[Effects of Personal Therapy During Psychotherapy Training - A Systematic Review]

Self-experiential work/personal therapy as part of psychotherapeutic training is often under critical discussion. In the German system, self-experiential work will remain an established part of training in psychosocial medical specialties and will continue to be part of the future curriculum in psychotherapy and in practical training subsequent to the study.

Identification of different impacts of self-experiential work on psychotherapy trainees.

Systematic literature review of studies between 2005 and 2020. Literature search via electronic databases, prior literature search and searches through reference lists of previous research. Selection via previously determined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Thirteen studies were selected for this review. Results were summarised related to 7 outcome variables which mostly displayed positive impacts of self experience related to interpersonal skills, self-perception, knowledge and understanding of therapeutic work, well-being and relief. Satisfaction and the acceptance of the subjective importance of personal therapy for increasing competence were more common than reports about intensive emotions and stress.

Self-experiential work is highly valued by psychotherapy trainees and is therefore correctly considered as an obligatory part of training. Nonetheless, it should be evaluated regularly. For further research, self-reports, the most commonly used method, should be combined with objective measures, representativeness of samples should be enhanced and long-term effects should be investigated.