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Formations, ruptures, rebounds, and repairs : an intensive investigation of changes in the therapeutic relationship

This study examined client-reported changes in the therapeutic relationship across 29 sessions, spanning ten cases of short-term, Process-Experiential psychotherapy. Cases and sessions were empirically identified, based on clients' end-of-session ratings on the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI). This empirical selection strategy was intentionally broad and atheoretical, to encompass a variety of change scenarios. Therapist and client behaviors and interactions during selected sessions were explored using the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) and the Hill Counselor and Client Verbal Response Modes (VRM) Systems. Both frequency and sequential analysis of category codes were conducted, followed by a session-by-session review of the ten cases. Observed therapist and client behaviors clearly reflected the Process-Experiential therapy model as well as therapist efforts to establish and maintain empathic attunement. No significant differences were found in the frequencies of SASB or VRM codes between strongest and weakest alliance sessions or between rupture and post-rupture sessions. This raises questions about the ability of these measures to differentiate between subtle in-session processes. The case reviews underscored the clients' independent and often-overlooked contributions to the formation and repair of the therapeutic relationship.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-10212004-002505
Date01 January 2001
CreatorsNieuwenhuis, James Alfred
ContributorsCheesman, James E. (Jim)
PublisherUniversity of Saskatchewan
Source SetsUniversity of Saskatchewan Library
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-10212004-002505
Rightsunrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report.

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