Effective Microprocesses in Early Sessions of Dynamic Psychotherapy

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin.

Dr. Kolden, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, CSC B6/268, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792; e-mail: ggkolden{at}facstaff.wisc.edu.

This naturalistic study examined effective microprocesses in early sessions of dynamic psychotherapy. A multiple-regression data analytic strategy focused on the proportion of variance accounted for by process variables in session outcome as judged by the patient. This measure of session outcome in early sessions of dynamic therapy was associated with overall treatment outcome. Specific microprocesses differentially emerged as contributors to session progress as therapy proceeded, accounting for 55% of the variance in session 3 and 58% in session 7. Findings are discussed in terms of specific as well as fundamental change processes in early sessions of dynamic psychotherapy. The usefulness of the generic model of psychotherapy for guiding exploratory change process research is also highlighted.