What characterizes helpful personal practice in psychotherapy training? Results of an online survey

Personal practice (PP) is often considered as a central component in psychotherapy training aiming to promote personal and therapeutic competences. However, its implementation varies considerably in practice.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the current practice of PP regarding the frequency/occurrence and perceived usefulness/impairment of topics, techniques and effects, as well as its helpful characteristics in psychotherapy training.

407 German psychotherapy trainees (214 cognitive behavioural therapy; 178 psychodynamic therapy) were surveyed online as to their current practice of PP.

For trainees, personal and therapeutic related topics were discussed. Reflection techniques and self-experiential practice were among the most frequently reported strategies, while the fostering of personal and interpersonal competences was among the effects with the strongest occurrence. However, negative PP effects were recorded as well. Differences in PP practice emerged between therapeutic orientations.

As certain techniques which are central to PP (e.g. self-experience) were also rarely or not used, and negative effects reported, its potential might not be fully utilized.