This piece of research aimed to explore counselling psychologists' experiences of identifying with their clients' concerns. The participants' experiences were examined within the context of the co-constructiveness of the therapeutic encounter. Seven counselling psychologists, with a training background in the existential tradition, were asked to elaborate on their experiences of identifying with their clients difficulties. The method chosen for this study was Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and the participants' experiences were were collected through the use of semi-structured interviews. Two sub-topics were explored in the context of the therapists' experience of 'identification'. These were the concept of 'bracketing' and the issue of 'self-disclosure'. Five superordinate themes emerged: a) the layers of identification, b) working with the therapeutic encounter, c) bracketing: like riding a bicycle, d) perspectives in self-disclosure, and e) health warning. These themes reflected experiences of different levels of identification; the impact of identification on the therapeutic encounter and the use of bracketing; the (mis)use of self-disclosure; and the effects of identification on personal wellbeing. The findings are critically discussed in the light of existing literature and implications for counselling psychology and psychotherapy practice are considered. The limitations of the study are also highlighted as well as suggestions for future research being presented.

This investigation explored the phenomenon of motivation in the inter-relational space between therapists and clients. Its aim was to give voice to a small group of existential therapists who were trained and practise counselling psychology in the UK. Literature review focused mainly on the theoretical conceptualisation of motivation and its therapeutic implications across different modalities. Using a Relational-Phenomenological Approach, the investigation looked at the dialogical and co-creative nature of motivation in therapy. Themes emerged were indicative of motivation existing as multiple differently motivated selves in both therapists and clients. Differently motivated selves are characterised by their inner- and inter- relationality and give rise to kaleidoscopic relational dynamics in the inter-subjective space. Relational features such as openness, ability to stand on the edge with clients and total acceptance of the is-ness of the moment seem to co-create fertile ground for motivational transformations. I also experienced the co-creational, dialogical and motivationally transformational nature of differently motivated selves throughout the research process, which points at the multi-directional nature of motivation. Awareness of motivation is multifaceted and differently motivated selves and is interactional and dialogical, whereby the therapist cannot remain neutral can be useful in Counselling psychology.