The aim of the study was to describe the therapist's lived experience of identifying, containing and processing the feelings, thoughts or fantasies evoked in him by the patient's projective identifications. A question which would elicit the experience of this phenomenon was formulated by examining case histories, and modified through the use of individual pilot studies. Fifteen experienced, psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists were interviewed. The eight psychologically richest accounts were chosen for the study. Using the empirical phenomenological method, the four protocols that most clearly reflected the phenomenon were analysed in detail, while the remaining four were used to clarify areas of uncertainty. Projective identification is conceptualised as the process whereby the patient coerces the therapist to embody an un-appropriated aspect of his (patient's) world. The context of processing a patient's projective identification was discovered to be such that the therapist finds himself coerced to embody an incongruent, unfamiliar, confusing and inauthentic state of being which is consonant with the patient's perception of him. The discomfort of the experience leads the therapist to bring to awareness and thematise his feeling-state. He alternates between avoiding this state of being, which results in conf1ict with the patient and the therapist's own values, and appropriating it, which feels inauthentic. The therapist moves from a position of trying to understand the experience in relation to his own world, to the realisation that it is co-determined by the patient. From a position of reflective distance he re-appropriates aspects of his world that were closed to him while under the influence of the patient, in addition to appropriating previously unowned aspects. The therapist dialogues these appropriations with the invoked feelings, allowing him to differentiate those aspects of his feeling-state which are authentically his from those which are unowned aspects of the patient's aspects of his world that were closed to him while under the influence of the patient, in addition to appropriating previously unowned aspects. The therapist dialogues these appropriations with the invoked feelings, allowing him to differentiate those aspects of his feeling-state which are authentically his from those which are unowned aspects of the patient's world that he has been forced to embody. Through this process the therapist clarifies and gives meaning to his feelings. The therapist fee1s re1ieved and lighter, when in the service of the therapy, he temporarily gives himself over to the patient's experience of him, without feeling drawn to either disowning or appropriating it, while simultaneously remaining open to his own authentic reality. These findings were dialogued with the literature on projective identification.

