The practice as patient: Working as a psychotherapist in general practice

SUMMARY

This paper gives an account of working as psychoanalytic psychotherapist in a GPs' surgery from a base within a local Psychotherapy Department. Particular attention is paid to how the GPs regard the therapist's work, as evidenced by their referrals and other contact with the therapist. An evolving relationship between the therapist and the GPs is described, and material from clinical work and meetings with the GPs is used to illustrate this. The idea of ‘Practice as patient’ is introduced as a model whereby the therapist considers how most usefully to engage with the GPs, and how this can enhance the understanding of the clinical task.