The process of change in ethnic minority males undergoing psychodynamic psychotherapy: a detailed comparison of two cases. Issue 2 (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dolev, Tohar; Zilcha-Mano, Sigal; Chui, Harold; Barrett, Marna S.; McCarthy, Kevin S.; Barber, Jacques P.
• Is Part Of: Psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Volume 32:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 180
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: alliance -- therapeutic process -- case studies -- ethnic minority groups -- psychodynamic treatment -- rupture resolution processes; Psychoanalysis -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.8917
• DOI: 10.1080/02668734.2017.1417323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8734

Abstract

Abstract : Better understanding of the connection between therapeutic processes and outcomes in minority groups can help design and use culturally adapted treatments. To explore the active ingredient in the therapeutic process, the present case study compared two ethnic minority male clients, recruited as part of a randomized controlled trial, one with a good outcome, the other with a poor one. The 12-item Working Alliance Inventory-Observer (S-WAI-O) coding system was used to capture the process of change, alongside a qualitative analysis of content. The cases were identified based on their change in pre- to post-treatment scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. The findings suggest a rupture-resolution process in the good outcome case, including a process of negotiation of the alliance and work on issues of trust. In contrast, the poor outcome case showed strong and steady alliance, but context analysis pointed to withdrawal ruptures. Although it is difficult to generalize from a two-case study analysis, the present work suggests that building and negotiating alliance with minority clients has a potential for treatment success.