A stigmatizing attitude towards psychiatry and psychotherapy still prevails in Lithuania. It is evidenced by a variety of patterns, especially by a controversial social opinion about a person suffering from mental disorders.

To investigate the experiences of students in Psychiatry and General Practitioner Residency studies and those in Bachelor's and Master's degree programs of Psychology who during their clinical psychiatric practice joined a multi-professional team at the Stress Related Disorders Department as temporary members; and to analyse how their attitude towards psychotherapy changed in the process.

To analyse students’ feedback about their experiences and involvement into the activity of the multi-professional team at the Stress Related Disorders Department (day care) during their clinical psychiatric practice.

Qualitative research methods based on phenomenological sociology were employed in the study. Students responded to five questions in writing during interview. Collected qualitative research material was analysed while applying content analysis.

Eighteen subthemes were obtained and they were matched with the following nine main thematic codes: (1) past, present, future; (2) difficult beginning: “birth”; (3) childbirth pain; (4) childhood challenges; (5) birthing team; (6) adulthood; (7) mourning; (8) joining the team; and (9) future prospect.

Clinical psychiatric practice develops a multidisciplinary attitude towards psychiatry including both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatment while using individual and group psychotherapy. Significant experience and attitude of health care students changed during clinical psychiatric practice as they acquired deeper understanding of the meaningfulness of psychotherapy.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.