Karen Ciclitira

Men and Dieting: A Qualitative Analysis

This article describes a qualitative study in which men were interviewed about their experiences of dieting and views on related issues such as health and body image. Data from this research were analysed using a combination of discourse analysis and grounded theory. Men engaged in dieting and weight loss constructed themselves differently from women dieters: they described women who diet as doing so for cosmetic reasons, whereas men preferred to think of themselves as dieting for ‘legitimate’ reasons such as health. Dieting and related initiatives such as joining a slimming club were positioned as female activities, which (heterosexual) men were less willing to undertake without receiving ‘support’ from partners, family and peers.

Pornography, Women and Feminism: Between Pleasure and Politics

This article draws on a qualitative research study which set out to explore women’s experiences and views of pornography within the broader context of conflicting feminist positions on pornography. The research methodology posed an implicit criticism of the kind of ‘findings’ familiar from mainstream psychological research: semi-structured interviews were conducted with women from diverse backgrounds in the UK, and feminist theory and discourse analysis were used to inform interpretation of their accounts. Although the question of feminism was not explicitly raised by the interviewer, it emerged as a recurrent theme in interviews, with interviewees suggesting that the feminist anti-porn stance in particular has influenced their perspective on pornography. Their accounts show that women’s experiences are variegated, individual and complex, and that discourses of pornography and feminism may be negotiated in unpredictable ways.

The impact of prison staff responses on self‐harming behaviours: Prisoners’ perspectives

OBJECTIVES To further understanding of how health and correctional staff responses to self-harming behaviours influence prisoners and their subsequent actions. DESIGN Participant-centred, qualitative methods were used to explore the complex and under-researched perspectives of self-harming male prisoners. METHOD Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adult male prisoners who had engaged in repetitive, non-suicidal self-harm during their current prison sentence, or considered doing so. The interviews were analyzed drawing on principles of thematic analysis and discourse analysis. RESULTS With some exceptions, prison officers, nurses, and doctors are portrayed by prisoners as being ill-prepared to deal with repetitive self-harm, often displaying actively hostile attitudes and behaviours. CONCLUSIONS These findings underscore the need for appropriate training, support and supervision for staff working with self-harming prisoners.

Comfort and challenge: a thematic analysis of female clinicians’ experiences of supervision

OBJECTIVE The supervision of counsellors, counselling psychologists, and psychotherapists is generally perceived to be an invaluable component of training and practice. The present study analysed this process to explore the meanings of supervision and to consider implications for clinical practice and training. DESIGN This study presents the accounts of 19 psychological therapists who experienced supervision while working at a London-based womens therapy centre. METHOD Demographic information was collected by questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore aspects of the supervisory experience. The qualitative data were thematically analysed. RESULTS Supervision has complex and paradoxical meanings, and it impacts on clinical counselling practice in multifarious ways. Dominant themes highlighted were the usefulness of supervision, specifically support, empowerment, and joining; fear of exposure in supervision versus gaining new information; the comfort versus the challenge of supervision; and supervision as a containing space. CONCLUSIONS An experiential model of supervision was developed from the data. This model complements existing models in the field. It could be evaluated and used alongside existing models in various training and supervision contexts. Findings are discussed in relation to the literature on clinical supervision.

Women counsellors' experiences of personal therapy: A thematic analysis

Background: Following recent moves to relax the requirements for clinical mental health trainees to undergo personal therapy, this qualitative project explored the effects of personal therapy on volunteer counsellors. Method: Interviews were conducted with 19 volunteer counsellors at a womens community centre, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Emerging themes included the importance of personal therapy for trainee development, key elements of personal therapy and the idea that personal therapy is ‘a double-edged sword’. Discussion: Allowing for evident methodological difficulties in evaluating the impact of personal therapy on trainees, this study suggests that close consideration should be given to the potentially adverse effects of reducing requirements for personal therapy in clinical trainings.

