Facilitating Client-Centred Practice: Insights from Clients

Abstract

This paper adds to the established importance of client-centred practice in mental health programs by reporting on the outcome of client interviews in one community setting in England. The purpose of these interviews was to determine the opportunities for, and barriers to, the application of a definition of client-centred practice. Purposive sampling was used to obtain 9 clients who participated in structured interviews. A combination of methods, including template analysis and the editing approach, were employed to determine themes and sub themes that are presented within the context of the clients'reasons for attending these programs. These themes included initiating client-centred practice with the sub themes of providing information to enable choice, participate in negotiating goals, overcoming fear and the severity of illness. Other themes related to the therapist's response to the client's illness and the client's knowledge about client-centred practice. It was clear from these interviews that client-centred practice was important to this group of clients and there were both opportunities and barriers to be considered by therapists.