"At What Cost am I Doing This?" An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of burnout among private practitioner psychotherapists

被引:5
作者
Finan, Stephanie [1 ]
McMahon, Aisling [1 ]
Russell, Siobhan [1 ]
机构
[1] Dublin City Univ, Sch Nursing Psychotherapy & Community Hlth, Dublin 9, Ireland
关键词
burnout; counsellors; interpretative phenomenological analysis; private practice; psychotherapists; MENTAL-HEALTH PROFESSIONALS; SELF-CARE; PREVENTION; STRATEGIES; STRESS;
D O I
10.1002/capr.12483
中图分类号
B849 [应用心理学];
学科分类号
040203 ;
摘要
Burnout is an experience in response to chronic job stressors, understood to be composed of three components: exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy. Burnout is an occupational hazard among psychotherapists that may result in poorer quality of care for clients and a diminished quality of life for clinicians. Several quantitative studies have shown that psychotherapists are at risk of developing burnout given the demanding nature of their work. While much research has been carried out with psychotherapists who work in organisations, there is a lack of available literature concerning the experience of the psychotherapy practitioner working in private practice. This study aimed to gain an understanding of psychotherapists' lived experiences of burnout while working exclusively in private practice in Ireland. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified: (a) A Professional Identity Crisis: "maybe I just don't have what it takes?"; (b) The Embodiment of Burnout: "constantly running on red"; and (c) The Process of Rebalancing: "being real". The participants revealed a disillusionment with their career, alongside self-criticism and shame for not meeting their internalised standards. They illuminated a profound felt sense of depletion and physical unwellness. They also shared their ongoing process of rebalancing rather than recovery from burnout. Participants universally described difficulty identifying and articulating burnout. The findings are discussed with reference to identity, embodiment of burnout and the process of rebalancing.
引用
收藏
页码:43 / 54
页数:12
相关论文
共 52 条
[1]  
Adams M., 2013, MYTH UNTROUBLED THER
[2]   In pursuit of wellness: The self-care imperative [J].
Barnett, Jeffrey E. ;
Baker, Ellen K. ;
Elman, Nancy S. ;
Schoener, Gary R. .
PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY-RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, 2007, 38 (06) :603-612
[3]   Burnout syndrome among healthcare professionals [J].
Bridgeman, Patrick J. ;
Bridgeman, Mary Barna ;
Barone, Joseph .
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH-SYSTEM PHARMACY, 2018, 75 (03) :147-152
[4]  
Campagne D.M., 2012, Revista De Psicopatologia Y Psicologia Clinica, V17, P75, DOI [10.5944/rppc.vol.17.num.1.2012.10370, DOI 10.5944/RPPC.VOL.17.NUM.1.2012.10370]
[6]  
Cherniss C., 1980, STAFF BURNOUT JOB ST
[7]   The job demands-resources model of burnout [J].
Demerouti, E ;
Bakker, AB ;
Nachreiner, F ;
Schaufeli, WB .
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, 2001, 86 (03) :499-512
[8]   Burnout in Australian psychologists: Correlations with work-setting, mindfulness and self-care behaviours [J].
Di Benedetto, Mirella ;
Swadling, Michael .
PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH & MEDICINE, 2014, 19 (06) :705-715
[9]   Lived experiences of the time preceding burnout [J].
Ekstedt, M ;
Fagerberg, I .
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, 2005, 49 (01) :59-67
[10]  
Emerson S., 1996, The Journal of Humanistic Education and Development, V34, P108