What was helpful in today's session? Responses of clients in two different psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to qualitatively analyze and compare the written responses clients in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) gave when asked about helpful and negative aspects of the previous session. Data were collected during a randomized quantitative study comparing dialogical exposure therapy (DET, a gestalt-based integrative therapy, n = 58) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT, a cognitive-behavioral therapy, n = 52). We developed a coding manual using Mayring's (2015) qualitative content analysis approach and were able to code responses reliably. Five main categories emerged, unspecified and specific therapy elements, therapeutic relationship, client process, and general positive experience, with the first three containing subcategories. Each therapy had its own codes for specific therapy elements, while the other codes were identical for both treatments. The results for specific therapy elements were in accordance with the theories behind the two treatments, with CPT clients naming cognitive factors most frequently, whereas in DET, emotions were the most frequently mentioned. Results for therapeutic relationship were surprisingly similar given that DET therapists consider the therapeutic relationship to be an active ingredient, while CPT therapists consider it as the basis for the intervention rather than a working mechanism in itself. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).