Emotive Therapy Research Articles

Effects of Emotional Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Patients with Bipolar II Disorder

Background: Patients with bipolar disorder suffer from different problems, including emotional disorders, e.g., the loss of emotional self-regulation. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of emotional schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy on emotional self-regulation in patients with bipolar II disorder (BP-II). Methods: This was an experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The research population comprised patients with BP-II who visited the counseling and psychology centers of Dezful (Iran) in 2022. A sample of 45 eligible patients was purposively selected and randomly allocated to three groups. Each of the two experimental groups received twelve 90-minute sessions of emotional schema therapy and eleven 90-minute sessions of dialectical behavior therapy, while the control group was on the waiting list. The data were collected using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) and analyzed using the analysis of covariance with the Bonferroni post-hoc test in SPSS v. 26. Results: In the emotional schema therapy group, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the post-test scores of adaptive and maladaptive emotional self-regulation were 20.60 ± 2.99 and 12.66 ± 2.22, respectively. Moreover, in the dialectical behavior therapy group, the mean ± SD of the post-test scores of adaptive and maladaptive emotional self-regulation were 21.60 ± 3.33 and 14.13 ± 2.35, respectively. Both interventions significantly reduced maladaptive emotional self-regulation and significantly increased adaptive emotional self-regulation in the patients with BP-II, compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Emotional schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy improved emotional self-regulation in patients with BP-II. Therapists and healthcare professionals can thus administer both methods and other effective methods to improve health-related traits, especially self-regulation, in patients with BP-II.

Emotion-focused therapy on anxiety disorders during rural poverty alleviation

BackgroundHouseholds in poverty often face psychological stress and anxiety disorders, which affect their poverty alleviation outcomes and quality of life. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an effective psychological intervention that helps individuals regulate emotions and cope with stress. This study aims to investigate the impact of EFT on anxiety disorders and provide effective intervention methods and support.Participants and Methods100 impoverished households with anxiety disorders were selected as the experimental group for EFT and another 100 with the same situation as control group. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used to evaluate both groups, along with the application of EFT. Each treatment cycle consisted of 10 sessions, and three cycles constituted one treatment course. Depression scores were assessed for both groups at the end of each cycle until four treatment courses were completed.ResultsAfter one treatment course, the average scores for the experimental and control groups were 52 and 53, respectively. After three treatment courses, the average scores were 43 and 52 for the experimental and control groups, respectively. After the intervention of EFT, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in anxiety levels, improved emotional regulation, and alleviation of psychological stress during the poverty alleviation process. There were no significant changes in anxiety levels for the control group.ConclusionsEFT has a positive impact on anxiety disorders during the poverty alleviation process for rural households. These research findings provide a basis for effective intervention measures and support for rural households, enabling them to better cope with psychological distress and challenges during the poverty alleviation process.

Emotionally focused therapy and psychological distance research on consumers with social anxiety disorder

BackgroundSocial anxiety disorder is characterized by avoidance of interpersonal relationships and a generalized impairment of emotion recognition and regulation. Protecting the individual’s consumer rights can be difficult when this emotion is expressed in consumer relationships. Compared with other therapies, Emotionally Focused Therapy focuses more on the individual’s emotional processing. Therefore, the study proposes to use emotion-focused therapy and psychological distance theory to intervene in patients with social anxiety disorder and help them better control their emotional management.Subjects and Methods Consumers with social anxiety disorder were selected as research subjects and randomly divided into an experimental group (conventional psychological intervention) and a control group (emotion-focused therapy combined with psychological distance-related theory), respectively, to provide reasonable guidance for individual emotions. Before and after the experiment, the results were analyzed with the help of the Social Anxiety Subscale of the Self-Consciousness Scale and SPSS23.0.ResultsAfter the experimental intervention, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the social anxiety scale scores of the two groups of patients (P<0.05), and the total scale scores of the experimental group and the control group were (12.34 ± 4.28) and (18.17 ± 2.13), respectively.Conclusions Emotional aggregation therapy can better enable social anxiety disorder patients to focus more on their own emotions, and psychological distance theory research can invariably draw closer to the degree of closeness between the intervener and the interviewees so that the efficacy of the treatment has a high degree of applicability and effectiveness.

