Patient-psychotherapist Adaptation Patterns: a Systemic Quality of Life Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Based on rich data collected from 54 pairs of psychotherapists and their patients across three time points, this longitudinal study compares therapists and patients regarding (a) their expectations of therapy and (b) their evaluations of its success. Expectations and evaluations were assessed in terms of expected and actual improvements in aspects of patients' quality of life targeted by psychotherapy. Structural analyses using Facet Theory revealed two interesting patient-therapist adaptation processes: Patient-Therapist Convergence in evaluations of patients’ quality of life, and Trailing Displacement (where therapists follow their patients) concerning expectations for quality-of-life improvements. These findings provide empirical support for relational psychoanalytic theories and uncover specific patterns in the patient-therapist relationship.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Authors: Samuel Shye, Amir Ezrachi
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7211903500