Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127555
Title: The island of shame : a micro-social perspective on the impact of shame on Maltese psychotherapists
Other Titles: Psychology applications & developments VIII
Authors: Darmanin Kissaun, Greta
Clark, Marilyn
Keywords: Psychotherapists -- Malta -- Psychology
Psychotherapists -- Malta -- Attitudes
Psychotherapists -- Professional ethics
Shame -- Psychological aspects
Psychology and religion -- Malta
Issue Date: 2022
Publisher: SciencePress
Citation: Darmanin Kissaun, G., & Clark, M. (2022). The island of shame: a micro-social perspective on the impact of shame on Maltese psychotherapists. In C. Pracana, & M. Wang (Eds.), Psychology Applications & Developments VIII (pp. 143-155). Lisbon: SciencePress.
Abstract: Anthropological literature indicates that Malta, by virtue of its central position in the Mediterranean, is somewhat structured by codes of honour and shame (Bradford & Clark, 2012; O’Reilly Mizzi, 1994: Schneider, 1971). Despite the awareness of the potential negative effects of shame on the psychotherapeutic relationship (Gilbert & Procter, 2006; Rustomjee, 2009), shame in psychotherapy has been largely under-researched. The current study aimed to explore how Maltese psychotherapists understand and manage feelings of shame in a particular social context. A qualitative approach was taken to explore the individual perspectives of ten Maltese psychotherapists and data gathered from semi-structured interviews was analysed by means of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis - IPA (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009, 2021). The findings indicated that feelings of shame and inadequacy were frequently experienced by Maltese psychotherapists in various professional contexts, including clinical supervision. The perceived impact of these dominant societal codes on therapists’ sense of self and professional practice were considered. Supervisory needs of trainee psychotherapists, such as clinical supervisors’ sensitivity to affect states and empathy for their shamed identity, were discussed. Suggestions as to how personal therapy and supervision can help psychotherapists deconstruct and normalise feelings of shame and inadequacy by linking them to social and cultural dynamics were put forth.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/127555
ISBN: 9789895361489
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacSoWPsy



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