Abstract
This portfolio comprises three dossiers which contain a selection of papers submitted as part of the Practitioner Doctorate in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey. The dossiers cover the academic, therapeutic practice and research aspects of the course, which highlight some of my main interests and competencies, and also aim to reflect my personal and professional development. The academic dossier contains three essays. The first examines possible causes of anorexia nervosa and how existing hypotheses and research can inform therapeutic practice. The second essay is a critique of Freud’s perspective on homosexuality and the third essay explores therapists’ use of self and relational aspects in CBT. The therapeutic practice dossier relates to clinical practice and contains descriptions of the different placements I have undertaken during my training and the final clinical paper, which provides the reader with a more in-depth account of my personal process and evolving identity as a Counselling Psychologist. Finally, the research dossier consists of a literature review and two pieces of qualitative research, which centre on the topic of energy-based approaches to healing and their integration within psychotherapy. The literature review is an exploration of energy healing approaches, including their historical beginnings, inputs from the field of physics, their application in working with emotional difficulties and their relevance to more conventional therapeutic practice. The first empirical paper focuses on one particular healing approach, Pranic healing and within it Pranic Psychotherapy, looking at the conceptualisations and aspects of the therapeutic work of healers who work with this modality. The second empirical paper explores clients’ experience of therapy with a mental health practitioner who incorporates energy healing in their practice.