Shame, guilt, depression, anxiety, and substance use amongst professional counsellors in Australia

Abstract

This co-relational research examined the relationship between proneness to shame and guilt, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse amongst professional counsellors in Australia. Shame and guilt have been argued to have unique implications for one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Shame involves the harmful criticism of one’s self, whereas guilt involves the more adaptive and prosocial criticism of one’s actions. Trait shame and guilt have been reported to have direct links to psychopathological symptoms and may also be associated with substance misuse. The present study examined these two emotions within a counselling context. Eight hundred and seventy-six professional counsellors in Australia were recruited using a multiple mailing method (40.8% overall response rate). Results suggested that professional counsellors in Australia tend to more guilt-prone than shame-prone, exhibit low levels of depression and anxiety, and do not engage in harmful levels of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine use.