Psychology Training Research Articles

“Choose Your Own Adventure”: Examining School Psychology Trainee and Practitioner Clinical Reasoning in Unfolding Cases

“Choose Your Own Adventure”: Examining School Psychology Trainee and Practitioner Clinical Reasoning in Unfolding Cases

BPS DSEP position statement: Psychological skills training in youth sport

Young athletes have become an increasingly important client group for sport psychology practitioners and a population whose physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development should be carefully considered by a practitioner when delivering their services (Visek et al., 2009). The aim of this British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) position statement is to summarise existing knowledge about psychological skills training (PST) interventions and discuss optimal service provision of PST in youth sport. In the first section of this position statement, we provide a brief overview of the literature exploring PST during childhood (5–11 years), early adolescence (12–15 years), and mid-to-late adolescence (16–18 years). Within each sub-section, key developmental considerations (i.e. physical, cognitive, emotional, and social) are provided followed by short summaries of research on basic single strategy (i.e. goal setting, imagery, relaxation, and self-talk) and alternative strategy interventions (e.g. mindfulness, music, perceptual training, and self-modelling) with young athletes. In the second section, optimal service provision of PST is discussed by drawing upon practitioners’ experiences of working with young athletes, concluding with 10 recommendations for youth sport organisations, training and accrediting bodies, researchers, and practitioners.

Effects of online mindful self-compassion intervention on negative body image in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trail

PurposeThe incidence of breast cancer patients with negative body image has increased. However, research on interventions that explicitly reduce negative body image among breast cancer patients remains inadequate. The development of more pragmatic interventions is imperative. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the effectiveness of a 6-week online Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) intervention to reduce the negative body image in breast cancer patients. MethodsWe randomly assigned 64 female breast cancer patients to either the MSC group or the control group. The MSC group received a 6-week online Mindful Self-Compassion intervention, while the control group received no psychological training. Participants were surveyed by the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF), the Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (SAQ), the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), and the Body Image Scale (BIS) at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 1-month follow-up (T3). ResultsAll outcome variables demonstrated significant time main effects and nonsignificant group main effects. The MSC and control groups had significant time × group interaction effects on self-compassion, self-acceptance, perceived stress, and negative body image. Simple main effects analysis revealed significant improvements in outcome variables at three-time points for the MSC group. ConclusionA 6-week online Mindful Self-Compassion intervention can improve self-compassion and self-acceptance and reduce perceived stress and negative body image among the breast cancer patients in MSC group. Mindful Self-Compassion intervention shows promise as a viable way to maintain the mental well-being of breast cancer patients.

Mental Imagery and Attentional Style in Senior Mini-Football Players

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of mental imagery ability and attentional style in senior mini-football players and to identify mental behavioral patterns. The study included a number of 38 senior mini-football players, with an average age of 27.36 years, with a playing experience in the super league of 9.38 years. In the study, two standardized questionnaires were applied, one aimed at identifying the level of mental imagery called the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Mental Imaginative Abilities in Athletes (QMIA) with 16 items and one for identifying the attentional style with the aim of determining internal or external dimensions, called the Questionnaire for Assessment of the Attentional Style in Athletes (QASA) with 6 items, structured in two subscales A and B. The calculated reliability of the questionnaire: QMIA had the Cronbach's α value of 0.811 and QASA registered a good reliability evidenced by Cronbach's α of 0.765 for the entire questionnaire; the internal attentional subscale of 0.728, and for the external attentional subscale of 0.726. After analyzing the results, a good level of mental imagery was found that can be perfected, identifying four behavioral patterns. The attentional style highlighted an internal dimension, which highlighted 3 behavioral patterns. At the level of senior mini-football players, in addition to physical, technical and tactical training, psychological training plays an essential role. Cognitive abilities regarding mental imagery and attention are psychological foundations whose development contributes to obtaining significant sports performances in the mini-football game.

