Table 3 Superordinate Categories with corresponding Main Categories

1. Specific therapy methods and expertise.

Specific components of the therapy

Animal assisted therapy

Physical movement in therapy

Group therapy settings

Learning new strategies in therapy

Expertise and experience of the therapist in his method

2. The setting and the organization of the clinic.

Organization of the clinic

Possibility to switch the therapist and health professional

Inpatient setting

Transfer phase / preparation for everyday life

3. Inpatients’ new insights.

Insights

Goals

Development process

Resources

Changed behavior

Implementation of what has been learned in therapy

Trust in oneself

4. Treatment success.

Treatment success

Experiences of success

5. Inpatients’ basic attitudes.

Willingness / motivation

Hope

Expectations

Patience

6. Code of Conduct: The atmosphere and general attitudes.

To support and care for the patient

To accept and respect the patient

To encounter the patient at “eye level” and to form a team

To guide and accompany the patient

To welcome and to feel welcomed

To provide a safe space

To be on-time

To not feel alone

Humor

Curiosity

7. Communication and feedback.

Good and transparent communication style between the health professional and the patient

Good communication style within a group of patients

Non-verbal communication

Good communication style in the professional team

Feedback

8. Relationships within the clinical setting.

The importance of other patients

Someone is here 24/7

Practical interactions

To have a good relationship in the clinical setting

9. Individual face-to-face therapy setting.

Feeling understood in the therapy

Non-judgmental acceptance in therapy

To have a balance between emotional closeness and distance in the therapy

To resonate with the therapist or to have a good match

To have an (initial) bond in the therapy

To have a therapeutic relationship that is based on trust

To have a therapeutic relationship that is constant

To train how relationships work

To find a good balance between autonomy and care

Self-disclosure of the therapist

10. Overcoming challenges and hurdles.

To overcome resistance: Uncomfortable moments are part of every treatment

To confront and endure difficult moments

To talk openly about difficulties in the therapeutic relationship

To learn something as a psychiatrist from difficult situations