Kane Solly Psychology

Author: kanesollypsychology

  • Understanding ‘Difficult’ Palliative Patients Through Attachment Theory

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    Palliative care is an essential service that ensures individuals facing life-limiting illnesses receive compassionate and holistic support. While much focus is placed on medical management and physical comfort, the psychological and emotional challenges of palliative care are equally significant. Some patients may be perceived as “difficult” due to their resistance to treatment, emotional distress, or…

  • Rethinking Mental Health: The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) as an Alternative to Traditional Diagnosis

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    In the field of psychology, traditional diagnostic models like the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and the biopsychosocial model have long been used to guide mental health assessments and treatments. While these models provide valuable insights, they have also faced criticisms, particularly regarding their validity, reliability, and potential for mental health stigma…

  • Key Ethical Issues in Group Therapy: What You Need to Know

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    Group therapy is a powerful tool for healing, providing a supportive environment where individuals can share experiences, gain insight, and build meaningful connections. However, ethical challenges in group therapy require careful attention to ensure a safe and effective therapeutic experience. This article explores three key ethical issues in group therapy—confidentiality, equitable treatment and respect, and…

  • Parenting under distress

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    Understanding, Supporting, and Empowering Families Parenting is one of life’s greatest challenges—and when a parent faces mental distress, the challenges can extend across generations. Research tells us that parental mental health significantly shapes the emotional and psychological development of children. One in five Australian children lives in a household where a parent is experiencing mental…

  • Assessment in Psychology

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    Navigating Assessments with Values of Social Justice and Critical Reflection As a registered health professional, my role often involves providing individuals with diagnostic labels that can shape their healthcare journey, influence the broader system (especially in interactions with general practitioners), and become part of their permanent health records. This responsibility—to determine the need for ongoing…

  • Understanding the Analytic Relationship

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    Insights from Intersubjectivity and Dissociation As a psychodynamic psychotherapist I often reflect on the nuances of the analytic relationship. A recent paper I encountered beautifully encapsulates this complexity through the metaphor of “knowing one’s patient inside out.” This metaphor speaks to the paradoxical nature of our intersubjective field—where trauma, dissociation, and regression intertwine within the…

  • Understanding Object Relations Theory in Psychoanalysis

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    The work of Melanie Klein Object Relations Theory is a psychoanalytic framework that emphasizes the role of early relationships, particularly between the child and primary caregivers, in shaping our psychological development and adult interpersonal dynamics. Originating from the work of psychoanalysts like Melanie Klein, Otto Kernberg, and Donald Winnicott, this theory provides insight into how…

  • Embracing our Emotional Worlds

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    Understanding difficult feelings in the therapeutic relationship. In the field of psychotherapy, especially within the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic traditions, we often focus on the importance of emotional honesty—both with ourselves and with our clients. A powerful paper by Donald Winnicott, titled “Hate in the Countertransference” (1949), provides an essential lens through which we can better…

  • Psychodynamic Psycotherapy: What it is and isn’t

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    Understanding Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Path to Deep Healing In my practice as a psychologist, I often work with clients who are navigating emotional pain, unresolved trauma, or difficult relationships. One approach that has proven to be immensely effective in helping individuals understand and overcome their challenges is psychodynamic psychotherapy. This therapeutic approach offers a deep…

  • Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Understanding Therapy through Different Lenses

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    In the realm of physical health, the difference between a medical practitioner and a patient is clear-cut. The doctor holds specialized knowledge about the human body that the patient typically does not possess. This expertise enables the practitioner to reinterpret the patient’s symptoms—what may feel like a simple sore ankle to the patient might be…