Qualitative Evaluation of Relationships between Psychotherapy Components in Clinical Experiences of Psychotherapists

Qualitative research is part of an effort that has added depth to psychotherapy. This qualitative study aimed to identify the relationships between the components of psychotherapy through the experiences of psychotherapists.

The research method used was qualitative content analysis and data were analyzed using thematic content analysis with an interpretive approach. Participants in the study were psychotherapists of family psychotherapy centers in Tehran so that 7 women and 7 men were selected by purposive sampling and observing ethics. In-depth interviews were used to collect data.

According to the results of data analysis, 15 subcategories, and 4 main categories were identified regarding the relationship between components of psychotherapy. The main categories included 1) the coordination of components based on the priority of their effectiveness in treatment, 2) the formation of psychotherapy in the context of communication and the role of the therapist, 3) the role of each component in choosing the type of treatment, and 4) the selection of theory in the context of therapist characteristics.

The framework of the relationship between the components of psychotherapy based on the experiences of therapists was formulated in this study. The components are prioritized and used by therapists according to their effectiveness in the psychotherapy process. All components play a role in choosing the type of treatment. However, the component of the therapist has a more fundamental role than other components in shaping communication with the client, organizing theory, addressing the problems, and the effectiveness of psychotherapy.