Abstract
This portfolio exhibits academic, research and therapeutic work submitted as a requirement for the completion of the PsychD in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey. The portfolio is partitioned into three chapters which correspond to three dossiers. Chapter one contains the academic dossier and presents three essays. Each essay portrays mental health as embodiment in different ways. Essay one discusses body dysmorphic disorder across the lifespan from a cognitive behavioural therapy perspective. Essay 2 explores the symbolism of the phallus in a contemporary homoerotic picture drawing on Lacanian theory. Essay three describes psychodynamic theory around a transitional object which was given to me by a client with borderline personality disorder. Chapter two contains the therapeutic practice dossier. Within the therapeutic practice dossier there is a description of my clinical placements and my final clinical paper. My final clinical paper combines use of theory, placement experience, personal development, and clinical practice in a document which charts my development into a counselling psychologist. Chapter three exhibits the research dossier. For each academic year, a research piece was carried out and is presented here. The recurrent theme is considering restorative justice from a counselling psychology perspective. Year one shows a literature review of forgiveness and restorative justice literature set within a therapeutic context. Year two depicts a grounded theory of victim experiences of readiness and preparation received before meeting the offender in a face to face restorative meeting. Year three contains a thematic analysis of the experiences of youth offending team employees and mediators of preparation they give for restorative justice meetings to victims. Finally, the research dossier contains slides I presented to the Division of Counselling Psychology National Conference 2010.