The daily events and emotions of master's-level family therapy trainees in off-campus practicum settings.
The Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) was used to assess the daily events and emotions of one program's master's-level family therapy trainees in off-campus practicum settings. This study examines the DRM reports of 35 family therapy trainees in the second year of their master's program in marriage and family therapy. Four themes emerged from the results: (i) Personal contact with peers-in-training engenders the most positive emotions during practicum; (ii) Trainees experience more positive emotions during therapy with families and couples in comparison with therapy with individuals; (iii) Positive affect increases over the course of a student's practicum year; and (iv) Trainees experience less positive affect in individual supervision in comparison with most other training activities. Flow theory offers guidance for supervisors helping trainees face developmental challenges of clinical training.
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, USA. tedwards@sandiego.edu
Todd M
TM
Edwards
Jo Ellen
JE
Patterson
D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D004644:Emotions; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008875:Middle Aged; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult