https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2024.791
The person behind the therapist: a recall study on significant events that contribute to therapists’ personal and professional development
Submitted: May 14, 2024
Accepted: August 26, 2024
Published: August 29, 2024
Accepted: August 26, 2024
Abstract Views: 1320
PDF: 427
HTML: 26
HTML: 26
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
This study explores the interconnexion between personal and professional development in therapist growth. This research examines a self-integrated perspective on training, by looking at the equal importance of nurturing personal development alongside professional skills cultivation. The study uses the concept of Significant Events (SE) which was originally developed to understand client change processes and applies the concept to investigate the development of the person-of-the-therapist. SE is events that are experienced in the therapy process and that are experienced by the client as being helpful or hindering for therapeutic change. Similar to the process of therapy, professional development is not a linear process of acquiring skills and knowledge but a discontinuous process that is driven by SE. The goal is to explore transformative moments in therapists' development. 281 participants completed an online questionnaire, evaluating: i) ) personal events (physical and mental health, interpersonal relationships, exploring the world, losses and deaths), ii) professional events (training, clinical experiences, relationship with colleagues, challenges due to work position), and iii) hybrid events where personal and professional aspects intertwine (personal therapy and societal context inducing insecurity). Findings suggest a more integrated self in personal and professional development. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on professional development, revealing the interplay between personal and professional spheres of therapists.
Bennett-Levy, J. (2019). Why therapists should walk the talk: The theoretical and empirical case for personal practice in therapist training and professional development. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 62, 133-145. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.08.004
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2018.08.004
Bhola, P., Duggal, C., & Isaac, R. (2022). Reflective practice and professional development in psychotherapy. SAGE Publishing.
Bohart, A. C. (2013). The actualizing person. In M. Cooper (Ed.), The handbook of person-centred psychotherapy and counselling (2nd ed, pp. 84-101). Palgrave Macmillan.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-32900-4_6
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2). doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 328-352. doi: 10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2023). Toward good practice in thematic analysis: Avoiding common problems and be(com)ing a knowing researcher. International Journal of Transgender Health, 24(1), 1-6. doi: 10.1080/26895269.2022.2129597
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2022.2129597
Bridgeman, P. J., Bridgeman, M. B., & Barone, J. (2018). Burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 75(3), 147-152. doi: 10.2146/ajhp170460
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp170460
Chetna Duggal, & Sriram, S. (2016). Beginning the journey: what motivates therapists to join the profession? In S. Sriram (Ed.), Counselling in India (pp. 75–90). Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-0584-8_5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0584-8_5
Chircop Coleiro, A., Creaner, M., & Timulak, L. (2023). The good, the bad, and the less than ideal in clinical supervision: A qualitative meta-analysis of supervisee experiences. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 36(2), 189-210. doi: 10.1080/09515070.2021.2023098
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2021.2023098
Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2017). Thematic analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3). doi: 10.1080/17439760.2016.1262613
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1262613
Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2018). Using thematic analysis in counselling and psychotherapy research: A critical reflection. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 18(2), 107-110. doi: 10.1002/capr.12165
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12165
Clements-Hickman, A. L., & Reese, R. J. (2023). The person of the therapist: Therapists’ personal characteristics as predictors of alliance and treatment outcomes. Psychotherapy Research, 33(2), 173-184. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2022.2080610
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2022.2080610
Collard, P., Avny, N., & Boniwell, I. (2008). Teaching mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to students: The effects of MBCT on the levels of mindfulness and subjective well-being. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 21(4), 323-336. doi: 10.1080/09515070802602112
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070802602112
Cvetovac, M. E., & Adame, A. L. (2017). The wounded therapist: Understanding the relationship between personal suffering and clinical practice. The Humanistic Psychologist, 45(4), 348–366. doi: 10.1037/hum0000071
