About a development process of emotional competence of psychotherapists

Abstract

　The authors focused on emotional experience in psychotherapy sessions and the development process of therapists, from the viewpoint of Emotional Competence. We interviewed 16 clinical psychologists and through its qualitative analysis by Grounded Theory Approach, 10 categories were generated.

　Therapists have a “feeling of imperfection” and “cannot rely on their supervisor and colleagues well”. Likewise therapists “cannot face his/her own feelings”. Although therapists are “confused by clients”, through the experience to “be relieved by supervision”, they come to “understand” and “deal with clients’ emotions”. After therapists “experience a deepening of relationship between clients”, therapists “get a point of view to learn from therapist-client relationship”. Then therapists’ “Emotional Self-efficacy improve”.

　As for the therapists’ Emotional Competence, it is very insufficient at the beginning, but will continue to develop through the efforts of the therapist's own, while repeating the relationship between the client and supervisor.