title: Working with patients' strengths: a microprocess approach.
abstract: Previous research has supported the immediate activation of patients' strengths (resource activation) as an important change mechanism in psychotherapy. Two different studies of integrative cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treatments demonstrated that fostered strengths-oriented CBT treatments were more effective than the control conditions. Within these two studies, the authors tested the effect of specific resource-activating strategies at the beginning of therapy (Sessions 2, 5, and 8) using a pairwise matched control group design. The in-session processes were measured by video observer ratings (N=96 sessions). Results indicate that in the strengths-fostering treatments therapists and patients focus more strongly on patient competencies and personal goals in comparison to the control groups. These in-session processes have a direct impact on session outcome (particularly self-esteem, mastery, and clarification experiences). Results are discussed in regard to actively implementing resource-activating behavior as superordinate principles of change and their relevance for therapy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical-Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. christoph.flueckiger@psy.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flückiger
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caspar
authors.forename: Martin Grosse
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Holtforth
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Willutzki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires