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What are the experiences of counsellors who are Christians in developing resilience through effective self-care?

Can you help?

I am looking for counsellors who are Christians to participate in a qualitative research project exploring the lived experience of developing resilience through effective self-care in the first 3 to 10 years of clinical practice, the peak risk period for burn-out (Skovholt and Trotter-Mathison, 2025).

Through the individual experiences of participants, this research aims to identify those factors which can help counsellors who are Christians develop resilience, bouncing back from adversity or challenges in their personal and professional lives to not only avoid professional burnout, but also thrive and flourish professionally and personally.

This research project is part of my Masters studies in Professional Counselling:Theory and Practice at Waverley Abbey College and has been approved by the Waverley Abbey College Ethics Committee.

Literature suggests that those drawn to counselling are at particular risk of burnout especially within the early years (Skovholt and Trotter-Matheson, 2025). Furthermore, research into attitudes of counsellors who are Christians suggest self-care is sometimes neglected (Barton, 2020; Frost, 2021; Tan, 2011). However, research by Hou and Skovholt (2020) found spirituality to be a factor which protected 4 out of their 10 highly experienced respondents against burn-out. They suggest this factor could be researched further. My research will specifically consider, as part of an holistic approach to self-care, those factors or practices (spiritual or otherwise) which enabled participants to develop resilience and nurture wellbeing, thus preventing burnout.

What Participation Involves:

Participation involves a one-to-one semi-structured interview (lasting approximately 60 minutes) via Microsoft Teams (simultaneously recorded on Voice Memos). Interviews will explore the counsellor鈥檚 experience of developing resilience through effective self-care. It will consider aspects of professional and personal life and how counsellors overcame adversity or risk to develop personal and professional resilience. Participants can pause, skip questions, or withdraw at any time without giving a reason. With consent, interviews will be video and audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim (using voice memo software) by me, the researcher. All data will be anonymised (pseudonyms will be used and identifying details removed or modified), stored securely in encrypted, password-protected files, and handled in line with Waverley Abbey College data-protection requirements. A short debrief and signposting to support resources will be provided. If you are interested in participating in this research and meet the inclusion criteria below, please contact me.

Inclusion criteria:

• UK-based, qualified counsellors or psychotherapists registered or accredited with the ACC, BACP, UKCP or equivalent Qualified to at least level 4 Diploma standard
• Currently in practice, seeing clients regularly
• Have been working with clients for 3-10 years
• Identify as practicing Christians for whom faith and spiritual practices are important
• Can identify adversity or challenge in their professional or personal lives and reflect on those practices (spiritual and otherwise) which helped develop resilience.
• Participants must be based in the UK and able to take part in an interview in English via Microsoft Teams.

Researcher: Jane Chapman

Email: jane.chapman@waverleyabbeycollege.ac.uk

You can view the flyer here and the participant information sheet here.