The process of change in accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP): A case study analysis.

Abstract

Accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP) is a highly integrative treatment that incorporates elements of short-term psychodynamic and emotion-focused, process-experiential, psychotherapies, as well as attachment theory. The current study employed a mixed-methods multicase study design to describe how the process of change unfolds in a "successful" and an "unsuccessful" case of AEDP, as defined by reliable change (RC) on the Outcome Questionnaire-30.2 (OQ-30;. Concurrently, several additional outcomes (affect experience and adult attachment), therapy relationship variables (working alliance [WA], real relationship [RR], and patient attachment to the therapist), and a qualitative description of the therapy process (Important Events Questionnaire [IEQ]; Cummings, Martin, Hallberg, & Slemon, 1992) were assessed at 3 time points during the course of therapy. Overall, the clinical observations in this study are consistent with AEDP's theory of change, which predicts that symptom relief is accompanied by changes in affect and insecure attachment, and that these changes occur within a strong therapeutic relationship that is real, collaborative, and secure. Furthermore, qualitative analyses suggest that the advent of a corrective emotional experience (CEE) may have served as a catalyst for change in the "successful" therapy dyad. On the contrary, a reliable decline in agreement over the tasks of therapy and decreasing positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) may have hindered early change in the "unsuccessful" case.

The effectiveness of accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP) in private practice settings: A transdiagnostic study conducted within the context of a practice-research network.

“…However, empirical investigations of AEDP have only just begun. Several systematic case studies have been conducted (Gonzalez, 2018; Markin, McCarthy, Fuhrmann, Yeung, & Gleiser, 2018). Qualitative research has used task analysis to describe the stages of metaprocessing and the way metaprocessing can be used to broaden and build positive emotion within session (Iwakabe & Conceição, 2016).…”

Portrayals in work with emotion in AEDP: Processing core affective experience and bringing it to completion.

“…Many clients, although certainly not all, enter the therapeutic relationship with difficulties accessing their emotions. Armed with the knowledge that safety heals, the AEDP therapist aims to create secure attachment beginning with the very first session (Fosha, 2000(Fosha, , 2006Lipton & Fosha, 2011;Prenn, 2011;Markin et al, 2018;Tunnell, 2012) and bring transformance strivings to the fore (see Kranz, Chapter 2, this volume). Lipton (2019) offered a somatic device to remember some of these skills, instructing practitioners to use "the S.A.N.E.R.…”

Termination in 16-session accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP): Together in how we say goodbye.

“…Termination in 16-session AEDP is also a celebration of achievement. 21 Therapist interventions during termination seek to (a) highlight resilience and celebrate the patient's affective achievements; (b) elicit, deepen, and process emergent emotions related to the completion of treatment; and (c) convey trust and confidence in an ongoing change process, hypothesized to yield not only diminishment of symptoms and suffering but also upward spirals of flourishing that continue to manifest in the patient's life (Fosha et al, 2019;Iwakabe & Conceição, 2016;Markin, McCarthy, Fuhrmann, Yeung, & Gleiser, 2018). The AEDP therapist aims to offer a new and generative experience of emotion in connection through an ending.…”