The Impact of Personal Therapy on Graduate Training in Psychology: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: While broad support exists for trainees in professional psychology who decide to seek personal therapy, surprisingly little literature has focused on their perspective of the experience of attending therapy while in training. The impact of such experiences could have important implications not only for trainees, but also for their training programs. Given the relative lack of empirical attention in this area, this study hoped to provide a rich understanding of how trainees are affected by personal therapy while in training, as well as how this experience was viewed by their graduate programs. Eleven master’s- and doctoral-level trainees were interviewed. Most participants had attended therapy at least once prior to beginning their training programs, and they largely reported forming healthy, effective relationships with their therapists. Participants had mostly positive experiences in therapy, feeling that it had a beneficial influence on their functioning personally, academically, and clinically. They viewed their academic programs as being supportive of personal therapy for trainees, and most shared pieces of their experience with peers and faculty/staff members. Nearly all participants felt strongly that personal therapy is an integral part of graduate training, asserting that programs should encourage such therapy for their trainees. Limitations and implications for training, practice, and research are addressed.
Author: Eric Everson
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W88243103