Rational emotional therapy for treating mood disorders

BackgroundWith the rise of the cultural and creative industry, rural cultural and innovative products are gradually receiving market attention. Patients with mood disorders often require special psychological treatment due to emotional fluctuations and social difficulties. This study aims to explore the application of folk culture in the design of cultural and creative products and the therapeutic effect of combining rational emotional therapy on patients with mood disorders.Subjects and MethodsThe study selected 50 rural cultural and creative products and analyzed their folk cultural elements in-depth. At the same time, 100 patients with mood disorders were selected and divided into experimental and control groups. A 6-month treatment period was conducted using cultural and creative products and a rational emotional therapy experimental group. The control group received routine treatment. The patient’s condition was evaluated using the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ).ResultsThe results show that in the design of cultural and creative products, folk culture can increase the product’s emotional value and market recognition. After six months of treatment, the experimental group patients’ emotional stability and social function significantly improved, and the total effective treatment rate reached 91%.ConclusionsThe folk cultural elements in rural cultural and creative products can add profound cultural value and improve market competitiveness. Combining rational emotional therapy can provide effective treatment methods for patients with mood disorders.

“It's wrong to relax, you have to be on the go, go, go, all the time”: Emotional transformation in a case of emotion‐focused therapy for generalised anxiety disorder

AbstractGeneralised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent, chronic and impairing disorder. The aim of this study was to qualitatively describe the transformation in emotional processing across 16 sessions of a successful emotion‐focused therapy (EFT) treatment for GAD. A theoretical framework derived from the EFT model of in‐session emotional transformation proposed by Pascual‐Leone and Greenberg was used as the basis for qualitative analysis. Additionally, the Classification of Affective Meaning States, the Client‐Expressed Arousal Scale‐III and the Client Emotional Productivity Scale‐Revised were utilised by observer–raters to classify moment‐by‐moment shifts in client affective‐meaning states, emotional arousal and emotional productivity. Results supported the emotion transformation model. The client presented in a state of poorly differentiated but highly aroused distress provoked by identifiable interpersonal and intrapersonal triggers. Emotional and behavioural avoidance provoked by fear of pain was evident. Accessing core pain and responding to attendant needs with compassion and protective anger was shown to facilitate the higher order emotional processing states of grief, relief and agency. Implications are proposed, including that addressing core emotional vulnerability may be a critical intervention in the successful treatment of GAD.

The use of emotionally focused therapy with polyamorous relationships.

Approximately 5% of people in the United States engage in some form of consensual non-monogamy (CNM; Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2018, 47, 1439). Therapists are becoming increasingly aware of the need to treat members of CNM relationships, including polyamorous relationships. To date, no research has been conducted and little has been written about applying existing couple therapy models normed on heterosexual, cisgender, monogamous relationships to CNM or polyamorous relationships. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported treatment for relationship distress that offers promise for working with polyamorous relationships due to the model's systemic and attachment theoretical foundations. We propose EFT is an ideal model for working with polyamorous relationships because of the focus on externalizing, interpersonal and intrapersonal emotional and experiential coherence, and the attachment bond. Building and sustaining multiple attachment relationships allows for the fulfilment of a diverse range of relational needs and wants as well as provides a secure base for individual and relational exploration. In this article, we first provide general information about polyamory and discuss the research on attachment theory and polyamory. We then provide a step-by-step conceptualization of how EFT therapists can expand the model to include extra-dyadic attachment relationships. In addition, we include specific ways in which the model would need to be adapted when working with polyamorous clients. We conclude with recommendations for EFT therapists working with polyamorous relationships.

