Exploring the wish to feel special: a collaborative autoethnography of six psychotherapy researchers

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article ArticlesNo AccessBeing and Becoming a Psychotherapist: The Search for IdentityE. S. C. Ford*, M.D.E. S. C. Ford*Seattle, Wash.*Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington School of Medicine.Search for more papers by this author, M.D.Published Online:30 Apr 2018https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1963.17.3.472AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail PDFThis content is only available as a PDF. Access content To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access. Personal login Institutional Login Sign in via OpenAthens Purchase Save for later Item saved, go to cart PPV Articles - APT - American Journal of Psychotherapy $35.00 Add to cart PPV Articles - APT - American Journal of Psychotherapy Checkout Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability. Not a subscriber? 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FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited bySelf-formulation in counselling psychology: The Power Threat Meaning Framework20 February 2023 | Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Vol. 1On Disruption and Construction, Reflection and Reorganization in Psychotherapist Development: A Taxonomy of Transformative Learning Outcomes30 July 2019 | Journal of Transformative Education, Vol. 20, No. 4After the Flood: Reflections of a Wounded Healer’s Countertransference in Adolescent Treatment28 June 2019 | Clinical Social Work Journal, Vol. 49, No. 1“It’s both a strength and a drawback.” How therapists’ personal qualities are experienced in their professional work27 June 2018 | Psychotherapy Research, Vol. 29, No. 7Psychiatry as a career choice among medical students: a cross-sectional study examining school-related and non-school factors17 August 2018 | BMJ Open, Vol. 8, No. 8The Clinical Supervisor, Vol. 37, No. 2International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, Vol. 11, No. 3Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, Vol. 89, No. 2Leading and Learning in the Psychotherapy Supervision Seminar: Some Thoughts on the Beginnings of Supervisor Development11 May 2014 | Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, Vol. 44, No. 4Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, Vol. 87, No. 2Being and Becoming a Psychotherapy Supervisor: The Crucial Triad of Learning DifficultiesC. Edward WatkinsJr., Ph.D.30 April 2018 | American Journal of Psychotherapy, Vol. 67, No. 2The Arts in Psychotherapy, Vol. 40, No. 1Educating Psychotherapy SupervisorsC. Edward WatkinsJr., Ph.D.30 April 2018 | American Journal of Psychotherapy, Vol. 66, No. 3Journal of Teaching in Social Work, Vol. 32, No. 1British Journal of Psychotherapy, Vol. 25, No. 3Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Vol. 32, No. 1Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, Vol. 79, No. 4Christian Psychology Graduate School's Impact on Marriage: Nonstudent Spouses Speak8 February 2018 | Journal of Psychology and Theology, Vol. 28, No. 3Marriage and family therapists' problems and utilization of personal therapy30 November 2010 | The American Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 27, No. 1International Forum of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 8, No. 3-4Training in Psychiatry: An Examination of Trainee Perceptions. Part 126 June 2016 | Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 31, No. 5The Clinical Supervisor, Vol. 15, No. 2International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, Vol. 18, No. 3Counselor Trainee Early Family Structure and Current Intergenerational Family Relationships: Implications for Training19 August 2016 | The Family Journal, Vol. 2, No. 4A Comparative Study of Family-of-Origin Perceptions: Counselor Education Students and Business Students18 August 2016 | The Family Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3Counselor Education and Supervision, Vol. 33, No. 3Counseling and Values, Vol. 38, No. 1Counselor Education and Supervision, Vol. 30, No. 4The Impaired PsychiatristPsychiatric Clinics of North America, Vol. 13, No. 1Counselor Education and Supervision, Vol. 29, No. 4Counselor Education and Supervision, Vol. 28, No. 4Impairment in Mental Health PractitionersQRB - Quality Review Bulletin, Vol. 14, No. 4Experiences and Viewpoints of Psychotherapy Trainees2 January 2018 | Bulletin of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Vol. 10, No. 12Can Psychiatrists be Recruited in Medical School?30 April 2018 | Academic Psychiatry, Vol. 7, No. 3Nordisk Psykiatrisk Tidsskrift, Vol. 36, No. 4Competing role demands of therapists' professional and marital livesClinical Psychology Review, Vol. 1, No. 1A Preceptorship for Beginning Psychiatric Residents12 April 2018 | Academic Psychiatry, Vol. 1, No. 2The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 37, No. 1The training of psychiatric practitionersSocial Science & Medicine (1967), Vol. 4, No. 4 Volume 17Issue 3 1963, pp. 363–549Pages 472-482 Metrics PDF download History Published online 30 April 2018 Published in print 1 July 1963

