Searching for recognition: The professional development of psychodynamic psychotherapists during training and the first few years after it

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the development of psychotherapists' professional self during training and the first few years after it. Constant comparison analysis was conducted on interviews with former students (N = 18) at a training institute for psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The resulting core category “searching for recognition” indicated that participants' ambition during the studied time period was to reach high status by becoming psychotherapists. During training, this was expressed by the category “attachment to preformed professional self,” meaning that students wanted their preconceptions about therapy to be acknowledged by teachers. After training, participants experienced achieved recognition and, as a result, a sense of freedom to use their own judgment.

RÉSUMÉ

Le but de cette étude a été d'investiguer le développement du soi professionnel des thérapeutes durant la formation et la première année qui la suit. Une analyse de comparaison constante a été conduite sur des entretiens avec d'anciens étudiants (N = 18) dans un institut de formation à la psychothérapie psychanalytique. En a résulté une catégorie de base « recherche de reconnaissance » qui indique que l'ambition des participants durant le temps de leur formation était d'atteindre un statut élevé en devenant psychothérapeutes. Durant la formation, cela a été exprimé par la catégorie « attachement au soi professionnel construit » signifiant que les étudiants voulaient que leurs préconceptions à propos de la thérapie soient reconnues par leurs enseignants. Après la formation, les participants ont expérimentés une reconnaissance et, comme résultat, un sentiment de liberté dans l'utilisation de leur propre jugement.

Abstract

O objectivo do presente estudo foi investigar o desenvolvimento dos “self” profissional de psicoterapeutas durante estágio e os seus primeiros anos de prática. Análises de comparação constantes foram conduzidas em entrevistas com estudantes formados no instituto de psicoterapia psicoanalítica. A categoria chave “procura reconhecimento” indicou que as ambições dos participantes durante o período de tempo estudado foram alcançar um elevado estatuto ao serem psicoterapeutas. Durante o treino, esta foi expressa através da categoria “vínculo ao self profissional desempenhado”, o que significa que os alunos querem que as suas pré-concepções sobre a terapia sejam reconhecidas pelos professores. Depois do treino, os participantes experienciaram reconhecimento e, como resultado, um sentido de liberdade por usar o seu próprio julgamento,

Abstract

Lo scopo del presente studio era di esaminare lo sviluppo professionale degli psicoterapeuti durante il training e nei primi anni successivi. Un confronto costante è stato condotto attraverso interviste con ex studenti (N_18) di un istituto di formazione per la psicoterapia psicoanalitica. La categoria principale “ ricerca di riconoscimento'' ha indicato come l’ ambizione dei partecipanti durante il periodo di tempo di studio sia stata quella di raggiungere uno stato elevato diventando psicoterapeuti. Durantela formazione, questa è stata espressa dalla categoria''attaccamento a sviluppare un sé professionale,' 'il che significa che gli studenti volevano essere riconosciuti dagli insegnanti. Dopo la formazione, i partecipanti hanno sperimentato ottenuto il riconoscimento e, di conseguenza, un senso di libertà di usare il proprio giudizio.

Abstract

Keywords:

• psychotherapist training
• supervision
• development

Palavras chaves:

• treino de psicoterapia
• superviãs
• desenvolvimento

Keywords:

• formazione psicoterapeutica
• suopervisione
• sviluppo

Acknowledgements

Financial support for this study was provided through the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research between Stockholm County Council and the Karolinska Institute. We thank the therapists who contributed to this study by sharing their experiences with us during the interviews and also by commenting on the results. We are also grateful to Associate Professor Andrzej Werbart and the research group at the training institute for helpful ideas during the research process. Furthermore, we thank Professor Gudrun Olsson at Aalborg University and Associate Professor Staffan Josephsson at the Karolinska Institute for helpful comments on earlier versions of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joakim Norberg

Jan Carlsson and Joakim Norberg have contributed equally to this paper