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Cannon-Gibbs, S. (2016). The dichotomy of ‘them and us’ thinking in Counselling Psychology incorporating an empirical study on BDSM. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis, City, University of London) City Research Online Original citation: Cannon-Gibbs, S. (2016). The dichotomy of ‘them and us’ thinking in Counselling Psychology incorporating an empirical study on BDSM. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis, City, University of London) Permanent City Research Online URL: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/16215/ Copyright & reuse City University London has developed City Research Online so that its users may access the research outputs of City University London's staff. Copyright © and Moral Rights for this paper are retained by the individual author(s) and/ or other copyright holders. All material in City Research Online is checked for eligibility for copyright before being made available in the live archive. URLs from City Research Online may be freely distributed and linked to from other web pages. 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Sarah Cannon-Gibbs Portfolio submitted in fulfilment of DPsych Counselling Psychology, Department of Psychology, City University, London December, 2016 City, University of London Northampton Square London EC1V 0HB United Kingdom T +44 (0)20 7040 5060 THE FOLLOWING PART OF THIS THESIS HAS BEEN REDACTED FOR COPYRIGHT REASONS: pp. 178-204: Publishable paper. “The more we talk about it the less sure I am of what comes under this umbrella.” A thematic analysis exploring how trainee Therapists talk and think about BDSM. THE FOLLOWING PART OF THIS THESIS HAS BEEN REDACTED FOR DATA PROTECTION/CONFIDENTIALITY REASONS: pp. 206-223: Section 4. Extended case study: ‘Containment, holding and providing a secure base. Working with the dynamics of complex trauma’: A psychodynamic study.” www.city.ac.uk Academic excellence for business and the professions Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ 6 List of Appendices ........................................................................................................................ 7 Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................................................ 8 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 10 Declaration of powers of discretion .......................................................................................... 11 SECTION 1 Preface .............................................................................................................. 12 1.1 Introducing the preface ........................................................................... 13 1.2 The path to becoming a Counselling Psychologist ................................. 13 1.3 The portfolio ........................................................................................... 13 1.4 Working relationally as a Counselling Psychologist .............................. 15 1.5 Linking the portfolio together: Them and Us ......................................... 15 1.6 References .............................................................................................. 17 1.7 Abstract ................................................................................................... 19 1.8 Introduction ............................................................................................ 20 1.8.1 Introducing the topic.................................................................. 20 1.8.2 Introducing the chapter .............................................................. 21 1.9 Part 1: Putting BDSM into context ......................................................... 22 1.9.1 Defining the indefinable? What is BDSM? ............................... 22 1.9.2 Prevalence of BDSM? ............................................................... 23 1.10 A socio-historical overview of BDSM ................................................... 26 1.10.1 A brief word on Psychiatry ........................................................ 27 1.10.2 The Etymology of Sadism and Masochism ............................... 27 1.10.3 Early Psychoanalytic contributions to BDSM ........................... 28 1.10.4 From Perversions to Paraphilias: History of diagnostic classification of Sexual Sadomasochism. .................................. 30 1.10.5 Post-Freudian contributions and the sadomasochism of everyday life .............................................................................. 31 1.10.6 The feminist view on BDSM ..................................................... 33 1.11 BDSM as it stands today......................................................................... 34 1.11.1 Current classification within DSM V ........................................ 34 1.11.2 The Law and Sadomasochism and issues of risk ...................... 35 1.11.3 Portrayal of BDSM in the media ............................................... 38 1.12 Part 2: Existing literature on BDSM ....................................................... 40 1.12.1 Moving away from Pathology ................................................... 40 2 1.12.2 Social functioning of and lived experience of BDSM practitioners ............................................................................... 40 1.12.3 Therapy experiences of BDSM clients ...................................... 47 1.12.4 Psychotherapists’ experiences and attitudes towards BDSM clients ............................................................................ 49 1.12.5 Summary and rationale for research within the field of Counselling Psychology ............................................................ 50 1.13 Method .................................................................................................... 52 1.14 Introducing the chapter ........................................................................... 52 1.14.1 Aim of Research ........................................................................ 52 1.14.2 Adopting a Qualitative approach ............................................... 53 1.14.3 Theoretical framework and epistemology ................................. 54 1.14.4 Consideration of methodology .................................................. 57 1.14.5 Discourse Analysis .................................................................... 57 1.14.6 Rationale for choosing Thematic Analysis ................................ 59 1.14.7 The outset of the process ........................................................... 60 1.14.8 Establishing trustworthiness, rigour and quality of research ...................................................................................... 61 1.14.9 Rationale behind the use of a Focus Group for data collection ................................................................................... 63 1.14.10 Recruitment Procedure .............................................................. 64 1.14.11 Sample size and sample inclusion. ............................................ 64 1.14.12 The inclusion of the pilot study ................................................. 66 1.14.13 Carrying out Focus Groups and ethical considerations ............. 67 1.14.14 Confidentiality ........................................................................... 68 1.14.15 Focus Group Materials .............................................................. 68 1.14.16 Debrief ....................................................................................... 69 1.14.17 Transcriptions ............................................................................ 70 1.14.18 Stages of Data Analysis ............................................................. 71 1.14.19 Reflexivity ................................................................................. 74 1.15 Analysis .................................................................................................. 76 1.15.1 Introducing this chapter ............................................................. 76 1.15.2 BDSM as an unknown ............................................................... 77 1.15.3 BDSM and the parameters of consent ....................................... 83 1.15.4 BDSM as abuse ......................................................................... 87 1.15.5 Visibility of BDSM ................................................................. 101 1.15.6 BDSM occurring on a spectrum .............................................. 104 1.15.7 BDSM as a cause for concern ................................................. 113 3 1.16 Discussion ............................................................................................. 121 1.16.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 121 1.16.2 Summary of analysis ............................................................... 122 1.16.3 Discussion of the findings in relation to past literature