雖然早年的研究已證明了表達性書寫有助促進身體及心理健康，但其整體效果很小，而且影響並不一致。因此，新的原素應加入現有的書寫指引，以提升表達性書寫對健康的正面影響。本研究特意探討自我關懷的概念可如何補充現有表達性書寫指引的不足。除探討自我關懷日記對身體及心理健康的影響外，本研究亦會探討表達性書寫及自我關懷日記的機制，以及自我批評的個性將如何調節表達性書寫及自我關懷日記對健康的影響。 / 在本研究中，所有參加者均被隨機分為三組：（1）自我關懷日記（2）表達性書寫，（3）時間管理書寫（對照組）。在完成基線評估後的一周後，參加者須根據他們的組別，依特定的書寫指示書寫三天，每次二十分鐘。參加者於完成最後一天書寫後即填寫第一份後續問卷；並在四個星期後填寫第二份後續問卷。研究結果顯示，自我關懷日記及表達性書寫有助舒緩壓力及減少身體症狀。在對照組別中，參加者的身體症狀沒有改變。相反地，在自我關懷日記及表達性書寫組別中，參加者的身體症狀有明顯的減少。研究結果亦指出，相對於表達性書寫，自我關懷日記對減少身體症狀更為有效。另一方面，據文字分析結果顯示，相對於對照組，自我關懷日記及表達性書寫組別的參加者使用較多正面及負面情緒詞語，以及第一人稱代名詞。這些結果間接地支持情緒管理及建立良好的個人概念乃表達性書寫及自我關懷日記影響健康的機制。另外，研究亦發現在表達性書寫組別中，情緒管理能力是依據二次模式而改變；而在自我關懷組別中，則發現自我仁慈也是依據二次模式而改變。而較多負面情緒詞語的使用及自我仁慈的提升與第二次後續問卷中身體症狀的減少相關。因此，情緒管理及建立良好的個人概念於自我關懷日記及表達性書寫中可能有著不同的運作。另外，在表達性書寫組別中，傾向自我批評的參加者有較明顯的得益。表達性書寫及自我關懷日記對自我介入的應用將於結論部分討論。 / Expressive writing has been demonstrated to be successful in promoting physical and psychological health in previous research. However, the overall effect is inconsistent and small. Thus, new ingredients should be added to the existing writing paradigm, to enrich its beneficial effects on health. In particular, the present study proposed and examined self-compassion as a potential supplement of the existing expressive writing paradigm. In addition to examining the effect of self-compassion journaling on physical and mental health, the mechanisms of expressive writing and self-compassion journaling, as well as the moderating role of self-criticism on the effect of expressive writing and self-compassion journaling on physical and mental health were also examined. / In the study, all participants were randomized into 3 groups: (1) self-compassion journaling, (2) expressive writing, and (3) time management writing as control. On 3 days within one week following the baseline assessment, participants wrote according to writing instructions specified for their assigned conditions, and engaged in a 20-minute writing session. Participants then completed the post-writing assessment immediately after the final writing session, and the follow-up assessment 4 weeks after the final writing session. Results of the present study suggested both expressive writing and self-compassion journaling were effective in reducing physical health problems. No change in physical symptoms at the follow-up assessment was observed in the control group. However, significant reduction in physical symptoms was observed in both the expressive writing and the self-compassion journaling groups, with the self-compassion journaling group showed a larger effect on physical symptoms reduction than the expressive writing group. On the other hand, results of text analysis showed both the expressive writing group and the self-compassion journaling group wrote more positive and negative emotion words, first person singular and plural pronouns than the control group, which provided indirect evidence to support emotion regulation and resilient self-concept construction as the underlying mechanisms of expressive writing and self-compassion journaling. In addition, unique quadratic pattern of change in mood regulation ability in the expressive writing group and unique quadratic pattern of change in self-kindness in the self-compassion journaling group were observed. In addition, more use of negative emotion words and increase in self-kindness were found to be associated with decrease in physical symptoms at the follow-up assessment, suggesting emotion regulation and resilient self-concept construction may work differently in expressive writing and self-compassion journaling. Also, self-critical individuals were found to benefit more than counterparts who are low in self-criticism in expressive writing condition. Applications of expressive writing and self-compassion journaling in self-help interventions were also discussed. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wong, Ching Yee. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Chinese Abstract --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.v / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1 / The Development of Expressive Writing Research --- p.2 / Expressive Writing and Its Health Benefit --- p.3 / The Mechanisms of Expressive Writing --- p.4 / Self-Compassion and Its Health Benefits --- p.11 / Association between Self-Compassion and Emotion Regulation --- p.12 / Association between Self-Compassion and Resilient Self-concept --- p.13 / Self-Compassion Journaling --- p.13 / Potential Moderator: Self-Criticism --- p.15 / Aims of the Present Study --- p.17 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Method --- p.19 / Pilot Test --- p.20 / Participants --- p.21 / Procedures --- p.22 / Experimental Conditions --- p.23 / Measures --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results --- p.28 / Immediate Effects of Writing on Mood --- p.29 / Effects of Expressive Writing on Psychological Health over Time --- p.31 / Effect of Expressive Writing and Self-Compassion Journaling --- p.on / Physical Health over Time --- p.32 / Writing Content across Three Writing Conditions --- p.35 / Effects of Expressive Writing and Self-Compassion Journaling on Cultivating Emotion Regulation and Resilient Self-Concept --- p.37 / Correlations between Changes in Health Indicators, and Changes in Proposed Attributing Factors --- p.44 / Moderating Role of Self-Criticism on the Effect of Expressive Writing and Self-Compassion Journaling --- p.46 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussion --- p.47 / Limitation and Future Research Directions --- p.54 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusion --- p.55 / References --- p.57

