How does personal therapy affect therapists' practice?

Abstract

Surveys have tended to conclude that personal therapy for therapists is useful, but they have offered little information about how it is useful. The authors interviewed 7 practicing therapists about their personal therapy and how it affected their clinical work. In an intensive qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts, the authors identified 12 common themes, which they organized into the following 3 domains: (a) orienting to the therapist: humanity, power, boundaries; (b) orienting to the client: trust, respect, patience; and (c) listening with the third ear. Within each domain, participants appeared to translate their experiences as clients into skills and attitudes used in their practice. Thus, the authors suggest that by experiencing helpful conditions in their own therapy, participants seemed better able to provide them for their clients.Personal therapy for therapists has a central place in the history of psychotherapy (e.g., Freud, 1937Freud, /1964 and is often the subject of heated debate (see, e.g., discussion about the British Association for Counselling requiring 40 hr of personal therapy for accreditation;

In pursuit of an identity: A qualitative exploration of retirement from women's artistic gymnastics

“…Interpretative phenomenological analysis focuses on the participants' experiences from their own perspective and can, therefore, only provide a detailed description of the processes that the participants were consciously aware. The domains provided a reflection of the processes that the participants were consciously aware of and certain aspects of their experience may have been overlooked (Macran, Smith & Stiles, 1999).…”

Trainee counselors’ experiences of receiving psychological help

“…When the literature is examined, it is noteworthy that therapists receiving psychological help are still a controversial topic today (Macran & Shapiro, 1998;Macran et al, 1999;Malikiosi-Loizos, 2013). Researches have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of this experience for years (Macran et al, 1999;Rizq & Target, 2009;Williams, Coyle, & Lyons, 1999;Wiseman & Shefler, 2001).…”

“…At this point it is thought that counselors who are aware of their own needs, unfinished affairs, conflicts, defense mechanisms and weaknesses can focus on the needs of clients instead of their own needs in the counseling process. It is emphasized that one of the important parts of psychotherapy is the increased awareness of therapists, especially those who aim to help their clients in their cognitive and behavioral change processes (Macran, Stiles, & Smith, 1999). According to Macran and Shapiro (1998), psychological help increases the effectiveness of therapists and helps therapists maintain their well being.…”

“…Researches have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of this experience for years (Macran et al, 1999;Rizq & Target, 2009;Williams, Coyle, & Lyons, 1999;Wiseman & Shefler, 2001). Researches which express receiving psychological help increases the effectiveness of therapists, have reported following positive results (Grimmer & Tribe, 2001;Macran et al, 1999;Murphy, 2005): (a) helping to maintain emotional and mental balance of therapists by reducing the stress that is the essence of the therapy; (b) raising awareness of therapists on issues or areas of conflict by preventing these problems to affect the therapist's work with the client; (c) experiencing how it feels to be a client facilitates empathy and helps therapists become more sensitive to the client's concerns and needs; (d) seeing another therapist in practice provide first-hand experience of the methods and techniques; (e) therapists are increasing their belief in the therapeutic power and usefulness of the therapist by showing how psychotherapy works. In addition to all these positive contributions to professional development, the literature also mentions the adverse effects of receiving psychological help, especially during vocational training.…”

“…In studies conducted (Geller, Norcross, & Orlinsky, 2005;Grimmer & Tribe, 2001;Macran & Shapiro, 1998;Macran et al, 1999;Malikiosi-Loizos, 2013;Rizq & Target, 2009), a mental health worker who receives psychological help is expressed by the concept of personal therapy. Many studies have emphasized that vocational training (psychologist, counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, etc.…”