Showing papers by "João Salgado published in 2016"
TL;DR: As in previously studied therapies, setbacks in EFT, usually represent productive work on relatively less advanced strands of the client's major problems and point to the importance of the therapist attending to the limits of the clients' therapeutic ZPD.
Abstract: Objective: Research on the assimilation model has suggested that psychological change takes place in a sequence of stages punctuated by setbacks, that is, by transient reversals in the developmental course. This study analyzed such setbacks in one good outcome case and one poor outcome case of Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for depression. Method: Intensive analyses of five transcribed sessions from each case identified 26 setbacks in the good outcome case and 27 in the poor outcome case. The reason for each setback was classified into one of four categories: balance strategy, exceeding the therapeutic zone of proximal development either induced by the therapist (ZPD-T) or induced by the client (ZPD-C), or spontaneous switches. Results: In the good outcome case the most frequent reasons for setbacks were balance strategy and spontaneous switches, whereas in the poor outcome case the most frequent reason for setbacks was ZPD-T. Conclusions: As in previously studied therapies, setbacks in EFT, usuall...
28 citations
TL;DR: The theoretical expectation that EFT therapists work mainly within their client’s TZPD is supported, as expected, and Therapeutic exchanges involving challenging interventions may foster client change if they occur in an overall climate of safety.
Abstract: Objective: The Assimilation model argues that therapists should work responsively within the client’s therapeutic zone of proximal development (TZPD). This study analyzed the association between the collaborative processes assessed by the Therapeutic Collaboration Coding System (TCCS) and advances in assimilation, as assessed by the Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale (APES). Method: Sessions 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 of two contrasting cases, Julia and Afonso (pseudonyms), drawn from a clinical trial of 16-sessions emotion-focused therapy (EFT) for depression, were coded according to the APES and the TCCS. Julia met criteria for reliable and clinically significant improvement, whereas Afonso did not. Results: As expected, Julia advanced farther along the APES than did Afonso. Both therapists worked mainly within their client’s TZPD. However, Julia’s therapist used a balance of supporting and challenging interventions, whereas Afonso’s therapist used mainly supporting interventions. Setbacks w...
19 citations
07 Nov 2016
TL;DR: In this article, a good-outcome case of emotion-focused therapy for depression through two observational measures of psychotherapy process: the measure of immersed and distanced speech, which identifies client's adoption of an immersed or distanced stance when talking about their problems, and the helping skills system which identifies therapist interventions focused on exploration, insight or action.
Abstract: Previous laboratory studies have explored the importance of participants adopting an immersed or distanced perspective in the analysis of their experiences. These studies concluded that distancing allows analyzing emotions in a healthier way and immersion leads to higher vulnerability. However, in psychotherapy, the relationship between these perspectives and clinical change has been less investigated. The present study aims to contribute to understanding how these variables evolve during psychotherapy and also to explore the therapist’s contributions to this process. This study analyzes a good-outcome case of emotion-focused therapy for depression through two observational measures of psychotherapy process: the measure of immersed and distanced speech – which identifies client’s adoption of an immersed or distanced stance when talking about their problems – and the helping skills system – which identifies therapist’s interventions focused on exploration, insight or action. Results showed a decrease of immersed speech and an increase of distanced speech along the process, with a higher frequency of exploration skills preceding both types of client’s speech. Finally, the evolution of therapist’s and client’s speech showed a reasonable flexibility of therapeutic dialogue throughout the sessions, in particular due to the evolution of client variables (evidencing a higher diversity of behaviors).
5 citations