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A quest for self‐soothing: A systematic case study into emotion‐focused therapy with an emotionally avoidant client who committed sexual offenses
Author(s) -
Gunst Ellen,
Watson Jeanne,
Willemsen Jochem,
Desmet Mattias,
Loeys Tom,
Vanhooren Siebrecht
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22906
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , psychology , observational study , psychotherapist , clinical psychology , coping (psychology) , affect (linguistics) , psychiatry , medicine , communication , pathology
Objective The current study is part of a multiple case study that investigated the emotional change in individuals who have committed sexual offenses (ISOs). This case study highlights how one client used sex as a maladaptive coping strategy to suppress negative emotions. Method A mixed‐methods design was used to track changes in the client's affect regulation (AR) during four phases, including a baseline (Phase A), treatment as usual (Phase B), treatment with an emotion‐focused therapy (EFT) component added (Phase C), and follow up (Phase A). Results The qualitative description with verbatim clinical vignettes, revealed deeper insight into some important steps and hindrances and the impact of specific EFT‐interventions. Quantitative analysis of self‐report and observational measures showed a significant improvement in the client's AR across different phases of treatment. Conclusions The study improves our knowledge of the emotional change in ISOs during treatment and illustrates some key interventions, steps, and hindrances.