An Exploration of Challenges Faced by Trainee Therapists Report

This report investigates the challenges faced by trainee therapists as they transition from students to professionals, focusing on their expectations, goals, and the difficulties they encounter. The study explores various aspects of this transition, including performance anxiety, emotional boundaries, and the need for practical skills. The research employs a quantitative approach using questionnaires to understand the students' perspectives on their professional development. The report highlights the importance of learning programs in skill development and examines the role of training in preparing students for their careers. It also includes a literature review that examines the existing research on therapist development, professional competence, and the impact of individual therapists on the therapeutic relationship. The methodology section describes the participants, measures, and procedures used in the research, including the use of an online questionnaire. The report concludes with a discussion of the findings, the implications of the study, and the areas for future research. The report aims to provide insights into the challenges of transitioning from student to professional life for trainee therapists.

Running Head: AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS
TRANSITIONING FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS1
AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS
TRANSITIONING FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS
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AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS2
Abstract
This analysis is based on the opportunities, strengths, goals, and challenges that therapists
face during the stages of transition from the students to the Professions. In this transition, the
environment emphasizes the pursuit of diversity through technological approaches and
theoretical to finding common intervention and methodology of which is one of the potential
directions in the transition to becoming a profession. Besides, this transition also explores the
student's attitude towards advancement through a quantitative approach that involves answered
questionnaires for a better understanding of the goals and opportunities in the transition.
Introduction
There is an increasing interest in studying skilled therapist/ counselor growth. This
interest streams from a variety of areas of research, like educational education, career
development, experience, knowledge, supervision and adult development in psychology.
Besides, increased interest in the development of the therapist, performance has been carried out
and it points the competence of the practitioner as the solution to successful development. With a
more nuanced understanding of the essence of the sensitive relationship, psychotherapy and
counseling research have convincingly indicated the consequences of the independent
therapist/counselor on the regularity of the counseling relationship, end on the result and the
change process (Allan et al., 2016). Psychotherapy and counseling are often victorious with the
predominance of the differences in results ranges between 75 and 85 when controlling
medication groups to control class. The trainees undergo different encounters and hardship
elements of performance anxiety, emotional boundaries, and scrutiny of the gatekeepers of the
profession, lack of conceptual maps, fragile self practitioner, glamorized expectation and need of
pragmatic practitioners. It is also significant to note, the uncertainty of the task in the therapist

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS3
profession development (Dudley, 2017). This training process requires a learning program to
develop therapists to acquire abilities and maximize the morale of the trainees before the start of
their professional careers. It is important to note that there is a massive gap between students and
professional careers that are required to be understood by the trainees for the smooth growth of
the therapist career.
Background
The background of this training flows around the demand for research and this applies to
the studying results to the skills factor development. The study was considered to deliberate the
strengths, opportunities, goal, and challenges that trainee therapist needs to identify in the course
of the transition to professions. The practicality of the research is concentrated on the studying
results of the goals, opportunities, and challenges and the significance of the studying programs
for the trainees in the advancement of professional career growth. The studying process primarily
fascinated by the achievement of the purpose and the target of the weaknesses, risks, and
challenges that are faced to arrive at a convenient conclusion (Duggal et al, 2016).
Aim
The research aims to explore the trainee therapist's expectations in the advancement of
the transition to professional careers. The purpose of the research is to study the need to
deliberate the issues and challenges that are faced by the trainees who have enrolled in the
therapeutic occupation of the professional career of psychology. The objective is to understand
the success and the participation in the learning towards overcoming and evaluation of the
challenges to the trainees/students (Bansal et al., 2018).
Objectives

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS4
The proposed research will endeavor in identifying the main challenges of
psychotherapists during the transition from the graduate student role to that of the working
professional. Consider this as a complex process present in the emotional findings of the
graduate life of the student, and involving new goals development and priorities. The impact of
transformation in the development of identity on the adaptation to professional identity is
discussed, with a focus on conflicts about internalized expectations, external influences and the
specific demands of psychotherapy, combined with the anticipation new opportunities,
aspirations that require changes in attitudes and self-perceptions, and career prospects. However,
the basic requirements of the study in maintaining a higher degree of competence, ethics, skills
development, and professionalism (Thanh & Thanh, 2015).
Rationale
The study concentrates on focusing on the key issues that occurred as a result of the
transformation from the academic career of the trainee therapists to professional development. It
also implies providing the relevant solutions for the issues that occurred.
Research questions
 What is the role of the development and learning programs in the skill development
for the students?
 How the contribution of the learning paves a smooth way towards the skill
development of the trainee therapists?
 How the training program helps the students as they enter their professional career?
 How effective the learning program is to the students as they enter into their careers?
Significance