The aim of this study was to describe and critically explore the psychoanalytic, psychotherapist's lived experience of the technique of using the couch. Through examination of the literature a question was formulated that would disclose the analyst's experience of the technique of using the couch. Four experienced psychoanalytic practitioners who could be operationally defined as 'analysts' were interviewed. Using a phenomenological method the protocols were comprehensively analyzed to produce descriptions of the general structure of the experience. These were then texturally enhanced using interleaved direct citations from the interviews. The structural and textural 'findings ' so produced were then hermeneutically dialogued with contemporary psychoanalytic notions of critical discourse and intersubjectivity. The phenomenological ' findings ' of the study disclosed the meaning of the couch as context-based, paradoxical and ambiguous. The couch was found to be a symbol of the analyst as analyst and the process as authentic analysis. Furthermore, at its best, the couch was found to mediate a mode of being that is containing and intimate and in which psychological life may be evoked, tracked and interpreted. The most significant contributor to this mode of being was found to be privacy, which, in particular, helps the analyst maintain an analytic attitude. The couch was also found to be significantly implicated in the generation of an intersubjective analytic third and to support reverie. These 'findings' were hermeneutically dialogued with literature on the couch as well as contemporary psychoanalytic theoretical notions. The dialogue fell into three foci. The first focus entailed deconstructing the meaning of the couch as context-based and ambiguous and not essential. The second pursued critiques of the role that the couch plays in domination, of its function as a symbol/evocative object and of the way in which it shapes being-together, bodily attunement, privacy, the intersubjective analytic third and reverie. Finally the 'findings' were critically examined in terms of both Lacan's notion 'analytic discourse ' and its role in revealing/concealing the analysand as subject. The study concludes with an examination of its own limitations and suggestions for further research.

Narrative Therapy draws on an understanding of how discourse acts to construct, reproduce and deconstruct power relationships. Therapy is focussed on collaborating with clients in a process of re-authoring their self-stories by critically evaluating the positions made available to them in relation to dominant discourses. Whilst there is a large body of theoretical knowledge on post-structuralism and psychotherapy, very few discourse analyses of psychotherapy sessions have been published. Thus, though post-structuralist therapeutic approaches are theoretically well supported, there is an identified gap in the literature on the therapeutic processes that occur within practice. This research aims to further explore these therapeutic processes, focussing specifically on subject positioning with relation to gender in Narrative Couple Therapy, and the influence of the therapist thereupon. It is based on the analysis of a video of a Michael White Narrative Couple Therapy session, "The Best of Friends." Using discourse analysis as a methodological approach, the analysis seeks first to identify talk that signifies discourses of gender difference, and then to explore how the subjects (therapist and clients) are positioned in relation to these discourses. The analysis focuses on the therapist's activities to investigate the influence of his interactions with the partners on how they are positioned or position themselves within stories of gender difference. The analysis shows that, by working reflexively, transparently and collaboratively with the partners, the therapist assists to render power, restrictive discourses, and alternate positions visible to the clients. The therapist resists being drawn into dominant therapy discourses of expert and patient, and instead continuously recognises the knowledges and expertise that the clients bring to the therapy context. He then works closely with the clients to thicken alternative representations of self.

A importância de algumas abordagens psicoterápicas associadas à farmacoterapia no tratamento do Transtorno Depressivo Maior tem sido bastante destacada, no entanto, existem poucos dados sobre a Psicoterapia Psicodramática. O presente estudo comparou 20 pacientes com diagnóstico de TDM em uso de medicamentos antidepressivos e avaliados pela Escala de Depressão de HAM-D17 (escores entre 7 e 20), divididos em dois grupos: dez pacientes do Grupo Psicoterápico (GP) participaram de 4 sessões individuais de psicoterapia psicodramática e 24 de grupo. Dez pacientes do Grupo Controle (GC) não participaram de sessões psicoterápicas. Os dois grupos foram avaliados pela Escala de HAM-D17 e pela Escala de Adequação Social (EAS) no início e final do processo psicoterápico e o GP também foi avaliado pela Análise Sociométrica, fundamentada no método psicodramático. Em comparação ao GC, o GP apresentou uma melhora significativa quanto aos sintomas depressivos e ao funcionamento social, bem como uma expressiva mudança nos aspectos sociométricos investigados / The importance of several psychotherapic approaches associated to pharmacotherapy on the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder has been quite highlighted, although, there is little information as far as Psychodramatic Psychotherapy is concerned. The present study compared 20 patients diagnosed with MDD in use of antidepressant drugs and evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Scale (scores between 7 and 20), divided into two groups as follows: ten of the patients from the Psychotherapic Group (PG) took part in 4 individual psychodramatic psychotherapy sessions and 24 psychodramatic psychotherapy group sessions. Ten of the patients from the Control Group (CG) did not participate in the psychodramatic psychotherapy sessions. Both groups were evaluated with the HAM-D17 Scale and the Social Adjustment Scale - Self Report (SASSR) at the beginning and at the end of the psychotherapic process, and the PG was also evaluated through Sociometric Analysis, based on the psychodramatic method. In comparison to the CG, the PG presented a significant improvement regarding the symptoms of depression and social functioning, as well as an expressive change on the investigated sociometric aspects

