Stressors for Clinicians

Sources of stress for psychotherapists include client-induced stress, self-induced stress, work environment stress and event-related stress (Kottler, 2003).  Acute stressors last only a short period of time and can come and go.  Chronic stressors extend over long periods of time and can result in psychological disorders, cardiovascular disease or musculoskeletal disorders.  Six high-level sources of client-induced stress for psychotherapists are suicidal ideation, aggressive behaviors, impulsive behaviors, apathy, depression and premature termination of therapy (Faber, 1983).  Examples of self-induced stress include physical exhaustion, self-doubt and an unhealthy lifestyle (Kottler, 2003).  Work environment stress can result from time pressures and practice settings.  Per research conducted by Rupert and Kent (2007), higher levels of stress were reported in public agency settings rather than solo or group independent practice.  Event-related stressors can include malpractice claims (Welfel, 2006) or major life transitions, like divorce (Kottler, 2003). 

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