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS5
The developmental and learning program is an important and essential part of the study
for the trainees to develop and shape their career in an organized way and to deal with the
challenges in the most efficient manner. The importance of the analysis is, it pledges a
framework of the evolution and exploration of the challenges that are faced by the trainee
therapist who has developed theoretical knowledge of the psychological practices. The study also
features out the ideas about the transitional changes that are needed to be inculcated among the
trainees while the transformation of students to their professional careers. The novice trainees
need to develop cognitive behavior towards understanding the individual behaviors of the
patients (Michalak et al., 2019).
Literature review
This essay outlines the reformulation of the important findings and perception from a
longitudinal and cross-section qualitative evaluation of the execution of counselors or therapists.
The discovery is provided as a step model and as a formulation of the 14 principles for the
creation of therapists/counselors. It is reported using six phases which are: The lay helper phase,
beginning trainee, the advanced trainee, the apprentice professional, the skillful professional and
the superior professional. This describes the development process of the therapist/counselor. This
addresses separate issues like emotional functioning and attention focus. Results consistently
manifest the interpersonal occurrence in the personal life field (adult personal and early family
life) and the professional life (client interconnections, peers and professional elders) are
important sources for professional development influence.
Due to the rise in growth in the development study of professional therapists, there is a
need for inquiry in this study, sections of the occupations, development of the career,
management, experience, knowledge and the development of adult psychology. Besides the rise

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS6
in interest in the development study of a therapist, the extra task was done to point to the
competence of the practitioner as the basic outcome for success. Also, psychotherapy and
counseling analysts have conversely established the impact of the individual therapist on the
aspect of the therapy relationship in a more understanding way, on the process of change and the
result. According to Sinha et al., 2015, therapists are highly supposed to tailor their therapies
after undertaking the need of the clients in a different unique manner with every client. This
study is for exploration and evaluating the challenges faced by the trainees during the transition
period from graduate to professional careers. It is worth to note that the mental issues should be
given priorities by the therapist and the clients should be willing to spend more cash in these
treatments. Given the venomous impacts of the majority of the psychotherapist analysts to lower
the effects of individual therapists, it may be surprising that the variation in the results across
methods is lower than the variation in the results between the therapists within the methods. The
enlightenment of progression, growth ideas and significance of science and education are a
qualification for understanding the creative concept. However, there are minimal certain features
to the idea of creation, regardless of theoretical and philosophical orientation (Lerner, 1986).
Through studying more about the transitions that therapists encounter during their
professional lives, there is hope to subsidize the development of therapy education.
Communication is regarded as an essential and inevitable part of therapy, so it is important to
engage the clients through conversations for them to feel comfortable to share their issues and
anxiety freely. Clients prefer interactions, treatment options, reminders and quality care and with
this followed accordingly; it will make the process of engaging with the clients easily. In the
beginning, the trainees might find it difficult to deal with the clients that need therapy or

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS7
counseling because each client is different and may need to served or handled in different
manners compared to the others.
Some of the challenges that trainees face or come across include an understanding of the
necessity to analyze, interpret the gathered information and implementing in a mindfulness
manner. This includes employing information that is collected through collection methods. This
implies an advance understanding of the conditions of the clients and the consequences that have
resulted in such psychological factors of the clients.
Methodology
Participants
In the process of conducting this research categorically, a certain group was selected. It
consists of nine participants in total who were 3rd-year students of BSc counseling and
Psychotherapy degree, which included eight females and one male participant. The participants
belonged to the counseling and psychology department who were undergoing a study period. The
participant belonged to different age groups to suit the necessity of the research study.
Participants were conducted via an online questionnaire that was sent to them via email. All the
nine participants who took part in the research activities responded to the online questionnaire.
Hence, the participation rate was 100% and the results were beneficial to make progress for the
research.
Measures
The research was conducted by arranging an online questionnaire that included a series of 8
questions. The responses given against each question has helped to accumulate relevant
information for effectively accomplishing this research. The questionnaire was prepared by
keeping in mind certain guidelines and concepts that were in alignment with the research topic.

