Patients’ perception of psychotherapists’ authority: Qualitative analysis of group analytic process in hospital setting

Abstract

The goal of our qualitative research was to investigate how patients experience their therapists' authority during group analysis in a hospital setting. The patients were interviewed using grounded theory approach. General and specific categories with respect to authority and patients’ reactions to it were formed. We theoretically distinguished between real, transferential and socially conditioned authority but in the article we predominantly dealt with socially conditioned authority, which theoretically stems from the patients’ impressions, mediated by the social and professional status of therapists and the institution, actual social discourse on psychotherapy and also prescientific imaginaries in regard to various faith-based healing. It was our goal to confirm that this type of authority is present and that influences the patients. Besides, we wanted to give concrete illustrations of the otherwise abstract concept. We also found that patients’ perception of authority was shaped by the therapists’ relative inactivity that gave an impression of hidden knowledge and wisdom. Inactivity turned out to be frustrating to the patients and they employed various strategies to come to terms with the approach or accept it. We have also made a short evaluation of the chosen group-analytic approach.