The Case of "Grace"-- A Commentary

Abstract

This commentary focuses on the case of “Grace” treated by Erica Pass (2012) through the use of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy with writing assignments (the "AEDP-Writing" model) delivered over 40-sessions. Grace was experiencing some PTSD symptoms resulting from a single index trauma and was viewed as having a positive outcome by herself, by her therapist, and by her supervisor. The case study included Grace completing self-report measures at the end of therapy both about her present status at the end of therapy and a retrospective view of her status at the beginning of therapy. The significant limitations of change scores based on such retrospective estimates are discussed as well as the advantages of session-by-session tracking of Grace's mental health and symptomatology as a means of calibrating change over the course of therapy and estimating final treatment status. In addition we discuss fundamental factors for consideration in facilitating trauma-focused treatment for clients with PTSD symptomatology, such as avoidance, approach, and approach-resultant rises in symptomatology, and related recommendations for psychoeducation.