SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Okul Psikolojik Danışmanlığı Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1

Self-Compassion from the Perspective of Trainee Psychological Counselors: A Phenomenological Study

Aday Psikolojik Danışmanların Perspektifinden Öz-Şefkat: Fenomenolojik Bir İnceleme

Beyza Erol(YOZGAT BOZOK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)
Gökçe Sancak Aydın(YOZGAT BOZOK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)
Pages
146–169
Publication Date
2026-06-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that counselor trainees are aware of the professional importance of self-compassion; however, they experience difficulties in applying this skill in practice.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to examine the self-compassion perceptions of counselor trainees.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The study group consisted of 15 counselor trainees (11 female, 4 males; Mage = 21.21, SD = 2.16) enrolled in a guidance and psychological counseling program at a public university.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that counselor trainees are aware of the professional importance of self-compassion; however, they experience difficulties in applying this skill in practice.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Öz-şefkat · aday psikolojik danışman · nitel araştırma

Abstract

This study aims to examine the self-compassion perceptions of counselor trainees. The research was conducted using a qualitative design within a phenomenological framework. The study group consisted of 15 counselor trainees (11 female, 4 males; Mage = 21.21, SD = 2.16) enrolled in a guidance and psychological counseling program at a public university. Participants were selected through purposive sampling on a voluntary basis, and the data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that counselor trainees are aware of the professional importance of self-compassion; however, they experience difficulties in applying this skill in practice. Self-criticism emerged as a significant barrier to self-compassion, while some participants reported struggling to develop self-compassion due to perceiving self-kindness as a sign of weakness. Among self-compassion enhancement strategies, positive self-talk was the most frequently reported, alongside cognitive and emotional regulation strategies such as expressive writing and positive reframing. Additionally, perceptions emerged that self-compassion enhances empathy, strengthens the therapeutic relationship with clients, and serves a protective role against burnout.

Özet

Bu çalışma, psikolojik danışman adaylarının öz-şefkat algılarını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, fenomenolojik yaklaşım çerçevesinde nitel bir desenle yürütülmüştür. Çalışma grubunu, bir devlet üniversitesinde psikolojik danışmanlık ve rehberlik alanında öğrenim gören 15 aday psikolojik danışman (11 Kadın, 4 Erkek; Myaş= 21.21, SSyaş= 2.16) oluşturmaktadır. Katılımcılar amaçlı örnekleme ile gönüllülük esasına göre belirlenmiştir ve veriler yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Bulgular, aday psikolojik danışmanların öz-şefkatin mesleki öneminin farkında olduklarını, ancak bu beceriyi uygulama düzeyinde yeterince kullanamadıklarını göstermektedir. Öz eleştiri, öz-şefkatin önünde önemli bir engel olarak öne çıkarken, bazı katılımcıların ise kendine karşı nazik olmayı güçsüzlük olarak gördüğü için öz-şefkat geliştirmekte zorlanmaktadır. Öz-şefkat geliştirme stratejileri arasında en sık olumlu içsel konuşmanın kullanıldığı ve bunun yanı sıra yazma ve olumlu yeniden çerçeveleme gibi bilişsel ve duygusal düzenleme stratejilerinin de tercih edildiği görülmüştür.

🔖

Cite This Article

Erol, B., Aydın, G. S. (2026). Self-Compassion from the Perspective of Trainee Psychological Counselors: A Phenomenological Study. Okul Psikolojik Danışmanlığı Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 146–169. https://doi.org/10.58433/opdd.1956750

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (42)

