| Summary: | In this study, lived time within the therapeutic encounter was explored phenomenologically. Five Counselling psychologists and two Existential psychotherapists were interviewed and the resulting data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three super-ordinate themes emerged: Tacit Temporality, the first theme, speaks of the inherently relational nature of lived time emerging as co-creational dance between client and therapist; when therapist is ‘in time’ with their client she seems to move beyond clock time. The second theme, Overt Temporality, refers to experiences when the presence of clock time has taken over therapeutic presence and therapist experience being ‘out of time’ with her client. Arising ‘Temporal-ing’, the third theme, signifies that therapist and client constantly create their experiences of lived time ‘through’ the other as a dynamic process of constant emerging ‘in-time’ and ‘beyond-time’. Implications for practice are discussed in terms of highlighting opportunities for deep attuned connection to the client’s lived experience of time and addressing challenges to the therapeutic alliance. The findings are discussed as well as limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.
|
|---|
