In this issue
Features
Eating听disorders: is inaction tantamount to negligence? (free article)
Kel O鈥橬eill argues that counsellors and psychotherapists need to do more to recognise and address eating disorders
Supervision and training supervisors for IAPT: are we getting the balance right?
Michael Worrell explores whether the provision of supervision for IAPT CBT practitioners is adequate and fit for purpose
Tending the growing edge: counselling women following breast cancer
Carol Morgan explores the role of counselling in facilitating post-traumatic growth
Hyperemesis gravidarum: who cares?听(free article)
Michelle Nicholson reflects on the experiences of women who have suffered the psychological effects of severe pregnancy sickness
Regulars
Chair鈥檚 report 鈥� 香港六合彩精准资料 Healthcare
Satinder Panesar
Healthcare update
Judy Stafford
Counselling in primary care
Elaine Davies
A pdf of this issue is available in the Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal archive
From the editor
One of the key focal points of healthcare policy in recent听years has been the need to bridge the gap between听physical and mental health. The NHS Five Year Forward听View for Mental Health1 emphasised the need for a听greater focus on the psychological aspects of physical illness. In听keeping with this, three of the articles in this issue focus on the听intersection of physical and mental health, exploring the听psychological impacts of eating disorders, severe morning听sickness and breast cancer.
Although many of us will have no formal training in working听with eating disorders, we may find ourselves with patients听presenting with other issues, who also suffer from anorexia听nervosa, bulimia or related disorders. In a frank exploration of听this topic, eating disorder specialist, Kel O鈥橬eill, challenges us听to consider how we work with these clients. Huge increases in听the diagnosis of these disorders have led to long waiting times for听specialist services, which may increase the likelihood that these听patients end up in the consulting rooms of those of us who are not听specialists. Kel highlights that, when working with these clients,听we will often be working with life and death scenarios, and that we听cannot afford complacency. Her article certainly challenged me听to consider how I might improve my understanding of the听psychological impact of these disorders.
One of the key ways in which we might challenge our work in this听area is by bringing it to supervision. At its best, supervision gives听us the opportunity to explore our blind spots and identify areas听of growth. Michael Worrell considers whether the supervision听provided to IAPT CBT practitioners is fit for purpose and听supports their needs. His reflections are not only relevant to听practitioners of that modality, however. He highlights how good听supervision provides the supervisee with a safe space to explore the emotional complexities of working as a therapist. Having听recently completed my own training as a supervisor, I found his听reflections helpful and pertinent to my future work in this area.
Returning to the interplay between physical and mental health,听Carol Morgan presents a case study of her work with a woman听who has suffered from breast cancer. She focuses on the positive听personal growth in the women she has worked with through the听charity Breast Cancer Haven. This organisation seems to provide听an excellent example of responding to the needs of the whole听person, adopting a holistic and individualised approach, and听offering complementary therapies alongside counselling.
This need to respond to the whole person is also evident in听Michelle Nicholson鈥檚 article on the psychological impact of severe听morning sickness. Michelle鈥檚 first-hand experience of this issue听led her to conduct research into how other women had coped and听been supported through their physical and mental distress.听Michelle and the women she interviewed shared the experience听that, while healthcare professionals took care of their physical听needs during their pregnancies, measuring bumps and blood听pressure, they were not asked about their emotional needs.听Michelle sensitively captures the experiences of the 10 women听she interviewed. These are useful reflections to bear in mind,听should we find ourselves working with clients suffering from听this condition.
It is important to us that we ensure that this journal reflects听your needs and interests. If you have any ideas for different听types of content that you would like to see in the journal, such as听interviews with therapists, or discussions of ethical dilemmas,听then do please let me know.
Joanna Benfield
Editor
hcpj.editorial@bacp.co.uk
Reference
1 Independent Mental Health Task Force to the NHS in England. Five year forward听view for mental health. [Online.] 2016. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Mental-Health-Taskforce-FYFV-final.pdf听(accessed 29 November 2017).