Patterns of change in psychotherapy: an investigation of sudden gains in cognitive therapy using the assimilation model.
The aim of this study was to provide a detailed descriptive account of the large improvement seen over a single-session interval in psychotherapy, known as "sudden gain," by applying a process model of psychotherapeutic change. Passages from sessions before and after the sudden gain of five clients receiving cognitive therapy for depression were rated for assimilation level. Results indicated that insight and understanding of the problematic experience was reached in the session before the sudden gain. Case analyses confirmed this but suggested that this insight was only partial and did not develop into full insight until the therapy session after the gain.
Goodridge
Dominic
D
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Hardy
Gillian E
GE
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult