ASSESSMENT OF ASSIMILATION IN PSYCHOTHERAPY - A QUANTITATIVE CASE-STUDY OF PROBLEMATIC EXPERIENCES WITH A SIGNIFICANT OTHER

The development of a methodology for the evaluation of the assimilatio n model in which both experimental rigor and clinical sensitivity are priorities is described. The methodology was applied to a good-outcome case. The 3-phase methodology comprised (a) the identification of a p roblematic content domain, (b) the definition of a problematic experie nce within that domain, and (c) the rating of the experience's changin g level of assimilation across randomly ordered passages from selected sessions. Independent sets of raters carried out the tasks of each ph ase. Results supported the assimilation model's hypothesized progressi on by which a problematic experience is successfully incorporated into a schema, and the ratings highlighted 1 session in which much of the clinical progress on 1 problem was achieved.