Abstract
Contemporary literature regarding the experiences of job satisfaction in the psychology profession in South Africa is scarce. Job satisfaction is an essential part of ensuring quality care, as dissatisfied mental health care providers are more likely to provide compromised care. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of job satisfaction amongst psychologists in private practice in South African. To address the absence of voices in literature about job satisfaction of practising psychologists in private practice in South Africa, the study employed a qualitative research approach. Hertzberg’s two-factor theory was instrumental in providing the lens through which to make sense of the data and arrive at the findings. This study is part of broader national study aimed at profiling the private psychological practice in South Africa. Therefore, secondary data in the form of interview transcripts were used. Data were gathered through face-to-face focus group discussions (FGDs).For the purpose of this study, three focus group interviews that were conducted in Mpumalanga (Witbank), Kwazulu-Natal (Durban) and Northern Cape (Kimberley) were selected. Utilising interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), themes were identified and extracted directly from the data. Two master themes were developed; (1) challenging experiences in private practice and (2) rewarding experiences in private practice. The findings of the study indicated that some of the challenges experienced are starting a private practice, running private practice as a business, salary fluctuation, safety and security, burnout, scope of practice and competition in private. Study participants indicated that some of the rewarding experiences of private practice were support, flexibility and variety, recognition and rewards, autonomy, supervision and relationships with clients. The most prominent finding was that psychologists in private practice in South Africa experience various factors that affect job satisfaction, however it can also be rewarding and positive, and holds the potential for job satisfaction.
M.A. (Counselling Psychology)