Self-Care & Development
This section emphasizes the importance of self-care and continuous professional development for psychotherapists. Discover resources and strategies to maintain personal well-being and foster growth throughout your career in psychotherapy.
132 articles found
Lessons From a Concussion
Imagine: You’ve been in an accident. Now, your thinking is clouded and unclear, you are terrified that you have lost your ability to reason and think clearly and it might never return, and you have a caseload of clients. What would you do? If you didn’t (or couldn’t) turn to anyone, is there someone in […]
Sarah Lukens
February 8, 2015
Am I a Person-Centered Therapist?
I was recently asked to be part of panel of psychotherapists who use the theories of Carl Rogers in their practice. I had to take a few minutes to really think about it. Am I a person-centered therapist? Upon reflection, I realized that some of the best ways I am a therapist, I am a […]
Barbara J. Thompson, Ph.D. + 1 more
February 2, 2015
The Big Reveal
I was recently at a lecture where an audience member asked the speaker, psychologist Dr. Richard Schwartz, about his stance on the role of therapist self-disclosure. Dr. Schwartz paused for a moment before responding that he often urges supervisees to bring to mind the acronym WAIT before engaging in self-disclosure in a session (personal communication, […]
Sherry Sadighim, M.A.
January 22, 2015
Distress, Therapist Burnout, Self-Care, and the Promotion of Wellness for Psychotherapists and Trainees
The practice of psychotherapy can be highly rewarding and gratifying. Psychotherapists regularly make a significant positive impact in the lives of those with whom they work. Yet, this endeavor can also be emotionally demanding and challenging; if we do not attend to our own functioning and wellness, we can be at risk of developing problems […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP
December 21, 2014
Finding Your Theoretical Fit
In clinical and counseling psychology, human behavior is understood through varying lenses called theoretical orientations. Key factors that influence orientation include a practitioner’s unique personality and particular way of conceptualizing the human condition. These factors come into play in clinical and counseling psychology training programs, where students must select one of these orientations in order […]
Nahed Barakat, Psy.D. + 12 more
November 20, 2014
Poetry as Self Care
Like most of you, I am a secret-keeper. I am given the gift of hearing private thoughts and exploring strong emotions with strangers who become clients. I am a purveyor of hope. I often do little more than listen, but the impact on some clients is profound. I marvel at how the process of revealing oneself unfolds from person to […]
Mili Thomas, M.A.
November 6, 2014
Never Turn Down the Opportunity to Give a Talk
Two years after graduation from my doctoral program, a friend invited me to give a grand rounds presentation at a major university. Despite the fact that I was guaranteed a sympathetic audience and a topic I knew (it was whatever I wanted to speak on), I found myself reluctant to respond and even going to […]
Kevin S. McCarthy, Ph.D.
September 15, 2014
Do Therapists Cry in Therapy?
Abstract 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. psychol- ogists and trainees filled out the survey online, revealing […]
Amy C. Blume-Marcovici + 2 more
June 7, 2014
Reflections on the Meaning of Clinician Self-Reference
Abstract Self-reference refers to clinician revelations about themselves. Theory and research on self-reference are limited by a lack of uniform conceptualizations. This paper discusses two types of self-reference, self-disclosure, and self-involving responses. Included are definitions of each type of self-reference; description of definitional inconsistencies in the literature; discussion of prevalence, functions, and the multidimensional nature […]
Patricia McCarthy Veach
June 7, 2014
The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy Task Force on Psychologist Psychotherapists
Report Division 29 (The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy) President, Jeffrey J. Magnavita, initiated a task force to complete the following tasks and answer the following questions in 2010, reporting back to the Division 29 Board of Directors at its October, 2010 meeting. Jeffrey Barnett, past president of the division agreed to lead the […]
Jeffrey E. Barnett, Psy.D., ABPP + 6 more
March 29, 2010
Culture in Psychotherapy Practice and Research
Introduction As the people of the United States become even more culturally diverse, psychotherapists are required to develop their cultural competence. Health disparities persist with regard to many cultural identities including race, class, sexual orientation, and ability (Gehlert, Mininger, Sohmer & Berg, 2008; Smeldy, Stith, & Nelson, 2003; Sue & Dhindsa, 2006). Furthermore, treatment offered […]
Mamta Dadlani, Ph.D. + 1 more
November 13, 2009
Cultivating Cultural Competence
In today’s rapidly growing multicultural society, psychotherapists are faced with the complex task of working effectively with clientele whose psychosocial dynamics include increasingly diverse cultural values, beliefs and attitudes that the psychotherapist is either not aware of or not prepared to engage as part of the therapy.
Saunia Ahmad, Ph.D. + 1 more
October 25, 2009