The encounter phenomenon in psychotherapy

The article summarizes the original qualitative research focused on episodes of very close contact between the therapist and the client, such episodes are called I-Thou Moments in Martin Buber's theory. From the point of view of psychotherapy research theory these relationship episodes can be classified as so-called significant events in psychotherapy that bear the potential for therapeutic change. The research was focused on the perspective of practicing therapists on this phenomenon as it is primarily them who modulate the contact with clients. Data were obtained from 49 Czech and foreign psychotherapists with various degree of experience, most of the therapists were representatives of Gestalt psychotherapy, but other therapeutic approaches were also represented. The aim of the article is to present and understand the phenomenon and discuss what are the competencies or barriers on the part of the therapist to support or prevent the emergence of these intense moments in psychotherapy. The results of the research are in line with previous work on this topic and extend its empirical knowledge.