Compassion in psychotherapy: The perspective of therapists nominated as compassionate

Authors: Vivino, Barbara¹; Thompson, Barbara²; Hill, Clara³; Ladany, Nicholas⁴

Source: Psychotherapy Research, Volume 19, Number 2, March 2009 , pp. 157-171(15)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Fourteen therapists nominated by peers as compassionate defined compassion in psychotherapy as connecting with the client's suffering and promoting change through action. They indicated that compassion was broader and deeper than empathy, helps clients feel understood, and relieves symptoms. Although indicating that compassion was innate, therapists felt it could be further awakened. Factors facilitating compassion in therapy were therapists feeling clients' suffering, understanding client dynamics, identifying with and liking clients, client involvement, and a good therapy relationship. Hindering factors included clients being resistant, being aggressive, having serious pathology, or violating boundaries; therapists having interfering personal issues, feeling incompetent, or having negative reactions to or not liking clients; and a poor therapy relationship. A theory regarding compassion in psychotherapy is proposed.

Keywords: process research; psychotherapist training/supervision/development; spirituality/religion and psychotherapy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10503300802430681

Affiliations: 1: Independent practice, Berkeley, CA 2: Graduate School of Education, George Washington University, Washington, DC 3: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland (College Park), College Park, MD 4: Counseling Psychology, College of Education, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA

Publication date: 2009-03-01