Category Archives: Theory

We feel the pain of a loss much more than we feel the pleasure of a gain

Posted on 31/03/2014 by

I recently watched the excellent BBC Horizon documentary on decision making. The programme featured the very interesting work of Professor Daniel Kahneman (pictured, left) from Princeton University and his late colleague Amos Tversky.  They had demonstrated for over 30 years several replicable ways in which human … Continue reading →

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Can Attachment Theory form part of an integrative model of psychotherapy

Posted on 07/12/2013 by

Jonathan Bowlby has been described by Storr as “one of the three or four most important psychiatrists of the twentieth century.”  For the purposes of this post, I intend to focus on his work on Attachment Theory. Bowlby was troubled by … Continue reading →

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Are early life experiences important in shaping adult character

Posted on 19/07/2012 by

I often wonder if early life experiences are important in shaping adult character and whether unconscious communication such as transference and counter-transference is integral to transpersonal integrative psychotherapy.  Perhaps transpersonal integrative psychotherapy presupposes psychoanalysis or, rather, include it as a first and … Continue reading →

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Have you ever wondered what the Elements Model is and how useful is it in Psychotherapy?

Posted on 09/07/2012 by

Have you ever wondered what the Elements Model is and how useful is it in Psychotherapy? Or indeed have you ever heard of the Elements Model? The Elements Model has a balanced view of personality and emphasises the potential of clients. The … Continue reading →

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three day weekend on Gestalt Psychotherapy

Posted on 31/05/2012 by

We had a three day weekend on Gestalt Psychotherapy, which for me, proved to be one of the most powerful components of the course so far.  The word gestalt is used to describe a phenomenon/concept in which the ‘whole’ is considered as … Continue reading →

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Are you in a balanced relationship?

Posted on 10/11/2011 by

Are you in a balanced relationship?  Attraction between two people can be seen through the lens of the elements (air, fire, water and earth) although the shadow can emerge following the get together (which emerges around our limitations).  For instance, you might be … Continue reading →

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Winnicott, unthinkable anxieties & primary maternal pre-occupation

Posted on 21/10/2011 by

This week’s lectures continued with the object relations theories and early child birth developmental issues. Specifically we were hearing about the ideas of Donald Woods Winnicott (7 April 1896–28 January 1971) who was an English paediatrician and psychoanalyst. Winnicott was especially influential in … Continue reading →

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