The effect of the two‐chair dialogue intervention on self‐compassion ‐ adding an emotional evocative component to a basic Rogerian condition

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveHow people relate to themselves when facing distress or failure influences general psychological well‐being and vulnerability to psychological disorders. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of an emotionally evocative intervention on self‐compassion.MethodsThe data were retrieved from a larger study of Emotion‐Focused Therapy (EFT) utilising a multiple baseline design comparing two treatment phases. The baseline phase consisted of 5, 7 or 9 therapy sessions where the therapist solely adhered to Rogerian relational conditions, as prescribed in EFT. A two‐chair dialogue intervention was then added for five sessions. The sample consisted of 18 self‐critical clients with clinically significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. The “Self‐Compassion Scale” (SCS) was administered pre, mid and post therapy.ResultsThe baseline phase did not lead to significant changes in self‐compassion. However, the addition of the two‐chair dialogue was associated with a significant increase in self‐compassion. This increase was due to reductions in the negative subscales, especially the isolation subscale.ConclusionThe emotionally evocative two‐chair dialogue was associated with a significant change in self‐to‐self relating, compared to relational conditions alone. The two‐chair dialogue, thus, seems to be a promising intervention for promoting healthier self‐to‐self relating.