Hit men inte längre : En intervjustudie om närhet och distans i svensk beroendevård

Sammanfattning: The relationship between counsellor and client has been extensively researched ever since the founding of psychotherapeutic treatment. Subsequently, it has been established as an integral and essential part of successful therapy. Yet, in regards to substance use treatment aforementioned research is still lacking. Few studies shed light on such relationships – even fewer on relationships formed within the unique settings of live-in treatment centres. Furthermore, the emotional handling of inter-relational work from the perspective of the professional is still remarkably absent from the scholarly world. Notably, professional perspectives are mainly presented in situations of boundary breaking behaviour and ethical misconduct. The aim of the present study was, consequently, to research how professionals conduct, care, and convey the phenomena of counsellor-client connections that are constituted within the above stated context. In order to fully capture the lived experiences of addiction counsellors, a hermeneutic-phenomenological approach was applied throughout – acting as both theoretical and methodological ground. Accordingly, a total of five semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out and analysed through a hermeneutic-phenomenological lens. The result presents several significant findings in regards to how the professionals view boundaries, closeness and control in substance use treatment settings, which primarily include a certain all-encompassing duality: role changing is perceived as beneficial, albeit debilitating; closeness is seen as imperative, yet distance as integral; working with the self equates to working on the self. Overall, professional progression appears to echo that of the client’s – a supporting network, along with being earnest and daring, presents itself as keys for facilitating conducive change. Implications of above-mentioned co-occurrences are discussed, including suggestions for future research.