Publication Date

2017

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Study Type

Qualitative

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Vulnerability (Personality trait), Psychotherapist and patient, Interpersonal psychotherapy, Psychotherapists-Psychology, Therapeutic alliance, Countertransference (Psychology), Self-disclosure, Intersubjectivity.Vulnerability, Relational psychotherapy, Therapeutic relationship, Mutuality, Wounded healer, Mutual transformation, Countertransference, Professional development, Phenomenological research

Abstract

The current study examined how clinicians practicing relational psychotherapy experience their own vulnerability in the therapeutic relationship with clients. The study followed a qualitative, phenomenological research methodology. The researcher interviewed ten experienced clinicians who practice relational psychotherapy. Four major themes emerged as significant findings. First, vulnerability was described as a quality of engagement in the therapeutic relationship that is open, engaged, and resonant. Second, participants expressed a sense of risk associated with mutual vulnerability. Third, participants emphasized the importance of mutual vulnerability for client’s healing. Fourth, participants described vulnerability as a developmental capacity. These findings have significance for the field of relational psychotherapy, especially training of new clinicians.

Language

English

Comments

iii, 117 pages. Includes bibliographical references (page 100-105)

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