Recent Innovations in Psychology

Recent Innovations in Psychology

The Effectiveness of Emotion-focused Therapy Training on Self-Compassion in Psychology Graduates

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Nahid Sadeghzade Yazdi 1
Seyyed Iman Ghotb 2
1 MSc. in Family Counseling, Shandiz Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Shandiz Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/rip.2024.481470.1062
Abstract
The present study examined the efficacy of emotion-focused therapy training on self-compassion among psychology graduates. The research design was of a mixed explanatory approach. The study's statistical population comprised individuals who had obtained a master's degree in psychology in Mashhad (a city in Iran). The initial investigation into the efficacy of emotion-focused therapy training employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest, posttest, and follow-up phase, incorporating a control group. A total of 24 individuals were selected through voluntary sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent training in advanced emotion-focused therapy, comprising four sessions of eight hours each. The data collection instrument employed in this study was the Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form (SCS-SF), and the data were subjected to analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance. Subsequently, in order to gain insight into the lived experience of the participants, a semi-structured interview was employed, and the results were subjected to content analysis. The findings indicated that the training in emotion-focused therapy had a statistically significant effect on self-compassion in the experimental group participants (P < 0.01). The analysis of the interviews indicated that participants in the experimental group perceived the intervention to be effective in reducing their fear of entering the therapy process and increasing their awareness and self-confidence. In light of the aforementioned findings, it can be posited that an emotion-focused therapy workshop may prove an efficacious method for augmenting self-compassion as a personal skill among therapists.
Keywords
emotion-focused therapy
psychotherapy
self-compassion

Subjects

References

Asadpour, I., Nazari, A. M., Sanai Zaker, B., & Shaghaghi, S. (2012). An Investigation of Effectiveness of The Emotionally focused Couple Therapy on Increasing Marital Intimacy in couples Entered at Counseling Centers in Tehran. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling, 2(1), 25–38 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22067/ijap.v2i1.8282

Asgharipour, N., Nouri Siahdasht, N., Javdani Asl, A., & Hajebi Khaniki, S. (2023). Investigating the Quality of Professional life of Mashhad Psychotherapists in 2022. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, 28(4), 508-519 (In Persian). http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijpcp.28.4.4129.2

Bennett-Goleman, T. (2002). Emotional alchemy: How the mind can heal the heart. Harmony.URL:https://h7.cl/1kbvC

Foroughi, A. A., Khanjani, S., Rafiee, S., & Taheri, A. A. (2020). Self-compassion: conceptualization, research, and interventions (Brief review). Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 6(6), 77-87 (In Persian). http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/shenakht.6.6.77

Greenberg, L. S. (2007). Emotion in the therapeutic relationship in emotion-focused therapy. The therapeutic relationship in the cognitive behavioral psychotherapies, 43-62. URL: https://h7.cl/1f6Iy

Harrington, S., Pascual‐Leone, A., Paivio, S., Edmondstone, C., & Baher, T. (2021). Depth of experiencing and therapeutic alliance: What predicts outcome for whom in emotion‐focused therapy for trauma?. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 94(4), 895-914. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12342

Ivtzan, I., & Lomas, T. (Eds.). (2016). Mindfulness in positive psychology: The science of meditation and wellbeing. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315747217

Khakpour, R., & Sedigh, M. (2017). Early maladaptive schemas and job burnout symptoms among counselors/psychotherapists. In Congress of the Iranian Psychological Association, Tehran, Iran (In Persian). URL: https://civilica.com/doc/732338/  

Khosravi, S., Sadeghi, M., & Yabandeh, M. R. (2013). Psychometric adequacy of the Self-Compassion Scale. Psychological Methods and Models, 3(13), 47–59 (In Persian). URL:https://jpmm.marvdasht.iau.ir/article_339.html

Koren, R., Woolley, S. R., Danis, I., & Török, S. (2021). Measuring the Effectiveness of the Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship Training in Hungary done through Translation. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47(1), 166-182. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12443

