Construction and validation of the motivations to pursue a career in psychotherapy scale (MPCPS)

Abstract

This paper describes the construction, piloting and validation of a questionnaire aimed at assessing motivations to become psychotherapists. A previous study using the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), which gives access to tacit knowledge and unconscious motivations, found that, besides altruistic motives to pursue the profession, psychotherapists may also be driven by “darker” motivators. These include a need for power, financial gain and self-affirmation. The results of this study also point to the existence of traits which could potentially interfere with the outcome of psychotherapy, such as unethical attitudes and behaviours, an inflated sense of self, and difficulties with empathy. Understanding these factors is crucial, as they influence therapeutic relationships, the effectiveness of interventions, and therapists' own well-being. Existing questionnaires have so far been limited to other specific professions, or tend to focus on motivations driving career choice in general. Therefore, the second phase of this study consisted of compiling a questionnaire for assessing motivations to become psychotherapists. This was done by drawing on: 1) the results of the RGT study cited above; 2) items from the Motives, Value, Preferences Inventory (Hogan & Hogan, 2010), a validated scale which assesses motivation in occupational settings; and 3) items from Sussman’s (2007) list of questions used by the author in his qualitative research on psychotherapists’ unconscious motivations. Qualitative piloting of the tool with six psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors was subsequently conducted. This phase resulted in the compilation of a final questionnaire including 87 items divided into 8 subscales. The current presentation will address the administration of this scale to a larger sample in order to conduct quantitative piloting and confirm the factor structure of the scale using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The results of this study have implications for the selection, training, supervision and continuing professional development of psychotherapists. The finalised instrument could be used as a screening tool when prospective psychotherapists are being selected for entry into professional programmes. It could also prove useful in informing the personal psychotherapy and supervision of existing psychotherapists. The questionnaire could also prompt reflection and self-awareness which remain fundamental as motivations evolve throughout a psychotherapist's career.