The present study was designed to qualitatively investigate secondary students' interpretations and experiences of bullying (and victimization) in Greek schools, with a focus on gender similarities and differences. Overall, 95 students (50 boys and 45 girls), 15 or 16 years old, participated in focus group interviews that were homogeneous in terms of grade and gender. Data analysis, using the interpretative phenomenological approach, showed that different interpretations and meanings of bullying between genders have important consequences on actual behavior. Furthermore, students do not reveal bullying and victimization to either parents or teachers, who are described as indifferent and ineffective. Results are indicative of a school culture that is conducive to bullying behaviors and have important implications for antibullying interventions. C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The present study explores women clients’ experiences of the therapeutic relationship and their meaning making of the effective therapeutic dyad. The participants of the study were 27 female psychotherapy and counselling clients. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted and the data was analysed with the use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The findings indicated: (a) women clients’ attempt to define their relationship with their counsellor by comparing it to other interpersonal relationships, mostly to friendship or to family relationships; (b) their experience of the qualitative characteristics and the feelings associated with an effective therapeutic relationship; and (c) their experience of the counsellors’ role to the therapeutic outcome. The above results are fully discussed along with implications for practice.

No abstract