Egenterapi-skjuter skarpt men träffar olika

The purpose of this study was to explore professional therapists’ experiences of personal therapy in an attempt to understand its purpose. The study applied a qualitative approach combining phenomenological and hermeneutic perspectives through the model of IPA (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis). Six psychodynamically oriented therapists were interviewed, using one broad and open question. The transcribed interviews were closely read and analyzed, and in the end four main themes about the use of personal therapy stood out from the material: the meaning of the therapeutic room, the importance of the therapist, personal growth and professional development. Our study showed that the persons asked about their personal therapy had a positive experience from it. They acknowledged that they had learned a great deal from it and that some of the things learned were hard to achieve in any other way. They described an “inside experience” of, for example, what it feels like to sit in the patient´s chair. Our conclusion from this study was that personal therapy is an important part of the education to become a trained therapist.