‘Trusting the Darkness’: An Exploration of Experiences of Professional Self‐Doubt Among Qualified Psychotherapists

ABSTRACT Background Professional self‐doubt (PSD) refers to therapists' uncertainty about their ability to effectively help clients, and is considered to be a significant aspect of psychotherapy practice given its complexity and ambiguity. Most previous research on PSD has been quantitative, and this study aimed to explore lived experiences of this phenomenon through in‐depth interviews with four qualified psychotherapists. Methods Interview transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and three group experiential themes were identified: Struggling with self‐doubt—it is natural but threatening; The value of self‐doubt—growth through discomfort; and Getting to grips with self‐doubt over time. Results The findings show that while the participants experienced PSD as professionally challenging, personally threatening and uncomfortable, they also considered it valuable to their therapeutic practice; it motivated them to be open and curious with their clients and it was a catalyst for both personal and professional growth. Safe supervision was shown to have an important role in this growth; it was found to be central both to the management of PSD and to learning from it. The findings also suggest that the intensity of PSD tends to lessen over time and that psychological strategies are as important as self‐care behaviours in its management. Conclusions The study findings indicate that safe spaces to reflect on and process experiences of PSD are critical, and key implications for psychotherapist training and supervision are discussed.