M.A. / The primary aim of the study is to scrutinize the effect of a goal directed psychotherapeutic focus on the client’s childhood experiences, on the therapeutic process, through the narrative analysis of a psychotherapy session. A goal directed therapeutic focus on childhood experiences is defined as any therapeutic approach that considers a focus on the client’s childhood as a prerequisite for change in the present. The study postulates that ‘n goal directed therapeutic focus on childhood experiences is imbedded in a modernistic framework and therefore relies on a set of modernistic principles that could collectively have an undesired effect on therapeutic conversation and consequently on the unfolding of narratives in the session. This criticism is grounded in a social constructionist-narrative epistemology which emphasises the collaborative exploration of alternative narratives in psychotherapy and thus the “agendaless” and collaborative nature of therapeutic conversation. From this perspective a goal directed therapeutic focus on the client’s childood experiences is considered to be counterproductive to the therapeutic process, as the therapist can loose touch with the client’s idiosyncratic metanarratives and agendas for therapy. In the case of incongruence between the therapist’s and the client’s metanarratives and agendas for therapy, a process can unfold in which the two members of the conversation attempts to persuade each other to accept their points of view. This battle of wills is viewed as therapeutic resistance which could constrain the client’s narratives in the therapy session (Anderson & Goolishian, 1992 ; Shawver, 2002). Therapeutic resistance, from the perspective of this study is seen as a process which unfolds as the result of the therapist’s unwillingness to adjust his/her therapeutic approach or goals to complement the client’s idiosyncratic perspective on reality and unique agendas for therapy, and not as the result of intrapsychic defense mechanisms, as it is seen from a modernist perspective. Therapeutic resistance is thus viewed as the result of the incongruence or clash of metanarratives in the therapy session. This argument leads to the hypothesis of the study: “A goal directed therapeutic focus on the client’s childhood experiences can lead to therapeutic resistance”. This hypothesis was confirmed through the findings of the narrative analysis of the therapy session. The results of the study showed that incongruence existed between the therapist’s and the client’s metanarratives as the client had a future-directed problem solving agenda and the therapist a goal driven, past-directed problem solving agenda, and that this incongruence lead to therapeutic resistance. An alternative hypothesis was presented: “A genuine agendaless interest in the content of the client’s life story can create a context for constructive therapeutic conversation in which the co-construction of alternative stories can occur”. This hypothesis suggests an agendaless focus on the client’s childhood experiences which can only be achieved through the acceptance and the application of social constructionist-narrative principles in therapy. A part of this alternative focus on the client’s past, involves the abandoning of modernistic metanarratives through which psychological problems and solutions are universalised and therapeutic methods are applied as standard procedures. When therapy is approach from an agendaless perspective the client remains in charge of the direction (past, present or future) of the therapeutic conversation and the past is revisited according to the client’s own pace and terms. The first part of the study will involve a discussion on a number of modernistic therapeutic approaches which empasise a goal directed focus on the client’s past and thus view a therapeutic focus on childhood experiences as a prerequisite for change in the present. The discussion will focus on the shared modernistic principles of these theories, which will be identified by the question: “Why do therapists focus on childhood experiences”? These principles and the concerted impact of them on the therapeutic process will then be criticised from a social constructionist-narrative approach. A discussion on the findings of the narrative analysis of the therapy session will conclude the study.

This investigation sought to discover, identify and describe in-session change episodes in marital Experiential Systemic Therapy (Friesen et al., 1989) through a naturalistic discovery-oriented methodology. This study responds to calls made regarding the need to study complex and intricate processes, such as psychotherapy (Greenberg, 1986), via discovery-oriented methods (Mahrer, 1988). The observational analysis of 40 videotaped-sessions, of three couples, revealed the presence of ten episodes of change. The actions and interactions of the members of the therapeutic system in these episodes were analyzed via the grounded theory method of analysis. This analysis generated a conceptual framework describing the internal structure of change. The resulting conceptual framework consisted of a core category named synergetic shifting. This category refers to an interactional process in which the partners with the assistance of the therapist moved away from rigid, distancing and alienating interactional patterns toward interpersonal flexibility, compassion and affiliation by working through blocks hindering the couples' engagement and intimate connection. Synergetic shifting consists of four client and three therapist categories. Within the progressive nature of synergetic shifting, the client categories were: (1) owning one's part in the relational conflict; (2) couple contacting: restricted and limited; (3) couple working through blocks to intimacy; and (4) couple engaging compassionately. The therapist's actions and interactions were categorized under supporting, transitional and shifting operations. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-60).

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Title from certificate page: Both sides of the coin : comparative analyses of narrative process patterns in poor and good outcome dyads engaged in brief experiential psychotherapy for depression. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 182-193). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ66392.

