Increased participation in the life context: A qualitative study of clients´ experiences of problems and changes after psychotherapy

• People use psychotherapy in different ways depending on how they perceive their problems and themselves. Exploring a person’s experiences of problems and changes after psychotherapy is important for evaluating outcomes of therapies. Based on descriptions from people with recent experiences of psychotherapy, the aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the participants’ problems before psychotherapy and of changes after psychotherapy. Fourteen participants selected based on variations in age, gender, marital status, occupation, number of sessions and psychotherapy orientation (cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy) were interviewed after completing psychotherapy. A qualitative content analysis of the transcribed interviews was performed. Problems before psychotherapy showed a relationship between the categories overwhelming emotions, cognitive problems and problematic behaviours. The theme self-centredness captured the latent content of being so absorbed by problems that these prevent participation in the life context. Descriptions of changes were summarized in the categories emotions became balanced, cognitive functioning became evident and possibility to influence one’s behaviour, overlapping the two therapy orientations. The themes awareness of self-agency and tools to handle problems expressed the understanding of the descriptions of changes which made an optimal participation in the person’s life context possible. No differences between therapy groups were found.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

affect theory

clients

interviews

psychotherapy

psychotherapy

outcome

qualitative content analysis

Psychology

Psykologi

Psychology

psykologi

Medicine

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)