Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa)
| dc.contributor.advisor | Long, Wahbie | |
| dc.contributor.author | Suiza, Chanan | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-30T13:05:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-30T13:05:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2025-09-30T12:34:55Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | 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. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Suiza, C. (2025). <i>Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa)</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41928 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Suiza, Chanan. <i>"Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa)."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41928 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Suiza, C. 2025. Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa). . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41928 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Suiza, Chanan AB - 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. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Clinical psychologists KW - Private practice KW - South Africa LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa) TI - Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa) UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41928 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41928 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Suiza C. Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa). []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41928 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Psychology | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Humanities | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | Clinical psychologists | |
| dc.subject | Private practice | |
| dc.subject | South Africa | |
| dc.title | Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa) | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters |