Therapeutic ingredients in helping session episodes with observer-rated low and high empathic attunement: a content analysis of client and therapist postsession perceptions in three cases

Abstract

The authors investigated the relationship between helping session episodes with different levels of empathic attunement and the therapeutic ingredients as experienced by client and therapist. Based on their theoretical micromodel of the empathic interaction process, the authors hypothesized that, with an increasing level of empathic attunement, an increase is expected in depth of exploration, experiential insight, empathy, and relational attitudes, which are interwoven with empathy; a decrease is expected for therapeutic ingredients that are an implementation of genuineness and transparency. As for exploration, insight, genuineness, and transparency, the model is reliably confirmed. As for experiencing empathy and the interwoven relational categories, no univocal differences are found. On the basis of their findings, the authors indicate that there seems to be no specific class of empathic helping episodes but that the different levels of empathic attunement represent different phases within the global empathic interaction process.

Research on client experiences of therapy: Introduction to the special section

“…In 2007, this journal published at least five studies with client experiences of therapy as a key element (Fitzpatrick & Chamodraka, 2007;Jim & Pistrang, 2007;Nilsson et al, 2007;Ramnerš & …st, 2007;Vanaerschot & Lietaer, 2007); most of these used qualitative or mixed methods. In addition, Psychotherapy Research has also recently published a qualitative meta-synthesis of a subset of this recent literature, client experiences of the impacts of helpful significant therapy events (Timulak, 2007).…”

A qualitative study of change in obsessive compulsive disorder: a qualitative study of the impact of cognitive treatmente on the subject experience of patients

“…En este campo, durante los últimos años se ha incrementado la investigación cualitativa centrada en la experiencia subjetiva de los pacientes como un elemento clave para la evaluación de los procesos y resultados de la psicoterapia (Berg, Raminani, Greer, Harwood & Safren, 2008;Connolly & Strupp, 1996 ;Fitzpatrick & Chamodraka, 2007;Henretty, Levitt & Mathews, 2008;Israel, Gorcheva, Burnes & Walther, 2008;Jim & Pistrang, 2007;Mörtl & Von Wietersheim, 2008;Nilsson, Sensson, Sandell & Clinton, 2007;Pattee & Farber, 2008;Ramnerö & Öst, 2007;Silverstein, Auerbach & Levant, 2006;Vanaerschot & Lietaer, 2007;Williams & Levitt, 2008). Estos estudios han intentado analizar en qué medida la representación del paciente del proceso de cambio y sus resultados es relevante para una mejor comprensión de los mismos.…”