“At What Cost am I Doing This?” An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of burnout among private practitioner psychotherapists

Abstract

Burnout is an experience in response to chronic job stressors, understood to be composed of three components: exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy. Burnout is an occupational hazard among psychotherapists that may result in poorer quality of care for clients and a diminished quality of life for clinicians. Several quantitative studies have shown that psychotherapists are at risk of developing burnout given the demanding nature of their work. While much research has been carried out with psychotherapists who work in organisations, there is a lack of available literature concerning the experience of the psychotherapy practitioner working in private practice. This study aimed to gain an understanding of psychotherapists’ lived experiences of burnout while working exclusively in private practice in Ireland. Eight semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified: (a) A Professional Identity Crisis: “maybe I just don't have what it takes?”; (b) The Embodiment of Burnout: “constantly running on red”; and (c) The Process of Rebalancing: “being real”. The participants revealed a disillusionment with their career, alongside self‐criticism and shame for not meeting their internalised standards. They illuminated a profound felt sense of depletion and physical unwellness. They also shared their ongoing process of rebalancing rather than recovery from burnout. Participants universally described difficulty identifying and articulating burnout. The findings are discussed with reference to identity, embodiment of burnout and the process of rebalancing.

Self‐perceived clinical competence, gender and workplace setting predict burnout among psychotherapists

“…In a qualitative study of psychotherapists working in private practice, it was found that a professional identity crisis occurred for some of the participants as a part of the experience of burnout. Another experience the participants described in that same study was that the impact of burnout made them question their capacity to perform their work effectively (Finan et al., 2022). Clinical staff in mental healthcare services seems to be exposed to work‐related stress to a high degree.…”

“…Another experience the participants described in that same study was that the impact of burnout made them question their capacity to perform their work effectively (Finan et al, 2022). Clinical staff in mental healthcare services seems to be exposed to work-related stress to a high degree.…”

‘The Golden Question’. Addressing supervisee self‐care in clinical supervision

“…It is understood that practitioner self‐care is essential to maintain resilience within the work. Yet, research suggests that counsellors and psychotherapists can suffer from impaired well‐being (Adams, 2014; Finan et al, 2022; Simionato & Simpson, 2018). The potential impact of engaging with empathy can negatively affect practitioners, and personal issues causing stress can impair well‐being, yet some practitioners feel unable to admit this and buy into the myth of the ‘untroubled therapist’ (Adams, 2014).…”