Clinical and Counselling Psychology Review

Experiences of Young Clinical Psychologists Dealing with Clients having Different Sexual Orientations

Hafsa Faryad — 2025-06-30

An exciting and challenging avenue for young clinical psychologists is to work with clients having different sexual orientations. The existing literature lacks the experience-based reporting of such challenges. Hence, by exploring these challenges, the training programs can be better planned. Hence, the current qualitative study used the phenomenology approach to explore the challenges experienced by young clinical psychologists dealing with clients having different sexual orientations. A purposive sample of eight young clinical psychologists was selected for a semi-structured interview. The descriptive phenomenology analysis identified four themes: (1) “training barrier”; (2) “construct diversity issues”; (3) “cultural challenges”; and (4) “therapists’ biases”. The common challenge experienced by the participants was the training barrier regarding assessment and intervention for mental health concerns of the clients having different sexual orientations. The results highlight the importance of incorporating the perspective of young clinical psychologists to plan better training programs in order to make them competent mental health service providers.

Personality Traits and Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) as Predictors of Self-Esteem in TikTok Users

Amna Ejaz — 2025-06-30

The current study examined the correlations among personality traits, fear of missing out (FOMO), and self-esteem in TikTok users based on a correlational research design. Purposive sampling method was used to select the enrolled university students who actively used TikTok. The sample consisted of 161 students (n = 70 males; n = 91 females) aged between 18 to 26 years. Data collection included the General Factor Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) Scale. The findings revealed a positive association between extraversion and the FOMO, whereas introversion was correlated with self-esteem but didn’t emerge as a significant predictor. Regression analysis indicated that FOMO was the only predictor of self-esteem significantly. Gender differences were observed in extraversion and FOMO, but no significant differences were found across self-esteem. The results of the study are discussed in terms of its implications and cultural relevance.

Provincial Differences in Counselling Psychology in Canada: An Empirical Analysis of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario

Robinder P. Bedi — 2025-06-30

Counselling psychologists are vital providers of community mental health services in Canada. This quantitative descriptive study provides a more refined understanding of counselling psychology in Canada by examining similarities and differences in its manifestation across three provinces in Canada: Alberta (AB), British Columbia (BC), and Ontario (ON), based on survey with 109 Canadian counselling psychologists. This study found eight moderate size differences. This information needs to be taken into consideration by provincial boards, provincial psychological associations, graduate training programs, counselling psychologists considering relocating, and especially by the potential consumers of counselling psychology services as both the services and service provider appears to differ in some ways across Canada.

Perceived Effects of Endometriosis on Married Women: A Qualitative Study

Nuzhat -ul-Ain — 2025-06-30

The current study aimed to explore the perceived effects of endometriosis on the lives of diagnosed married Muslim women residing in Lahore, Pakistan. Three semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with gynecologists who had at least 10 years of experience. Moreover, six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with women diagnosed with endometriosis, stratified into three distinct age groups: 18–24 years (Group 1), 25–34 years (Group 2), and 35 years and above (Group 3). For each age group, two FGDs were held, comprising four participants per session. Purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit participants for focus groups and interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) was conducted and four superordinate themes emerged. These included perceived physical effects, perceived psychological effects, perceived social effects, and perceived spiritual effects of endometriosis. Results were discussed in the light of previous literature and cultural background.

Family-Based Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Purely Compulsive (Pure-C) OCD in Adolescence: A Case Study

Momina Yahya — 2025-06-30

Pure-C OCD is a new emerging domain of OCD, depicting purely compulsive behaviors in the absence of any obsession. This case study examines the efficacy of family-based exposure and response prevention (ERP) and solution-focused therapy (SFT) for a 19-year-old male with purely compulsive OCD, characterized by sensory-driven rituals (e.g., excessive handwashing, ritualized showering) without comorbid obsessions. Pre-treatment assessment revealed a Y-BOCS compulsion score of 15 (moderate severity), with compulsions supported by "not just right" sensations rather than fear-based obsessions. Key themes in the anxiety hierarchy were avoidance related to touching his body and using the washroom, ritualistic handwashing and showering, disruption in daily life activities, and avoidance of contact of body parts with each other during sleep. A diagnosis of F42.2. obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with fair insight, was given. The patient’s childhood perfectionistic tendencies, age of onset, and familial history of compulsive traits served as predisposing factors. The first episode was precipitated by academic stress and hygiene-focused media coverage of COVID-19. Familial conflicts, enabling behavior of the family, and avoidance perpetuated the symptoms. However, fair insight, motivation, familial support, and moderate severity predicted a positive prognosis. Based on the symptoms and contributing factors, an eclectic approach was used, where high-intensity Family-based ERP was the primary intervention. It targeted six mini-anxiety hierarchies, each focusing on a specific theme. The solution-focused therapy (SFT) was then used to improve problem-solving skills related to academic stress and assertiveness training for familial conflicts. For long-term benefits, relapse prevention was applied. Overall treatment took 8 months, and a total of 95 sessions were conducted. It showed an average 80% improvement. The findings aligned with earlier literature and served as a guide for future research and therapists for dealing with Pure-C OCD. Limitations include long-term follow-up to assess the maintenance of achieved goals.