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS8
Hence, it consisted of straightforward and simple questions associated with the concept of
psychological therapy, the usability of such therapies and that could find out the knowledge of
the participants regarding the subject. The questionnaire consisted of simple questions, which
could be answered by just responding 'yes or no'. Also, it consisted of Likert scaling that implied
strongly agree or disagree pattern of questions. Further, it consisted of questions that did not hurt
the sentiment or experiences of the respondents.
Procedure
The investigator conducted the current research in a certain categorical manner by taking
the help of an email. The investigator supplied the questionnaire to the student participants who
belonged to the trainee student of counseling and psychology department and included a senior
professor. The questionnaire was forwarded to the respondents by sending emails to them. The
online system of participating in the research study was devised out to suit the convenience. This
online research helped to accelerate the speed of the research study and helped to complete it by
following a categorical pattern.
Research procedure
To accomplish this research, the investigator took the help of a specific research
methodology to complete it on time. The systematic methodology allows completing the
research study by following an effective and convenient method (Taylor,2015). The researcher
has taken the quantitative method, interpretive philosophy descriptive strategy and deductive
approach to complete the research analysis (Skovholt, 2017).
The current research included the application of interpretive philosophy. The specific
research philosophy aims to dedicate a practical evaluation of the data collected for the research
topic (Thanh.2015).To accomplish this research systematically; an effective research approach

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS9
was selected. The descriptive research design applied for this research helped to execute the
research more effectively. It allowed the investigator to represent the participants appropriately
(Basal, 2018).On the other hand, the use of the deductive approach helped to explore the theories
by building a framework. The quantitative research was used to collect relevant information from
the participants to accomplish the research study (Bell et al., 2018).
Data analysis procedure
During the research process, the researcher had maintained all ethical considerations and
providing them access to certain links related to the subject. Moreover, the researcher allowed
the participants to contact through email in case of any inquiry used during filling the
questionnaire online (Pereira & Rekha, 2017).
Results
Following the information collected from the online survey questionnaire, the research
was conducted in a cate3gorical manner. The current research included 9 participants who
belonged to the counseling and psychology department. It consisted of 9 participants out of
whom the number of female participants was eight and only one male members took part in the
online survey questionnaire. The result of the online questionnaire has been analyzed and
discussed here.
Question1.
1). About obtaining employment, which alternative best describe your expectations:
a. I believe there are plenty of opportunities for new graduates.
b. I am not sure: I have not analyzed the future job prospects yet
c. I aim to evolve my execution. I aim to evolve my practice with other graduates from my

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS10
course
e. I aim to labor in the public sector.
About obtaining
employment, which
alternative best describe
your expectations
Responses Population Frequency
I believe there are plenty
of opportunities for new
graduates.
3 9 33%
I am not sure: I have not
analyzed the future job
prospects yet
3 9 33%
I aim to evolve my
practice
0 9 0%
I am aiming to execute a
practice with other
graduates from my course
2 9 23%
I am aiming to work in
the public sector
1 9 11%
In this analysis, it shows the number of responses concerning the population and percentage of
how the students reacted to the questionnaire. 3 responses make 33% of the students that
believed there are plenty of opportunities for new graduates. Another 3 responses that make 33%
have not analyzed the future job. There was zero response which makes 0% and this shows that
no student has a plan in establishing their practice. Two responses of which is 23% of the

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS11
students are planning on establishing the practice with other graduates from the course and 1
response that makes 11% of the students are planning to work in the public sector. This shows
that the majority believe there are plenty of opportunities for news graduates.
Question 2
What would you believe to be the major challenges in starting your career as a psychotherapist?
a. Counseling reluctant client’s
b. Putting Personal Judgments aside
c. setting strong boundaries
d. working in a country with a disjointed mental health care systeme. Self-limiting beliefs
Question 3
About question 2,
How are you planning to overcome these challenges?
a. Stay committed to my therapy.
b. Attending supervision weekly.
c. Raising awareness of the importance of counseling and psychotherapy on the effective
treatment of mental health issues within the community and health authorities, aiming for a more
inclusive and integrative system.
d. Taking part in continuous education and training.
e. Other
Question 4
4). How important would you rate continuing your therapy after graduating?
a. Extremely crucial
b. Somehow significant
c. Not important

AN EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES FACED BY TRAINEE THERAPISTS TRANSITIONING
FROM STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONALS12
How important would
you rate continuing your
therapy after graduating
Responses Population Frequency
Very important 3 9 33%
Somehow important 3 9 33%
Not important 0 9 0%
I am not sure 2 9 23%
This analysis shows that 33% of the respondents rate this as very important. Another 33% rate
this as somehow important and another 23% were not sure about the rating. No respondent rate
this as not important.
Question 5
5). in your view, how important is it to be a member of an accreditation body such as IACP,
APCP, NAPCP, IAHIP, etc.?
a. Immensely significant
b. somehow crucial
c. Not important
d. I am not sure
In your view, how
important is it to be a
member of an
accreditation body such
Responses Population Frequency