The Team on the Couch

Although working in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) is common in mental health care, it can be challenging. This article delves more deeply into group processes and explores how psychoanalytical theory can help us understand the dynamics at play. Central to this research is the hypothesis that the interaction between clinician and patient is emotionally charged, requiring the clinician and team to manage this emotional burden. The theory is then applied to describe the group processes observed in an MDT at a Flemish centre for clinical therapy. A key finding was how the MDT dealt with the emotional load by taking action and by utilising processes of influence and power. In conclusion, some ethical thought on these findings is offered.