Emotion-focused therapy for social anxiety: A hermeneutic single case efficacy design study of a low-outcome case

Abstract

BackgroundHermeneutic single case efficacy design (HSCED) has emerged and developed as a rigorous psychotherapy research method for examining the effects of therapy in single cases (Stephen & Elliott, 2011). The effectiveness of Person-centred experiential (PCE) psychotherapies for treating Social Anxiety (SA) has been the specific focus of recent HSCED research, and initial findings have indicated that various strands of PCE therapy have potential to be effective treatments for SA (Stephen, Elliott & MacLeod, 2011; MacLeod, Elliott & Rodgers, 2012).MethodologyHSCED was applied to a low-outcome case in which an individual presenting with SA received 20 sessions of Emotion-focused therapy (EFT). A rich case record, and set of affirmative and sceptic arguments – arguing for and against client change – were developed, based on a body of qualitative and quantitative data gathered over the course of the client’s therapy.FindingsThe client showed evidence of a slight to moderate degree of change. In addition, his therapy was judged to have had a clear but modest effect on outcome.DiscussionFindings, and wider implications for the application of HSCED, are highlighted and discussed.