First steps in FAP: Experiences of beginning Functional Analytic Psychotherapy therapist with an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder client.

Abstract

Practicing Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) for the first time can seem daunting to therapists. Establishing a deep and intense therapeutic relationship, identifying FAP’s therapeutic targets of clinically relevant behaviors, and using contingent reinforcement to help clients emit more functional behavior in the therapeutic relationship all present significant challenges. This article describes a first-time FAP therapy conducted with a client meeting criteria for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and also presenting features of borderline personality disorder. The case illustrates how a first-time FAP therapist can meet these challenges and make use the supervision relationship as an aid.