Educator experiences with postgraduate psychology students exhibiting professional competence issues

ABSTRACT Psychology training programs emphasize competencies like professional behavior, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence. Some students, known as students with problems of professional competence (SPPC), struggle in these areas. This study explored SPPC characteristics and educator experiences in managing them through semi-structured interviews with twelve Australian psychology educators. Thematic analysis revealed that SPPC often struggle with professional attitudes, feedback integration, reflective skills, and mental health, placing demands on resources and contributing to educator stress. The role of educators as gatekeepers, assessors, and evaluators also raises concerns about maintaining ethical standards. Findings highlight the need for better understanding, support, and strategies for managing SPPC to uphold ethical standards.

The effect of mindfulness meditation therapy on performance, pre-competition stress, and salivary cortisol in female pistol shooters

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 6-week mindfulness meditation therapy (MMT) program on shooting performance, and pre-competition stress and salivary cortisol levels of female shooters. Material and methods: Nineteen shooters (mean standard deviation for age: 15.51.5 years, and body mass index: 22.92.7 kg/m2) completed the study protocol among two groups: MMT (n=10) and control (n=9). The MMT group performed five 20-minute sessions per week of training, while the control group did not receive any intervention. 10 m pistol shooting performance, and pre-competition stress (using a standard scale) and salivary cortisol concentration (using an ELISA kit) were measured twenty-four hours before and after the intervention. The independent samples t-test and the paired samples t-test were used to compare the intergroup and intragroup differences, respectively, with a significance level set at p<0.05. Results: No significant differences were found between the groups in the pre-test measurements (p<0.05). Compared with the waitlist control shooters, shooting performance scores were higher (a 2.1% increase vs. a 0.2% reduction, p=0.030), while pre-competition stress (a 10.5% vs. a 1.7% reduction, p=0.002) and cortisol levels (a 23.8% vs. a 0.6% reduction, p=0.002) were lower in MMT group following the intervention.Conclusions: It seems that the six-week MMT program has a positive effect on the pistol shooting performance of female shooters by decreasing pre-competition stress and salivary cortisol level. Hence, the implementation of this psychological training protocol for female shooters is recommended.

SOLIDARITY LETTERS: University project focused on recognizing and promoting mental health at work

This work explores the influence of affectivity as a way of recognizing teachers’ efforts in an increasingly competitive and stressful academic context. The "Solidarity Letters" Project developed by the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG) aimed to use means of expressing recognition at work as an element capable of promoting mental health to teachers of law and physical education courses who work at this university. The theoretical precepts come from the clinical-theoretical discipline psychodynamics of work, which dates back to the 1980s and originates in France. To this end, letters written by students from both courses were collected, after immersion in theoretical training in the areas of work psychodynamics and project management. The results of the intervention reinforce that recognition is an important component of promoting quality of life at work. It concludes on the importance of incorporating rituals of recognition and stimulation of affectivity in academic practices, especially for student training in work psychology. This approach not only humanizes the university environment, but has the potential to significantly enrich the teaching and learning process.

Expectations versus reality: psychology trainees’ experiences working with men

ABSTRACT Despite increasing engagement with mental health services in Australia, therapy dropout rates for men remain high, most commonly due to a lack of connection with their therapist. Previous studies have examined the challenges men face when attending therapy, the obstacles therapists encounter when working with male clients, and the subsequent recommendations for therapist training that have emerged from these findings. However, to date there has been no investigation into the experiences and needs of trainee therapists working with men. It is unclear how their status as trainees influences their perception and adaptability when providing care for male clients. The current study therefore explored psychology trainees’ expectations, experiences, and preparedness regarding their psychotherapeutic work with men. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 students undertaking clinical psychology training from a single Australian University, focusing on their experiences working with male clients throughout their clinical training. Reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken to develop three themes: (1) Mismatched expectations of manspeak, which explored the ways in which students expected and experienced male engagement, (2) Gratifying work, which highlighted elements of therapeutic work with men that shaped participants’ sense of competence, and (3) Working with the “macho man”, which described the challenges of working with men, such as managing boundaries, misogyny, and personal safety. Findings suggest psychology trainees may benefit from additional training in university curriculums which specifically addresses some of the complexities of therapy with men. This training could illuminate how masculine socialisation affects men’s engagement in psychotherapy in practice and provide strategies for trainee therapists to support male engagement.

