Has an experience of distress influenced your decision to train as a psychological therapist? If so, in what way?

What is the Aim of the study?
The aim of this study is to explore in what way, if any, personal experiences of distress influence the decision to train as a psychological therapist. In addition to this, the researcher aims to explore how personal experiences of distress might influence the theoretical orientation and psychological models that clinicians use in practice. The aim is not to pathologise people’s experiences but to explore how clinicians integrate these experiences with their identity as a psychological therapist.

Who can take part?
This study is recruiting trainee and qualified psychological therapists in the London and South East area, who have experienced psychological distress before they commenced professional training at such a level that it affected their daily lives and required them to seek support from their GP in the form of medication or psychological therapies.

What will happen if I take part?
If you agree to take part you will be given a consent form to read and sign and offered an interview. Interviews will last approximately 60 minutes and will take place at a time and date that is convenient for you.  Interviews will be recorded digitally and subsequently transcribed to be used in the analysis. All digital recordings will be kept on an encrypted hard drive disk for confidentiality and destroyed at the end of the study. Any identifying information, such as names and other material, will be omitted to maintain confidentiality.
 You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without reason and may request further information from the researcher.

What are the possible disadvantages and advantages of taking part?
The study is not intended to cause any harm or distress to participants. However, given the potentially sensitive nature of the topics to be discussed, participants may be upset or distressed within the course of the study. The researcher has experience and skill in dealing with people who are distressed. If participants become distressed, the researcher will provide a list of organisations to contact that will offer participants support.
 One potential advantage of taking part in this study is the opportunity to explore, through conversation, how the personal experiences of psychological therapists might influence career choice and clinical practice.

Will it be confidential?
Participation in the study will be confidential. Interviews will initially be recorded digitally and subsequently transcribed to be used in the analysis. All digital recordings will be kept on an encrypted hard drive disk for confidentiality and erased at the end of the study. Transcribed interviews will be anonymised (i.e. any identifying information will be omitted). This will be kept in a locked storage space and held by the researcher for up to 5 years before being destroyed. Consent forms and any other information that may potentially identify you will be stored separately and securely. Any information regarding your identity will be held by the researcher and supervisor of the project. Examiners will also have access to both digital recordings of the interviews and transcripts.

What will happen to the results of the research study?
 The results of the study will be written up and submitted as a research project as part of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Has the research obtained ethical approval?
The research has obtained ethical approval from the University of East London’s Ethics Committee.

Contact information:
 If you would like to take part or have any questions please contact the researcher, Mayowa Aina at: u1234968@uel.ac.uk

Thank you for reading this information sheet and please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.