Journal of Counseling Psychology

Differential effects of the two-chair experiment and empathic reflections at a conflict marker

Leslie Greenberg ; Katherine Clarke
Gestalt psychotherapyResearchNon-randomized controlled trials or naturalistic studyEnglish
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Abstracts

The differential effects of a Gestalt counseling operation and empathic reflections of feeling on client depth of experiencing, change in awareness, and goal attainment were studied in a counseling analog. Using 4 counselors and 16 24–50 yr old Ss as their own controls, each of the operations was applied to each S to facilitate resolution of personally meaningful conflicts. Ss were administered the Personal Orientation Inventory, Focusing Questionnaire, Experiencing Scale, Goal Attainment Scale; a client report form was administered to each S after each experimental interview. Results show that depth of experiencing and change in awareness were significantly higher for the Ss after the Gestalt operation. There was no difference in the level of goal attainment following the 2 operations. The implications for counseling of the change in depth of experiencing and awareness for the Ss, characterized as focusers and normally self-actualized, are discussed.

Journal
Journal of Counseling Psychology
Author
Publisher
Journal of Counseling Psychology
Year of Publication
1979
Volume
26
Issue
1
Number of Pages
1-8,
ISSN Number
0022-0167
DOI
10.1037/0022-0167.26.1.1

APA citation

Greenberg, L., & Clarke, K. (1979). Differential effects of the two-chair experiment and empathic reflections at a conflict marker. Journal Of Counseling Psychology, 26(1), 1-8, . https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.26.1.1