Introduction
Introduction (Anat)
The profession of psychotherapy regards the insight of the individual in the process of his development throughout life, and of the patient in therapy, as a crucial factor in the process towards achieving self-notion and the ability to gain an understanding of the self. The ability for an insight of the therapist is an essential condition in the process of helping the patient to gain introspection in order to become reflective.
This research will focus on the importance of an “outsight”- in the expansion of an insight ability.
"Outsight"- defined here as an insight of an individual, created by an integration of his insight (achieved by an introspection), with a reflection upon it provided by other individual/s (achieved by a dialogue).
The following study is a qualitative inquiry, conducted with my teacher and co-researcher, Ofer Erez, using grounded theory and action research methodological approach, in the framework of apprenticeship dyadic relationship. The outcomes produced, following interpretation of gathered information and conceptualization of a practical framework, are training programmes. Limitations, contributions and recommendations for further research are explored.
Introduction (Ofer)
The scheme above and the following summary, rigorously describe the original, collaborative research process which I conducted over ten years, according to Action Research and Grounded theory principles, with my student, practice partner and co-Ed.D. researcher, Anat Ben Salmon. Our presentations are each a chronological description of our parallel investigations. As a consequence of the grounded theory methodology, during the process, we reached understandings which altered some aspects of the process. These, must, therefore, be described in this text chronologically as they occurred. Our research presentations will be separate and individually justified, in accordance with the demands of doctoral research regulations. However, when presented together, as it will be, to the broad research community, our process will comprise a new collaborative research methodology and our presentation a new descriptive entity.
My individual presentation will describe my personal and professional background, my experience as a teacher in the apprenticeship process, my professional contribution to the process, the topics I researched separately as part of the joint process, the parts describing my development resulting from the collaboration with Anat, and my individual research outcomes (labelled green in the scheme above). The texts describing the interaction between us and the collaborative outcomes will be presented by both of us in our theses and will be labelled as such (red & orange in the scheme).
The nature of our practice and topic of our investigation relates to psychotherapy for children, adolescents and their families. Our grounded theory investigation produced a framework/site in which practical knowledge can be conceptualised, developed and transformed. This outcome was achieved through a process of extracting the tacit knowledge embedded in the intuitive, practical application of professional expertise of an experienced practitioner (myself), and reflective analysis of that practice through a process of democratic discussions with a trainee practitioner (Anat).