Development and Effectiveness of the Emotional Regulation Group Counseling Program for College Students with Complex Trauma Experience Based on the Emotion-Focused Therapy

Development and Effectiveness of the Emotional Regulation Group Counseling Program for College Students with Complex Trauma Experience Based on the Emotion-Focused Therapy

The effect of therapists’ enactment interventions in promoting vulnerability sharing in emotion focused couple therapy

Objective The primary purported change process in emotion-focused therapy for couples (EFT-C) involves partners accessing and revealing their underlying vulnerable emotions and responding empathically when their partners disclose their vulnerable emotions. One main intervention to facilitate vulnerability sharing is enactment – guiding partners to interact directly with each other. The objective of the current study was to identify interventions therapists can use to help partners share vulnerability in the context of enactment. The primary hypothesis of this study was that promoting these interventions would lead to more vulnerability expressions during enactments. Method One hundred and five vulnerability enactment events were identified from videod therapy sessions of 33 couples dealing with a significant emotional injury who received 12 sessions of EFT-C. Four therapists’ interventions were coded: setting a meaningful systemic context, promoting the revealing partner’s emotional engagement, preparing the revealing partner for enactment, and promoting the listening partner’s emotional engagement in the enactment. In addition, vulnerability expression was coded. Results Multilevel regression models showed that two interventions were significantly associated with greater levels of expressed vulnerability: setting a meaningful systemic context, and preparing the revealing partner for enactment. Conclusion These findings suggest that therapists can facilitated vulnerability sharing using specific preparatory interventions.

Retracted: Effect of Predictive Nursing Combined with Emotional Therapy on Rehabilitation Effect and Psychological State of Patients with Brain Injury after the Operation.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/4159085.].

Comparing online group therapy based on emotional schema therapy with transdiagnostic therapy in improving distress tolerance and cognitive emotion regulation among university students with adjustment disorders due to romantic break‐ups

AbstractThis study aimed to compare the effectiveness of online group therapy based on emotional schema therapy with that of transdiagnostic therapy in improving distress tolerance and cognitive emotion regulation among university students with adjustment disorders due to romantic break‐ups. The statistical population included all students who experienced a romantic break‐up in Iran in 2020, aged 18–38 years. Due to COVID‐19 pandemic restrictions, participants were selected online. After filling in initial forms, diagnostic interviews were conducted through purposive sampling. A group was then randomly selected and divided into three groups: the first experimental group (transdiagnostic group therapy) included 15 participants; the second experimental group (emotional schema therapy) consisted of 15 participants; and the third group was the control group with 15 participants. The experimental groups received ten 90‐min group therapy sessions. Participants completed the Distress Tolerance Questionnaire and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire at pretest, post‐test and 1‐month follow‐up stages. According to the results of repeated measures ANOVA, there were significant differences between the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05) in the post‐test scores of distress tolerance and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. However, there were no significant differences between the two experimental groups. The results indicated that both internet‐based transdiagnostic group therapy and emotional schema therapy were effective interventions in mitigating symptoms of adjustment disorders due to romantic break‐ups among university students. This highlights the potential of online group therapy as a viable option for students experiencing such disorders, particularly during pandemic‐related restrictions.

Effectiveness of Emotional Processing Therapy on the Anxiety among Obsessive-Compulsive Patients.

The Article Abstract is not available.

Emotion-Focused Psychodynamic Interview for People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Childhood Adversity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Childhood adversity and emotional conflicts are associated with the presence and severity of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), yet common treatments for CMP do not address such risk factors. We developed a single session, emotion-focused psychodynamic interview, based on Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy and Intensive Short-term Psychodynamic Therapy, and we tested the interview’s effects on pain-related outcomes and potential psychological mediators in a randomized, controlled trial. Adults (N = 91; ages 21–70, M = 44.64; 87.9% women) reporting CMP and at least 3 adverse childhood experiences completed measures at baseline and 6-week follow-up. Participants were randomized to immediate interview or waitlist control conditions. The 90-minute interview was conducted via videoconference, and the interviewer elicited disclosure of adversities and conflicts, linked these with pain, and encouraged the experience and expression of adaptive emotions. Analyses indicated that conditions did not differ significantly on change in pain severity; however, compared to control, the interview led to a significantly greater reduction in pain interference (P = .016, ηp2 = .05) and a similar trend for anxiety (P = .058, ηp2 = .04). The interview also significantly changed several potential mediators: pain-related anxiety (P = .008, ηp2 = .06), pain controllability (P = .016, ηp2 = .06), and psychological (P < .001, ηp2 = .15) and brain attributions (P = .022, ηp2 = .05) for pain. Participants viewed the interview as very valuable. We conclude that addressing childhood adversities and conflicts in a psychodynamic interview is beneficial for people with CMP. PerspectiveThis study found that, compared to waitlist control, a 90-minute, remotely-administered, emotion-focused, psychodynamic interview improved pain interference, and anxiety among adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain and childhood adversity. Intensive emotional work can be done in a single session to the benefit of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Intervention for burnout and irrational beliefs in parents of couples seeking a divorce: A critical reflection of Igbo-African marital discord

