RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This investigation examined the relationship between in-session types of emotional experience operationalized by the emotion category coding system and the reduction of depressive symptoms in emotion-focused therapy (EFT). METHOD: Segments of videotaped sessions were coded and the different emotion categories were related to reduction in depressive symptoms in a sample of 30 clients who received EFT for depression. RESULTS: Both fewer secondary and more primary adaptive emotions, in the working phases of therapy, were found to significantly predict outcome. Moderate levels of primary maladaptive emotion in the middle working session were associated with outcome and the frequency with which clients moved from primary maladaptive to primary adaptive emotions in this session-predicted outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study support a transformational model of changing emotion with emotion.
