ABSTRACT

Objective This study explores how ageism in therapists is manifested in psychotherapy with older adults and how therapists deal with its impact on their therapeutic work. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 therapists and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Results: Findings clustered around two themes: (i) maintaining openness to change while acknowledging limitations; (ii) dealing with manifestations of ageism inside therapy by going beyond relating to older patients only in terms of their chronological age. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that while therapists maintain an optimistic view regarding the possibility of therapeutic change, the therapeutic encounter with older patients triggers certain ageist therapeutic biases and behaviors in therapists, even in experienced therapists who have competency in working with older adults. Our findings also indicate that dealing with therapists’ ageism in psychotherapy with older patients requires therapists not only to be aware in advance of their ageist attitudes but also to continuously engage in the management of the manifestations of ageism inside treatment. We use the conceptual framework of countertransference to suggest an understanding of the relationship between therapists’ ageism and the therapeutic process. Implications for training and practice are discussed.

摘要

目的 本研究探讨了治疗师的年龄歧视如何在老年人的心理治疗中表现出来，以及治疗师如何处理它对其治疗工作的影响。方法：对 14 位治疗师进行半结构式访谈，并使用扎根理论方法进行分析。结果：调查结果围绕两个主题：(i) 在承认局限性的同时保持对变革的开放态度；(ii) 通过超越仅根据实际年龄与老年患者相关来处理治疗中年龄歧视的表现。结论：我们的研究结果表明，虽然治疗师对治疗变化的可能性持乐观态度，但与老年患者的治疗接触会引发治疗师的某些年龄歧视治疗偏见和行为，即使是在有能力与老年人合作的经验丰富的治疗师中也是如此。我们的研究结果还表明，在对老年患者进行心理治疗时，处理治疗师的年龄歧视要求治疗师不仅要提前意识到他们的年龄歧视态度，还要不断参与治疗中年龄歧视表现的管理。我们使用反移情的概念框架来建议理解治疗师的年龄歧视与治疗过程之间的关系。讨论了培训和实践的意义。