Occupational stress and adaptive coping among clinical and counselling psychologists in private practice in the Western Cape (South Africa)

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.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Suiza, Chanan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Long, Wahbie

• Clinical psychologists
• Private practice
• South Africa

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41928

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41928