What interventions facilitate client progress through the assimilation model? A task analysis of interventions in the psychodynamic treatment of depression

Abstract

A variation of task analysis was used to build an empirical model of how therapists may facilitate client assimilation process, described in the Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale. A rational model was specified and considered in light of an analysis of therapist in-session performances (N = 117) drawn from six inpatient therapies for depression. The therapist interventions were measured by the Comprehensive Psychotherapeutic Interventions Rating Scale. Consistent with the rational model, confronting interventions were particularly useful in helping clients elaborate insight. However, rather than there being a small number of progress-related interventions at lower levels of assimilation, therapists' use of interventions was broader than hypothesized and drew from a wide range of therapeutic approaches. Concerning the higher levels of assimilation, there was insufficient data to allow an analysis of the therapist's progress-related interventions.

Keywords:

• therapist intervention
• assimilation process
• case study
• task analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Michèle Grossen, Bill Stiles and Mehdi Mohammad Gholamrezaee for their support and helpful advice.

Funding

This study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation [grant number FNS 32003B-135098].

Additional information

Funding

Funding: This study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation [grant number FNS 32003B-135098].