PCI College, Corrig House, Old Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 464 2268 info@pcicollege.ie
Privacy statement |Terms & Conditions |websites for education |
Our Courses
Counselling & Psychotherapy Courses
OverviewCertificate in Counselling & PsychotherapyBlended Learning Certificate in Counselling & PsychotherapyBSc Honours Counselling & PsychotherapyBSc Honours Counselling & Psychotherapy Upgrade CourseProfessional AccreditationPostgraduate Courses
OverviewMSc Child and Adolescent Counselling & Psychotherapeutic SkillsMSc Addiction Counselling & PsychotherapyAdvanced Diploma SupervisionProfessional Development Courses
OverviewUsing Dreams in Private Practice, Groups and for Personal DevelopmentAn Introduction to MBCTLoss and Grief: Sitting with a grieving client.Approaching Autism through PsychoanalysisProfessional Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Professional Certificate in Couples CounsellingProfessional Certificate in Creative Arts TherapiesProfessional Certificate in Group Facilitation SkillsProfessional Certificate in Working with DreamsFamily SystemsTailor-made TrainingIntroduction to Schema Therapy
Search by Category
Recent Posts
BLOGS Nov 2018
BLOGS Feb 2017
BLOGS Dec 2016
BLOGS Oct 2016
BLOGS Sep 2016
BLOGS Jul 2016
BLOGS Mar 2016
BLOGS Feb 2016
BLOGS Aug 2015
BLOGS Jul 2015
BLOGS Apr 2015
BLOGS Mar 2015
BLOGS Feb 2015
BLOGS Jan 2015
BLOGS Sep 2014
BLOGS Jul 2014
BLOGS Jun 2014
BLOGS Apr 2014
BLOGS Mar 2014
BLOGS Feb 2014
BLOGS Jan 2014
BLOGS Dec 2013
BLOGS Jul 2013
BLOGS Jun 2013
BLOGS May 2013
BLOGS Jan 2013
BLOGS Oct 2012
BLOGS May 2011
Martin Kitterick Award 2016
The 2016 winner of the Martin Kitterick Award - Simon Forsyth
Abstract:
In May 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by
popular vote. This milestone is reflective of much-increased social acceptance towards gay and lesbian people, yet the fact remains that homophobic attitudes and various forms of discrimination are still extremely common. Irish gay people have been raised in a typically heteronormative society and are likely to have internalised many negative images and beliefs towards their sexuality. This is especially true for older generations, raised when homosexual acts were still illegal in this country. Therefore, the vast majority of Irish gay people are also well-versed in the art of hiding one’s true identity and ‘passing’ as heterosexual. I propose that these experiences correlate well with the Jungian concepts of Persona and Shadow – the former, a mask we wear to negotiate with society; the latter, a storeroom for all the aspects of ourselves that we deem shameful and unfit for public view. The essay explores this idea from both general psychotherapeutic and specifically Irish perspectives, in the hope of offering counsellors a complementary lens through which to view the experiences of their gay and lesbian clients. Traditional outlooks on homosexuality within the school of analytical psychology are appraised, and the core tenets of modern validation-based models such as gay affirmative therapy are presented. Three key areas of gay experience, namely homophobia, assimilation, and coming out, are considered in-depth, with a range of sub-issues and therapeutic interventions explored for each. Finally, a five-stage model of gay and lesbian development grounded in the aforementioned concepts of persona and shadow is suggested. The essay ultimately argues that though Irish society has changed largely for the better in terms of gay rights, psychotherapists working with gay and lesbian clients still need to be acutely aware of the unique issues they face in their daily lives, as well as past challenges that may continue to inform their mental wellbeing.
View PDF of full essay HERE
www.pcicollege.ie
enquiries@pcicollege.ie
What our Students Say
“It achieved a great balance between knowledge of the topic and making this interesting and close to us... Eoin managed to make {the lecture} understandable to us with day to day examples. At the same time we felt that he was really an expert in the topic. From a HR perspective we were delighted to get so many people participating in the Q&A after the talk, as this is not the usual way our staff behaves.”
Patricia Soria, Irish Life - Tailor-Made Training
What our Students Say
"I found this module extremely informative. I feel that I have gained a huge wealth of insight into childhood / adolescent developmental stages. I feel ready to take on this demanding work".
2012-2013 Student - Postgraduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Counselling & Psychotherapy
