Therapists’ experiences of helplessness; an interpretative phenomenological exploration of the experiences of Egyptian cognitive behavioral practitioners

Courtesy of their line of work, therapists are frequently brought face to face with the helplessness of clients as well as their own. The main aims of this research are:

• To explore therapists’ own definitions of helplessness.
• To explore therapists’ experiences of helplessness in their personal and professional lives.
• To explore how therapists experience any potential connection between the two sets of experiences.

Interpretative Phenomenological analysis is used as the guiding methodology. 8 participants were recruited and interviewed. The interviewees were Egyptian, cognitive behavioral practitioners. The findings indicate that helplessness is experienced when participants encounter inability, uncertainty, and self-doubt/incompetence in both their personal and professional lives. The participants also evidenced helplessness in reaction to certain emotional experiences, including grief and anxiety and employed distinct strategies in response to helplessness. Amongst these strategies, are giving-up, dissociation, pursuing further knowledge, doing, and planning. 7 domains of connection between personal and professional helplessness were identified. These areas of connection could be framed as follows:

1. Relationship with helplessness
2. Tools and techniques
3. Current helplessness
4. Similar instances
5. Similar strategies
6. Choice of profession
7. Empathy

These findings have important implications that could help inform our understanding of therapists’ helplessness, as well as guide therapist training efforts.