Person-centered/experiential psychotherapy for anxiety difficulties : theory, research and practice

Elliott, Robert (2013) Person-centered/experiential psychotherapy for anxiety difficulties : theory, research and practice. Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, 12 (1). pp. 16-32. ISSN 1477-9757 (https://doi.org/10.1080/14779757.2013.767750)

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Abstract

Anxiety difficulties are an increasingly important focus for person-centered/experiential (PCE) psychotherapies. I begin by reviewing person-centered, focusing-oriented, and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) theories of anxiety. Next, I summarize a meta-analysis of 19 outcome studies of PCE therapies for adults with anxiety, most commonly supportive or person-centered therapies (PCT) carried out by cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) researchers. The results indicate large pre-post change but a clear inferiority to CBT. I then summarize promising early results from an ongoing study of PCT and EFT for social anxiety, which show large amounts of pre-post change for both forms of PCE therapy but substantially more change for clients in the EFT condition. I conclude with a discussion of the implications for PCE therapy practice, including the value of process differentiation and the possibility of developing more effective PCE approaches for anxiety.

ORCID iDs

Elliott, Robert ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3527-3397;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:45569
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    2013
    Published
    Notes:This article is based on a presentation given at the conference of the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, July 2012, in Antwerp Belgium.
    Keywords:anxiety, person-centred-experiential therapy, outcome research, emotion-focused therapy, EFT, person-centered therapies, PCT, PCE, Psychology, Clinical Psychology
    Subjects:Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology
    Department:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > School of Psychological Science and Health > Counselling
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:04 Nov 2013 11:22
    Last modified:28 Jan 2023 04:00
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/45569
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