Purpose of Research



I am conducting a study to help understand how an individual’s negative childhood experiences may impact their social interest and work with their clients. As a trainee, I have noticed that many mental health professionals and trainees cite early life experiences for the reason they decided to become therapist. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between early life experiences and how it impacts a therapist’s relationship to their clients. The results of this study are intended to help us as clinicians understand ourselves and create a dialog about how our previous experiences may impact us and our therapeutic relationships. This study is being conducted to fulfill the requirements for my dissertation as a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Adler University.



Procedures



If you choose to participate in this study, I will ask you to complete online surveys that assess for social interest and childhood traumatic experiences. This study will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.



First, I will provide you with a demographics questionnaire that will ask you about your level of study, gender, age, and race. If you indicate that you are under 18 or not a graduate student during your completion of the demographics questionnaire you will be redirected to the end of the survey, and you will not be eligible to participate in the drawing for one of the three $50.00 Amazon gift cards. The purpose of the study is to examine how childhood traumatic experiences impact the social interest of mental health professionals. Due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed the study procedures may make you feel unpleasant, or they may be too difficult to address. To protect your safety you will be provided with resources that can help you at the bottom of this consent form and at the end of the survey. After you complete the demographic questionnaire you will be directed to a survey assessing your level of social interest. Afterwards, you will be directed to a short questionnaire asking you to endorse or deny different childhood experiences that may have possibly been traumatic for you. Finally, after completing all questionnaires you will be directed to a page where you can input your email (if you so wish) to be entered into the drawing for one of three $50.00 Amazon gift cards.



Benefits



You may indirectly benefit by contributing to the knowledge of how childhood experiences impact therapists. You may indirectly benefit if you are currently practicing with clients or plan to in the future. The results of this study could help clinicians’ better understand how their past may influence their work with their clients as well as help reduce the stigma related to clinicians acknowledging their own tramas and the impact it may have on their work. With the resources provided, you may seek help that you may not have otherwise sought out.



Risks or foreseeable discomforts to you as a participant



This study poses moderate risk to all participants because the questions about childhood traumatic events may be too difficult for some individuals. If so, you have the right to skip questions or to withdraw from the study at any time. If you are concerned about participating in this study, you may need to discuss these concerns with your current treatment provider or refer to the list of resources to find a treatment provider. These resources are listed at end of consent form and at the end of the survey itself.