How does practicing psychotherapy affect the personal life of the therapist? A qualitative inquiry of senior therapists’ experiences

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how psychotherapists' lives and relationships are influenced by their work. METHOD: Twelve senior psychotherapists took part in qualitative interviews. RESULTS: Thematic analysis yielded four significant themes: (i) it has been a privilege to know and contribute, and to be allowed to grow personally; (ii) facing suffering and destructiveness has been a burden; (iii) being a therapist has had an impact on my personal relationships-for better and worse; and (iv) I have needed to construct a way of living that allowed me to continue to do the work. CONCLUSION: Working as a therapist seem to imply a potential for developing openness, tolerance, and creativity, while being vulnerable to becoming overwhelmed with responsibility and feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and despair.

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