COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS ANALYSIS OF INSIGHT EVENTS IN COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHODYNAMIC INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPIES

Comprehensive Process Analysis (CPA) is an interpretive, qualitative r esearch method for analyzing significant therapy events. CPA was used to analyze 6 client-identified significant insight events in 2 treatme nts. Two events are presented in depth. The psychodynamic-interpersona l therapy event documented the existence of 2-part significant events and the value of key words. The cognitive-behavioral therapy event ill ustrated the role of context in transforming small therapy events into significant events. Events in both therapies involved therapist inter pretations of recent difficult life events that were delivered in a fi rm but interactive style. Interpersonal therapy events were distinguis hed by links to themes from previous sessions and led to awareness of painful emotions. Cognitive therapy events were externalizing reattrib utions given to more clinically distressed clients. A revised 5-stage microprocess model of the insight is presented.