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000071
de Condé, H., Willemsen, J., & Zech, E. (2023). Quelles sont les trajectoires de développement personnel et professionnel de thérapeutes chevronnés ? [What are the trajectories of personal and professional development in experienced therapists?] Psychotherapie-Wissenschaft, 13(2), 51-62. doi: 10.30820/1664-9583-2023-2-51
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30820/1664-9583-2023-2-51
Elliott, D. M., & Guy, J. D. (1993). Mental health professionals versus non-mental-health professionals: Childhood trauma and adult functioning. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 24(1), 83-90. doi: 10.1037/0735-7028.24.1.83
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0735-7028.24.1.83
Elliott, R. (1983). “That in your hands”: A comprehensive process analysis of a significant event in psychotherapy. Psychiatry, 46(2), 113-129. doi: 10.1080/00332747.1983.11024185
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1983.11024185
Elliott, R. (2010). Psychotherapy change process research: Realizing the promise. Psychotherapy Research, 20(2). doi: 10.1080/10503300903470743
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503300903470743
Elliott, R., James, E., Reimschuessel, C., Cislo, D., & Sack, N. (1985). Significant events and the analysis of immediate therapeutic impacts. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 22(3). doi: 10.1037/h0085548
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0085548
Evers, O., Schröder-Pfeifer, P., Möller, H., & Taubner, S. (2019). How do personal and professional characteristics influence the development of psychotherapists in training: Results from a longitudinal study. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 22(3). doi: 10.4081/ripppo.2019.424
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2019.424
Farber, B. A., Manevich, I., Metzger, J., & Saypol, E. (2005). Choosing psychotherapy as a career: Why did we cross that road? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(8), 1009-1031. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20174
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20174
Figley, C. R. (2002). Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists’ chronic lack of self care. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(11), 1433-1441. doi: 10.1002/jclp.10090
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10090
Fussell, F. W., & Bonney, W. C. (1990). A comparative study of childhood experiences of psychotherapists and physicists: Implications for clinical practice. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 27(4), 505-512. doi: 10.1037/0033-3204.27.4.505
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.27.4.505
Heinonen, E., & Nissen-Lie, H. A. (2020). The professional and personal characteristics of effective psychotherapists: A systematic review. Psychotherapy Research, 30(4), 417-432. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2019.1620366
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2019.1620366
Heinonen, E., & Orlinsky, D. E. (2013). Psychotherapists’ personal identities, theoretical orientations, and professional relationships: Elective affinity and role adjustment as modes of congruence. Psychotherapy Research, 23(6). doi: 10.1080/10503307.2013.814926
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2013.814926
Heinonen, E., Orlinsky, D. E., Willutzki, U., Rønnestad, M. H., Schröder, T., Messina, I., Löffler-Stastka, H., & Hartmann, A. (2022). Psychotherapist trainees’ quality of life: patterns and correlates. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 864691. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.864691
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.864691
Hill, C. E., & Norcross, J. C. (2023). Psychotherapy skills and methods that work. Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780197611012.001.0001
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197611012.001.0001
Hill, C. E., Sullivan, C., Knox, S., & Schlosser, L. Z. (2007). Becoming psychotherapists: Experiences of novice trainees in a beginning graduate class. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 44(4). doi: 10.1037/0033-3204.44.4.434
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.44.4.434
Knox, S., & Hill, C. E. (2021). The conceptualization, design, and evaluation of qualitative methods in research on psychotherapy. In M. Barkham, W. Lutz, L. G. Castonguay, A. E. Bergin, & S. L. Garfield (Eds.), Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (7th edition, 50th anniversary edition, pp. 327-349). Wiley.
Lorentzen, S., Rønnestad, M. H., & Orlinsky, D. E. (2011). Sources of influence on the professional development of psychologists and psychiatrists in Norway and Germany. European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling, 13(2). doi: 10.1080/13642537.2011.570016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13642537.2011.570016
McNeillie, N., & Rose, J. (2021). Vicarious trauma in therapists: A meta-ethnographic review. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 49(4), 426-440. doi: 10.1017/S1352465820000776
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465820000776
Mearns, D., & Cooper, M. (2018). The therapist’s developmental agenda. In D. Mearns & M. Cooper (Eds.), Working at relational depth in couselling and psychotherapy (2nd Edition). SAGE.
