The pregnant therapist and the psychotic client: A phenomenological understanding of the impact of the therapist’s pregnancy on the therapeutic process

Abstract

This original paper examines the underresearched area of therapist pregnancy. It explores the impact of psychosis as an additional complicating factor to the therapeutic process and the experience of one British counselling psychologist working in the National Health Service whilst pregnant. Five brief client summaries/clinical examples are presented to explore the common themes of anger, rejection, abandonment and envy that often emerge following the disclosure of a therapist’s pregnancy or the opposite reactions of over-protectiveness and an unwillingness to engage in therapy for fear of harming the therapist. Recommendations are made for further research within this neglected area and the need to incorporate the themes within training for therapists and training for supervisors.

Keywords:

• therapist pregnancy
• therapeutic relationship
• psychosis

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge Dr Anna Martin’s contribution to this paper through her guidance, ideas and review.