Complete Schedule
Differences in Therapist Self-Doubt: Perceptions of Conduct Disorder
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation (Electronic Copy Not Available)
Keywords
Psychotherapists--Training of; Self-doubt;
Abstract
Achieving expertise in psychotherapy is a complex task, fraught with obstacles that impede progress (Tracey et al., 2014). Contrary to popular opinion, years of experience does not make for an expert therapist. Research indicates that more seasoned therapists are not necessarily more effective than less seasoned therapists in terms of client outcomes. Expertise requires not only time, but also an intention to improve; and the use of appropriate feedback systems. Feedback allows therapists to become more responsive to their clients’ needs, enabling less exceptional therapists to achieve their potential. Certain therapist characteristics can reliably predict therapy process and outcome. For example, the degree to which therapists feel uncertain regarding their ability to help clients, known as self-doubt, is a particularly strong predictor (NissenLie, Monsen, Ulleberg, & Rønnestad, 2012). Interestingly, greater self-doubt predicts greater client improvement. Therapists who maintain healthy self-criticism when facing challenges and barriers, within the clients’ context, may allow them to find solutions. However, little is known about therapists’ self-doubt regarding different presenting problems. There is qualitative evidence that therapists experience the greatest self-doubt in response to patients who are subjectively described as high-stakes, unmotivated, psychotic, aggressive, suicidal, and intensely emotional (Thériault & Gazzola, 2010). Among disorders that manifest these characteristics, conduct disorder (CD) in adolescence is the most representative. Further research should investigate differences in therapists’ self-doubt in response to different manifestations of mental illness. This information may provide evidence for self-doubt as a target in therapist feedback systems in the quest to develop expertise in psychotherapy.
Start Date
3-4-2018 11:00 AM
End Date
3-4-2018 1:30 PM
Faculty Advisor
Elizabeth Lefler
Department
Department of Psychology
Copyright
©2018 Zachary Meehan
Embargo Date
3-30-2018
Differences in Therapist Self-Doubt: Perceptions of Conduct Disorder
Achieving expertise in psychotherapy is a complex task, fraught with obstacles that impede progress (Tracey et al., 2014). Contrary to popular opinion, years of experience does not make for an expert therapist. Research indicates that more seasoned therapists are not necessarily more effective than less seasoned therapists in terms of client outcomes. Expertise requires not only time, but also an intention to improve; and the use of appropriate feedback systems. Feedback allows therapists to become more responsive to their clients’ needs, enabling less exceptional therapists to achieve their potential. Certain therapist characteristics can reliably predict therapy process and outcome. For example, the degree to which therapists feel uncertain regarding their ability to help clients, known as self-doubt, is a particularly strong predictor (NissenLie, Monsen, Ulleberg, & Rønnestad, 2012). Interestingly, greater self-doubt predicts greater client improvement. Therapists who maintain healthy self-criticism when facing challenges and barriers, within the clients’ context, may allow them to find solutions. However, little is known about therapists’ self-doubt regarding different presenting problems. There is qualitative evidence that therapists experience the greatest self-doubt in response to patients who are subjectively described as high-stakes, unmotivated, psychotic, aggressive, suicidal, and intensely emotional (Thériault & Gazzola, 2010). Among disorders that manifest these characteristics, conduct disorder (CD) in adolescence is the most representative. Further research should investigate differences in therapists’ self-doubt in response to different manifestations of mental illness. This information may provide evidence for self-doubt as a target in therapist feedback systems in the quest to develop expertise in psychotherapy.
