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- Development and validation of the facilitative interpersonal skills scale for clientsPublication . Santos, João M.; Barata, Matilde; Rathenau, Sara; Amaro, Inês; Vaz, Alexandre; Sousa, Daniel; Severino, Margarida; Taveira, Mafaldapsychotherapist development, psychotherapy expertise, statistical methodology, test development, therapist effects1| INTRODUCTION The role of the therapist in psychotherapy research has a controversial history. The widespread focus on investigating specific treatment protocols for specific psychological disorders made the study of individual differences among therapistsalong‐neglected research topic (e.g., Beutler et al.,2004;Castonguay&Hill,2017). However, despite the historicallygreater emphasis on randomized controlled trials to understand differences between specific treatment models, researchhas consistently shown thattherapistscontribute more to therapy outcomes than the type of treatment or level ofadherence to a particular protocol (Wampold & Imel,2015). It seems that therapist effects can explain 5%–9% of theoutcome variance (Baldwin & Imel,2013). These results overshadow the 0%–1% variability attributable to specifictreatment models (Miller et al.,2013; Wampold & Imel,2015).The existing literature suggests that the therapeutic alliance is one of the best predictors of clinical outcomes identified to date, along with the therapist's ability to convey empathy (Nor cross &Lambert,2019; Nor cross & Wampold,2019; Wampold & Imel,2015). The therapeutic alliance is described by Bordin (1979) as a collaborative relationship intended to overcome the client's suffering. This relation shipe incompasses three important aspects: (a) agreement on the goals of the treatment, (b) agreement on thetasks, and (c) the development of a mutual bond betweentherapist and client. The therapeutic alliance isconsidered a common factor or a nonspecific factor in psychotherapy. These factors include therapeuticqualities (such as empathy and the therapist's ability to be persuasive and to create compelling expectations)foundintherapistsandprofessionalsacrosstherapeutic approaches and helping professions (Frank &Frank,1993).Commonfactorsaresubjecttovariousdefinitionswhichposessomechallengestocontrolledexperimental research (Anderson & Patterson,2013). Following the need to measure and operationalizethese factors, Anderson and Patterson (2013) created the facilitative interpersonal skills (FIS) rating scale,which assesses several relational therapist skills relevant to therapeutic effectiveness (Anderson &Patterson,2013). These skills play an important role in the ability to develop and maintain a solid therapeutic alliance and might go beyond the therapist's use of a particular treatment model or technique(Wampold & Imel,2015).The FIS rating scale (Anderson & Patterson,2013)isaperformance‐based measure of eight therapist interpersonalskills, namely verbal fluency, emotional expression, persuasiveness, warmth/positive regard, hopefulness, empathy, alliancebond capacity, and alliance–rupture–repair responsiveness. This measure was designed for the assessment of thetherapist's performance by an external observer. More specifically, it evaluates participants' responses to a performance‐based task where they provide therapeutic responses to standardvideostimulithatportraychallenging psychotherapeuticevents. In these clips, one actor/actress plays the role of a client explaining a certain problem to which the participantshave to respond in a therapeutic manner as if they were in session. The FIS‐in session (FIS‐IS) rating scale (Uhlin,2011)isan adaptation of the original FIS ratingscale applied to actual recorded or observed therapy sessions. Similarly to theoriginal FIS, an external coder rates the therapist's performance. Our goal is to create a new FIS scale (the FIS‐clientversion [FIS‐C]) where clients evaluate their therapists' performance.Anderson et al. (2009) found that therapists' observer‐rated FIS predicted those therapists' real‐lifeclinical outcomes. Subsequent studies confirmed that FIS scores predicted outcome and alliance (Anderson,Crowley, et al.,2016; Anderson, McClintock, et al.,2016) and that these skills were trainable throughdeliberate practice(Anderson et al.,2020;Rousmaniereetal.,2017). The effects of observer‐rated therapist 2|SANTOS ET AL.
