Abstract
Purpose: Research has identified that workplace bullying is a significant problem within health care, with health-care trainees at particular risk. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of workplace bullying from the perspectives of trainee clinical psychologists.
Design/methodology/approach: A total of 14 trainee clinical psychologists recruited from British universities participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings: The analysis generated four main themes: workplace bullying “activating threat responses”, the process of trainee clinical psychologists “making sense of bullying”, “difficulties navigating power within the system” when experiencing and reporting bullying and “finding safety and support” within and outside of work contexts.
Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known study of workplace bullying specifically within clinical psychology. The research has implications for guidance for training institutions and professional bodies associated with trainee mental health professionals.
Design/methodology/approach: A total of 14 trainee clinical psychologists recruited from British universities participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings: The analysis generated four main themes: workplace bullying “activating threat responses”, the process of trainee clinical psychologists “making sense of bullying”, “difficulties navigating power within the system” when experiencing and reporting bullying and “finding safety and support” within and outside of work contexts.
Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known study of workplace bullying specifically within clinical psychology. The research has implications for guidance for training institutions and professional bodies associated with trainee mental health professionals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 139-152 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 14 Dec 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 22 Jan 2021 |
Keywords
- workplace bullying, clinical psychology, training, mental health
- Training
- Mental health
- Workplace bullying
- Clinical psychology