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PCE2006
7th World Conference for
Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling
July 12–16, 2006, Potsdam, Germany
Topic:
Measures, Outcome, Process
Symposia, Paper Sessions, Workshops, Round Table Discussion Groups:
Robert Elliott, University of Toledo-USA, e-mail: robert.elliott@utoledo.edu
Alberto Zucconi, University of Siena
Nele Stinckens, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Abstract:
In this panel, we present information on the International Project on the Effectiveness of Psychotherapy and Psychotherapy Training (IPEPPT), and its specific application to studying Person-Centered and Experiential psychotherapies and training, especially in training centers.
First, Alberto Zucconi will speak about the broad issues relevant to initiating and carrying out this project, including philosophy of science, organizational, and practical issues, including progress to date and efforts to involve private training centers and to obtain grant funding.
Second, Robert Elliott will present the general framework for selecting instruments for evaluating Person-Centered and Experiential psychotherapy and psychotherapy training. The framework is divided into eight measurement domains, consisting of four research themes (therapy outcome, therapy process, client predictors, training outcome) and two levels (general concepts vs. PCE-specific concepts). Within this framework three research protocols will be described, with emphasis on systematic case study designs for carrying out rigorous single case research.
Third, Nele Stinckens will describe the IPEPPT pilot study being carried out with trainees at KU Leuven, including the new Dutch-language systematic case study research protocol. The process of implementing single case research into the training setting will be presented, including emphasizing the political necessity of engaging in therapy research; using a practice-based, bottom-up strategy; promoting a collaborative way of doing research; and exploring the initial ideas, fears and resistances of the trainees, all as a strategy for mending the research-practice gap.
We conclude with lists of current research partners and suggestions for becoming involved in this project.
Elizabeth S. Freire and Mick Cooper
University of Strathclyde, 76 Southbrae Drive, G13 1PP Glasgow (UK), phone: 0141-9503359,
fax: 0141-9503329, e-mail: elizabeth.freire@strath.ac.uk
Abstract:
This study aims to develop and to test the validity of a psychotherapeutic outcome measure based on Rogers’s theory of therapy change, entitled the
"Strathclyde Inventory". The instrument consists of 51 items developed according to Rogers’ description of the
"fully functioning person", encompassing the dimensions of "Locus of Evaluation",
"Openess to Experience", "Self-Liking", "Existential Living", "Acceptance of Others" and
"Psychological Adjustment". In the pilot phase of the development of the inventory, it was responded by 121 subjects, alongside a range of other instruments as a means of testing the validity of the measure. The instrument was found to be a reliable measure, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of .945. Pearson Correlation was -.506 with CORE showing that the instrument has good discriminant validity. Correlations with Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale and the subscales
"Accepting own Emotions" and "Experiencing lack of emotions" of the Behr’s Emotional Experiencing Scale were .688, .600 and -.510 respectively showing that the instrument has good convergent validity. The correlation for Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was .268 showing that the instrument has moderate degree of social desirability bias. The paper will also present the results from an exploratory factor analysis, which developed a two factors solution, and will discuss the implications of the research and ways of refining and testing the measure further.
Bettina Jenny, M.A., clinical psychologist and person-centered psychotherapist at the Department of Child and Ado-lescent Psychiatry at the University of Zurich,
Postfach, Neumünsterallee 3, CH-8032 Zürich, Schweiz, phone: +41 43 499 26 26,
e-mail: Bettina.Jenny@kjpdzh.ch
Christoph Käppler, PhD, head of psychology at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Univesity of Zurich, lecturer and researcher at the Department of Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence at the University of Zurich
Abstract:
Various studies have shown that group-therapy is an effective and adequate method of treating children with deficits in social competence at comparatively low cost. Our therapeutical activities at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Univesity of Zurich (Director Prof. Dr. Dr. H.-C. Steinhausen) applied the person-centered approach in the group-setting with children. We si-multaneously evaluated this treatment in a research project. In the absence of pertinent literature we had to develop our own adequate therapeutical procedures in group-therapy and some of the research-instruments in constant reflection on the person-centered approach and in recourse to our own experi-ences in individual therapy. We developed, for instance, a process evaluation questionnaire to record the therapist's behaviour. Up to now we included 33 boys in a sample of seven groups and followed them at intervals of six and twelve months after ending of the group-therapy. The indication consists in social behavioural disorders according to ICD-10 (Oppositional defiant disorder, Hyperkinetic con-duct disorder, Social anxiety disorder of childhood, Mixed disorders of conduct and emotions). First results indicate the effectiveness of our group interventions. We registered a significant decline in anxiety-based and aggressive symptoms. Furthermore parent and teachers told about increased social competence and self-confidence.
Germain Lietaer
em. Prof. Dr., Cath. Univ. Leuven, Belgium, Gloriantlaan 4, 3060 Bertem, phone: (0)16-488859,
e-mail: germain.lietaer@psy.kuleuven.be
Abstract:
In a study of client-centered/experiential psychotherapy, 325 sessions – involving 41 clients and 21 therapists – were described and evaluated by both client and therapist. In this part of the study an analysis will be made of the responses to the open question:
"What feelings and expectations did you have when coming to this session"?
A content analysis system was constructed for client and therapist data separately. The content categories and their percentage of meaning units will be described and commented on. A comparison of client and therapist perceptions shows a high divergence between the two perspectives.
Furthermore for both types of data a selected group of high and low sessions (40
"very good" versus 40 "rather" poor sessions) will be compared to shed some light on the question: what content categories are the most discriminating ones? By way of synthesis the high and low sessions will also be compared on other process variables that were part of the broader research project: content aspects ("What was mostly discussed in this session?"), helping and hindering processes. This
"Gesamtbild" will give us a more complete picture of "the good therapy hour".
