Comparing the process in psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies

Archival records were used to compare the therapy process in 30 brief psychodynamic and 32 cognitive-behavioral therapies. Verbatim transcripts of 186 treatment sessions were rated with the Psychotherapy Process Q-set, designed to provide a standard language for the description of process. Results demonstrated that although some features were common to both treatments, there were important differences. Cognitive-behavioral therapy promoted control of negative affect through the use of intellect and rationality combined with vigorous encouragement, support, and reassurance from therapists. In psychodynamic psychotherapies, there was an emphasis on the evocation of affect, on bringing troublesome feelings into awareness, and on integrating current difficulties with previous life experience, using the therapist-patient relationship as a change agent. The clinical theoretical precepts underlying psychodynamic treatments received considerable support. In cognitive-behavioral therapies, there was evidence for the importance of developmental, as opposed to rationalist, intervention strategies for treatment outcome.