Strategies used by experienced therapists to explore client goals in early sessions of psychotherapy

Oddli, Hanne Weie; McLeod, John; Reichelt, Sissel; Rønnestad, Michael Helge

doi:10.1080/13642537.2014.927380

Cited by 22 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…A formal discussion of these issues did not occur, and remained implicit throughout the therapy. We observed the same in both the cases we worked with previously (referred to above), and suggest that indirect, nuanced explorations of client goals may be usual in "therapies as usual" among experienced therapists (Oddli, McLeod, Reichelt, & Rønnestad, 2014). This is an issue that deserves a closer inspection from researchers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Topic-focused analysis in a case of integrative psychotherapy with a father fearing his own anger

Reichelt

Skjerve

McLeod

2018

European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Topic-focused analysis in a case of integrative psychotherapy with a father fearing his own anger

Reichelt

Skjerve

McLeod

2018

European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling

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“…Hence, there is the potential that explicit goal‐oriented practices may divert clients from deeper, more fundamental concerns. Consistent with this, Oddli, McLeod, Reichelt, and Rønnestad () found that explicit goal agreement was not present in the psychotherapeutic work of experienced, high‐alliance psychotherapists. In this respect, methods such as “plan formulation” (Silberschatz, ) may be seen as more sophisticated and meaningful tools for capturing the unconscious, unarticulated aspects of clients’ goals.…”

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confidence: 82%

From intention to action: A mixed methods study of clients’ experiences of goal‐oriented practices

2019

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Objectives Goal‐oriented practices are central to many contemporary psychotherapies. The aim of this study was to explore clients’ experiences of this work. Design Mixed methods, with a main qualitative part and a smaller quantitative component. Participants were 22 clients in integrative psychotherapy (15 females, 6 males, 1 other). Semi‐structured interviews after session 4 and at endpoint were analyzed thematically. On the basis of the identified themes, “goal attitude” scores were developed and their correlations with outcomes investigated. Results Goal‐oriented practices could help clients move from intention to action through increased awareness and focus, setting manageable tasks, and progress monitoring. However, they had the potential to hinder clients’ awareness of their intentions, feel irrelevant, disorientating, or demotivating. Effectiveness hinged on client's management of their expectations, flexible working, and time. Positive attitudes toward goal‐oriented practices were associated with improvement. Conclusions Goal‐oriented practices can enhance psychotherapeutic work but need to be individually tailored and implemented collaboratively.

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“…Considering the patterns of establishing a working alliance, our findings concerning the role of attending to and validating clients' experiences and perspectives concur with findings in psychotherapy research (Ackerman and Hilsenroth, 2003;Safran, Muran and Eubanks-Carter, 2011). More specifically, the validation of clients' experiences and perspectives is commensurate with the goals aspect of the working alliance (Oddli et al, 2014). Moreover, ensuring personal significance and goal fit is established as a significant process variable in psychotherapy research (Michalak and Grosse Holtforth, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies of psychotherapy conducted by expert therapists have yielded insights into alliance formation during the initial stages of therapy (Oddli and Rønnestad, ; Oddli, McLeod, Reichelt, and Rønnestad, ). A similar avenue of identifying ‘best practices’ has been opened up in the mediation field (Emery, Rowen and Dinescu, ; Friedlander et al ., ; Poitras and Raines, ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Alliance formation in high‐conflict custody mediation: a serial case analysis

Kjøs

Oddli

2017

Journal of Family Therapy

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Through an in‐depth qualitative analysis of five cases of mandatory high‐conflict custody mediation, we analysed interpersonal processes associated with the early formation of a working alliance in a three‐way interaction. The analysis showed that the mediator efficiently managed the focus of the conversation and validated the parents’ perspectives, but was reticent in addressing interactional issues. Our findings suggest that mediators in high‐conflict custody mediation cases can facilitate the formation of an alliance between the parents, as well as between the mediator and the parents, by taking into account three main aspects of the interaction: (1) the management of the focus of the conversation; (2) validation of the parties’ perspectives; and (3) adapting interventions and tasks to the cohesion of the parent dyad. Practitioner points Mediators support the formation of a collaborative alliance by managing the focus of the conversation and validating parties’ perspectives Low parent dyad cohesion may bar cooperation on seemingly minor issues and a working alliance should be established early on Ample spacing between mediation sessions allows parents time to try out and evaluate different practical arrangements Working on concrete items of a parenting plan contributes to improving cooperation

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Strategies used by experienced therapists to explore client goals in early sessions of psychotherapy

Cited by 22 publications

References 35 publications

Topic-focused analysis in a case of integrative psychotherapy with a father fearing his own anger

Topic-focused analysis in a case of integrative psychotherapy with a father fearing his own anger

From intention to action: A mixed methods study of clients’ experiences of goal‐oriented practices

Alliance formation in high‐conflict custody mediation: a serial case analysis

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