PERSISTENT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGISTS: REFLECTIVE PROFESSIONAL LESSONS AND SELF-CARE IN PRACTICE
Keywords:
Persistent Depressive Disorder, Counseling Psychologists, Reflective Practice, Individual DifferencesAbstract
This article is presented as an analytical and reflective conceptual paper that examines persistent depressive experiences within the professional context of counseling psychologists. The analysis integrates perspectives from clinical psychology, professional ethics, and reflective practice to interpret the psychological mechanisms underlying professional vulnerability and resilience. The study employs a qualitative reflective case analysis methodology, examining two professional cases experiencing comparable life crises but demonstrating different adaptive outcomes. Through this analytical reflection, the article seeks to illuminate the roles of individual differences, emotional regulation, and professional self-care in shaping psychological adjustment within helping professions. Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) is a chronic mood condition characterized by long-term depressive symptoms that significantly affect functioning and professional performance. While most scholarly work has focused primarily on clients, comparatively limited attention has been given to the mental well-being of counseling psychologists themselves. This article aims to analyze persistent depressive symptoms within the professional context of counseling psychologists by integrating theoretical perspectives on depression, emotional risks in helping professions, reflective practice, and ethical professional self-care. A reflective case analysis of two counseling professionals experiencing comparable life crises but demonstrating different adaptive outcomes is presented. The analysis indicates that differences in adjustment outcomes are not solely determined by the severity of life stressors. Rather, they are associated with individual differences in emotion regulation styles, levels of self-awareness, acceptance of personal vulnerability, and effective utilization of support systems. The case that integrated personal vulnerability into professional identity demonstrated greater resilience and adaptive functioning. In contrast, the case that rigidly separated professional identity from personal vulnerability showed increased risks of burnout and occupational impairment. The article proposes the 4R self-regulation model (Recognize, Reflect, Restore, Reconnect) as an individual-level framework, integrated with a three-level systemic framework (individual–professional–organizational) to promote sustainable professional well-being. The findings emphasize that self-care is not merely a personal preference but an ethical responsibility and a foundational component of professional competence and service quality.
References
เกษราภรณ์ เคนบุปผา. (2567). ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างความคิดครุ่นคิดซ้ำและสติในผู้ป่วยโรคซึมเศร้า. วารสารการพยาบาลและสุขภาพจิต, 38(2), 45–59.
พนัสพร ศิริงาม. (2567). ผลของโปรแกรมการเจริญสติที่ประยุกต์ใช้ต่อความผาสุกทางจิตของผู้สูงอายุที่มีภาวะซึมเศร้า. ใน วิทยานิพนธ์ปริญญามหาบัณฑิต. มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์.
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. From https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
Barnett, J. E., Baker, E. K., Elman, N. S., & Schoener, G. R. (2007). In pursuit of wellness: The self-care imperative. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 38(6), 603–612. From https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.38.6.603
Beck, A. T. (1967). Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. Harper & Row.
Bernard, J. M., & Goodyear, R. K. (2019). Fundamentals of clinical supervision (6th ed.). Pearson.
Department of Mental Health. (2023). Thailand mental health report 2023. Ministry of Public Health.
Figley, C. R. (2002). Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists' chronic lack of self care. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(11), 1433–1441. From https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10090
Ghahfarokhi, S. M. A. (2025). The effect of rumination and retrospective negative memory on depression symptoms of love trauma in young individuals: Positive strengths as a moderator. Educational and Cognitive Studies Journal.
Gross, J. J. (Ed.). (2015). Handbook of emotion regulation (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144–156. From https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bpg016
Li, Y., Zhang, H., & Wang, L. (2024). Effects of rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy on depressive symptoms: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1342567. From https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1342567
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. From https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
McCann, I. L., & Pearlman, L. A. (1990). Vicarious traumatization: A framework for understanding the psychological effects of working with victims. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 3(1), 131–149. From https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00975140
Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101. From https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (Eds.). (2019). Psychotherapy relationships that work: Vol. 1. Evidence-based therapist contributions (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Norcross, J. C., & VandenBos, G. R. (2018). Leaving it at the office: A guide to psychotherapist self-care (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Schön, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. Basic Books.
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. From https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338
World Health Organization. (2023). Depressive disorder (depression). From https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
Zur, O. (2007). Boundaries in psychotherapy: Ethical and clinical explorations. American Psychological Association.
