Tess Soulie

PhD, Master 2 Pro, Clinical psychology (Distinction) [Masters], French title of Clinical psychologist (Registered in France). Master 1, Clinical psychology (Distinction) [Honours]. Licence Psychologie [Bachelor]

Contact details

Tel +64 4 479 4487
Email tess.soulie@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Background

I am a French trained clinical psychologist and psychopathologist (Registered in France) with a psychodynamic orientation. I have worked with individuals across the age range, undertaken team supervision, and forensic assessment with children and youth.

My master's thesis explored the subjective experience of a therapist who worked in a suicide prevention centre in France. The topic of clinical work with suicidal patients, also called clinical suicidology, has nurtured my curiosity ever since and provided the impetus for my PhD topic.

I joined the Suicide and Mental Health Research Group (University of Otago, Wellington) in 2015.

Current project

I am undertaking PhD studies on the topic of countertransference with patients at risk for suicide. The first phase of the project explored systematically patterns of countertransference to suicidal patients in a sample of NZ clinicians. The second phase uses a qualitative methodology to look into experiences of clinicians who feel positively inclined towards suicidal patients.

Research interests and activities

• (Clinical) Suicidology
• Therapeutic relationship (Common factors in therapy)
• Transference/Countertransference dialectic
• Countertransference literacy
• Student member of The International Association For Suicide Prevention (IASP)
• Member of the IASP Early Career Group
• Affiliated member of the Guianese Group for Suicide Prevention (GGPS)

Jul 2017 - Free paper presentation – “Systematic Account of Countertransference Phenomena with Patients at Risk for Suicide” - 29th World Congress of The International Association For Suicide Prevention (IASP) | Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia