Connecting in-session corrective emotional experiences with postsession therapeutic changes: A systematic case study

This systematic case study investigated the nature of corrective emotional experiences (CEEs) that occurred over the course of psychotherapy in a single case and how those in-session CEEs were related to changes in the client's life. Client's e-mails on her experience of therapy sessions and postsession changes sent to the therapist, as well as outcome and postsession measures, were analyzed. The client was a Japanese woman who sought help for a variety of psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. A long-term therapy of 67 sessions was conducted by a Japanese male psychotherapist who followed an integrative affect-focused approach. The quantitative analysis showed that the client achieved clinically significant change in depression, anxiety, self-compassion, interpersonal functioning, and self-esteem over the course of therapy. A grounded-theory analysis of client e-mails to the therapist showed that she experienced a deep connection with the therapist, gained a sense of relief through experiencing her disavowed feelings, and developed a positive sense of self in the course of her sessions. The client felt she had gained strength, had deepened her understanding of her feelings and behaviors, and that she was beginning to develop new relationships with others. The understanding of the theory of CEEs through this case, cultural issues, and the limitations and future directions of this study are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).