A relevância das emoções do terapeuta no atendimento clínico

Abstract

Psychotherapy is focused on the client's emotions, although, as it is a relationship, the therapist is also affected in the process and thus, his or her emotions and actions can also change the course of treatment. The aim of this study is to explore how the therapist decides to use his or her emotions and how the therapist's emotional involvement can be beneficial to the psychotherapy process. A study was developed with 14 therapists, through semistructured interviews, to probe how therapists work with their emotions in clinical practice. The method was based on Grounded Theory Analysis. The results suggest that the therapist's emotions exposed in session have therapeutic utility, helping to access the client's clinically relevant problems or to diagnosis, evaluate or formulate the case. They can serve as an intervention tool to evoke, reinforce or weaken behaviors. In addition to helping the client access new perspectives concerning the other in the relationship, the awareness of one's own experience, they also help the therapist offer relational interpretations and models for new behaviors. Therapists who work their emotions notice changes in their life in the personal and professional spheres. Concerning the ways and safeguards used by therapists to expose themselves emotionally the study found that the therapist decides on the relevance of his or her emotions based on his or her theoretical model, his or her conceptualization of the client's case and his or her personal sensitivity. Pathways for work with their emotions are developed by the therapist, with consideration of the risks and of their personal difficulties, balancing caution, with courage and accepting the client with humility and love.