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How psychotherapeutic exchanges become responsive: A theory‐building case study in the framework of the Assimilation Model
Author(s) -
Meystre Claudia,
Kramer Ueli,
De Roten Yves,
Despland Jean-Nicolas,
Stiles William B.
Publication year - 2014
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 - 10.1080/14733145.2013.782056
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , psychology , dialogical self , psychodynamics , psychotherapist , assimilation (phonology) , intervention (counseling) , anxiety , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , psychiatry
Objectives : The Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale (APES) describes eight levels that a problematic experience passes through en route to becoming part of the person's self. Theoretically, progress along this continuum may be facilitated by therapist interventions that are appropriately responsive to the problem's current APES level, in the sense that they help the patient move from the current level to the next. This study aimed to investigate links between therapist intervention choice and progress across APES levels. Design : A theory‐building case study was undertaken to assess and revise hypotheses concerning which therapeutic interventions are optimally responsive at each APES level. Method: Therapeutic interventions, measured by the Comprehensive Psychotherapeutic Interventions Rating Scale and assimilation level, measured by the APES, were assessed in 34 session transcripts of a 30‐year old woman treated with brief psychodynamic therapy for bouts of weeping and diffuse anxiety. Results and conclusion: Results were promising and enabled us to adjust our hypotheses, expanding and elaborating the Assimilation Model. Implications for practice: Our case study showed how specific therapist interventions may facilitate assimilation and underlined the dialogical dimension of the therapy process.