Implementing injury prevention training in youth handball (I-PROTECT) in Sweden: study protocol for a cluster randomised trial

IntroductionEfficacy trials show that evidence-based injury prevention training reduces injuries in youth athletes but effectiveness, that is, outside the controlled setting, is lower and, consequently this training has had limited...

The Efficacy of a Mental Skills Training Course for Collegiate Athletes.

Psychological skills training improves performance in athletes. However, authors of few studies have looked at the efficacy and satisfaction of mental skills training programs for collegiate athletes. To evaluate the satisfaction of collegiate athletes with a 6-session mental skills course and to assess changes in mental toughness and coping skills before and after the course. Cohort study. Division I collegiate athletic teams. Fifty-four Division I female athletes (mean age = 19.8 years) participated in the program, and 42 (77.7%) completed precourse assessments, which subsequent evaluations were matched to. The Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI; range, 0-84) and Mental Toughness Index (MTI; range, 8-56) assessed coping skills and mental toughness precourse, immediately postcourse, and 4 months postcourse. Satisfaction was assessed on a 10-point scale. For participants with paired precourse and immediately postcourse data (n = 37, 68.5%), MTI scores improved by a mean 2.6 points (95% CI = 1.1, 4.1; P = .001), and ACSI scores improved by a mean 4.0 points (95% CI = 0.6, 7.4; P = .02). At the 4-month follow-up (n = 25, 46.2%), no change was detected from precourse in mean MTI score (P = .72), but a significant increase of 3.4 points in mean ACSI (95% CI = 0.4, 6.4; P = .03) occurred. Overall satisfaction had a median score of 9/10 (interquartile range, 8-10) at postcourse, and 18 participants (48.6%) shared positive free-text comments regarding course delivery, content, and impact. No negative feedback was reported. Mental toughness and coping skills scores significantly improved at postcourse assessment, with coping skills scores maintaining their effect at 4 months. The improvements identified spark the question of the potential impact of mental skills training programs when studied in larger athlete populations or over more sustained periods of time. Athletes reported being highly satisfied with course content and reported overall positive experiences.

The hidden curriculum of gatekeeping: Dismissal experiences of health service psychology trainees.

Health service psychology (HSP) programs, encompassing clinical, counseling, and school psychology, play a pivotal role in shaping the U.S. health care workforce. Practicum and internship sites are critical gatekeepers within this training. However, there is limited empirical evidence available regarding the prevalence of clinical dismissal and its consequences for affected trainees. To bridge these gaps in our understanding of clinical dismissal during HSP training, Study 1 conducted an analysis of a quantitative survey involving training directors (N = 123) from HSP academic programs. The results revealed that 28% of programs reported at least one trainee having been dismissed from a practicum or internship site within the past seven years, with an overrepresentation of racial minority and international trainees. In addition, PsyD programs (56%) exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of having dismissed trainees compared to PhD programs (23%) over the same period. In Study 2, qualitative interview data were collected from ten trainees who had experienced dismissal during their HSP training. Using the Consensual Qualitative Research method, we identified six distinct domains, each comprising unique categories and subcategories: Antecedents to dismissal, reasons for dismissal, process of dismissal, chain reactions, trainee impact, and recommendations. Taken together, this mixed-method study highlights that clinical dismissal is not an uncommon occurrence in HSP training and raises significant concerns about the current implementation process. We illuminate structural issues and offer recommendations to improve the process of clinical dismissal within the HSP field. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Counselling Psychology training: Implications for ‘Self’

Counselling Psychology training: Implications for ‘Self’

Self-Efficacy, Group Effectiveness, and Individual Work Performance in Saudi Employees with Disabilities: The Mediation Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

