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Guided imagery in brief psychodynamic therapy: outcome and process
1North Shore Pain Center, Salem, MA 01970.
The British Journal of Medical Psychology
|June 1, 1990
Summary
Psychodynamic therapy, including guided imagery, improved client outcomes compared to minimal contact. Both imagery and non-imagery psychodynamic approaches showed similar effectiveness in this four-month trial.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
Background:
- Psychodynamic therapy is a common treatment approach.
- The efficacy of specific techniques within psychodynamic therapy, such as guided imagery, requires further investigation.
- Understanding client change trajectories is crucial for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy with and without psychosynthesis guided visual imagery.
- To compare these active therapy conditions against a minimal contact control group.
- To explore individual client change using repertory grids.
Main Methods:
- A four-month randomized trial involving 21 clients.
- Three conditions: psychodynamic therapy with imagery, psychodynamic therapy without imagery, and a minimal contact control.
- Repertory grids used to track conceptual space changes.
Main Results:
- Both imagery and non-imagery psychodynamic therapy groups showed significantly better outcomes than the control group.
- Improvements were noted in target aims of therapy and self-acceptance.
- No significant differences in outcomes were found between the imagery and non-imagery groups.
Conclusions:
- Psychodynamic therapy, with or without guided imagery, is effective in treating clients.
- Guided imagery does not appear to offer additional benefits over standard psychodynamic work in this context.
- Repertory grids provide valuable insights into individual therapeutic journeys.
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