Independent Researcher, London, UK.
Tower Hamlets Early Intervention for Psychosis Service (THEIS), East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, E2 6BF, UK.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023 Dec;58(12):1803-1811. doi: 10.1007/s00127-020-02017-1. Epub 2021 Jan 31.
Psychotherapy assessments are key decision points for both clients and services, carrying considerable weight on both sides. Limited research indicates that assessments have immediate and long-term impacts on clients, particularly where trauma has been experienced, affecting engagement with therapy. Understanding assessments from clients' perspectives can inform service development and improve client experience.
This is a survivor-led exploration of clients' experiences of undergoing assessment for talking therapies. Interviews were conducted with seven people who had undergone assessment for psychological therapies in third sector and NHS services. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.
The core theme was 'respect for the journey' reflecting the need expressed by participants for their life experiences prior to the assessment to be given full respect and consideration. Six sub-themes were identified: trauma and desperation, fear of judgement, search for trust and safety, sharing and withholding (a balancing act), feeling deconstructed, and finding hope.
The findings highlight the heightened emotional power surrounding psychotherapy assessments, reflecting the journey participants had undertaken to reach this point. The dilemma facing clients at the heart of an assessment-how much to share and how much to withhold-demonstrates the importance for services and assessors of treating the journey a client has made to the assessment with care and respect. Findings indicate the value of services and practitioners undertaking a trauma-informed approach to assessment encounters.
心理治疗评估是客户和服务机构的关键决策点，对双方都具有相当大的影响。有限的研究表明，评估对客户具有直接和长期的影响，特别是在经历过创伤的情况下，这会影响他们对治疗的参与。从客户的角度了解评估可以为服务的发展提供信息，并改善客户体验。
这是一项由幸存者主导的对客户接受谈话治疗评估的体验的探索。对七名在第三部门和国民保健服务机构接受过心理治疗评估的人进行了访谈。访谈进行了录音、转录，并进行了主题分析。
核心主题是“尊重旅程”，反映了参与者希望在评估前的生活经历得到充分的尊重和考虑。确定了六个副主题：创伤和绝望、害怕评判、寻求信任和安全、分享和保留（一种平衡行为）、感觉被解构以及找到希望。
研究结果突出了心理治疗评估所涉及的高度情绪化的力量，反映了参与者为到达这一点所经历的旅程。评估核心面临的客户困境——分享多少和保留多少——表明服务和评估者在评估过程中要谨慎和尊重地对待客户所经历的旅程。研究结果表明，服务和从业者采取创伤知情的评估方法具有价值。