Seamus Nash
Psychotherapist and PhD student, The Counselling Unit, University of Strathclyde, Jordanhill
Campus, e-mail: seamusnashphd@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract:
Background: This is part of a PhD study researching practitioners understanding, meanings and employment of the term
"person-centred".
Aims: It has been recognised within the Person-Centred Approach to counselling and psychotherapy that there exists externally a proliferation of misinterpretations and misrepresentations about the nature of this modality (Mearns and Thorne, 1988, 2000). The research looks at practitioners understandings of person-centred theory and how this is manifested in their individual practice.
Method: This is the first part of a PhD research project utilising a phenomenological and qualitative methodology. Respondents were recruited who had undertaken a counselling/psychotherapy training labelled as
"person-centred". Participants were interviewed both face to face and by telephone, using a semi-structured interview process. The interviews were recorded.
The data generated was transcribed and analysed using NVIVO qualitative software. The project was approved by the University of Strathclyde Ethics Committee.
Results: I will outline my findings at this stage in my PhD research. What can be said is that a practitioners definition and understanding of
"person-centred" is central to their practice. From this a Practitioners understanding of person-centred theory is also vital and is central to how they understand themselves as
"person-centred" practitioners.
Brian Rodgers
Counselling Unit, University of Strathclyde, 76 Southbrae Drive, G13 1PP Glasgow,
Scotland, UK, phone: +44 7984 837592, e-mail: research@brianrodgers.co.uk
Abstract:
A growing focus is beginning to be placed on the importance of the client's perception of therapy. Recently, Rodgers (2003) called for the exploration of new methods of research to assist us in investigating this. This paper introduces the development of the Life Space Map (LSM) as a possible tool to achieve this. The LSM is a qualitative research tool that facilitates the client's own review of the change that occurs from before till after counselling. A research study is currently in progress to investigate the efficacy of this tool. Preliminary results from the study indicate that there are some significant differences between the change detected using the LSM compared to more conventional methods of assessing outcome. The LSM facilitates the capture of rich, in depth narratives about peoples’ experience of change over the course of therapy. By inviting participants to reflect on this, new insights into the meaning of outcome are possible which are more sensitive to the client’s lived reality, including their diverse social worlds.
Rodgers, B.J. (2003): An exploration into the client at the heart of therapy: A qualitative perspective,
Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapies, 2, 19-30.
William B. Stiles, Prof., Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA, phone: +1 513 529 2405, fax: +1 513 529 2420,
e-mail: stileswb@muohio.edu
Michael Barkham, Elspeth Twigg, Tracy Mullin, University of Leeds, UK
John Mellor-Clark, Mick Cooper, CORE Information Management Systems, University of Strathclyde,
UK
Abstract:
We compared the outcomes of clients treated with person-centered therapy (PCT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic therapy (PDT) as practiced in routine care in 58 primary and secondary care sites in the United Kingdom National Health Service. Clients (n = 1,309) seen during a three-year period at these sites completed the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) at the beginning and end of their treatment. Therapists indicated which treatment approaches were used on an End of Therapy form. We compared outcomes of six groups: three treated with PCT, CBT, or PDT only, and three treated with one of these plus one additional approach (e.g., integrative, supportive, art), designated PCT+1, CBT+1, or PDT+1, respectively. All six groups averaged marked improvement (pre-post effect size d = 1.36). Treatment approach and degree of purity of treatment ("only" vs "+1") each accounted for statistically significant but comparatively tiny proportions of the variance in CORE-OM scores (respectively, 1% and 0.5% as much as pre-post change). Distributions of change scores were largely overlapping across all six groups. Results of a replication in a second, larger sample, not available at this writing will also be reported at the conference. These results were consistent with the Dodo verdict, "Everybody has won, and all must have prizes". Caution is warranted because of limited treatment specification, non-random assignment, lack of a control group, missing data, and other issues.
Pierre Tap
Ph.D. Full Professor Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, phone: +33 612 573 735,
e-mail: pierretap@aol.pt
João Hipólito
M.D., Ph.D. Full Professor Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Lisboa, phone: +351 937 242 372,
e-mail: joao.hipolito@ual.pt
Odete Nunes
Ph.D., Associated Professor Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Lisboa, phone: +351 937 218 211,
e-mail: odete.nunes@ual.pt Addresses:
Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Departamento de Psicologia e Sociologia,
Rua de Santa Marta 47 - 3º - #308, 1169-023 Lisbon, Portugal
Abstract:
Rogers, C. & Dymond, R. (1954) postulated the "discrepancy between self and ideal
self" or "wanted self and the perceived self" as an
"index of self-esteem or self-value". To evaluate these two aspects of the self, Rogers and his colleagues developed a Q-Sort 74 item scale, based on clinical therapeutic protocols. This scale is composed of 37 positive items and 37 negative items and was applied in the research studies co-ordinated by Carl Rogers at Chicago University. The statistical treatment of this scale was quite complex. We used this Self’s questionnaire and the same methodology but with a new statistical treatment, to measure self esteem as the discrepancy between the wanted self and the perceived self, and validate this scale for the Portuguese population. We cross validated it with the New Toulouse Self Esteem scale and verified their concordance. We propose this ”new-old” tool for research.
Keywords: Self-esteem, Self-esteem scales, self, Carl Rogers, ideal self, real self, wanted self, perceived self.
References: Rogers, C. & Dymond, R. (1954) Psychotherapy and Personality Change. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. (pp. 56, 243)
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