The main goal of this article is to describe the formation and development of a Latin-American network for research in psychotherapy and mental health in sexual and gender diversity. Research has shown that psychological well-being and mental health problems of sexual minority individuals are strongly influenced by the particular social and cultural contexts in which people develop and live. Therefore, the development of effective psychological and mental health interventions that meet the specific needs of people of sexual and gender diversity is necessary to deepen the knowledge of the psychosocial and specific contextual-related aspects of mental health of these populations. The Latin-American network for research in psychotherapy and mental health in sexual and gender diversity seeks to reinforce the contextualized study of these topics. This is an ongoing project that has generated collaborative work among researchers from centers in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina. The diverse modalities of collaboration that have been developed so far between the centers are described, as well as the specific products that have emerged from these efforts. Finally, there is a discussion of the value of regional collaborative work in the global south that, while emphasizing differences, allows the comparison of different contexts, their histories, and influences on the object of study, as well as the shared cultural similarities derived from a common geographic space and history.

This chapter discusses the literature on the impact of particular psychotherapist characteristics and behaviors on clinical outcomes. It considers research on the impact of therapist personality on psychotherapy, the literature on matching clinician and client characteristics, and traits of effective psychotherapists. In addition, the chapter reviews research on psychotherapy process variables and discusses the implications of research on common and specific psychotherapy factors for training in psychotherapy. Finally, the chapter discusses review studies on training and supervision of psychotherapists and consider their implications for the development of psychotherapists at various stages of their careers. The chapter concludes by providing recommendations for therapist training and development based on our review of the literature.

Chapter 36 - Trends and Practices in Psychotherapy Outcome Assessment and Their Implications for Psychotherapy and Applied Personality

This chapter critically analyses challenges and opportunities of using collaborative autoethnography (CAE) while facing unexpected contexts, namely COVID-19-related social-distancing measures in Europe. We engage with CAE literature to explore the possibilities of sharing lived experiences and relationships in increasingly digitalised, socially distant conditions, our emotional development as individuals and as a team, and meanings of unexpected social changes. We document autoethnographic reflections from us as two female researchers during the COVID-19 European lockdowns, documenting how CAE enabled us to cope as well with the reopening of society. We reflect on the dynamics of distant relationship development, using diverse communication platforms given that, up to the present time, we have never met in person. Besides the COVID-19-related analytical work, we share insights from our day-to-day realities; the burdens and potentially traumatising events related to ‘COVID times’, like the proscription of routine social conduct, increased sanitation of public life, and emerging sociability. Significantly, this chapter contributes to the scant research on the ethics of CAE. We explore complexities associated with sharing lived experiences during unexpected crises events. We argue for a CAE approach that engages with micro-level interactions, reflective spaces and preparing researchers for being sensitive with participants in emergent contexts.

Background. Given the critical role of interpersonal emotion regulation in psychological well-being and psychotherapy research, the present study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the questionnaire Difficulties in Interpersonal Regulation of Emotions (DIRE) questionnaire in an Iranian population Methods. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2024 among residents of Zanjan city. Participants (N = 593) were recruited using convenience sampling through an online announcement distributed via social media. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess construct validity, and the average variance extracted (AVE) was used for the assessment of convergent validity. Reliability was evaluated using composite reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Criterion validity was assessed through correlations with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Results. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a four-factor structure of the questionnaire for both interpersonal and intrapersonal emotion regulation strategies. Fit indices indicated a good model fit. Composite reliability and Cronbach’s alpha were found to be 0.93 and 0.70, respectively, indicating acceptable reliability. The average variance extracted (AVE) was 0.71 for interpersonal emotion regulation and 0.70 for intrapersonal regulation. Conclusion. The 24-item Persian version of the DIRE demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability in the Iranian population and cultural context, making it a suitable tool for research and clinical applications. Practical Implications. This instrument can aid in the early identification of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, inform treatment planning, and monitor therapeutic progress. It is especially useful in clinical settings for designing targeted interventions for individuals facing challenges in emotion regulation.

