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The effect of therapists' trait-like and state-like professional self-doubt on rupture resolution
L Igra1, C F Jacobsen1, S Lunn1
1Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to identify therapist characteristics associated with effective rupture resolution processes. We examined the association between therapists' experience of professional self-doubt (PSD) and the resolution of alliance ruptures.
Methods:
Data from 4,986 sessions of 535 clients treated by 53 therapists in a primary care setting were analyzed. The interaction between rupture occurrence and therapists' levels of general (state-like) or session-related (trait-like) PSD on alliance change was analyzed using multilevel modeling. Additionally, the moderating role of therapists' feelings of inadequacy on this interaction was investigated.
Results:
A significant interaction between rupture occurrence and the quadratic term of trait-like PSD was found, with both higher and lower levels predicting lower client alliance ratings after ruptures. Additionally, increased state-like PSD during ruptures led to improved client alliance ratings among therapists with lower feelings of inadequacy.
Conclusion:
The results contribute to a more refined understanding of the effect of therapist characteristics on rupture resolution, indicating that moderate levels of trait-like PSD are optimal, and state-like PSD effects depend on therapists' feelings of adequacy.
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