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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/9966 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Ferrada, Natacha |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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