Counsellors' experiences of changing their practice: Learning the psychodynamic‐interpersonal model of therapy

Seven counsellors were interviewed about their experiences of learning and applying a new approach to therapy: the psychodynamic‐interpersonal model. These interviews were analysed using grounded theory — a qualitative approach. Under the core category of ‘changing counselling practice: applying the PI model of therapy’, the material was organised into 10 major categories: difficult feelings; new awareness; therapeutic identity; identifying reasons for choosing how to work; experiencing difficulties in adherence; attributing causes of difficulties; ways through the difficulties; understanding how change in practice occurs; changing interventions; and specific other inputs. Examples from the interviews are used to cast light on the difficulties experienced by counsellors in the process of changing their practice.