| The current study explored the construct of authenticity as perceived by counselors when working with clients in psychotherapy. The research questions were based on the hypothesis that authenticity is a significant factor in developing and strengthening the therapeutic alliance, critical for instilling trust and commitment with clients, and a catalyst for positive therapeutic outcome. By means of qualitative inquiry, seven psychotherapists from diverse backgrounds and theoretical orientations, possessing a wide range of clinical experiences were interviewed for this study. Therapists were asked to organize, categorize, and articulate their subjective understanding and clinical experiences through the lens of authenticity. The study begins with the rationale for exploring authenticity followed by a review of relevant literature. Next a detailed outline of the methodology followed by the findings section which highlights the constructs and categories used to formulate the grounded theory of authenticity. The last section of the investigation consists of a discussion of the implications, conclusions, and its limitations. Based on the data, a case was made in support of authentic interactions to facilitate positive therapeutic outcome whose implications may be beneficial to future research, clinical practice, and counselor training. |
