Walking the Same Shore: Psychologists Engaging Psychosis in Institutions

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzes and describes the experiences of licensed psychologists at inpatient psychiatric facilities engaging with people with psychosis. The study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to address the research question: How do licensed clinical psychologists describe and understand their experiences working with patients with psychosis at inpatient psychiatric facilities? The researcher conducted and transcribed semi-structured interviews and hermeneutic conversations. The study recruited eight participants, each a licensed psychologist who has worked for at least three years in inpatient facilities and at least ten patients with psychosis. The research identified ten group experiential themes and described them with direct references to the interview transcripts and interpretative commentary. The study identified the psychologists’ first experiences with inpatients and psychosis as the most impactful, leading to a sense of being called to that work. The psychologists also described people with psychosis as profoundly human and capable of significant change; however, institutional barriers to professional and clinical success persist via a lack of early training and support in supervision. Therefore, this study recommends that doctoral programs, the American Psychological Association, and governmental bodies substantially improve their engagement with and support for students and psychologists in inpatient settings working with patients with psychosis.