Interpersonally traumatised patients' view of significant and corrective experiences in the psychotherapeutic relationship

• Background: Clinical experience points to the importance of significant experiences in the therapy relationship for patients who have been interpersonally traumatised but the empirical research is limited.Aim: The aim was to gain increased knowledge about how significant and potentially corrective experiences within the therapeutic relationship were described by patients in trauma-focused therapy and how the participants thought such experiences might have affected the therapeutic work.Method: Five patients who were, or recently had been, in trauma-focused therapy were interviewed about their experiences of the therapy relationship. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews.Results: Four themes were identified: 'Human contact', 'Validation', 'To face the painful' and 'Development of trust'. Positive experiences in the therapeutic relationship were sometimes seen as crucial for the therapeutic work and for patients' improvement.Conclusions: Previous findings about the significance of corrective experiences in psychotherapy were confirmed, particularly experiences of the therapist's accepting stance, personal and human contact and encouragement. The therapist's ability to evoke trust in the patient and her capacity to help patients to face painful material may be particularly important for traumatised patients.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

PTS D

trauma

psychotherapy relationship

corrective emotional experience

corrective relational experience

significant events

attachment

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)