The experience of uncertainty for psychologists who are late in their career

What is it about?

The experience of uncertainty is common for many health professionals, including psychologists. Most research on uncertainty has focused on professionals in the early stages of their career. Less is known about the experience of uncertainty for professionals who are late in their career. In this article, late career psychologists share their stories of uncertainty over the course of their career. They discuss what uncertainty looked like, and how it changed, over their early, mid and late career.

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Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Uncertainty in psychologists is important to understand because it impacts healthcare professionals coping in their role. For example, healthcare professionals who struggle with uncertainty have been shown to be more anxious, more stressed, and at greater risk of burnout. It also impacts the way they work with the clients they support. For example, healthcare professionals who are accepting of uncertainty are more likely to be honest with clients when they are unsure and more likely to involve clients in decisions about their treatment.

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