Eating and drinking habits of young London-based Irish men: a qualitative study

This qualitative study is based on interviews with young Irish men living in London, regarding their diets and their views on healthy eating. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Interviewees gave various reasons for adopting unhealthy eating habits, including the cost of healthy foods, their lack of time and ability to cook, and their prioritisation of drinking alcohol. Views about the status of different foods also affected their eating habits: red meat, for instance, was considered ‘masculine’, while lighter foods associated with healthy diets were considered ‘feminine’.

Evaluation of long-term counselling at a community health service for women who are on a low income

AbstractAims: Given the lack of research evaluating long-term counselling, coupled with the lack of women-only counselling services, the present study evaluated the long-term counselling service offered by a women-only community health centre. Method: The research ascertained: (1) the characteristics of 155 service users pre-counselling, (2) the views and experiences of 75 service users post-counselling, and (3) pre–post-counselling clinical change in 98 service users via the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). Results: Unemployment, low income and reports of abuse were related to poorer mental health as measured by the CORE-OM. Content analysis of open-ended questions revealed that women felt supported, comfortable and gained insight through the counselling relationship. They also reported positive changes in their lives, relationships, health behaviours, and psychological wellbeing. Post-counselling improvements were found in CORE-OM scores. Conclusions: Long-term counse...

Mother–infant separations in prison. A systematic attachment-focused review of the academic and grey literature

Abstract This review systematically searched UK academic and grey literature in relation to mother and child separation in prison. Attachment theory is referred to in current prison policy for mothers and could provide a framework linking policy and practice. Reviewing grey literature provided an opportunity to explore practice-based literature. Twenty-four academic papers and 51 grey documents were reviewed. Use of attachment theory in the academic literature varied according to discipline, ranging from extensive use to no use. There was greater use of attachment theory in the grey literature. Despite linguistic differences, all documents highlighted the detrimental impact of separation on imprisoned mothers. However, specificity was lacking regarding support for mothers, and staff needs were overlooked. Given its use across the sparse research and practice literature, and its basis for policy, attachment theory could underpin theoretically informed support for imprisoned mothers separated from their infants and staff who support them.

Mother–infant separations in prison. A systematic attachment-focused policy review

Abstract Mothers in prison separated from their young children are an overlooked group. Attachment theory could provide a useful model to underpin interventions and better support women affected by separation from their infants. Current policy draws on a limited body of evidence and research has developed considerably since its first design. This review systematically searched all relevant UK prison policy and government documents with regards to mother and child separation in prison and analysed the extent to which these documents draw on attachment theory. Following initial searches, 58 documents were thematically analysed. Attachment was implicitly referred to in most documents but only explicitly mentioned in four. Global themes identified included ‘separation as trauma’. However, document groups varied in focusing either on the mother or the child and there were no joint perspectives. Developing and researching specific attachment-informed interventions might be one way forward as would further attachment-based research in this area.

A sanctuary of tranquillity in a ruptured world: Evaluating long-term counselling at a women’s community health centre

The longitudinal study described in this article evaluated long-term counselling provided at a women’s health centre in the UK for service users on low incomes. The article focuses on the qualitative aspect of the study in which 59 women were interviewed individually before and/or after their counselling. The interviews explored how women make sense of long-term counselling in the context of their gendered experiences and complex needs. The data were analysed using thematic analysis informed by a feminist orientation and attachment theory. Four main themes emerged: “violence and loss in the context of female oppression”, “a sanctuary for women”, “non-medicalised long-term counselling in a safe setting”, and “benefits of the long view”. Participants attributed various benefits to receiving long-term counselling in a women-only environment. These included gaining employment; reduced suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression; improved physical health, improved confidence and being able to make positive changes in their relationships. The women interviewed post-counselling valued long-term counselling in this context, in contrast to short-term therapy in a medicalised environment. Wider implications with regard to clinical practice and research are discussed.