Background: Looking at the sociocultural dimension of marriage in the sub-region of Nigeria like Igbo, parents allow their sons and daughters to marry so that they can have homes. The expectation is for them to have permanent homes. If there is anything contrary to that such as divorce, parents usually frown at it. To some extent, the psychological effects of it may be deeply rooted in parents who hear that their children are seeking a divorce. Given this reason, this study investigated the effect of rational emotive family health therapy (REFHT) on burnout and irrational beliefs in parents of couples seeking a divorce. Methods: This is a pretest-posttest randomized control group research. Two instruments were used to measure 73 participants who were assigned to treatment and control arms. the intervention group received 12 sessions of counseling that aimed to decrease the level of burnout and irrational beliefs. At the end of the sessions and assessments, the data were analyzed using repeated measures, cross-tabulation, and univariate statistics. Results: the finding indicated that REFHT was highly effective in decreasing the high parental burnout orchestrated by irrational belief. Comparing the mean scores of the participants exposed to the intervention and those in the control group after time 1 and 2 assessments, the mean reduction of burnout and irrational beliefs further showed a positive treatment outcome. There was no significant influence of gender, time, and group. Conclusion: This study suggests that REFHT is significant in improving the psycho-emotional wellness of parents of couples seeking a divorce. Thus, additional research is required to validate the impact of REFHT in decreasing burnout in other populations.

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Emotional Dysregulation in Male and Female Young Adults: A Qualitative Study.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been theoretically, clinically, and empirically associated with emotional dysregulation. NSSI is a means of regulating emotional states, particularly negative emotions. However, empirical studies on this topic are scarce and the literature lacks qualitative research on individuals' perceptions and comprehension of the function of self-injury. Thus, this qualitative study aimed to provide novel insights into the relationship between NSSI and emotional dysregulation in young adults. Twelve participants (mean age=22.7 years, 9 females and 3 males) from different support groups and a healthcare center participated in semi-structured interviews on NSSI-related emotional processes. Three aspects were investigated: reasons for NSSI, function of NSSI, and emotions. Each interview was voice recorded and typically lasted between 20 and 40 minutes. All responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four major themes were identified. The results showed that NSSI had both intrapersonal and interpersonal functions, within which emotional regulation played a significant role. NSSI was also used to regulate positive emotions. The results also showed a sequence of emotions among the participants, going from feeling overwhelmed to feeling relatively calm but guilty. NSSI has several functions for the same individual. Thus, it would be interesting to provide integrative therapy, such as emotion-focused therapy, which focus on improving intrapersonal and interpersonal emotion regulation skills and strategies.

Making sense of contented couples—insights from attachment theory and emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT)

This article builds on an earlier piece in this journal (Power, 2018) which hypothesised about the differences between three routes into relationship: random romance, arranged marriage, and self-arranged relationships. Interviews with three couples, one from each tradition, are used to explore how attachment dynamics were creating both a challenge and a resource for each couple. This article uses psychoanalytic thinking to inquire about mate-selection, and then attachment theory and emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT)(Johnson, 2012) to understand how these couples built a long-term attachment bond in each tradition. The couples’ own words are presented with reflections by the author in order to demonstrate challenges that couples face and ways in which they can sometimes manage these.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ART MUSEUM SPACE AS EMOTIONAL HEALING

This article explores the emotional healing function of art museum space and its potential impact on people's daily lives. Drawing on the theories of emotional therapy and art therapy, it is believed that art museum spaces can provide visitors with a unique transformation experience, helping them regulate emotions such as anxiety, boredom, and fatigue. This article explores how the layout of artist works and exhibition halls creates a visual and emotional experience through specific case studies, literature research, and questionnaire surveys. This experience is fundamentally different from the repetitive and rigorous spatial sense in daily life. Through the creativity of artists, different artistic spaces are created, bringing a new experience to the audience, allowing visitors to feel the charm of artistic creativity and obtain beautiful emotional value. Through case studies, it is proposed that good creative spaces can provide emotional therapy for visitors. Ultimately, this article demonstrates the potential of art museum spaces in changing emotional states and improving overall happiness. This provides new discussions on the application and significance of the creative industry in community residents' lives in the future, and proposes research directions for the development of the creative industry in the future.

