Therapists Talk Therapy

• Ep. 37 | Contracting with Clients as a Therapeutic Frame

  Today, we are discussing contracting with our clients and exploring what this means in theory and practice. We discuss how a therapist's understanding of, and comfort with, contracting can evolve through their career so that the contract provides a therapeutic frame for the work, as opposed to something which can feel like a block or needs to be gotten out of the way so the real work can begin. I am delighted to be joined by David Kelly and Colm Early for this episode. David Kelly is a pre-accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist with the IACP. He runs a private practice in Dublin with a focus on long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy, and is currently completing an MSc in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at Trinity College Dublin. David has published and presented research on the psychodynamics of scrolling, and previously coordinated the PCI Counselling Service. He now supports students as a Student Development and Progression Officer and associate lecturer with the College. In addition, he works with Spectrum Life as a Client Care Counsellor in an EAP setting. Colm works as a clinical supervisor, psychotherapist and faculty lecturer with PCI College. He is year head for year two on the BSc programme. He maintains a private practice online, and he is interested in cross-cultural counselling and the psychoanalytic discourse.

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• Ep. 36 | Willie Egan on 125 West St. Episode

  Welcome back to a new season of the Therapists Talk Therapy podcast. We are starting off with a friend of the College, Willie Egan. We discuss the publication of his first novel, '125 West St.' which includes an exploration of how he came to be a therapist, the role that PCI College co-founder Liam McCarthy played, the process of writing the book and Willie's way of incorporating his authentic self and creativity in his work. We also discuss the need to take some risks and try new things in life. '125 West St.' is out now on Amazon and Kindle and will be released shortly on Audible. 

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• Ep. 35 | Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Orthorexia: A Qualitative Exploration

  This is the second of our Graduate Webinar episodes where we speak to the runner-up of the Martin Kitterick Award. This award is given to a fourth-year BSc thesis judged to be of very high quality with relevant and contemporary knowledge that deserves to be shared with the wider profession. This is a recording of a live event that was held recently for PCI students and alumni. I was delighted to be joined by faculty lecturers Colm Early and Ramesh Ramsahoye for the discussion. Our guest speaker is Lynn McGovern, and her thesis is titled 'Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Orthorexia: A Qualitative Exploration'. Orthorexia is not an official diagnosis, but it is defined as an obsession with healthy eating. It can be hard to identify, as it generally does not focus on calorie intake and can take many forms. However, it is extreme and can have serious health impacts. We explore how disordered eating can present, the impact of social media, and the need to be very clear on your role in a larger team of support to work with someone with this kind of presenting issue. Lynn also gives us insight into the challenges of picking a research topic and her approach to research and writing through a lens of curiosity. Lynn McGovern is a psychotherapist and psychologist currently practicing in Naas. Her first study on orthorexia ("The experience of orthorexia from the perspective of recovered orthorexics") was published in 2021, and the material from her 2024 thesis will also be published in the academic literature. Having experienced orthorexia herself, Lynn is very passionate about this topic and would love to see it recognised as an official eating disorder. Her other areas of interest include neurodiversity, relationship issues, including domestic abuse, nervous system regulation, and chronic illness. You can connect with Lynn at www.lighthousetherapy.ie or on Instagram @lighthousetherapy_Ireland.

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• Ep. 34 | Exploring the Impact of Psilocybin on the Psychotherapeutic Experience

  Welcome to our Graduate Webinar episode. This is a recording of a live event held for PCI students and alumni recently, where we invited the winner of the Martin Kitterick Award to discuss their research with us. The award is given to the BSc Year 4 research thesis, which is judged to be of a very high standard, with knowledge to contribute to the wider profession. This year's winner was Eoin Shanahan with the thesis titled 'Exploring the Impact of Psilocybin on the Psychotherapeutic Experience'. This is a very relevant topic, and Eoin approaches it with great care to explore the opportunities, the risks and the questions we don't yet have answers for. He aimed to humanise the data and make it more accessible for both clients and therapists. Eoin is a PCI graduate and works in private practice in Lucan. Please see his Instagram account 'woundedhealerireland' by clicking here. Please click here to read Eoin's thesis. A special thank you to PCI College faculty members Carol Gregg and Philomena Clarke, who hosted this event.

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• Ep. 33 | The Role of Assessment Pre and Post Therapy

  Today, we are discussing the role of assessment pre- and post-therapy with John Wills. John outlines the many reasons he actively uses evidence-based assessment tools in his client work. These include identifying and prioritising presenting issues and symptoms, informing case conceptualisation, measuring risk and measuring progress. We discuss how these tools can be used collaboratively and in an empowering way with clients. We also discuss a specific assessment type, the Hogan Personality Inventory, which John offers to clients who are coming to the end of their therapy. This can help clients to increase self-awareness and compassion and support themselves in challenging future situations. John is a psychologist and CBT practitioner, specialising in anxiety disorders. He has a keen interest in the role of personality disorders in clinical presentations. John is a faculty lecturer and year head with PCI College and works with schools in the area of cyberbullying and wellbeing.

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