Volume 22, Issue 2 (8-2024)
RBS 2024, 22(2): 236-253 |
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Tavallaei V, Najarpourian S, Rastegar Y. Harm in Psychotherapy from the Perspective of Clients: A Qualitative Study. RBS 2024; 22 (2) :236-253
URL: http://rbs.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1738-en.html
URL: http://rbs.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1738-en.html
1- PhD Student of counseling, Department of Social Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabbas, Iran.
2- Associate Professor in Counseling, Department of Social Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabbas, Iran. ,snajjarpourian@gmail.com
3- Associate Professor in Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabbas, Iran.
2- Associate Professor in Counseling, Department of Social Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabbas, Iran. ,
3- Associate Professor in Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandarabbas, Iran.
Abstract: (452 Views)
Aim and Background: The third principle of the Code of Ethics for Professional Practice in Psychology and Counselling Organization Islamic Republic of Iran is “the principle of benefit and non-harm”. Despite such advice, the field of clinical psychology and counseling in Iran has been indifferent to the harmfulness of some interventions and their reporting in research. Despite decades of identifying the negative effects of psychotherapy, there is still ambiguity in understanding theharm, its foundations and consequences. Furthermore, in literature review, defining harm has often focused on the opinions of professionals and therapists, and there is less availability of a clear understanding of the experiences of clients as individuals who benefit from these services.
Methods and Materials: The current study is an exploratory study using qualitative research method. The research tool was semi-structured interviews, conducted with 16 participants who were selected purposefully during the coding stages and considered their experience of attending psychotherapy sessions to be harmful. The data was analyzed using the grounded theory approach of Strauss and Corbin with the MAXQDA software and continued until saturation of categories was reached..
Findings: The recorded information was coded and classified into secondary codes, categories and classes. The therapist's authority and the weakness of the therapeutic relationship were identified as causal conditions related to the therapist, along with the client's sense of helplessness, idolization of the therapist, and limited awareness of patient rights and the treatment process as causal conditions related to the client. According to the analysis of the participants' opinions, the main categories of harm were found to be shame and thought about being abused.
Conclusions: In the realm of harm, there has not been much attention to the interpersonal nature of psychotherapy, and the focus has been on harmful interventions and incorrect decisions made by therapists. The results show that each therapist and each psychotherapy has the potential to harm clients. What can make psychotherapy harmful for clients is the lack of appropriate responsiveness from the therapist to the clients' inner experiences, especially when their negative experiences are related to the therapist-client relationship.
Methods and Materials: The current study is an exploratory study using qualitative research method. The research tool was semi-structured interviews, conducted with 16 participants who were selected purposefully during the coding stages and considered their experience of attending psychotherapy sessions to be harmful. The data was analyzed using the grounded theory approach of Strauss and Corbin with the MAXQDA software and continued until saturation of categories was reached..
Findings: The recorded information was coded and classified into secondary codes, categories and classes. The therapist's authority and the weakness of the therapeutic relationship were identified as causal conditions related to the therapist, along with the client's sense of helplessness, idolization of the therapist, and limited awareness of patient rights and the treatment process as causal conditions related to the client. According to the analysis of the participants' opinions, the main categories of harm were found to be shame and thought about being abused.
Conclusions: In the realm of harm, there has not been much attention to the interpersonal nature of psychotherapy, and the focus has been on harmful interventions and incorrect decisions made by therapists. The results show that each therapist and each psychotherapy has the potential to harm clients. What can make psychotherapy harmful for clients is the lack of appropriate responsiveness from the therapist to the clients' inner experiences, especially when their negative experiences are related to the therapist-client relationship.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/04/19 | Accepted: 2024/08/31 | Published: 2024/08/31
Received: 2024/04/19 | Accepted: 2024/08/31 | Published: 2024/08/31
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