EDITORIAL

Firstly, many thanks to all our readers who completed the Inside Out survey. We were delighted with the response and to find that the large majority are in favour of continuing with the production and print of our journal. We will present the findings in our Autumn issue, allowing us time to digest and address all the feedback and interesting comments received.

‘Change’ and all that this implies is upon us with the recent referendum on the Eighth Amendment, Brexit looming ahead, state regulation on the horizon for psychotherapy and a new chairperson for our own organisation. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish the members of our new governing body and committees every success for the coming year and to encourage all members of IAHIP to consider volunteering.

‘Change’ also features in this edition of Inside Out with a selection of articles, poems, workshop reviews and book reviews for you.

Rob Weatherill’s article breathes fresh life into the Oedipus complex and tells us why he believes it is more relevant today than ever before. Rob illuminates how elements of the Oedipal drama play out in today’s society.

We have two interesting articles from differing perspectives on state regulation. Anne Colgan’s article gives a good overview of the historical journey and the role of The Irish Council of Psychotherapy (ICP). IAHIP was a co-founding member Association of ICP. She highlights the current implications, anticipated changes, threats to the profession and our links with Europe. Marcus Bowman draws our attention to some potential risks, including an external authority overseeing the patient-therapist relationship and entry barriers to the profession based on scientific objectivity, and he asks for more discussion about state regulation.

Gender equality is the subject of Pat Comerford’s personal reflection and he shares experiences from his childhood, living from the family script. He tells of his struggle to formulate his own beliefs, taking us through a spiritual and existential journey to discover an equality that can appreciate difference.

Conceptualising ‘Ecopsychology’ is the aim of Matthew Henson’s article and the importance of attitude as a demarcation of some therapeutic practices from others. The socio-political context from which ecopsychology is emerging is not a pretty picture, as Matthew highlights some international and national concerns.

Emma Philbin Bowman brings Object Relations beyond ‘thinking’ to engage with ‘feeling’. She articulates how the next step is to open oneself to feel, connect and recognise, from the other side of the same coin, the subjective position of the Object, arguing that this is where alchemy begins.

We also received two letters to the editor for this edition and welcome further responses from our members. In addition, we have two book reviews and some poems. Within this range of material, we hope that our summer issue provides something for every reader.