Therapist-client interactions in successful and unsuccessful short-term therapy - Two case analyses

This single case study on the psychotherapeutic process investigates whethe r successful versus unsuccessful therapy outcomes can be explained by ident ifying different patterns of therapist-client interaction. The interaction patterns of two brief therapies are systematically observed and compared in total using Schindler's system for,Coding Interactions in Psychotherapy' ( CIP). Two therapies with different outcomes, but comparable in relevant var iables were chosen: same therapist, same treatment, clients showing symptom s of a specific phobia and having equitable sociodemographic data. In summa ry, the two therapies differed in a multitude of static and dynamic interac tional attributes. These differences can partially explain the different ou tcomes. There appears to be a connection between the greater verbal activit y and cooperation of the client in the therapy with a successful outcome an d the amount of support given and the type of exploration used by the thera pist.