Abstract

Although therapist empathy is a well-established construct in the therapeutic context, therapist insecurity is rarely discussed. The dearth of research on the phenomenon of therapist insecurity is even more apparent in creative arts therapies literature. This qualitative research project stemmed from the author’s insecure feelings around her own empathic practice. It explored her experience of both empathy and insecurity as a drama therapist in training, and sought to clarify the perceived relationship between these two concepts. The research employed both heuristic and arts-based approaches encompassing movement and dramatic improvisation, visual art-making, and creative writing. Journal responses to the art-making were coded and further processed artistically; this paper, along with one of the produced artworks, constitutes the creative synthesis of this research. Findings included personal connections made between the two constructs of empathy and insecurity, mediated by countertransferential material that surfaced during the research process. Findings also inferred the value of self-empathy as a tool when faced with feelings of personal insecurity. The author suggested that the issue of therapist insecurity is one that merits more attention, in both training programs and among professional practitioners.