This time last year we were battening down the hatches in preparation for the ‘Beast from the East’, knowing little of the need for the copious amounts of sunscreen to follow in the Summer. The natural world and all its effects feature in this issue; Matthew Henson reflects on his first foray into ecopsychology while Therese O’Driscoll pays tribute to a client less familiar with the confines of a therapy room and more at home in nature. Therese also considers the limitations of indoor space at the conference Psychotherapy and the Natural World.
The beginning of a new year is a time of reflection as we think about how we would like to be in the world. Samara Serotkin’s article explores how we can prune back parts of our lives to allow for growth, which resonates well with Deirdre Madden’s poem heralding the arrival of Spring, with its sweet honey taste and lemony zestness.
Founder member of IAHIP and former board member of this journal, Shirley Ward features in In Conversation with Ursula Somerville. Ursula may well have been scratching her head trying to figure out how Shirley manages to fit all she does into one day. Taking the “tire” out of retirement, life is vibrant and energetic for this successful sportswoman, rebellious nun, international lecturer, researcher and psychotherapist.
John Kearns explores the areas of convergence and divergence between fiction and case studies, drawing a rich tapestry between fictional characters and therapeutic encounters. Based on her research, Lorena Sanchez Blanco presents her experience of leading a therapeutic group of asylum seekers and survivors. J.D. Stephen Flynn then takes us through a Jungian, mythical, labyrinth using the story of Snow White to explore some human stages of development. Looking at the EMDR approach, Gus Murray highlights the effectiveness of using a well-researched model when working with trauma. Continuing with the theme of trauma, an article called Not waving but drowning shows the harrowing effects of vicarious trauma that can be felt when working as a psychotherapist. We also have book reviews from Emma Philbin Bowman and Maeve Dooley – thank you, Patrick Casement, for including a Conversation first published in Inside Out in your new book!
At this time, we bid farewell to three of our Editorial Board members – Monica Roche with her eagle eye for detail, Alan Rodgers’ calm and assured presence on the team and Belinda Kelly’s creative and energetic flair for the editing process. We are now seeking new members and would love to hear from those of you with a penchant for words and a keen eye for detail; or indeed if former Editorial Board members would like to dust off the cobwebs of their editorial minds and rejoin us, we’d welcome you back with open arms.