Training in acceptance and commitment therapy fosters self‐care in clinical psychology trainees

Abstract

Background

Despite the need for training in self‐care for clinical psychology trainees (CPTs), research is limited, with little progress in the evaluation of effective approaches for teaching self‐care. This study investigated the effects on self‐care in CPTs of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) university course with an explicit focus on self‐care skills in addition to ACT competencies.

Methods

Fifty‐seven CPTs completed a questionnaire to evaluate the self‐care course components (2011 to 2013), and a subsample of 22 CPTs completed measures of self‐care self‐efficacy, and the importance of self‐care training at the beginning and end of the course.

Results

All CPTs found the course helpful in fostering self‐care, and 73.7% reported one or more behavioural self‐care changes. Most frequently reported self‐care changes and helpful course components were related to the six ACT therapeutic processes. Pairwise t‐tests showed that self‐care self‐efficacy significantly increased from the beginning to the end of the course and that student views on the importance of self‐care training remained stable over the course duration.

Conclusions

Findings support the interweaving of training in psychotherapy competencies and self‐care skills via a self‐as‐laboratory approach within an ACT framework.

Abstract

Key words:

• acceptance and commitment therapy
• clinical psychology training
• self‐care
• stress

Funding: None.

Conflict of interest: None.

Funding: None.

Conflict of interest: None.

Notes

Funding: None.

Conflict of interest: None.