Imy & Gerri review the year that was with mixed results. Imy is unhappy. Gerri is encouraged. Christmas is a time of exhaustion and aspirational Self Reflection. How did we go? Did we cover everything that was and was not - discussed? Was something important missed? The clashing between Counselling and Clinical Psychology reaches an inevitable climax as Imy identifies the contradictions of primary and secondary processes. There are further shocks as Imy reveals her carnivorous compulsion to continue on – is flagging. The necessity of numinosity for a ravenous Psychologist needed to fuel the onward journey is, sadly, declining. Imy wants to give focus to the relationship, to what happens in the between space, to explore intimacy for predators in a last ditch attempt to resurrect the creation myth of GLOP. Gerri counters with a powerful observation, she perceives Imy’s disclosures are not sufficiently personal. Themes of Self Awareness and the benefits of ‘Inner Work’ for the development of the Psychologist, the Profession and the Community are touched upon. Imy makes an offer to finish 2021 and closes out the year on the edge of a perceptual cliff. What will happen? Thanks for joining GLOP this Year, we hope you enjoyed being along for the ride. Please accept our Best Wishes for you and your family over Christmas. YouTube says what we mean in a way - we cannot, just CLICK THE LINK. #TheGLOPPodcast #womensupportingwomen #peaceout

Gerri wants to continue on with GLOP’s investigation of difficult themes and bravely introduces the topic of ‘treatment failures’. This intrepid investigation is introduced with all the crowd pleasing nuance of humility disguised as confidence winked at with a confusing double signal pointing to the protective, reassuring, cloaking presence of a “webinar”. Trouble in the therapeutic relationship complicated by external stresses is examined within an inch of its life. Gerri has fronted up to a job interview under lockdown conditions. Results sadly, fell short of what was desired. Leading with complete authenticity can itself create a group process at an inconvenient moment. Imy introduces the inherent strictures of business and the unavoidable impact this has on practice. Gerri was surprised by the interviewer’s bravery scoping out the minefield of “how to handle ruptures in the therapeutic alliance” and experienced frontal cortex load ‘overload’. Declining levels of estrogen, the hormone disrupting effects of soy products and the concomitant impact on bladder resilience was revisited. Themes of Psychologists’ Safety in practice were once again reviewed. Imy experienced pressure within a working environment to provide after hours services, completely alone on site. Imy widens the discussion to include female health care providers responding to male clients presenting and wanting to ‘impress’ by displaying their reproductive organs. The presence of an archetypal predator is detected but not located thereby increasing the sense of threat. What is the take home? When voyaging in to the darkness, never question the aggregate knowledge of the Ancestors. Instinct.

#womenpodcasters #psychology #lifestory

GLOP find themselves staring in to a familiar abyss, the doledrums of long haul practice and its concomitant demands. Gerri wants to mess about with the existential angst Psychologists encounter at different stages of their working life, particularly the later stage. She has not broken with tradition and has constructed a model to try and clear up the gloom. Results are mixed and inconclusive. Gerri spends the first quarter introducing the GLOP Model of Career Progression which promises seat adhesion. Imy describes the much dreaded and at the same time paradoxically anticipated receipt of a client complaint to the Board. The elusive issue of safety for the Psychologist in the therapy room re-emerges as a topic of mystery and interest. Imy and Gerri face off the four horseman of the Experienced Psychologists’ Apocalypse; being seduced by a client, the joy of going to Court, brushes with death and the unanticipated malevolence or avoidance or cowardice exhibited by colleagues where the result squarely lands you in it. It is hard to find humour in the horrific but GLOP find a way, either accidentally or on purpose as they comb through what could-a, would-a, should-a or should not have happened. How do you handle yourself in the presence of the Board? Can predators finally learn the skills of intimacy? And is there a role for Authentic Communication in these most stressful of moments? Follow along #TheGLOPPodcast on Facebook Twitter YouTube and join the conversation. #womenpodcasters #psychologystuff #lifestory