A thematic analysis of the obstacles faced by student and intern psychologists whilst conducting their first therapy sessions
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Date
2015
Authors
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
A novice therapist, by virtue of his or her professional status, is exposed, and often susceptible to a plethora of obstacles and challenges which stem from a variety of sources. These include deficits in clinical experience and reasoning, interpersonal conflicts, intrapsychic dynamics, as well as a multitude of other challenges which exist within the field of psychotherapy.
Thus, this research investigation is rooted in fully exploring, understanding and verifying the most significant obstacles and challenges encountered by student and intern psychologists in the greater KwaZulu-Natal region. The uniqueness of the dynamics of the South African society must be highlighted, South Africa being a confluence of cultural, racial, traditional and social norms which add to the body of challenges and obstacles that the psychologist can be expected to encounter and negotiate. The major findings of this research investigation were that majority of the obstacles and challenges faced by student and intern psychologists are indeed linked to clinical inexperience and the chasm between theoretical academic knowledge and practical, clinical application needs to be bridged. Another facet of this investigation analysed the strategies, techniques and methods employed by the participants to overcome or minimise the impact of these obstacles.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2015
Keywords
obstacles --intern psychologist --psychologist --intrapsychic dynamics --client --student psychologist