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Article

Burnout and Coping Strategies in Integrative Psychotherapists: Findings from Qualitative Interviews

by
Panagiota Tragantzopoulou
1,*,
Vaitsa Giannouli
2,
Anna Filippou
3 and
Margarita Demirtzidou
3
1
School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1B 2HW, UK
2
School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
3
Mediterranean College, University of Derby, 54625 Thessaloniki, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Healthcare 2024, 12(18), 1820; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181820
Submission received: 16 July 2024 / Revised: 31 August 2024 / Accepted: 10 September 2024 / Published: 11 September 2024

Abstract

Burnout among psychotherapists is a pervasive challenge affecting both professional well-being and client care. This study aims to explore the experience of burnout among integrative psychotherapists and examine the strategies they employ to cope with this phenomenon. Interviews were conducted with 17 integrative psychotherapists, and the data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. Through this analysis, two themes were identified: (1) work-related pressures and burnout manifestations and (2) strategies for maintaining optimal functioning. Fatigue, headaches, challenges in decision-making or session planning, numbness in the form of paralysis, and disconnection from clients emerged as primary symptoms, impacting therapeutic efficacy. Participants’ intense sense of responsibility toward clients and their self-worth validation through client progress intensified burnout risks, particularly among novices. Personal therapy and clinical supervision emerged as pivotal in mitigating burnout, offering support, and enhancing therapist resilience. Additionally, peer support and organizational interventions were deemed crucial during crises, emphasizing the need for structured support systems within professional bodies. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of burnout in psychotherapy and highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance professionals’ resilience and sustain effective client outcomes.
Keywords: burnout; psychotherapists; integrative therapy; coping; qualitative interviews burnout; psychotherapists; integrative therapy; coping; qualitative interviews

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tragantzopoulou, P.; Giannouli, V.; Filippou, A.; Demirtzidou, M. Burnout and Coping Strategies in Integrative Psychotherapists: Findings from Qualitative Interviews. Healthcare 2024, 12, 1820. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181820

AMA Style

Tragantzopoulou P, Giannouli V, Filippou A, Demirtzidou M. Burnout and Coping Strategies in Integrative Psychotherapists: Findings from Qualitative Interviews. Healthcare. 2024; 12(18):1820. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181820

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tragantzopoulou, Panagiota, Vaitsa Giannouli, Anna Filippou, and Margarita Demirtzidou. 2024. "Burnout and Coping Strategies in Integrative Psychotherapists: Findings from Qualitative Interviews" Healthcare 12, no. 18: 1820. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181820

APA Style

Tragantzopoulou, P., Giannouli, V., Filippou, A., & Demirtzidou, M. (2024). Burnout and Coping Strategies in Integrative Psychotherapists: Findings from Qualitative Interviews. Healthcare, 12(18), 1820. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181820

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