Download - The Safran Lab

BRIEF ADAPTIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY
13. Interprets and/or explores client's resistance or defenses. An interpretation
provides a new understanding or offers a label of an inner state; it presumes knowledge
by the speaker of the client's experience and places it in the speaker's frame of reference.
"You try to avoid situations which make you feel confused," "When you feel anxious,
you tend to withdraw."
14. Explores and elucidates the unconscious aspects of major maladaptive patterns,
thoughts, and behaviors. "What's that need you have to feel frustrated?" "Why do you
think you do that?" "What's that about when you act that way?" "Why do you think you're
so frightened of competition?" "When you feel scared, you act hostile. Why do you think
that is?" Here, the therapist is probing for the unconscious aspects of the client's
behavior/feelings.
15. Frames symptoms in a relationship context. Therapist shows client that particular
symptoms are associated with aspects/events in client's relationships. Symptoms are
believed to be a result of previously dysfunctional relationships. Forgetting is a
"symptom" of memory dysfunction; anxiety and depression are also examples of
symptoms. E.g., Therapist notices that every time a client's attractiveness is mentioned,
she feels very sad. Father would show little interest when client would get recognition
for an achievement or attribute, etc. Therapist says, "You felt depressed in response to
your father's losing interest in you. And now you feel sad with me because you perceive
that I, too, have lost interest in you."
16. Interprets/explores maladaptive patterns by linking components of a conflict.
Therapist provides a construction that links different components of an internal conflict.
For example, drives or wishes can be linked with anxiety, which can be linked with
defensive processes, which can be linked with affect. "You felt anxious and that made
you pick a fight with your wife;" "You want to leave but you are afraid to so you stay."
17. Interprets/Explores maladaptive patterns by linking dynamics with
parental/significant figures in the past to others in the present, NOT including
therapist (i.e. carrying past parental relationship dynamics into the present in a way
that is not productive). "One of the things we've learned from looking at your
relationship with your mother is that you tried to do the accomodating thing in order to
get her approval. It seems that you do a similar thing with Bob, never crossing him, so
that he won't be angry with you."
18. Interprets/Explores maladaptive patterns by linking dynamics with others (past
and present) to current dynamics with the therapist. Therapist tries to show the client
that patterns that existed in relationships with significant others are similar to patterns in
the relationship with the therapist. "So you used to rely on John on a daily basis, and
now you can't do that because he's gone, so you feel like you are starting to rely on me
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