Att förhålla sig till komplexitet

Gudrun Olsson

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

This qualitative study examines how psychotherapists at different levels of experience handle complexity in the psychotherapeutic encounter. This will be reflected in the way the understand and deal with the patiens's breaking of the psychotherapeutic frame. Beginnrs show a superficial understanding. They interpret the deviation of the frame in only one single way. In dealing with the frame deviation, they tend to rigidly stick to rules, or the adopt a laissez-faire attitude when the patient breaks the frame. It is concluded that beginners tend to reject complexity. Therapists who have acquired som experience of therapy, and on their way to establish a psychotherapeutic identity, are able to look at frame deviations from several perspectives accepting different layers of meaning. Also their ways of coping are manyfold. However, there is a gap between understanding and coping. They do not communicate their relatively broad understanding directly to the patients. Rather they ask the patient about the meaning of the deviations. Complexity is borh tolerated and rejected. The experienced therapist not only interpret a deviation of the frame in several ways, but they also directly use their own interpretations in the dialogue with the patient. These therapists are able to capture the context in which the deviation occurred. The may perceive how they themselves contributed to the patient's breaking of frames. They may perceive in what kind of emotional tone the patient carried out or suggested the break. They use all these observations in restoring the frame and in building an understanding toghether with the patient. Complexity in the human encounter is contained.
OriginalsprogSvensk
TidsskriftNordic Psychology
Vol/bind54
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)313-333
ISSN1901-2276
StatusUdgivet - 2002

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