title: "If those tears could talk, what would they say?" Multi-method analysis of a corrective experience in brief dynamic therapy.
abstract: We analyzed master theorist/therapist Hanna Levenson's six-session work with "Ann" in American Psychological Association's Theories of Psychotherapy video series to determine if and how this client had a corrective experience in Brief Dynamic Therapy. First, we identified indicators of a corrective experience in the therapist's and client's own words. Complementing this analysis, we used observational coding to identify, moment by moment, narrative-emotion markers of shifts in Ann's "same old story"; the frequency, type, and depth of immediacy; and the client's and therapist's behavioral contributions to the working alliance. Additionally, we qualitatively analyzed Levenson's session-by-session accounts of the therapy from two sources. Convergent evidence from these multi-method analyses suggested how the intertwined relational and technical change processes seemed to bring about this client's corrective experience. Through consistent attention to the alliance and increasingly deep immediacy, Levenson created a safe space for Ann to "bring down the wall"-by allowing herself to cry and be deeply understood and cared for in a way that she had never before experienced. Concurrently, Ann began seeing herself quite differently, signified by self-identity narrative change. Then, following Session 4, she took Levenson's suggestion to risk behaving more authentically with a friend and with her romantic partner.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology , University at Albany/State University of New York , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Myrna L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , York University , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angus
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology , University at Albany/State University of New York , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Scott T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: c Facultat de Psicologia , Universität Ramon Llull , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology , University at Albany/State University of New York , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Crystal L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology , University at Albany/State University of New York , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kangos
authors.affiliation: a Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology , University at Albany/State University of New York , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , York University , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Christianne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macaulay
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , York University , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , York University , Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khattra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D000078462:Therapeutic Alliance
keywords: alliance; brief psychotherapy; emotion in therapy; process research; psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapy; qualitative research methods