Impact of Therapists' Illness or Accident on Psychotherapeutic Practice: Review and Discussion

Few therapists give thought to the potential impact of future personal illness or accident on their psychotherapeutic practice. Unfortunately, most therapists will experience varying degrees of physical disability during their careers, but few have prepared for the various issues and problems related to clinical practice which typically arise as a result. We summarize and review the available literature on this topic, examine those factors that often threaten psychotherapeutic practice as a result of the therapists' illness or injury, and provide several practical guidelines and suggestions for minimizing its negative impact on the client and the therapeutic relationship.