Browsing by Subject "Clinical psychologists"

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    Clinical psychology in a general hospital : conflicts and paradoxes
    (1988) Miller, Tracey Deborah; Swartz, Leslie
    Over the past decade clinical psychologists have increasingly begun to work in general hospital settings, but little published research has dealt in depth with the adjustments and negotiations that need to occur at the interface of clinical psychology and medicine. In this dissertation, the relationship of the psychosocial to medicine and the professional relationships of psychologists and doctors are discussed. Consultation- liaison psychiatry and multidisciplinary treatment teams are presented as two ways in which medicine has attempted to deal with the psychosocial, and which provide potentially useful models of practice for psychologists. Four cases that were referred to the author while working as an intern clinical psychologist in a Neurosurgery unit are discussed in terms of the insight they provide in understanding implicit assumptions about and expectations of psychology. In addition, the head of this Department of Neurosurgery and the two clinical psychologists working in this department were interviewed, and these interviews, together with the cases, provide the material for a discussion of various issues which face clinical psychologists in this unit. These include: the power structures and relationships in the unit; the use of consultation-liaison psychiatry and multidisciplinary treatment team models of practice; the inability of psychologists to fulfil present demands for their services; and the issue of reactive or proactive definition of psychological functions. Finally, some suggestions for enhancing the psychological contribution to patient care in Neurosurgery are made, based on the principles that arise out of the discussion.
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    Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa)
    (2025) Suiza, Chanan; Long, Wahbie
    This qualitative study explored occupational stress among Clinical and Counselling Psychologists (CCPs) in South Africa, highlighting its critical impact on practitioners' well- being and service quality. Despite the profession's rewards, detrimental stress levels are a major concern. Existing research lacks an experiential exploration of CCPs' stress and coping mechanisms in the South African context. The study aimed to answer two questions: What factors do CCPs perceive as underlying their occupational stress, and what strategies do they use to manage it? Using the Cognitive Theory of Stress and Coping, the study investigated subjective factors influencing stress and coping methods. Twelve CCPs in private practice in the Western Cape province were recruited through purposive sampling. Data collection involved in-person or online interviews, and qualitative content analysis following Elo and Kyngas (2007) was used to categorise the data. Findings revealed challenges such as the emotional and cognitive toll of providing therapy, occupational isolation, and institutional frustrations. ‘Super-Helper Syndrome' emerged as a significant factor, leading to increased exhaustion and depersonalisation. Participants employed coping strategies like compartmentalisation, workload curation, personal investment, and self-care, stressing the importance of work-life balance. Social support, especially from professional supervisors, was crucial in stress management. The study's theoretical framework combined the Cognitive Theory of Stress and Coping with meaning-focused coping, offering insights into the stress- coping process among CCPs. The findings have implications for improving practitioners' well-being and enhancing stress management strategies within healthcare professions.