Institute for Clinical Social Work The Impact of Yoga on the Lives of Psychotherapists A Dissertation

196 Pages·2015·0.99 MB·English

Institute for Clinical Social Work

The Impact of Yoga on the Lives of Psychotherapists

A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the
Institute for Clinical Social Work in Partial Fulfillment
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

By
Lisa Huffman

Chicago, Illinois
February, 2015
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ABSTRACT

This study explored the impact of the practice of yoga on the personal and
professional lives of psychotherapists. The study was qualitative, using Interpretive
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Eight licensed psychotherapists were interviewed in-
depth, about their perceptions regarding the influence of their yoga practices on their
personal lives and professional work. The five major findings of this study were that yogi
psychotherapists:
1. think integrative-relationally and secular-spiritually,
2. have significant traumas in their pasts,
3. experience trauma and healing in their work,
4. experience yoga as healing traumas, and
5. “live” their yoga.
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To my colleagues who work to nurture their well-being, as they better that of others.
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Acknowledgements

Much appreciation to the committee that walked me deftly down this research
road: Jim Lampe, for assuaging anxieties while guiding in good directions. Ida Roldan,
for thoughtfully sharing turns of theory. Denise Duval, for launching this rightly. Freddi
Friedman, for nurturing keen interest in trauma. And Madelyn Greenberger, for sharing
enthusiasm, and showing how it’s really done.
Many thanks to cohort comrades for fine fellowship; notably Tara Thomason and
Michelle Piotrowski, for salvaging sanity time and again. Special thanks to Lynn
McIntyre, for longstanding, caring counsel, and deepest gratitude to ML and D, for
making possible the trip, then cheering through the many chapters.
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Table of Contents

Page
Abstract…………………………………………………………………......……………ii
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………......….........iv
Chapter
I. Introduction…………………………………………..………….......…...1
Overview of the Problem
Significance for Clinical Social Work
Formulation of the Problem
II. Literature Review……………………...…………………………….......5
Yoga History
Yoga Popularity & Practice
Yoga Therapy
Therapist Trauma & Yoga
Countertransference & Yoga
Compassion, Yoga & Psychotherapy
Therapist Psychotherapy
Benefits of Yoga for Psychotherapists
Relational Theory
Yoga & Relational Theory
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Table of Contents—Continued

III. Methodology………………………………………….........……………42
Type of Study & Design
Scope of Study, Population & Sampling
Data Collection, Methods & Instruments
Procedures for Data Analysis
Statement on Protecting the Rights of Human Subjects
IV. Introduction To Results……………………………………..............….53

V. Yogi Psychotherapists: Diverse Nature & Nurture (Yogi Guruvats:
Mizra Dharma Oba Posa).......................................................................58
Yogi Therapists (Yogi Guruvats)
Work Callings (Karman Ahvanas)
Big & Small Traumas (Mahan andati Alpa Viparyasas)
Put Into Practice (Putayati Indu Hinakarman)
VI. Balance of Stress (Antara Ova Ayasa)...................................................78
Heavy Endeavors (Alasa Aindavas)
Workplace Peace (Vyapara Zama)
Self-Care (Zulb-Raksa)
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Table of Contents—Continued

VII. Yoga Karma………………………………………………………...............….101
Put Into Motion (Putayati Indu Pati)
Individual Souls & Teachers (Jeevas oba Gurus)
Kind Communities (Dayalu Kulas)
Spiritual Seat (Yogayatra Asana)
Healing Discipline (Halini Sadhana)
Peace, Power & Awe (Shaanthi, Shakthi oba Sambrhama)
Presence of Mind (Vartamanatva oba Manas)
Cultivating Compassion (Bhavana Karuna)
Career Energy (Presana Chi)
Complete Consciousness (Samaadhi)
Out of the Blue (Bahis Uparistat)
Work Flow (Karman Andolana)
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Table of Contents—Continued

VIII. Findings & Implications…………….....………………………...................….145
Introduction
Brief Description of Findings
Theoretical Implications
Validity & Limitations of Study
Implications for Clinical Social Work
Social Implications
Future Research
Appendices
A. Informed Consent Form……………..................…………................…….171
B. Double Hermeneutic Analysis…………………..........................................175
References……………………………………………………………...............178
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Chapter I

Introduction

General Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this research project was to study the perceived impact of yoga
practice on the personal and professional lives of psychotherapists. Yoga practice is
generally defined for this study as: mental and physical exercises originating as part of
the Hindu discipline and practiced to promote control of the body and mind, boost
awareness, mindfulness and tranquility, and achieve liberation of the self. The study used
a phenomenological approach to gain understanding about who these yoga-practicing, or
“yogi” psychotherapists are, in terms of: professional and theoretical beliefs, educational
and professional history, spiritual beliefs and practices, personal and familial history, and
self-care and health history. This fundamental knowledge supports and contributes to the
study’s primary objective, which was to gain understanding of what these yogi
psychotherapists are experiencing in terms of benefits from yoga practice, including:
mental, physical and emotional health changes, self-understanding and mindfulness,
worldview and relational changes, and life decision alterations.

Significance for Clinical Social Work
This study is significant, in part, because psychotherapists have a need for self-
awareness to insure competency in their work (Coster & Schwebel, 1997). Additionally,
therapists have special need for self-care to offset vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue
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and burnout because of the intense emotional nature of their work (Barrow, English &
Pinkerton, 1987; Pearlman & Mac Ian, 1995; Coster & Schwebel, 1997). Research into
rate of burnout shows 40% of polled clinical psychologists reporting high levels of
emotional exhaustion, and 35% reporting high levels of depersonalization; 21% even
indicated they would choose some other career if they had it to do again (Ackerley,
Burnell, Holder, & Kurdek, 1988).
Meanwhile, yoga is experiencing a boom worldwide, with the numbers of
American practitioners jumping 30% in just the last 5 years, to 20 million; now almost a
tenth of America reports practicing yoga on a regular basis (Macy, 2012). A rapidly
growing body of research details the wide spectrum of health benefits of yoga for various
populations, both with and without specific physical, mental and emotional challenges
(Wood, 1993; Schell, Allolio, & Schonecke, 1994; Gura, 2007; Yang, 2007; Sharma,
Gupta & Bijlani, 2008; Atkinson & Levine, 2009; Subramanya & Telles, 2009; Telles,
Gaur & Balkrishna, 2009; Ross & Thomas, 2010; Wren, Wright, Carson, & Keefe, 2011;
Yoshihara, Hiramoto, Sudo & Kubo, 2011; Rocha et al, 2012).
Yoga has recently gained attention as an effective reducer of stress for health
caregivers, specifically, helping to decrease anxiety levels and increase immune response
rates to combat potential stress-related health problems (Schure, Christopher, &
Christopher, 2008; Christopher & Maris, 2010; Newsome, 2010; Black et al, 2012). The
number of psychotherapists becoming yoga instructors is on the rise. Perhaps this is a
result of recent research supporting yoga’s health benefits. Psychotherapists are training
to instruct in traditional yoga and also a relatively new field, “yoga therapy”; this