Glossary of Terms
Psychotherapy and Counselling Key Words and Phrases
Attachment
In psychotherapy, attachment refers to the patterns of emotional relating and bonding that develop in our early relationships with our caregivers. These early relationships shape how we experience trust, safety, and dependence throughout our lives. They form unconscious expectations about ourselves and others - influencing how we regulate emotion, respond to intimacy, and manage conflict. In psychotherapy and counselling, our early attachment patterns emerge in the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist, helping the therapist to understand their client’s psychological and emotional struggles, so these can be reshaped and changed. By bringing these attachment patterns from the unconscious to the conscious, clients learn new ways of relating to self and others within the therapeutic setting.
Authenticity
At The Brixton Practice, we emphasise a radically-relational approach to therapy. We believe in the importance of an authentic therapeutic relationship to support healing. This means the therapist will bring their real, present, and emotionally honest humanness to the therapeutic relationship - within professional boundaries. It involves the client expressing their true thoughts, feelings and vulnerabilities, whilst the therapist is genuinely engaged in the therapeutic relationship. When authenticity is met with curiosity, new experiences of being seen and responded to without judgement can occur.
Dialogical
Dialogical refers to a therapy approach that emphasises a two-way communication in which meaning is created. This occurs through interaction, mutual responsiveness, and ongoing dialogue between two people. At The Brixton Practice, we emphasise a relational approach to therapy, therefore the therapist-client relationship is a collaborative process, where numerous perspectives are explored and understanding emerges through conversation, rather than a single viewpoint.
Mental Health
Mental health is the capacity to live in relationship with oneself and others in ways that are emotionally alive, meaningful and flexible. It involves the ability to tolerate difference, recognise and express feelings, and repair conflict in relationship. What is important is to maintain a sense of self, whilst remaining connected to other people. Everybody experiences some form of mental health challenge at some point in their lives. In the same way we all experience physical health difficulties, mental health is a spectrum of experiences.
At The Brixton Practice, we are less focused on a clinical diagnosis, and more focused towards understanding our client’s childhood and adult relational experiences, which may have contributed to psychological and emotional challenges. We see mental health as emerging through our relational experiences - shaped by our early attachments and ongoing relationships - and is supported when a person can engage in the world authentically, with the support of other people, and feel a sense of belonging, agency and safety in the world.
The spiritual aspect of mental health involves the ability to live in the present moment. By acknowledging the reality of death, we are able to appreciate the impermanence of everything and therefore live more fully in the present moment. Mental health sits on such a broad spectrum, whilst defining mental health and trying to make sense of our experience is confined to our use of language - which is limited and is secondary to our experience.
Participant-Observer
The participant-observer refers to a role whereby the therapist is actively engaged in the therapeutic relationship, whilst also reflecting on and observing the process. The participant-observer (therapist) acknowledges their own presence, influence and responses in therapy. They use this awareness to more clearly understand the client’s experience and the dynamics of the relationship, supporting the client in their process.
The participant-observer is about the therapist observing themselves, the client and the relationship - and then using that observation to inform their interventions and engagement with the client. The therapist holds both their own mind, their client, and the space/field in their awareness. The therapist also supports the client in becoming a more reflective human being - by being more observant, you become more present. The more we observe, the more we move into primary experience. Observing is both a cognitive process and a spiritual process - the bigger picture experience.
Phenomenology
Phenomenology is a philosophical approach concerned with understanding human experience as it is lived - rather than explaining through theories or assumptions. It looks at what life’s experiences are like from the inside - how thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and perceptions appear in conscious awareness.
It is the study of the phenomena of experience, attending to a person’s immediate, subjective experience - how they experience themselves, others, and the world in the present moment. A therapist will stay curious about how something is experienced, setting aside pre-existing theories (bracketing) to allow the client’s lived reality to emerge. Phenomenology supports a deeper understanding, and is central to relational approaches to therapy.
Process-Orientated
In psychotherapy, process-orientated refers to an approach that emphasises the unfolding of experience and interaction with others in the moment, rather than focusing on predetermined goals. It looks at how thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and relational dynamics emerge and influence one another. Process-orientated highlights how we are all in a constant, ongoing process in life - there is no final goal. In therapy, this means the therapist is highly attuned to patterns and interactions, helping the client work through experiences as they arise.