- The relationship between lifelong learning and professional development activities in a Portuguese samplePublication . Ponces Coelho, Rodrigo; Pires, António A. Pazo; Neimeyer, Greg; Vaz, Alexandre; Dias Neto, David; Sousa, DanielObjective: A dispositional commitment to lifelong learning (LL) is an important aspect of continuing professional development for practicing psychotherapists. Equally important is the dedication of psychotherapists to engaging in professional development activities to foster growth and maintain competence. However, there are limited available data on the range of practices and factors influencing psychotherapists' commitment to these activities. The primary objective of this study was to examine whether a higher commitment to LL would significantly predict greater participation in a range of different professional development activities. Method: A sample of 166 Portuguese psychotherapists completed an online survey on professional development. The survey included two key measures: the Jefferson Scale of Psychotherapist Lifelong Learning and a list of professional development activities based on the Retrospective Analysis of Psychotherapists' Involvement in Deliberate Practice. Exploratory factorial analysis was conducted to determine an alternative and suitable grouping for the list of activities, and structural equation modelling was utilised to assess the relationship between the commitment to LL and engagement in these activities. Findings: Results provided valuable insight into the diverse levels of participation among therapists across five categories of activities: (1) supervision and case discussion; (2) recording-related activities; (3) reading and focussed learning; (4) reflecting; and (5) workshops supporting ongoing professional competence. Findings indicated that a stronger commitment to LL significantly predicted increased dedication to reading, focussed learning activities and attendance to training workshops. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed concerning their practical application for professional psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists
- From Monet's paintings to Margaret's ducksPublication . Sousa, Daniel Cunha Monteiro deThis paper deals with a number of aspects related to the application of phenomenology in the area of research. It focuses particularly on some aspects, present in some literature, that the author considers as non-consensual. A number of reasons are propounded to explain the phenomenological principles and application of these within the context of research. The strengthening of the available methodologies of phenomenological research is upheld, as a counterpoint to the fostering of an unlimited number of methodologies currently in fashion in qualitative research. The importance of reflecting on the concept of method is also referred to as well as that of clarifying the differences existent between philosophy, psychology and psychotherapy within the scope of the application of the phenomenological method.
- A short note underlying reflection on psychotherapy researchPublication . Sousa, Daniel Cunha Monteiro deThe text is based on two articles dealing with psychotherapy research -- how existential therapists interact with research issues (Cooper, 2004; Mahrer and Boulet; 2004). Some of the topics introduced by the authors are reviewed and a number of reasons are then presented to show the importance of research on psychotherapy, independent of the theoretical framework of the therapist. Besides, these push factors were examined by leading researchers in the field of existential phenomenology and the question is still a moot point among major academics. It is argued that existential therapists may play an important and unlimited role in psychotherapy research.
- Self-Awareness, verbalization and new meanings as the heart and soul of significant events in Existential PsychotherapyPublication . Sousa, Daniel; Pestana, Ana Marta Quina; Tavares, António Tiago PereiraThis study aimed to qualitatively analyze the significant events that occur during existential psychotherapy sessions from the perspective of the patient. Ten patients completed the HAT—helpful aspects of therapy—shortly after existential psychotherapy sessions during existential psychotherapy treatment, which lasted 1 year and consisted of 48 sessions. The data were analyzed using grounded theory. The results emphasized the following categories: the promotion of self-awareness, the possibility of verbalizing experiences, and the deepening of meanings. In addition to emphasizing human relationships, the patients also emphasized a preference for interventions by existential therapists that were more directive, such as providing feedback, challenging personal beliefs, and asking questions. The results emphasize the integrated use of the two phenomenological methods, specifically, the static and the genetic methods.
