| Summary: | The main purpose of this investigation was to develop a
detailed model of the change process of an in-session therapeutic
event co-created by therapist and couple in an alcohol recovery
treatment context, using Experiential Systemic Therapy (ExST;
Friesen, Grigg, Peel, & Newman, 1989).
Two videotaped episodes in which a couple successfully
resolved a relational impasse (RI event) and one episode in which a
couple did not resolve a relational impasse were examined. To
discover patterns that distinguished between the RI events that
were successfully resolved and the RI event that was not, a step by
step analysis of the therapist and couple behavior and interactions
was conducted using Rice and Greenberg's (1984) Task Analytic
Methodology.
Key components and mechanisms of change in both therapist
and couple performance and their interaction were identified. A
model of the change process for the RI event specific to ExST is
provided as well as a more general model that may be applied
across theoretical approaches. Factors inhibiting the change process
are also delineated. In addition, two process measures: The
Experiencing Scale and the Self-Disclosure Coding System were
found to discriminate between the successful and unsuccessful RI
events.
Finally, implications of the results for clinical practice and
training, limitations of the study as well as recommendations for
future directions in research are presented.
|
|---|
