“Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training

Objective: Literature on trainee clinical psychologists’ mental health has highlighted elevated levels of mental health difficulties and/or psychological distress among trainees, and low levels of disclosure within the workplace. The current study aimed to explore 1) trainee experiences of disclosur...

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Main Author: Zamir, Aliya
Format: Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/71685/
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author Zamir, Aliya
author_facet Zamir, Aliya
author_sort Zamir, Aliya
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: Literature on trainee clinical psychologists’ mental health has highlighted elevated levels of mental health difficulties and/or psychological distress among trainees, and low levels of disclosure within the workplace. The current study aimed to explore 1) trainee experiences of disclosure and/or concealment of psychological distress during their training, 2) beliefs, assumptions or predictions related to disclosure and 3) responses to disclosure. Methods: A mixed-methods strategy was employed; 165 trainee or recently qualified clinical psychologists took part in an online survey. Thirteen of these were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and a reflexive thematic analysis were conducted to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results: The sample largely consisted of those who had disclosed distress. Six main themes were constructed: 1) Diagnostic or psychological conceptualisations 2) Worries about judgement complicate disclosure decisions; 3) Disclosure likelihood is determined by relationships; 4) Emotional support versus practical responses; 5) Desired changes that could increase disclosure; and 6) Legacies of disclosure experiences. Conclusion: There is a need for training programme staff to prioritise emotional support, increase permission giving, and enhance disclosure guidance. Further research, including those receiving disclosures, those who do not disclose and from underrepresented groups, is required.
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spelling nottingham-716852023-07-19T04:40:03Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/71685/ “Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training Zamir, Aliya Objective: Literature on trainee clinical psychologists’ mental health has highlighted elevated levels of mental health difficulties and/or psychological distress among trainees, and low levels of disclosure within the workplace. The current study aimed to explore 1) trainee experiences of disclosure and/or concealment of psychological distress during their training, 2) beliefs, assumptions or predictions related to disclosure and 3) responses to disclosure. Methods: A mixed-methods strategy was employed; 165 trainee or recently qualified clinical psychologists took part in an online survey. Thirteen of these were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and a reflexive thematic analysis were conducted to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results: The sample largely consisted of those who had disclosed distress. Six main themes were constructed: 1) Diagnostic or psychological conceptualisations 2) Worries about judgement complicate disclosure decisions; 3) Disclosure likelihood is determined by relationships; 4) Emotional support versus practical responses; 5) Desired changes that could increase disclosure; and 6) Legacies of disclosure experiences. Conclusion: There is a need for training programme staff to prioritise emotional support, increase permission giving, and enhance disclosure guidance. Further research, including those receiving disclosures, those who do not disclose and from underrepresented groups, is required. 2023-07-19 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en cc_by https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/71685/1/THESIS%20BRP%202122%2020216155%2018736262%20Thesis%20Research%20Portfolio.pdf Zamir, Aliya (2023) “Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training. DClinPsy thesis, University of Nottingham. psychological distress disclosure concealment trainee clinical psychologists stigma
spellingShingle psychological distress
disclosure
concealment
trainee clinical psychologists
stigma
Zamir, Aliya
“Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training
title “Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training
title_full “Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training
title_fullStr “Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training
title_full_unstemmed “Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training
title_short “Isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: A mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training
title_sort “isn’t it mad that we’re all psychologists and we can't talk about our feelings?”: a mixed-methods study exploring trainee clinical psychologists’ experience of (non)disclosure of psychological distress during training
topic psychological distress
disclosure
concealment
trainee clinical psychologists
stigma
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/71685/