Agency in the process of change: Investigating the experience of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their counsellors.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how client's agency appears in the narratives of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder. A qualitative descriptive design was used as a study design and a thematic analysis was employed to collect and analyse the data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 37 participants (26 patients with obsessive compulsive disorder and 11 counselors). All patients had received tele-counseling. Three main themes were extracted from the data including agency prior to the therapy, agency via awareness, and enhancers of client's agency. Findings demonstrated that when the participants became aware of having OCD and underwent therapy with self-involvement, they achieved a higher level of agency in the therapy process and achieve better treatment results. Culture may also influence on how the disorder is experienced, and the level of agency in starting and following the required treatments. The results could be used by counsellors to enhance their clients' agency.