The article analyzes resilience in Ukrainian psychotherapists. Empirical research conducted by the authors found that Ukrainian psychotherapists generally had an average level of resilience, which decreased with age. The authors discuss the relationship between psychotherapists' resilience and their personal (type of emotional attachment, stress-coping strategies and personal traumatic experience) and professional (emotional states and professional experience) characteristics. It was found that such types of emotional attachment as anxiety and avoidance were negatively related to the level of psychotherapist resilience, while such psychotherapist coping behaviors as assertive action and social joining, on the contrary, had a positive relationship with psychotherapist resilience. Various traumatic events faced by psychotherapists related differently to their resilience. While violence and traumatic events in the psychotherapists' lives generally related negatively to the level of their resilience, the «other events» traumatic situations experienced by therapists, on the contrary, were positively related to the level of their resilience. There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between psychotherapist resilience and secondary trauma as a result of therapists' contact with trauma victims. There was also a statistically significant positive relationship between psychotherapist resilience and such indicators of their professional experience as receiving personal therapy, ongoing supervisory support as well as trauma coping training. The findings emphasized the role of occupational psychohygiene in promoting psychotherapist resilience.
Published in | American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 10, Issue 6) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15 |
Page(s) | 162-172 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Psychotherapist Resilience, Type of Emotional Attachment, Coping Behaviors, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Professional Experience
[1] | Adams, R. E., Boscarino, J. A., & Figley, C. R. (2006). Compassion fatigue and psychological distress among social workers: A validation study. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76 (1), 103-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.76.1.103 |
[2] | Baird, S., & Jenkins, S. R. (2003). Vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout in sexual assault and domestic violence agency staff. Violence and Victims, 18 (1), 71-86. |
[3] | Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss: Loss: Sadness and depression. Basic books. V. 3. |
[4] | Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurements of adult romantic attachment: an integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships. 46-76. Guilford Press. |
[5] | Bride, B. E., Radey, M., & Figley, C. R. (2007). Measuring compassion fatigue. Clinical Social Work Journal, 35, 155-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10615-007-0091-7 |
[6] | Brish, H. K. (2012). Attachment disorders from theory to therapy [Rozlady pryviazanosti vid teorii do terapii]. Prostir-M. [in Ukrainian]. |
[7] | Charney, D. S. (2004). Psychobiological mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability: Implications for successful adaptation to extreme stress. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161 (2), 195-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.2.195 |
[8] | Cherniss, C. (1995). Beyond burnout: helping teachers, nurses, therapists and lawyers recover from stress and disillusionment. Routledge. |
[9] | Collins, S. (2007). Social workers, resilience, positive emotions and optimism. Practice, 19 (4), 255-269. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09503150701728186 |
[10] | Connor, K. M. & Davidson, J. R. (2003) Development of a new resilience scale: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Depression and Anxiety. 18, 76. |
[11] | Coster, J. S., & Schwebel, M. (1997). Well-functioning in professional psychologists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 28 (1), 5-13. |
[12] | David, D. P. (2012). Resilience as a protective factor against compassion fatigue in trauma therapists. Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations. (AAT 3544932). |
[13] | Figley, C. R. (1988). Victimization, trauma, and traumatic stress. Counseling Psychologist, 16, 635-641. |
[14] | Figley, C. R. (1995). Compassion fatigue: coping with secondary traumatic stress in those who treat the traumatized. Brunner/Mazel Psychosocial Stress Studies. Brunner & Routledge Publishers. |
[15] | Figley, C. R. (2002). Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists’ chronic lack of self-care. Clinical Psychology: In Session, 58 (11), 1434-1441. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0011000088164005 |
