Division of Counselling Psychology: November newsletter

Dear members, 

As autumn fades and winter creeps in, November often feels like a time for preparation and reflection. Whether you're juggling deadlines, preparing for the festive season, or simply trying to keep warm, we hope this month's e-newsletter offers something to brighten your day.

Inside, you'll find updates on consultations you can give your thoughts on including the Assessment, Formulation, and Diagnosis Guidelines, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow members through events and groups. Trainees, don't miss the chance to join the upcoming Trainee Networking Event on 4 December with details on how to avoid access issues this time around! 

We're also thrilled to announce that e-newsletter content now appears on the DCoP microsite, giving your contributions even greater visibility. If you'd like to advertise your research, be sure to check out the updated guidelines, which include opportunities for promotion on our social media platforms. 

Finally, as the days grow shorter, it's a great time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the incredible work being done across our profession. Thank you for being part of this vibrant community, and as always, please feel free to reach out with contributions or feedback. 

As always, if you have anything that you would like to contribute, please do email me to discuss: [email protected] 

Warmest wishes, 

Helena Fitzpatrick 

Editor 

BPS Assessment, Formulation and Diagnosis Guidelines consultation 

The Practice Board's Assessment, Formulation and Diagnosis task and finish group has drafted new guidelines for psychologists. 

These guidelines offer key information for professionals conducting assessments, formulations, and diagnoses. Read the draft guidelines and send over any comments or feedback you have by 13 January 2025. 

Trainee Zoom sessions 

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Trainee Networking Event on 4 December 2024 at 6 - 7pm. This is a supportive space to talk about our experiences as trainees, and a great opportunity to network and get to know colleagues from other courses. 

I'm aware that some members experienced difficulties with accessing the event last time. The Zoom link should now work for members of the Division, but please keep in mind that you will need to be signed into your BPS account to be able to access it. 

We would really like anyone interested to be able to join, so if you are experiencing any issues with joining the event on the day, please send an email to [email protected] 

Finally, I am pleased to share with you that we have implemented a new user-friendly system for joining Trainee Networking events. You will be asked to sign in with your BPS account and enter your details. It is a quick process, but if you do have any issues, please do reach out to me on the email above. 

Warm regards, 

Betul 

Call for papers 

Call for Papers: Special Issue on the Social Psychology of Collective Racial/Ethnic Violence in the British Journal of Social Psychology 

Toward a social psychology of 'collective racial/ethnic violence': legitimacy, mobilisation and resistance 

Guest Editors: Dr Rahul Sambaraju and Dr Steve Kirkwood, University of Edinburgh 

This special issue explores the dynamics of collective racial/ethnic violence and its impact on societal norms, ideologies and intergroup relations. Recent examples such as the anti-migrant violence in the UK and Ireland, caste-based violence in India and symbolic violence against marginalised groups in the US, highlight the importance of examining these actions as meaningful social phenomena. 

We're looking for papers addressing topics such as: 

• Mobilisation of group identities for violence 
• Resistance and solidarity in response to violence 
• Roles of state and non-state actors in violence or control 
• Media influence in promoting or countering violence 
• Ideological and intersectional dimensions of collective violence 

Abstracts (max. 150 words) are due by 31 January 2025, with full papers invited by February 2025 and final submissions due by 31 July 2025. 

For more details, contact: [email protected] or reach out to the editors at [email protected] or [email protected] 

DCoP Black and Asian Counselling Psychologists Group (BACPG)

The DCoP BACPG provides community, raises awareness, and shares resources for Counselling Psychologists of Black or Asian backgrounds/origin. 

This group is being chaired by Dr Khushi Haria. Contact email: [email protected] 

Environmental and Climate Crisis reading group! All DCoP members are welcome to this reading group. This group is intended to be a place to develop our knowledge and engagement with the climate and environmental crisis and to offer a supportive place to share our personal reactions to this knowledge, as well as to develop our capacity to support clients in their reactions to this global crisis. 

Please email [email protected] for information regarding the next date, the associated reading and the link to join. 

Trainee Research Participation Requests We've recently decided to change how requests for advertising research will be handled to include sharing on our social media platforms. 

The process is the same as outlined below: How to advertise your research with DCoP The Division of Counselling Psychology (DCoP) supports trainee research by promoting opportunities for participant involvement through our e-newsletter, social media platforms, and microsite. 

If you would like your research to be advertised, please follow the guidance below and email the e-newsletter editor at [email protected] 

What to include in your email: 

Research blurb - Provide a short description including:

•  Title of your research 
• A brief explanation of what the research is about and its significance 
• Who can participate 
• A clear statement of what you are asking participants to do (e.g., interviews, surveys) 
• Your contact information 
• A statement confirming ethical approval from your institution Your research supervisor's name. 

Ethical approval confirmation - Attach a formal ethical approval letter from your institution. This can be either:

•  The official email confirming ethical approval OR 
• A letter on institutional letterhead.

Note: No other forms of confirmation will be accepted

Research flyer (optional) 

• If you include a research flyer, we will share it on our social media platforms to help promote your research. However, please note that flyers cannot be included in the e-newsletter 

Supervisor inclusion: Include your research supervisor in the email to ensure they are aware of your request to disseminate your research. 

Additional information: 

E-newsetter and microsite: As our e-newsletter is now hosted on the DCoP microsite, your research request will also appear there, ensuring greater visibility.

 Social media promotion: Flyers included in your submission will be shared on our social media platforms. 

Retweets: We will not retweet research requests unless this process has been followed to ensure ethical approval has been obtained.

Ensure your submission is complete and adheres to the above guidelines to avoid delays in publication. For further questions, please contact the e-letter editor at [email protected] 

Fauzia Khan meets… 

Fauzia Khan meets Dr Avesta Panahi, a counselling psychologist in the NHS, and at Dr Avesta Therapy Practice. 

Dr Avesta Panahi shares her journey from arriving in the UK as a refugee to becoming a counselling psychologist. She discusses her work within the NHS and with Amna, a charity supporting Afghan refugees, and offers advice for aspiring psychologists from minoritised backgrounds. 

Since 2021, Fauzia Khan has been meeting psychologists and other allied mental health professionals to discuss their life and work. The interviews she has carried out cover a wide range of topics, including lived experience, co-production, trauma-informed practice, challenging systems and models, EDI, anti-racism, equity for older people and islamophobia. You can access her collection of interviews here. 

Next issue The next e-newsletter is due to be with you at the end of January, so please send all inclusions to the editor by 15 January 2025 by emailing: [email protected]