Radically-Relational Ethics
Radically-relational ethics is deeply rooted in our philosophy at The Brixton Practice. This ethical stance moves beyond methodology and into our professional values, supervision and therapist development. We believe that bringing our humanness into therapy, within professional boundaries, is what heals. Radically-relational ethics is our guiding principle in our approach to counselling and psychotherapy. We work collaboratively with clients rather than hierarchically. Our practitioners pay close attention to their therapeutic relationship with their client, using that awareness to ensure their work is helpful, ethical and respectful.
On the one hand we bring our training, experience and professionalism into therapy, on the other hand what’s at the centre of our ethics is acknowledging that we are as vulnerable as our clients. At the heart of what heals is the therapist’s implicit acknowledgement that they are vulnerable like their client. We stay connected to our vulnerability, whilst containing it in a professional and safe space.
Radically-Relational Psychotherapy
Radically-Relational Psychotherapy is an approach to therapy that uses the therapeutic relationship with the therapist to help the client work on the areas in their life that they want to improve. The therapeutic relationship supports healing, whilst focusing on any challenges the client wants to work through.
At The Brixton Practice, this means your therapist is both professionally trained and genuinely human - offering curiosity and care. Therapy is a collaborative process, where there is mutual engagement between you and the therapist. This approach is empathic and organic. It is about allowing what needs to unfold, unfold. Radically-Relational Psychotherapy is a two-person psychology. The therapist is an active participant, whilst maintaining a professional neutrality and ethic. Whilst the therapist observes and engages in the interaction, they have professional boundaries.
What sits at the heart of Radically-Relational Psychotherapy is that we think of the therapeutic encounter first and foremost as a human-to-human encounter, whilst ethically maintaining a professional stance. Our humanness is kept within professional boundaries through training and expertise.
Relational Approaches in Psychology
One-Person Psychology
One-person psychology is a way of understanding psychotherapy that focuses primarily on the inner world (intrapsychic) of the individual client. This approach views psychological difficulties as existing within the person - their thoughts, feelings, conflicts, memories, and unconscious processes.
The therapist’s role is to remain neutral, observe and interpret - supporting the client to explore and understand their own intrapsychic world and internal experiences. The therapeutic relationship is a setting whereby the client’s inner world can be examined. This approach has roots in traditional psychoanalysis.
One-and-a-Half Person Psychology
One-and-a-half person psychology is a way of understanding psychotherapy that sits between traditional one-person and two-person (relational) approaches. It recognises that the therapist is a real presence, whose responses influence the therapy, whilst placing primary emphasis on the client’s understanding of their own experience. The therapist aims to remain as neutral as possible, and focuses on mirroring and expanding the client’s understanding of themselves. The therapist aims to bracket off any of their reactions or beliefs in the service of supporting the client’s ability to self-actualise. One-and-a-half person psychology is largely rooted in person-centred approaches to psychotherapy, that posits the inherent capacity for growth if the right environmental conditions are met.
Two-Person Psychology
Two-person psychology understands that the self always emerges from being in relationship with other selves - first and foremost with primary caregivers. Therefore, a two-person psychological approach to therapy attends to the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist, as well as the client’s relationships with people in their lives as important elements of therapy.
Clients can bring anything they need to discuss into the therapy space. What is attended to is the client’s relationship with key people in their lives - past and present. Psychological difficulties are understood as emerging from patterns of relating that develop in relationship with others, and these patterns may emerge in the therapy space. As both a professional and a human being, the psychotherapist acknowledges their own subjectivity - thoughts, feelings and responses - which influence the therapy. Using professional self-awareness and reflection, they are able to support the therapy work as new ways of relating can be explored and experienced.
Trauma
Trauma refers to a psychological, emotional or physiological response to experiences that are distressing, overwhelming, or threatening which exceeds an individual’s ability to cope at the time they happen. Trauma can result from a single event, or from repeated and prolonged experiences. Both single event, ongoing and developmental trauma may impact how a person feels, thinks, and relates to other people in the world.
