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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 9, No. 10
Publication Date: October 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/assrj.910.13240. Nakao, G. (2022). A Preliminary Brief Report on the Therapeutic Orientation Questionnaire (TOQ): What Does a Discrepancy
Between a Student’s Preferences for Theoretical Orientation Mean? Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(10). 1-03.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
A Preliminary Brief Report on the Therapeutic Orientation
Questionnaire (TOQ): What Does a Discrepancy Between a
Student’s Preferences for Theoretical Orientation Mean?
Gen Nakao
Assistant Professor, Department of Management
Otemon Gakuin University, Osaka, Japan
ABSTRACT
Therapists each hold a therapeutic orientation, and therapists are sometimes also
patients. Anecdotal evidence suggests that therapists may have discrepant
theoretical orientations qua therapist versus qua patient. In this current
preliminary study, the author developed the Therapeutic Orientation
Questionnaire (TOQ) to investigate the phenomenon of this discrepancy. Based on
the qualitative analysis, several themes related to self-referential statement
emerged. Future directions and practical implications were also discussed.
Key words: Therapeutic orientation, counselor education, professional development
(PD)
INTRODUCTION
Therapists each hold a therapeutic orientation (e.g., psychodynamic, humanistic-existential,
cognitive behavioral therapy, multimodal, and systemic approach etc.). Therapists are
sometimes also patients (e.g., psychoanalysts are encouraged to go to therapy to understand
the psychotherapeutic process better). However, anecdotal evidence suggests that therapists
may have discrepant theoretical orientations qua therapist versus qua patient (cf. Buckman &
Barker, 2010; Coan 1987). In this current preliminary study, the Therapeutic Orientation
Questionnaire (TOQ) was developed to investigate the phenomenon of this discrepancy.
METHODS
The TOQ presents the participant with questions about preferred theoretical orientation. The
participant fills out the TOQ twice: once from the perspective of a therapist, once from the
perspective of a client (See the appendix). If there is a discrepancy between the participant’s
preferences as therapist and as client, the TOQ was designed to explore the meaning of the
discrepancy. Consensual qualitative research (CQR; Hill, 2012) was used for data analysis.
Additionally, the TOQ was meant to increase participants’ self-awareness of their own styles
related to therapeutic orientation. A preliminary qualitative study was conducted on doctoral
students of APA-accredited clinical psychology programs (PhD and PsyD programs) in a
metropolitan area in the US (N=25).
RESULTS
Based on the qualitative analysis, one finding was that whenever there was a discrepancy
between preferred theoretical orientations as therapist and as client, a participant made a self-
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 10, October-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
referential statement. For example, some participants for whom there was a discrepancy stated,
“I know myself and the style of therapy that works best for me,” and “I don’t feel my current
functioning is at a level where I would benefit from [a certain] therapy.” Another finding was
that participants with such a discrepancy distinguished between the participants’ own needs
and others’ needs. For instance: “What I like to receive is different from what I believe most
people need and look for,” and “Discrepancy might mean that something I thought works to
[sic] me doesn’t mean the same to a client. I will stop and see if any counter-transference comes
into play.”
DISCUSSION
Those findings imply that the reason for a discrepancy has something to do with the therapist’s
notion of self, and ideas about his or her needs. Recognizing those issues would be helpful to
inform the choice of one’s theoretical orientation as therapist.
Future research and practical implications
Therapists’ experiences as a client are reportedly valuable for the development of their
professionally relevant self-awareness (MacDevitt, 1987). Future research to investigate the
meaning of placing oneself in each chair should be further discussed. Recognizing notion of self
and ideas about his or her needs would be helpful to inform the choice of one’s theoretical
orientation as therapist. Also, future research using TOQ could further investigate the meaning
of placing oneself in each chair in the context of counselor professional development (e.g.,
Rønnestad & Skovholt, 2003).
References
Buckman, J. R., & Barker, C. (2010). Therapeutic orientation preferences in trainee clinical psychologists:
Personality or training? Psychotherapy Research, 20(3), 247-258.
Coan, W. E. (1987). Theoretical Orientation in Psychology and the Traditions of Freud, Jung, and Adler.
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 18 (2), 134-139.
Hill, C. E. (Ed.) (2012). Consensual qualitative research: A practical resource for investigating social science
phenomena. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
MacDevitt, J. W. (1987). Therapists’ personal therapy and professional self-awareness. Psychotherapy,
24 (4), 693-703.
Rønnestad, M. H. & Skovholt, T. M (2003). The journey of the counselor and therapist: Research findings and
perspectives on professional development. Journal of Career Development, 30, 5-44.
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Nakao, G. (2022). A Preliminary Brief Report on the Therapeutic Orientation Questionnaire (TOQ): What Does a Discrepancy Between a Student’s
Preferences for Theoretical Orientation Mean? Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(10). 1-03.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.910.13240
APPENDIX: THE THERAPEUTIC ORIENTATION QUESTIONNAIRE (TOQ)
Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this survey
This survey should only take about 10~15 minutes of your time. Your answers will be
completely anonymous.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact me at g-nakao@otemon.ac.jp
Thank you for your consideration.
Gen Nakao, Ph.D.
The Therapeutic Orientation Questionnaire (TOQ)
Instruction: Please answer the questions in order (from 1 to 5).
1. As a therapist, what is your favorite theoretical orientation?
2. Please tell me the reason why you chose this orientation as a therapist.
3. Now, as a client, what is your favorite theoretical orientation?
4. Please tell me the reason why you chose the orientation as a client.
5. If there is a discrepancy between your preferred orientations as a therapist and as a
client, why is this so?
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Today’s Date: (month/day/year) / /
Age:
Gender (circle one) Male Female
Your Program (circle one) PsyD PhD MA MSW MS EdD MD
Program Name
University Name
Please specify your religion
Please specify your ethnicity
What race do you most closely identify with?
American Indian or Alaska Native White Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Black or African American Asian
Marital Status Single Living as Married Married Separated Divorced Widowed
Were you born in the U.S.? Yes No
If No, how old were you when you came to the U.S.?
Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this survey.