Perspectives of MSW Students and Faculty on Personal Therapy and the Requirement for Personal Therapy

The literature on the subject of personal therapy has shown that professional therapists view the experience of personal therapy as enriching for personal and/or professional reasons. Studies conducted with students in the professional helping fields have found similar positive views regarding the value of attending personal therapy. Literature regarding a requirement for attending personal therapy as part of graduate education has found mixed views from students, who view mandatory therapy as both challenging and potentially beneficial for a range of reasons. There is minimal research specific to social work regarding MSW student and faculty views on the subject. This study explored student and faculty perspectives on the subject of personal therapy for students enrolled in MSW programs and on a requirement for attending personal therapy as a condition for graduation. Results of the study indicate that both MSW students and faculty believe that personal therapy may be beneficial to personal and/or professional growth, and that a majority of students and faculty surveyed support a requirement for personal therapy as a condition for graduation.