Corrective Experiences of Psychotherapists in Training

Abstract

Although the concept of corrective experiences (CEs) is usually linked to the process of change in psychotherapy patients, we investigated them in the professional development of therapists-in-training. Inasmuch as psychotherapy is a relational process, it is important to look closely at how therapists reach the position of a competent partner in corrective experiencing. In this study, we interviewed 10 therapists-in-training undergoing their own training therapy. Responses to these semistructured interviews were analyzed using a computer-assisted grounded theory method. The 499 first-level categories were grouped into 5 main themes: therapist characteristics, therapist technical interventions, therapist relational interventions, relationship experience, and outcome experience. Two core categories representing corrective experiencing were (a) unexpected unconditional support from and trust in their own therapist and (b) unexpected confrontation and limitation with their therapist as well as awareness of self-other boundaries. Results are discussed in the broader context of the CE literature, relational theory, and relational practice.

Counseling and Psychology Student Experiences of Personal Therapy: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis

“…The requirement to undergo personal therapy during psychotherapy based training is the focus of multiple research and review papers (for example, Chaturvedi, 2013 ; Malikiosi-Loizos, 2013 ; Edwards, 2017 ; Moertl et al, 2017 ; So, 2017 ; McMahon, 2018 ; Bennett-Levy and Finlay-Jones, 2018 ). Committing to attendance at personal therapy sessions is an expectation of students in many counseling, allied health, and psychotherapy trainings throughout the world.…”

Untersuchungen zur „Wirkung“ von Selbsterfahrung in der Psychotherapieausbildung – Ein systematisches Review

“…Vielfach wurde von Teilnehmern geäußert, dass sie ein Bewusstsein für eigene Themen entwickelt und ihre Selbstwahrnehmung verbessert haben [31,32,36,37,39,40,43]. Eigene Themen konnten so besser von denen des Patienten abgegrenzt werden [31,37,40].…”

Cognitive Schemas among Mental Health Professionals and Other Health Professionals

“…The therapeutic process promotes subjective experiencing of both partners and continuously generates new patterns of self- and interactional regulation. [3] Dysfunctional cognitive schemas may create cognitive risk among MHPs and influence their ability to process patients’ information in an unbiased manner. This may be a substantial source of error in psychotherapeutic ratings.…”

“…[5] For the therapist to be able to provide and productively contribute to this relational space—that is, to effectively contribute to potential corrective experiences in his or her clients—it could be argued that certain forms of therapeutic competence and emotional maturity are keys. [3]…”

“…[5] For the therapist to be able to provide and productively contribute to this relational space-that is, to effectively contribute to potential corrective experiences in his or her clients-it could be argued that certain forms of therapeutic competence and emotional maturity are keys. [3] There has been only one study on cognitive schemas in trainee MHPs. [6] The participants included trainee MHPs of both genders, in a tertiary postgraduate training institute (n = 100) in India.…”