Abstract

Background: The role and influence of a positive psychotherapeutic relationship on the outcome of psychotherapy has been widely documented. Ruptures in the psychotherapeutic relationship are defined as a deterioration in the collaborative relationship between the psychotherapist and the client. Objective: The aim of the research is to shed light on the issue of subjective experiences of psychotherapists regarding the perception of the meaning and interpretation of rupture, to discover the unique ways in which psychotherapists work to identify, manage and overcome them during the psychotherapy relationship, and to discover the psychotherapist's strategies for dealing with successful or unsuccessful processes of resolving the process of rupture in the psychotherapy process. Methods: The sample of respondents consisted of a total of 6 qualified psychotherapists with different psychotherapy orientations, who have completed accredited psychotherapy training programs with at least two years of psychotherapy experience, and are actively conducting psychotherapy sessions. The research was conducted according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) methodology of qualitative studies. Semi-structured interview questionnaire - When conducting research in focus groups, a semi-structured interview questionnaire was used, which contains the domains provided by the Theoretical Domains Framework and open-ended questions related to the research objective. Results: The role of the therapeutic relationship in working with clients is assessed as the most important component without which there is no psychotherapy treatment, and a good therapeutic relationship as a predictor of psychotherapy success. The following indicators are crucial in the identification of psychotherapy rupture according to therapists: lack of mutual respect, feeling of being let down, presence of conscious or unconscious transference or countertransference, failure to meet expectations and compliance. On the emotional level, in the identification of psychotherapy rupture, the feeling of fatigue and anger, helplessness is identified. Conclusion: The results of the theoretical review and data analysis indicate the existence of several unique points for creating an integrative approach to the resolution of a psychotherapeutic rupture: Identification of the rupture, open discussion about the situation and relationship that has arisen, negotiation, and establishment of a new relationship. Further studies in this direction are needed.

Key words: Psychotherapy, rupture in psychotherapy, therapeutic relationship.