The relationship between cognitive errors, coping strategies, and clients' experiences in session: An exploratory study

Abstract

Aim: Cognitive errors (CE) and coping strategies (CS) can bear weight on how individuals relate to others and perceive interpersonal relationships. However, there is little research into how clients' erroneous beliefs and maladaptive coping strategies can interfere with the therapeutic process. This study utilised a sample of healthy clients to explore the relationship between their CEs and CSs and their evaluation of therapy. Method: Therapy sessions of undergraduate student clients (N =26) were rated using the Cognitive Error Rating Scale (CERS – 3rd edition), the Coping Patterns Rating Scale (CPRS;), the Session Evaluation Questionnaire (SEQ) and the Session Impact Scale (SIS). Results: Clients who engaged in dichotomous thinking endorsed problem solving less and were more likely to feel unsupported and misunderstood by the therapist. Clients who discounted the positive tended to feel more pressured and judged by therapists. Conversely, those who engaged in problem solving were more likely to find sessions deeper and more valuable as compared to those who reacted to stressful events by submission, escape, or opposition. Implications: Better understanding how and when a client's cognitive errors and coping mechanisms are at play during therapy can help clinicians to address them and intervene appropriately.

Keywords:

• cognitive errors
• cognitive error rating scale
• coping
• coping patterns rating scale
• session evaluation
• session impact

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sara Antunes-Alves

Biographies

Sara Antunes-Alves, MA is completing her doctoral degree in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. Her current research is in the psychotherapy process with patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Other research interests include psychopathology, sleep disorders, and counsellor professional identity.

Katherine Thompson

Katherine Thompson, MA is completing her PhD in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. Her primary research interests include the process of change in psychotherapy, the therapeutic alliance, and cognitive errors, coping, and emotional expression in therapy.

Ueli Kramer

Ueli Kramer, PhD, is a psychologist and researcher at the Institute of Psychotherapy of the Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Vaudois, of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

Martin Drapeau

Martin Drapeau, PhD is an associate professor of counseling psychology and psychiatry at McGill University and adjunct professor of clinical psychology at the University of Sherbrooke. He leads the McGill Psychotherapy Process Research Group (www.mpprg.mcgill.ca).