Images of self and other are best understood not as static categories, but as fluid and dynamic negotiations in cultural encounters and transformations. In numerous cultural expressive contexts, such as animism, totemism, cosmology/philosophy, myth, and symbol, motifs represent what it means to exist, of ‘‘being’’ in this world, in likeness and difference, and encounters with other worlds: for example, human/animal relationships, time and space travel, and shape-shifting. How do anthropologists and local residents find epistemological and ontological common ground for mutual understanding? The challenge is to elicit local intellectual perspectives without imposing the researcher’s own categories. This commentary introduces comparative ethnographic findings in humanistic anthropology, with a special focus on African humanities, to open up perspectives on Amerindian perspectivism, the topic of Guimarães’s (2011) essay.

Client attachment to therapist has been long considered a prominent process variable in psychotherapy research. The purpose of this study was to translate in Greek and evaluate the structure, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity of the well-known and widely administered Client Attachment to Therapist Scale (CATS) with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in a clinical sample of 153 clients of different treatment modalities and at different agencies. The results indicated that the EFA resulted in a model almost identical to the Mallinckrodt, Gantt and Coble’s [1] original model after the deletion of six items. Moreover, the findings indicated adequate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity of the three factors. Normalized scores were provided to help mental health professionals interpret the scale scores. In conclusion, CATS is a valid and reliable tool to measure client attachment to therapist, whose use can promote psychotherapeutic process and outcome. Thus, more validation studies should be conducted in several cultural contexts to better understand its structure and psychometric characteristics.

Carl Rogers' article (see record 2007-14639-002) on the necessary and sufficient conditions for personality change has had a significant impact on the field of psychotherapy and psychotherapy research. He emphasized the client as arbiter of his or her own subjective experience and tested his hypothesized therapist-offered conditions of change using recorded sessions. This aided in demystifying the therapeutic process and led to a radical shift in the listening stance of the therapist. I briefly outline my views regarding the influence of the ideas presented in this work, describe the intellectual and cultural context of the times, and discuss a number of ways in which the therapist-offered conditions for psychological transformation are neither necessary nor sufficient. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

This study provides an innovative, compassionate and culturally informed method for psychotherapy research, using object elicitation with 13 participants from vulnerable groups. It examines the positive impact it has on building the research alliance, enhanced depth of sharing within qualitative research interviews and emic ways of knowing through the engagement with a culturally relevant, tangible, internalised or transitional object brought by vulnerable participants from diverse cultural contexts of origin. Results showcase how a creative and compassionate research method can promote a culturally informed research alliance with vulnerable participants, helping to build trust, rapport and relational depth; encourage elicitation of experiences; and empower emic and subjugated voices. The implications of this study make the case for the inclusion of object elicitation as a creative and compassionate method in qualitative research with traumatised and vulnerable individuals, which should be used as part of a culturally informed approach to psychotherapy research.

Narrative identity is an internal and evolving life story in which the narrator integrates conceptions of the personal past, present, and presumed future within a coherent story‐based framework. Carrying a number of personal and social implications, this construct represents a psychological resource. We contend that, like life itself, one's history within the romantic domain as well as one's current romantic relationship(s) are often viewed using story‐based frameworks. As such, we argue that the greater adoption of the narrative identity approach within the close relationships literature would complement and extend current assessment paradigms used to study romantic relationships. In this article, we outline the conceptual and methodological background of the narrative identity approach. This is followed by a brief review of extant research using narrative methodologies in the study of romantic relationships. Finally, a series of current and future research directions are presented that rest at the nexus between the narrative identity approach and the study of romantic relationships. We conclude that the more extensive integration of the narrative identity approach within the close relationships literature would contribute to the understanding of such relationships. This is a story worth telling.

