Irregular assimilation progress: Reasons for setbacks in the context of linguistic therapy of evaluation

摘要: The assimilation model suggests progress in psychotherapy follows an eight-stage sequence described by the Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale (APES). This study sought to reconcile this developmental stage with common but superficially contradictory clinical observation that therapeutic advances alternate setbacks. Setbacks (n=466) were identified therapy transcripts two clients and classified using a preliminary nine-category list possible alternative reasons for Most setbacks involved switches among multiple strands problem due (a) therapists exceeding clients' zone proximal development, (b) guiding shift toward relatively problematic material (balance metaphor), or (c) spontaneous switches. Rather than contradicting theory, close examination yielded elaborations it.