Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification

Matthew Wilcockson

doi:doi:10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11

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Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification

Matthew Wilcockson

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 2)

Received: 14 February 2022 Accepted: 3 March 2022 Published: 12 March 2022

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Abstract

Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT) relies on homogenous practice for it’s evidence base. However training to an accreditable standard in the UK requires 3 years of “core professional” training in addition to 1 years CBT training for IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy, trained for primary care cases only) and 2 years for more complex roles. The core professional training has unique aspects which may differ between professional groups (Nursing, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, etc) have varied ideological standpoints and practice rituals, and have the potential to conflict with aspects of CBT. This study asks the question “How do (BACP accreditable) Counsellors and psychotherapists (Hereafter counsellors) in High Intensity IAPT roles practice CBT”? and achieves this through analysis of a focus group of 5 counsellors with at least 3 years CBT experience using a thematic analysis methodology. Five themes were identified - processes in transition, ongoing processes reconciling roles, Features retained from counselling practice, Features changed from counselling practice, and features of CBT resisted and not adopted. Results suggest a broad adaptation to CBT with some aspects of counselling (Responsiveness to the client, knowing the whole of the client) emphasised more or differently to conventional views on CBT Practice. Counsellors do not adopt, or try to avoid adopting, some of the more positivist aspects of CBT, and this remains an ongoing source of conflict in the application of CBT. Implications: Counsellors do not fully conform to the CBT model of practice. Further research is necessary to establish whether this affects outcomes.

Published in	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11
Page(s)	42-50
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Counselling, CBT, Transition, Role Conflict

References

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Matthew Wilcockson. (2022). Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(2), 42-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11

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Matthew Wilcockson. Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2022, 11(2), 42-50. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11

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AMA Style

Matthew Wilcockson. Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification. Psychol Behav Sci. 2022;11(2):42-50. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11,
  author = {Matthew Wilcockson},
  title = {Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {42-50},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20221102.11},
  abstract = {Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT) relies on homogenous practice for it’s evidence base. However training to an accreditable standard in the UK requires 3 years of “core professional” training in addition to 1 years CBT training for IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy, trained for primary care cases only) and 2 years for more complex roles. The core professional training has unique aspects which may differ between professional groups (Nursing, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, etc) have varied ideological standpoints and practice rituals, and have the potential to conflict with aspects of CBT. This study asks the question “How do (BACP accreditable) Counsellors and psychotherapists (Hereafter counsellors) in High Intensity IAPT roles practice CBT”? and achieves this through analysis of a focus group of 5 counsellors with at least 3 years CBT experience using a thematic analysis methodology. Five themes were identified - processes in transition, ongoing processes reconciling roles, Features retained from counselling practice, Features changed from counselling practice, and features of CBT resisted and not adopted. Results suggest a broad adaptation to CBT with some aspects of counselling (Responsiveness to the client, knowing the whole of the client) emphasised more or differently to conventional views on CBT Practice. Counsellors do not adopt, or try to avoid adopting, some of the more positivist aspects of CBT, and this remains an ongoing source of conflict in the application of CBT. Implications: Counsellors do not fully conform to the CBT model of practice. Further research is necessary to establish whether this affects outcomes.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification
AU  - Matthew Wilcockson
Y1  - 2022/03/12
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11
AB  - Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT) relies on homogenous practice for it’s evidence base. However training to an accreditable standard in the UK requires 3 years of “core professional” training in addition to 1 years CBT training for IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy, trained for primary care cases only) and 2 years for more complex roles. The core professional training has unique aspects which may differ between professional groups (Nursing, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, etc) have varied ideological standpoints and practice rituals, and have the potential to conflict with aspects of CBT. This study asks the question “How do (BACP accreditable) Counsellors and psychotherapists (Hereafter counsellors) in High Intensity IAPT roles practice CBT”? and achieves this through analysis of a focus group of 5 counsellors with at least 3 years CBT experience using a thematic analysis methodology. Five themes were identified - processes in transition, ongoing processes reconciling roles, Features retained from counselling practice, Features changed from counselling practice, and features of CBT resisted and not adopted. Results suggest a broad adaptation to CBT with some aspects of counselling (Responsiveness to the client, knowing the whole of the client) emphasised more or differently to conventional views on CBT Practice. Counsellors do not adopt, or try to avoid adopting, some of the more positivist aspects of CBT, and this remains an ongoing source of conflict in the application of CBT. Implications: Counsellors do not fully conform to the CBT model of practice. Further research is necessary to establish whether this affects outcomes.
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Matthew Wilcockson

Department of Clinical Psychology, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Matthew Wilcockson. (2022). Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(2), 42-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11

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ACS Style

Matthew Wilcockson. Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2022, 11(2), 42-50. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11

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AMA Style

Matthew Wilcockson. Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification. Psychol Behav Sci. 2022;11(2):42-50. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11,
  author = {Matthew Wilcockson},
  title = {Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {42-50},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20221102.11},
  abstract = {Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT) relies on homogenous practice for it’s evidence base. However training to an accreditable standard in the UK requires 3 years of “core professional” training in addition to 1 years CBT training for IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy, trained for primary care cases only) and 2 years for more complex roles. The core professional training has unique aspects which may differ between professional groups (Nursing, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, etc) have varied ideological standpoints and practice rituals, and have the potential to conflict with aspects of CBT. This study asks the question “How do (BACP accreditable) Counsellors and psychotherapists (Hereafter counsellors) in High Intensity IAPT roles practice CBT”? and achieves this through analysis of a focus group of 5 counsellors with at least 3 years CBT experience using a thematic analysis methodology. Five themes were identified - processes in transition, ongoing processes reconciling roles, Features retained from counselling practice, Features changed from counselling practice, and features of CBT resisted and not adopted. Results suggest a broad adaptation to CBT with some aspects of counselling (Responsiveness to the client, knowing the whole of the client) emphasised more or differently to conventional views on CBT Practice. Counsellors do not adopt, or try to avoid adopting, some of the more positivist aspects of CBT, and this remains an ongoing source of conflict in the application of CBT. Implications: Counsellors do not fully conform to the CBT model of practice. Further research is necessary to establish whether this affects outcomes.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Conflicts of Identity – How Counsellors Practice CBT 5 Years Post Qualification
AU  - Matthew Wilcockson
Y1  - 2022/03/12
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
SP  - 42
EP  - 50
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221102.11
AB  - Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT) relies on homogenous practice for it’s evidence base. However training to an accreditable standard in the UK requires 3 years of “core professional” training in addition to 1 years CBT training for IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy, trained for primary care cases only) and 2 years for more complex roles. The core professional training has unique aspects which may differ between professional groups (Nursing, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, etc) have varied ideological standpoints and practice rituals, and have the potential to conflict with aspects of CBT. This study asks the question “How do (BACP accreditable) Counsellors and psychotherapists (Hereafter counsellors) in High Intensity IAPT roles practice CBT”? and achieves this through analysis of a focus group of 5 counsellors with at least 3 years CBT experience using a thematic analysis methodology. Five themes were identified - processes in transition, ongoing processes reconciling roles, Features retained from counselling practice, Features changed from counselling practice, and features of CBT resisted and not adopted. Results suggest a broad adaptation to CBT with some aspects of counselling (Responsiveness to the client, knowing the whole of the client) emphasised more or differently to conventional views on CBT Practice. Counsellors do not adopt, or try to avoid adopting, some of the more positivist aspects of CBT, and this remains an ongoing source of conflict in the application of CBT. Implications: Counsellors do not fully conform to the CBT model of practice. Further research is necessary to establish whether this affects outcomes.
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download