• myGriffith
    • Staff portal
    • Contact Us⌄
      • Future student enquiries 1800 677 728
      • Current student enquiries 1800 154 055
      • International enquiries +61 7 3735 6425
      • General enquiries 07 3735 7111
      • Online enquiries
      • Staff phonebook
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Griffith Theses
    • Theses - Higher Degree by Research
    • View Item
    • Home
    • Griffith Theses
    • Theses - Higher Degree by Research
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

  • All of Griffith Research Online
    • Communities & Collections
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • This Collection
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • Statistics

  • Most Popular Items
  • Statistics by Country
  • Most Popular Authors
  • Support

  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Admin login

  • Login
  • Experiences of Complaints about Counselling, Psychotherapy and Casework: Voicing the Need for Accountability and Care

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Sauvage_2013_02Thesis.pdf (1.505Mb)
    Author(s)
    Sauvage, Deborah J.
    Primary Supervisor
    McAuliffe, Donna
    Other Supervisors
    Boddy, Jennifer
    Morrisey, Shirley
    Year published
    2013
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The original contribution to knowledge that this thesis provides is Australian qualitative data about experiences of complaints regarding the practices of practitioners providing counselling, psychotherapy and casework. At present, only psychologists and psychiatrists providing such ‘talking cures’ are required in Australia to be registered and accountable by law, whereas a range of other occupations such as counsellors, psychotherapists, and social workers may choose whether or not they become a member of, and therefore accountable to, a voluntary professional association. Findings from this research are aimed at increasing ...
    View more >
    The original contribution to knowledge that this thesis provides is Australian qualitative data about experiences of complaints regarding the practices of practitioners providing counselling, psychotherapy and casework. At present, only psychologists and psychiatrists providing such ‘talking cures’ are required in Australia to be registered and accountable by law, whereas a range of other occupations such as counsellors, psychotherapists, and social workers may choose whether or not they become a member of, and therefore accountable to, a voluntary professional association. Findings from this research are aimed at increasing knowledge about the dynamics associated with complaints, as well as a range of harmful and problematic practices that lead to complaints. This research project was designed to address gaps in previous research which tended to focus on harm to clients due to sexual boundary violations as well as on patterns in complaint statistics. Qualitative data which voiced the lived experience needed to be sought and power dynamics needed to be made more visible. Therefore feminist theory and phenomenology were chosen to provide the conceptual framework for the methodology. Qualitative interviews occurred with twenty-two participants who were recruited in three groups: third party complainants; respondent practitioners; and complaint managers. Data across all participant groups was thematically analysed and themes emerged in three areas: impact, power and needs associated with experiences of complaints. Within the cases discussed by participants, there was evidence of significant psychological trauma, barriers to reporting, a lack of ownership or management of power, and systemic failures in providing accountability and care. Findings provided rich data for discussion in terms of implications for legislation and policy, education and public awareness, best practice in preventing and responding to complaints, and areas for further research.
    View less >
    Thesis Type
    Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
    Degree Program
    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
    School
    School of Human Services and Social Work
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/72
    Copyright Statement
    The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
    Item Access Status
    Public
    Subject
    Counselling complaints
    Psychotherapy complaints
    Professional accountability
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/365641
    Collection
    • Theses - Higher Degree by Research

    Footer

    Disclaimer

    • Privacy policy
    • Copyright matters
    • CRICOS Provider - 00233E

    Tagline

    • Gold Coast
    • Logan
    • Brisbane - Queensland, Australia
    First Peoples of Australia
    • Aboriginal
    • Torres Strait Islander