Characteristics of client-identified helpful events in emotion-focused therapy for child abuse trauma

Abstract

This study investigated the characteristics of client-identified helpful events (n=29) in emotion-focused therapy for child abuse trauma (EFTT). Helpful events (HE) were identified on the Helpful Aspects of Therapy Questionnaire and in Post Therapy Interviews, located in video-taped therapy sessions, and compared to researcher-defined control events (CE) for each client. Results indicated a greater focus on childhood abuse (particularly during the imaginal confrontation procedure), higher levels of emotional arousal, and comparable alliance quality in HE compared to CE. HE contained deeper levels of experiencing compared to CE, but only for clients who achieved the greatest depth of experiencing. Client perspectives converged with theory and research on change processes in EFTT and have implications for practice and training.