COGNITIVE-AFFECTIVE PROCESSES IN PSYCHOTH ERAPEUTIC INTERACTION

In this contribution a new approach to the microanalytic study of cogn itive-affective processes in psychotherapeutic interaction is presente d. Using videorecordings, verbal and nonverbal aspects of psychotherap eutic interaction were analyzed. Correspondences between relationship patterns which are mentioned by a client and interactive relationship patterns which are enacted with the therapist are studied. The focus l ies on narrative episodes and enactments in the context of guilt feeli ngs. Applying our methods on a single case, different patterns of inte raction were observed which repeatedly occur in the context of reporte d guilt feelings. What such enactments look like and which function th ey may serve in the affective regulation of psychotherapeutic interact ion is explained by the example of a so-called chicken trap. Furthermo re, the question is discussed which role these interactive relationshi p patterns may play for psychotherapeutic change.