Seeing Clinical Attention Anew: Results from an Exploratory Study of Attention in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Attention is an acknowledged component of the therapeutic relationship that forms the heart of clinical work. Yet it is rarely studied. This study explored the structure of clinical attention with a focus on internal processes occurring within the clinician, not on actions or interventions taken in sessions. Fourteen experienced clinicians participated in an elicitation interview. Data analysis followed a modified phenomenological methodology. The structure of clinical attention was discovered to consist of a dynamic and iterative process of intention and intuition based in distinct, recursive and iteratively related attentional levels. Attention is a process grounded in inner psycho-physiological awareness providing clinicians with abilities to reflect on practice and regulate affective experience.

Keywords:

• mindfulness
• reflective practice
• clinical intuition
• clinical intention
• affect regulation

Notes

^1. Derived from the French ‘entretien d'explicitation’, which is sometimes translated as ‘explicitation interview’.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ellen Katz

Ellen Katz is Lecturer and Director of Continuing Education, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and Research Associate, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, Toronto. Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. [email: [email protected]]