“Are we supposed to be ok?” Psychologists’ Experiences of Disclosing Mental-Health Difficulties in the Workplace: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

Abstract
Objectives
Psychologists often manage personal mental-health difficulties within professional cultures that emphasise competence, emotional control, and resilience. This study explored how UK practitioner psychologists experience disclosing their own mental-health challenges at work, and what interpersonal and organisational conditions shape these decisions.
Methods
Eleven qualified psychologists from diverse areas of practice took part in semi-structured interviews. A Reflexive Thematic Analysis was conducted, informed by a constructivist stance and supported through ongoing reflexive engagement and supervisory dialogue to enhance analytic credibility.
Results
Four themes captured the relational, cultural, and identity-laden nature of disclosure. Participants navigated internalised ideals of the “competent” psychologist, which heightened self-scrutiny and fear of judgement. Disclosure depended heavily on relational safety: attuned supervisory responses enabled openness, whereas dismissive, pathologising, or procedural reactions intensified perceived risk. Organisational cultures, including stigma, opaque fitness-to-practise processes, and resilience narratives, further constrained psychological safety. Participants also described efforts to model vulnerability and imagine more compassionate cultures.
Conclusions
Disclosure does not occur in isolation; it is shaped by relationships, organisational transparency, and prevailing professional norms. Enhancing clarity around support processes, fostering attuned supervisory relationships, and encouraging thoughtful leadership visibility may help create environments in which psychologists feel safer to seek support.