ERIC Number: EJ1174674
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0306-9885
EISSN: N/A
"Part of Me Feels Like There Must Be Something Missing": A Phenomenological Exploration of Practising Psychotherapy as a Clinical Psychologist
McMahon, Aisling
British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, v46 n2 p217-228 2018
The experience of practising psychotherapy as a clinical psychologist was explored through a small number of in-depth interviews. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, three main themes were identified: "Feeling there's something missing", "Being able to get in there emotionally" and "Needing somewhere to go for support". This study suggests that training for psychotherapy work can be experienced as piecemeal and fragmented, contributing to professional self-doubt, with clinical psychologists seeking more structured, cohesive training in this area. It also suggests that engagement in personal therapy can contribute to greater emotional capacity as a psychotherapy practitioner, although clinical psychologists can fear engaging in something that is unfamiliar. In addition, the psychologists highlighted the felt necessity of safe and satisfying supervision for resilient practice.
Descriptors: Phenomenology, Psychotherapy, Counselor Attitudes, Clinical Psychology, Psychologists, Interviews, Professional Identity, Self Esteem, Counselor Training, Therapy, Emotional Response, Safety, Supervision, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A