In this study, two primary hypotheses drawn from Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory (Epstein, 1994, 1998, 2003) and the treatment preference literature (Arnkoff, Glass, & Shapiro, 2002) were tested in the broader contexts of similarity/matching research and eclecticism in psychotherapy. Specifically, it was hypothesized that client-therapist similarity/dissimilarity in terms of (a) their Rational and Experiential Thinking styles (Pacini & Epstein, 1999), and (b) their preferences for a Cognitive ("Thinking") versus an Experiential ("Feeling") theoretical orientation (Hutchins, 1984), would affect the process and outcome of early therapy. Forty-seven client-therapist dyads participated in the study. In the seven hierarchical linear regressions conducted, no statistically significant effects were found on any of the dependent variables (working alliance, empathic understanding, session depth, session smoothness, satisfaction with treatment, perceived change, and objective change). Study limitations included its modest statistical power to detect small and moderate effect sizes.Three exploratory questions were also investigated in a sample of 89 clients and 79 therapists and were found to be statistically significant. Specifically, client rational and experiential thinking styles made substantial contributions in the expected direction in predicting client preference for a cognitive versus an experiential treatment. Similarly, therapist experiential thinking style was predictive of therapist treatment preference. These findings suggest that client and therapist personality (thinking styles) are more significant predictors of treatment preference than variables such as gender and clinical experience (as a therapist or a client). Last, rational thinking style was predictive of client intrapersonal adjustment, and experiential thinking style was predictive of client social adjustment. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2006. / "August, 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-83). Library also has microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [2006]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-60).

Mental disorders are a prevalent health issue that has an extensive amount of variability in the quantity of disorders, affected populations, and treatment. There are a multitude of approaches or therapeutic methods used by the mental health community. Although each therapy is valuable in unique ways, each therapy may not be suitable to treat every disorder or client. Traditional approaches, such as talk therapy, are effective for certain individuals, whereas some clients may not respond well to any of the traditional talk therapies. When traditional therapies are not working, a referral can be made for a therapy that might suit the client better. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an experiential psychotherapy that has done well not only in assisting typical clients, but also with clients that have had trouble in traditional modes of therapy. This is a collaboration of current works and research in EAP, along with the knowledge base of a current licensed practitioner of EAP. The purpose is to lay out the fundamentals of EAP, which offers a different modality than traditional talk therapies. By crafting a better picture of EAP, perhaps it can kindle further research in its efficacy and guide additional mental health professionals towards this type of therapy.

This study investigates the differential treatment efficacy of Experiential Systemic Therapy (ExST) with a comparison treatment called Supported Feedback Therapy (SFT) as it is applied to the problem of alcohol dependency. The inquiry also compares the treatment effectiveness of ExST when offered to the individual alcoholic (ExST-I) and when provided in couples therapy conjoint treatment (ExST-C). An ecological approach to assessment was developed for the investigation. Selfreport questionnaires tapping an array of areas including indices of alcohol use, intrapersonal functioning, couples adjustment, and family characteristics were employed to measure treatment effects from the perspectives of father, mother, and eldest child. Participating families met inclusion criteria including an alcoholic dependent father and a non-alcohol abusing mother in a state of marital distress residing in an intact family situation with at least one child living at home. One hundred and fourteen families were randomly assigned to participating therapists and one of three treatment conditions including ExST-I, ExST-C,or SFT. Therapy was conducted at two out-patient clinics, one located in an urban setting and the other operating in a rural context. Data were collected from all participating families before and after treatment. Data were also gathered at a three month follow-up from participants in the ExST-I and ExST-C treatment conditions. The results of the mixed model multivariate analyses indicated that there were no significant differences between ExST and SFT evident at post-treatment; however, both treatments were found to have promoted highly significant improvements on measures of drinking behavior, intrapersonal symptomology, marital adjustment and family satisfaction. When ExST-I and ExST-C were compared, the results revealed no significant differences between the treatment formats although both parents reported highly significant post treatment changes on all instruments. Additionally, the significant changes associated with ExST-I and ExST-C which were reported by both parents at post-treatment were found to be equally durable at the end of a three month follow-up. The results of the analyses based on the eldest child’s perspective showed that the assessments of family satisfaction were unaffected by the treatment conditions and remained consistent across all measurement occasions. Within system analyses which provided detailed examination of the magnitude of changes reported by both parents at post-treatment were performed. The within system results based on measures probing the assessment domains of alcohol, intrapersonal, couple and family from the father and mother perspectives, revealed that the improvements achieved by the treatments were far reaching and touched a wide array of areas in statistically significant and clinically relevant fashions.

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of Psychology, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-234).