Being with feelings as a recognition practice: developing clients' self-understanding

TOPIC: How are shifts in clients' self-understanding related to focusing on feelings during therapy sessions? METHODS: A phenomenological study involving matched-pairs of clients and nurse-therapists using video-cued narrative reflection. FINDINGS: Feelings disclose significance within a therapy session. Dialogical relationships and involvements help clients experience the feelings they are discussing, obtain feedback from therapists, and develop self-understanding. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse educators should stress the importance of focusing on feelings in a session, and clinicians should practice this skill to facilitate a client's developing self-understanding.