A study of the process that clinical psychologists recover from loss experiences

Abstract

　The purpose of this study is to create a hypothetic model of the recovery process of clinical psychologists with the loss experience. Semi-structured interview was carried out on four clinical psychologists in the palliative care field. The revised Grounded Theory Approach was selected for qualitative analysis. As a result of this analysis, 17 categories have been found.

　First, the results revealed a transition in the recovery process of clinical psychologists with the loss experience; “Stage of encounter,” “Stage of deepening the relationship,” “Stage before bereavement,” “Stage after bereavement,” and “Stage of recovery,” phases.

　During the first stage of the loss experience, clinical psychologists showed typical grief reactions as well as the bereaved family. But, this stage was shown in a short term. Then, for the purpose of the mourning work, they used the support resources by participating in the case study meeting.

　During the “Stage of recovery”, clinical psychologists actively reflected both on their counseling process with the patients, and on their own minds. Consequently, they could find an affirmative side of their counseling process. Furthermore, they could recognize the way to develop their career.

　It will be necessary to do the elaboration of the model by increasing the number of interviewee in the future.