In this issue
Features
My story
On being a patient
Cordelia Galgut challenges ideas about the听appropriate way to support clients in deep听personal crisis
Resources
Working within the law
Barbara Mitchels and Tim Bond introduce their听latest book on legal considerations for counsellors听and psychotherapists
My inspiration
Petruska Clarkson: matters听of life and death
Roni Beadle pays tribute to the life and work of听Petruska Clarkson
Toolbox
The battle to conceive
Julia Bueno provides a glossary of terms and听a checklist of things to consider when working听with clients with fertility problems
Research
Giving clients a voice
Pamela Savic-Jabrow is embarking on a study听that will ask clients how they experience听congruence in the therapeutic relationship
Insight
Work in progress
Keith Silvester compares his training in the听Alexander Technique with his work as a听psychotherapist
Regulars
From the chair
Wendy Halsall: Changing times
Articles from this issue are not yet available online. Divisional members and subscribers can download the pdf from the听Private Practice听archive.
From the editor
As you can see, we felt the time was right to make some听changes, and I鈥檓 proud to unveil a new design for the journal,听which from hereon in will be printed in full colour under the听name Private Practice. The rejuvenation reflects exciting听changes within the Association for Independent Practitioners,听about which Wendy Halsall, the divisional Chair, writes more.听
But it鈥檚 not just the look and the name of the journal that鈥檚听changed, you will also find changes to the content: a new听upfront News & research section, more comprehensive book听review pages, and a regular new division news page at the back.听Our aim has been to create a more professional, contemporary听feel to the journal, but also to introduce a friendlier, more听vibrant look and tone. My hope is that it will come to be seen听as a lively and indispensable mouthpiece for counsellors and听psychotherapists working in private practice 鈥� a useful听professional resource, an invaluable platform for exchanging听news and opinions, and a forum for conversation and debate.听
I also want Private Practice to represent the diverse voices of听its readers and to provide a space for personal and professional听reflection 鈥� a place where members of the Association can听share individual stories about what inspires, challenges,听frustrates and delights them about their lives as practitioners听in private practice.
To that end, I鈥檓 really pleased to be featuring two such听personal stories in this issue. Cordelia Galgut writes movingly听about her journey as a patient with primary breast cancer听and how that experience has led her to question aspects of听her training and practice, as well as the kind of support she听has been offered by mental health professionals. Roni Beadle听contributes a heartfelt tribute to Petruska Clarkson and explains听how her life and teaching has provided a guiding light through听some difficult setbacks in her own life. I am particularly grateful听to Roni for taking the risk to talk so openly about her own听experiences of depression and suicidal feelings. It seems to me听that these issues are often unspoken taboos in our profession,听and I hope that through her honesty, Roni鈥檚 article might open听some much-needed debate and airing of views on the subject.
Both Cordelia and Roni write about risk in our work as听therapists 鈥� the risk of making ourselves emotionally available听and engaging deeply with our clients, of working with open,听undefended hearts. Ros Pirani writes in her letter听that 鈥榯aking risks feels scary but it makes us know we鈥檙e alive,听and tells [our] clients that they鈥檙e in the room with a human听being鈥�. These are sentiments I share in my own practice, and听yet I鈥檓 also aware that we鈥檙e living in increasingly risk averse听times. I鈥檇 love to know what you think. You can email me at听privatepractice.editorial@bacp.co.uk
John Daniel
Editor