Convergence and divergence of themes in successful psychotherapy: An assimilation analysis

Theme convergence is the linking of seemingly unrelated problem domains as they advance through assimilation stages-a developmental sequence of cognit ive and affective changes through which problematic content is hypothesized to pass during successful psychotherapy. Theme divergence is the contradic tion or conflict of solutions to different problems, so that progress in on e domain leads to stagnation or regression in another domain. An intensive qualitative method called assimilation analysis was used to examine theme c onvergence and divergence in a successful psychodynamic psychotherapy. Beca use specific problems often fail to progress monotonically, even in success ful psychotherapy, cases, it is suggested that clients' problems cannot be resolved in isolation; instead, they may influence each other toward resolu tion or stagnation in complex and unpredictable ways.