Negative experiences in psychotherapy from clients’ perspective: A qualitative meta-analysis

Vybíral, Zbyněk; Ogles, Benjamin M.; Řiháček, Tomáš; Urbancová, Barbora; Gocieková, Veronika

doi:10.1080/10503307.2023.2226813

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…The same pattern of psychotherapist traits and skills described above was also identified in a recent literature review of 51 qualitative studies of patients’ negative experiences of psychotherapy (Vybíral et al, 2024). The identified therapist-related categories associated with treatment failure included when therapists were perceived as uninterested in their patients, critical toward their patients, or incompetent.…”

supporting

confidence: 69%

Psychotherapist factors that patients perceive are associated with treatment failure.

Alfonsson,

Fagernäs,

Beckman

et al. 2024

Psychotherapy

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Psychotherapy is a well-established and effective treatment for various psychiatric problems, but a substantial proportion of patients do not benefit from it, and many terminate treatment prematurely. Previous studies suggest that therapist dissatisfaction may play a pivotal role in premature treatment termination. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate therapist factors that may contribute to less-than-optimal results and dropout. Data were collected through a survey of patients (n = 736) with the experience of previous unsuccessful psychotherapy treatments. Based on prior research, the survey covered 13 therapist behaviors and traits, such as being unstructured or unengaged. The most common therapist factor that patients associated with treatment failure was poor assessment/understanding (86.7%), followed by inflexibility (71.7%) and poor knowledge (70.1%). Furthermore, this study identified four novel therapist-related factors: breaking the treatment contract, inappropriate sexual behaviors or comments, using nonconventional methods, and dominating behaviors. Overall, this study highlights the significance of therapist-related factors in premature treatment termination and treatment failure, shedding light on the crucial role therapists play in the therapeutic process. Understanding these factors is essential for improving psychotherapy outcomes and reducing dropout rates. Further investigations are needed to explore the impact of these therapist behaviors on treatment outcomes and to develop strategies for enhancing therapist competencies and skills to foster a more effective therapeutic alliance.

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supporting

confidence: 69%

Psychotherapist factors that patients perceive are associated with treatment failure.

Alfonsson,

Fagernäs,

Beckman

et al. 2024

Psychotherapy

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“…Moreover, various negative effects of the avoidance and minimization of clients’ S/R issues have been highlighted across studies (e.g., J. S. Martinez et al, 2007; Trusty et al, 2022; Vybíral et al, 2024).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, some therapists in this metaanalysis reported avoidance of integration of S/R as a common "survival" strategy (Hathaway et al, 2004), albeit one that is difficult to justify and can be considered inappropriate (Vieten & Lukoff, 2022). Moreover, various negative effects of the avoidance and minimization of clients' S/R issues have been highlighted across studies (e.g., J. S. Martinez et al, 2007;Trusty et al, 2022;Vybíral et al, 2024). Overall, the metacategories in the second cluster correspond with Tan's (2004) model of implicit and explicit integration of S/R in direct work with clients.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Psychotherapists’ experience with spirituality and religiousness in psychotherapy: A qualitative meta-analysis.

Heřmánková,

Řiháček,

Gocieková

2024

Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

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“…The power of a trusting relationship is even more crucial in psychotherapy, and clients often cite this as more helpful than the technical skills therapists deploy (Fife et al., 2014). In one meta‐analysis of negative experiences clients had in therapy, over half of the studies found that negative interactions included feeling devalued and “for some clients, their typical experience was being viewed more as a thing than a person” (Vybíral et al., 2023, p. 6).…”

Section: Mechanistic Medical and Individualistic Reductionismmentioning

confidence: 99%

I and thou in dialogue: Becoming more relational in couple therapy

Whiting,

Wendt,

Eisert

et al. 2023

Family Process

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Couple therapists have the unique and challenging opportunity of helping people find deeper connection in their intimate relationships. These clinicians apply therapeutic models and interventions designed to help couples. However, many of these models are derived from theoretical, scientific, and sociocultural traditions that conceptualize human phenomena as individualistic and reductionistic, and the language in these theories may not match clients' experiences, which include deeply relational phenomena such as love and loss. We review how Western scientific and sociocultural traditions have shaped conceptualization of problems and clinical intervention in couple therapy. In contrast, we provide an alternative, strongly relational framework for couple therapy that draws upon philosophical perspectives asserting that relational, rather than individual, experience is fundamental in human interaction. These ideas provide relational language which can influence how couple therapy is viewed and enacted. Specifically, we discuss how a strongly relational approach changes how therapists understand and intervene with conflict, abuse, love, and deception. This relational framework can help couples in their own goals to become more unified. Implications for the therapeutic relationship, interventions, and scholarship are provided.

show abstract

Negative experiences in psychotherapy from clients’ perspective: A qualitative meta-analysis

Cited by 13 publications

References 95 publications

Psychotherapist factors that patients perceive are associated with treatment failure.

Psychotherapist factors that patients perceive are associated with treatment failure.

Psychotherapists’ experience with spirituality and religiousness in psychotherapy: A qualitative meta-analysis.

I and thou in dialogue: Becoming more relational in couple therapy

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