Therapists' positive emotions in-session: Why they happen and what they are good for

Abstract

Aim: The therapist's feelings play a remarkable role in contemporary models of psychotherapy. However, these models are biased towards negative feelings. The present study explores therapists' personal experience with positive emotion in-session. Method: A grounded theory analysis was conducted of interviews with 26 Brazilian psychotherapists. Results: Clinicians derive positive affect from the client's input in treatment, from their own input, and from the personal relationship with the client. Therapist positive emotion adds to the material that can be worked on in-session by providing interpersonal events in the relationship with the client. It can improve therapist input in treatment by increasing in-session awareness, resourcefulness and daring and by cuing efforts for professional development. It enhances involvement in the relationship with the client by prompting compassion and closeness in the dyad. Its effects may spill over and contribute to the therapist's personal thriving. Discussion: These results are discussed in light of what positive psychology can add to current work on therapist effects in the treatment process.

Keywords:

• positive emotion
• psychotherapy
• person of the therapist
• therapeutic relationship

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Luc Vandenberghe

Biographies

Luc Vandenberghe has a faculty position at the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, where he teaches on the psychology undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and on the environmental and health science masters programme. He is also a registered psychologist in private clinical practice.

Rafaela Luiza Silva Silvestre

Rafaela Luiza Silva Silvestre works in Brasilia as a psychologist for the Federal District child welfare authority. The research started when she was a clinical psychology postgraduate student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás.