The Experience of Relationship Dissolution During Counselling Psychology Training – a Thematic Analysis

Most studies addressing the experiences of trainees in the field of counselling psychology have focused on the different components and stresses of the profession; the literature has rarely explored trainees’ intimate partner relationships. This study, however, looks at the experience of a relationship dissolution during counselling psychology training. Drawing on transformative learning theory and models of relationship dissolution, the following research questions are explored: (1) How do trainees experience a relationship dissolution during counselling psychology training? And (2) how does training influence the relationship dissolution?
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants in British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited counselling psychology courses from across the United Kingdom. Thematic Analysis (TA) using a dual inductive-deductive approach was applied to capture both the theoretical framework and the subjective experiences of the participants. Four themes and six subthemes developed; “I can feel the change day by day”, “the course indirectly influenced the break-up”, “the blurring of personal and professional boundaries”, and lastly, “the paradox of endings”. The findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and clinical implications: firstly, adding possible new insights into the model of breakdown, and secondly, providing suggestions on how to support trainees and prospective trainees to the BPS, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and those involved in the training process.