There are well-established relationships among self-efficacy, group effectiveness, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and work performance in employees. However, little is known about these relationships among employees with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation roles of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in the association between self-efficacy and individual work performance and between group effectiveness and individual work performance in Saudi employees with disabilities. A sample of 176 employees (59.1% female) with disabilities (visual, auditory, mobility, and learning disabilities) participated in the study. A set of structural equation models was built to establish the relationships. There were positive relationships between self-efficacy and both task and contextual performance. Furthermore, intrinsic and integrated regulation mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and task performance, and identified integrated regulation mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and contextual performance. Group effectiveness was related to work performance only through motivational regulations. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to design psychological training to increase self-efficacy beliefs in employees with disabilities and to teach them how to internalize external forces in the workplace to promote individual work performance and organizational progress.

Tick-boxes and technologisation: Concerns for counselling psychology training

Tick-boxes and technologisation: Concerns for counselling psychology training

ПУТИ ОПТИМИЗАЦИИ УЧЕБНОГО ПРОЦЕССА В МЕДИЦИНСКОМ ВУЗЕ

The article is devoted to the organizational and hygienic features of the design of the educational process at a medical university based on the subjective assessments of students of various faculties. The difficulty of mastering academic disciplines, the duration of self-study, teacher requirements, satisfaction with the schedule of lectures and practical classes, etc., were studied. The analysis made it possible to develop a set of practical recommendations. To optimize classroom learning activities, it is necessary to take into account the difficulty of the studied disciplines and correlate it with the physiological patterns of the dynamics of daily and weekly performance of students, to make greater use of modern pedagogical technologies that contribute to the development of communication and predictive skills. To increase the effectiveness of students' independent training, it is necessary to actively use the solution of case problems and project activities using online technologies, to promote individual psychological consultations and trainings for intra-group self-regulation, stress management and success technologies to ensure the psychological well-being of students during the session.

A Comparative Study of Meditation Play and Art Therapy Programs Applying MMPT-Focusing on Child Anxiety, Mindfulness, and Self-Regulation

This study applied MPPT (Meditation Mindfulness Positive Psychology Training) to compare meditation play and art therapy programs and measure their effects on child anxiety, mindfulness, and self-regulation improvement. The subjects were 4th and 6th graders located in K city, Gyeonggi-do, and there were a total of 18 students, consisting of 6 in meditation play, 6 in art therapy, and 6 in control groups. The research period was from mid-April 2022 to mid-July 2022, and the two groups participating in meditation play and art therapy programs were treated once a week for 40 minutes, for a total of 10 sessions, and the control group was not treated. Mindfulness (K-CAMM) by Greco, Baer and Smith (2011), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) by Spielberger (1973), and Self-Regulation Abilities by Heo Jeong-kyung (2004) were used as measurement tools. For data analysis, SPSS 22.0 was used. For the results of the study, As a result, compared to the control group, the art therapy given to experimental group 2 decreased anxiety, increased mindfulness, and increased self-regulation compared to the meditation play given to experimental group 1. This paper has significance as it is the first in Korea to compare children's meditation play and art therapy programs to compare and verify their effectiveness on anxiety, mindfulness, and self-regulation.

Trainee tips for conducting a clinical trial during the Clinical Psychology Doctorate

The research component of doctoral training in clinical psychology can evoke a range of emotions, from excitement to apprehension, often influenced by prior experience and the nature of the research undertaken. This article shares reflections on conducting a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) as part of a clinical psychology thesis, offering practical advice to ease the process for trainee clinical psychologists considering a clinical trial for their doctoral research. Key insights include the importance of selecting experienced supervisors, starting early, deciding between a feasibility or full-scale trial, determining recruitment sources, staying organised, building positive relationships with researchers and participants, and choosing a topic of genuine interest. Conducting a clinical trial during clinical psychology training, despite its challenges, can provide invaluable experience and skills, fostering a deeper understanding of clinical research methodologies and their practical applications.

