CLIENTS PERCEPTIONS OF THERAPEUTIC HELPFULNESS IN COGNITIVE AND MARITAL-THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION

Twenty women who received marital therapy and 11 women who received co gnitive therapy for co-occurring depression and marital discord report ed the most helpful aspects of therapy. The verbatim responses of clie nts were coded into 12 response categories, and the responses of clien ts in the two therapies were compared to assess whether they reported similar or different therapy factors as most helpful. Clients who rece ived marital therapy reported that the most helpful aspects of therapy were relationship-focused or interpersonal, while clients who receive d cognitive therapy reported that the most helpful elements were intra personal. The client reports are discussed in relation to independent ratings of therapist behavior and the intended impact of the treatment s.