Exploring counselling psychologists’ experiences of working relationally within an IAPT service: An IPA study

Strange, Smita

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to identify and explore the experiences of counselling psychologists working relationally within IAPT services, looking at their therapeutic practice, the supervision they received and the impact of working in IAPT services upon counselling psychologists’ identities and vice versa. This piece of research provides a basis for future research to explore counselling psychologists’ position and development within IAPT services.

Method: A qualitative approach was used to capture the experiences of counselling psychologists using individual semi structured interviews. Six counselling psychologists, 1 qualified and 5 nearly qualified, working within an AQP system of delivery IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service were recruited and interviewed.

Results: The data gained was analysed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA) to both account for and understand the experiences of counselling psychologists working relationally within IAPT services. Three superordinate themes and four subordinate themes within each superordinate theme were identified and explored. The first superordinate theme being ‘in conflict and under threat’ with subordinate themes of ‘Helplessness or powerlessness’, ‘defeated and deflated’, ‘trapped and isolated’, ‘pressured and stressed’. The second superordinate theme being ‘rebel and subvert’ with subordinate themes of ‘being covert or undercover’, ‘breaking the rules’, ‘working in the interest of client’, ‘doing it anyway’. The third superordinate theme being ‘grief and loss’, with subordinate themes of ‘unheard, unspoken and unknown’, ‘loss of self and identity’, ‘lack of solidarity’, ‘leaving if necessary’.

Discussion: The study provides insight into counselling psychologists’ experiences of working relationally within an IAPT service using an AQP system of delivery. Although counselling psychologists recognised potential benefits to working relationally, further exploration identified that there were challenges to doing so with reference to therapeutic work and use of supervision. The findings highlighted that the stability of the counselling psychologist identity was dependent on the recognition and support received by the participants within their working environment. Participants were divided about whether counselling psychologists should work within an IAPT service or whether they were better located elsewhere.

Citation

Strange, S. Exploring counselling psychologists’ experiences of working relationally within an IAPT service: An IPA study. (Thesis). University of the West of England. Retrieved from https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5454880

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Feb 19, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 8, 2020
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5454880
• Award Date: Oct 8, 2020