  1. American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. Author.
  2. Arslan, G. (2023). My inner perfectionist and nasty side! Self-compassion, emotional health, and subjective well-being in college students. Personality and Individual Differences, 210, 112232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112232
  3. Coaston, S. C., & Lawrence, C. (2024). Self-Compassion and Support for the Wounded Healer in Counselor Education. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 19(1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2022.2146027
  4. Crego, A., Yela, J. R., Riesco-Matías, P., Gómez-Martínez, M. Á., & Vicente-Arruebarrena, A. (2022). The Benefits of Self-Compassion in Mental Health Professionals: A Systematic Review of Empirical Research. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 15, 2599–2620. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S359382
  5. Ferrari, M., Hunt, C., Harrysunker, A., Abbott, M. J., Beath, A. P., & Einstein, D. A. (2019). Self‐compassion interventions and psychosocial outcomes: A meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 10, 1455–1473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01134-6
  6. France, V. W., "Examining the Role of Self-Compassion in Resilience Among African American Women: A Qualitative Perspective" (2021). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2976. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2976
  7. Germer, C. & Neff, K. D. (2019). Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). In I. Itvzan (Ed.) The handbook of mindfulness-based programs: Every established intervention, from medicine to education (pp. 357-367). Routledge.
  8. Gilbert, P. (2023). Self-Compassion: An Evolutionary, Biopsychosocial, and Social Mentality Approach. In: Finlay-Jones, A., Bluth, K., Neff, K. (eds) Handbook of Self-Compassion. Mindfulness in Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22348-8_4
  9. Gökkoruk, Y., & Gündoğan, Y. (2025). Öz şefkat ve ruh sağlığı ilişkisinde psikolojik esnekliğin aracı rolünün incelenmesi. Psikoloji Araştırmaları, 3(1), 23-39. https://izlik.org/JA28HK74DD
  10. Hashem, Z., & Zeinoun, P. (2020). Self-compassion explains less burnout among healthcare professionals. Mindfulness, 11(11), 2542-2551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01469-5
  11. Ingstrup, M. S., Mosewich, A. D., & Holt, N. L. (2017). The development of self-compassion among women varsity athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 31(4), 317-331. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2016-0147
  12. Inwood, E. & Ferrari, M. (2018), Mechanisms of Change in the Relationship between Self-Compassion, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Appl Psychol Health Well-Being, 10: 215-235. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12127
  13. İkiz, F. E., Baş, A. U., & Arslan, Ü. (Eds.) (2022). Psikolojik danışma etik kodları (2. Baskı). Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Derneği.
  14. Jacquet, L., Paucsik, M., Guy, J. B., Eve, K., Ben-Taarit, I., & Lantheaume, S. (2024). Self-compassion and psychological well-being of radiographers at work. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 19(1), 2287621. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2287621
  15. Krippendorff, K. (2018). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Sage publications.
  16. Kotera, Y., Green, P., & Sheffield, D. (2021). Mental health of therapeutic students: Relationships with attitudes, self‐criticism, self‐compassion, and caregiver identity. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 49(5), 701–712. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2019.1704683
  17. Kotera Y & Van Gordon W (2021) Effects of Self-Compassion Training on Work-Related Well-Being: A Systematic Review. Fronties Psycholgy. 12:630798. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.630798
  18. Kosirnik, C., Philippe, R. A., & Pomini, V. (2025). Navigating pathways to develop self-compassion in sport, dance, and music: Qualitative insights from volunteer participants on balancing criticism and compassion, the pivotal influence of the social environment and strategies to overcome setbacks. Plos one, 20(6), e0326612. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326612
  19. Kullman, S. M., Chudyk, A. M., Ferguson, L. J., Beall, J., Hunter, V., Johnson, K., Mallatrattd, A., Cabingand, M., Kowalskic, K., & Strachan, S. M. (2025). Experiences of people with prediabetes in a self-compassion and physical activity intervention: a qualitative study using participatory Theme Elicitation. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2025.2589103
  20. Latorre, C., Leppma, M., Platt, L. F., Shook, N., & Daniels, J. (2023). The relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion for self-assessed competency and self-efficacy of psychologists-in-training. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 17(2), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000395
