TRAINEES' INTRAPSYCHIC ATTUNEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING

Abstract

Effective psychotherapy process neither relies solely on techniques employed, nor therapeutic alliance. Various, independently occurring, intrapsychic processes may significantly contribute to a therapist's attunement capacity. Attunement, with the perspective ranging from affective areas to the field of relational needs, goes beyond empathy. Such connections require therapists' emotional equilibrium and self-soothing capacities, that may be governed by emotional intelligence (EQ). By mechanisms within epigenetic interplay, and with an individual engagement in self-growth, activities intended on EQ increase may offer to expand their own emotional competencies may increase due to training requests, and frequent exposure to intensive self-growth processes, that go beyond acquiring necessary skills focused on the client. The aim of this paper is to, from a theoretical perspective, discuss the role of emotional intelligence in the intrapsychic attunement of trainees in the process of psychotherapy training.