Abstract
Family therapy has advanced as an important therapeutic approach in Europe and, in Germany, future family therapists enter a three-year-training programme every year. Family therapist trainees (FTTs) have hardly been studied in terms of their value-orientations (VOs) and how they see the world. This study aims at researching the value-orientation developments in FTTs during the three-year training period and based on the Schwartz value model. A longitudinal study was carried out over a three-year period. The sample consisted of 65 FTTs. VOs were investigated using open questions in self-developed questionnaires. The findings show that FTTs focus mainly on VOs in the Schwartz value domain of "benevolence", followed by "self-direction" and "universalism". This shows that the well-being of others is in the centre of interest in FTTs. However, VOs which indicate a freedom to make decisions and be self-directed are also extremely important. The least-mentioned value domains include "power" and "stimulation", showing that FTTs are neither focused on status, wealth or richness, nor on excitement or a varied life. With regard to the Schwartz value dimensions, the dimension of "self-transcendence" was the most frequently mentioned, followed by "conservation", "openness to change" and "self-enhancement". Self-transcendence includes the value domains of benevolence and universalism and shows that the preservation and enhancement of welfare of other individuals are highly important, as well as VOs such as understanding, appreciation, tolerance and protection of human beings and the environment. So-called collectivist VOs seem to be more important to German FTTs than individualistic VOs: they focus on the needs of the social group and their VOs show that the systemic view is inherent in their social VOs. Findings further show that FTTs develop their professional identity while consciously strengthening their VOs. This study contradicts previous research which claims that FTs are, to a large extent, unconscious in respect of their VOs. The study shows that FTTs are aware of their VOs and this supports them in facilitating client-centred approaches and develop themselves as FT professionals. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.
Highlights
Therapy has advanced as an important therapeutic approach in Europe and, in Germany, future family therapists enter a three-yeartraining programme every year
Family therapist trainees (FTTs) emphasise, for example: "I am a very reliable person and I like to work with people and help them." Another participant said: "In order to support people's well-being, you have to build trust in the relationship" and, "Sincerity is one of my most important values and it is connected to honesty"
The findings show that, with regard to the four value dimensions mentioned in Schwartz (1994, p. 24–25), FTTs mainly referred to value domains within the value-dimension of "self-transcendence" (266 statements), followed by the value domains within the value-dimension of "conservation" (109 statements), "openness to change" (86 statements) and, the value domains within the value dimension of "self-enhancement" (35 statements)
Summary
Therapy has advanced as an important therapeutic approach in Europe and, in Germany, future family therapists enter a three-yeartraining programme every year. Schwartz, with his colleagues, has developed an internationally very well recognised and established value model and defined values clearly as follows: "Values are concepts or beliefs about desirable end states or behaviours (terminal and instrumental values), which transcend specific situations; guide the selection or evaluation of behaviour; or order events according to relative importance". Important in this definition is that values are established over time and that they express desirable states or behaviours. This definition is highly usable, because it defines values but is at the same time open and broad enough to provide enough freedom for the participants to define values within the Schwartz value model
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