https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2024.722
Therapist self-awareness and perception of actual performance: the effects of listening to one recorded session
Submitted: September 15, 2023
Accepted: December 8, 2023
Published: February 15, 2024
Accepted: December 8, 2023
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Supplementary Material: 128
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Research in psychotherapy has emphasized the relevance of the therapist’s role, particularly the impact of deliberate practice and self-awareness (SA). This study aims to explore how SA is presented in the accounts of psychotherapists and assess the impact of attending to actual performance. Twenty cognitive behavioral therapy psychotherapists in training were interviewed before and after listening to their session recordings. The interview was based on five domains of self-awareness: recognition of emotional experience, assessment of personal skills, recognition of prejudices and implicit biases, and awareness of personal values. Results show that SA is frequently attained in skills identification and emotional experience. Recognizing the influence of personal values and bias, and emotional regulation was less frequently identified. There were minor differences before and after listening to the recording. There is an increase of SA in identifying the therapist’s personal skills, and aspects such as our prejudices and biases are more internalized and difficult to change. This article suggests the importance of deliberate practice strategies to promote SA and increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy.
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How to Cite
Pereira, R., Pires, A. P., & Neto, D. (2024). Therapist self-awareness and perception of actual performance: the effects of listening to one recorded session. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 27(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2024.722
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