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How beginning cognitive behavioural therapists develop professional confidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2018

Lenka Maruniakova  and
Tomas Rihacek
Lenka Maruniakova*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
Tomas Rihacek
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
*
*Author for correspondence: Lenka Maruniakova, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Jostova 10, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic (email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Evidence exists that the effectiveness of psychotherapy depends more on therapists’ variables than on their theoretical orientation or the techniques they use. Nevertheless, relatively little is known regarding the process of cognitive behavioural psychotherapists’ development. The purpose of the study was to explore how beginning cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) practitioners develop, considering various professional and personal influences. Eight in-depth interviews with beginning therapists were conducted, and the Grounded Theory Method was used for data analysis. The developmental process was conceptualized as Gaining Professional Confidence, and three phases of this process were identified: (1) Externally Based Confidence in CBT Methods, (2) Internalized Confidence in CBT Methods, and (3) Therapists’ Self-Confidence. The results indicate that trainees’ self-reflection on their personal qualities, values, attitudes and preferences should be given more attention in CBT training, as this plays a crucial role in their overall professional development.

Keywords

cognitive behavioural therapy trainingprofessional and personal sources in therapist developmenttherapist confidenceprofessional identitygrounded theory method
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 11 , 2018 , e5
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2018 

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References

Further reading

Bennett-Levy, J, Lee, NK, Travers, K, Pohlman, S, Hamernik, E (2003). Cognitive therapy from the inside: enhancing therapist skills through practicing what we preach. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy 31, 143–158. doi: 10.1017/S1352465803002029Google Scholar
Bennett-Levy, J, Thwaites, R, Haarhoff, B, Perry, H (2015). Experiencing CBT from the inside out: a self-practice/self-reflection workbook for therapists. New York: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
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Wolff, S, Auckenthaler, A (2014). Processes of theoretical orientation development in CBT trainees: what internal processes do psychotherapists in training undergo as they ‘integrate’? Journal of Psychotherapy Integration 24, 223–237. doi: 10.1037/a0037514CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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