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
On Being the Instrument of Change
We know that psychotherapy outcome research cannot imitate randomized clinical trials for diseases because, for one among many reasons, the person of the therapist cannot be abstracted from the provision of treatment. The therapist is the treatment. What are the implications for training and lifelong learning? Over the course of a psychotherapy career, we will […]
Michael Karson, Ph.D., J.D., A.B.P.P.
October 14, 2018
From Psychologist to “Whose Father is This?”
One of the main components of my job as a psychotherapist is helping my clients navigate transitions in their lives, such as relocating, marriage, death, and starting new jobs. Whether expected or not, life transitions are often seen as opportunities for mental and emotional stress as worry, insecurities, and fear can develop in that empty […]
Jonathan Jenkins, Psy.D.
August 18, 2018
Inner Child
Ragnar Storaasli, PhD
August 18, 2018
Top 5 Lessons Gained in Working with Dr. Jeffrey Barnett
This past December, Dr. Jeffrey Barnett stepped down from his leadership role as Publications Chair of the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. Dr. Barnett has been instrumental in the mentorship, guidance, and friendship he has bestowed to me. In reflecting over the past four years of knowing and working with him, I found myself […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D.
June 17, 2018
Turning Points in Training
I am writing this article as a counseling psychology doctoral student who still has much training left to do. Nevertheless, throughout my training I have already come to realize that learning to be a good psychologist requires a ruthless examination of yourself. This examination must include a willingness to explore one’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities. However, […]
Alyssa Clements-Hickman, M.A.
May 4, 2018
Meet the Cartoonist
Ragnar Storaasli is an applied behavior analyst, recognized trainer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and research methodologist with a long association and commitment to teaching, training and supervising doctoral students at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology, where he serves as a clinical associate professor. He is known to be thought provoking and entertaining while passionate and […]
Ragnar Storaasli, PhD
May 4, 2018
On the Search for Meaning
This year’s Bulletin theme focuses on the notion of turning points in psychotherapy training, research, and practice. Turning points can be considered an alteration in direction or course, a response to a need for advancement or change. Such turning points are not only present and significant in the field at large, but also exist within […]
Leigh Ann Carter, Psy.D.
May 4, 2018
Improving Mental Health in Health Care Practitioners
Health care practitioners are at elevated risk for burnout, depression, and suicide (Fahrenkopf et al., 2008; Schernhammer & Colditz, 2004; West et al., 2006). Moreover, a practitioner’s occupational stress can contribute to impaired concentration and decision making and in turn have a negative impact on patient care (Barger et al., 2006; Fahrenkopf et al., 2008; […]
Taylor Rodriguez, B.S. + 1 more
February 11, 2018
The Role of Therapists Crying in Therapy
An important aspect of psychotherapy is the therapist’s reactions to his or her client during session (Kahn & Fromm, 2001; Summers & Barber, 2010). One type of emotional expression that has garnered interest throughout the psychological literature is the phenomenon of therapists crying with their patients (McWilliams, 1994; Alden, 2001; Summers & Barber, 2010; Guntrip, […]
Taylor Rodriguez, B.S. + 1 more
January 14, 2018
Heroes of the Heart
Listen to Dr. Gaztambide narrate the Prologue of this piece: Prologue “When are you going to stop splitting like this?” I almost spilled my coffee. I often wondered why shrinks talk like this-using words like “splitting” and “distortion” and “automatic thoughts” as if they were a part of everyday language. They’re not. But we do […]
Daniel Jose Gaztambide, Psy.D.
December 30, 2017
Publishing Psychotherapy Research
Throughout 2017, the Psychotherapy Research Committee and the Scholarship Domain have been providing Psychotherapy Bulletin articles with recommendations for sharing our research with others. In the first Bulletin issue of the year, we included suggestions for sharing our research with policy makers. In the second issue, we focused on sharing our research with psychotherapy clients. […]
Joshua K. Swift, Ph.D. + 1 more
December 30, 2017
Navigating the Minefield of Politics in the Therapy Session
If, indeed, the personal is political and the political is personal, where does that leave psychotherapists—whose profession is intensely personal—when clients voice strong political views counter to ours or when their political stress resonates with our own sense of a rending of the civic and cultural fabric of the country? In the aftermath of one […]
Patricia T. Spangler, Ph.D. + 3 more
December 30, 2017