In this issue
Features
Pioneers in the new commissioning landscape
The any qualified provider (AQP) scheme opens up the NHS听marketplace to a wider range of psychological therapy providers.听In a continuation of our series on commissioning in NHS England,听we talk to early innovators Anne Drummond, Jane Hind and Vicki听Palmer
Recognising psychosis
Early detection and treatment of this severe mental illness is vital to听increase chances of recovery 鈥� and primary care practitioners could听have a role to play, reports Lyndsey Holt
Diagnosis of a chronic condition: implications for life
Mike Kelly, a psychotherapist specialising in working with people听diagnosed with kidney failure, presents an overview of some of the听psychological issues a diagnosis can bring
No entry
Through a case vignette, Carol Martin-Sperry provides an insight听into her work as a sex therapist
Perceptions of hospice bereavement counselling
A study by Bob Powell found room for more fully integrating听bereavement support into hospice philosophy
Views of hypnotherapy
Following on from the article about combining hypnotherapy with听CBT in the last issue, we feature two different approaches to using听hypnotherapy in practice
Tackling depressed mood through exercise
Evidence shows us that physical activity can benefit mental health,听says Andrew Peden
Making an impact
To reconnect with her values, person-centred therapist Michelle听Oldale explored what it would take to become an aid worker
Regulars
Development 鈥� 香港六合彩精准资料 Healthcare
Louise Robinson: Learning from the Francis Report
Counselling in primary care
Richard Mason: Send three and fourpence, we are going to a dance!
Third sector perspective
Michael Lilley: Coming off the fence
GP viewpoint
John Hague: Moving debate into the public realm
搁别蝉耻尘茅
Janet Garner
Not all articles from this issue are available online. Divisional members and subscribers can download the pdf from the听Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal听archive.
From the editor
Changes in the way NHS psychological听services are commissioned are likely to听affect many of us in the months to come.听From April this year, clinical听commissioning groups (CCGs) replaced primary听care trusts (PCTs) as the organisers of funding to听the NHS; with their introduction came a range of听possible commissioning models, one of which,听Any Qualified Provider (AQP), aims to introduce听competition into the marketplace and increase听patient choice.
Changes can be unnerving: under AQP, which听isn鈥檛 mandatory for commissioners but has听already been introduced in some areas, existing听psychological therapy providers may find听themselves in competition with newly-contracted听services to win NHS referrals. On the other hand,听AQP has the potential to ensure a choice of听counselling and psychotherapy services that are听tailored to the needs of local communities. It听could also mean that there will be a wider choice听of therapy modalities available to clients and so听more opportunity for services and/or individuals听to provide them on the NHS.
Although the CCGs didn鈥檛 officially take control听of NHS commissioning until April 2013, many听did exist in shadow form before that, and AQP has听been operational in some places since last year.听In a continuation of our series of articles on听commissioning, we talk to pioneers who have听already gained AQP status, with the aim of听helping others prepare for the process.
Keeping you updated on changes in healthcare is听part of the work of this journal, but many of the听features in this issue remind us that the work we听do with clients continues despite the upheaval听often going on around us. Mike Kelly鈥檚 article on听working with clients diagnosed with a chronic听condition focuses on some of the psychological听processes a client can go through as they begin听to find ways of enabling them to cope. Written听with therapists working in primary care in mind听but informative to all, Lyndsey Holt鈥檚 article on听recognising psychosis aims to inform听practitioners who could play a part in听identification and instigating the assessment听process to specialist services. Important because,听as Lyndsey stresses, early detection and听treatment of this severe mental illness is vital听as chances of recovery are increased the sooner听it is diagnosed.
Elsewhere, we have a range of articles covering a听breadth of subjects, from hospice counselling and听hypnotherapy, to sex therapy and using exercise听to treat depression. And, to serve as inspiration,听we feature a piece by person-centred therapist听Michelle Oldale who, in an endeavour to听reconnect with her values, make a positive听impact, and engage in reflection, explored what it听would take to become an aid worker. Michelle鈥檚听article brings us a welcome reminder of the听ongoing requirement to look after ourselves in听the work we do 鈥� never more important than at听a time of change.
Sarah Hovington
Editor
hcpj.editorial@bacp.co.uk