The path towards a professional identity: An IPA study of Greek family therapy trainees

Abstract

Objective: Contemporary psychotherapy research has focused mainly on practitioners' training and education. The impact of training on professional development and the application of therapeutic skills have been the primary foci of the empirical literature. The aim of this paper is to present the experiences of seven family therapy trainees regarding their personal paths toward the development of professional identity as they underwent training in systemic psychotherapy. Method: In-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results & Conclusions: Seven themes were identified: The Quest, Developing by Relating, Learnings, Personification of Training, Use of Self, Self-Care and Empowerment, and Reflecting on the Role of the Therapist. The findings are discussed with regard to the development of the ‘therapist as a person’, gaining acknowledgement and autonomy, and the development of a community of therapeutic practice.

Keywords:

• family therapy training
• experiential learning
• community of practice
• interpretative phenomenological analysis

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Evangelia Fragkiadaki

Biographies

Evangelia Fragkiadaki is a Counselling Psychologist. She works as an adjunct professor in academic settings and is a therapist in private practice, and has worked in various NHS settings. Her main research interests are psychotherapy process, psychotherapy termination and psychotherapy training.

Sofia Triliva

Sofia Triliva is an associate professor at the Department of Psychology in the University of Crete. She teaches courses in community psychology, including a course in systemic thought, theory and intervention. Most of her research has focused on effective interventions for children, families and communities.

Sophia Balamoutsou

Sophia Balamoutsou is a counsellor, supervisor and trainer. She was an academic in Britain. In Greece she works as Director for the Counselling Programme at the Institute for Counselling and Psychological Practice and in private practice.

Achilleas Prokopiou

Achilleas Prokopiou is a psychiatrist and trainer at the Family Institute of Chania. He was trained in systemic psychotherapy at the Athenian Institute Anthropos, has earned a MD and a PhD in Psychiatry, teaches systemic psychotherapy and has established a training centre and private practice in Chania, Crete.