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- Title
Neurophysiology of Therapeutic Alliance.
- Authors
Stratford, Trisha; Lal, Sara; Meara, Alan
- Abstract
Currently no studies exist on assessing neurophysiological correlates, especially brain activity, during therapeutic alliance (TA) between client and therapist. The aims of this study were to assess lectroencephalography (EEG) activity in the client with symptomatic anxiety throughout therapy during moments of high TA established using SCR measurements from both client and therapist. Fifteen clients aged, 48 ± 9.4 years (males: n=7, females: n=8) underwent six (S1-S6), weekly 1-hour psychotherapy sessions (90 hours of repeated measures). For the duration of therapy the frontal site remained active while the occipital site 'went to sleep'. During high TA the parietal cortex - the 'seat of imagination,' was active. The parietal cortex appears to be highly active when processing trauma as the client develops cognitive and emotional insight. The temporal site reflected accessing emotional memory with high alpha and beta activity. Heart-rate (HR) and anxiety levels decreased over time. This research is beginning to provide a common language between psychotherapy and neurosciences and its implication as an important factor in training, practice and research in psychotherapy. The study has identified that there are specific sites in the brain that become active when there is a strong connection between therapist and client; especially indicated by the increased activation of the parietal cortex during moments of TA. A positive clinical outcome in therapy is dependent on a successful TA being established and this was reflected in our study which showed decreased anxiety and HR over time.
- Subjects
NEUROPHYSIOLOGY; THERAPEUTIC alliance; PSYCHOTHERAPIST-patient relations; ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY; COUNTERTRANSFERENCE (Psychology); HEART beat; PSYCHOTHERAPY; NEURAL conduction; ELECTRONIC behavior control; BRAIN stimulation
- Publication
Gestalt Journal of Australia & New Zealand, 2009, Vol 5, Issue 2, p19
- ISSN
1834-5298
- Publication type
Article