The empirical aim of this heuristic study was to explore the psychotherapeutic experiences of those with a ‘schizophrenia’ diagnosis. The epistemological aim was to deconstruct the structures of knowledge underpinning the diagnosis. The ‘personal knowledge’ drawn from the researcher’s own experience of working as a psychotherapist and filmmaker with individuals who had the diagnosis, and of being a psychiatric patient in the past, was used as a way of furthering these aims. Along with the work of Moustakas and Polanyi, key discourses used were Heidegger, Laing and contemporary critical clinical discourses. Eight participants with a ‘schizophrenia’ diagnosis took part in open-ended, conversational interviews that yielded substantial detail about the phenomenon. A multiperspective chronological narrative of early life experience, ‘schizophrenic’ breakdown, treatment and recovery emerged during the analysis of data, and is preserved in the composite depiction of the group experience. It was found that exploring the meaningfulness of experiences was a core driver of recovery, and psychotherapy was most helpful when it facilitated this exploration. By contrast, psychotherapy, and treatment as a whole, that obstructed this exploration were found unhelpful. These findings led to the argument that, what is termed ‘personal meaning’, may be a key factor in recovery from ‘schizophrenia’, and psychotherapy that was helpful seemed characterised by Heidegger’s concept of ‘anticipating care’. Treatment governed by ‘medical meaning’ and ‘intervening care’, meanwhile, are argued to prolong a crisis of ‘personal meaning’, and potentially facilitate an ‘acute’ phase of ‘schizophrenia’, rather than recovery. This conclusion raises critical questions about NICE guidelines for ‘schizophrenia’, which seem rooted in ‘medical meaning intervening care’. As well as facilitating an ‘understanding’ approach (in Heidegger’s sense) to researching experience, one key outcome arising from the researcher’s autobiographical connection to the research was learning more about his own experiences, and how to speak about them.

Despite legal and policy advancements in South Africa, prejudice, discrimination and victimisation are still a reality for many lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in the country. The Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) has embarked on a process to develop lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) affirmative practice guidelines for psychology professionals, when working with these client populations. As a part of the larger objective, this research study highlights LGB people’s experiences of psychotherapy and counselling in South Africa as possible inputs for the mentioned practice guidelines. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with selected participants. The results indicate that some aspects of LGB people’s experiences are similar to those of anyone in psychotherapy or counselling, but also that there are distinct differences. Negative experiences were almost exclusively due to the counsellor being disaffirming of the client's sexual orientation. Self-acceptance and the development of alternative perspectives of sexuality were more prominent outcomes of counselling compared to studies among broader populations. The participants’ feedback on a list of affirmative statements provides a potential basis for future affirmative practice guidelines. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)

Despite legal and policy advancements in South Africa, prejudice, discrimination and victimisation are still a reality for many lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in the country. The Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) has embarked on a process to develop lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) affirmative practice guidelines for psychology professionals, when working with these client populations. As a part of the larger objective, this research study highlights LGB people’s experiences of psychotherapy and counselling in South Africa as possible inputs for the mentioned practice guidelines. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with selected participants. The results indicate that some aspects of LGB people’s experiences are similar to those of anyone in psychotherapy or counselling, but also that there are distinct differences. Negative experiences were almost exclusively due to the counsellor being disaffirming of the client's sexual orientation. Self-acceptance and the development of alternative perspectives of sexuality were more prominent outcomes of counselling compared to studies among broader populations. The participants’ feedback on a list of affirmative statements provides a potential basis for future affirmative practice guidelines. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)