Gender, marital status, and age in the professional development of psychotherapists in Korea

This study describes a sample of 538 South Korean psychotherapists using data collected as part of a collaborative international study on the development of psychotherapists (Orlinsky et al., 1999; Bae and Orlinsky, 2004). In particular, it examines female therapists, with regard to the unique cultural and social aspects of this particular group, specifically age, gender, and marital status and how these influence their professional experience and personal development. The factors of age, gender, and marital status in turn are related to the nature of their life experiences and careers. Furthermore, it was the older, single, female therapists in Korea who experienced their work more positively, manifested in higher levels of professional control, support, satisfaction, and healing involvement. Similarly, it was also the same group of women (older and single) who experienced their personal lives as more satisfying and fulfilling than any other social group. Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of the traditional and contemporary cultural background of Korea.