A qualitative meta-analysis examining the impact of personal therapy on clinical work and personal and professional development

Objective

This study explored how personal therapy (PT) is experienced by psychotherapists, focussing on its positive and negative impact on clinical work as well as personal and professional development (PPD). The current meta-analysis considered qualitative research studies focussing on therapists' experiences of the impact of their PT on their clinical activities and development.

Method

A systematic review of the literature led to the identification of 21 published qualitative research studies. The findings from individual studies were subjected to grounded theory meta-analysis.

Results

Five clusters were identified: (1) PT helps to increase self-awareness in general and within the therapeutic relations; (2) PT helps therapists to adopt a therapeutic approach by observing and experiencing the impact of therapeutic interventions; (3) PT helps to support patients in the therapeutic process on the basis of one's own experience of going through a therapeutic process; (4) PT helps therapists to become more confident and authentic because it fosters self-acceptance; and (5) PT hinders clinical work and PPD through exposure to inadequate interventions and by stirring up personal issues. The four helpful clusters can be linked to the processes of personal growth, learning through observation and experience, experiential learning, and professional identity development, respectively.

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate that PT can have a helpful impact on clinical work and PPD through four processes that strengthen effective therapist skills, attitudes and ways of being. However, several studies demonstrate that the influence of PT on clinical work and PPD can also be experienced as complex, ambiguous and even harmful.