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Hitting the wall: A case study of interpersonal changes in psychotherapy
Author(s) -
Hill Clara E.,
Chui Harold,
Huang Teresa,
Jackson John,
Liu Jingqing,
Spangler Patricia
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
counselling and psychotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.38
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1746-1405
pISSN - 1473-3145
DOI - 10.1080/14733145.2011.546153
Subject(s) - interpersonal communication , psychology , shame , psychotherapist , therapeutic relationship , normative , interpersonal relationship , clinical psychology , social psychology , philosophy , epistemology
Design: Changes in interpersonal functioning are described in a case of brief interpersonal psychotherapy. Results: Although the client reported having more interpersonal problems than normative data both before and after therapy, she improved slightly on the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. In an interview, the client reported more insight about interpersonal patterns and greater ability to state her needs. In relationship episodes at the end compared to the beginning of therapy, the client began responding more positively about her perceptions of others and expressed less debilitating inhibiting affects (typically shame and pain). The therapist also noted interpersonal changes in talking about their relationship. Discussion: Possible facilitators of change were the therapeutic relationship, therapist support, and therapist challenge. The benefits of assessing interpersonal patterns in terms of both the core conflictual relationship theme and affects are discussed.