O impacto dos acontecimentos significativos no processo terapêutico: Um estudo de caso de sucesso

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the therapy significant events’ impacts, identified by the client and the therapist, throughout a good outcome case. We used a methodology of case study with an adult client diagnosed with panic disorder and followed in cognitive-behavioral therapy. The Portuguese version of the Helpful Aspects of Therapy questionnaire was administered over all sessions to collect the significant events and their helpful impacts. We categorized the type of impact using a system of thematic categories, based on literature. The results showed that impacts, identified by the therapist and the client, were different. Whereas for the therapist these impacts were focused on categories such as Guidance, Self-understanding, Empowerment and Behavioral Change, for the client the impacts were focused on Self-understanding and Empowerment. The results suggest that both perspectives should be considered in order to better understand what is helpful to the client’s change. Moreover the therapist should be sensitive to other possible impacts on the client, aligning his or her intervention accordingly and contributing in this way to the client change.