Interpersonal control in psychotherapy: A comparison of two definitions

Abstract

This study compared the two definitions used to study therapist interpersonal control: The relational coding scheme of Ericson and Rogers (1973) and the topic initiation/topic following schema of Tracey and Ray (1984), as they apply to actual therapy dyads. All interactions of three psychotherapy dyads was coded independently according to each control coding schema and then correlated to examine the overlap and to assess whether each yielded similar results. It was found that both schemata were moderately correlated, which indicates marginal convergent validity, but the two models attributed control to different participants. The Ericson and Rogers model yielded results with the client in control, whereas the opposite result was obtained when the topic initiation/topic following schema was used. The results are discussed with respect to the different assumptions used in each method of operationalizing control and as an indication of the subtlety and complexity of the construct of control in psychotherapy.

Interpersonal Control in Structural and Milan Systemic Family Therapy

“…Heatherington and Friedlander (1987) reported mean kappas of .96 (participants), .84 (format), and .66 (response mode). Construct validity information on the original RCCCS has been reported by several investigators (e.g., Ayres & Muira, 1981;Folger & Sillars, 1980;Heatherington, 1988;Tracey & Miars, 1986). Construct validation of the FRCCCS, that is, the triadic based extension of the system to family groups, was supported by Gaul, Simon, Friedlander, Heatherington, & Cutler (1990).…”

Relationships Among Relational Communication Processes and Perceptions of Outcomes in Conjoint Behavioral Consultation

“…Acceptable levels of Cohen's kappa were determined by reviewing kappas in published literature, which ranged from 0.52 to 0.98 (M = .81; Erchul, 1987;Erchul et al, 1999;Heatherington, 1985;Heatherington & Friedlander, 1989;Tracey & Miars, 1986). Based on 1,899 coded messages, the mean kappa for the message format code was 0.94, and the mean kappa for the response mode code was 0.84.…”

Therapeutic Interaction and Dropout: Measuring Relational Communication in Solution‐focused Therapy

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The relational communication of sixteen dropout versus sixteen continuation sessions of solution-focused therapy was studied using two different coding schemes. On the Topic Initiation/Topic Following coding scheme (Tracey, 1986) no differences were found between dropout and continuation sessions, whereas the Family-Relational Communication Control Coding Scheme (Heatherington and Friedlander, 1987) yielded a number of significant findings. Both in 'successful' and in 'unsuccessful' dropout sessions, therapeutic interaction was found to be more conflictive than in continuation cases, with clients showing more domineering behaviour in dropout than in continuation sessions.

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