Fung, Suk Chun. / Thesis (Ed.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 328-337). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

A importância de algumas abordagens psicoterápicas associadas à farmacoterapia no tratamento do Transtorno Depressivo Maior tem sido bastante destacada, no entanto, existem poucos dados sobre a Psicoterapia Psicodramática. O presente estudo comparou 20 pacientes com diagnóstico de TDM em uso de medicamentos antidepressivos e avaliados pela Escala de Depressão de HAM-D17 (escores entre 7 e 20), divididos em dois grupos: dez pacientes do Grupo Psicoterápico (GP) participaram de 4 sessões individuais de psicoterapia psicodramática e 24 de grupo. Dez pacientes do Grupo Controle (GC) não participaram de sessões psicoterápicas. Os dois grupos foram avaliados pela Escala de HAM-D17 e pela Escala de Adequação Social (EAS) no início e final do processo psicoterápico e o GP também foi avaliado pela Análise Sociométrica, fundamentada no método psicodramático. Em comparação ao GC, o GP apresentou uma melhora significativa quanto aos sintomas depressivos e ao funcionamento social, bem como uma expressiva mudança nos aspectos sociométricos investigados / The importance of several psychotherapic approaches associated to pharmacotherapy on the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder has been quite highlighted, although, there is little information as far as Psychodramatic Psychotherapy is concerned. The present study compared 20 patients diagnosed with MDD in use of antidepressant drugs and evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Scale (scores between 7 and 20), divided into two groups as follows: ten of the patients from the Psychotherapic Group (PG) took part in 4 individual psychodramatic psychotherapy sessions and 24 psychodramatic psychotherapy group sessions. Ten of the patients from the Control Group (CG) did not participate in the psychodramatic psychotherapy sessions. Both groups were evaluated with the HAM-D17 Scale and the Social Adjustment Scale - Self Report (SASSR) at the beginning and at the end of the psychotherapic process, and the PG was also evaluated through Sociometric Analysis, based on the psychodramatic method. In comparison to the CG, the PG presented a significant improvement regarding the symptoms of depression and social functioning, as well as an expressive change on the investigated sociometric aspects

Studies indicate that, except for anger, many men tend to avoid expressing their feelings, especially those feelings indicative of personal vulnerability and emotional dependency (Levant, Hall, Williams, & Hasan, 2009). Men are frequently portrayed as lacking the ability to recognise, own and find words with which to express their feeling experiences; this is captured by the term alexithymia (Levant, Hall, Williams, & Hasan, 2009). Defined by ‘restrictive emotionality’, alexithymia literally indicates ‘without words for emotions’. Roland Levant has contended that men who are strongly influenced by ideas of traditional masculinity tend to be alexithymic (Levant, Hall, Williams, & Hasan, 2009). The central aim of this study was to focus on and understand the emotional experiences of participants of all-male or gender-homogenous group psychotherapy of this study. The study used a qualitative approach to understand how men emotionally engage or do not engage and express their emotions. Men who had been in all-male group psychotherapy were purposively selected to participate in this study. In-depth interviews guided by a semi-structured questionnaire were conducted and analysed according to the thematic analytic method. This study explored and described the accounts of lived emotional engagements of male participants in an all-male psychotherapy group. The study sought to highlight the significance of an explicit masculine framework with male emotions within a framework of non-deficit assumptions. The non-deficit approach to men privileges the strengths and unique contributions that men make as partners and fathers (Dollahite & Hawkins, 1998). This study explored and described the accounts of lived emotional engagements of male participants in an all-male psychotherapy group. The study sought to highlight the significance of an explicit masculine framework with male emotions within a framework of non-deficit assumptions. The non-deficit approach to men privileges the strengths and unique contributions that men make as partners and fathers (Dollahite & Hawkins, 1998). This study aspired to demonstrate that a gender-conscious model in working with male emotions enhances men’s capacity for a quality and depth of emotional engagement that echoes the more optimistic research on the male capacity for self-reflection and openness to subjective transformation (Kiselica, 2003). / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)