Minaei, H. (2022). The effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Reducing Anxiety and Self-Compassion in Adolescents.  Applied Family Therapy Journal , 3(2), 517-530 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.3.2.27

Montagno, M., Svatovic, M., & Levenson, H. (2011). Short‐term and long‐term effects of training in emotionally focused couple therapy: Professional and personal aspects. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37(4), 380-392. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00250.x

Najafi, E., Mirabi, H., Hosseinzadeh Maleki, Z., & Bagherzadeh, F. (2024). The Role of Self-compassion and Alexithymia in Predicting Perceived Social Support. Recent Innovations in Psychology, 1(1), 1-13 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/rip.2024.189967

Neff, K. (2003a). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and identity, 2(2), 85-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032

Neff, K. D. (2003b). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and identity, 2(3), 223-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309027

Neff, K. D., Pisitsungkagarn, K., & Hsieh, Y. P. (2008). Self-compassion and self-construal in the United States, Thailand, and Taiwan. Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, 39(3), 267-285. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022108314544

Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2018). Psychotherapy relationships that work III. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000193

Rodríguez-Gonzalez, M., Anderson, S., Osorio, A., Lafontaine, M. F., Greenman, P. S., Calatrava, M., ... & Sandberg, J. (2022). Efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy among Spanish-speaking couples: study protocol of a randomized clinical trial in Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain. Trials, 23(1), 891. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06831-7

Sabouri, M., Bahreinian, S. A., Aminzade, M. S., & Shadman, N. (2024). The Effectiveness of Compassion-focused Therapy on Risky Behaviors and Self-injurious Behaviors in Women with a History of Substance Abuse. Recent Innovations in Psychology, 1(3), 90-104 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/rip.2024.450789.1016

Sandberg, J. G., Knestel, A., & Schade, L. C. (2013). From head to heart: A report on clinicians’ perceptions of the impact of learning Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on their personal and professional lives. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 12(1), 38-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2013.750076

Soltani, A., Molazadeh, J., Mahmoodi, M., & Hosseini, S. (2013). A study on the effectiveness of emotional focused couple therapy on intimacy of couples. Procedia-social and Behavioral Sciences, 82, 461-465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.293

Truscott, D. (2010). Becoming an effective psychotherapist: Adopting a theory of psychotherapy that's right for you and your client. American Psychological Association.  https://doi.org/10.1037/12064-000

Yaghoobi, H., Toozandehjani, H., & Zendedel, A. (2021). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion – Focused Therapy and Acceptance – Commitment Therapy on Self – Compassion in Women with Marital Conflict. North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, 13(3), 113-122 (In Persian). http://dx.doi.org/10.52547/nkums.13.3.113  

