A Portfolio of Academic, Therapeutic Practice and Research Work
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A Portfolio of Academic, Therapeutic Practice and Research Work Including an Investigation of Factors Influencing Depression and Anxiety in Parents of Children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and Implications for Therapy By Sarah Hamlyn-Wright Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Psychology (PsychD) Department of Psychology School of Human Sciences University of Surrey July 2005 ProQuest Number: 11015211 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 11015211 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Copyright Statement No part of this Portfolio may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the author, with the exception of the Librarian of the University of Surrey. © Sarah Hamlyn-Wright 2005 Acknowledgements I would like to thank the course team, the course secretaries and my fellow trainees (both past and present) for their help and support throughout my training. In particular, I would like to thank my supervisors Dr. Riccardo Draghi-Lorenz, Dr. Jason Ellis and Mrs. Christine Newbery for their encouragement and advice. I would like to thank each of my clinical placement supervisors, and my placement colleagues, for their expertise and guidance, and I would especially like to thank all of those who participated and helped in the research. Most of all I would like to thank my clients who taught me so much. I am truly grateful to Caroline, Gaye, Angela, Sarah, Neil, Simon, Adilla and Andrew for their steadfast friendship, loyalty and faith in me, as well as their patience, guidance, kindness and support. I dedicate this portfolio to my children, David, October and Lucy, and also my mother, without whose love, inspiration and help, this work would not have been possible. Contents • Introduction to the Portfolio Academic Dossier • Introduction to the Academic Dossier • Essay: Theories of adolescence: Research and strategies for coping. • Essay: Kohut’s theory of the development of the self: The ‘mirroring’ and ‘idealizing’ transferences. • Essay: Cognitive behavioural therapy: Theory, philosophy and the therapeutic relationship. Therapeutic Practice Dossier Introduction to the Therapeutic Practice Dossier Description of Clinical Placements Final Clinical Paper: The process of ‘becoming’ a Counselling Psychologist Research Dossier Introduction to the Research Dossier 76 Literature Review: Autism: A review of the history and research, and implications for Counselling Psychology Abstract 77 Introduction 80 Conclusion 104 Appendices: A. DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) Diagnostic Criteria for Autistic Disorder 107 B. DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) Diagnostic Criteria for Asperger’s Disorder 108 C. Notes for authors 109 References 112 Research Project 1: A shift in focus: Exploring the voices of parents of children on the autistic spectrum Abstract 126 Introduction 129 Method 132 Results 136 Overview 153 Appendices: A. DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) Diagnostic Criteria for Autistic Disorder 157 B. DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) Diagnostic Criteria for Asperger’s Disorder 158 C. Appeal for participants 159 D. Ethical approval 160 E. Information sheet for participants 161 F. Consent form 162 G. Interview schedule 163 H. Personal statement 164 I. Transcript of interview 167 J. Notes for authors 190 References 193 Table 1 200 • Research Project 2: An investigation of factors influencing depression and anxiety in parents of children with an autistic spectrum disorder, and implications for therapy Abstract 201 Introduction 202 Method 214 Results 219 Discussion 227 References 233 Appendices: A. Ethical approval 239 B. Information sheet for participants 241 C. Questionnaire booklet 242 D. Instructions for authors 250 E. Reflections on the use of self 253 Statement of Anonymity: The confidentiality of clients and participants has been protected throughout this Portfolio. Wherever client or participant material is referred to, names have been to preserve the anonymity of those concerned. Introduction to the Portfolio This portfolio provides an overview of my journey through doctoral training as a Counselling Psychologist, and endeavours to give a coherent account of my personal and professional development. It consists of three dossiers reflecting my Academic, Therapeutic Practice and Research work, and whilst it is essentially an academic piece, it also a very personal one reflecting my own developmental, cultural, social and situational background, and my associated feelings, thoughts, attitudes and beliefs. Reasons for training as a Counselling Psychologist Both my background and my experiences have contributed to the range of topics I have chosen to explore throughout my training, and they are also relevant to my decision to become a Counselling Psychologist. Having worked with the partnership between horse and rider for most of my adult life, and as the mother of three children, I had long held a keen interest in relationships, development, thoughts and behaviour. At a key stage in my life (when I became divorced), I decided to extend my education. In light of my interests and experiences, and a desire to become ‘a counsellor’, Psychology seemed to be the natural choice. Throughout my first degree, I developed a ‘passion’ for psychology, and became increasingly drawn to the idea that training to be a therapist would be ‘right’ for me, and would sit comfortably with my other roles. Towards the end of my studies I undertook a module in psychotherapeutic psychology, where I discovered that the humanistic values and a belief in human potential (which are congruent with my own ideology), are rudimentary principles of Counselling Psychology (Strawbridge & Woolfe, 2003). With this in mind, and with a continuing desire to learn and achieve academically, as well as an interest in research and aspirations to help others on an informed but equal basis, undertaking doctoral training to become a Counselling Psychologist seemed to be part of a natural and logical process. 1 Academic Dossier The Academic Dossier contains three essays, selected to highlight the range of topics I have explored throughout the course and to reflect the diversity of epistemologicai stances inherent in counselling psychology. The first essay is drawn from thinking about ‘Lifespan Development’ and focuses upon the period of ‘adolescence’. It looks at the extent to which classical theories of adolescence are supported by research evidence relating to adolescent well-being and functioning, and considers and identifies Focal theory (Coleman, 1990) as a theory of adolescence which might be of particular use to counselling psychology practice. This piece represents in many ways the beginning of my ‘becoming’ a Counselling Psychologist, and it outlines a theory of hope and coping, which reflects my own positivist approach. The second essay examines a theoretical framework that I find especially useful in helping to understand the development of disturbances in a person’s sense of self, namely Kohut’s (1977) ‘self-psychology’. Undertaking this piece of work, which describes and considers Kohut’s concepts of the ‘mirroring’ and ‘idealizing’ transferences and their relationship to clinical practice, provided me with an invaluable ‘stepping-stone’ towards my understanding of clients and the nature and importance of the therapeutic relationship, and also helped me as I struggled to reconcile ideas from psychoanalytic theory with the humanistic approach. The final essay, drawn from the beginning of my third academic year, describes the emergence of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and outlines its theory and philosophy, with emphasis on the importance of the therapeutic relationship and illustrations from my own practice. At this stage I was still grappling with a new approach and its associated techniques, however, this piece of work foreshadowed a major transition in my development as a Counselling Psychologist, where I seemed to find a ‘missing dimension’ which greatly enhanced my understanding and therapeutic skills. 2 Therapeutic Practice Dossier The Therapeutic Practice Dossier provides a brief description of each of my three clinical placements, their client populations and my professional activities. It also contains a Final Clinical Paper, which seeks to provide a personal ‘snapshot’ of my ongoing development as a Counselling Psychologist and to give some insight into how I engage with theory, research and practice. It describes my developing awareness of different aspects of the therapeutic relationship and my movement towards integration, as well as some of my struggles along the way. Also, it discusses my own personal therapy, which provided me with understanding of my own processes, and support throughout some of the more demanding phases of the course. Research Dossier The Research Dossier contains three reports, one from each academic year of the training course. There is a consistent theme concerned with the exploration of what