Date of Conferral

7-21-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Chris Kladopoulos

Abstract

Emotional competence is essential for effective clinical practice, professional development, and client care. However, limited research has examined how emotional competence develops among students in fully online doctoral clinical psychology programs. This qualitative descriptive phenomenological study explored how students enrolled in online doctoral clinical psychology programs experience the development of emotional competence during clinical field training. Guided by Goleman’s emotional competence framework, the lived experiences of doctoral students as they developed emotional awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and relationship management skills was examined. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 purposively selected participants enrolled in online doctoral clinical psychology programs who had completed clinical field training. Data analysis followed descriptive phenomenological procedures involving identification of significant statements, development of meaning units, and synthesis of themes. Findings indicated that emotional competence developed through reflective practice, supervisory support, emotionally demanding client interactions, and increased awareness of personal emotional responses within professional roles. Participants reported growth in emotional insight, empathic engagement, and relational functioning as they progressed through training. These findings support positive social change by informing training practices that prepare emotionally responsive clinicians to provide ethical and compassionate psychological care within diverse communities.

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