References
Asadpour, I., Nazari, A. M., Sanai Zaker, B., & Shaghaghi, S. (2012). An Investigation of Effectiveness of The Emotionally focused Couple Therapy on Increasing Marital Intimacy in couples Entered at Counseling Centers in Tehran. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling, 2(1), 25–38 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22067/ijap.v2i1.8282
Asgharipour, N., Nouri Siahdasht, N., Javdani Asl, A., & Hajebi Khaniki, S. (2023). Investigating the Quality of Professional life of Mashhad Psychotherapists in 2022. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, 28(4), 508-519 (In Persian). http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijpcp.28.4.4129.2
Bennett-Goleman, T. (2002). Emotional alchemy: How the mind can heal the heart. Harmony.URL:https://h7.cl/1kbvC
Foroughi, A. A., Khanjani, S., Rafiee, S., & Taheri, A. A. (2020). Self-compassion: conceptualization, research, and interventions (Brief review). Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 6(6), 77-87 (In Persian). http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/shenakht.6.6.77
Greenberg, L. S. (2007). Emotion in the therapeutic relationship in emotion-focused therapy. The therapeutic relationship in the cognitive behavioral psychotherapies, 43-62. URL: https://h7.cl/1f6Iy
Harrington, S., Pascual‐Leone, A., Paivio, S., Edmondstone, C., & Baher, T. (2021). Depth of experiencing and therapeutic alliance: What predicts outcome for whom in emotion‐focused therapy for trauma?. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 94(4), 895-914. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12342
Ivtzan, I., & Lomas, T. (Eds.). (2016). Mindfulness in positive psychology: The science of meditation and wellbeing. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315747217
Khakpour, R., & Sedigh, M. (2017). Early maladaptive schemas and job burnout symptoms among counselors/psychotherapists. In Congress of the Iranian Psychological Association, Tehran, Iran (In Persian). URL: https://civilica.com/doc/732338/  
Khosravi, S., Sadeghi, M., & Yabandeh, M. R. (2013). Psychometric adequacy of the Self-Compassion Scale. Psychological Methods and Models, 3(13), 47–59 (In Persian). URL:https://jpmm.marvdasht.iau.ir/article_339.html
Koren, R., Woolley, S. R., Danis, I., & Török, S. (2021). Measuring the Effectiveness of the Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship Training in Hungary done through Translation. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47(1), 166-182. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12443
Minaei, H. (2022). The effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Reducing Anxiety and Self-Compassion in Adolescents.  Applied Family Therapy Journal , 3(2), 517-530 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.3.2.27
Montagno, M., Svatovic, M., & Levenson, H. (2011). Short‐term and long‐term effects of training in emotionally focused couple therapy: Professional and personal aspects. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37(4), 380-392. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00250.x
Najafi, E., Mirabi, H., Hosseinzadeh Maleki, Z., & Bagherzadeh, F. (2024). The Role of Self-compassion and Alexithymia in Predicting Perceived Social Support. Recent Innovations in Psychology, 1(1), 1-13 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/rip.2024.189967
Neff, K. (2003a). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and identity, 2(2), 85-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
Neff, K. D. (2003b). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and identity, 2(3), 223-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309027
Neff, K. D., Pisitsungkagarn, K., & Hsieh, Y. P. (2008). Self-compassion and self-construal in the United States, Thailand, and Taiwan. Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, 39(3), 267-285. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022108314544
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2018). Psychotherapy relationships that work III. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 303-315. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000193
Rodríguez-Gonzalez, M., Anderson, S., Osorio, A., Lafontaine, M. F., Greenman, P. S., Calatrava, M., ... & Sandberg, J. (2022). Efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy among Spanish-speaking couples: study protocol of a randomized clinical trial in Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain. Trials, 23(1), 891. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06831-7
Sabouri, M., Bahreinian, S. A., Aminzade, M. S., & Shadman, N. (2024). The Effectiveness of Compassion-focused Therapy on Risky Behaviors and Self-injurious Behaviors in Women with a History of Substance Abuse. Recent Innovations in Psychology, 1(3), 90-104 (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/rip.2024.450789.1016
Sandberg, J. G., Knestel, A., & Schade, L. C. (2013). From head to heart: A report on clinicians’ perceptions of the impact of learning Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on their personal and professional lives. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 12(1), 38-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2013.750076
Soltani, A., Molazadeh, J., Mahmoodi, M., & Hosseini, S. (2013). A study on the effectiveness of emotional focused couple therapy on intimacy of couples. Procedia-social and Behavioral Sciences, 82, 461-465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.293
Truscott, D. (2010). Becoming an effective psychotherapist: Adopting a theory of psychotherapy that's right for you and your client. American Psychological Association.  https://doi.org/10.1037/12064-000
Yaghoobi, H., Toozandehjani, H., & Zendedel, A. (2021). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion – Focused Therapy and Acceptance – Commitment Therapy on Self – Compassion in Women with Marital Conflict. North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, 13(3), 113-122 (In Persian). http://dx.doi.org/10.52547/nkums.13.3.113  

  • Receive Date 02 October 2024
  • Revise Date 26 October 2024
  • Accept Date 29 October 2024
  • First Publish Date 06 December 2024