Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, Vol 32(4), Dec 2022, 363-376; doi:10.1037/int0000261
We present a single case phenomenological study of a client’s subjective experience of the initial session of accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP; Fosha, 2021). It investigates the AEDP phenomenon of healing from the get-go, therapeutic experiences that can begin in the very first session, by examining an example in which the client felt particularly impacted by the very first session. The client was an adult male in his 40s experiencing emotional “deadness.” The therapist was the originator of AEDP. The client was interviewed for 2 hr about his subjective experience in the initial session of therapy. The data were analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological approach. Eight themes were found in three domains. Three themes were found in the domain of the therapist and therapeutic relationship: extraordinary empathy, unequivocal affirmation, and profound connection. Two themes were found in the domain of significant in-session experiences: integrating the emotional self and welcoming change and accompanying positive emotions. Finally, three themes were found in the domain of general change: practicing emotional competence, deep transformation, and energy aliveness and positivity. Therapeutic relational conditions set a stage for the dyad to access the client’s core issues or the source of suffering as well as his internal resources and strengths from the beginning of therapy and to produce positive emotions such as a sense of achievement in doing so. These themes will be discussed in relation to the in-session exchanges between the therapist and the client. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)