Holding space and sitting with emotions: the lived experiences of physiotherapists using psychological strategies in pain care


Author: Eoin Kealy1, Clair Hebron1

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, UK.
Conference/Journal: Physiother Theory Pract
Date published: 2024 Feb 1
Other:
  Pages: 1-14   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1080/09593985.2023.2300400.   ,  Word Count: 256  
    Background:

Persistent pain is the biggest global cause of years lived with disability. Physiotherapists working in pain care aim to take a holistic perspective helping persons to gain a multidimensional understanding of their condition and achieve meaningful goals despite their symptoms. In recent years there has been a paradigm shift in physiotherapeutic pain care toward a psychologically informed physiotherapy approach. Physiotherapists have incorporated principles of strategies such as: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT); psychological flexibility; or mindfulness-based therapies in helping persons move forwards despite their pain.



Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of physiotherapists using psychological strategies in pain care.



Methods:

Seven participants were purposefully recruited for this study and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methods were used to analyze the data. Master themes were developed to help express the qualitative meanings of the lived experiences.



Findings:

Seven master themes were identified: 1) Trust; 2) Active listening; 3) Developing understanding; 4) Exploring the journey; 5) Making it meaningful; 6) Being held; and 7) Holding space and sitting with emotions. All themes are interwoven and profoundly connected in the essence of a safe "space."



Conclusion:

Participants described a journey toward holding space and sitting with emotions. All themes were interwoven and profoundly connected in the essence of a safe "space," where persons can voice their emotions in a non-judgmental environment. The themes may represent a pathway for the physiotherapist to facilitate a person on their journey of healing.



Keywords: Psychologically informed physiotherapy; holding space; pain care; phenomenology.



PMID: 38299915 DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2023.2300400