Hindering events in psychotherapy: A retrospective account from the client's perspective

Background Hindering events in the therapeutic process have been associated with client dissatisfaction, disagreements in therapy, and premature withdrawal from the therapeutic process. However, hindering events in therapy have not been extensively researched from the client's perspective and lack subjective details on how these events are experienced in therapy. Aims This study explored how hindering events are experienced by clients and their influence on the therapeutic process and outcome from the client's perspective. Method Nine individuals who previously attended therapy and experienced hindering events were interviewed using an in‐depth semi‐structured interview protocol created by the authors. Data were analysed using structured thematic analysis. Results Four major themes emerged, each containing themes and sub‐themes to further expand on client experiences: (a) identified hindering events (felt mistreated by therapist, distracted/inattentive therapist, perceived clinical mistakes, tensions from the management of the therapeutic frame); (b) subjective experience of the event (negative emotional experience, making sense of the event, parallel personal dynamics); (c) response to the event (client response/decision to continue or end therapy, reaction to discontinuing therapy); and (d) handling/addressing the event (not handled/addressed, handled/addressed, interest in handling/addressing event, reasons given for not addressing/handling event). Results from this study contribute to the further understanding of client experiences of hindering events that occur in therapy as well as how these events influence therapeutic processes and outcomes. Conclusion The study adds nuance to the scholarly work that informs client experiences of negative events in therapy. Implications for therapeutic organisations, therapists/counsellors, and educators are discussed.