Framing Therapy: Exploring Psychotherapists' Artwork Choices in Practice Rooms

ABSTRACT Background This study explores the motivations and influences behind psychotherapists' choices of artwork for their practice rooms. Whilst prior research has focused on client preferences and general therapeutic environments, limited attention has been paid to the therapist's subjective experience in curating artwork within their space. Methods Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study investigates the lived experiences of three UK‐based psychotherapists who have personally selected artwork for their rooms. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed to identify three Group Experiential Themes (GETs): artwork as implicit communication, artwork as a therapeutic resource, and artwork as personally meaningful. Results Findings suggest that therapists use artwork to subtly communicate aspects of their identity and theoretical orientation, regulate emotional states (both their own and their clients'), and evoke personal memories. Notably, participants often made these choices intuitively, with limited conscious reflection on broader influences. Conclusions These findings highlight the need for greater reflexivity in therapists' aesthetic decisions and suggests that artwork plays a dynamic role within the therapeutic frame. Implications for practice include encouraging practitioners to reflect on the subjectivity within their visual environment. Future research should explore these themes across more diverse samples to deepen understanding of this overlooked aspect of the therapeutic frame.