A Cross-cultural Look at Patient’s Perspective of Change

JOCK, W.; BOLGER, K.; OLIVERA, JULIETA; GÓMEZ PENEDO, JUAN MARTÍN; WAIZMANN, VANINA; ROUSSOS, ANDRES; SAFRAN, JEREMY

Virginia Beach

Congreso; 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research,; 2012

Society for Psychotherapy Research

Abstract Aim: This presentation aims to address the first exploratory phase of a project that intends to analyze and compare cultural differences in former patients’ perspective of change in argentina and the United States. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews, lasting approximately 1 hour, were conducted with 12 former patients that had previously been in individual therapy that ended no more than three years prior to the interview. Interviewers gathered information mainly surrounding change in psychotherapy, the therapeutic relationship, interventions, therapist characteristics, and termination. A qualitative approach based on Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Categories, frequency and mutual relationships were analyzed. Results: A group of domains were identified as relevant in both groups. These domains included interventions, approach, setting and therapist characteristics. The categories within the domains established will be presented and described. Cultural differences and similarities between the two cultures and characteristic elements of each culture will be examined. Discussion: Many therapeutic procedures that are tested in the United States are, afterwards, used in other countries without first validating them and taking into account the specificities of each culture. Implications of the results surrounding cultural differences will be discussed in terms of clinical application. New hypotheses and future directions for research will be suggested.