An exploration of psychotherapists’ experiences in medically driven cancer care settings

Abstract

AbstractAimThis study explored psychotherapists’ experiences of medical language used in cancer care settings and the implications for counselling clients in medically driven cancer settings.MethodSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with five psychotherapists. Data were collected using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).FindingsParticipants found medical language difficult to understand when communicating with health professionals within multidisciplinary teams (MDT). They also considered focusing on clients’ experiences and saw the therapeutic relationship as more relevant than having knowledge of medical language.Conclusions/ImplicationsKnowledge of medical language was found helpful when communicating with health professionals in MDT but was also a potential distraction from clients’ narratives, interfering with the therapeutic alliance. The question as to what extent, if at all, psychological therapists fit into the medical model, or the extent to which language and discourses of power within medical settings can impact on the clients–doctors–therapists’ relationship, remains open.