[16] | Follette, V. M., Polusny, M. M., & Milbeck, K. (1994). Mental heals and law enforcement professionals: trauma history, psychological symptoms, and impact of providing services to child sexual abuse survivors. Professional Psychology: Research and practice. 25 (3), 275-282. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.25.3.275/ |
[17] | Ghahramanlou, M., & Brodbeck, C. (2000). Predictors of secondary trauma in sexual assault trauma counselors. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 2 (4), 229-240. |
[18] | Hernandez-Wolfe, P., Killian, K., Engstrom, D., & Gangsei, D. (2014). Vicarious resilience, vicarious trauma, and awareness of equity in trauma work. Journal of humanistic psychology, 55 (2), 153-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022167814534322 |
[19] | Hobfoll, S. E., Dunahoo, C. L., Ben-Porath, Y., & Monnier, J. (1994). Gender and coping: the dual-axis model of coping. American journal of community psychology, 22 (1), 49-82. |
[20] | Holmes, J. (2017) Roots and routes to resilience: attachment/psychodynamic perspectives. Psychoanalytic discourse. 3, 20-33. |
[21] | Hou, J.-M., & Skovholt, T. M. (2020). Characteristics of highly resilient therapists. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 67 (3), 386-400. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000401 |
[22] | Jenkins, S. R & Baird S. (2005). Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious trauma: a validational study. Traumatic stress, 15 (5). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020193526843 |
[23] | Joseph, S., & Linley, P. (Eds.). (2008). Trauma, recovery and growth: Positive psychological perspectives on posttraumatic stress. Wiley. |
[24] | Killian, K. D. (2008). Helping till it hurts: A multi-method study of burnout, compassion fatigue and resilience in clinicians working with trauma survivors. Traumatology, 14, 32-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534765608319083 |
[25] | Lakioti, A., Stalikas, A., & Pezirkianidis, C. (2020). The role of personal, professional, and psychological factors in therapists’ resilience. Professional psychology: research and practice, 51 (6), 560-570. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000306 |
[26] | Lambert, S., & Lawson, G. (2013). Resilience of professional counselors following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Journal of Counseling & Development, 91 (3), 261-268. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2013.00094.x |
[27] | Lawson, G., & Myers, J. E. (2011). Wellness, professional quality of life, and career- sustaining behaviors: What keeps us well? Journal of Counseling & Development, 89 (2), 163-171. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2011.tb00074.x |
[28] | Lazos, G. P. (2017). Osoblyvosti emotsiinykh staniv volonteriv-psykhologiv/psykhoterapevtiv u stosunkakh z postrazhdalymy [Volunteer psychologists/psychotherapists emotional states in relations with victims]. In Z. G. Kisarchuk (Ed.), Osoblyvosti stosunkiv psykhoterapevt-kliyent u suchasnomu sotsiokulturnomu seredovyschi (pp. 154-176) [In Ukrainian]. |
[29] | Lazos, G. P. (2018). Travmatychne kontrperenesennya psykhologa/psykhoterapevta v roboti z postrazhdalymy [Psychologists/psychotherapists counter-transference in work with victims]. Zagalna i medychna psykhologia, 1 (1), 57-68. https://medpsyrehab.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/journal_10_2018_1.pdf [In Ukrainian]. |
[30] | Leiter, M. P., & Harvie, P. L. (1996). Burnout among mental health workers: a review and a research agenda. International Journal of social psychiatry, 42, 90-101. |
[31] | Litam, S. D. A., Ausloos, C. D., & Harrichand, J. J. S. (2021) Stress and Resilience Among Professional Counselors During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Counseling & Development, 99 (4), 384–395. https://doi.org/10.1002/JCAD.12391 |
[32] | Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child development, 71, 543-562. |
[33] | Martin, C. A., McKean, H. E., & Veltkamp, L. J. (1986). Post-traumatic stress disorder in police and working with victims: A pilot study. Journal of Police Science and Administration, 14, 98-101. |
[34] | Maslach, C. (1987). Burnout research in the social services: A critique. Burnout among social workers. Halworth Press. |
[35] | Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52 (1), 397–422. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397 |
[36] | McCann, L., & Pearlman, L. A. (1990). Vicarious traumatization: A framework for understanding the psychological effects of working with victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3, 131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00975140 |
