored the relationship between help-seeking and adherence to mainstream religion (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), alternative religion (for example, New Age spiritual belief and Paganism) and no religion (including agnosticism and atheism). Four-hundred and fourteen participants completed an online survey which included questions on demographics, help-seeking beliefs and paranormal beliefs (a modified form of the Paranormal Beliefs Scale was used). Previous research had explored adherence to various religions and compared aspects of help-seeking and paranormal beliefs separately. Comparisons were made between basic theoretical differences in belief (e.g., monotheism vs. polytheism vs. rationalism) and help-seeking beliefs. Implications of this research for therapeutic practice are discussed.

Other than “the set pattern”: Developing one’s own thoughts about spirituality and religion

In qualitative research, psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists who had continued to have a personal interest in religion or spirituality reflected on their religious upbringing. The 25 participants interviewed often gave their responses in what can be identified as narrative form. These narratives articulated participants’ often poignant and distinctive, sometimes humorous, experiences. They relate how and why accepted teaching regarding religious and spiritual issues was challenged, usually in adolescence, but for several participants much earlier. Important aspects included differing responses of significant others to the participants’ independent thinking, the beginnings of subsequent religious and spiritual questing, and, for some, the decision to become a psychotherapist.

Freud and the American physician's religious experience

Freud wrote a curious short paper at the end of 1927, the year in which his book, The future of an illusion was published. The paper is remarkable in that we as readers also have the evidence that Freud drew on, that is, a letter by an American physician unknown to Freud, detailing his religious experience. (This situation of having the same source material is not completely singular, as we also have access to Da Vincis painting of the ‘Madonna and Child with Saint Anne’, the subject of a previous exercise by Freud (1910a) in interpreting religious material in a reductive manner.) Having available the exact text that Freud used for his analysis enables a close examination of Freuds use of the material. It becomes clear that in his analysis of the physicians experience, Freud makes a string of interpolations, breaking his own rules concerning wild analysis. It can also be seen from the paper how he ignores considerations of context and culture.Freud wrote a curious short paper at the end of 1927, the year in which his book, The future of an illusion was published. The paper is remarkable in that we as readers also have the evidence that Freud drew on, that is, a letter by an American physician unknown to Freud, detailing his religious experience. (This situation of having the same source material is not completely singular, as we also have access to Da Vincis painting of the ‘Madonna and Child with Saint Anne’, the subject of a previous exercise by Freud (1910a) in interpreting religious material in a reductive manner.) Having available the exact text that Freud used for his analysis enables a close examination of Freuds use of the material. It becomes clear that in his analysis of the physicians experience, Freud makes a string of interpolations, breaking his own rules concerning wild analysis. It can also be seen from the paper how he ignores considerations of context and culture.

Parent Perceptions of Psychosocial Outcomes of Equine-Assisted Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This research explored parents’ perceptions of the psychosocial outcomes of their children’s experience of receiving equine-assisted interventions (EAI). Participants were the parents of six children (aged 3–14) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted and the transcript data was analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four super-ordinate themes emerged from the analysis: (1) child’s improved self-concept and enhanced emotional well-being, (2) child’s improved self-regulatory ability, (3) social benefits for the child, and (4) unexpected outcomes. EAI was perceived by the parents as having several levels of psychosocial benefits for their children. These benefits may also extend to parents and family through ecopsychological and “flow on” effects associated with the children’s involvement in EAI programs.

Workplace responses and psychologists' needs following client suicide

This research aimed to explore the role of workplace responses in psychologists’ adaptation to client suicides. Participants were 178 psychologists who completed an online self-report questionnaire which included both open and closed questions yielding qualitative and quantitative data. Fifty-six (31.5%) participants reported one or more client suicides. Mixed results were found in terms of perceived support from the workplace following a client suicide. Psychologists reported a need for more open communication in the workplace, peer supports, space to grieve, as well as opportunities to engage in a learning process. The findings have important implications for research and for understanding the role of the workplace postvention. It also raises the need for external support to be accessible for psychologists working in private practice.

Impact of Client Suicide on Psychologists in Australia

Objective This research aimed to assess the frequency and impact of client suicides on psychologists in Australia. Method Participants were 178 psychologists who completed an online self‐report questionnaire concerning the frequency of occurrence and impact of client suicide. Result Fifty six (31.5%) participants reported one or more client suicides. Psychologists with more years of experience reported more client suicides. Participants who had experienced a client suicide reported a range of emotional, cognitive and behavioural reactions as well as professional impacts. Ratings of responsibility, preventability and predictability of a client suicide were associated with emotional and/or professional impacts. Beneficial coping responses included talking to supervisors and colleagues, recognising the psychologist is not responsible and having increased acceptance of a client suicide. Conclusions The findings have important implications for training, workplace practices and research.