Side-effects amongst psychotherapists

The discussion about side-effects in psychotherapy should not only focus the patient but as well the psychotherapist, the other protagonist of the therapeutic relationship. It is further argued that side-effects must not be negative. They include all effects, which can result of the therapeutic process, which are not formulated initial as aims of the therapy. Effects of the psychotherapeutic process are seen as a result of the interaction between the psychotherapist, the patient and the therapeutic context. In the article the important variables of the psychotherapist, the patient, the psychotherapeutic process and the context are discussed, which can lead to negative effects on the level of the psychotherapist. Possible negative effects of the therapeutic work (e.g. Burn-Out) were discussed. Furthermore conditions (e.g. an adaptive Work-Life-Balance) which are able to protect the psychotherapist to develop psychic problems as a result of his work were described.