Using Qualitative Interviews to Explore the Client’s Experience of Therapy

This chapter discusses the use of qualitative interviews to explore the client’s experience of a range of aspects of therapy. The studies listed below are chosen to illustrate different techniques for data collection and analysis, researcher reflexivity, sample size, and procedures for evaluating validity. Despite these contrasts, it will probably be apparent that there are fundamental similarities across alternative approaches in terms of the ways in which data are handled, and the kind of knowledge that is produced. 

Apart from their intrinsic interest, from a research point of view your aim in reading these articles is to accumulate ideas around aspects of research techniques, and how to write various sections of a paper, that are relevant to your own project.

Readings

Bjornestad, J., Veseth, M., Davidson, L., Joa, I., Johannessen, J. O., Larsen, T. K., ... & Hegelstad, W. T. V. (2018). Psychotherapy in psychosis: Experiences of fully recovered service users. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1675.

Example of how a qualitative study embedded in a larger quantitative outcome study makes it possible to identify a specific, theoretically-interesting sample

Cormack, D., Jones, F. W., & Maltby, M. (2018). A “collective effort to make yourself feel better”: The group process in mindfulness-based interventions. Qualitative Health Research, 28(1), 3–15.

Used Grounded Theory analysis. Included group facilitators as well as clients to make it possible to get an appreciation of group process as a whole

Gostas, M.W., Wiberg, B., Neander, K., & Kjellin, L. (2013) ‘Hard work’ in a new context: Clients’ experiences of psychotherapy. Qualitative Social Work, 12, 340–357. 

Used thematic analysis to compare experiences of clients receiving psychodynamic therapy and those who had undergone CBT – reports these in terms of contrasts within a set of overarching themes

Griffiths, A. W., Shoesmith, E., Sass, C., Nicholson, P., & Charura, D. (2020). Relational counselling as a psychosocial intervention for dementia: Qualitative evidence from people living with dementia and family members. Dementia, 1471301220984912.

Used thematic analysis. Caregivers as well as clients were interviewed to address communication difficulties in actual client group

Hänninen, V., & Valkonen, J. (2019). Losing and regaining grip: depression and everyday life. Sage Open, 9(1), 2158244018822371

Also distinctive in terms of a large sample (55 participants) and narrative approach to interviewing

Harpazi, S., Regev, D., Snir, S., & Raubach-Kaspy, R. (2020). Perceptions of Art Therapy in adolescent clients treated within the school system. Frontiers in Psychology, 11:518304. 

Example of a study using Consensual Qualitative Research

Holter, M. T., Ness, O., Johansen, A. B., & Brendryen, H. (2020). Making come-alive and keeping un-alive: How people relate to self-guided web-based health interventions. Qualitative Health Research, 30(6), 927–941. 

Analysis presented using a highly reflexive style that weave the researcher’s experience into findings

Johansson, C., & Werbart, A. (2020). Am I really bipolar? Personal accounts of the experience of being diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2430. 

Thematic analysis of interviews – example of a study anchored in a diagnostic category

Jones, J. K. (2020). A place for therapy: Clients reflect on their experiences in psychotherapists’ offices. Qualitative Social Work, 19(3), 406-423.

Good example of use of classic principles of phenomenological inquiry

Midgley, N., Isaacs, D., Weitkamp, K., & Target, M. (2016). The experience of adolescents participating in a randomised clinical trial in the field of mental health: a qualitative study. Trials, 17(1), 1–12. 

Example of a study that used framework analysis

Midgley, N., Parkinson, S., Holmes, J., Stapley, E., Eatough, V., & Target, M. (2017). “Did I bring it on myself?” An exploratory study of the beliefs that adolescents referred to mental health services have about the causes of their depression. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(1), 25–34. 

Example of a study that used framework analysis

Ng, C. T. C., & James, S. (2013). “Directive approach” for Chinese clients receiving psychotherapy: is that really a priority? Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 49. 

Interviews made use of a visual technique (mindmapping). Data analysed using thematic approach

Rodgers, B. (2018). More than just a measure: Exploring clients' experiences of using a standardised self-report questionnaire to evaluate counselling outcomes. New Zealand Journal of Counselling, 38(2).

Thematic analysis of a very specific aspect of the client’s experience therapy – completing two different types of outcome measure (a standard self-report questionnaire, and a creative visual instrument)​

Toto-Moriarty, T. (2013). A retrospective view of psychodynamic treatment: Perspectives of recovered bulimia nervosa patients. Qualitative Social Work, 12, 833–848. 

Grounded theory study that uses an unusually focused interview schedule

Schnellbacher, J. & Leijssen, M. (2009) The significance of therapist genuineness from the client’s perspective. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 49, 207–228. 

Example of a study that focuses on a specific theoretical construct – therapist genuineness 

Shamai, M., & Levin-Megged, O. (2006). The myth of creating an integrative story: The therapeutic experience of Holocaust survivors. Qualitative Health Research, 16(5), 692–712. 

Used a phenomenological approach to data collection and analysis, combined with a psychodynamic interpretative framework

Venner, H., & Welfare, L. E. (2019). Black Caribbean immigrants: A qualitative study of experiences in mental health therapy. Journal of Black Psychology, 45(8), 639–660. 

Phenomenological approach to data collection and analysis