Dear Participant,
I invite you to participate in a research study titled “What impact has the global COVID-19 pandemic had on psychotherapists' coping strategies and ethical self-care practices to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue, and what can be done to better prepare them for future traumatic events?”
My name is Gill Wall, and I am a Master's degree student, in my final year, studying Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy at Turning Point Institute. The purpose of this study is to explore and understand the lived experiences of psychotherapists during the global pandemic and its effects on their ethical self-care practices, ability to cope in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in preparation for future traumatic events through the lens of a qualitative, Interpretive phenomenological analysis.
Inclusion criteria for participation are as follows:
1. Professionally qualified psychotherapists in Ireland
2. Participants must have actively provided therapy services during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
3. A diverse range of viewpoints and experiences: Participants will include psychotherapists with different theoretical backgrounds, degrees of experience and practice contexts such as individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and child and adolescent therapy.
Benefits of this Research:
Your participation will contribute valuable insights to the understanding of psychotherapists' experiences during the pandemic, potentially benefiting the broader mental health community and future support for organisations as a whole in the event of future global pandemics.
Details of Involvement:
If you decide to participate, your involvement will include one-to-one semi-structured interviews discussing your lived experiences and coping strategies during the pandemic. The interviews will be audio-recorded for accurate representation and analysis. The estimated time commitment for each interview is approximately 1 hour.
To participate please, at your earliest convenience, email wall.gill@gmail.com
Please find attached an information sheet for participants and an informed consent form
I appreciate you taking the time to read and thank you for considering participating in this study.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Kind regards,
Gill Wall
