What are the significant events reported by therapists? A study exploring their personal and professional development

Introduction: This presentation will lay out a doctoral study on therapists' personal and professional development. This project advocates for a self-integrated perspective on training, emphasizing the equal importance of nurturing personal development alongside professional skills cultivation. The concept of Significant Events (SE) was adapted from its original application for client change processes to the person-of-the-therapist. SE were defined as helpful or hindering events experienced in the therapy process. SE were adapted to the context of professional development (PD), because, similarly to therapy processes, PD is not a linear process of acquiring skills and knowledge. The goal of this study was to explore transformative moments in therapists' development. Method: 230 participants completed an online questionnaire, evaluating: (1) therapists' personal and professional characteristics (TC), such as their age, gender, supervision, personal therapy, and their level of training and (2) therapists' SE. TC were measured by the DPPCQ. Participants were asked to report helpful or hindering SE that influenced their personal and professional development. Results: Thematic analysis uncovered three main themes: (1) personal events (resilience, relationship dynamics, self-discovery, spirituality), (2) professional events (transitions, training and achievements, clinical experiences, shifts, peer-support, reflections on theoretical approaches), and (3) hybrid events where personal and professional aspects intertwine (health and well-being, loss and grief, life transitions, global awareness, ethical dilemmas). Discussion: This research contributes to ongoing discussions on professional development, revealing the interplay between the therapists’ personal and professional spheres. Findings suggest that some psychotherapy approaches focus more on the development of a more integrated person-of-the therapist.

Affiliations

UCLouvainPSP/PSP - Faculté de psychologie et des sciences de l'éducation

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de Condé, H., Zech, E., Willemsen, J., & et al. (2024). What are the significant events reported by therapists? A study exploring their personal and professional development. 6th Joint European & UK SPR Chapters Conference, Brno, Czech Republic. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/271206