Social Work and Sexual Violence...Assignment #9

Felicia McCaw
SW 314
Social Work and
Sexual Violence
Assignment #9


Reference: ProQuest Psychology Journals
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice
American Psychological Association
1988, Vol. 19, No. 1, 112-114
http://0-search.proquest.com.library.svsu.edu/psycarticles/docview/614383747/13A192BF724493CA459/1?accountid=960


Coping Strategies that Psychotherapists use in Working with Stressful Clients

Compiled and written by:

Mary E. Medeiros, James O. Proschaska

Name of Study

Coping Strategies that Psychotherapists use in Working with Stressful Clients

Literature

The purpose of this study is to study the ability to cope for psychotherapists and is based upon subjective data-gathering techniques. The problematic area is the interaction of counselor/therapist and clients and the subsequent stress that goes with this job. As pertains to the stress level six coping strategies are used congruently when dealing with difficult clients with positive results relayed that the coping tactics were successful and is a good practitioner’s guideline.

Method Used to Conduct the Study

The method used to conduct the study consisted of the Demographics and General Information Questionnaire, Stress Questionnaire, Coping Scale, cover letter, business reply envelope constituted a survey questionnaire packet which was mailed to 600 individuals chosen randomly from Division 29 (psychotherapists) of the American Psychological Association.

Measures

The questionnaire consisted of a 28-item Demographics and General Information Questionnaire that was able to rate demographic variables and profession-related variables. The Stress Questionnaire consisted of 17-items used to assess criterion measures of perceived successful coping and client diagnosis. The Coping Scale consisted of 60-items to gather and assess the extent in which particular coping strategies were used by psychotherapists to deal with stress when dealing with a difficult client.





Felicia McCaw
SW 314
Assignment #8
Page 2

Results

Overall the return rate was 41% (n=243) and twenty-one of the returns were inappropriately completed or were returned after the deadline; this resulted in a sampling size of 222 (64% male). The mean age was 45 (SD=11) and the modal number of stressful clients were seen by a sample of 2.0. Approximately 36% of the respondents diagnosed their successful clients as borderline as follows: 12.2% depressed, 9.9% suicidal, 8.6% as psychotic.

The remaining 33.3% included passive, substance abuse, sociopathic, acting out, organic, physically violent, or other diagnosis and approximately half (49%) of the subjects rated their own coping with stress in working with a difficult client as below average and 73% perceived themselves as being somewhat moderately helpful with their stressful clients.

Conclusion of the Study

Therefore based on the study this is established as a study aid to enable psychotherapists to cope with stress that they experience in working with stressful clients. This enabled the resulting information to be relayed that six components were established for self-reevaluation and wishful thinking, humor, optimistic perseverance, seeking social support, seeking inner peace, contingency control and avoidance. Overall, the procedure or process is reflective of whether the stress levels are alleviated or the coping levels are enhanced and supported.

My Opinion/thoughts about the study

The study is interesting because it addresses the question that we all don’t want to deal with and that is the thought that dealing with clients and trying to assist them is pretty much a downside in counseling when it affects you mentally and physically. Coping with stress and finding ways to alleviate and shield self on an individual basis is what is necessary and should be progressively done always.