Epistemology as a Predictor of Psychotherapists' Self-Care and Coping

Abstract

The present study examines whether the epistemic leanings of experienced psychotherapists (N = 151; 85 women and 66 men) predicted their self-care and coping strategies in relation to stress. Self-care is seen as a preventative measure against stress, whereas coping is viewed as an individual's adaptive response to stress or difficulties. Results showed a range of evidence that linked stronger constructivist epistemic commitments with higher levels of therapist self-care, but they did not provide strong evidence for the link between epistemic commitments and differential styles of coping. These findings are discussed in relation to the contemporary literature concerning the translation of epistemology into practice, and the limitations and future directions of this work.