Формирование эмоционального благополучия младших школьников через сказкотерапию

The psychological and emotional well-being of children is one of the most discussed problems in modern scientific research. In studies of domestic psychologists, it was found that 37% of children have increased and 16% of children have high general school anxiety. Studying at school, worries about grades and performance are the main reason for increased anxiety among schoolchildren. One of the conditions for the development of a child’s personality is emotional well-being, which can be developed through fairy tale therapy. The fairy tale therapy method allows for the development of the emotional well-being of children, since it uses the metaphorical resources of fairy tales and creates conditions for maintaining a stable emotional-positive state and life satisfaction. The paper sets out to experimentally test the effectiveness of using fairy tale therapy in the formation of the emotional well-being of schoolchildren. The diagnostics selected were: 1) test tasks “The Magical Land of Feelings” (authors: T.D. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva, T.M. Grabenko, D.A. Frolov); 2) SAN test questionnaire (V.A. Doskin’s method). A fairytale therapy program “My Emotions” was created to develop the emotional well-being of elementary school students. The study showed a positive growth trend in the number of children in the experimental group demonstrating emotional well-being, a sense of joy, motivation to study and communicate with peers. The developed program for fairy tale therapy “My Emotions” can be used by primary school teachers to develop the emotional well-being of children in extracurricular activities, and for the professional training of teachers and psychologists.

Professional personal health in war time: theoretical and practical aspect

The article examines the problem of the main theoretical and methodological approaches of various authors regarding the disclosure of the essential features of the concept of "occupational health". The psychological features of the organization of the vocational and psychological rehabilitation training program are described. On the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the criteria of each of the specified components of health, they were singled out in relation to occupational health. the bones of a specialist. Professional activity determines the state of his professional health. A negative consequence of the influence of professional activity on the personality of a specialist, the long-term effects of professional stressors are professional destruction, professional deformations, professional burnout, which disrupt the harmonious development of the personality, worsen his emotional well-being, and the state of professional health. It was noted that professional activity takes a lot of time in a person's life, and for its effective implementation, professional health must be formed. Professional health is of particular importance in modern conditions, when changes are taking place at a rapid pace in all spheres of human life, emotional overload of a person is noted in many professional spheres, tendencies towards the spread of various occupational diseases are observed, etc. The types of psychological training are revealed and which of them are revealed most effective in wartime. The main components that influence the development of the structure of professional consciousness of the individual, which is relevant for modern events in Ukraine, are analyzed.

Psychological aspects of ensuring a positive public perception of the army

The study is dedicated to examining the psychological approaches to ensuring a positive image of the army by society, which is crucial in the context of contemporary socio-political changes and conflicts. Given the increasing importance of national security, forming a positive image of the Armed Forces is essential for maintaining the morale of the population and ensuring their support for military operations. In the course of the study, theoretical analysis of literature and content analysis of media materials were used to explore the psychological approaches to ensuring a positive perception of the military by society. The research showed that forming this image is a complex task that requires coordinated efforts from state institutions, military structures, and the media. The application of psychological technologies, such as information-psychological operations and PR campaigns, as well as the integration of the military into cultural and social projects, significantly enhances the effectiveness of these efforts. Developing communication strategies aimed at different social groups, including youth, the elderly, veterans, and the families of military personnel, allows for more accurate consideration of the psychological characteristics and needs of each group, contributing to more effective formation of a positive perception. Systematic research on public opinion and psychological reactions to various aspects of military service and the activities of the Armed Forces is necessary for timely identification of problem areas and adjustment of communication strategies. An important component is also the psychological training of military personnel, aimed at developing their communication skills, stress resilience, and ability to interact effectively with the civilian population. The use of modern information technologies and new media to disseminate information about the activities of the Armed Forces ensures broad audience coverage and increases trust in military structures. Therefore, ensuring a positive perception of the military by society is a multidimensional task that contributes to strengthening national security, boosting the morale of the population, and forming a stable social environment in the face of contemporary challenges.