AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THERAPISTS’ GOALS AND PATIENTS’ PROBLEMS REVEALED BY THE RORSCHACH

Abstract

This study describes and classifies goals as formulated by psychodynamically oriented psychotherapists, and examines the agreement between the therapists’ goals and the patients’ problems revealed by the Rorschach. One hundred thirty treatment plans were rated with regard to content, and five of the goal categories were compared to corresponding Rorschach clusters. Personality differences were examined between patients with low agreement between the therapists’ goals and patients’ problems and those with relatively high agreement. Patients with low agreement were characterized by a high degree of problem complexity and psychopathology, especially in thinking. They also showed signs of psychological defenses that might have obstructed the communication of their psychological problems to the therapists. The results suggest that the Rorschach may provide information about aspects of patients’ psychological functioning which they are not able to communicate or which are not paid attention to by the therapists.