"It's like catching a desire before it flies away: A comprehensive processanalysis of a problem clarification event in cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression

Comprehensive process analysis (CPA) was applied to a client-selected signi ficant event from cognitive-behavioral therapy to show how the process of m oving to the specific is effectively managed. A mirroring was shown between what the client articulated as the most helpful therapist advice and the d efined steps of a cognitive-behavioral intervention relating to problem cla rification to (a) state the problem, (b) plan movement from negative genera lized statements with specific examples, and (c) model possible functional and dysfunctional thinking, Further analysis of the effects of the event sh owed the therapist developing these planned solutions through homework and in the following session through work on cognitions. The CPA analysis provi ded evidence at the session level for the effective use of the change princ iples of cognitive-behavioral therapy.