Experiences of carrying out talking therapy in general practice: a qualitative interview study

To explore GPs' experience of carrying out 'talking therapy'.

Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 11 Danish GPs sampled purposively. The material was analysed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

The participants expressed difficulty in explaining how they carried out talking therapy. However, from their description of individual therapies their perception of important aspects of methodology could be obtained: (1) their own open receptiveness, e.g. attentive listening, not limited by time; (2) relational factors including trust and empathy developed over time, or more active therapeutic use of the relationship; (3) knowledge of the patient's life story, told or written, used to form a model of the patient's problems, thoughts and feelings. The sessions were not offered if the GPs lacked time.

Participants were mostly self-taught and did not use specific methods systematically despite having learnt them. GPs knew the patients beforehand; talking therapy developed from other treatment, and methodology had to fit into this. Specific methods are possibly not relevant in general practice.

Formulation of a theory of talking therapy based on the views and experience of GPs and including non-specific factors could professionalize the field.