Self-care and internship in Psychology: building a healthy professional practice

Abstract

Introduction: Professional practice in psychology involves significant emotional and ethical demands, particularly in the early stages of a psychological career. Despite the growing discussion surrounding self-care, the integration of this topic into academic psychology training remains overlooked, and there is still a lack of research in this area.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the perceptions of final-year psychology students undertaking curricular or professional internships regarding the relevance of self-care to professional practice. It also sought to identify the strategies used by these interns and to understand the role of such strategies in developing good professional practice.

Methodology: A qualitative methodology was adopted, involving eight semi-structured interviews with psychology interns. Data analysis followed the principles of thematic analysis as proposed by Braun and Clarke.

Results: The participants demonstrated a clear understanding of the concept of self-care, identifying various strategies such as physical activity, meditation, hobbies, psychotherapy, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and social support. They recognized self-care as inseparable from professional practice, viewing it as both an ethical commitment and a health-promoting strategy. However, they pointed out the lack of content on the topic within academic training as well as the scarcity of institutional support resources for psychology interns.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgent need to integrate the theme of self-care into psychology training programs. Promoting self-care practices from the academic stage may foster more self-aware, empathetic, and resilient professionals, helping to prevent early burnout and enhance the quality of clinical interventions.