"If those tears could talk, what would they say?" Multi-method analysis of a corrective experience in brief dynamic therapy†. (4th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Friedlander, Myrna L.; Angus, Lynne; Wright, Scott T.; Günther, Cristina; Austin, Crystal L.; Kangos, Kelsey; Barbaro, Larissa; Macaulay, Christianne; Carpenter, Naomi; Khattra, Jasmine
• Is Part Of: Psychotherapy research. Volume 28:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2018-03-04
• Subjects: brief psychotherapy -- process research -- psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy -- alliance -- qualitative research methods -- emotion in therapy; psicoterapia breve -- pesquisa de processo -- terapia psicanalítica / psicodinâmica -- aliança -- métodos de pesquisa qualitativa -- emoção em terapia; Kurzzeitpsychotherapie -- Prozessforschung -- psychoanalytische/psychodynamische Therapie -- Allianz -- qualitative Forschung -- Methoden -- Emotionen in der Therapie; 短期心理治療 -- 歷程研究 -- 心理分析／心理動力治療 -- 同盟關係 -- 質性研究方法 -- 治療中的情緒; psicoterapia breve -- ricerca di processo -- terapia psicoanalitica / psicodinamica -- alleanza -- metodi di ricerca qualitativa -- emozione in terapia; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Research -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychothérapie -- Périodiques; Psychothérapie -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 616.891405
• DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2016.1184350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-3307

Abstract

Abstract: We analyzed master theorist/therapist Hanna Levenson's six-session work with "Ann" in American Psychological Association's Theories of Psychotherapy video series to determine if and how this client had a corrective experience in Brief Dynamic Therapy. First, we identified indicators of a corrective experience in the therapist's and client's own words. Complementing this analysis, we used observational coding to identify, moment by moment, narrative-emotion markers of shifts in Ann's "same old story"; the frequency, type, and depth of immediacy; and the client's and therapist's behavioral contributions to the working alliance. Additionally, we qualitatively analyzed Levenson's session-by-session accounts of the therapy from two sources. Convergent evidence from these multi-method analyses suggested how the intertwined relational and technical change processes seemed to bring about this client's corrective experience. Through consistent attention to the alliance and increasingly deep immediacy, Levenson created a safe space for Ann to "bring down the wall"—by allowing herself to cry and be deeply understood and cared for in a way that she had never before experienced. Concurrently, Ann began seeing herself quite differently, signified by self-identity narrative change. Then, following Session 4, she took Levenson's suggestion to risk behaving more authentically with a friend and with her romantic partner.