- Phenomenological psychology Husserl’s static and genetic methodsPublication . Sousa, Daniel Cunha MonteiroA new framework for phenomenological psychology is proposed based on Husserl’s static and genetic methods. Static phenomenology holds a eidetic psychology centred on the processes of noetic-noematic constitution and elaborates typologies and general notions about human beings in connection with the world. Genetic analysis is research into facticity, it focus on the personal history of a subject, which is constantly in the process of becoming. When the temporal dimension of consciousness is considered, the phenomenological method becomes ‘static’, as it excludes the factitious dimension of self, its personal and individual history, sedimented in layers of meaning, which are in part pre-reflective, non-thematic and anonymous to the self, but which nevertheless continue to influence the experience of itself with the other and with the world. This paper aims to present some of the fundamental principals of genetic phenomenology and it’s application to existential-phenomenological psychotherapy. There are three main aspects underlying geneticphenomenological analysis as it is being proposed: inner time-consciousness theory, the experiential self and the theory of passive geneses.
- Existential psychotherapy the genetic-phenomenological approach: Beyond a dichotomy between relating and skillsPublication . Sousa, Daniel Cunha Monteiro deThere is a lack of clarity about the technical interventions of existential psychotherapy. The approach has been described dichotomously as being more descriptive or more hermeneutic, as being anti-technique or relying on intervention exclusively experiential nature. This paper presents a genetic-phenomenological approach of existential psychotherapy and argues that it uses both postures and therapeutic techniques that are interconnected and influence each other in the therapeutic process. The existential therapist’s interventions are based in part on common factors but also on specific techniques. The paper presents a theoretical framework of existential psychotherapy and a definition of the postures and intervention techniques of the genetic-phenomenological approach of existential psychotherapy. The aim is to contribute to the clarification of what type of interventions the existential therapist may use during the therapeutic process.
- Validation in qualitative research: General aspects and specificities of the descriptive phenomenological methodPublication . Sousa, Daniel Cunha Monteiro deThe criteria for the validation of qualitative research are still open to discussion. This article has two aims: first, to present a summary of concepts, emerging from the field of qualitative research that present answers regarding issues of validation, reliability, and generalization; and second, to propose six concepts that allow the monitoring of the validation of phenomenological research within the context of qualitative research in psychology—intentionality, psychological phenomenological reduction, eidetic psychological analysis, syntheses of identification, phenomenon versus individual, and invariant structures. It is argued that there are general criteria that qualitative methods must meet, and specific methodological criteria to monitor the quality control. A final definition is proposed, to delimit the validation, reliability, and generalization of the phenomenological research results.
- Existential psychotherapy supervision: The supervisor’s perspectivePublication . Silva, Sara; Sousa, DanielSupervision is a cross-disciplinary practice among various professional groups. This study focuses on clinical supervision as a practice linked to psychology and psychotherapy. The literature highlights the need to expand and consolidate knowledge in this area. Specifically, in the few existing approaches to research on existential supervision, the need for the systematization of knowledge is clear. The use of qualitative methods is recognized as an approach that is likely to enrich knowledge of supervision. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the theme of clinical supervision, particularly as it relates to existential psychotherapy, from the supervisor’s perspective to assess insights from the experience of each participant. Method: The three participants are both existential psychotherapists and supervisors that apply the same approach, in group mode, in the context of psychotherapist training. The data were collected using phenomenological interviews. A comprehensive analysis of the transcripts of the interviews was performed using the phenomenological method. Results: Emerging themes presented a general meaning structure that represents eidetic dimensions and how they are related. The eidetic dimensions, relationship and responsiveness, arise in the existential approach as the foundational and promotional aspects of successful supervision.
- Significant events in existential psychotherapy: The client’s perspectivePublication . Oliveira, Ana; Sousa, Daniel Cunha Monteiro de; Pires, António Augusto PazoThree ex-clients were interviewed about significant events occurring within existential therapy. Data was analysed through a descriptive phenomenological method (Giorgi, 2009). All participants identify a powerful therapist, an authentic alliance, a non-judgemental environment, validation of subjectivity and a cooperative approach. Two participants also identify therapist disclosure and reflection/experiential restructuring events.