Reflective Practice and Professional Development in Psychotherapy

Reflective Practice and Professional Development in Psychotherapy presents reflection as a tool to further self-exploration and aid professional development for psychotherapists and counsellors. It discusses the potential avenues, methods and spaces for self-reflective work. The book extensively cites both global and Indian research and presents therapist voices and perspectives, accompanied with self-reflective exercises and experiential activities. It highlights how the intersectional lens and diversity perspective can be integrated in reflective practice, especially for practitioners in India. The objective is to help the reader use reflection to critically examine, personalize and ‘own’ ideas that can nurture personal and professional growth. The book is indispensable for therapists at all levels of development and an important read for academicians, practitioners, trainers and supervisors from the disciplines of clinical and counselling psychology, social work and psychiatry.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgements Reflective Practice for Professional Development Tracing Your Motivations to Become a Therapist The Personal and the Relational Self of the Therapist Adopting a Theoretical Lens Connecting with Clients and Building a Therapeutic Alliance Understanding Personal and Professional Values Engaging with Diversity in the Therapy Room Learning from Clients Supervision and Reflective Practice Being in Personal Therapy Investing in Self-care and Growth The Reflective Path: Integrating Reflection into Training, Practice and Research References Index

About the Author :
Poornima Bhola is Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India, where she completed her MPhil and PhD degrees. She has over 25 years of experience as a therapist and is currently the coordinator of the psychotherapy training programme in the department. She is deeply interested in training and has conducted numerous workshops for counsellors and psychotherapists on reflective practice, ethics and youth mental health. Her research interests include psychotherapy processes, training and development, youth mental health and personality dimensions. Chetna Duggal is Associate Professor, School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India. She completed her MPhil (Clinical Psychology) from NIMHANS, Bengaluru, and PhD from TISS, Mumbai. Her research interests include psychotherapy practice, training and supervision, and adolescent and youth mental health. She has been in psychotherapy practice for over 15 years. In recent years, she has launched the School Initiative for Mental Health Advocacy (SIMHA), and Rahbar, an initiative for supervision. Rathna Isaac, PhD in clinical psychology, completed her training in NIMHANS in 2005 and is a private practitioner and supervisor with 20 years of experience. She is an external consultant and supervisor for the Couple and Family Therapy Programme at Parivarthan Counselling, Training and Research Centre, Bengaluru. She has created and conducted both basic and advanced training programmes on couple therapy and provides ongoing group supervision for couple counsellors. She has conducted several training workshops for counsellors and psychotherapists at all levels and is deeply interested in the psychotherapy process.

Review :
This book could not have come at a better time. In the current ethos of a search for instant solutions, there is the peril that therapists are becoming ‘technique’ oriented. Therapy involves a dynamic interplay of the emotions, thoughts and behaviours of clients and therapists – however the focus is often on clients’ reactions alone.  This book is an attempt to redress the balance by urging practitioners to pause in contemplation of themselves and their work. Therapists at varying levels of competence and experience will gain new insights or find something that resonates with their experiences. Lucidly written, the chapters gently flow and persuade readers to embark on their own ‘reflective’ journeys. This book draws on a wealth of literature, personal experience, and thoughtful consideration, to explore aspects of psychotherapy training and practice. It is a gem of a book that explores equally the strengths, the challenges and the paradoxes of therapy. Most mental health practitioners, not just therapists, would benefit from it, and it should be recommended reading for all of them. Reflective Practice and Professional Development in Psychotherapy offers psychotherapists and counselors of all conceptual approaches, practical aid in the journey to "know themselves." With warmth and wisdom, the authors of this lucid, accessible and comprehensive, clinically rich and deeply scholarly book, provide useful guidance and supportive companionship for therapists at all career stages. A rare international perspective and cultural breadth make this book a unique contribution. Sure to be often consulted, it deserves a conveniently reachable place on every therapist's bookshelf. This is the most thoughtful and erudite book yet written on reflective practice for psychotherapists. An absolute gem. That it has emerged from India, where the Buddha gave his teachings on self-reflection to the world, may be no accident. Somehow the authors have created a highly practical and accessible book, full of engaging therapist vignettes, while providing the reader with a sumptuous list of references. The wide coverage ranges from personal motivation and values to the relational self and the alliance; from supervision and self-care to how we can best engage with diversity and structural inequalities. This book definitely deserves a wide international audience. What makes this book a `must-read’ is the introduction of ideas of diversity, intersectionality, marginalization and oppression, and the focus on the role of supervision in providing the scaffolding required for reflective practice. It will serve as a text for trainee counselors as well as a ‘go to' book for experienced psychotherapists seeking to deepen their practice skills.