Effect of Emotional Intelligence Training and Cognitive Restructuring Therapy on Self-Esteem of Secondary School Students Experiencing Academic Failure in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Effect of Emotional Intelligence Training and Cognitive Restructuring Therapy on Self-Esteem of Secondary School Students Experiencing Academic Failure in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

GENDER DIFFERENCES: PARANORMAL BELIEFS AND MALADAPTIVE EMOTIONAL SCHEMAS

This study aimed to assess and compare the level of paranormal beliefs and maladaptive emotional schemas between both genders, males and females suffering from Functional Neurological Symptom disorder (FNSD). One hundred thirty-four patients (67 males &amp; 67 females) between 14 years to 24 years having functional neurological symptoms disorder were approached through a purposive sampling strategy from the psychiatric wards of the government and private hospitals in Lahore. The questionnaires of RPBS (Tobacky, 2004) and LESS-II (Leahy, 2002) were applied to assess paranormal beliefs and maladaptive emotional schemas, respectively. The results of the Independent sample t-test show that female patients experience a significantly different paranormal witchcraft beliefs; t (132) = 18.15, p=.000, two-tailed, and superstitions beliefs; t (132) = 33.704, p=.000, two-tailed. The effect of Cohen (d =1.705) is higher and more in females than males. In addition, findings also show the statistically significant gender difference on emotional schemas of invalidation; t (132) = 2.25, p=.026, two-tailed, on a simplistic view of emotions; t (132) = 33.704, p=.000, two-tailed, on low expression; t (132) = 5.716, p=.000, two-tailed and on blame; t (132) = -2.372, p=.019, two-tailed. The effect size of Cohen (d =0.629) is medium, however, more in females than males. This study concluded that female FNSD patients need to be more focused on modifying their paranormal witchcraft and superstitious beliefs and maladaptive emotional schemas of invalidation, simplistic view of emotions, and blaming to control them than males. Therefore, males should be adjusted for the emotion of low expression, which could be done through emotional focus therapy.

Emotional Regulation Play Therapy for Maltreated Children: A Single Case Study

Aggressive children's behavior can arise from the child's inability to regulate the emotions that are felt as a result of the violence they have experienced as one form of maltreatment. This study aims to see how Emotional Regulation Play Therapy affects the behavior of maltreated children. This study was a quasi-experiment with a single case pre-test and post-test design. The participant of this study was a 10 years old boy with physical abuse and neglect history. Emotional Regulation Play Therapy consists of 5 therapy sessions based on emotional regulation development steps by Knell (2009). Measurement of emotional regulation ability was carried out using the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire for Child and Adolescence (ERQ-CA) developed by Gullone and Taffe (2011). The measurement results show an increase in the ERQ-CA score by 19 points accompanied by an increase in the ability to regulate emotion which is described qualitatively.

Capturing the change: a case study investigation of emotional and interactional transformation in emotion-focused therapy for couples

ABSTRACT Emotion-focused therapy for couples (EFT-C) is therapy which has a substantial evidence base both for process and outcome studies. However, to date there have been no in-depth empirical case studies that track interactional and emotional transformation in the couple, minute-to-minute, across the entire course of therapy. This case study aimed to observe the interactional transformation and emotional transformation in a couple over 11 sessions of EFT-C therapy. Videos of each session were analyzed using theoretically informed qualitative psychotherapy research. Results showed clients presenting with a negative interactional pattern, which appeared to be composed of two separate but linked cycles. Over the course of treatment, the clients presented with secondary emotions and behaviors including criticism and withdrawal. The individuals within the couple progressed at different rates through the expression of core pain and unmet needs, and after several sessions they were able to give and receive compassion to each other. They also showed signs of beginning to self-soothe more effectively and let go of some pain. The expression of assertive or healthy anger was found to be particularly important for the change in their interaction. Strengths, limitations and ideas for future research are discussed.