Descriptive Phenomenology from Instances of Dishonesty in Psychotherapy by Psychotherapists

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Ayatollah Amoly branch, Amol, Iran.

2 Doctorate in Educational Psychology, Assistant Professor of Counseling Department, Farhangian University of Tehran, Tehran. Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: There is evidence that people encounter lies, deceive others, or conceal the truth in various aspects of their lives. However, it is somewhat surprising and even concerning to acknowledge that this occurs in psychotherapy. The aim of the present study was to identify instances of dishonesty in psychotherapy from the perspective of psychotherapists in 2023.
Method: The method employed in this study was a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach. The statistical population for this study comprised all psychotherapists working in counseling centers in Amol city in 2023 who participated through a theoretical sampling method. A total of 16 psychotherapists constituted the sample for this research, and data were collected using a five-axis semi-structured interview protocol focused on psychotherapy dishonesty. The seven-step Colaisi descriptive method was employed to analyze the data.
Results: Results showed that coding reliability, measured by Cohen's Kappa agreement across five axes from four raters, yielded an average score of 0.81 (ranging from 0.72 to 0.91). This indicates a level of agreement classified as "almost complete. The findings indicate that dishonesty in the treatment room is unavoidable. The reasons for therapists' dishonesty include personal factors, such as the professional role of the therapist, as well as extrinsic factors, including the client's sexual experiences, privacy concerns, therapeutic benefits, and societal experiences.
Discussion and Conclusion: The results indicate that psychotherapists often conceal emotions such as anger, hatred, and sadness during therapy sessions. They tend to avoid discussing sensitive topics, including sexual issues, unpleasant experiences, and family disputes, with their clients. Furthermore, any dishonesty exhibited by therapists is typically unintentional and arises from a desire to help and support their clients.

Keywords

References

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