Gustav Klimt
Blume-Marcovici,
A., Stolberg, R., & Khademi, M. (2013). Do Therapists Cry in Therapy?
The Role of Experience and Other Factors in Therapists' Tears. Psychotherapy DOI: 10.1037/a0031384
In a recent survey of 684 American therapists 72%
of the sample reported that they had shed tears with their clients in therapy.
Abstract
The subject of therapist's crying in
therapy (TCIT) has been virtually ignored in the literature, with only 1
qualitative dissertation and 3 case studies devoted to the topic. This
mixed-method survey study explored therapists' experiences with and
attitude toward TCIT. Six hundred eighty-four U.S. psychologists and
trainees filled out the survey online, revealing that 72% of therapists
report having cried in therapy in their role as therapist. Data analysis
indicated that the act of crying in therapy has less to do with
personality or demographic factors (i.e., Big Five traits, empathy, sex)
and more to do with the unique aspects of the therapy itself and the
therapist's identity in the therapeutic context (theoretical
orientation, clinical experience, affective tone of the session).
Clinicians with more experience, who are older, cried more in therapy
than novice clinicians, despite lower crying frequency in daily life,
suggesting that more experienced therapists feel more comfortable
allowing themselves to experience and/or express such emotions in
therapy sessions. Psychodynamic therapists reported slightly higher
rates of TCIT than cognitive-behavioral therapists despite no
differences in crying in daily life. Despite significant differences in
crying rates in daily life, male and female clinicians report similar
rates of TCIT. Data regarding the relationship between TCIT and Big Five
personality traits, empathy, and perceived consequences of TCIT are
reported.
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