How Plan Analysis can inform the construction of a therapeutic relationship. Issue 3 (17th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kramer, Ueli; Fisher, Shimrit; Zilcha‐Mano, Sigal
• Other Names: Critchfield Kenneth L. guestEditor.; Gazzillo Francesco guestEditor.; Kramer Ueli guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical psychology. Volume 78:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 422
• Page End: 435
• Publication Date: 2022-01-17
• Subjects: case formulation -- case study -- motive‐oriented therapeutic relationship -- personalizing -- Plan Analysis -- psychodynamic psychotherapy -- therapeutic relationship; Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23300
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9762

Abstract

Abstract: The construction of a positive therapeutic relationship was shown to be related with outcome in psychotherapy, but there are only a few prescriptive concepts helping the therapist to contribute to such a process. The present case illustrates the use of Plan Analysis (PA) and the motive‐oriented therapeutic relationship (MOTR) in the explanation of the construction of a positive therapeutic relationship. We analyze the case of Sharon, a 22‐year‐old student presenting with major depressive disorder. We present the case formulation according to PA and select Session 7 from the therapeutic process to illustrate three moments of the therapist focus on the underlying motives: (a) a first moment when the therapist presents with nonoptimal features of responding to the patient's profile, (b) a second moment when the therapist intervenes optimally, and (c) a third moment when the therapist intervenes excellently. We discuss this case from the perspective of personalizing psychotherapy.