Abstract
The process of becoming a counselling psychologist brings with it a deep sense of self-awareness and reflection. This portfolio endeavours to capture and reflect on my personal and professional development over my three years on the PsychD psychotherapeutic and counselling training course at the University of Surrey. The portfolio focuses on the academic, therapeutic practice and research work compiled during the training and a compilation of selected works are shown in this portfolio. Academically, it covers three essays, which focus on relationships - the relationship between couples and the therapeutic relationship between client and counselling psychologist. The first two papers focus on older adults and how counselling psychologists can work with this client group. The topics covered include lifespan development, transference and countertransference within the psychodynamic model and homework tasks in the cognitive behavioural therapy framework. The theoretical perspectives covered include humanistic models, psychodynamic approaches and cognitive-behaviour therapy approaches. These are set within specific placements, which illustrate how my interactions with clients have been informed and structured in the various therapeutic settings. Three research pieces were engaged with, including a literature review that examines ‘Living Apart Together' (LAT) relationships as an alternative to remarriage or cohabitation after divorce or widowhood in later life. This was followed by an explorative study into five participants’ experience of their LAT relationship and uses interpretative phenomenoiogicai analysis. The third research paper explores the experiences of business travellers in relation to finding a work/life balance. Thematic analysis was used to explore how the participants’ experience the interface between work and family and how they experience their time apart and together with their family.