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Training for front-line homeless workers: practicalities and ethics of teaching cognitive behavioural and dialectical behavioural psychological therapeutic techniques
- Author:
- MAGUIRE Nick
- Journal article citation:
- Housing Care and Support, 15(4), 2012, pp.177-185.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper discusses the need for psychological therapeutic techniques in work with problems of chaotic or dysfunctional behaviour, as found among users of homelessness resettlement services. It summarises recent research and UK policy guidance on the mental health needs encountered by frontline homelessness service resettlement staff on a daily basis. It goes on to discuss the impact of these experiences, and the value of training to help staff manage such encounters with greater awareness and skills. In particular, the paper considers the ethical dimension for staff, in responding to users’ histories of emotional distress. Findings revealed a relative dearth of studies providing evidence on stress and burn-out amongst resettlement staff, compared to healthcare staff. When asked to consider psychological techniques, some staff may initially fear being expected to be a psychotherapist; but research from clinical practice and recent training workshop experience suggest that training, especially where complemented by supervision or reflective practice, leaves staff feeling more confident.
Counselling in the workplace: how time-limited counselling can effect change in well-being
- Authors:
- COLLINS Jill, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 12(2), 2012, pp.84-92.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Many employers provide counselling support on work and personal issues for their employees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the workplace counselling service offered by the staff counselling service of a large university. Specifically, the study investigated whether the counselling made a difference to client well-being and, if so, whether the difference lasted. The study participants were 182 clients who had referred themselves to the University Counselling Service and received at least 1 session of counselling. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) was completed by the participants at the beginning and end of counselling, and at 3 and 6 months following. A non-treatment comparison group completed the survey at the same intervals. The results show clearly that the effect of time-limited counselling (average 7 sessions) on distressed clients is positive. The treatment group acquire an increased sense of well-being as a result of the experience of counselling with a significant statistical difference between pre-and post-counselling treatment group scores on the WEMWBS and consistently higher scores found post counselling. The improvement was maintained at the same level for at least 6 months following the end of counselling.
A psychodynamic interpretation of staff accounts of working with people who have learning disabilities and complex needs
- Authors:
- STOREY Judith, COLLIS Mary-Ann, CLEGG Jennifer
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 40(3), September 2012, pp.229-235.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Staff working with patients who have learning disabilities and complex mental health needs may experience negative emotions towards the patients. The aim of this study was to examine whether a psychoanalytical analysis can help in the understanding of staff accounts of their work. Interviews were conducted with 8 staff (6 qualified nurses and 2 nursing assistants) working with people who have a learning disability and complex mental health needs. The interviews aimed to elicit the participant’s conscious and unconscious reactions to their work. The findings were analysed using the free association narrative interview approach. The participants reported that organisational factors such as not having enough permanent staff and having to manage a complex patient mix impacted upon their work. Participants’ unconscious communications were interpreted as evidence that they were experiencing projected anxiety from their patients. Participants did not appear to be given opportunities in work to reflect upon their emotions and often coped by repressing painful experiences or displacing these onto the organisation. The article concludes that staff would benefit from exploring their conscious and unconscious reactions to their patients.