The embodied therapist from the client's perspective: a grounded theory study of therapists' non-verbal embodied communications
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- Title
- The embodied therapist from the client's perspective: a grounded theory study of therapists' non-verbal embodied communications
- Creator
- Niloufar Mersaditabari
- Supervisor
- Dr Rosemary Lodge, Dr Isabel Henton.
- Date
- 2019
- Abstract
- This thesis develops a grounded theory of clients' experiences of therapists' nonverbal embodied communications (NVECs). Therapists NVECs have received relatively little attention in the empirical and theoretical literature. Until now, NVECs have been discussed across various therapeutic models; however, the impact of therapists NVECs on clients, from clients' perspectives, has been largely overlooked. In this proposed study, 10 former clients took part in semi-structured interviews and talked about the perceived impacts of their therapists NVECs on them and the process of therapy. Transcripts were analysed using a grounded theory methodology from a critical realist framework. The resultant theory shows a connection between therapists' level of acceptance of their NVECs, which is comprised of different degrees of awareness, acknowledgement, and allowance, and clients' emotional engagement within therapy, which is manifested as feeling seen, wanting to help the therapist in helping them, opening up and emotional buy-in. The theory also shows the significance of a special therapist-client connection which is formed partly influenced by the above processes and partly by the modifying role of contextual factors involved. The study speaks to the current practice-based evidence on influential factors in therapy and the therapeutic relationship and endeavours to enhance our understanding of the impact of therapists' NVECs on clients and the therapeutic process. Understanding how clients perceive therapists NVECs will contribute to a valuable and holistic perspective to practice, training and policy of counselling psychology (CoP) as well as other related professions. Further implications and indications for future research are discussed.
- Subject
- Psychotherapy and counselling
- Extent
- 155 pages
- Format
- Publisher
- Regent's University London
- degree
- PhD in Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Description
- EThOS ID: 817609
- Language
- English
- Date Issued
- 2019
- Type
- Thesis & Dissertation
- Rights Holder
- Regent's University London & Niloufar Mersaditabari
- Item sets
- Theses or Dissertation