Mustafa, Mahum;
(2025)
The experience of a self-compassion virtual reality intervention for helping professionals.
Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).
Preview |
Text
Thesis_submission_volume1_Mustafa.pdf - Accepted Version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Part 1: Scoping Review A scoping review exploring the relationship between trauma-informed care and helping professional burnout. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria, and narrative synthesis showed a consistent association between trauma-informed organisational culture and reduced burnout. The relationship between trauma-informed care training and burnout was varied, with some studies indicating positive outcomes on burnout and others indicating no significant changes in burnout levels. Part 2: Empirical paper This part of the research was conducted jointly with two other trainees (KG) and (EG), whose papers were quantitative in nature. This qualitative component aimed to explore helping professionals’ subjective experiences of a self-compassion intervention incorporating immersive VR, psychoeducation, compassionate script development, mirror self-practice and soothing rhythm breathing. Fifteen adult participants partook in semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis was used for analysis. Three key themes were identified, which highlighted the importance of structured guidance and personalisation of compassionate practice. Additionally, the possibility for internal shifts in awareness of compassion and self-compassion, as well as development of metacognitive regulation were explored. Finally, barriers to implementing aspects of the intervention and compassion and self-compassion more generally were highlighted. While all participants reported increased awareness of self-compassion, increased self-compassion or compassion towards others following the intervention, the experiences of the VR were mixed. Findings also reflected participants’ shifts in fears of self-compassion. Part 3: Critical appraisal This critical appraisal explores reflections on the research processes involved for Part 1 and Part 2, considering how previous research experience may have influenced methodological decisions, how my assumptions and expectations were challenged during interviews and the implications arising from these reflections.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | D.Clin.Psy |
| Title: | The experience of a self-compassion virtual reality intervention for helping professionals |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10213970 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
