Journal of International Psychiatry

Obiective：To explore the influencing factors of side effects experienced by clients in the process of psychotherapy and counseling. Method: The 6 subjects who are or have received psychotherapy or counseling were interviewed in a semi-structured way about the side effects in psychotherapy, and the content was analyzed in a deductive way to extract the related topics of the influencing factors of side effects in psychotherapy. Results: Four kinds of first order themes of the influencing factors of side effects and 17 kinds of second order themes were extracted from the interview contents of six clients. The themes of the influencing factors of side effects in psychotherapy and counseling are as follows: 1. Therapists factors of: (1) the ability of diagnosis and evaluation; (2) the ability to solve problems; (3) the lack of neutrality; (4) the improper use of treatment techniques; (5) the personal characteristics of therapists; 2. treatment setting factors: (1) treatment cost; (2) treatment place; (3) confidentiality setting; (4) relationship deprivation; (5) multiple relationships; 3. treatment technology factors: (1) reveal problems; (2) supportive technology; (3) trauma repair technology; 4. client factors: (1) personality; (2) psychological state; (3) family pressure; (4) social pressure. Conclusion: The individual factors of the therapist and the clients, as well as the treatment settings and technology factors in the process of psychotherapy interaction, jointly affect the occurrence and development of side effects in psychotherapy and counseling.

psychotherapy ; psychological counseling; side effects; influencing factors; qualitative research