Young people's experiences of individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy

Abstract

Greater emphasis is currently being placed on user involvement in shaping the delivery of mental health services and the need for increasing the evidence base for psychotherapeutic interventions such as individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy (IPP). This qualitative study reports on the range of experiences of six young people aged between 16 and 21 years in undertaking IPP. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to develop an in-depth understanding of their experiences. The themes identified the young people's initial expectations and concerns about starting psychotherapy, experiences of learning the ropes of therapy and the process and meaning of ending therapy. The affective relationship with the therapist was of particular importance to the young people concerned. Positive experiences of IPP included being listened to and being accepted, and talking and thinking in depth. The power differentials with respect to being a patient were also evident. The paper concludes by suggesting that paying greater attention to young people's views of psychotherapy may improve their initial engagement and help to develop services in more appropriate ways. Qualitative methodologies provide a useful adjunct to conducting process and outcome research in this context.

Facilitators and Barriers to Person‐centred Care in Child and Young People Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review

“…Nonetheless, several studies did not provide sufficient detail on issues such as justification of the research design ( n = 3; Iachini, Hock, Thomas, & Clone, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Street, ), recruitment strategy ( n = 6; Lee et al, ; LeFrançois, ; Ma & Lai, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Offord, Turner, & Cooper, ; Street, ), data collection ( n = 3; LeFrançois, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Street, ), the relationship between researcher and participants ( n = 14; Buckley et al, ; Harper, Dickson, & Bramwell, ; Hart, Saunders, & Thomas, ; Iachini et al, ; Kovshoff et al, ; Lee et al, ; LeFrançois, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Offord et al, ; Oruche, Downs, Holloway, Draucker, & Aalsma, ; Pelto‐Piri, Engstrom, K., & Engstrom, ; Street, ; Tam‐Seto & Versnel, ; Wisdom, Clarke, & Green, ), ethical issues ( n = 4; Abrines‐Jaume et al, ; LeFrançois, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Wisdom et al, ) and rigour of data analysis ( n = 4; Hart et al, ; LeFrançois, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Street, ). Finally, contribution to research, knowledge or policy was not discussed in two studies (Molesworth & Crome, ; Street, ), new areas of research were not identified in six studies (Buckley et al, ; Hart et al, ; Lee et al, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Pycroft, Wallis, Bigg, & Webster, ; Street, ) and generalizability of findings was not taken into account in nine studies (Buckley et al, ; Bury, Raval, & Lyon, ; Coyne et al, ; Kovshoff et al, ; LeFrançois, ; Molesworth & Crome, ; Offord et al, ; Pelto‐Piri et al, ; Street, ).…”

Experiences of Engaging With Mental Health Services in 16- to 18-Year-Olds: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

“…This may lie more with refining multiagency service provision (Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health [JCPMH], 2013) rather than direct clinical intervention. Engagement may be facilitated by clinicians discussing cognitive preparedness (Bury et al, 2007), with adolescents at initial attendance. By making sense of help seeking (Reder & Fredman, 1996), and avoiding separating this from engagement, clinicians may develop understanding of client's idiosyncratic engagement facilitators and/or barriers.…”

Barriers and facilitators to recruitment in mental health services: Care coordinators' expectations and experience of referring to a psychosis research trial

“…In order to engender openness during interviews, the interviewer (IB) was neither a member of the STAR‐Trial research team nor an NHS employee. We acknowledge the dynamic interplay between researcher and participant and how researchers’ beliefs and experiences relating to the topic might be brought to the research process (Bury, Raval, & Lyon, ). SB is a White Australian woman, a clinical academic, and practicing clinical psychologist who has worked with people experiencing psychosis for nearly 15 years.…”