[37] | Miller, E. D. (2003). Reconceptualizing the role of resiliency in coping and therapy. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 8, 239-245. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15325020305881 |
[38] | Mullenbach, M., & Skovholt, T. M. (2011). Burnout prevention and self-care strategies of expert practitioners. In T. M. Skovholt & M. Trotter-Mathison (Eds.), The resilient practitioner: burnout prevention and self-care strategies for counselors, therapists, teachers and health care professionals (pp. 219-242). Routledge. |
[39] | Neman, R. (2005). APA’s resilience initiative. Professional psychology: research and practice, 36, 227. |
[40] | Nemeth, D., & Olivier, T. (2018). Innovative approaches to individual and community resilience: from theory to practice. Academic Press. |
[41] | Nimmo, A., & Huggard, P. (2013). A systematic review of the measurement of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress in physicians. Australian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies, 2013, 37-44. |
[42] | Norbeck, J. S. (1984). Modification of recent life event questionnaires for use with female respondents. Research in nursing and health, 7, 61-71. |
[43] | Norcross, J. C. (2005). The psychotherapist’s own psychotherapy: educating and developing psychologists. American psychologist. Nov, 840-850. |
[44] | Orlinsky, D. E., & Ronnestad, M. H. (2005). How psychotherapists develop: a study of therapeutic work and professional growth. American Psychological Association. |
[45] | Pearlman, L. A. & Mac Ian P. S. (1995). Vicarious traumatization: An empirical study of the effects of trauma work on trauma therapists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 26, 558-565. |
[46] | Pearlman, L. A., & Saakvitne, K. W. (1995). Trauma and the therapist: Countertransference and vicarious traumatization in psychotherapy with incest survivors. W. W. Norton & Company. |
[47] | Rossi, A., Cetrano, G., Pertile, R., Rabbi, L., Donisi, V., Grigoletti, L., Curtolo, C., Tansella, M., Thornicroft, G., & Amaddeo, F. (2012). Burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction among staff in community-based mental health services. Psychiatry Research, 200 (2-3), 933-938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.07.029 |
[48] | Rutter, M. (1990). Psychosocial resilience. In J. Rolf, A. S. Masten, D. Cicchetti, K. H, Neuchterlein, & S. Weintraub (Eds.), Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Psychopathology (pp. 181-214). Cambridge University Press. |
[49] | Sabelnikova, N. V., & Kashirskii, D. V. (2015). Oprosnik privyazannosti k blizkim lyudyam [Attachment to the nearest and dearest questionnaire]. Psikhologicheskii zhurnal. 36 (4), 84-97 [In Russian]. |
[50] | Sarason, J. G., Jonson, J. H., & Siegel, J. M. (1978). Assessing the impact of life changes: development of the life experiences survey. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 46, 932-946. |
[51] | Skovholt, T. M. (2005). The cycle of caring: a model of expertise in the helping professions. Journal of mental health counseling, 27, 82-93. |
[52] | Sokolovskii, M., Solomonov, V., Fomina, E., & Banshchikova, T. (2019). Psychometrics of the Russian Version of the SACS Instrument (S. E. Hobfoll's Strategic Approach to Coping Scale). Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 9 (1), 438-444. http://dx.doi.org/10.26655/mjltm.2019.1. |
[53] | Stamm, B. H. (2002). Measuring compassion satisfaction as well as fatigue: Developmental history of the Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Test. In C. R. Figley (Ed.), Psychosocial stress series. Treating compassion fatigue (pp. 107–119). Brunner-Routledge. |
[54] | Stamm, B. H. (2010). The concise ProQOL manual. ProQOL.org. https://proqol.org/uploads/ProQOLManual.pdf |
[55] | Tarabrina, N. V. (2007). Prakticheskoe rukovodstvo po psykhologii posttravmaticheskogo stressa. Ch. 2. Blanki metodik [A practical guide to the psychology of post-traumatic stress. Part 2. Questionnaires]. Kogito-Tsentr [In Russian]. |
[56] | Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15, 1-18. |
[57] | Way, I., VanDeusen, K., & Cottrell, T. (2007). Vicarious trauma: Predictors of clinicians’ disrupted cognitions about self-esteem and self-intimacy. Journal of child sexual abuse, 16 (4), 81-98. |
[58] | Wezyk, A., Yankouskaya, A., Comoretto, A., Ventouris, A., Panourgia, C., & Taylor, Z. (2021). COVID-19: Vicarious Traumatization and Resilience in Mental Health Psychology Practitioners. New Vistas. https://doi.org/10.36828/NEWVISTAS.118 |
APA Style
Gelena Lazos, Oksana Kredentser. (2021). Resilience of Psychotherapists and the Relationship Between Their Personal and Professional Characteristics. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 10(6), 162-172. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15
ACS Style
