Psychotherapists’ experience of client-initiated sharing of a photograph in therapy

In a world with an increasing availability of photographic technology, it may be important to explore and understand visual tools as a potential form of non-verbal communication within counselling and psychotherapy. The field of phototherapy, which explores the therapeutic use of photographs as an adjunct technique, has provided valuable evidence and strategies for employing photographs to support client healing. However, the experiences of therapists who are not formally trained in phototherapy techniques remain largely unexplored. Many therapists lack phototherapy training, yet clients often spontaneously share photographs during sessions. This research seeks to bridge that gap by contributing to counselling psychology's understanding of how therapists navigate these moments. Utilizing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and a snowball sampling approach, this study examines the lived experiences of eight UKCP or BACP accredited therapists without formal phototherapy training, who encountered client-initiated sharing of photographs. This research also explores how these experiences influenced the therapeutic process. Three major themes emerged from the analysis: ‘Vulnerability,’ ‘Alliance,’ and ‘Poignance,’ each comprising of two sub-themes. This research contributes that while photographs may bring moments of vulnerability for therapists, they can also foster profound connection and act as a powerful medium for healing within the therapeutic process.