Therapists’ experiences with internal representations of clients

Therapists’ discovery: A systematic review of therapists’ intersession experiences.

“…This synthesis incorporated the findings of 12 articles; four quantitative (Geller et al, 2002; Hartmann et al, 2015; Schröder et al, 2009; Zeeck et al, 2012); six qualitative (Arnd-Caddigan, 2012, 2013; Bimont & Werbart, 2018; Knox et al, 2018; Kron & Avny, 2003; Spangler et al, 2009); and two mixed-method articles (Hill et al, 2014; Stewart, 2016). ISE were not the main focus for two quantitative articles (Hartmann et al, 2015; Zeeck et al, 2012) but were included with data related to ISE extracted for the purpose of this study.…”

“…Considering the form of experiences that therapists have between sessions, few articles reported how therapists’ ISE can be experienced in different ways (Arnd-Caddigan, 2012; Knox et al, 2018). For example, Arnd-Caddigan (2012) identified how ISE can involve “visual, auditory and affective” aspects (p. 338).…”

“…For example, Arnd-Caddigan (2012) identified how ISE can involve “visual, auditory and affective” aspects (p. 338). Knox et al (2018) described how ISE can be experienced in the form of “thoughts”, “feelings”, “behaviours”, “visual images”, and a “felt presence” (p. 359). While these articles did not recognize the experience of dreams, some articles focused specifically on dreaming about clients (Hill et al, 2014; Kron & Avny, 2003; Spangler et al, 2009).…”

“…A common theme was that ISE were triggered by a difficulty in therapy, including characteristics of the client that were challenging for the therapist (Arnd-Caddigan, 2012; Hill et al, 2014; Knox et al, 2018; Spangler et al, 2009; Stewart, 2016). For example, participants reported experiencing ISE “when I feel stuck with a case” (Arnd-Caddigan, 2012, p. 339) or “if I am struggling with them” (Stewart, 2016, p. 65).…”

“…For example, one participant reported dreaming about a client’s convictions because “I didn’t feel like I could have helped him with this issue” (Spangler et al, 2009, p. 88). Similarly, Knox et al (2018) reported a participant to have thought they had an ISE about a client who they were having difficulty with as “she was trying to feel less guilty about the client not making progress” (p. 363).…”