Interaction patterns between therapeutic alliance, emotional experience and treatment objectives in Affect Phobia Therapy: Exploring dynamics at group- and subgroup-level.
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| Title: | Interaction patterns between therapeutic alliance, emotional experience and treatment objectives in Affect Phobia Therapy: Exploring dynamics at group- and subgroup-level. |
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| Authors: | Ferreira, Laura Inês (AUTHOR), Ribeiro, Eugénia (AUTHOR), Gates, Kathleen (AUTHOR), Janeiro, Luís (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Counselling Psychology Quarterly. Jun2026, Vol. 39 Issue 2, p225-250. 26p. |
| Subjects: | Anxiety treatment, Scale analysis (Psychology), Self-evaluation, Psychodynamic psychotherapy, Research funding, Psychologists, Questionnaires, Emotions, Affective disorders, Treatment effectiveness, Time series analysis, Structural equation modeling, Descriptive statistics, Research, Intraclass correlation, Statistical reliability, Attitudes of medical personnel, Communication, Therapeutic alliance, Data analysis software, Affect (Psychology), Group process, Mental depression |
| Abstract: | Objective: This is an exploratory study aiming to investigate the contemporaneous and lagged relationships between therapeutic alliance, emotional experience, and the focus on Affect Phobia Therapy objectives, a psychodynamic psychotherapy, while also examining their impact on treatment outcomes. Method: A total of seven dyads with successful treatments were included. Clients aged between 20 and 44 years (M = 29.14; SD = 8.43) rated their therapeutic alliance, emotional experience and symptoms after each session while therapists rated alliance and therapeutic interventions. Data were analyzed with Group Iterative Multiple Model Estimation (GIMME), an analytical procedure to identify patterns in time-series data. Results: Only one link was identified at the group-level. The remaining interactions among process variables were divided into two distinct subgroups. In one subgroup, it was possible to identify links in line with theoretical expectations, revealing connections between relational and technical factors, whereas in the other, the connections predominantly focused on the therapist's perspective. Conclusions: Our results indicate that despite overall success, individuals may experience the same therapy differently, with only some processes aligning closely with the theoretical model. This variability seems linked to potential moderators like initial level of functioning, highlighting the need to thoroughly assess client characteristics to tailor treatments effectively. Practical implications: This study explores the intricate interplay between therapeutic alliance, emotional experience, and focus on psychodynamic objectives within Affect Phobia Therapy (APT), using an innovative dynamic systems approach (Group Iterative Multiple Model Estimation). The research revealed distinct links within two subgroups, emphasizing the idiographic nature of therapeutic processes. This helps to better tailor the interventions considering the different dynamics of interrelationships between process variables and the specific characteristics of individual clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Objective: This is an exploratory study aiming to investigate the contemporaneous and lagged relationships between therapeutic alliance, emotional experience, and the focus on Affect Phobia Therapy objectives, a psychodynamic psychotherapy, while also examining their impact on treatment outcomes. Method: A total of seven dyads with successful treatments were included. Clients aged between 20 and 44 years (M = 29.14; SD = 8.43) rated their therapeutic alliance, emotional experience and symptoms after each session while therapists rated alliance and therapeutic interventions. Data were analyzed with Group Iterative Multiple Model Estimation (GIMME), an analytical procedure to identify patterns in time-series data. Results: Only one link was identified at the group-level. The remaining interactions among process variables were divided into two distinct subgroups. In one subgroup, it was possible to identify links in line with theoretical expectations, revealing connections between relational and technical factors, whereas in the other, the connections predominantly focused on the therapist's perspective. Conclusions: Our results indicate that despite overall success, individuals may experience the same therapy differently, with only some processes aligning closely with the theoretical model. This variability seems linked to potential moderators like initial level of functioning, highlighting the need to thoroughly assess client characteristics to tailor treatments effectively. Practical implications: This study explores the intricate interplay between therapeutic alliance, emotional experience, and focus on psychodynamic objectives within Affect Phobia Therapy (APT), using an innovative dynamic systems approach (Group Iterative Multiple Model Estimation). The research revealed distinct links within two subgroups, emphasizing the idiographic nature of therapeutic processes. This helps to better tailor the interventions considering the different dynamics of interrelationships between process variables and the specific characteristics of individual clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 09515070 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/09515070.2025.2524432 |
