The subject of therapist's crying in therapy (TCIT) has been virtually ignored in the literature, with only 1 qualitative dissertation and 3 case studies devoted to the topic. This mixed-method survey study explored therapists' experiences with and attitude toward TCIT. Six hundred eighty-four U.S. psychologists and trainees filled out the survey online, revealing that 72% of therapists report having cried in therapy in their role as therapist. Data analysis indicated that the act of crying in therapy has less to do with personality or demographic factors (i.e., Big Five traits, empathy, sex) and more to do with the unique aspects of the therapy itself and the therapist's identity in the therapeutic context (theoretical orientation, clinical experience, affective tone of the session). Clinicians with more experience, who are older, cried more in therapy than novice clinicians, despite lower crying frequency in daily life, suggesting that more experienced therapists feel more comfortable allowing themselves to experience and/or express such emotions in therapy sessions. Psychodynamic therapists reported slightly higher rates of TCIT than cognitive-behavioral therapists despite no differences in crying in daily life. Despite significant differences in crying rates in daily life, male and female clinicians report similar rates of TCIT. Data regarding the relationship between TCIT and Big Five personality traits, empathy, and perceived consequences of TCIT are reported.
The assessment of suicidal potential is one of the most challenging and stress-inducing tasks facing clinicians. Studies that have attempted to identify specific MMPI codetypes, scales, or individual items predictive of completed suicide have produced inconsistent findings. This study focused on the relationship between the six most direct MMPI-2 suicide items (Items 150, 303, 506, 520, 524, and 530) and verbally reported history of suicidal ideation and behavior among a sample of psychotherapy outpatients (n =116). These six MMPI-2 suicide items provided valuable information regarding suicidal ideation and behavior above and beyond that of verbal self-report. These items were grouped together to create a single scale, the Suicidal Potential Scale (SPS) that manifested strong internal consistency. The SPS provides the clinician with a reliable method of assessing for self-reported suicidal ideation and behavior.
Therapists who discuss their TCIT with clients tended to report improvement in rapport. Suggestions are offered for clinicians regarding how to work with TCIT in therapy sessions.
The objective of this quantitative research study was to identify and examine psychological effects on adults who stutter who were cyberbullied as an adolescent, specifically looking at depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Using survey methodology, a two-way between-groups multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was utilized to determine if young adults who stutter and were cyberbullied in middle and/or high school express current depression, anxiety, or stress levels as compared to three other groups (no cyberbullying and no stuttering; cyberbullying and no stuttering; and no cyberbullying and stuttering). This study used the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) instrument in an online survey format to determine which, if any, lasting psychological stressors were found. Results indicate that the cyberbullied and stuttering group have significantly higher anxiety levels compared to the three additional groups, significantly higher depression levels compared to the group with no cyberbullying and no stuttering, and significantly higher stress levels compared to the groups with stuttering and no cyberbullying and no cyberbullying and no stuttering. This research indicates the effects that cyberbullying can have on mental health, and additionally the negative effect that stuttering can have on a person's overall mental health as well.
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