Constructing the good enough therapist : a portfolio for professional doctorate in counselling psychology

• Main Author: Skelding, Jennifer Ann
• Published: City University London 2012
• Subjects: 155; BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.546733

This thesis is comprised of four parts: an introduction to the thesis, an empirical research study, a critical literature review and a case study. The introduction presents an overview of the thesis and illustrates the connecting theme of constructivism in a broad sense as it relates to each section of the thesis. The empirical research study examines the experiences of therapeutic practitioners and aimed to gain a greater understanding of how they may be affected, both personally and professionally, by the characteristics of perfectionism and high levels of impostor fears. Additionally the study also explored how the therapeutic process and therapeutic relationship may also be affected by these two characteristics. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with therapeutic practitioners then transcribed and analysed using constructivist grounded theory methods. A theory was constructed via the analysis of the data and it outlines a process of developing the view of self as a good enough therapist which emerged from the participants accounts. This study explores the journey of development across the span of the therapists’ careers and the forces which act upon this view of self. The findings of the study suggest that although the therapeutic practitioners interviewed had various levels of perfectionism and impostor fears from across the continuums for both of these characteristics, they all went through a very similar developmental process in order to be able to view themselves as good enough therapists. Additionally, the findings also suggest that the main difference in this developmental process was that the participants with higher levels of perfectionism and/or impostor fears experienced this process at a much more intense level and for a longer duration, with some participants suggesting that they are still in the process of developing a sound view of themselves as good enough therapists even late into their careers. The critical literature review examines the literature on the therapeutic alliance and considers its implications for therapeutic work as well as for future research. The literature review aims to draw together the significant elements that will allow therapists to be able to develop a greater understanding of the alliance and how best to maintain a good alliance in their clinical work. The final part contains the case study which summarises the key features of the therapeutic work undertaken over sixteen sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The case study discusses the client’s presenting difficulties, the collaboratively developed formulations and my critical reflections on the work and the relationship.