DiscussionThis qualitative research

DiscussionThis qualitative research explored seven clinical psychologists' experience ofpractising psychotherapy and of attending a series of psychotherapy training days.Their journal reflections across four training days were analysed with IPA, threemaster themes emerging from the analysis. The theme Impact on the self showed thestrong interpersonal challenge of the clinical psychologists' psychotherapy work,which created the opportunity for ongoing personal development but also causedsignificant self-doubt. The second theme Impact on emotions and energy showed howthese professionals experienced significant demands on their emotional and energyreserves, not just from their psychotherapy work with clients but also from thepressure of service demands and waiting lists. The final master theme Developing andprotecting the self highlighted some key benefits experienced by the clinical psychologists on the training days. They expressed the value of expanding andreaffirming their knowledge, of receiving validation of their skills and of having timeto reflect on their work. They also became more aware of their own self-care needswhile engaging in psychotherapy work. After the training days, these clinicalpsychologists experienced increased energy, felt less pressured by work demands, feltless self-doubt and had a heightened interest in re-engaging with the complexity oftheir client relationships.

Discussion
This qualitative research explored seven clinical psychologists' experience of
practising psychotherapy and. Of attending a series of psychotherapy training days.
Their journal reflections across four training days were analysed. With, IPA three
master themes emerging from the analysis. The theme Impact on the self showed the
.Strong interpersonal challenge of the clinical psychologists', psychotherapy work
which created the opportunity for ongoing. Personal development but also caused
significant self-doubt. The second theme Impact on emotions and energy showed how
these. Professionals experienced significant demands on their emotional and, energy
reservesNot just from their psychotherapy work with clients but also from the
pressure of service demands and waiting lists. The. Final master theme Developing and
protecting the self highlighted some key benefits experienced by the clinical psychologists. On the training days. They expressed the value of expanding and
reaffirming, their knowledgeOf receiving validation of their skills and of having time
to reflect on their work. They also became more aware of their. Own self-care needs
while engaging in psychotherapy work. After the, training days these clinical
psychologists experienced. Increased energy felt less, pressured by, work demands felt
less self-doubt and had a heightened interest in re-engaging. With the complexity of
.Their client relationships.