Spiritual Development Through Client Encounters: Reflections of Senior Psychotherapists

Abstract

Psychotherapist development and spirituality are recognized as important factors in psychotherapy practice and outcomes. While the study of psychotherapist development has proliferated in the last decade, it has mainly focused on the professional aspect of development, to the exclusion of the broader whole of the therapist as a person. Research on therapist spirituality, on the other hand, remains limited to its application and relevance within the therapeutic context, with little attention beyond the realm of therapists’ professional practice. Moreover, the emphasis in both cases has remained on the psychotherapist as the one who affects the client, and on the client’s process of change as a result. Although the role of client influence in the professional development of psychotherapists has been noted, little research exists. Even less is known about client impact on therapist’s development as individuals, beyond psychotherapy practice. Since spirituality is an important dimension of many therapists’ lives, a gap in knowledge exists on how this dimension is impacted by client work. This qualitative study explored the spiritual development experienced by psychotherapists as a result of work with clients, as seen retrospectively over the course of their career, and the resulting changes in their way of being-in-the-world. Nine senior therapists, with 25 years or more of clinical experience, have taken part. Data were collected through a questionnaire, semi-structured interview and written reflection. Phenomenological Inquiry was used to describe and interpret the data. The results revealed a dynamic, and multi-faceted process of spiritual development with implications for therapists’ practice and for their lives beyond the therapy room. Six themes (Deepening, Expansion, Enrichment, Integration, Breaking Through, and Outer Growth) captured participants’ experience. These themes and their sub-themes have contributed to a deeper understanding of psychotherapist development, psychotherapist spirituality and spiritual development, and of the role of client encounters within this. A theoretical conceptualization of spiritual development in the form of a theoretical model was proposed in an effort to reflect the senior therapists’ experience of spiritual development through client work. Furthermore, participants’ reflections provided insights towards enriching, guiding, and supporting the younger generation of therapists in the beginning stages of their development, with implications for training, education, and practice.