A TWICE-TOLD TALE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY INTO CLIENTs' PERCEPTIONS OF THERAPY

Abstract

Typically, what we understand about therapy and the families we work with comes from the therapist's observations. This inquiry evolved out of the empirical data that indicate the dramatic importance of the client's perceptions to achieving a successful outcome. The research was guided by the understanding that it is vitally important for therapists and therapy researchers to listen to clients and to examine our practices and theoretical approaches in the light of the client's experience of them. This study is a phenomenological inquiry into the client's experience of therapy.

Home-Based Family Therapy: An Illustration of Clinical Work with a Liberian Refugee

“…As Singer (2005) found in her study of clients' experiences of therapy, clients have tremendous stores of expertise that therapists don't ask about. Clients' hypotheses about their presenting problems, Singer (2005) noted, are as sophisticated as those of any professional.…”

Adoptive Mothers’ Perceptions of Reactive Attachment Disorder Therapy and its Impact on Family Functioning

“…Additionally, there has been some research that reflects the value of clients' perceptions of therapy, for example the work of Singer (2005). However, research illuminating adoptive parents' perceptions of attachment therapy has not been previously published.…”

How Master’s Students Document Stability and Change Within and Across Progress Notes

“…In accordance with the collaborative approach to therapy, consideration is given to documenting clients' voices in therapy via patient-therapist co-documentation (Albeck and Goldman 1991), and clients writing their own case notes (Singer 2005). There is limited information in the literature about these latter two practices.…”