A Path Towards Self-Awareness: A Longitudinal IPA Study Exploring Hindering Self-Focused Attention in Counsellors-in-Training

IF 1.5 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2026-09-23 DOI:10.1002/capr.70227

Catherine M.-H. Toh, Joanna Barlas, Smita Singh

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Hindering self-focused attention (HSA) refers to momentary experiences of internal self-focus involving cognitive, emotional and bodily disruptions that may heighten vulnerability to stress among counsellors-in-training. Previous research has primarily been cross-sectional and conducted in Western training contexts, limiting understanding of its temporal and cultural dimensions.

Aim

This study explored experiences associated with HSA and how these experiences evolved over time within the Singapore training context.

Method

A longitudinal designed was adopted, with semi-structured interviews conducted at two time points over an 18-month period with 10 participants. The transcribed interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), resulting in seven subthemes organised into two Group Experiential Themes (GETs).

Findings

GET 1. HSA as a Vulnerability Shaped by the Developing Self: (a) Manifestations of HSA through thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations and behaviours; (b) Cultural and familial foundations of HSA; (c) Childhood experiences shaping HSA; and (d) HSA as a learned coping strategy; and GET 2. HSA as a Meaningful Signal Within the Developing Professional Self: (a) HSA in negotiating developing professional competence; (b) HSA in embracing professional vulnerability; and (c) HSA as a catalyst for professional growth. HSA is used as an interpretative lens to organise recurrent experiential patterns of self-focused attentional disruption across cognitive, emotional, somatic and relational domains. Findings suggest that such experiences, shaped by cultural and developmental contexts, may initially challenge trainees' emerging professional identity, particularly amid concerns about hierarchy, face, achievement and emotional expression. Over time, participants described increasingly reflective and integrated ways of engaging with these experiences, alongside greater professional consolidation in advanced training stages.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the importance of culturally responsive approaches to counsellor training and supervision that attend to the developmental transformation of self-focused attentional experiences.

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通往自我意识之路：一项探究在职咨询师自我集中注意力障碍的纵向IPA研究

背景：阻碍性自我关注（HSA）是指在训咨询师内部自我关注的瞬间体验，涉及认知、情感和身体上的干扰，这些干扰可能会增加他们对压力的脆弱性。以前的研究主要是横断面的，在西方培训背景下进行的，限制了对其时间和文化维度的理解。目的本研究探讨了与HSA相关的经验，以及这些经验在新加坡培训背景下如何随着时间的推移而演变。方法采用纵向设计，在两个时间点对10名参与者进行了为期18个月的半结构化访谈。使用解释现象学分析（IPA）对转录的访谈进行分析，产生七个副主题，组织成两个小组体验主题（get）。发现1。HSA是由发展中的自我塑造的脆弱性：(a) HSA通过思想、情感、身体感觉和行为表现出来；(b)人道主义援助的文化和家庭基础；(c)形成HSA的童年经历；(d) HSA作为一种习得的应对策略；和GET 2。HSA作为发展中的专业自我的一个有意义的信号：(a) HSA在谈判发展专业能力中的作用；(b)接纳专业易受伤害之处；(c) HSA作为专业成长的催化剂。HSA被用作一个解释性透镜来组织跨认知、情感、躯体和关系领域的自我集中注意力中断的反复体验模式。研究结果表明，这种受文化和发展背景影响的经历，最初可能会挑战受训者正在形成的职业身份，特别是在对等级、面孔、成就和情感表达的关注中。随着时间的推移，参与者描述了越来越多的反思和综合的方式参与这些经验，以及在高级培训阶段更大的专业巩固。研究结果强调了文化响应方法对辅导员培训和监督的重要性，这些培训和监督涉及自我关注的注意体验的发展转变。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Counselling and Psychotherapy Research is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice. The journal has its own website: www.cprjournal.com. The aim of this site is to further develop links between counselling and psychotherapy research and practice by offering accessible information about both the specific contents of each issue of CPR, as well as wider developments in counselling and psychotherapy research. The aims are to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.