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Published on: July 17, 2021
Formulating transference in cognitive and dynamic psychotherapies using role relationship models.
Mardi J Horowitz1, Birgit Möller
1University of California San Francisco, California, USA. Mjhoro@comcast.net
Journal of Psychiatric Practice
|February 3, 2009
Summary
Configurational analysis, using the Role Relationships Model Configuration (RRMC), aids therapists in understanding transference. This structured approach proved beneficial for both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapists.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Transference phenomena are central to various psychotherapy orientations.
- Organizing and understanding transference patterns can be challenging for clinicians.
- Existing methods for formulating transference may lack a universally applicable structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of Configurational Analysis, specifically the Role Relationships Model Configuration (RRMC), for organizing transference formulations.
- To compare the usefulness of the RRMC across different therapeutic orientations (psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral).
- To assess therapists' perceptions of the RRMC's effectiveness in identifying and describing transference patterns.
Main Methods:
- Interviewed 41 experienced psychotherapists (24 psychodynamic, 17 cognitive-behavioral).
- Therapists rated patient transference on predefined scales and described it narratively.
- Therapists then formulated patient transference using the Role Relationships Model Configuration (RRMC) format.
Main Results:
- Both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapists reported similar levels of positive and negative transference reactions.
- A significant majority of therapists (92.7%) found the RRMC format moderately to very useful.
- The RRMC facilitated the identification and description of transference and relationship patterns.
Conclusions:
- Configurational analysis, via the RRMC, offers a structured and effective method for formulating transference.
- The RRMC is valuable for psychotherapists across diverse theoretical orientations.
- This structured approach enhances the clinical understanding of patient transference and relationship dynamics.
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