Messina, I., Gelo, O. C. G., Gullo, S., Sambin, M., Mosconi, A., Fenelli, A., Curto, M., & Orlinsky, D. (2018). Personal background, motivation and interpersonal style of psychotherapy trainees having different theoretical orientations: An Italian contribution to an international collaborative study on psychotherapy training. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 18(3). doi: 10.1002/capr.12176
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12176
Nam, J. C. (2011). A portfolio on family experiences and the motivation to become counselling psychologists [Doctoral thesis, City University London]. City Research Online. https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/8733
Nikčević, A. V., Kramolisova-Advani, J., & Spada, M. M. (2007). Early childhood experiences and current emotional distress: What do they tell us about aspiring psychologists? The Journal of Psychology, 141(1), 25-34. doi: 10.3200/JRLP.141.1.25-34
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3200/JRLP.141.1.25-34
Nissen-Lie, H. A., Rønnestad, M. H., Høglend, P. A., Havik, O. E., Solbakken, O. A., Stiles, T. C., & Monsen, J. T. (2017). Love yourself as a person, doubt yourself as a therapist? Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24(1), 48-60. doi: 10.1002/cpp.1977
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1977
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (Eds.). (2019). Psychotherapy relationships that work: Volume 1: Evidence-based therapist contributions (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190843953.003.0001
Norcross, J. C., & Wampold, B. E. (Eds.). (2019). Psychotherapy relationships that work: Volume 2: Evidence-based therapist responsiveness (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190843960.001.0001
Orlinsky, D. E. (1999). Development of psychotherapists: Concepts, questions, and methods of a collaborative international study. Psychotherapy Research, 9(2). doi: 10.1093/ptr/9.2.127
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ptr/9.2.127
Orlinsky, D. E. (2022). How psychotherapists live: The personal self and private life of professional healers (1st ed.). Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003217572
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003217572-1
Orlinsky, D. E., Rønnestad, M. H., Ambühl, H., & Society for Psychotherapy Research (Eds.). (2005). How psychotherapists develop: A study of therapeutic work and professional growth (1st ed). American Psychological Association.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/11157-000
Orlinsky, D. E., Schofield, M. J., Schroder, T., & Kazantzis, N. (2011). Utilization of personal therapy by psychotherapists: A practice-friendly review and a new study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(8). doi: 10.1002/jclp.20821
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20821
Orlinsky, D. E., Strauss, B., Rønnestad, M. H., Hill, Castonguay, L., Willutzki, U., Hartmann, Taubner, S., & Carlsson, J. (2015). A collaborative study of development in psychotherapy trainees. Psychotherapy Bulletin, 50, 22-83.
Pakenham, K. I. (2015). Effects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) training on clinical psychology trainee stress, therapist skills and attributes, and ACT processes. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 22(6), 647-655. doi: 10.1002/cpp.1924
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1924
Regas, S. J., Kostick, K. M., Bakaly, J. W., & Doonan, R. L. (2017). Including the self-of-the-therapist in clinical training. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 6(1). doi: 10.1037/cfp0000073
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000073
Rogers, C. R. (1963). Psychotherapy today or where do we go from here? American Journal of Psychotherapy, 17(1), 5-16. doi: 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1963.17.1.5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1963.17.1.5
Rønnestad, M. H., & Skovholt, T. M. (2003). The journey of the counselor and therapist: research findings and perspectives on professional development. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 5-44. doi: 10.1177/089484530303000102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/089484530303000102
Rønnestad, M. H., Orlinsky, D. E., Schröder, T. A., Skovholt, T. M., & Willutzki, U. (2019). The professional development of counsellors and psychotherapists: Implications of empirical studies for supervision, training and practice. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 19(3), 214-230. doi: 10.1002/capr.12198
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12198
Saakvitne, K. W. (2002). Shared trauma: The therapist’s increased vulnerability. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 12(3), 443-449. doi: 10.1080/10481881209348678
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10481881209348678
Skovholt, T. M., & Trotter-Mathison, M. (2016). The resilient practitioner: Burnout and compassion fatigue prevention and self-care strategies for the helping professions (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Swift, J. K., Callahan, J. L., Cooper, M., & Parkin, S. R. (2019). Preferences. In J. C. Norcross & B. E. Wampold (Eds.), Psychotherapy relationships that work: Vol. 2: Evidence-based therapist responsiveness (3rd ed., pp. 157-187). Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/medpsych/9780190843960.003.0006
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190843960.003.0006
Tangen, J. L., & Cashwell, C. S. (2016). Touchstones of connection: A concept mapping study of counselor factors that contribute to relational depth. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 55(1), 20-36. doi: 10.1002/johc.12022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12022
Timulak, L. (2007). Identifying core categories of client-identified impact of helpful events in psychotherapy: A qualitative meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 17(3), 305-314. doi: 10.1080/10503300600608116
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503300600608116
Timulak, L. (2010). Significant events in psychotherapy: An update of research findings. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 83(4). doi: 10.1348/147608310X499404
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1348/147608310X499404
Wampold, B. E., & Owen, J. (2021). Therapist effects: History, methods, magnitude, and characteristics of effective therapists. In M. Barkham, W. Lutz, & L. G. Castonguay (Eds.), Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (7th edition, 50th anniversary edition).
