Psiholoģiskas palīdzības sniedzēju profesionālās identitātes aptaujas izveides pirmais posms

The aim of this master’s thesis is to develop a professional identity survey for psychological caregivers to include articles that would correspond to the specifics of art therapists' professional identity and to determine the survey's compliance with science-based psychometric characteristics. Professional identity and its formation and development are some of the most crucial aspects to facilitate the existence of any profession (Purvlīce u.c., 2018; Spurgeon, 2012). Inability to clearly define professional identity is a risk to the profession's development and its long-term existence (Spurgeon, 2012). Method: To determine the criteria which would describe the professional identity of an art therapist, the first phase of the study includes an overview of the professional field. During the second phase of the study, in collaboration with two other researchers (Agnese Kolmane, Elīna Akmane) survey articles were generated in accordance with the professional specifics of art therapists and psychological caregivers in general; with the help from the field experts, the generated articles were evaluated. During the third phase, data were gathered using the developed professional identity survey. After the data were compiled, the survey's concordance with science-based psychometric characteristics was determined. The data were acquired from 239 respondents-psychological caregivers: psychiatrists (n=13), nurses (n=37), doctors-psychotherapists (n=8), art therapists (n=45), psychologists (n=55), psychotherapy specialists (n=28), social workers (n=53), 227 women and 12 men. Results: The criteria which characterize the professional identity of an art therapist can be divided into eight categories: “Professional interaction”; “Professional self-value”; “Professional 'I'”; “Professional expertise”; “Engaging Behavior”; “Practicing in a profession”; “Improving oneself as a professional”; “Professional role”. After the analysis of factors, the survey for measuring the professional identity of psychological caregivers contains eight scales comprising three spheres: “Individual sphere” (scales “Professional self-value and effectiveness”; “Professional development and improvement”; “Professional expertise”); “Relationship sphere” (scales “Professional interpersonal relations”; “Involvement behaviour”) “Collective sphere” (scales “Sense of belonging”; “Sustainability of profession”). In total, the scales contain 38 articles. The survey studies a uniform feature; the articles are mutually consistent across all scales (α = 0,715 – 0,873). The survey can contribute to strengthening and sustaining the professional identity of psychological caregiving groups.