ON BEGINNING THERAPISTS' RESPONSE TO THE TERMINATION OF INTENSIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY: A CLINICAL STUDY.
Item
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Title
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ON BEGINNING THERAPISTS' RESPONSE TO THE TERMINATION OF INTENSIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY: A CLINICAL STUDY.
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Identifier
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AAI8023708
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identifier
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8023708
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Creator
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HILLMAN, LINDA ELLEN.
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Contributor
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Dr. H erbert Nechin | Laurence Gould
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Date
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1980
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical
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Abstract
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This research examines five beginning therapists' response to the termination of intensive psychotherapy. It is a clinical and exploratory story with the goal of formulating meaningful ways to categorize the therapists' reactions.;An initial hypothesis states that the therapists will respond with one of four reactions. Two of the four reactions fall within the interpersonal dimension of moving towards. These two reactions are Pollyana or focusing on the growth, rebirth aspects of termination and Identification in which the therapist identifies and helps the patient delve into his or her sadness, anger and anxiety. The other two reactions fall within the interpersonal dimension of distancing. These two reactions are Intellectualized-Detachment in which the therapist distances herself from the patient and becomes cut off from her own feelings. The second is Ignoring in which the therapist forgets or pretends to forget about the termination.;The data collected shows that these categories are identifiable and useful ways to label the therapists reactions. Both the ratings and the clinical findings were in agreement about the recognizability and meaningfulness of these reactions. Limitations of this classification system were discussed including the role of the patients character pathology in eliciting a specific response in the therapist.;In addition, other findings emerged from the clinical data. Boundary management i.e. both psychosocial boundaries (roles) and intrapsychic boundaries (separation of inner representations of self from others) appears to be an issue at termination for these beginning therapists. Secondly, these therapists have a tendency to identify with their patients and speculations were made regarding the relationship between identification and the mourning process. Other topics discussed included the therapists' capacity to get involved, relative healthiness of termination reactions, role of the patient's pathology in eliciting the therapists' reaction, transfer during termination, and supervision during termination.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