Developmental Trauma
Developmental trauma is caused by traumatic experiences in relationship with caregivers during the developmental years. In the same way there is a spectrum for mental health, there is also a spectrum for trauma. We all experience some level of trauma during our developmental years, from everyday trauma to a significant level. There are four ways in which we categorise developmental trauma - emotional, physical, sexual, neglect. At the normal end, every child experiences ruptures with their parents and primary caregivers - feeling let down, angry, etc. At the other end of the spectrum, severe developmental trauma can have a significant impact on a person’s mental health and wellbeing into adulthood.
Single Event Trauma
An example of single event trauma is when an adult is psychologically well, going about their life. Then an event happens where there is a perceived or actual near death experience - either with the self or another person - and they experience a PTSD response. It refers to a one-time, clearly identifiable incident that is experienced as overwhelming or life-threatening. Examples of a single event trauma include an accident, an assault, a sudden loss, or a natural disaster. The psychological and emotional impact can last months or even years and influence a person’s sense of safety and emotional regulation.
The Unconscious
The unconscious refers to the part of the mind containing our feelings, thoughts, memories and desires that are outside of our conscious awareness. It can include unconscious painful, traumatic, or unacceptable memories and feelings. The unconscious influences our behaviour, emotions, and relationships. Freud - the founder of psychoanalysis - theorised that the unconscious holds our repressed drives and unresolved conflicts from early childhood, which shape our patterns of thought and action. These unconscious processes can manifest through dreams, behaviours and neurotic symptoms. By bringing them into conscious awareness, some psychological relief can occur. Relational Psychotherapy recognises the unconscious as an important influence over our emotions, relational patterns and self-perception.
Working Alliance
The working alliance is at the heart of whether relational therapy succeeds or not. The working alliance is about the client and therapist developing an ever deepening trust. The working alliance in relational therapy is a collaborative, trusting partnership which focuses on a strong emotional bond, consensus on tasks, and the agreement of goals. It is the foundation for change, with the therapeutic relationship itself serving as a vehicle for healing.
What is a Governing Body?
In psychotherapy, a governing body refers to an official organisation that sets, maintains and enforces professional standards within the field. It provides ethical guidelines, training and qualification requirements, and may oversee registration and accreditation of practitioners. Its role is to promote a safe and effective therapeutic practice.
BAATN - The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network UK
The BAATN is the largest independent organisation to specialise working psychologically with people who identify as Black, Asian, African, and Caribbean. Their primary goal is to support people from these backgrounds, whilst also supporting other People of Colour who are affected by oppression due to the colour of their skin. The BAATN aims to address inequality of access to necessary and appropriate psychological services. They provide events and training for members, the therapy community and the wider general public. They work with other therapy training organisations that recognise racism and the importance of undoing the impact of racism as a vital part of mental health.
BACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
The BACP is a professional membership body for psychotherapists and counsellors in the UK. It supports ongoing professional development, provides guidance for good practice, and accredits practitioners and training courses. Its aim is to promote ethical, safe and effective psychotherapy and counselling.
BPC - British Psychoanalytic Council
The British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is the professional body in the UK that regulates psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapists and child psychotherapists. The BPC sets standards for training, ethical practice, and promotes a safe and effective practice within the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic fields.
HCPC - Health and Care Professions Council
The HCPC is the statutory regulatory body in the UK that regulates certain health and care professions, including some psychotherapy-related roles such as clinical psychologists. The Health and Care Professions Council sets standards for training, conduct, and continuing professional development. It also maintains a register of qualified practitioners. Its main purpose is to protect the public by ensuring competent and safe practice.
NCPS - National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
The NCPS is the main professional body and membership organisation for psychotherapists and counsellors in the UK. NCPS promotes high standards in ethical practice, training and professional competence. It runs an accredited register of qualified practitioners, assuring its members meet the required standards of safety, ethics and skill.
UKAGP - United Kingdom Association for Gestalt Practitioners
The UKAGP is the national professional organisation in the UK that represents and supports Gestalt practitioners. The UKAGP promotes education, research, and professional networking within the field. It provides training, resources, and opportunities for professional development. It also works in connection with the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT).
UKCP - United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
The UKCP is a leading professional governing body for psychotherapy in the UK. It sets standards for training, ethics, and professional practice. The UKCP maintains a public register of qualified psychotherapists and counsellors who meet its requirements. Its role is to promote a high standard of psychotherapy practice and protect patients.