Change Processes in Clients' Self-Perceptions in Experiental Psychotherapy / Veränderungsprozesse in der Selbstwahrnehmung bei Klienten in der Experienziellen Psychotherapie / Procesos de cambio en la percepción que tiene el cliente de su self en psicoterapia experiencial / Les processus de changement dans les perceptions de soi chez les clients dans la psychothérapie expérientielle / Processos de mudança na auto-percepção do

Abstract

This study examined the processes underlying change in self-perceptions and their relation to treatment outcome in short-term perception-focused experiential therapy. Clients (n = 20) receiving this method of therapy showed significantly greater improvement on measures of depression, self-concept, and perceptual congruence than those in a stress-management treatment control group (n = 20). Self-relevant segments, drawn from an early and later therapy session of the treatment group, were rated on the EXP-Scale and on a measure of levels of perceptual processing (LCPP-R). The analyses revealed significant early- to late-therapy improvement in depth of experiencing and ability to engage in complex, internally focused differentiating, reevaluating, and integrating kinds of mental operations. A significant relationship was also found between attained complexity in manner of processing and post-treatment reduction in depression. The implications of these findings for experiential theory and practice are discussed.