“There will be lots of child psychotherapists who have had babies”: What can be learned from focus group interviews with child psychotherapists who have been pregnant during their clinical work?

This research explores the pregnancy experiences of child psychotherapists, commencing with a literature review examining pregnancy through a psychoanalytic lens. Existing published literature concerning pregnant therapists working with adult patients is examined, and particular focus is given to papers addressing child psychotherapists' pregnancies. The present study engaged eight child psychotherapists in focus groups to gain insight into their pregnancy experiences. The interview data underwent thematic analysis, leading to the identification of six key themes: ‘belonging to the child psychotherapist’, ‘knowing and not knowing’, ‘related to time’, ‘something changed’, ‘space to think’ and ‘therapist patient dyad’. These themes are explored in-depth, drawing connections to concepts from the existing literature. The study highlights research gaps and provides recommendations for future investigations in this field.