Willemsen, J., de Condé, H., Kaluzeviciute‐Moreton, G., Guogaite, G., Polipo, N. F., & Zech, E. (2023). A qualitative meta‐analysis examining the impact of personal therapy on clinical work and personal and professional development. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 24, 853-869. doi: 10.1002/capr.12733
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12733
How to Cite
de Condé, H., Zech, E., & Willemsen, J. (2024). The person behind the therapist: a recall study on significant events that contribute to therapists’ personal and professional development. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2024.791
Copyright (c) 2024 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Similar Articles
- Helena Carvalho, Gil Nata, Paula Mena Matos, How secure is the secure base? Romantic attachment, emotion regulation, and psychotherapists’ role as secure base figures , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 1 (2024)
- Meltem Yilmaz, Kutlu Kağan Türkarslan, Ludovica Zanini, Dilara Hasdemir, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Vittorio Lingiardi, Transference interpretation and psychotherapy outcome: a systematic review of a no-consensus relationship , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 1 (2024)
- Marianna Liotti, Alice Fiorini Bincoletto, Fabiola Bizzi, Marta Tironi, Simone Charpentier Mora, Donatella Cavanna, Guido Giovanardi, Elliot Jurist, Anna Maria Speranza, Vittorio Lingiardi, Annalisa Tanzilli, The catcher in the mind: validation of the brief-mentalized affectivity scale for adolescents in the Italian population , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 26 No. 3 (2023)
- Victoria Klimkowski, Sofia McRae, Alexia Blick, Laurence Beaulieu, J. Reese S. Handley, Anara A. Hopley, Caroline A. Hyde, Devika M. Jain, Sylvia Kolodziejczyk, Josiane Laliberté, Alexa Lévesque, Lara M. Masri, Anya M. Monet, Reagan S. Nediu, Rachel Valihrach, Giorgio Tasca, Models of practice and training in psychotherapy: cross-national perspectives from Italy and Canada , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 1 (2024)
- Roberta Biolcati, Francesca Agostini, Giacomo Mancini, Analytical psychodrama with college students suffering from mental health problems: Preliminary outcomes , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 3 (2017)
- Linnea Nissling, Sandra Weineland, Kristofer Vernmark, Ella Radvogin, Anna-Karin Engström, Sara Schmidt, Eva Nieto Granberg, Elin Larsson, Timo Hursti, Effectiveness of and processes related to internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with anxiety disorders: a randomized controlled trial , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 26 No. 2 (2023)
- Gonca Soygüt, İsmail Volkan Gülüm, A thematic analysis of therapists' perspectives on therapeutic alliance rupture moments , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 19 No. 2 (2016)
- Joào F. Barreto, Paula Mena Matos, Balancing clinical risk with countertransference management protects alliance , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 3 (2017)
- Elham Qanbari Alaee, Omid Saed, Sahel Khakpoor, Reza Ahmadi, Mahsa Ali Mohammadi, Majid Yoosefi Afrashteh, Zekrolah Morovati, The efficacy of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy on reducing negative affect, anxiety sensitivity and improving perceived control in children with emotional disorders - a randomized controlled trial , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 1 (2022)
- Claudia Capella, Carolina Gutiérrez, Loreto Rodrìguez, Camila Gòmez, Change during psychotherapy: the perspective of children and adolescents who have been sexually abused , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 21 No. 1 (2018)
<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
