A portfolio of Academic, Therapeutic Practice & Research Work

This portfolio contains a collection of academic, therapeutic and research works undertaken by a trainee counselling psychologist during her Practitioner Doctorate in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey between September 2008-December 2011. In the academic dossier, a critical and evaluative stance within clinical practice is taken towards the concepts of projective identification, resistance in cognitive behavioural therapy and the usefulness of diagnosis with particular emphasis on schizophrenia. The therapeutic dossier documents the various placements undertaken by this trainee. It also provides an insight into her journey, integrating clinical practice, supervision, research and theory as well as personal reflection. The research dossier critically addresses and explores firstly, the practicalities of and secondly, the arguments given in favour of implementing ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT); the Government’s attempt to provide therapy for the neglected majority. This dossier also explores the perceptions of IAPT from the perspective of recently graduated counselling psychologists looking for employment.