Associations between the personal style of the therapist, empathy and theory of mind among Argentine psychotherapists

Abstract

The personal style of the therapist refers to the dispositions, traits and attitudes that the therapists display in their professional practice. The associations between personal style of the therapist, empathy and theory of mind, have yet to be examined. This study analyzed the associations between personal style of the therapist, empathy and theory of mind among therapists, while considering the effect of their theoretical background and other contextual and individual variables. The study sample consisted of 152 Argentine therapists. Personal style and empathy were assessed through self-report questionnaires (Personal Style of the Therapist Questionnaire and Interpersonal Reactivity index, respectively), while theory of mind was evaluated with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. Cognitive empathy was associated with a broader attentional focus and higher emotional expressiveness, while affective empathy led to stronger commitment and a higher emotional impact of therapy on the therapist. In addition, psychoanalysts and cognitive behavioral therapists exhibited personal style of therapist differences in their spontaneity and emotional distance, and cognitive behavioral therapists showed higher levels of engagement.