  21. Laughton, S., Abkhezr, P., Kirby, J. N., & Burton, N. W. (2026). A qualitative study of compassion from the perspective of adolescents: a foundation for counselling practice. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2025.2529009
  22. Lyon, T. R., & Galbraith, A. (2023). Mindful self-compassion as an antidote to burnout for mental health practitioners. Healthcare, 11 (20), 2715. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202715
  23. Marsh, I. C., Chan, S. W. Y., & MacBeth, A. (2021). Self-compassion and psychological distress in adolescents—a meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 12, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0850-7
  24. Nas, E. (2025). Moderating effect of self compassion on compassion fatigue and satisfaction among counselors. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 31020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15732-z
  25. Neff, K. D. (2023). Self-compassion: Theory, method, research, and intervention. Annual Review. 74:193-218.https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031047
  26. Neff, K. (2021). Öz Şefkat: Kendine nazik olmanın kanıtlanmış gücü. (E. Güldemler, Çev.; B. Karatepe, Ed.). Diyojen Yayıncılık.
  27. Neff, K. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85-101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
  28. Ondrejková, N., & Halamová, J. (2022). Prevalence of compassion fatigue among helping professions and relationship to compassion for others, self-compassion and self-criticism. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30, 1680–1694. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13741
  29. Papadimitriou, A., Karakasidou, E., & Stalikas, A. (2023). The Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Empathy and Compassion Fatigue in Counseling Psychologists. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.46853/001c.88375
  30. Patsiopoulos, A. T., & Buchanan, M. J. (2011). The practice of self‐compassion in counseling: A narrative inquiry. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42, 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024482
  31. Paucsik, M., Nardelli, C., Bortolon, C., Shankland, R., Leys, C., & Baeyens, C. (2023). Self-compassion and emotion regulation: testing a mediation model. Cognition and Emotion, 37(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2022.2143328
  32. Phillips, W. J., & Hine, D. W. (2021). Self-compassion, physical health, and health behaviour: a meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 15(1), 113–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2019.1705872
  33. Stutts L. (2022). Increasing Self-Compassion: Review of the Literature and Recommendations. The Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education 20(2), A115-A119. https://doi.org/10.59390/WSZK3327
  34. Tavakol, M., & Sandars, J. (2025). Twelve tips for using phenomenology as a qualitative research approach in health professions education. Medical Teacher, 47(9), 1441–1446. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2025.2478871
  35. Tierney, S., Ozer, C. T., & Perry, S. (2018). Having the “headspace” for compassion toward self and others: A qualitative study of medical students’ views and experiences. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 30(3), 274-283. https://doi.org/10.1080/10401334.2018.1423973
  36. Van der Merwe, A., & Hunt, X. (2019). Secondary trauma among trauma researchers: Lessons from the field. Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 11(1), 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000414
  37. Van Manen, M. (2023). Phenomenology of practice: Meaning-giving methods in phenomenological research and writing. Routledge.
  38. Voon, S. P., Lau, P. L., Leong, K. E., & Jaafar, J. L. S. (2022). Self-compassion and psychological well-being among Malaysian counselors: The mediating role of resilience. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 31(4), 475-488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-021-00590-w
  39. Wakelin, K. E., Perman, G., & Simonds, L. M. (2022). Effectiveness of self‐compassion‐related interventions for reducing self‐criticism: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2586
  40. Wilson, C., Misajon, R., & Brooker, J. (2023). Understandings and applications of self-compassion and self-coldness among Hazaras in Australia: a qualitative study. Australian Journal of Psychology, 75(1), 2257362. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2023.2257362
  41. Woodfin V., Molde H., Dundas I. & Binder P.E. (2021) A Randomized Control Trial of a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention for Perfectionism, Anxiety, Depression, and Body Image. Front. Psychol. 12:751294. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.751294
  42. Zessin, U., Dickhäuser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self‐compassion and well-being: A meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 7, 340–364. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12051Digital Object Identifier (DOI)