Clients' internal representations of their therapists

Thirteen adults in long-term individual psychotherapy were interviewed rega rding their internal representations (defined as bringing to awareness the internalized "image") of their therapists. Results indicated that in the co ntext of a good therapeutic relationship, clients' internal representations combined auditory, visual, and kinesthetic (i.e., felt presence) modalitie s; were triggered when clients thought about past or future sessions, or wh en distressed; occurred in diverse locations; and varied in frequency, dura tion, and intensity. Clients felt positively about their representations an d used them to introspect or influence therapy within sessions, beyond sess ions, or both. The frequency: of, comfort with, and use of clients' interna l representations increased over the course of therapy, and the representat ions benefited the therapy and therapeutic relationship. Therapists tended not to take a deliberate role:in creating clients' internal representations , and few clients discussed their internal representations with their thera pists.