Unavoidable Stressful Client Situations: Sources of Social Support on Clinical Psychologists’ and Counsellors’ Psychological Well-Being

• Published in: Journal of concurrent disorders 2023, Vol.5 (1-Supplemental), p.5
• Main Authors: Yip, Yun Ting, Teoh, Ai Ni, Low, Poi Kee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hypotheses; Psychologists; Social support
• ISSN: 2562-7546; 2562-7546
• DOI: 10.54127/HBSF9201

The increasing demand for mental health services in Singapore makes it important to understand how the stressful nature of clinical psychologists’ and counsellors’ professions affect their psychological well-being. The study explored how different sources of social support (clinical supervisor, coworker, nonprofessional) predict clinical psychologists’ and counsellors’ exhaustion, stress, depression, and anxiety levels during stressful client sessions. Participants (78 trainee/professional clinical psychologists and counsellors; Mage = 39.73 years old, SD = 10.83) recalled a stressful client situation before completing online questionnaires. Results from stepwise multiple regression indicated that, partially aligned with the hypothesis, social support from coworker predicted lower exhaustion but not on other aspects of psychological well-being. Contrary to the hypothesis, social support from clinical supervisor and nonprofessional did not predict psychological well-being. These findings suggest that organizations may support clinical psychologists and counsellors by enhancing the coworker social support system. Coworkers showing care and concern (i.e., social comfort) or giving assurance with regards to competencies and abilities (i.e., social encouragement) to clinical psychologists and counsellors in Singapore might be helpful for their psychological well-being