Voices as equal as others: a narrative inquiry into the doctoral journey of psychologists and psychotherapists from authoritarian background

The relationship with power and authority operates on multiple levels, influencing the development and clinical practice of psychological practitioners. This narrative inquiry explored the lived experiences of power and authority during the training of counselling psychologists and psychotherapists from authoritarian backgrounds. To enhance understanding of power differentials within training and supervisory contexts, practitioners’ training journeys were examined against the backdrop of their life stories, early experiences and attachments. Individual narrative interviews were conducted with six UK-based counselling psychologists and psychotherapists, born and raised in countries with authoritarian regimes in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America. All transcripts were analysed and condensed into narrative accounts. Three overarching themes, called “Silence”, “Otherness and power” and “Transition across time and space”, and 12 subthemes were identified. Nine learning points were offered, following a critical discussion of issues around silence, embodied trauma, cultural and linguistic differences, subtle and overt forms of racism, and intersectional discrimination. The findings highlight the importance of multicultural competency, personal therapy from the outset of training, and fostering more secure attachments within the training setting.