Date of Award

12-1986

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. William A. Carlson

Second Advisor

Dr. Edward Trembley

Third Advisor

Dr. Jim Bosco

Abstract

Previous studies have failed to detect differences in experiencing (EXP) between more and less productive psychotherapy sessions. This study explored the possible relationship between EXP and session productivity and examined the efficacies of the conventional versus an alternative method of applying the EXP Scale.

Six client-therapist pairs audio recorded 52 psychotherapy hours, and after each independently completed a session productivity questionnaire. More and less productive sessions were selected based on the clients', therapists', and the clients' and therapists' combined responses. EXP ratings were made of 8-minute audio recorded segments, first using conventional mode and peak scores, and then using alternative frequency and duration scores for each scale level occurring in each segment.

There were no significant differences in EXP between more and less productive sessions when all of the EXP variables were simultaneously tested using Hotelling's T('2). A step-wise discriminant analysis detected differences between sessions judged by both clients and therapists as more and less productive sessions when the frequencies of EXP Levels 2, 1, and 3, plus the mode formed the discriminant function (p = .003). There were significant relationships between the mode scores of segments and the levels with the greatest frequencies (r = .56, p < .001) and cumulative durations (r = .32, p < .05). There was no significant difference between the conventional and alternative methods in ability to discriminate between more and less productive sessions, although the alternative variables contributed more weight to the significant discriminant function.

It was concluded that the alternative method provides valuable information, and further study is necessary before conclusions can be made regarding EXP and session productivity.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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