title: Immersion and distancing during assimilation of problematic experiences in a good-outcome case of emotion-focused therapy.
abstract: Some studies have suggested that a decrease in immersion (egocentric perspective on personal experiences) and an increase in distancing (observer perspective on personal experiences) are associated with the resolution of clinical problems and positive outcome in psychotherapy for depression. To help clarify how this change in perspectives relates to clinical change, the present study compared changes in immersion and distancing across therapy with progress in one client's assimilation of her problematic experiences.
  
  
  
  We analyzed all passages referring to the central problematic experience in a good-outcome case of emotion-focused therapy for depression using the Measure of Immersion and Distancing Speech and the Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale.
  
  
  
  Results showed that immersion and distancing were associated with different stages of assimilation. Immersion was associated with stages of emerging awareness and clarification of the problem and in the application of new understandings to daily life. Distancing was associated with problem-solving and attaining insight.
  
  
  
  The decrease of immersion and increase of distancing associated with therapeutic improvement should not be taken as a recommendation to avoid immersion and encourage distancing. Immersion and distancing may work as coordinated aspects of the processes of psychotherapeutic change.
authors.affiliation: a CINEICC-Cognitive and Behavioural Center for Research and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8790-3581
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: b Laboratory of Psychotherapy Research , ISMAI University Institute of Maia , Maia , Portugal.|c Center of Psychology at University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Bela
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Couto
authors.affiliation: a CINEICC-Cognitive and Behavioural Center for Research and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basto
authors.affiliation: d Department of Psychology , Miami University , Oxford , OH , USA.|e Department of Psychology , Appalachian State University , Boone , NC , USA.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Stiles
authors.affiliation: a CINEICC-Cognitive and Behavioural Center for Research and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto-Gouveia
authors.affiliation: b Laboratory of Psychotherapy Research , ISMAI University Institute of Maia , Maia , Portugal.|c Center of Psychology at University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0822-9267
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salgado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D000071441:Emotion-Focused Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: assimilation; change and emotion-focused therapy; distancing; immersion