On Rupture and Repair
Therapeutic alliance ruptures are inevitable, but they are not always easy to recognise. This reflection explores why recognising and repairing these moments of disconnection may be one of the most important therapeutic skills we develop.
“Psychotherapy Is Not Harmless”
Psychotherapy is powerful—and anything powerful has the potential to help as well as harm. This article explores why conversations about psychotherapy should include not only its effectiveness, but also its limitations and unintended consequences.
The clinician who carries unintegrated material
Can a therapist take a client somewhere they have never been themselves? This article argues that clinical reach is shaped not only by knowledge and technique, but also by the clinician’s own psychological integration and self-awareness.
When outer functioning is mistaken for health
Can someone appear to be coping while paying a high psychological price? This article explores the difference between preserved functioning and genuine psychological integration, and why both depth and practical skills matter in clinical training.
“But we don’t do that here, do we?”
Is there really an evidence base for clinical hypnosis? This article reflects on my own training in hypnosis and reviews recent evidence suggesting that the field has a stronger empirical foundation than many clinicians realise.
Unsafe Supervision Is Real – and Likely Underreported
Clinical supervision is intended to be a protective space— but it is not automatically a safe one. This article examines what the research tells us about harmful supervision, why it may be underreported, and what genuine supervisory safety requires in practice.
What If the Past Isn’t Gone? A Reflection on Family Constellations, Systems Thinking, and Openness in Psychology
Family Constellations remains a controversial approach within psychology. This article reflects on its theoretical roots, current evidence, personal experience, and the value of remaining open to ideas that challenge our existing frameworks.
The African Violet Story — And Why Milton H. Erickson Never Manualised His Work
Milton H. Erickson believed that therapy should fit the person — not the other way around. This article examines why he rejected manualisation and how one of his best-known teaching tales continues to illustrate the power of individualised therapeutic thinking.
Aliz Ovlachi - Clinical Psychologist & Author 