Emotional Processing in Self-Narratives as a Predictor of Outcome in Emotion Focused Therapy for Child Abuse Trauma (EFTT)

摘要

The present study is the first to test a model of emotional change processes in self-focused sessions of emotion-focused therapy for trauma (EFTT), whereby early expressions of distress (e.g., fear, shame) shift to Advanced Meaning Making (AMM) states (e.g., assertive anger, grief) in later sessions. Archival data (videotaped sessions, self-report measures) from a previous study (Paivio, Jarry, Chagigiorgis, Hall, u26 Ralston, 2010) were utilized. Emotional processing was rated using the Classification of Affective Meaning States (CAMS; Pascual-Leone u26 Greenberg, 2007). Result of odds ratio analyses revealed increases in expression of AMM in late sessions compared to early sessions. Results of a factorial ANOVA revealed reduced depression for clients in which AMM were present in late sessions. Results provide preliminary support for the proposed model of change in self-narratives during EFTT.