본 연구는 대학생이 아동기에 경험한 대인관계의 어려움을 탐색하여 그들의 개인적이고 독특한 삶을 이해하고, 경험의 새로운 의미를 밝힘으로써, 대학생의 상담과 지도를 위한 기초 자료를 제공하는 것이 연구의 목적이다. 이런 연구의 목적을 위한 질문은 다음과 같다. 첫째, 연구참여 자가 아동기에 경험한 대인관계에 대한 어려움은 어떠한가? 둘째, 연구참여자가 아동기에 경험한 대인관계의 어려움은 현재의 대인관계에 어떤 의미를 부여하는가? 본 연구를 위하여 아동기에 대인관계의 어려움을 경험한 대학생 2명을 연구참여자로 선정하였다. 연구참여자들의 경험을 분석한 결과 첫째, 연구참여자가 아동기에 경험한 대인관계의 어려움은 참여자 각각의 내러 티브로 구성하였다. 둘째, 연구참여자들이 경험한 아동기 대인관계에서의 어려움은 자신을 이해하고 받아들이기 위하여 ‘잔뜩 움추린 나팔꽃’, ‘햇볕을 갈망하는 해바라기’로 해석되었으며, 그 의미는 ‘나에 대한 오해’, ‘우물 안에 갇혀버린 시간’으로 그들 스스로를 보호하기 위한 수단이 었다. 본 연구는 아동기에 경험한 대인관계의 어려움을 살펴, 대인관계에 대한 이해의 폭을 넓혀 긍정적인 결과로 연결하였다는 점에서 의의가 있다.The purpose of this study is to explore the difficulties in interpersonal relationships experienced by college students in childhood, to provide basis materials for counseling and guidance of college students by understanding their unique personal life and shedding new light on their experience. Questions for the purpose of this study is as follows. First, what are the difficulties of interpersonal relationships experienced by the participants in childhood?, Second, what does the meaning of interpersonal relationships difficulties experienced by the participants in childhood, on the current interpersonal relationships For this study, two college students with experience of difficulties in interpersonal relationships were selected as participants. The results of analysis on the experience of the participants are as follows. First, the childhood interpersonal difficulties experience was reorganized based on the narrative of the participants in time and the social and cultural context. Second, the study participants interpreted the childhood interpersonal difficulties as ‘ misunderstanding on myself’ and ‘self-confined in a well’ and they live life, thinking current interpersonal relationships as ’’so tightly closed morning glory ‘ and ‘Sunflower longing for the sun.’ . This study examined the experience of interpersonal difficulties, and connected it to the positive results by broadening the understanding of interpersonal relationships.

The article is the result of an encounter between a white Professor and a black student during a course about racism and whiteness, in a graduate program of sociology at a Brazilian university. Black students now reach about 50 percent of Brazilian public universities’ student population, thanks to affirmative action policies initiated in the 21st century, challenging white professors and researchers to deconstruct traditional curricula, writing, and teaching practices. That experience in the classroom led the Professor and her former student to construct a collaborative autoethnography, critically elaborating memories about their processes of ‘becoming’ black and white. Both opposed and intertwined, their narratives make it possible to unveil broader dynamics of racialization in course in Brazil. Reflecting on their experiences, the authors outline the notion of ‘the anti-racism façade,’ which they propose as a critical and political tool for the analysis of contemporary movements against racism. They also propose autoethnography as an ideal method to take into consideration researchers’ personal implication in studies on whiteness. With auto-ethnography, anti-racist intellectuals can engage in a more effective and visceral way in the face of the persistent ideology of mestizaje in Brazil and Latin America.

The topic of bilingualism has aroused considerable interest in research on language acquisition in recent decades. Researchers in various fields, such as developmental psychology and psycholinguistics, have investigated bilingual populations from different perspectives in order to understand better how bilingualism affects cognitive abilities like memory, perception, and metalinguistic awareness. Telling Stories in Two Languages contributes to the general upsurge in linguistically related studies of bilingual children. The book’s particular and unique focus is narrative development in a bilingual and multicultural context. The book is particularly important in an increasingly pluralistic and multicultural United States, where there are large numbers of children from increasingly diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Telling stories is important in the context of language and communication development because it is often by means of this activity that children develop the skill of presenting a series of events both in speech and writing. However, varying concepts of literacy exist in different societies, and literacy has different social and personal implications in different social and cultural contexts. In our schools, teachers are expected to teach what is relevant for students in the dominant cultural framework, but it would benefit those teachers greatly to have an understanding of important differences in, for example, narrative styles of different cultures. Bilingualism or even multilingualism is all around us. Even in the United States, where a single language is clearly predominant, there are hundreds of languages spoken. Speaking more than one language may not be typical, but is so common in modern times that it would be senseless to ignore its many implications. The study of narratives told by children in both English and Japanese that are presented in this book will provide an important point of reference for research aimed at teasing apart the relative contributions of linguistic abilities and cultural conceptions to bilingual children’s narrative development.

Memories of menarche: Older women remember their first period