https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2024.722

Therapist self-awareness and perception of actual performance: the effects of listening to one recorded session

Vol. 27 No. 1 (2024)
Submitted: September 15, 2023
Accepted: December 8, 2023
Published: February 15, 2024
Psychotherapist’s competence, self-awareness, self-monitoring, self-reflectivity
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Authors

Raquel Pereira
raaquel.alexandra@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6899-3692
Clinical and Health Psychology, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal.
António Pazo Pires
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0023-7959
Clinical and Health Psychology, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal.
David Neto
Clinical and Health Psychology, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon; APPsyCI – Applied Psychology Research Center Capabilities and Inclusion, Lisbon, Portugal.

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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