Invitation to Participate in a Study on Therapists’ Experiences of Empathy Blocks

Dear PCT Scotland colleagues

I am a PhD student at the University of Strathclyde, conducting a study exploring therapists’ experiences of empathy blocks in therapy sessions under the supervision of Dr. Susan Stephen (susan.stephen@strath.ac.uk), Dr. Anna Robinson and Dr. Robert Elliott. The aim of this research is to better understand what therapists consider to be empathy blocks, how they experience them, and how they navigate or work through these moments in therapy.

You are invited to participate in this research if you are:

• A qualified Person-centred/EFT therapist (or in a therapist in training) currently practising and receiving supervision.
• Able to recall an experience where you felt your empathy was blocked

What participation involves:
In Phase 1, you will be asked to complete an online Qualtrics form that includes a brief information sheet, a consent form, and one open-ended question inviting you to describe an in-session experience where you felt your empathy was blocked. At the end of the form, you can indicate if you would be willing to be contacted for Phase 2, which involves an optional 60–75 minute online interview to explore your experience in more depth.

Participation is completely voluntary. You may skip any questions you prefer not to answer and can withdraw from the study at any time before data analysis begins, without giving a reason.

This study has been approved by the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Psychological Sciences and Health Ethics Committee.

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information, please click the link below to access the Information Sheet and consent form: https://hass.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5tGzi1vXDwv1bCe

If you have any questions about the study, please feel free to contact me at simran.chatha@strath.ac.uk.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this invitation. Recruitment for Phase 1 will be closed by 30^th March, 2026. Please feel free to share this invitation with others who might be interested.

Warm regards,
Simran Kaur Chatha, PhD student,
Department of Psychological Sciences and Health
Email: simran.chatha@strath.ac.uk