Gelena Lazos; Oksana Kredentser. Resilience of Psychotherapists and the Relationship Between Their Personal and Professional Characteristics. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2021, 10(6), 162-172. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15
AMA Style
Gelena Lazos, Oksana Kredentser. Resilience of Psychotherapists and the Relationship Between Their Personal and Professional Characteristics. Am J Appl Psychol. 2021;10(6):162-172. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15
@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15, author = {Gelena Lazos and Oksana Kredentser}, title = {Resilience of Psychotherapists and the Relationship Between Their Personal and Professional Characteristics}, journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {162-172}, doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20211006.15}, abstract = {The article analyzes resilience in Ukrainian psychotherapists. Empirical research conducted by the authors found that Ukrainian psychotherapists generally had an average level of resilience, which decreased with age. The authors discuss the relationship between psychotherapists' resilience and their personal (type of emotional attachment, stress-coping strategies and personal traumatic experience) and professional (emotional states and professional experience) characteristics. It was found that such types of emotional attachment as anxiety and avoidance were negatively related to the level of psychotherapist resilience, while such psychotherapist coping behaviors as assertive action and social joining, on the contrary, had a positive relationship with psychotherapist resilience. Various traumatic events faced by psychotherapists related differently to their resilience. While violence and traumatic events in the psychotherapists' lives generally related negatively to the level of their resilience, the «other events» traumatic situations experienced by therapists, on the contrary, were positively related to the level of their resilience. There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between psychotherapist resilience and secondary trauma as a result of therapists' contact with trauma victims. There was also a statistically significant positive relationship between psychotherapist resilience and such indicators of their professional experience as receiving personal therapy, ongoing supervisory support as well as trauma coping training. The findings emphasized the role of occupational psychohygiene in promoting psychotherapist resilience.}, year = {2021} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Resilience of Psychotherapists and the Relationship Between Their Personal and Professional Characteristics AU - Gelena Lazos AU - Oksana Kredentser Y1 - 2021/12/24 PY - 2021 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15 DO - 10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15 T2 - American Journal of Applied Psychology JF - American Journal of Applied Psychology JO - American Journal of Applied Psychology SP - 162 EP - 172 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2328-5672 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20211006.15 AB - The article analyzes resilience in Ukrainian psychotherapists. Empirical research conducted by the authors found that Ukrainian psychotherapists generally had an average level of resilience, which decreased with age. The authors discuss the relationship between psychotherapists' resilience and their personal (type of emotional attachment, stress-coping strategies and personal traumatic experience) and professional (emotional states and professional experience) characteristics. It was found that such types of emotional attachment as anxiety and avoidance were negatively related to the level of psychotherapist resilience, while such psychotherapist coping behaviors as assertive action and social joining, on the contrary, had a positive relationship with psychotherapist resilience. Various traumatic events faced by psychotherapists related differently to their resilience. While violence and traumatic events in the psychotherapists' lives generally related negatively to the level of their resilience, the «other events» traumatic situations experienced by therapists, on the contrary, were positively related to the level of their resilience. There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between psychotherapist resilience and secondary trauma as a result of therapists' contact with trauma victims. There was also a statistically significant positive relationship between psychotherapist resilience and such indicators of their professional experience as receiving personal therapy, ongoing supervisory support as well as trauma coping training. The findings emphasized the role of occupational psychohygiene in promoting psychotherapist resilience. VL - 10 IS - 6 ER -