Group psychotherapy with young adults: Exploring change using the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method

Abstract

In this exploratory study, the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method was used to assess changes in interpersonal relationship patterns in a scenetherapy group based on dramatization and improvisation to facilitate the processing of conflicts. Four young adults with difficulties in interpersonal relationships participated in 32 scenetherapy sessions. Relationship episodes observed in the first eight and the last eight treatment sessions were compared using the CCRT-LU (Spanish version), a variant of the method with a logically unified category system to code patterns found in relational narratives. Outcomes indicate that scenetherapy contributes to modifying both the relationship patterns in sessions and reflections on the staged stories by individuals. Disharmonious interactions decreased and harmonious interactions increased, promoting a more positive vision among participants of themselves and others. Clinical implications, study limitations and further lines of research are also discussed.