The Transition and Transformation process to become an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Therapist. A study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract
Background
Too many practitioners leave Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services roles and this puts IAPT services at risk. In the context of increasing access to IAPT services, this creates a deficit that can impact patient care. Therefore, ways to improve work satisfaction and role adjustment may help people to transition more effectively.
There is a commitment in England to expand the IAPT services so that 1.9 million adults with mental health problems can access treatment every year by 2023/2024. This requires the recruitment of 4500 new therapists by 2021 and an extra 6000 by 2024. However, IAPT services are struggling to recruit and retain its workforce. Therefore, investigating what may improve recruitment and retention is essential. This includes examining the support needed with role transition for IAPT practitioners.
This study investigated the lived experience of psychotherapists who transition to working as High-Intensity Therapists in IAPT services.
Method
The theoretical framework for this inductive qualitative inquiry was Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Seven non-IAPT qualified psychotherapists transitioned to IAPT services participated in audio-recorded semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and a case-by-case idiographic analysis was undertaken. This process was followed by a cross-case analysis.
XIV
Findings
Four super-ordinate themes were identified through the IPA process ‘Transition’ highlighted participants’ experiences in their early phase of moving to the IAPT services. ‘Learning the ropes’ emphasised participants’ endeavour to understand and make sense of IAPT. The super-ordinate theme ‘Adjustment’ described the changes participants made to adapt to the new IAPT role and position themselves in the new system. ‘Transformation’ described the participants’ cognitive and emotional evolution while transitioning to the IAPT system.
Conclusion
This study provides a detailed, phenomenological account of the lived experience of the transition of seven non- IAPT qualified psychotherapists to IAPT services. Transition to IAPT services for this group of therapists presents unique challenges that employers might consider in attracting and retaining experienced therapists. New insights were developed that can inform not only IAPT services but also other mental health services. The role of the organisation in facilitating the transition to IAPT services was explored specifically for experienced therapists. New avenues for future research were also identified, such as empirical studies into IAPT managers’ challenges in IAPT with its fast expansion and how they could support newcomers to IAPT.